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6:00 p.m. March 1, 2006
The following members were present:
Karen Nakandakare
Carlos Cuellar
Guadalupe Sisneros
Elzia Sekou
Karen Kellen
Mark Skinner
Rick Lopez
Harry Cullis
Jaime diPaulo
Linda Bessinger
Cathleen Jones-Gooding
Mayor Steve Burkholder
Councilor Sue King
Councilor Doug Anderson
City Employees - Ex-officio members present:
Mike Becker
Ken Milano
Therese Megargee
Olga Mikhailova
Absent:
Pete Roybal
Eveline Yang
Margaret Sawyer
Bill Taylor
Full and timely notice of this Commission meeting had been given.
The meeting of the Commission on Cultural Diversity and Human Relations was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chair Karen Nakandakare.
I. PUBLIC COMMENT
No Public Comment
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 1, 2006
A motion was made by Commissioner Lopez to approve the February 1, 2006 minutes
and was seconded by Commissioner Cuellar . With all present and voting in favor,
THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR FEBRUARY WAS ADOPTED.
III. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
Focus Group Questions - "Lakewood…A Community Portrait" Linda
distributed "Lakewood…Community Portrait. The "confidentiality"
part was added which is highlighted in red. There are also changes to the questions
and are highlighted in red. Initially, the Commission will meet with the Senior
Citizen Advisory and Youth Commissions of Lakewood. Input from these two focus
groups will assist the Commission in evaluating and improving its questionnaire
and presentation before extending its efforts into the community. Subsequent
to the initial sessions, the Commission will request a group meeting with the
four area schools. Each group will include the principal, PTO president, librarian,
student body president, Student Resource Office and Guidance Counselors. The
questionnaires will be distributed to the participants one week prior to their
focus group meeting. One commissioner will serve as the group facilitator, two
will take notes and all other commissioners will listen and ask or answer questions
as necessary. It is expected that additional focus groups will be identified
through input provided at the focus groups and the community session will continue
as it is deemed practical to do.
Therese Megargee offered to assist Linda with the introductory cover letter for the questionnaire, and she will send the contact persons and members of the Senior Citizen Advisory Commission and the Youth Commission to Linda.
Commissioners Cuellar and Sekou expressed an interest in attending these focus group meetings.
Commission members were in full agreement that this committee should move forward with this project.
Introductions were provided at this time.
Partnerships
Chair Nakandakare advised this would be tabled and discussed next month.
Events
Commissioner Sekou stated that the Commission is currently involved in two events,
MLK and Lakewood on Parade. He questioned if this Commission would like to expand
the MLK program and if these two events are the only events the Commission wants
to be involved in.
At this time, Chair Nakandakare advised this matter would be tabled and discussed at next month's meeting.
Awareness Through Media Tools
Since the Commission is concentrating on the project "Lakewood---A Community
Portrait", Awareness Through Media Tools can and may be a part of this
new project.
Red Rocks Community College Liaison
No report.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Inclusive Communities Tool Kit Review with Mayor Burkholder
Mayor Burkholder stated that he has received positive comments about his editorial
in "Looking at Lakewood" regarding the partnership for working toward
inclusive communities.
A discussion regarding what the City is doing regarding diversity in the City. Ken Milano advised that the City organized the Tapestry Conference for City employees for several years. Because of budget cuts, the City could not afford to continue offering the Tapestry Conference, however, the City continues to provide a series of diversity programs on a quarterly basis.
Ken Milano advised that one of the major components considered in the overall selection process of sergeants and command staff is if the candidate is well versed and has a perspective of diversity, and what they have done within the organization and the community.
Several Commission members would like to know the ratio of the City's population to the percentage of minority employees working for the City of Lakewood.
Mayor Burkholder reviewed the sample proclamation/resolution with Commission members. The question was asked, "How do we define inclusiveness?" Some members felt that it is one individual's perception. Another question asked was "How do we represent that as a City." Members stated that the Commission on Cultural Diversity should endorse this and the project "Lakewood…Community Portrait" is our first step. Members also felt that this should not just be something on paper but that we need to walk the walk by moving forward and making this statement. Members felt strongly about the partnership for working toward inclusive communities with the National League of Cities by supporting the proclamation/resolution. Commissioner Skinner offered a suggestion that all City departments develop a project to improve the community and that their policies have substance. City departments should discuss diversity issues about what's happening in their department and to make a conscious effort to make progress.
Ken Milano stated that he would present the proclamation/resolution to management team and that there would be an expectation from each department to follow through. It was stated that the City is leading the edge by listing respect for diversity in others as a performance element on employee evaluations.
Members entertained the idea of changing the Commission's name to reflect inclusiveness in the community. The new name would have to conjure up the idea of diversity or inclusiveness.
By going forward with the proclamation/resolution, the Commission takes the first step in being a role model for the community to lead the way, and a visionary for the rest of the City. The proclamation/resolution has to be more than the proclamation itself but has to have substance and specific actions by the City.
A motion to accept the National League of Cities proclamation/resolution and its importance to the Commission on Cultural Diversity and Human Relations by presenting it to City Council was made by Commissioner Lopez and seconded by Commissioner
Sekou. With all present and voting in favor, the motion to support the proclamation/resolution
was adopted.
Colfax Marathon Reality Check
This event will be held on Sunday, May 21. This Commission is attempting to
team up with the Youth Commission. Commissioners Bessinger, diPaulo, Jones-Gooding
and Cuellar are interested in volunteering at this event.
V. NEW BUSINESS
The Citizen Planning Academy is scheduled for the fall and will be held the
2nd and 4th Wednesday for six weeks.
Commissioner Kellen advised that she is in charge of obtaining entertainment for Lakewood on Parade this year. She advised that she has a budget for acts and is looking to add some variety and off-stage acts to the event. She would like input from the Commission to add diversity to the entertainment bill.
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Sekou advised that the Mile High Church of Religious Science is
expecting the Fred Phelps group on Sunday, March 26. At this point, Mayor Burkholder
read a letter sent to the City of Lakewood from the mayor of Topeka, Kansas
regarding Fred Phelps and the "God Hates Fags" group. They will be
demonstrating with pickets for approximately a half hour before Sunday services
on March 26 at the Bear Valley Southern Baptist Church, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic
Church, the Mile High Church of Religious Science and St. Joseph Episcopal Church.
Mike Becker advised that the police department is aware of this group and will be meeting with each of the targeted Lakewood churches. Publicity is what this group is seeking, so the police department would like to keep it as low key as possible and would encourage people to ignore them.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Commission, a motion was made by
Commissioner Kellen to adjourn and seconded by Commissioner Cullis. The meeting
was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Margaret Sawyer, Staff Liaison
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