Hello. Good afternoon everyone. Welcome to the River Human Rights Commission. Today is May 7th. Um uh we I'm going to get the meeting I'm calling the meeting to order. I'll call I'll start with the
roll call of commissioners. I uh chair Shima Husini is here. Uh Commissioner Sheila Johnson >> here. >> Chief Edward Cullen >> here. >> Vice Chair Herby John Baptist >> here. >> And Dr. Garcia >> present.
>> Thank you. Before we move on um for our next uh point of our agenda, we're going to read the uh the mission statement. Uh, everyone should have their cards in front of them and whenever ready we can start.
The mission of the River Human Rights Commission is to promote human and civil rights and empower all people of Rever by ensuring that everyone especially the most vulnerable and marginalized have equitable opportunities, equal access
and are treated with dignity, respect, fairness and justice. Um for our land acknowledgement, we are acknowledging that we are in the land of the Pod Tucket um which is an indigenous group that is um still active in um in
Massachusetts and the surrounding areas. Um for with this being said that we encourage all people of indigenous background and native peoples to join our meetings at any time now, present and now present and in the future for um
the approval of the minutes from the April 2nd meeting. I just need someone um to push a mot a motion to approve the minutes and someone else to second. >> Second. >> All right. All in favor say I.
>> I. for the monthly acknowledgements and upcoming upcoming events. Uh May um states is the the Jewish American Heritage Month, Older American Month, uh speech and hearing awareness month, personal history month, National
Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Indian Heritage Month, Mental Health Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, South Asian Heritage Month, Haitian Heritage Month. Uh May 4th was the International Firefighters Day. Um thank you very much Chief
Holland for supporting our firefighters. Um May 5th was Cinco de Mayo. Uh May 8th, tomorrow will be um time of remembrance and reconciliation for those who lost their lives during World War II. May 21st was World Day for Cultural Diversity and um dialogue and
development. And May um 22nd is International Day for Biological Diversity. Um, I know that we missed uh on a particular celebration in April, which was Kami New Year. Um, this year was from April 14th to April 16th. It's typically a three-day event every um
every year on on April and this year was April 14th to April 16th. Um, I'm gonna leave it up to the commissioners if there are any events that um I didn't mention that should be mentioned or should be added to the calendar so that everyone in the city is aware
>> that the Asian American Pacifica, you know, I think it's this month too. Yeah. >> Awesome. Mention that any >> is it May 18? Okay. May 18 Haitian fly day.
Is this month mental health awareness month? >> Yes, mental health awareness month. Yes. >> Anything else? >> No. >> Awesome. Um, this goes on for everyone in the community who is watching our meetings. If there are any um uh
holidays or events that we haven't mentioned dur during our monthly meetings, you can definitely reach us out um reach out to us through the the website where we'll definitely put it on the calendar so that every year we're aware of um a certain holiday or a certain event
for so moving on to our first main agenda item is going to be the updates on the different working groups. Um, I'll I'll get that started. As a matter of fact, um, I don't know if I can do this, but I
will invite um a member of the audience to the podium. Um, Miss Deb Pesca, if you don't mind. Um I'm going to give uh Miss Pesca a the opportunity to introduce herself uh among the commission and then from there we could definitely talk about how um
our project with the senior center in the with the senior um community is looking as of right now and how what the next steps are. So go ahead. >> Good afternoon commissioners. I'm I'm honored to be here in front of you. My name is Deb uh Pesco de Julio. I am the
director of elder affairs in the city of Rivier and um both Sheila and Shama have talked to me about doing a project with them with our seniors and um I'm so excited. So if you want to talk about it
or you want me to either way we're we're looking forward to it. >> Yeah. So, I could definitely um bring um and I'll definitely give Commissioner Johnson the space to also um present some of the things that we talked about.
So, uh our um overall project is to have um intergenerational con conversations between the seniors and um just people of different generations. So, you know, boomers, Gen X, um millennials, Gen Z, and then the current generation,
generation alpha, they're too young. But nonetheless, the conversation is in between the different generations. Um, and we're doing it through um the me uh the medium of uh Rever TV where it's kind of like a panel conversation piece where two people are going to be
presenting questions to the different people from the different generations and they're kind of ultimately it's going to show us just how much um how much difference but also how much the different generations also have in common based off the questions that we've formulated over the past couple of
weeks. Uh recently we did speak with um Bob and Andrew at Revier TV um to talk about how that setup is going to look like. Um and at the same time we were brainstorming different ways of how to reach out to some of the students at the high school. Um which um my update on
that is that uh I did create a conversation between me and Mr. Cabraw from the welcome committee at the high school in which um I'm going to go eventually visit the committee at the at the high school and just see the
students uh just really uh explain to them what our project is, the goal of our project and see if we could potentially get some seniors who could join us on that panel as well. Um and at the same time I have I've never been to River High School, so I get the chance
to see it for myself. um and um just really get more familiar with the space just since we are creating more of a relationship with the people with the students at the at the high school. So that's my update on that. I'm pass it
over to Ashila. >> I think you pretty much covered it all. I but the purpose of this and we've talked about this is to for all of us to understand each generation. you know, I'm from a different one and it would be
better. It's great for us to get to know where their mindset is as seniors and their experience. We all we think that it'll be so worthwhile for this generation because it's hard enough jobs, housing, you know, just the
ability to make friends, you know, something as simple as that, they are having a hard time. So, we want to try to close this gap. And by doing this, I think this is an opportunity that'll be great for the seniors and for the high
school kids because we're not going any lower than seniors. That was I just think it's a great idea and um if we can continue this, it'll be great. Deb, you want to add some? And I think one of the things that uh we may have left out is you know the goal is to
bridge the gap between older and younger generations but also to facilitate a discussion and learning from each generation. I mean if I just sat here and said I was talking to Sheila when we were younger the TV you waited for your
parents to get the TV and then once you had a TV in your house everybody watched that one TV. You know, life is so different right now where it's now we're going to get a TV and what room are we going to put it in? So, communication, just communication, the phone, there was one phone in the house. It had a party
line. You used to have to wait, >> you know. So, I, you know, and and maybe I date myself, maybe I don't, but I sit with seniors every single day, people over 60, and they have such a wealth of knowledge and they have so much to give.
But it seems sometimes that people don't want to listen to them. And I think the younger generation feels the same way. So these are kids in high school and they have a lot to say, but no one really wants to listen because they're kids or they're seniors or they're in
their 30s and what the hell do they know? You know, it I think we're going to try and promote conversation. Um men, women, boys, girls, we don't care the race. We don't care. We don't care. Just the conversation. people to people. And
I do have I'm just going to give you one question. Um, what family traditions did you grow up with that you've carried forward? That's what we're going to ask. And that's what what we want to hear from someone who's 18 and someone who's 60. And you know something, I don't
think there's much of a gap. Um, and I think it's going to be interesting. We may be crazy, but we're going to try. >> Thank you very much, Deb. Thank you very much, Commissioner. No, you could you No, you could No, no, no, no. You could definitely No, no. You could definitely No, no, you could definitely say I don't
want to continue this conversation where um uh I think in the in the light of the socopolitical climate that we're in right now, that division has been made a lot more forceful. Like, oh yeah, the younger gener generation doesn't know
any different or um you know, the older generation is taking over the world type thing. It's all these different narratives that's being thrown around um uh especially considering um like what's going on in our country. And I think that once we even start developing these
these um bridging these gaps on a very very not even service like even starting at a service level and going much deeper will eventually bring upon some level of change to our city because we don't see ourselves as different people. we're just like we're all part of the same
community. So that's why I'm like I'm really excited to start on this project. Um I'll open it up to the other members of the commission if you have any questions, any potential um things that you would like to see. Um it is I know this is specifically just for like the
senior working group, but this is also like a representation of the entire HRC. So I do want to hear everyone else's thoughts. >> Dr. I think I think this is is an amazing project. Seriously, um I think
uh these all initiative probably will contribute to combating um isolation and agism. That's important. So uh and this gap needs to be bridged. Uh it's timely u and is
important. is very relevant for um all constituents whether you are a student whether you are a uh person over 60 70 I think the present generations uh has a lot to learn from people who have lived uh probably in the
70s 80s 90s um so uh and it's important the more we know each other in the community um you talk about making sure people are included we talking about making sure that our diverse group is respected. Um so all
these when you bring this dialogue and uh dialogue it's exactly that it's more than one voice right you got people around dialogue and talking to each other I think it's good for the well-being of the person seeing young people going to the center talking to
elders um engage in community service and things like that that's so powerful I think you should be congratulated for championing such cause uh because it is needed. It's important and um this we're talking about technology the gap also
young people can bring a lot teach the old generations as well and they can learn how was life in the 70s how how was life in the 80s that type of storytelling it's so powerful and I I think it's a wonderful thing to do
>> thank you very much Dr. Garcia, anyone else? >> Yes. Go ahead, director. >> So, I just want to thank director Peza for coming before us. More importantly, uh I love the enthusiasm on your part. So, thank you. Um and I, you know, Dr.
Garcia spoke about generational change and think about like anyone who's watching think about in your lifetime how many changes there's been like like director spoke about going from a beeper going from uh lean line phones to
everyone having a cell phone to cell phones being luxury to kids having them now. Think about the students now where they are now. They're being they're raised they're like 17 18 years old 16 year olds and they already have they're
growing up with all these technologies listening to their elders talk about what what experiences they've they've had throughout their life. These generational changes makes them stop and
respect what was and what what they have now and what's going to change in their lifetime and how it's just there's just so many different moving facets and there's so many ways you can play this. And if you looked at the whole situation
and you're wondering why has haven't there been a reality television show on television that puts a young group of college students living with a group of seniors in the cultural experience just in general that that
would make millions right so I think you guys are on to a great start and I'm I can't wait you know anything I in any way I can help let me Thank you very much, director. I think um how I see this, if we're talking about like big picture, it just also
helps with if there are any laws or rules that we would like to pass either whether through municipal government or like state government when they see that it's only it's not only one subset of people are suffering or like are going through one certain thing
that needs to be solved. when they're like, "No, this is a collective community issue." Which is why more of a reason why a law or a law or a bill should be passed. Like that's how I see this going because um even like within my own social circles, we're just like,
"Oh yeah, no, no one's going to listen to us and things like that and this bill will never be passed and stuff like that because there isn't enough support." But then when it's like especially when you know the the value the great value that the you know the older generations bring to the community they have a lot of
power when it comes to you know how the workings of the of the community. So once we get their voices plus the younger generation's voices it's more of a reason why a certain thing should be passed a certain bill should be passed and more of a reason why the government should be paying more attention to
certain issues. Um, so that's um that's all that's all I have to say for now. We'll definitely keep you folks updated. We do have a lot of things between me, Director Presca, and Commissioner Johnson that we're plan on doing for the
rest of the month up until our potentially pilot episodes. So, we'll definitely give uh keep you folks updated. So, that is for now. Um, uh, uh, Director Resco, do you want to add anything else before we move on? >> I'm just looking forward to it.
>> Awesome. Awesome. Same. I'm so excited. Um, the next, uh, um, agenda item is the updates on Junth. I know that director Morio was talking about this earlier, but we could definitely open up to that discussion now in terms of where we
would like it to be, when will it be, all the different nitty all the different nitty-gritty details so that we could plan accordingly to that event. So, I'm going to leave it up to either Dr. Garcia or Director Morabido to start
on that. Okay, so here's the update. Dr. Garcia and I met and so here are the components that we discussed. Uh we discussed RER revier public schools partnering in with the human rights commission and the
city of River um and them adding an educational element to it. Uh we also discussed in terms of entertainment using Junth Association and Junth Association will provide a someone who
does a spoken word a poet and the lift every voice anthem. Um we also are thinking some other topics that came up community speakers. Um, and while we're on that, not to put anyone
on the spot, um, someone we that did come up that we would love to be one of our speakers who are in our community and has been an asset to this commission since she's been on is Sheila. She doesn't have to give a answer right now, but she's one of the names that came up
that we would be honored to have her speak. Um and next is the location and funding source. So funding source and location goes hand in hand. So
through our department of uh engagement inclusion culture, we can we have grant funds of $1,500. Now with that said, Jan Dumis is here from Riveria Community
Committee and if we have the location at Costa Park, they would be willing to give us $500. So that could be you used toward culturally focused in like music or
food. Um, so just some food for thought. she's here today if you wanted to hear from her as well. >> Miss Jan Dumis, if you don't mind coming up to the podium, um just uh briefly introduce yourself and just um I just want just more detail
about what the the grant really entails just so everyone is more aware of it. >> Okay. Hi everybody. I'm Jan Dumish. I live at 50 Walnut Avenue and I'm head of the roofer community committee. And uh I also want to mention that you forgot that Belain uh it's a pagan holiday fire
festival happened on May 1st. B E L T A N E. I figured I'd get that in. >> Certainly. Okay. So, um, we've been running the Charlotte Cultural Festival and other
events in the Charlotte neighborhood for 14 years. And, uh, tomorrow our dog park goes live. Yay. Um, but we have, um, I know, I'm so excited. Uh, Neil didn't live to see it, but it's happening anyway. Um, we have have grant money
available for both events in um, St. Lisor and Costa Park and I can make some of that money available if you want to use Costa Park to do the Junth um event that we can use um both for
entertainment and for food for bringing in speakers. Um I'm I'm glad to help uh with doing that. Uh the River Community has been active for 14 years now. Um,
we've done uh everything from a mural that's over by the train station to starting the Little Free Library program in River. The first two Little Free Libraries are in the Shirley Avenue neighborhood. We've done
beautififications. Um, we have rebuilt the um Sandler Square Park. We've revolted dawn park and we've done three rebuilds on Costa Park including new uh playground
equipment and some flowers and repainting. We do a repaint of the welcome mural every four years. It's got welcome in English and welcome in every language that's spoken
in the um Shirley neighborhood. >> That's amazing. Um, and >> is there anything you'd like to ask me about the River Community Committee? >> Um, I'll I'll go first. Well, um, I just want to um give thanks to the River Community Committee for all the
contributions um to to Rever, especially in the Shirley Avenue area. I've definitely been a personal witness to all of them. So, I think it's it's just amazing of what has been done in the past decade and a half. So definitely all credit to you guys to you folks and
thank you for keeping up um with just the the initiative to make a river a beautiful place. Um for me just logistical things. Is there a um part like a document that just states like
what the grant entails just so we could have that on record if we're going to move forward with using Kasa Park. >> Um >> Oh go ahead. Um, chair, with all due respect, that's um, valid question, but it's really not
relevant and like they're responsible for distributing it. So, yeah, it's really not um, >> they're responsible for understanding the rules and conditions. if they want to give funds to our event and it's
hosted in the Costa Park area >> then >> yeah it's okay we're we're relieved of any liability >> okay >> okay it's just for my own more information but no thank you very much for that director um I could open it up to everyone
>> no my my grant just says that I can use it for events um developmental regret defense in Costa Park. >> Okay, got it. Thank you. Thank you so much. >> First, I want to say thank you. It is
amazing for someone who's driven past there because I park at Wonderland. I've seen the change and it's so nice to put a face to who is part of it. So, it is amazing transition of how it used to
look to now. So, thank you. That's all I wanted to say. >> Thank you. You are welcome to attend any of our meetings. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month. >> Uh 6:00 p.m. we meet at um 17 Walden Avenue, the old firehouse that the
neighborhood developers took and turned into elderly housing. And I did not bring any of our um flyers, but I will um leave some in uh Steve's office next time I come this way. >> That would be great. Thank you so much.
>> Sure. >> Anyone else? >> I just want to say thank you for your hard work and then this is unbelievable. this is the kind of group that we need in the community that we can support
like kind of any ethnic group in River. That's a very very you know wonderful thing that you're doing and then again thank you again. >> Thank you. I've um I've helped out at
the uh Chelsea Junth ceremony and and that that whole um all day event and I've always wondered why hasn't had an event and I started talking to to Steve about it and uh I just like we we just have to have one
and if if I can do something to make that happen I'm going to do something to make that happen. >> Sounds great. Go ahead. Uh, vice chair. >> I just wanna You said you've been doing this for 14 years. Yes. >> I would like to know how you start, you
know, the program like kind of doing this. Yeah. >> The neighborhood developers had a pizza party at 15 50 Walnut Avenue and it they invited anyone who wanted to think about ways to improve their community. I am
part Italian and if you offer me pizza, you have me for life. In all seriousness, I just um I remember Shirley having its heyday. Um, as a young kid, I had a neighbor who
would bring me to the beach. And I remember when it was so lively and exciting and I saw it it being lost and forgotten. And then I saw it being lost to development and being lost to
community. And and when the neighborhood developers came in with their um motto that good neighbors make good neighborhoods, I realized that I was going to be a good neighbor and make it a good neighborhood. as you know the chair just uh walked
out. So I'm just taking over as a co-chair. >> I'm excited to see how she's she's grown. I remember when she was one of our volunteers. >> That's good. Anything else that you want to add? Um, n Oh, she's back.
>> Um, no. I'm I'm hoping that the schools can partner with us that they can do something. Um, you know, we, you know, schedule something with Rever TV. I'm I'm not sure exactly how it's going to come
together. I just know that I want to be a part of it. This is something that needs to be celebrated. My great greatgrandfather lost his life fighting for the Union. So this is important to me. It needs to be celebrated.
>> Do you mind leaving your number, your email with me so we can keep you updated? >> Of course. Let me see if I still have a card. >> Dr. Garcia. >> And if not, I can always relay that information if you give me permission.
>> Of course. Um, >> I might be out of business cards. I'm out of business cards. Yeah, talk to Steve. He knows how to find me. >> Um, I think in pertaining to Sorry, I was out for like a second.
>> That's okay. >> Um, if we already discussed this, just please let me know. Um, in pertaining to the event itself, I think we should move forward with using Costa Park, especially since it is very much child-friendly. So, you know, if you
know, if adults can't find anyone to watch over the kids, you know, there's it's a park. It's a it's a huge playground. So, it's definitely kid-friendly. There's enough space to actually do a lot of activities and get a lot of people in there. Um, and I think because it's Shirley Avenue, it's
a very it's a melting pot within the city of River. So, I think it's like the perfect place that brings all the cultures together. Um, I mean that's what it's uh mainly known for. It's known for people of different backgrounds living all within the same
area. So I think having um an event that very celebrates that celebrates the um the overcoming of adversity from the black and African-American community. Um I
think it's a very good place to do it. Uh, but how does that sit with everyone else? Should we move forward with using Costa Park? I mean, Sandler Square, I've seen Sandler Square a little bit on the smaller end, but I think House Park is a perfect place. >> The difficulty with Standler Square is
that we need the the police and the fire department's permission to close off those side streets. I think we're a little too late and a little too close to to Junth to do that. >> Whereas Kasa Park is fully enclosed. Yeah. and would be a little bit easier.
Uh we might need uh maybe an auxiliary police officer to help with street crossing. That might be about it. >> Okay. So through you, Chair Hosa. >> Um so first if um I would ask for a roll
call just to make it official for the location. And in terms of Sandler, so we would have to pay for road closures, um DPW truck to block it off each we're
not take the city of River is not taking um is taking safety very very serious these days because you see what's going on in television. any way, shape, or form someone can interfere or interact with the crowd. They're trying
to take all precautions and block it off. So, you're better to be safe than sorry. So, um funding is a source. That's why I'm I reached out to Jan reached out to me. Um, so I think looking at the whole picture, I think if
we get a roll call on the location, Sandler is going to be a little complex because we're going to need we're going to waste a lot of our funding on paying the overtime for the police if it's off hours, the DPW to keep a uh person in the ve vehicle to block it off because
say if a emergency apparatus had to come through, they would have to be present around their vehicle to move it. Um, if we did Jersey barriers, we would still have to pay someone to come out and do it. Um, everything's union contracted. So, the way around this is probably at
Sandler Square, uh, Costa Park, I'm sorry, Costa Park or outside City Hall. And another component I want to add is the date. Um, if we had it the same night as our human rights commission
meeting, we we wouldn't have to there's already someone scheduled for the DPW and we wouldn't have to pay them double time just to come in for the event on a different day. >> That would be June 4th if I'm not if I'm not mistaken.
>> Yes. So um >> so we would need two roll calls agreement on a date and a location and that would be >> okay. Um >> and then Dr. Garcia and I can work our magic. >> We could definitely start with the
location. So um all in favor Oh sorry whoever uh raise your hands if you are good with Costa Park. All right. All in favor say I. >> I. Okay. So, um motion pass for having
the Junth celebration in Costa Park. In terms of June 4th, um I mean I know I know the endless expertise that you do you and Dr. Garcia have. So, you can definitely work your magic. I'm just
tiny bit afraid that we may not have enough time. But then again, it is like exactly a month from now. So I might just be overestimating this um >> through you chair Jose tongue twister all of a sudden Hosani
right Hosani there we go my god um so I would go before the license commission I would submit the application I would go before the license commission on May 20th if that's the case just be if you have any public event in a park whether it's a city event or not you got
to get clearance through the licensing board. I would I would present that application. I would speak on behalf of all of us and that would all that's all we would need. I I would arrange um for the chairs to be there. Um I would collaborate with Jan and Dr. Garcia in
order of um entertainment what we're going to do. Um, one more vote if we could take if this commission gives the chair permission to answer some like to have some say in terms of like if we want to
do some kind of culturally focused food or something of that nature if we're thinking of like having Mottown entertainment like a singer or a DJ of that and raise up the uh atmosphere a little bit and have a little more uh
music. So, I just want to know if we can if you guys mind if you guys would idea >> be open to put in a motion to give the chair some leeway >> ra so we don't avoid the so we can avoid the open meeting law.
>> Um okay. Uh well um do I have can I even push that motion? >> Yeah, you would have to have someone else. So someone else would push the motion. to allow the chair to have regards to
the event. >> All right. Someone to second. >> I second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> All right. Awesome. So, we'll we'll get that started. I'll definitely start working on uh Oh, yeah. Go ahead,
Commissioner Johnson. >> Just a question going back June 4th. So the children will be out of school >> because this is at what time? >> We still gonna have a seniors >> because the graduation is a week later.
>> So what time would we have the event? >> We start at five. >> So five we would Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um Yeah. So with that in terms of like the intricate details of how the event is going to play out, I'll definitely
start working on a Google document tonight. Um that's going to be shared with you, Miss Dumis, and everyone else in the commission so that everyone knows exactly what I'm planning on and things like that. um or just like my ideas of
how of if we're going to have any entertainment, if I know anyone locally um you know from from potentially even Shirley Avenue who can do the entertainment too, just so you know um we get their their name out and things of that sort and just potentially any uh
uh local area, local restaurants that could potentially help us with the with the catering side of things. Um, I'll get that started just brainstorming and then I'll just see what everyone says as we're moving towards the event. Um, my
plan is to get as much information solidified by the 20th so that by the time uh, director Morbidito speaks with the licensing committee. Um, license committee he, you know, a lot of things have already been said so that all we need is the permission from the
licensing committee. So, I'll get that to you as soon as possible. Um hopefully uh without of course breaking any opening laws, I get input from everyone else because obviously I'm not the only one who lives in River um in the commission. So we'll get that started.
You'll get that link by to uh by tonight. So just be on the look tonight or tomorrow. Just just be on the lookout for that. Yeah. All right. Uh yes, go ahead. Uh Jean Baltis, do you think the money will be enough or
if the money is not enough, what could what will happen to go to do the event >> more. Do you think the money will be enough to do the party or the event? >> Budget. We're just going to budget.
Okay. And make sure we don't go beyond our means. >> No, the reason the reason I say that can we probably get volunteer like kind of in term of m music in term of like I know can we get someone like kind of
know to just come as a DJ to volunteer. We don't have to pay that person. >> That would be amazing. If you know anyone send them our way. >> Okay. You know, keep in mind we we don't want to just we want to be culturally sensitive and we want to we want to
support the black community. So we we want to we want to we want to have everything that's focused around that culture that day. that that's what I try to do for pride with vendors um uh
food anything you can think of like you want to be culturally sensitive and support that community for this holiday and that's all if you guys want to do otherwise that's fine obviously it's your the commission's
choice but that's what I would consider >> I mean yes I mean the entire point of the and you know everyone else can obviously we speak their own minds about this is that the entire point of the event is to uplift and um spotlight
uh the history of black and African-American individuals. So as you know for in terms of um people who are going to be presenting you know if there is spoken word or people giving um speeches of that sort it should be it it
must be the people who are who we're celebrating on that day. So I definitely agree with you. It it is it is going to be like culturally representative of what we're celebrating. Um, so a lot of the ideas that we're going to be
bringing to the table in terms of the event is centering black and African-American individuals. So yeah, I think um I think um I think that's uh that's important. Um
it has to be relevant. We cannot just you know celebrate uh things that um celebration celebrating diversity is important but it has also you know that's uh it junth is considered you know basically the second independence
day in this country it's huge so uh certainly a lot of things needs to happen between be between now and the fourth a lot of things >> it's time to go Okay. So, uh it's important for us to
start now. Um we need to start um we need to start with invitations. Uh before we know it, the fourth is here. So, we need to start inviting people to the event and putting a
brochure together with a program together. uh the guest speakers, who are the people who are going to be talking um that if we have a band, you know, all that needs to come together because before we know it, you uh it will be here. The plan is to do that event. And
also because it's celebrated probably two weeks before the actual day, maybe, you know, two weeks and a half, two weeks, yeah, before the actual day, record it. Then on the eve of Junth,
probably the 18th on the 18th, we can broadcast it to River TV. That way we do it earlier, but it will actually be broadcasted on the day on the eve of uh Junth. That way it's people can go now,
that's fine, but those who will never, you know, that did not see it will see the video and everything else. So that's the plan here. any conversations with Rever TV, having someone to be down there. No, I I think that's a I think that's a great way of doing it, especially since we are doing
it early. So, I definitely agree with that. With that being said, um I'll push for um I'll push for a motion to um have the event planned for June 4th. Um I just need someone to second that
motion. >> I'll second it. >> All right. All in favor say I. All right. Um on agree. So our we're all we have made it evident that the event will take place in Kasa Park on June 4th
during um same time as our commission meeting. So from 5 to now it's 7:15 uh according to the Zoom but now to 7 o'clock. I think >> we can do 7:30. >> 7:30 from 5 to 7:30. So, I'll definitely
also get started on the flyer as well. I'll pass some ideas around. U make a couple of different ones just so we have a variety of options to choose from. So, definitely get started on that as well. >> Yes. Go ahead, Dr. Garcia. Sorry, I apologize. So, I put one
together last year. So, um he actually um Mr. Morabido and um you know um you know as my and I met with him at the high school, he offered actually to to
help out. um whenever um you folks get the chance, can I have um uh can I have his um contact information just so I can be in contact with them? >> Thank you. Go ahead. Thank you very much, Dr. Garcia. Go ahead, Director Morito. >> Just one more thing. I know we voted on
a date just just so there's um a unified vote. Maybe if someone can make a motion to have Junth celebration in play as your next public meeting as an
educational um tool. So basically I can't make the motion because I'm just the executive director. So, um, the motion would be for the Human Rights Commission to use its have
a public meeting as a Junth celebration as an educational tool or Dr. Garcia, let's reword it for me. You're the educational scholar.
So just so there's a unified, we're looking to we need a motion. So >> our next meeting is June 4th. So we need a motion to use the Junth celebration in
place as in place of our public meeting as to be used as an educational tool. >> Okay. I make a motion to use our next meeting as a Junth celebration. Um the
purpose of that is to ensure that we educate the pu uh the uh the people and we use it as certainly as an educational strategy to empower our community. Does that not sound it? Okay. All right. >> All right. Well, >> we need someone to second.
>> So, anyone to second? >> I second. >> All All in favor say I. I >> I >> um I just want to make it known that um Commissioner Pelletary is here. Um welcome, welcome. We'll we'll we'll
catch you up um of based on what we've done. So um quickly, the first thing that we talked about was the the projects with the senior um with the senior community. Um earlier the director of of uh senior affairs um Deb
Pes uh Pesca was here basically just updating the commission of how that project is going. Um we ultimately up to this point have spoken to Rever TV and have set a undisclosed tentative date of when that project is actually going to
come to fruition. Um, next week we are actually going to be meeting with the director of the of the welcome committee at the high school to really meet with the students, meet with the committee and just see if we could potentially ultimately just um uh tell showcase what
the project is about and potentially get some students from the community to come join us in that conversation. Um, and at the same time get an awareness to see it for myself in person. Um, that way I'm a lot more familiar with how the community how the community is and how
the environment is just so we could further build those connections with the students. Um, so that's the update on terms of the senior of the senior project. Uh, in in terms of Junth, we ultimately so this is um, Jan Dumas. She
is um one of the members of the River Community Committee and essentially we um you just you just missed it, but we just made a motion to have the Junth celebration by the with the Human Rights
Commission and the River Community Committee be done on June 4th. Um which is at the same time as our uh monthly scheduled meeting, but instead of meeting here, we'd meet over there. Um, and we'll do it in Costa Park, which is I don't know if you I'm pretty sure you
know where it is. Um, we'll have it over there. And then, uh, as the month goes forward, we're just, um, brainstorming who we're going to bring, how we're going to utilize that money. Um, ultimately with the reviewer community committee, since we're doing the meeting at we're doing the event at Kasa Park,
we do get some grant money. So we could definitely um see how we could budget that and utilize the full extent of that of that budget. So uh did I miss anything commission members? >> Awesome. >> Thank you.
>> Uh um I do want to give you the opportunity despite me being very haste in my uh um in my summaries, but do you have any input in terms of what I've just mentioned? anything that you would like to see from either project that we're
working on? Um, just any any sort of import whatsoever? >> No, that all sounds really good. I apologize. I was at the state house till 5 and ran right here right afterwards. So, uh, I apologize for being super late on that. The uh the events about going to the high schools sounds super exciting. Over the over the time that
um, we weren't meeting, I was thinking about how we can better involve ourselves in the high school and how we can make the high school better involved here. And it would be really awesome if we could connect with any of the history teachers or the AP um you know lit or um gov teachers for example. And I'd love
to give an opportunity any way we can to have a student you know one student from either of the classes come up uh once a month when you have these meetings and kind of give a state of the school or give how they feel the school has been going or somehow form the opportunity to say hey we have these meetings once a month. If we could have if anyone wants
to come and discuss what they feel about the school and what they feel about the trae trajectory, I think opening up an opportunity like that would be awesome. I'd love to like headway that or any kind of uh any kind of help I can give with that. But being able to hear student voices directly is a big emphasis that I want to be able to
champion and I want to be able to really uh push throughout the committee. Thank you. >> Um no, thank you very much for that. Um, Commissioner Pelletary, I think I think a couple years ago, I think it was one of the it was something that one of the I believe it was a history teacher. I do
not recall their name off the top of my head. I could definitely look into it. Um, where they did reach out to us to see how we could potentially do like a civics day type thing where we come in um to some of their classes and really discuss like what's the point of um the
the essence of the human rights commission? what's our goals for the entirety of the rever community. So, I think going back to that, I could definitely forward you that email that I got because it wasn't an email directly towards me, but it was a um HRC website
submission from one of the teachers. So, I could definitely forward that to you um since I still have it. But I I I totally agree. I think that especially having some of the students or at least some of the seniors now um being involved with conversations between the
different generations with the senior project is like a step of how to get closer with the students. Um so I'll yeah I'll definitely give you more information um regarding that after after our meeting. All right. Anyone
anyone else? Awesome. So I think that is it for now. Um Director Morabito, do we have any HRC um submissions from the website that um you would like for us to address at this moment?
>> There have been none. >> All right. Thank you very much. Um I'll Miss Dumas, if you want to come up and speak. It's definitely open forum. So, if there's anything that you would like us to talk about or discuss or even potentially continue work um planning on
the Junth meeting, this is this is your opportunity to come up and speak. If not, you don't have to. >> I know. >> No, that's totally fair. Um but >> through you chair Hosani I just want to say river did have it when Dr. Baros was
here. We had our fir we had Junth the first year for two years in a row and then there was we we kind of shared it with the river public schools because of funding last year. >> Last year we got a last year we got a big celebration at the high school. Um
it was actually great. um you know um I did not have time to thank you uh for um offering the the place for us to celebrate Junth. I think it's a great um opportunity. By the way, I have worked
with um Raphael in the past during the COVID time. It was you know Rafael was critical in terms of uh providing access to housing and things like that. So he's he's still there. Okay. Yeah, >> he's still there and he has been a great leader.
>> Yeah, I know. Yeah, >> thank you very much. Um, any anyone from the commission wants to this opportunity to bring up anything else that we haven't discussed during the meeting today? Um, or potentially just any questions regarding the things that
we've already discussed. >> All right. >> Just I don't know if it can be a motion or not. I would like to ask if we can um all the commission can get an update on a weekly basis like kind of in term of the plan what you guys putting together
so we know what's going on. So if we can maybe have a communication so we so we can know we can find out you know what's going on on a weekly basis maybe it could be like I know every Thursday we can just shoot an email or to all of us anymore.
>> Yes. So, in terms of the document that I'm going to share with everyone in terms of like how um just ideas that I think that we should sorry um that we should implement in the event, it's going to be a a shared document. So, you could see the updates happening at all time. But I'll
definitely if it makes life a lot more easier to just me giving up um weekly updates so that you don't necessarily have to go into the document, you just see the the summary of the things that was done week to week um basis. I could definitely do that for for everyone. Um, just >> I do want to be included in that, of
course. >> Yes. Of course. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'll I'll get your contact information from Steve and have you on that, you know. >> And that's an excellent idea because um when you email weekly, there's a chance of someone responding and that's a violation of the open meeting law if
like one person responds and there's like all of us on it. So, that's a per that's a smart idea. >> Yeah. So, I'll I'll definitely do that just to make life easier for everyone. Um, anyone else? Awesome. Well, with that being said, um,
I'll have uh someone I'll push a motion for the meeting to be adjourned. Um, I just need someone to second. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. All right. Meeting is adjourned. Thank you very much everyone for giving me the time of day for being here with
us. Um thank you very much Miss Dumas for joining us today and giving me your giving us your time and your contribution to not only the commission but to review as well. Um everyone is dismissed. Feel free to head out and um thank you very much for everyone who's watching. Have a great rest of your
evening. Take care.