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Home My WebLink About2022-03-22 CRAC Minutes Retreat NHC/COW Community Relations Advisory Committee. Retreat Notes. 3/22/2022 4pm-7:30 pm DRAFT Attendees: Committee Members: Jen Johnson, Chair; Kathy King, Vice-Chair; Lori Wainwright; Liz Carbone, Secretary; Kim Geiger; Fawn Rhodes; Kaari Snook; Erin Howell; Rev. Mapson Staff Support: Melissa Huffman, COW Attorney; Suzanne Rogers, COW; Joe Conway COW, Travis Corpening NHC, Bo Dean, NHC (Facilitator). Retreat objective: We will come away with a specific and detailed work plan for the next 12-24 months* (An additional objective was added by L. Carbone to enumerate responsibilities of committees. It was agreed that in doing the group work this could and would be achieved). Meeting start: Introductions Finding Focus and Work From a prior meeting, the following areas of focus were suggested as the areas of greatest alignment with the work of the C-RAC and potentially could lead in how to frame the work.  Housing  Public Accommodations  Education  Hate Crimes / Bias  Community Relations  Police & Community Relations  Economic Development  Environmental Justice** The group agreed on these topics An exercise was then helped whereby each person on the committee was asked three questions: 1.) Of the topics, which one is your driver, the one that you are most passionate about, and you believe is the most pressing for the community. 2.) Of the topics, which is your second most passionate and most passionate about. 3.) Of the topics, which one is something you think might important, but not something you want to work on right now. The group put their sticky notes on the board and it through this there was a revelation of the most pressing concerns that the group could discuss as the possibility of the way forward. Page 1 of 5 The group agreed that  Housing (Fair Housing vs. Affordable)  Public Accommodation & Health Equity  Public Schools Education were the three most pressing issues and topics for their consideration for action over the next 12-24 months. The group then split into three groups based on these topics and came up and answered the following questions related to these topics: 1. How can we be most effective given that we are a volunteer committee 2. What actions do we want to take? 3. What more do we need to learn about these topics? 4. What are our resources for becoming more informed about these topics? 5. Do we want to form subcommittees based on these topics? 6. If we form subcommittees based on these topics, do we want to include members of the public? Below is a summary of the action plan and subcommittee responsibilities/activities as determined by the CRAC members. 1. FAIR HOUSING – housing discrimination  Educate / research;  Advocate for funding for fair housing;  Research possible solutions & funding sources to support displaced residents;  Research possible policy change recommendations re: fair housing;  Research who does mold inspections for Wilmington Housing Authority;  Further assess housing discrimination toward people with disability & LGBTQ+ community; and  Advocate for policy change re: fair housing. Subcommittees to address these concerns: Programming - April presentation re: inclusion in homeless services - Work with Education subcommittee to coordinate future training based on identified needs - Coordinate regular fair housing programming in collaboration with community agencies Education - Work with local media to highlight fair housing concerns, citizen rights, and - Research possible solutions & funding sources re: community members displaced by mold; - Research policy change recommendations re: housing crisis; - Further assess housing discrimination toward people with disability and LGBTQ+ community, particularly the transgender community; and Page 2 of 5 - Advocate for policy change Crisis Prevention: - Collaborate with local housing agencies to create crisis prevention and crisis management strategies related to urgent housing needs 2. PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION & HEALTH EQUITY  City created a Nondiscrimination Ordinance (NDO) for Public Accommodation  Continue to advocate for the city to create a comprehensive NDO that offers protections in private employment settings;  Continue to advocate for the city to broaden the list of protected classes of individuals covered by the NDO in public accommodations;  Continue to advocate for the county to create a comprehensive NDO that offers protections in public accommodations (including healthcare) and private employment settings;  Continue to advocate for inclusion of healthcare entities to be clearly stated in the NDO and complaint form;  Continue to collaborate with Novant Health to encourage provision of healthcare services to LGBTQ+ community – training for healthcare providers on how to provide gender- affirming healthcare, inform healthcare providers about the NDO for Public Accommodations;  Collaborate with SEAHEC to encourage provision of continuing education for healthcare and mental healthcare providers regarding providing care for LGBTQ+ individuals;  Initiate collaboration local health communities --with HHS, Novant, and other healthcare entities to problem solve solutions to health inequities related to race; and,  Health equity learning curve – bring in speaker to offer presentation on health equity. Subcommittees to address these concerns: Education - Coordinate media / information campaign to educate the public about their civil rights related to Wilmington’s NDO for public accommodations; - Advocate for city and county to create comprehensive NDO; - Coordinate media / information campaign to educate local healthcare and mental healthcare providers about their responsibilities related to Wilmington’s NDO for public accommodations; - Recommend to SEAHEC that they offer continuing education to healthcare and mental healthcare providers related to healthcare inclusion and equity; and, - Coordinate media / information campaign to educate City of Wilmington contractors about their responsibilities related to Wilmington’s NDO for public accommodations. - Collaborate with local community partners to explore solutions to health equity crisis Programming - Coordinate presentation on health equity. Crisis prevention Page 3 of 5 - Encourage local healthcare service providers to develop crisis management plan for health inequities related to race and to lack of service provision for LGBTQ+ individuals. 3. Public Schools  Advocacy with board of education to promote racial equity in education;  Create alliance with Board of Education DEI coordinator;  Create alliance with UNCW Education department;  Create community focus groups to identify possible solutions;  Continue to encourage Board of Education to provide training for principals, teachers, and counselors re: LGBTQ+ inclusion and anti-bullying; and  Continue to advocate for policy change to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and anti-bullying. Subcommittees to address these concerns: Programming: - Encourage an alliance of local entities that are addressing racial equity in education; Education: - Coordinate increased media coverage re: proposed solutions to racial inequities and LGBTQ+ bullying concerns; - Advocate for policy change Crisis Prevention: - Encourage the Board of Education to create crisis prevention plan to manage escalating conflict regarding DEI concerns Responsibility of CRAC subcommittee per CRAC Bylaws A. Programming – identify ways to promote healthy intergroup communication and interaction B. Public Education – work with the community to gather and disseminate information and educational resources C. Crisis Prevention / Preparedness – work with the community to develop conflict mediation skills and create a plan to handle potential crisis CRAC Purpose: The Committee shall be organized for the purpose of addressing community issues involving prejudice or discrimination on the bases of race, national origin, creed or religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or medical condition; informing the Appointing Authorities and other organizations of their findings; and making recommendations, in an advisory capacity, to the Appointing Authorities and other organizations, as necessary. Page 4 of 5 Page 5 of 5