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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-10-23 DIAC Regular Meeting MinutesTHE CITY OF Aftha MINUTES DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING 120 W. 7th St., Anna, TX 75409 Monday, October 23, 2023 @ 6:00 PM 1. Call to Order, Roll Call, and Establishment of Quorum. Theresa King -Bell called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. Commission Members Present: Theresa King -Bell, Valencia Edwards, Elijah Nelms, Yoshanda Sims, Rahul Luthra. Quorum is present. Commission Members Absent: Dallen Morgan and David Rodriguez. Others in Attendance: Assistant to the City Manager Kimberly Winarski and Assistant City Manager Taylor Lough. 2. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance. Theresa King -Bell lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Rahul Luthra provided an invocation. 3. Neighbor's Input. No neighbor's input. 4. Reports. a. Discuss Current Projects: Youth in Government Day. The new tentative date is Friday, January 261h. A draft flyer was provided. The final flyer will be sent to guidance counselors and in the city's newsletter. Students will sign up with their guidance counselor. Luthra asked about homeschool students. Kimberly Winarski shared the school district is processing applications so staff will reach out to school staff to determine the process. Staff envisions a 30-student maximum. Multicultural Event. As discussed at the last meeting, AnnaFest was held at the municipal complex on Saturday, October 7 with cultural events. Elijah Nelms stated the event was well done. It was hard to know where everything was. Valencia Edwards suggested a directory or arrows pointing to different events. She suggested seeing more items for teenagers. The mechanical bull was one of the only items the teenagers did repeatedly. Staff shared this event was not included in the calendar. Sims shared that this event needs to be started even on a small scale. Winarski shared that there is an intention to have a joint meeting by inviting the City Council to attend the commission's meeting Monday, November 27. Commission members in attendance agree that this event needs to happen in 2024. Edwards would like to see the FY23 events calendar and budget for each event. 5. Individual Consideration. a. Consider/Discuss/Act on a recommendation for a statement of purpose for the Local Youth Employment Program. Winarski reminded the Commission quorum was lost last meeting so these items were not voted on previously. Winarski presented a timeline for youth employment and engagement within the City of Anna. The purpose of the Anna Youth Employment Program is to develop a pipeline of Anna youth interested in and prepared for a career in Anna. Yoshanda Sims made a motion to approve the purpose statement as stated above. Elijah Nelms seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. b. Consider/DiscusslAct on a recommendation for a statement of purpose for the Anna Youth Employment Program. Winarski shared there is grant program for high school students interested in local government that the city can apply for through ICMA. If approved for the scholarship the International City County Managers Association would reimburse the city for $2,500. Edwards suggested two or three students. Winarski reached out to organizations that run larger organizations citywide internship programs and is waiting to hear back. Yoshanda Sims made a motion to make an advisory recommendation to the City Council to begin a youth employment program with up to three students in 2024. Theresa King -Bell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. c. Consider/Discuss/Act on a recommendation for a statement of purpose for the Anna Together We Dine Project. Valencia Edwards made a motion to recommend the statement of purpose for the Anna Together We Dine Project is to facilitate a community conversation about race and ethnicities to ensure all neighbors are seen, heard, acknowledge, and celebrated in our community. Theresa King -Bell seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. d. Consider/Discuss/Act on an advisory recommendation to City Council on the scope and budget of the Anna Together We Dine Project. Taylor Lough reminded the Commission there are options for participation with Project Unity for the Together We Dine Project. Dallen Morgan introduced this project to the commission and is discussing an event with the North Texas Conference of United Methodist Churches. Theresa King -Bell made a motion on an advisory recommendation to the City Council to become an Associate Partner with Project Unity to host four events for city and AISD staff, 25 invited attendees of community leaders, and a community dine. Yoshanda Sims seconded the motion. The motion passed. e. Consider/Discuss/Act on approving the minutes from the September 25, 2023 Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Commission Meeting. Valencca Edwards made a motion to approve the minutes from the September 25, 2023 Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Commission Meeting. Theresa King -Bell seconded the motion. The motion passed. 6. Items for Future Consideration. a. Conversation Starters. Theresa King -Bell would like to remove this item. b. National Interfaith Day of Prayer Rahul Luthra presented this event is held in early May. No action was taken. Adjourn. Theresa King -Bell made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 p.m. Yoshanda Sims seconded the motion. �'t �l, t2ccry Theresa King-B I, Chairperson �L Kimberly Winarski, Staff liaison