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The following members were present:
Karen Nakandakare
Tony Wright
Karen Kellen
Elzia Sekou
Pete Roybal
Harry Cullis
Mark Skinner
Cathleen Jones-Gooding
Jaime diPaulo
Mayor Steve Burkholder
Councilor Doug Anderson
Councilor Sue King
City Employees - Ex-officio members present:
Ken Milano
Mike Becker
Therese Megargee
Absent:
Linda Bessinger
Guadalupe Sisneros
Rick Lopez
Carlos Cuellar
Margaret Sawyer
Bill Taylor
Olga Mikhailova
Guest:
Jennifer Squire, Red Rocks Community College
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
Children' Hospital Blood Donor Center - Commissioner Jones-Gooding, Chris Hill,
and Michelle Stacey. Chris Hill and Michelle Stacey were unable to attend tonight's
meeting and plan on attending the October meeting.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - August 2, 2006
A motion was made by Commissioner Roybal to approve the August 2, 2006 minutes
and was seconded by Commissioner Wright. With all present and voting in favor,
THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR AUGUST WAS ADOPTED.
At this time, Mayor Burkholder advised that Lakewood is the first city in Colorado to make a commitment to work toward becoming an inclusive community. Mayor Burkholder stated that he should receive the support material from the National League of Cities by next week.
Mayor Burkholder thanked Karen Nakandakare for her participation as a panelist on the National League of Cities Inclusive Communities Project at the Colorado Municipal League Conference. He stated he has received rave reviews and thanked Ken Milano and Mike Becker for their participation at this conference.
III. COMMISSIONER REPORTS
A memo from Margaret on the recap of the Art Experience on August 26th was discussed.
The Art Experience for children had approximately 954 participants. Thanks to
Rick Lopez, Bill Taylor, Margaret Sawyer, Linda Bessinger, Karen Nakandakare,
Ken Milano, Carlos Cuellar and Pete Roybal for their assistance with this event.
Karen Kellen advised that there were some issues with the entertainment due
to the rain on Saturday afternoon. She advised that an opening would be available
because of Judy Repp's resignation from Lakewood on Parade. Councilor Doug Anderson
suggested that Karen Kellen contact Deb Brown in the City Clerk's Office to
get the names of the applicants that were not selected for the Heritage, Culture
and the Arts Commission. They might be interested in serving on the Lakewood
on Parade committee.
Red Rocks Community College Liaison
No report. The Diversity Council met on August 29 and discussed Mexican Independence
Day/Hispanic Heritage Celebration and Jefferson County Schools Diversity Day
scheduled for September, and the Disability Awareness Event scheduled for October
12.
Karen Nakandakare advised that a speaker from CU-Boulder is being considered for the MLK event. Shatta Garcia Mejia has offered to assist the Commission with ideas of how the Commission could get a better response from area schools to participate in the art and media contest for the Martin Luther King Day event.
Jennifer Squire related that Red Rocks is considering changing the date and time of the MLK event, possibly a week before and in the evening.
West Metro Fire Rescue, High School Citizen Corps Program
Councilor Sue King distributed the High School Citizen Corps Program draft from
Cindy Matthews, outreach coordinator for West Metro Fire. This program will
be offered to ethnic minorities in the junior and senior classes at Alameda
High School. Cindy has met with Dr. Shirley Algiene, principal at Alameda High
School, and Susan Lythgoe from The Learning Source for Adults and Families is
attempting to acquire grant funding for this program. Cindy Matthews would like
this Commission to assist with this program.
Councilor King stated that Alameda Gateway Business Association has intervened for Alameda High School to change the perception about the high school. The Belmar Optimist Club has a pancake breakfast with the assistance from the clubs at Alameda High School every Sunday through October. Some of the proceeds from the pancake breakfast go to these clubs.
Sue advised that Dr. Shirley Algiene is committed to work with the school's administration and have more parent involvement at her school. Sue recently met with Cindy Stevinson and Dr. Shirley Algiene to discuss issues at Alameda High School. Dr. Algiene was able to receive $180,000 from R-1 for textbooks.
Ken Milano presently volunteers as the liaison to Alameda High School for the City.
Commissioner Roybal commented that Alameda High School would like to have hands on communication by interacting with the community. Citizens in the community would be invited to talk to the students about their knowledge on a particular subject.
Jennifer Squire stated that Red Rocks Community College offers high school students an opportunity to earn college credits while in high school.
Karen related that Commissioner Linda Bessinger has coordinated a dialogue meeting with Dr. Shirley Algiene and representatives of Alameda High School. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 13 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Alameda High School. Linda Bessinger, Karen Nakandakare, Pete Roybal and Ken Milano are planning on attending this meeting.
Chair Nakandakare advised that Kathy Hodgson from Community Resources is interested in the possibility of the Heritage, Culture and the Arts Commission partnering with this Commission. HCA would like to attend this Commission's October meeting.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Community Focus Project
Chair Nakandakare advised that Linda Bessinger is scheduled to conduct the focus
group meeting at the Foothills Green Homeowner's Association on Thursday, September
21 at 6:00 p.m. Commissioner Wright stated that most likely the meeting would
be in the office of the complex. Two Creeks Neighborhood Association will be
contacted so they can participate in a focus group meeting also.
V. NEW BUSINESS
Nomination of Officers
Chair Nakandakare advised Commission members that the Chair position would be
handed to Elzia Sekou since he held the 1st Vice-Chair position.
Commissioner Kellen made a motion to nominate Commissioner Mark Skinner for the position of 1st Vice-Chair and was seconded by Commissioner Jaime diPaulo. With all present and voting in favor, the motion to approve Commissioner Mark Skinner as the 1st Vice-Chair for 2006-2007 was passed.
Commission Sekou made a motion to nominate Commissioner Kellen for the position of 2nd Vice-Chair and was seconded by Chair Nakandakare. With all present and voting in favor, the motion to approve Commissioner Karen Kellen as the 2nd Vice-Chair for 2006-2007 was passed.
Open Commission Positions and Retiring Commissioners
Commissioner Cathleen Jones-Gooding has submitted her resignation from this
Commission. Rick Lopez chose not to reapply.
Commissioners Pete Roybal, Carlos Cuellar and Karen Kellen submitted their applications to be re-appointed.
VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Sekou said that Mile Hi Church has plans to celebrate the season
of non-violence beginning with the day of Indira Gandi's assassination to the
day of Martin Luther King's birthday. Elzia would like this Commission to be
thinking about nominating a citizen in the community who exemplifies non-violence
behavior and working towards peace for the Mile-Hi Church program. He advised
that Mile Hi Church presently has two organizations promoting inclusiveness
and diversity and more community involvement.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Commission, a motion was made by
Commissioner Roybal to adjourn and seconded by Commissioner Cullis. The meeting
was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Margaret Sawyer, Staff Liaison
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