04/13/2021 MASHPEE INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE Minutes

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7. Mashpee Enterprise • The Human Rights Club was featured in Dan's column March 26th and the April edition will feature J. Marie as chairperson. In May he will feature JoAnn.Nadeau. He discussed the stipend of 45 dollars he receives each month, and he will donate half to this committee and half to the Samaritans, of which he is a board member. He suggested that we have the executive director address the Committee because suicide is very much connected to bullying and to the LGTBQ youth. His donation will be added to the new budget allowance the Committee will have in July. The question arose on why the committee cannot raise money although other town committees like Plymouth, for example. Winnie suggested that some of the budget can be spent to pay registrations for members who wish to attend a conference. 8. Police • The Chair brought up a recent email from the Town Manager referencing a possible Town commission on Violence Against Women. Katie explained the role of Tara Carline, the domestic violence advocate. Gail Wilson reported on her long conversation with Mr. Batista, the gentleman who spoke to the Board of Selectmen on this issue. It is possible that we will have some level of representation on this new Commission. Ms. Johnson-Graham reported that she is a domestic violence advocate and would love to be involved having experienced it herself and knows the stigma it carries. The Chair will check back with Mr. Collins and will put Mr. Batista on the list of potential speakers. 9.Interfaith Panel • We are still struggling to complete the panel. We need a representative from the Mashpee Baptist Church, and local Rabbis in Falmouth and Hyannis have been contacted. Richard suggested Nell Fields from the Waquoit Church, though the emphasis has been on just Mashpee religious groups. At the present we have the Catholic Church, the Congregational Church, The Wampanoag, and the Bahai group. 10. Town • Dan has made "good trouble" by questioning why the title Board of Selectmen cannot be changed. Mr. Collins consulted with Town counsel and was told that the Town would need to amend the charter with a 2/3 vote at a Town Meeting. Mr. Collins will bring this up to the present Board for an article on the October meeting warrant. The Chair reported that this idea was well received by the Cape Cod South Shore Diversity Coalition and has already been done in some towns. It was also noted that our Board of Selectmen advisor John Cotton just returned from volunteer work at the border with the Red Cross. 11.LWV • Another coalition is being formed across Cape Cod to address legislation related to equity. Chair will be checking if another committee member could represent us on this coalition. The Cape Cod South Shore Diversity Coalition is expanding monthly with the potential of spreading from Provincetown along the coast to Boston. OLD BUSINESS 1. Proposal for Board of Selectmen Statement- The request has been forwarded to Mr. Collins. 3