Laserfiche WebLink
wrr � ;i� a wfm <br />gas " m ash ee <br />__ mm . ............�.....µ,......... _ _ _._...ITw1usiandDiversit Committee <br />........... --- .......µ.n........ <br />16 Great Neck RaadNorth <br />Mashpee, MA 02649 <br />respect. When he went back to review the tapes from previous years, and there was no <br />immediate reorganization, they misrepresented the facts for their benefit. It was not as urgent <br />as they let on. He felt slighted, and from his position of being the only person of color, to not <br />offer him the position, was he not deserving or incapable, he does not know. The questions <br />that were being posed of him were very succinct. <br />Mr. Weeden spoke on the phone with a fellow board member for 11:23. When he started <br />asking questions the call ended. She must have realized it was a potential open meeting <br />violation. He was asking where these conversations were happening and wondering, as Vice <br />Chair, why wasn't he being involved. Now he also felt slighted by not being included in such <br />discussions. At the next meeting the conversation became enflamed because he brought it to <br />their attention. It was hard to separate his emotions when presenting his findings because <br />there was zero ownership of wrongdoing. Ms. Sherman just kept stating it never happened (the <br />phone call). Now he was being labeled a liar when he was expecting more integrity on her end. <br />Admit you're wrong and until you admit any wrong you cannot apologize. He is not looking for <br />anything in depth, but a simple apology that it was not discussed with him. <br />At the subsequent MIDC meeting, board member John Cotton came in and discussed his view <br />on the matter. It was stated that in the past, Mr. Weeden did not want the Chairmanship. That <br />does not cant' over to every time the opportunity presents itself. Because he said something at <br />one point does not mean it is perpetually his position. Things change, life changes, and <br />workloads change. This is what he is dealing with. He is not trying to throw anyone under the <br />bus. He is the only person of color on the Select Board. Even then, folks were challenged to <br />change Selectman to Select Board, This title was given to old white men who are not natives <br />or people of color. There is very little to no tribal representation on a lot of committees and <br />boards. He is in support of anything that can be done to open that up or seem more <br />welcoming. The Town of Mashpee is comprised of a lot of nationalities. He feels it is important <br />to have a representative government. It develops and nurtures healthy debate and a collective <br />interest is brought to the table instead of a privileged interest. <br />Ms. Stevenson stated there is a changing of bias and attitudes. How do we educate and raise <br />people's consciousness? There are some items she wanted to address. A Jewish group in <br />Falmouth hosted an author who wrote about the end of bias and how we address that. We <br />have unexamined bias. It is the idea of an unconscious bias, unintentional, because we <br />haven't experienced it. One thing the author noted was we have to face history in ourselves. <br />The documentary Bounty showed what happened with our indigenous tribes and the cruelty <br />that occurred to them. Her takeaway was that we have to understand trauma and that memory <br />is passed on and it's complicated. She hears Mr. Weeden say he feels slighted and emotional. <br />ri <br />