Town of Barrington, RI

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Meeting Agenda

Joint Meeting With Town Council

Tuesday August 13, 2024

6:00 p.m.

 

Note New Temporary Location

 

School Committee Room, Town Hall

283 County Road, Barrington, RI 02806

 

No Zoom Functionality

 

Call to Order and Confirm Quorum

A. Larry Berren, Chair –	David Mehl –
Candace Baer, Vice Chair –	Rebecca Taub –
Liana Maris, Secretary –	New Member Jorge Paricio –
Candace Charpentier –	Full Student Member (Non-Voting) – open
Steven Felix –	New 1st Alternate Suzanne Tedeschi-Freij –
Jonathan Leviss –	2nd alternate – open

 

Braxton Cloutier, Town Council Liaison –

 

Remi Charpentier, Rising Senior at BHS, social media liaison to the BDEI Committee –

Emily Halloran, Rising Senior at BHS, social media liaison to the BDEI Committee –

Welcome to Town Council Members

Welcome to New Members Jorge Paricio and Suzanne Tedeschi-FreijShare Our Own Culture Stories

Brief Comment on Meeting Location Change [David, Liaison with Bay Spring Community Center]

Discuss and Accept Minutes of DEIC Committee Meeting, July 9, 2024Share Our Own Culture Stories

 

Public Comment (Maximum one statement per speaker up to three minutes in length)

To the public: This agenda item is for members of the public to speak regarding any DEI-relevant topic. Please indicate that you would like to speak by raising your hand. When you are recognized, please state your name and residency for the record.

Member Reports of Hate Speech or Acts of Discrimination for Referral to Town Council

Communications with Town Council and Update on Current Projects

Town Council Discussion

o   Follow up on Guiding Principle #6 of Adam Mastoon’s May 2021 DEI Consultancy Report:

The work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion requires focused attention and more time than a committee of volunteers can accomplish.  The work of this committee should be guided by a part-time, or perhaps even a full-time employee; this should be an individual who is solely focused on these issues.

How Do We Achieve This?

 

o   Brainstorm: Collaborative opportunities between TC and BDEI Committee

 

o   Report: Second flagpole at Town Hall

 

o   Update: Follow up on an arrangement like that of the City of Providence Human Relations Commission (an analog to our DEI Committee) with the State of RI Commission on Human Rights with respect to reporting acts of hate or discrimination

 

o   Update: Respectful Speech Proposal

 

Working Groups – Reports, Discussion, Action

Equitable Access

·       Development of proposal to recommend to Town Council regarding Creation of a Lottery System for Participation in Limited-Capacity Town Recreational and Educational Events, [Steven and Jonathan]

Revisiting Goals, Mission Statement and Action Plan [Candace B and Steven]

Advocacy [Liana, Larry and Rebecca]

·Request for Accessible Portable Toilets at Athletic Fields During Spring and Summer [Steven]

·BDEI website to have QR code and link to survey of hate/discrimination report [Liana]

oFollow up on an arrangement like that of the City of Providence Human Relations Commission (an analog to our DEI Committee) with the State of RI Commission on Human Rights [Larry]

MLK Day 2025 [Liana, Jonathan and Candace C]

Social Media and Branding [Rebecca, Candace C, Remi and Emily]

·Charge: Develop Branding slogans for Barrington: (e.g. “You Belong Here” or “You’re Included” or “Where…You Belong”)

·Placement of a survey seeking suggestions for community events/cultural events of celebration and ways to make Barrington a more inclusive community ways to enhance engagement. 

oIncorporate into SM: add on: “if you have other events or ideas to share with DEI Committee, email barringtondeicommittee@gmail.com”

Read In Color Little Free Library [Rebecca and Candace C]

More Inclusive Town Events [Larry, and we need others to join]

High School Engagement [Jonathan, Remi and Emily]

Town Seal [Vacant]

Film Series [David and Larry]

·Post Flyers Around Town [Candace B]

·David and Larry Meeting with Siobhan to choose 2024-25 Films: June 27, 2024, at 1:30PM

Tentative Dates and Titles for 2024-2025 Film Series:

September 22 and 25 | My Name is Pauli Murray	March 23 and 26 | Fire Through Dry Grass
October 27 and 30 | Boy Erased	April 27 and 30 |
December 1 and 4 | Two Towns of Jasper	May 18 and 21 |
February 2 and 4 (or 5)	June 18 | Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism
February 23 and 26 | Summer of Soul	June ___ | Unnamed Pride Film

 

·At May 15^th Tree Lighting Event (“TLE”) meeting with Phil Hervey and Michele Geremia: we made it known that we don’t seek to “water down” the tree lighting event in any way, and that we are happy to participate as we did last year with our tent/table and kindness rocks.  Rather, we said that we want to foster an initiative that would highlight five different ethnic and/or cultural events throughout the year showcasing our Town’s residents and their customs.  It was made clear to us that the Town has neither the funding nor the staffing to assist with a robust schedule of diverse cultural events; it was suggested that we reach out to the Library and Bay Spring Community Center to collaborate on such events.  The Town will promote the events.  

·Need to compile list of existing Town official and unofficial events [_______________]

oConsider joining existing town events and broadening town events

Remaining Agenda Items – Reports, Discussion, Action

Meeting/Direct Action Ideas

·Training, Speakers

·New Advocacy

Update on Communications with Town, Town Council and Current Projects

·Town Council Monthly Meetings

Agenda for July 22 Meeting [Braxton]

[Candace B and Rebecca to attend]

Agenda for August 5^th

oWho can attend?

·Town Council Joint Meeting New Tentative Date: August 13 or October 8, 2024

oBrainstorm: Collaborative opportunities between TC and BDEI Committee

One-on-One Stories

DEIC Public Presence

·DEI Films Series: Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, Thursday June 20^th at 1PM

·Other __________________

DEIC Opportunities

·       Student (Non-Voting) Member, and 2^nd Alternate

DEIC Team-Building Event

●      Community service activity with food

○      All volunteer for a Day of Caring as a committee (October 14, 2024)

Additional Items Added to Agenda by Majority Vote

Set Agenda for Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Adjourn

 

The Town of Barrington will provide accommodations needed to ensure equal participation in all meetings.  Please contact the Town Clerk’s office prior to the meeting so arrangements can be made to provide such assistance.  A request for accommodations can be made in writing to 283 County Road or by calling 401-247-1900, Ext. 301 (voice).  Hearing impaired callers can dial 711 “Relay” for additional assistance.  The Barrington Town Hall, Barrington Public Library and Barrington Public Safety Building are accessible to the disabled.

Posted date on August 7, 2024, at Barrington Town Hall, Barrington Public Library, Town of Barrington Web Site, and Secretary of State Web Site.