HomeMy WebLinkAboutESJ 2026-01-08 MinutesTTEDEES
Maryan Abdow
Jo Anderson
Hamdi Diriye
Aaron D ra ga n ov
Joe Duffie
Kathy Hougardy
Tukwila Equity and Social Justice Commission
City of Tukwila — City Hall
6200 Southcenter Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188
Fa n e Katoa
Trish Kinlow
Kristen Schwabe -Frye
Call to Order
II Introduction (2 minutes)
III Approval of Agenda (2 minutes)
IV Approval of Minutes, December 4, 2025 (2 minutes)
V Business Items
• An Ice Breaker
Commissioners learned more about each other.
• Review Group Norms
Group norms were approved.
• Review Resolution 1970
The consensus among Commissioners is that a resolution such as this ought to be
revisited every few years to factor in changes in the community and socio-political
climate, as well as to reflect the values of the current Council and renew their
commitment. To this end, Commissioners provided recommendations to be
incorporated into a revised resolution:
Tukwila Equity and Social Justice Commission
City of Tukwila — City Hall
6200 Southcenter Boulevard, Tukwila, WA 98188
o Replace the terms "tolerant/tolerance" as describing the relationship among the City
and community members. As one commissioner stated that the term "... comes
across as we will tolerate you, but we will never accept you."
o Commissioners discussed the importance of continuing to support increasing
workforce and leadership diversity as a means to better welcome, reflect, and
increase access to City services among Tukwila's community members, noting
increases in the community's diversity over the past 25 years and acknowledging the
work that has been done by the City to increase workforce diversity. Language and
cultural knowledge are valued skills and attributes in creating a welcoming
environment. The City should not tolerate bias among employees and continue to
break barriers for women and people of color.
o A commissioner offered verbiage from "...another city's similar resolution -
WHEREAS, City employees serve all residents and make city services accessible to all,
regardless of immigration status, and City agencies and law enforcement cannot
withhold services based on ancestry, race, ethnicity, national origin, color, age, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical or mental disability,
immigration status or religion;"
o Also, a commissioner suggested support for "classes that help them know where
they come from and where they are going"
o Commissioners value this document as a statement of values and want to know
more about actionable steps supporting these statements.
• 2026 Work Plan
Commissioners identified two main focus areas in 2026.
1. Supporting community -led programming and cultural celebrations.
2. Reintroducing the ESJ Commission to the Council and develop a working
relationship consistent with the stated purpose in the Commission's bylaws.
VI Miscellaneous