10/27/2009 AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Minutes

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Town of Mashpee Affirmative Action Committee Meeting Minutes October 27,2009 Present: Co-Chair Kay Brown,Marilyn Farren, Deborah Vaughn Also Present: Jackie Fields-Barnstable County Human Rights Commission, Gail Wilson-Mashpee Human Services Director, Lucille Boco-Student Absent: Co-Chair Maryanne Wray,Paul Perry CALL TO ORDER The meeting commenced at 5:31 p.m. AGENDA ITEMS: Invited Guest-Jackie Fields,Barnstable County Human Rights Commission: Members of the Committee welcomed Ms. Fields and questioned ways in which the Committee could work cooperatively with the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission. Ms. Fields also described the Human Rights Academy on November 4 which is an event designed for high school students. Approximately 125 students from every high school on the Cape will attend. Ms. Fields invited Committee members to attend the International Human Rights Day at 7pm on Thursday, December 10 at the Harwich Community Center. The event is celebrated worldwide and the program will include speakers and an awards ceremony recognizing four individuals for their efforts in promoting Human Rights. Ms. Fields described the Commission as an ordinance of the County government initiated in 1995. Ms. Fields added that it was somewhat challenging to convince the County Commissioners that there was a need for the Commission on Cape Cod and it took one year for the Human Rights Commission to be established. The County budget supports a 20 hour per week Coordinator and mandates the required functions and duties. If anyone is subjected to any type of discrimination,the Commission can be contacted and will do all that is allowed by their ordinance. The Commission is connected with the Boston Bar Association who provides attorneys as needed. The Commission also works with MCAD who has assisted by connecting the group with the Boston Bar Association and provides other assistance. Issues of race, gender, national origin, language, age, socio-economic status and veteran status, are among the 14 protected categories of which the Commission must be aware. On Cape Cod,Ms. Fields noted that the common issues of discrimination are based on age, gender and socio-economic status (SES). The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe,with sovereign status, is represented by Marie Stone on the Town Representative Council along with each of the towns. Gail Wilson is Mashpee's representative on the Council. Town Representatives assist the Commission in many different ways. Ms. Fields noted a specific case in which Ms. Wilson,as a Town Representative,was very helpful in Mashpee. Town Representatives also assist with grant writing, fund raising and coordinating events. The Human Rights Commission wishes to work cooperatively with towns hosting No Place For Hate through the joint sponsorship of events. Ms. Fields added that the organization has a limited budget for co-sponsoring events but that they can offer such resources as mailing lists, invitations, contacts or being present at an event. Ms. Fields noted that there may be Mashpee residents available to assist with fundraising and planning programs and who would be supportive of the work of the Affirmative Action Committee. Ms.Fields reported that the Commission worked cooperatively with Sandwich recently by collaborating on an event about international adoptions. The author wrote the book"Sweet as Cupcakes,"