Title
Minutes of regular meeting February 26, 2015
Body
DRAFT
Social Service Human Relations Board
Minutes of the Regular Meeting, February 26, 2015
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
President Biggs called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Present were Vice President Villareal, and members Williams, Hyman, Radding, Blake, and Sorensen.
1-A. SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE DAILY READING
President Biggs shared that A Season for Nonviolence (SNV) began in 1998, as a grassroots campaign inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He read the daily reading based on the principle of listening and added that this reading was also presented this morning in our schools.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes of the special meeting of January 29, were approved as presented.
M/S Hyman / Williams Unanimous
3. AGENDA ITEMS
3.-A JOINT DISCUSSION AND WORK SESSION WITH THE BOARD AND ITS WORKGROUPS
President Biggs requested that this item be placed on the agenda for the Board to discuss current projects and activities, suggest other projects to take on in the future, and consider adopting a calendar of projects and activities through FY 15/16.
President Biggs began by responding to a question regarding an evaluation sheet to be used when scoring the FY 15/16 CDBG RFPs. Last year's evaluation sheet had inadvertently been included with the online RFPs, and President Biggs asked members to use the one that had been emailed to them.
The discussion of future projects began by identifying those projects the Board had recently undertaken, such as the Community Service Awards, Homeless Count, and co-sponsoring the screening of Facing Fear. It was also noted that the board conducts a periodic Community Needs Survey, with the last one being released in early 2012.
Member Williams commented that the board's activities throughout the year have no apparent cohesiveness, and that it would benefit from developing a calendar of events and activities. Member Hyman agreed, and suggested that the Board might sponsor four events a year that could include the screening of films and presentation of speakers. Member Williams suggested that the Board have a table at the Park Street Faire coming up in May. A survey could be created to solicit ideas from the community as to what it thinks Alameda's needs are.
Member Villareal shared that the last Community Needs Survey took a lot of work but was fulfilling, and yielded valuable information for the community and our partners. He added that, over the years, ATAH has taken a pro-active approach, and has co-sponsored a number of activities in partnership with the College of Alameda, LGBTQ Roundtable, and other groups. He noted that one of the partnerships has been with the Alameda Harvey Milk Day Committee (AHMDC), which is currently planning its sixth annual event. This year, it will be held at Alameda High School and the committee would welcome participation from SSHRB Members. The Oakland / East Bay Gay Men's Chorus (OEBGMC) is scheduled to perform, and other event components are currently being discussed. It was also suggested that the Board / ATAH might help organize a Gay Pride Month event in June, which would include the reading of a proclamation.
The discussion returned to Member Williams' idea to have a table at the Park Street Spring Festival coming up in May. It was agreed that a brief survey, asking passersby to share what they perceive to be our community's needs, should be developed. It was suggested that we could hang our SSHRB banner and add balloons and food to help draw attention to the booth. Staff shared a copy of a SSHRB brochure that had been used in the past. Members would take turns staffing the booth during the two-day event. Member Williams offered to create a draft survey and work on updating the brochure.
Member Blake left at 8:00 p.m.
A motion was made to:
1. Reach out to the AHMDC and offer the Board's support in planning and executing its event.
2. Explore holding a Gay Pride Month event in June, which would include the reading of a proclamation.
3. Develop a community needs survey, update the SSHRB brochure, and participate in May's Park Street Spring Festival.
M/S Williams / Hyman Unanimous (6-0)
President Biggs continued the discussion of future activities, reminding the Board of the commitment to undertake a second homeless count in late July.
Member Williams shared information regarding Berkeley's Bay Area Rainbow Day Camp, a program whose mission is "To empower gender expansive youth to practice gender self-determination in order to live authentically and joyfully within their communities". She asked that the Board help get the word out regarding this program, and consider supporting them in other ways. Member suggestions included asking ARPD to include information regarding the program in its flyers or on its website, distributing its flyer at the Park Street Spring Festival, and helping them raise funds, possibly with an OEBGMC concert in June.
While the camp is in Berkeley, it welcomes all gender expansive youth, including those in Alameda. Questions included how we the Board might identify the number of gender expansive youth in Alameda, if other agencies are aware of this program, and if there is a process to refer youth to the program.
Member Sorensen reminded the Board that the Jam at Neptune Beach in June is also an opportunity to publicize SSHRB and conduct the survey.
A motion was made to:
1. Have a presence at the Jam at Neptune Beach event in June similar to the one being planned for the Park Street Spring Festival.
2. Explore opportunities to publicize and support Berkeley's Bay Area Rainbow Day Camp for gender expansive youth, including holding a fundraiser in June to create camp scholarships for Alameda youth.
M/S Hyman / Sorensen Unanimous (6-0)
4. BOARD/STAFF COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
Staff reported that he and President Biggs are leading a community preparedness and resiliency committee as part of the upcoming "A Resilient Alameda" campaign. Member Sorensen is also playing a role in helping involve the business community.
Member Hyman reminded members that AEA and IAFF Local 689 are having a crab feed fund raiser on March 21 benefitting APC and AFS.
5. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS- NONE
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM. M\S Villareal \ Hyman Unanimous (6-0)
Respectfully submitted by:
Jim Franz
Secretary