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

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(Referring to the example in the store.) I might have said something but probably wouldn’t have because I wouldn’t want to step on her toes. I work at the U of O and I work with a lot of students of color. My husband works for the police department and I talk to the students of color about considering working for the police department but they don’t want to because of the way they are treated by the police department. I have a real feeling of hopelessness. I don’t care why someone is treated differently; I just care that they were treated differently. It is overwhelming to have to say something. During a training a white male high up in the ranks of the City of Eugene said you have to convince me that was racist. I told him why should I when he wouldn’t get it anyway. Who is having the conversations with the white people? Who is having the conversations with the people who can make a difference? What is being said when we leave the room? We need to look at every idea and consider economic factors. It needs to float everybody’s boat. Economic development strategies need to benefit everyone equally. When using public funds we need to look at how it impacts everyone; will it serve everyone in the community equally. It needs to include as many in the community as possible. If we spend money on jobs, for example, will everyone have the opportunity to compete. We need to consider who benefits or who would want to benefit. We need to target communities of color or diverse communities. We need to create a breach in the dam of the good old boys network. I want younger people to have a voice. I want people who are not at this table to give their views about why this isn’t relevant to City work, for example. The younger generation is so much more advanced in this. People in the African American communities find it galling that we’re stepping it up for people coming in; what about those of us who are already here. I would like to know what the City leadership thinks about diversity and why we are doing this. Next Steps 1.In use of public funds insure benefit for all communities in the project and its implementation. 2.Create diversity plan with recruitment benchmarks. City should provide leadership to other communities. 3.City sponsored conversation like today including youth. 4.Conversations with people that don’t perceive equity and diversity as their issue. Communities of Color 5 July 12, 2006