12/10/2019 MASHPEE INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE Minutes

Home Browse Search

Mashpee Inclusion & Diversity Committee Meeting Minutes December 10,2019 at 10:00 am Mashpee Town Hall 16 Great Neck Road North Present: Chairwoman J. Marie Stevenson, Winnie Johnson-Graham, JoAnn Nadeau, Lynne Waterman, Patty DeBoer, William Baker(Non-Voting), Cheyenne Hendricks (Non-Voting) Also: Human Resource Director Kim Landry Absent: Gail Wilson, Katherine Brown, Susan Wilson, Selectman Liaison John Cotton CALL TO ORDER The meeting was opened by the Chair at 10:05 a.m. without a quorum,with the intent to discuss matters only,but the later arrival of members allowed for a quorum of attending members. The Chair introduced guests Mohammed Fand,Richard Klein, Bill Nay, Aphrodite Purdy and Julia Medeiros. As a few of today's speakers had other commitments,the agenda was amended to allow the speakers to present earlier. OLD BUSINESS Human Rights Club,Diversity Project-The Chair introduced Aphrodite Purdy,who would be serving as an advisor to the Human Rights Club. Ms. Purdy thanked Ms. DeBoer and the Chair for their assistance with the club. Ms. Purdy explained that the club had been very active from 2006-2013 and had been re-established with an effort to celebrate diversity in the community. Activities were being planned for January 21-24. Ms. Purdy asked for the Committee's assistance with the programming on Diversity Day, January 24. A civil rights exhibition, displayed nationwide and curated by journalist Pamela Purdy,would be displayed in Mashpee on Diversity Day. Student Julia Medeiros,discussed her project, a website featuring immigration stories of Mashpee,their successes and the immigration process,which would be presented during the week of activities. Ms. A. Purdy stated her wish to recreate a student photograph originally taken of former members in 2013. Ms. Purdy went on to share the story of the student whose face had been marred, but the students requested that the photograph remain as a reminder. Ms. DeBoer suggested creating a photograph for each school. Ms. Purdy also noted that students had previously been encouraged to wear their traditional dress for Diversity Day, The Chair stated that supervision was needed to watch over the icons in the Auditorium of the High School,while Ms. P. Purdy was presenting to students. There was discussion regarding opening the exhibit to the public. Ms. Johnson-Graham offered her assistance to the group and suggested the exhibit could be on display with the Tribe, as the building had security and could be open to the public. The Chair suggested inviting the student creating the quilt project to present to the Committee in the spring. New Voting Member Search Status, Mohamad Fand & Richard Klein-The Chair noted that one voting member position was currently available, and Mr. Fand had expressed interest as well as Mr. Klein. The Chair noted that there were other supporters of the Committee interested in assisting with activities,but not as a voting member of the Committee. The Chair indicated that she would develop a newsletter for the supporters. Mr. Fand indicated that he was interested in learning more about the activities of the Committee. Mr. Fand expressed interest due to what he has seen in the movie stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs. Mr. Fand expressed concern about division and fighting of nations and shared personal anecdotes. Mr.