HomeMy WebLinkAboutEquity Anti-Racism Advisory Committee Minutes - 2022-07-06
EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JULY 6, 2022 CITY OF KITCHENER
The Equity & Anti-Racism Advisory Committee to Council met electronically this date, commencing at
5:30 p.m.
Present: Saba Oji (Co-Chair), Sharon Van Manen (Co-Chair), Aaliyah Whyte-Watson, Andrea Daley,
Avni Adams, Ayesha Munir, Christine Furniss, Paul Okoye, and Yexin Tan.
Absent: Danny Martin, Keitty Roblero, Shawn (Bangishimo) Johnston
Staff: Rea Parchment, Senior Anti-Racism Advisor, Committee Staff Liaison
Amanda Drumond, Committee Administrator
Ileana Diaz, Research Associate, Equity, Anti-Racism & Indigenous Initiatives (EARII)
1. CHECK-IN AND REQUEST TO ADOPT AGENDA ITEMS
Agenda items reviewed and approved.
Sharon Van Manen announced that she will be stepping down from the position of Co-Chair.
Call was put out to the group for any volunteers who would like to assume the vacant Co-Chair position
for the remainder of the committee term; it was decided that committee members would prefer to put
forward nominations for the new Co-Chair.
Rea will send out a survey for committee members to make nominations for the next Co-Chair.
2. ICEBREAKER
Members of the committee participated in an icebreaker activity where they shared personal details
about why they chose to join the Equity and Anti-Racism Advisory Committee.
3. INTRODUCE NEW EQUITY, ANTI-RACISM & INDIGENOUS INITIATIVES STAFF MEMBER
Introduction of Ileana Diaz, Research Associate, EARII division. Ileana joined the City of Kitchener as a
Research Associate in June to support the work of the team for the next six months. In her role as
Research Associate, she will be supporting/leading work related to demographic data collection and
policy development along with assisting with building out staff resources and supports as part of the
Equity & Anti-Racism Strategy.
4. WORKPLAN DISCUSSION SURVEY RESULTS & DISCUSSION
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EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JULY 6, 2022 CITY OF KITCHENER
Saba shared the results of the workplan survey which ranked action items in order of average priority
rating received, as well as comments received from the group for each of the top main priorities. The
top main priorities were identified as follows:
o Equitable Hiring Practices
o Corporate Equity & Anti-racism Training Strategy
o Recognition of special days
o Youth Mentorship Program for Low-Income Families
To develop the workplan, the group will discuss each action item and consider goals they are hoping to
achieve, as well as tasks and resources are required to reach those goals.
The overall objective in creating the workplan is to put a strategy in place so that members of the next
term of the Equity and Anti-Racism Advisory Committee can continue moving the work forward.
In response to a suggestion to create working groups within the committee to focus on each action
item, it was advised that input from the entire group would be preferred.
Decision was made to form smaller breakout rooms with 3 members each to discuss the top three
priority items, and then bring back recommendations to share with the larger group for feedback.
BREAK 6:30-6:40pm
5. WORKPLAN DISCUSSION CONTINUATION
Committee members participated in breakout room sessions to discuss top three priority action items
(Equitable Hiring Practices; Corporate Equity and Anti-Racism Training Strategy; Recognition of Special
Days).
Next steps: collate all information from breakout sessions for future discussion; suggestion to invite
Equity division staff to assist in facilitating future breakout sessions.
6. CALL FOR JULY 27 AGENDA ITEMS AND STAFF REPORTS
o Municipal Election Accessibility Plan staff presentation in July or August
o Equitable Hiring Practices Human Resources staff (future meeting TBD)
o Corporate Equity and Anti-Racism Training Strategy HR staff (future meeting TBD)
Reminder Region of Waterloo Anti-Racism group will be hosting a municipal Town Hall July 19
Rea will share list of items that the Equity division staff are working on via email and extend invitation to
future committee meetings to bring updates as well.
Rea will send anonymous survey to the committee members to vote on Co-Chair before next meeting.
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EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JULY 6, 2022 CITY OF KITCHENER
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:31 pm.
A. Drumond
Committee Administrator
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