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or veteran status, marital status, family status, or receipt of public benefits. 4. Foster civic engagement of all residents with mutual respect for the contributions that every individual or group makes toward community goals. 5. Support or suggest programs or activities that promote a culture of respect for all persons. The committee's duty is to provide education and support on human rights, diversity, and inclusion with the goal of raising awareness and sensitivity to matters of human rights. The committee may conduct ongoing campaigns, host, or participate in free public events each year to facilitate public education on diversity, discrimination, and community building. The Committee does not have an adjudicatory function. HISTORY In the year 2000 The Mashpee Board of Selectmen officially signed on as a member of the national No Place for Hate campaign sponsored by the Anti -Defamation League. The Committee was titled the Affirmative Action/ No Place for Hate Committee. The national campaign required the Town to meet specific criteria developing programs respecting diversity and promoting anti -discrimination activities. Many successful projects were developed within the Town and the public schools. In 2009/2010 the No Place for Hate committee disbanded, and the Anti - Defamation League moved on to other initiatives. Affirmative Action was and is addressed by the Mashpee Town Human Resources Department. In late 2017, Town Manager Rodney Collins called for volunteers in the community to create a new committee. The call was initially answered by J. Marie Stevenson, JoAnn Nadeau, and Kim Morris. Mashpee Human Resources Director Kim Landry and Selectwoman Carol Sherman met with them in an advisory capacity. Lynne Waterman, Director of the Mashpee Council on Aging and Gail Wilson Mashpee Director of Human Services came on board as did Winnie Johnson -Graham to represent the Wampanoag Tribal Council. Katherine Brown joined as a member of the former committee and Mashpee High School student Xavier Gonsalves was recommended as a school representative. Two more Mashpee citizens, Louis Horner and Elana Doyle volunteered to serve. After noting that a high school student representative would not meet the age requirement for voting status, Patricia DeBoer, Superintendant of Mashpee Public Schools, was appointed as the voting representative for the school department. The student representative position was moved to non -voting status. There were many questions to be answered. What would be the new committee's title, how many voting members would be needed, and should they be elected or appointed? what would be the committee's purpose, powers, duties, and limitations? By 2019 the Town of Mashpee Inclusion and Diversity Committee was approved and appointed under Policy 079. The committee is made up of nine voting members appointed by the Board of Selectmen for a period of two years. Non -voting positions include the Human Resources Director, a Board of Selectmen Representative, and up to two student representatives from Mashpee Middle- High School. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Designated Parking for Veterans Louis Horner led an initiative to establish designated parking spaces for veterans on various town sites. The purpose is to recognize the service of our veterans but also to serve as a daily reminder to Mashpee citizens that those who have served have returned to become an integral part of our community. After much research, meetings and discussion, it was determined that due to limited parking spaces at the Town Hall and other town sites, the initial proposal was not deemed feasible. However, a compromise was made to install veterans parking signs in the Mashpee Memorial at the Archives and Community Park areas. The signs read "Reserved for Veterans.The Mashpee Community will NEVER FORGET." Town Meeting Child Care The Committee recognizes the importance of civic engagement by attending Town Meetings. Under the leadership of committee members Elana Doyle and Superintendant of Schools, Patricia DeBoer, childcare is now made available at Town Meetings. This program not only benefits parents but offers high school student volunteers the opportunity to serve the community and recognize the importance of participation in town government. 143