Social Equity and Racial Justice Commission
Minutes
May 4, 2023, 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Remote Meeting via Zoom
1. Call to order: 5:10
Attendance: Yamaguchi, Simon, Geraghty, Chacon, Santiago, Decker Seltzer (staff liaison), DuQuenne (council liaison)
Absent: none
2. Approval of Minutes of April 6, 2023
M/S Chacon/Yamaguchi, motion passed unanimously.
3. Public Input: None
4. SERJ Participation in Juneteenth
SERJ will not have a booth at Juneteenth but members are encouraged to volunteer to help with events. Yamaguchi will send the volunteer form to Seltzer for distribution to the committee members. Completed forms must be submitted by May 20. The event is hosted by BASE and will be held on Monday, June 19 from 11:00 – 5:00 pm at Pear Blossom Park.
SOU will host a Juneteenth event in front of Churchill Hall at 11:00 am on June 15. A seperate celebration will occur on Sunday, June 18 at Railroad Park at the Say Their Names display.
5. YMCA
Geraghty proposed sending an email to the YMCA Executive Director, Heidi Hill inviting her to meet to discuss the YMCA National Commitment to Anti-Racism and how that effort is being implemented at the Y in Ashland. Simon offered a few editing suggestions to the email and to include an invitation to an upcoming SERJ meeting. Geraghty will follow through.
M/S Yamaguchi/Santiago Invite Heidi Hill, Executive Director at the YMCA to attend a future SERJ meeting
6. Labor Acknowledgment
Simon spoke about including a Labor Acknowledgment at the beginning of SERJ meetings in addition to the Land Acknowledgment. Simon read an example of a Labor Acknowledgment and invited comments from the group. Seltzer will send the proposed verbiage to the group and include it as an agenda item for the June meeting.
7. Update from Council and Staff Liaisons
- DuQueene announced that Travel Southern Oregon has donated $2000 to the City of Ashland to support the work of SERJ. There was general discussion on the best use of the money specifically to get the word out that SERJ exists: such as creating a banner to be carried for the Pride parade, an advertisement in the OSF Playbill. “Getting the Word Out” about SERJ will be on the June agenda.
- Seltzer announced that she has secured flags for Indigenous Peoples Day from both the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde.
- Seltzer announced that a new Main Street Banner for Juneteenth is being made. The design is based on the graphics provided by SERJ member Williams in May of 2022.
- Yamaguchi reminded the group of the Asian Heritage Month Celebration scheduled for May 6 at Gambrel Gallery. Seltzer reported that Mayor Graham read a Proclamation honoring Asian Heritage Month at the City Council meeting on May 2.
- Seltzer reported that 30 City employees attended the Common Ground Conversation DEI training in April and 30 additional employees will attend the same training in May.
- DuQueene confirmed that the Gay Pride Parade will occur on Saturday October 7 at 11:00. SERJ members will march in the parade. There was general discussion about carrying a banner, wearing matching t-shirts etc. and how to get the word out about SERJ. This discussion will be on the June agenda.
8. Roundtable with Members
- Simon and DuQueene encouraged member to attend the Aiden Ellison trial to show support for the family.
- Chacon mentioned a talk being presented at SOU that evening.
- Yamaguchi encouraged members to attend the First Friday event at Catalyst.
- Santiago reminded the group about the event at Gambrel Gallery.
9.Wrap-up and items for future agendas.
- SERJ will present an update to the City Council on either August 1 or August 15.
- Mayor Graham has been invited to attend the June SERJ meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
