12/20/2011 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Minutes

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Mashpee Affirmative Action Committee Meeting Minutes December 20, 2011 at 5:00 pm Meeting Room 2, Mashpee Town Hall Present: Co-Chair Maryanne Wray, Co-Chair Kay Brown, Deborah Vaughn, Marilyn Farren Also Present: Selectman Carol Sherman CALL TO ORDER The meeting opened at 5:00 p.m. INVITED GUESTS Yamna, Diversity Day project to include Global Connection and Diversity Day. , will feature a different student every other week and will include a photo along with biographic information. Diversity Day will take place on Thursday, January 26 and Yamna reported that $200 had been raised to fund a performance. The Human Rights Club will assist with the organization of the event. In addition to multicultural performances, Yamna also recommended playing games in an effort to include more participants. Yamna expressed concern about funding a speaker, adding that they had been turned down for a grant they hoped to use to acquire a speaker. Yamna suggested offering henna tattoos to raise money for the event, but had been advised that it must occur at a non- school event. Yamna indicated that she was in need of additional ideas for Diversity Day, including identifying a speaker that would not require a fee and who could address the students for 15-20 minutes at 11:30 or 12. There was discussion regarding possible speakers, including Myriam Zuber and James Stobel, the new minister at Popponesset. It was noted that Chef Paul would be participating in the day. Ms. Farren suggested a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliory who provides training about multiculturalism. Yamna noted that a number of students would be performing during the event. Yamna may be contacted through Ms. Purdy at 539-3600 extension 1271. There was discussion regarding the Cape Cod Human Rights Commission. Neither Yamna nor Ms. Farren had received a response from them so Ms. Farren stated that she would follow up with Gail Wilson, Mashpee Human Services, who serves as the Mashpee Human Rights Commission contact. Ms. Vaughn recommended advertising the event on the local t.v. channel in order to encourage more community involvement. Selectman Sherman recommended contacting the Chamber of Commerce to be placed on their website. Yamna indicated that she was creating an information board to notify various languages. There was discussion regarding a photo that had been defaced. Yamna reported that meetings occurred every Tuesday after school. event to Ms. Farren. Karen Ryan, Resident Service Coordinator, Mashpee Village Ms. Ryan described Mashpee Village as having 145 rental units, consisting of 110 apartment units and 35 independent homes. Mashpee Village provides programming and community service projects to 124 youths. Ms. Ryan expressed interest in NPFH and collaborating on community service activities. Ms. Ryan described RPACT (Respect, Pride, Activism, Confidence and Teamwork) for teens at the Village, which has been responsible for activating a recycling program, building a community garden and greenhouse, creating a legal graffiti park out of old skateboards and initiating a food pantry and composting. Other youth programs include mentoring, after school and summer programs. During