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

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Communities of Color Meeting – Table # 7 Note taker: Steve Norris Facilitator: Denise Walters Participants: Bobby Green Yayoe Kuramitsu Ed Coleman Norma Dominguez Rachael Para Maria Thomas Mark Harris Andrea Ortiz Facilitator did a ground rules overview - table introductions - building relationships is focus - what do you think about the process, what are your expectations. Then participants shared their views. One person acknowledged importance of coming together, having dialogue – but these meetings keep coming and coming – 40 years in community – over and over cover same ground with so little change – Phyllis was right, City calls us when needed – but, we (Comm. of Color) don’t get out to meetings either Another indicated a need to know the goal of bringing us together – always interested in discussion but want to know goals – is it relationship building, increased/improved communication – good, but danger of collecting “Communities of Colors” comments when there are differences within each community of color too – big challenge – what are short term goals Another said it is helpful for us to find out where City Council and County Commissioners are at – we’re building cases on the streets and go to County with race relations issues – but don’t see response and backing from officials Another said he’s like to see – Truth and Reconciliation Council (TRC), like South Africa model – it’s hard to interview piecemeal – let everyone testify, tell stories, publish as document to build understanding – there’s a culture of discrimination – example of attending diversity training with Cortez Kennedy and cop who “profiled” him – example of lynching photo - where’s follow up – need the TRC process to avoid continuous meetings The facilitator said yes, things need to happen – what are existing relationships, what are working relationships One person responded that she’s trying to integrate – finding out it’s not necessarily color – many community issues but no backing (from City Council/County Commissioners) – we need to understand what you (to Bobby Green and Andrea Ortiz) can do to build working relationships – only one state rep (elected official) stepping up – stories (TRC) good idea – social discrimination too – why no training in schools – we can come together as community but need officials to step up Communities of Color 31 July 12, 2006