HomeMy WebLinkAboutEquity Anti-Racism Advisory Committee Minutes - 2022-07-27EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JULY 27, 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), Ayesha Munir, Christine Furniss, Danny Martin, Paul Okoye, Sharon Van
Manen, Shawn (Bangishimo) Johnston, and Yexin Tan.
Absent: Andrea Daley, Avni Adams, Aaliyah Whyte-Watson, Keitty Roblero
Staff: Rea Parchment, Senior Anti-Racism Advisor, Committee Staff Liaison
Guests: Briana Acosta
1. CHECK-IN AND REQUEST TO ADOPT AGENDA ITEMS
Introduction of Briana Acosta who is a graduate student from Harvard University. Briana is completing
a in Public Health, is currently working as part of a fellowship with City of Kitchener on youth
mental health and wellbeing, and also working with Ileana Diaz on a youth mentorship program.
Agenda items reviewed.
Additional agenda item brought forward by Bangishimo RE: project
Item moved by Yexin.
Seconded by Sharon.
Agenda items approved by the committee.
Minutes from previous meeting reviewed and approved.
2. OCUMENTARY
Bangishimo shared an update about the project which began last year to
advocate for the transformation of the former Charles Street bus terminal to be redeveloped as an
Indigenous community hub in downtown Kitchener. Project leaders worked with U of W architect
students to create a blueprint of the reimagined space, and have been using this vision, along with a
3,500-signature petition and letters of support from numerous Indigenous organizations, as the
supporting foundation for this advocacy work. An initial art project evolved into documentary film
featuring citizen interviews that captures memories of the former space, as well as future ideas of what
the space could become. Aims at continuing the conversation about what should be done with the
Charles Street terminal, ideally remains a community space and not become another development,
advocating that whatever it becomes it remains a space for the community. The next public screening of
th
the documentary is taking place at Apollo Cinema, August 9.
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EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JULY 27, 2022 CITY OF KITCHENER
3. CO-CHAIR ELECTION RESULTS & DISCUSSION
Rea shared the election results for committee Co-Chair for the remainder of the term; 10 out of 11
committee members voted, and majority (7) votes were for Paul Okoye.
Christine put forward a motion to move that the committee appoint Paul Okoye to serve as Co-Chair of
the Equity & Anti-Racism Advisory Committee for a 3-month term.
Paul indicated support to have their name stand for the role of Co-Chair.
Seconded by Sharon and Saba.
All members voted in favour.
Motion carried.
Rea will set up a meeting with Saba and Paul to discuss the committee Co-Chair role in further detail.
4. UPDATES FROM EQUITY, ANTI-RACISM & INDIGENOUS INITIATIVES TEAM
Rea shared updates from the EARII division team:
- RISE Fund grant: second round of RISE Fund grant applications will open on August 15, 2022 and
remain open until September 16, 2022; over the coming weeks the city will be promoting the grant, Rea
will also share promotional materials with the committee to be shared among networks; there have
been improvements to the application and promotional materials based on feedback received, Amanda
D. will present an item at the upcoming August committee meeting to provide refresher on the
Decision.io evaluation platform.
Briana proposed a dedicated stream within the RISE Fund grant specifically tailored for youth, as well as
a peer learning component to be able to pilot their own ideas; it was advised that any alteration to the
RISE Fund would require council approval.
In response to a question regarding the timing of the RISE Fund grant evaluations hopeful to have
selection committee review at September meeting or early October, recipients must be chosen before
end of committee term October 2022, will discuss having a separate RISE Fund meeting to ensure there
is sufficient time.
- Grant Writing Workshop: free 2-part grant writing workshop being offered by the City in partnership
with Kind Minds Family Wellness to eliminate barriers for applicants requesting grants; all 25 spots are
full and there is a wait list.
- Re-applying to the EARAC committee: October will mark the end of the Equity & Anti-Racism Advisory
Committee; all interested members are encouraged to re-apply for the new term; there will be a
simplified application process for returning members; applications will open late-August.
- Workplan Budget: Rea provided clarification that the intention of the committee is not to do the work
but to provide feedback, review and recommendations on equity and anti-racism work happening at
the city, and therefore the projects the committee is supporting would ultimately be funded by existing
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EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JULY 27, 2022 CITY OF KITCHENER
budget resources from whatever division is responsible for leading that work, not responsible for
creating, designing or running any city programs, just providing recommendations and assisting staff
with prioritization of programs.
5. WORKPLAN DISCUSSION (BREAKOUT ROOMS)
Saba recapped that 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.
During the last workplan discussion, action items were shared in order of priority rating, and committee
members formed smaller breakout rooms to discuss each action item in more detail.
Committee members returned to breakout room sessions to consider goals, as well as tasks, resources,
and recommendations to reach those goals, with intention of bringing back recommendations to share
with the larger group for feedback.
BREAK 6:35-6:45pm
6. WORKPLAN DISCUSSION CONTINUED
Due to the time constraints of the committee (term ending in October 2022), recommendation was
made to focus on the top three priority action items for the current workplan:
Equitable Hiring Practices
Corporate Equity and Anti-Racism Training Strategy
Youth Mentorship for Low Income Families
The remaining action items as identified would be shared with and expanded upon by the next term of
the Equity and Anti-Racism Advisory Committee.
Committee members were in favour of concentrating on the top three priority items for the workplan.
Committee members took turns presenting and discussing recommendations from each of their
respective breakout sessions; it was decided to wait until the August meeting to present
recommendations on -to gather more background
information about the existing training program that is currently being offered at the city.
Next steps: Rea will work with Saba to collate all information from breakout sessions into a workplan
document; workplan will be presented to Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) before going
forward to Council for approval.
7. CALL FOR AUGUST AGENDA ITEMS AND STAFF REPORTS
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EQUITY & ANTI-RACISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JULY 27, 2022 CITY OF KITCHENER
o 2022 Municipal Election Accessibility Plan staff presentation (August)
o Decision.io Refresh Training for RISE Fund Amanda will present (August)
o Equity Team Updates Andrew, Jake and Ileana (August)
o Parks Engagement Liaison / Parks & Spaces Sabiha Syed (August)
o Faculty from Wilfred Laurier & Toronto Metropolitan University - Decolonizing and Transforming
the Engagement of Indigenous and Black Peoples within Municipal Planning in Kitchener
Preference from the group to set up a separate meeting for those who are interested in
attending the focus group outside of the Equity & Anti-Racism Committee Meeting time
st
Rea will be away for the August 31 meeting, Ileana Diaz will attend as Committee Staff Liaison.
Saba will circulate draft workplan to committee members in advance of August 31 so that members can
come prepared to discuss comments at the next meeting.
8. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:20 pm.
A. Drumond
Committee Administrator
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