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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEquityDiversity 2011-11-03 MinutesEQUITY AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES November 3, 2011 PRESENT: Joan Hernandez, Brenna Arnesen, Aaron Draganov, Mary Hulvey, Carolyn Barge ABSENT: Kathleen Gantz, Verna Seal, Mellody Matthes STAFF: Joyce Trantina GUESTS: Erika Berg, Charlie Penor Meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. NEW BUSINESS Erika Berg, Community Outreach Coordinator (Refugee & Immigrant Children's Program, Lutheran Community Services Northwest) shared information with Commission members. The program has been in existence for about 30 years. After the fall of Saigon, children were put in orphanages temporarily and then sometimes adopted by American families. Most of the kids are teenagers living on their own. A significant group of children from Sudan and Burma have settled in this area. The Children's Program also gets referrals from other agencies regarding teens who are alone in their own country, and then are resettled in the U.S. (unaccompanied minors). The agencies are always looking for culturally sensitive foster parents. The transition into homes is usually easier in communities where people are already exposed to many different ethnic groups, and Tukwila is definitely one of those communities. The monthly stipend is about $800/month, and medical coverage is provided. She also shared some success stories of some of the kids who had gone through the program. This group also helps with immigrants, many of whom maybe eligible for the same benefits as refugees. There are countless youth in shelters across the United States, 16 or 17 years old, in need of a foster home. Erika has been attending Tukwila provider meetings, done some work with the school district, and is hoping people in our community will be empathetic to the needs of these kids. The Commission members asked questions regarding temporary versus long-term commitment, and she explained thatthis is a Federallyfunded program that has remained secure and has actually grown. The kids are allowed to stay in the program until the age of 21, as long as they are in school. The refugee kids all seem to embrace the need for education. The kids from South America are more focused on their perception that they need to obtain jobs (versus education) so they can send money back home. Equity and Diversity Minutes November 3, 2011 Page 2 Discussion continued regarding the screening process for foster parents and children. Erika also informed the group that there is an information sharing night, at their office near Northgate Mall, from 6:00 — 8:00 p.m., on the second Monday of the month (next meeting, November 14th. The members thanked Ms. Berg for her presentation and the information she shared. OTHER BUSINESS The Minutes of the October 6, 2011 Equity and Diversity Commission Meeting were approved after minor modification. The members are hoping the December meeting might include updates on the following: Kathleen — on the diversity training; Verna — on the conference she attended; Mellody — on Citizenship Day. Joyce will follow up with an email to Verna, asking what skills might be needed for the volunteers helping with Citizenship Day at Foster. MISCELLANEOUS Joan and Joyce shared some of the highlights from the Somali Cultural Awareness workshop they attended a couple of weeks ago. Joan felt it might be beneficial to bring an awareness panel like this to our own community. This particular workshop was sponsored by the American Red Cross, who actually have a lot of services to offer refugees. We might want to consider a night at Foster for such an event — it would be important to have the right people for presenters. In addition to the Red Cross, Kathleen might also have resources for this. Aaron shared that on Nov. 22, 5th graders at Tukwila Elementary will be presenting their cultural essays and food (cultural feast) around 1:15 p.m. family/friends invited, and commission members are invited to attend. Mary Hulvey showed the group the two different types of magnets the City has utilized in the past (both were done in several languages). They contain emergency and other contact information, and were very well received in the community. These might make an excellent give-away item for the Commission at the Cultural event next year, as well as other community meetings, etc. Aaron volunteered to obtain bids on what it might cost to have something like this done again. Mary will follow up with Stacy and Evelyn to inquire about the best languages to consider for such a project. Charlie Penor is considering membership on the Commission and told us a little about himself. He currently works at BECU, has lived in the Tukwila community for about 7years, and is seriously Equity and Diversity Minutes November 3, 2011 Page 3 considering filling the current vacancy on the Commission. He took an application form with him, and Joyce explained the process for filling vacancies. Joyce will check into the cost of name tags for Commissioners. Carolyn apologized for missing some of the meetings, but her contract is ending at Thanksgiving and she will have more time and be able to be a more active participant. We have missed having her with us. The members decided it would be nice to have the December meeting be a "dinner meeting". Members are asked to send Joyce an email with possible locations — a restaurant with a small room would probably be best, though we will keep the agenda "light". Once a location has been established, Joyce will get a notice out, showing the change of location. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. XT BI " A11N nn