Item C: City Council Priority Issue - Communities of Color Meeting Debrief

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Communities of Color Meeting – Table #5 Note taker: Karen Hyatt Facilitator: Ronie Sue Participants: Gary Papé Patricia Wong Hall Carmen Urbina Joanne Berry Rosalia Marquez Emilio Hernandez Betty Snowden Cynthia Carlson Introductions One person wrote book about hate crimes, has long standing interest in race issues, experienced racial discrimination at age 10. Another person has lived in Eugene 10 years, is chair of the Human Rights Commission, works for 4J School District. Is glad City is working on this issue; says that when one googles “Eugene” and “race relations”, results are not good. Another agreed with the results are not good and explained that he served on the Human Rights Commission for two years. Another said she is here as an “other”, moved to Eugene in 1990, was a probation officer before retiring. Moved to Eugene because of Hult Center, is now on symphony board. Is a landlord and became interested in race issues because of issues tenants face. Said she has been discriminated against because of being a woman. Another said she has been involved with the HRC Human Rights Support System for 10 years. Has been licensed KLCC broadcaster for 17 years. Has worked for the Mexican Embassy. Is a single mom with two kids. Wants to participate in process, make community safer. Another is Assistant Vice Provost for Equity and Diversity at the University of Oregon. This is a new position. Says UO Senate passed diversity plan, but not everyone is on board and people are having difficulty understanding that the diversity plan is for everyone, not just students of color. He says the plan is now going into a legal phase. He has difficulty dealing with the detrimental image the UO is presenting nationally regarding diversity. He said OSU president and institution is more proactive and working on solutions. At UO, when professors think diversity is not important, this is not helpful. Said he used to coordinate the High School Equivalency Program (HEP) at UO, and he dealt with many populations, including many migrant families. Another person has talk show and owns a real estate company. Said she couldn’t buy property as a black woman and was told to keep it a secret when she did acquire property because the godfathers of the city would have to put a stop to it. Just last week her Communities of Color 19 July 12, 2006