 Okay, well hi everyone nice to see you feel like I haven't seen you in a couple days. Nice to see you so I am going to call to order the March 3 meeting of the African Heritage Reparation Assembly pursuant to chapter 20 of the acts of 2021 this meeting will be conducted via remote means. Members of the public who wish to access the meeting may do so via zoom or by telephone see instructions. No in person attendance of members of the public will be permitted but every effort will be made to ensure that the public can adequately access proceedings in real time via technological means. And I'm going to just make sure I'll do a quick check to make sure everybody can be heard. So if you just called the meeting first please. Oh, what time. Oh, sorry 635. Thank you Jennifer. So if I am going to say your name and if you could just unmute and say present or here and make sure you can be heard. And so I'll start with you Hala. President. Alexis. Read present. Nice. Earth. Present. Great. Okay. And Jen, have you by chance heard from Ivan or Dr. Shabazz at all today about the meeting. I haven't. Well, even sent an email. Right. Did you see that. I saw that she said that she would. Yeah, let us know but that it was possible she might not be able to make it. So yeah, I'm assuming that's the case. Let me just make sure. Okay. All right. Well, we will go ahead and get started and hopefully they'll be able to join us. So let's just begin by, we haven't been together for quite a few weeks now. And I am going to call a public comment period in a moment, but maybe just taking a moment to remember our ropes, the meeting etiquette that we've been using, and just taking a breath. That's what I need. Just a quick breath. Anytime you need the singing bowl, it's right here. Oh my gosh, I really. Thank you. So we will go ahead and call our first public comment period, because we do have some attendees. So I'm going to read the public comment statement. In the comment period, the chair will recognize members of the public when called upon, please identify yourself by stating your full name, pronouns and residential address. Residents are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes at the discretion of the chair based upon the number of people who wish to speak. No speaker can see their time to another speaker. The AHRA will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during public comment, but we will be listening closely. So if you'd like to make public comment, please go ahead and raise your hand. And there will be another public comment period later so if something does come up that you'd like to comment on during the later part of the meeting you can do that too. Great. Seeing none. We are going to before moving into the discussion items I just want to take a moment to see if any of the members have any just comments to make or questions since we haven't been together in almost a month. Okay. All right. So the first item on our agenda tonight is to talk about the town, the town council presentation on Monday and the memo that I drafted. Hopefully you've all had a chance. Give me a thumbs up if you've had a chance to look at that. Awesome. That's so great. Okay. Do we want to pull it up onto the screen or do we want to just discuss? Yeah, okay. Let me do that. Hang on one second. Share my screen here. Can everybody see that? Okay, great. So this is the memo. It's a draft of what I would be submitting after it is approved or hopefully approved, but we can make amendments to it tonight. So I would be submitting this to the council president tonight after the meeting for inclusion in the packet for the town council meeting on Monday. And this would sort of be the central piece of what the presentation would include on Monday. And ultimately it will come with a motion asking that the town council direct the town manager to pursue this to begin to pursue this. So what we can do now, before we talk about sort of the totality of our presentation on Monday night, let's start by reviewing this and just discussing it and talking about any changes that we would like to make. And then we can move on to talking about how we want to actually go about presenting on Monday. So if you have a comment, please raise your hand. Yes, Alexis. So. And, okay, I feel like a lot of this has to do with me just being ignorant of this whole process. But I guess. So, so under the home real position process section. We have. So, so it says below the steps the town council would need to take to codify special legislation with respect to rest reparations. And so these two steps are specifically about this. Like our special home rule request, or is this about home role petition process in general. Yeah, great. That's a great question. So this does. This is how any home rule petition would move through the process. And I tried to make it specific with respect to our special legislation, but it will only impact Amherst. So this process only impacts Amherst. So for example, another home rule petition that Amherst brought forward was ranked choice voting. So it went through the same process, although in rank choice voting, one difference is it was brought to the voters. There's nothing in the law that requires a home rule petition to go out to the voters. But depending on what it is sometimes a council may decide to bring it to the voters to sort of, I think it's sort to sort of bolster it as it works through the process but it really depends on what it is. And I think that oftentimes if there's any sort of tax associated with it, it would go out to the voters. So in our case, it's perfectly okay for it to just be approved by the town council and then turned over to Mindy and Joe to bring through the process. Does that answer. No, that's that's very helpful. I just said no but I meant yes. That was very helpful. And I guess I'm wondering. So if that's not a. So I guess step one is almost like an, like an option. Is that what I'm hearing or so step one has to happen so you have so when but in this case when it says gain local approval. The only requirement is the town council, like local, you know what I mean that's the local approval. It could be that the council would say well we want to we, we also want to bring this to the voters that's a possibility but there's no requirement by law for that to happen. Okay, thank you very helpful. Yes, absolutely. I was going to ask you, if you have consulted with or taking this document to had it reviewed by by Lynn and Mandy then I thought what that might be an open meeting law violation so I won't ask that question, because I think it probably might run a file in an open meeting law. But the other thing is, what about the sharing this with and getting feedback from the town attorney, if that was appropriate. I think that no I think that's really valid. So the sort of in order to honor the HR a my agreement with Lynn was that first it would come to this body for review and then you know if it was approved. The first thing that will happen tonight is that it will go to Lynn and Paul, and then if Lynn and Paul decide that they want to have it, you know, reviewed by town council so the town's attorney then that can happen. But I did ask one counselor to review it, which I don't believe is a violation of the open meeting law. It was Mandy. And I asked her because she has written quite a bit of memo like this and she's a lawyer so I, she said that it was structurally sound clear it got across the message she didn't see any issues with it. But it will certainly go to Lynn tonight. So if there are any major issues that they saw with this for any reason. We would find that out on Monday because I wouldn't be able to come back to you all and share that between now and then I don't believe I might have to just make what I'd like to do is actually make sure that there are many amendments that you all would like to make to this tonight, if there are amendments. I'd like the motion to give me the sort of flexibility to make any changes that might need to be made in order to just make sure that it's, you know, sound. And so we could draft the motion that way. Well, confident that it was, she said that it, it was, it looked good. So there was that feedback. Does that answer that question or certainly does. Okay, great. And the other thing that I think is important to know is the packet will also include the source document so the KP law, full. If you've already seen it's already been in an earlier packet, it will also be included because there are counselors who have not seen it or read it, most counselors have not seen it or read it. So if they want to refer. In fact, at the end of this document I'm going to include a link to all of the resources on our webpage, as well as they'll receive the source document. Yes, Alexis. So for when we say these three possible paths. Are we, are we saying that they are going to go. Well, and I know that we don't exactly have a choice in what they do but like is this choose one or is it a possibility of choose all or how does it. That's a really good question. I think that there is nothing that precludes us from going about this in any one of these ways. And so all this does is get the process for the special legislation started, but it may it could fail it could it could not move through the process it could be rejected. And then in that case we would come back to the drawing board and we would have these other options and we would have to really think about structuring what we do based on those options. And that at least gives us because if, if we, and I, I tried to really clarify this in the document here that the last thing we want to do is have the African heritage community come up with a reparations plan and then not be able to distribute funds. So we're looking to be really proactive to make sure that whatever we need to do, and in this case this path takes a long time. So, getting it started now as opposed to waiting. How did did you have any questions or comments on this. This part feels pretty straightforward to me. Okay. Great. So do we want to make a motion are we ready to make a motion or do we, what is the sense. I think or I know that you've had a good sense about this. Do you think we should make a motion to direct to direct me. I think what I think is that you should draft the motion right now and make that motion and then someone can second and then we can vote on it. Okay, perfect. Holla, yeah. I did I was taking this for granted but maybe I should clarify. As I understand in the past when we've worked with the town council if there are things that there was a back and forth like this isn't a one and done if it's voted out we can never bring it forward again correct. Um, you mean like if on Monday the town council looks at this document and they say no we're not going to direct the town manager to do this. No we can certainly ask again. Absolutely. I appreciate you saying taking that for granted because really, we don't know we don't have any guarantees, but we could certainly bring it back again or we could. If there were some discoverables like some things and questions that need to be answered or something we could gather that information and bring it back. Thank you. Sure. That's a good point you know what one of the things that that is possible in terms of bringing this before the town council. They may vote on it. That evening. They may postpone the vote to put put a ticket to a subcommittee. For either further study or for conforming to the processes that they have in mind, you know, they have committees that deal with this kind of thing. So, um, there are any number of things that could happen during this of what this particular proposal. So I wouldn't be surprised if any one of those things took place. I would assume that that they may not want to vote on it that evening. Yeah, so we were sort of going in knowing and being prepared for any number of outcomes like Irv said, my strong senses that we will get approval to do this, particularly because KP law is the recommended it. And that we've done the work to speak with Mindy and we know what the process is and so my hope my great hope is that we will get it through on Monday. But I think that Irv and Hala are correct that any number one, any number of things could happen. So I am going to just pop over, I'm going to open up a new document so that I can draft a motion on the spot. Unless it will this be good for you Jennifer if I just type it and you can look at it. I mean if you just say it straight and don't change it, like in the mix of creating it then I can, I can follow that. I'm not a real I'm not the best motion writer so I guess type it up then. Okay. Move to what is the name of the memo here. What happened that's, oh here we go. I'm going to town council regarding proposed old petition to approve memo to approve. All right, move to approve the memo to town council regarding home roll petition and direct the HR a chair to present. The memo to the council. Are you going to include the piece about you making revisions. Yes, exactly that was the next line here. Yes, Hala. This is just an organizational or structural question about. Do you have clarity in the town council home rule petition stating it's for the HR a. Are there many home rule petitions, or is it because it's coming under the HR a. You don't need to say like HR 40 or HR HR a thing. Yeah, you mean like to have a bill number associated with it. Is that. Like it says draft memo to town council regarding proposed home rule petition but couldn't that be a home rule petition for anything. Yes, absolutely I think that's a great catch so move to approve the memo to town council regarding home rule petition. Is that that does that. All right, help me help me out here. So, I was looking to move to approve the memo to town council regarding the home rule petition. Yeah, HR HR a great. Thank you. Yeah, town council to the town council. Because you already. Yeah, yeah. You don't need to. Yeah, it takes a village. Sure does. Okay. So before I read it before I actually move, are there any other comments or is it look okay. Well we'll have I'll ask for discussion again. So I move to approve the memo to town council regarding the home rule petition presented by a HR a and to direct the HR a chair to present the memo to the town council on March 7 2022. HR a agrees that chair can make necessary revisions per council president and or town manager prior to submission to the full town council. Is there a second. Second. Great. Any further discussion. All right. So let's just go to a roll call vote I'll start with you or. Rosa. Alexis. Read I. Paula. Lord I. Right. So, and Miller. So it passes unanimously. All right. Great. Did you get all that Jennifer or do you want me to keep this up. Okay. All right, perfect. So. Oh yes, Alexis. I remember originally we had talked about like all of us showing up at town council. So I'm going to be some sort of like, like, are they going to want to ask us questions or anything? Or is that like, like I'm at every town council meeting just because I run them for Amherst media. So I'll be there. But like, do you like need us to be there as participants. I have asked Lynn to bring any HR a member that is present into the room for this discussion. I would like for any HR a member that's there to be there and be seen and heard. If they would like to be. So what will happen is Lynn will send out an order of timing. In the next I usually sends it maybe Monday morning and I will send that to you and give you sort of a sense of the timing so that I know you'll be there Alexis the whole way through but for others who may not. I'll give a sense of timing and then when it comes time for us, Athena will bring whoever's there into the room. And with respect to the presentation, that was what I really wanted to ask you all. I will present the memo I want to give. They'll have already seen it all presented I want to give them an opportunity to discuss it and ask questions because this will be the first time that they will have kind of had any discussion around this. I was also thinking that this is an opportunity for a HR a members to be heard. And so wanting to pose and put that out to you all in terms of ideas will have about I've asked for 15 minutes. So, let's say it takes two minutes to present the memo and then we give time for questions. But this is an offer. I really look at this as an opportunity for us. So, I see your hand up Earth. I just said I would love to be there but my calendar just won't permit it. Okay, no problem. We'll get you a video and make sure that you're recognized even without being there. And then if you have anything you can submit it in an email to the chair. If there's anything in particular that you would want to say that might be helpful to and Michelle can you remind me how much time did you ask for, did you say 15 minutes. Yes, exactly. So I was I was kind of just like brainstorming some ideas and I was thinking, you know, at this point in our process, I think they've the town council I feel has been really good for the most part and following along with this process. I've been reading the historical documents and the disparity report I think many of them have read they've come to symposiums. So, I think it's an opportunity for them to hear from members and one idea I had was just to sort of have each of the members that can be there. I'll talk for a couple minutes about why this is important, you know, why is it important to to you, and why did you choose to join the HRA and sort of what it means to you. Another, another option I had thought about because Dr. Tartakov brought a really good point to my attention, which is, we had this resolution that the town council passed. We never actually had any ceremony around it or any any anything really around it to bring people together to to sort of really take in the acknowledgement. So, bringing the resolution forward again is also an option so I leave it to you all if you have ideas that totally open to to whatever any thoughts on that do so halla do you plan to be there on Monday. Yes. Yeah. Okay. And I think Dr. Shabazz said he was planning to be there as well. Alexis, will you actually be able to sort of switch gears. Okay. So you plan to come into the room and be part of the presentation. Okay, great. So would you all feel comfortable having just a couple minutes to say some words we could do a combination we could bring up the resolution again, and we could take the time to say a couple words. Alexis. Yeah, I would, I would really appreciate the opportunity to be able to say those a little bit more personalized things, especially since, you know, yeah, it is very tied to, you know, our identities in this so I feel like it would help in it, you know, words coming from the community so I would personally appreciate being able to say something but if you, it would be good to know how long I have to be able to say because I don't want to go over or cut it to anybody else's time so I guess if, if we have 15 minutes, how, like do each get one minute just so that. So yeah I don't know if you have any. Well, we, there's a couple strategies we could take. So, or a couple approaches, I guess I should say, if we start off with sort of raising up and lifting up the resolution and the voices of the community first. If that takes 10 minutes, and we only have five minutes left to do the memo and have the council discuss I think there will be some flexibility to give us a little more time, probably not much more time, because you've seen how these these meetings run you know they're pretty on point. The other way to think about it is to sort of have the memo presented first and have the council have their discussion but let them know that we that that the HA members have a few words to say at the end. Either way, I would say depending if how I'm going to call on you holla and please tell me what your feeling is about speaking on Monday. Yes, I was thinking bringing a charge in front of our town council was much more benign in my opinion, then passing a resolution that will directly support some parts of our community than others and I know there were some constituents that had issues with the charge. So I think if we bring some of our personal stories, it might help create a different understanding as to why we're doing this ask of this petition for the home resolution. So I'm in favor of a couple of personal stories and or connections as well to help educate and inform those who might not know. Awesome. So we have to two voices already and then of course I will check with Ivan and Dr Shabazz. And maybe what I can do is if if they both would like to speak, then I'll be able to kind of email you all and say plan on this amount of minutes based on how many voices there are going to be. Does that work. All right, great. And then. Yeah, I don't know if anyone has a sense one way or another about like the whether the voices and the resolution come first or come after. But so I'm open but my sense is just based on the way that things kind of flow and I've gone that I think sort of framing it with the resolution and the voices could be really good or bringing the resolution forward doing the memo piece and then having the voices but whatever way you all would like to do it works. And given that start that's a logistical thing so we won't be violating open meeting law I don't think if I'm emailing you timing and stuff we can sort of determine what which direction we want to go in for that once we know if Dr Shabazz and Ivan would also like to speak. Yes Jennifer. Oh, nothing. Oh, okay. So is that good. We good with that plan. All right, awesome. Are you guys doing the resolution or no, like I wasn't clear. Yeah, I think I think so I think what we could do is. Let me see if I can just quickly pull up the resolution. So here's the resolution. And let's see here. What we could do is read the be it further resolved. I don't necessarily think we need to read all the whereas but Jennifer when you have ceremonial things like this is it usually the be it further resolved sections that get read. No, it's usually I usually do proclamation have proclamations and they're usually read by the town council and full the whole thing. Well hey that's not a bad idea to is that we could engage the council by asking them to take like literally asking them to take turns we could request that if that any counselors who would be willing to would read. And start with that. And then move into the memo or if you do some thoughts on this even though you're not going to be there. Not really. I guess the question that I have is it. This, this resolution, this, this, this is just being presented. Maybe I'm missing something here. I don't know this was. I think so. No. Yeah. We're talking about it. It's, it's because this resolution is basically what set things off in the sense of it. They agreed the town council agreed by virtue of approving this resolution to engage in a path of remedy. And that is in see here. Where are we. Okay, so the second to last be it further resolved that the Amherst town council is committed to engaging in a path of remedy for black Amherst residents who have been injured, or harmed by discrimination and racial injustice. This was approved and all the work started happening, but it really never. It really never had, it never had any sort of celebration around it or moment of ceremony around it or anything like that. It's just sort of got put on the website. Jennifer you do Oh, Hala, or I'm sorry, Alexis, I saw that your hands up. Okay, I don't. So, maybe this isn't the right time to say this but I guess I'm wondering. So, so, I'm sorry, maybe I just I, maybe I completely mix the context in which we're like I understand that this kicked off things, but this is, is this what we were talking about. So, was effective or wasn't effective. Or, well, okay, so the reason why I asked this is I guess, I'm wondering how, how this is being tracked. In terms of because the town council says, according to this it says the town council will engage, for example, will engage in individual and collective work to understand the bias right, and then the town council affirms its commitment to eradicating the effects and so I guess I'm wondering like, is there a way by which the town council, or the town of Amherst is, is checking in engaging these, like it's one thing to say something, you know, and like we can like, like it's one thing to like say sorry it's another thing to like, actually be committed in that work, and in the same way that I feel like it's very easy for people to hire people with those marginalized identities to do that work. So instead of like committing to the work so I guess that was a really long way of me asking, is there a way that this is like being like that work is being tracked and and that engagement and that commitment. Like, is there any way to see that these commitments are actually being committed to. I'm going to, I'm going to turn that over to our assistant director of DEI to give some input on that. If you're so willing. No, I'm just trying to think of the best way to say it. So I, my take on this is that this document has been used when we want to hold people accountable maybe and say, you know, particularly if they're not moving on something that wanted to that the community might want to happen and then they can say, you made this commitment. Right. But your point is very good. Right. How do we know, like that that's been done. I know that's been done to some degree because they're creative they've created the CSS JC, we're going to end up the resident advisory board. They're working on the youth empowerment center they're working on the BIPOC community center they're working on the Crest program and then the DEI department but I know that because I'm inside so I don't know how like maybe that's something that the DEI director and I can work on having on our page where we kind of hold that that information of stuff, or maybe the town council should hold it on their page since it's their resolution. And then the document be used as a measure of accountability. Yeah, and I think it will be a team effort between staff and the town council and in really coming back to this and I think all of the things that Jennifer just mentioned are all happening including the work we're doing in this in this committee. So I think, but it's a matter of us and that's sort of why I was suggesting that we bring it before the council again to sort of reactivate and energize it to say like, this is what we've agreed to and it was sort of, you know, it happened but let's let's come back to it and like be with it for a minute. Alexis I think that your part, your point is really valid about how do we know what's going on right because it's. So at some point I think there's there more of a personal piece of it so that the counselors themselves are educating themselves. And so how do we see that is being done. So you could bring that up, because again, lots of times we have these beautiful written things and then they get put on the website and then that's it because nobody's holding them accountable for it. So, there's, you know, lots of ways you could kind of move forward with that. Or if I saw that your hand was up did you want, are you all set. Yes. Okay. All right, so. Oh yes, Alexis. I'm sorry. So I said this at the very beginning but in about 15 minutes. I'm going to have to like, leave, and then I can come back but I'm realizing that that's probably going to create a quorum problem. Yes. I can come back but I just I have to go do something and then I'll be back. How long will be gone 50 it'll take me 15 minutes. Oh 15 total because the only thing we can't like, we can't act on anything without you here but we can go through go over things. Okay, you and discuss is that right Jennifer, we just can't act. Okay. So is that in two minutes you said you have to go in 15 in 15 for 15. In theory, you would end the meeting and then read. What is the word I'm looking for and then restart the meeting when she comes back. Sorry. No, it's okay. Okay, so I'm just going to go in. So, but given that we all that the sort of guideline is that we can't act is, can we just continue on but only just stay in discussion during that period and Alexis would you be okay with us continuing just with discussing. Okay. Okay. So, let's move on here to I'm just now I'm with that information in mind just want to take a minute to look at this again. So, well I'll quickly tell you that the black census. It has been kicked off the process has started, we will probably start to see some some information back by the end of the month. So I'm planning on when our next meeting is we'll have the opportunity to look at that. And I think the Dunning-Hugh Institute was really looking forward to this work and I think it's going to be really great so I just again thank herb and everybody who kind of worked on getting that together. Okay, let's move into a conversation about the harm. Actually, let's go to community engagement. And I'm just going to pull up something here. Well, so did you guys decide what you were going to do. I think we decided that we're going to check in with Yvonne and Dr. Shabazz see if they want to speak. So I don't think we have maybe we can circle back to it at the end of the meeting just to confirm what we want to do for Monday. Because we're not going to have to make a motion on it and if anybody has to leave they can leave and we won't spend more time on that right now. Maybe just need a minute to process that does that work. Okay. All right. All right. So I'm going to pull up one second. Okay. So this is the last thing I sent you and you may not have had a chance to who had a chance to look at this. You, you, you did not earth. I did not. Okay. I'm going to take a minute just to look at it or do you want me to start talking. I'll just go ahead and go through it now. Okay. I'll just catch up later. Sure. Okay. So I've been sort of giving a lot of thought to how we might move forward with our engagement and education process. And I've been looking at some other frameworks. The framework that Providence Rhode Island is using, which if you have an opportunity to look at what they have been doing, please do. It's really, really amazing work. It's remarkable. And so I have taken some pieces from what they have done. When we talked about community engagement, we came up with a list of all of the individuals and organizations that we want to touch in this process. And I think that was really helpful. It was very comprehensive. But we need a framework for how we are to pursue this work or it will just, it's a big piece of what we're going to do. So, this is a proposal that we can, we can sort of begin to talk about this. We do just to just look at the date, just to confirm on the 13th of March, we have the brown bag event with the League of Women Voters at 1pm. I've checked with all of you. I think several of you said that you could make it. Jennifer, are you able, you said you can make that. Yeah. So people are starting to register for that. It's been put out in various different ways. It's on Facebook. I think Jennifer is going to add it if she can to the community calendar. And so that's sort of our first event where we'll be there as many of us as possible and bringing people together to talk about what we're doing. So let's just go through this just keeping that in the back of your mind. So for this engage piece, the first, the first piece that I'm proposing is that we develop a written survey. The survey will be a way of determining the extent to which the first two reports that are for a have already completed are being engaged with the impact of the reports. So how is the community taking in this information the historical timeline of anti black structural racism, the current disparities. So what are people's perspectives on the report and what interest do folks have in getting involved. So that's what the survey would hope to capture, and we'll be able to use it to direct community members when engaging them online so it would. If we had it the way we wanted it, we would make it available on our website and perhaps on engage Amherst's website as well. And then we would also use it when we are doing any of our forums or our listening sessions or any of our community outreach events. And this would be, this would cross all demographics so this would go out to the whole community. And the way that Providence did this was really interesting. They put it out to the whole community and they got about 400 responses. When they looked at the data, they actually separated out data that came from BIPOC and and separated the data out from the, the white respondents to so you, I'll send that I was really interesting way of looking at it. And then the second part of this is with the assistance of the survey with the black census with BAM, we would develop an interview questionnaire. And again Providence did this their questionnaires excellent you can link to it here. And here we would identify African heritage individuals with generational personal familiar and community ties to Amherst interview. And the data collected would be the basis for the harm and impact reports that we're working on, and the foundation for the African heritage community to use to develop preparation proposals. So these two, these tools would be used online through multiple channels in listening sessions, forums, social gatherings, etc. So I'm going to pause there my son is here with a question and or if you can go ahead please. Well, I think you better take your son. Feel quick. Take your son first. That's not good shaking your head. All right. Let's look at this. Sure. I wish I would have had the opportunity to look at this before but unfortunately, but it is May. So the first thing, when it says developer written survey. The survey will be a way of determining the extent to which the first two reports are being engaged with. What are the first two reports. What would it be if there are two reports that you would have had people would have had been expected to have read in order to complete the survey. It seems to me that you're going to have a very limited group of limited sample. The idea would be actually that the reports. And so let me just answer your first question. The reports are the first report that our for a put out which was the partial historical timeline of anti black structural racism and Amherst. The second report was the black white disparity report. I think they're both about 40 pages. Many community members have already seen them, but we're not clear what how people are engaging with them how what perspectives people have about that having received and heard that information. But the idea would be that the reports would be made available with the survey. And it would be a way of getting this information out to the community and then having a survey that went with it. First question about that. How would this survey be done. Because you're talking about 240 page documents going along with a questionnaire. How would you see that being conducted. Yeah, so the survey would, first of all, would have to be developed. I'm, I have contacted Metia Kramer who helped with our research and Anita sorrow. They've been working together to see if we can get sort of a team together to to put the survey together. But ideally, if we'd be able to get it in some sort of digital format. So I can pull up what Providence did if that would be helpful for us to look at. They did an amazing job and the way that they've, they, what they did is actually really cool. They created a QR code, a QR, whatever that's called a QR patch, that they put that they put all around town that people could just put their phones up to and bring them to the survey, which I thought was really a neat way of getting people to access the survey Jennifer. Yeah, I just have a couple of questions so the survey is going out to the entire community and then so if that's the case or you're having it translated. That's a great question. And then then you would have to translate the reports, but then I was also thinking, maybe it would be helpful. If you could go because me I'm always trying to be in a neighborhood somewhere but go have like, um, I don't want to call it an open form but have some type of event where you're going through the report for folks. I mean, the reports are long. And we already the town already has like five surveys out now for different town initiatives. So I just am always concerned when we want to add another survey to something and then add additional information with it. You know, and maybe one of the things you have like a listening session to forward or something similar to that to add on to it. So maybe you could get additional responses back from people that way. And then how do you, what are you using like the census for the listserv. Yeah, so the sir, I don't, I'm not sure yet how we would go about other than the multiple channels that we already have so you know contacting every organization that we know that would be willing to send this out to their lists. And asking the town, you know, if, if they would promote it as well, which it sounds like they, they are doing with some other surveys, asking our media so the Amherst indie the Amherst current the Gazette putting a press release out like basically using all the channels that we have to get this out. I'm just, I'm just concerned about the people that aren't tapped into town business if you're not top into town business that decreases the opportunity that you're going to receive this information. Right, so I, you know, no I love your idea of going and I think that's what you know part of this is actually going in. Did she just leave. You call the meeting room. What time is it. It is 732. Exactly. So, are we able to keep talking, you are more than welcome to keep talking I'm just going to keep the record on to. Okay, so, so I, I have significant issues with this and the issues are is that to try and do this survey as outlined here is very problematic. Okay. On on a number of different friends wanted it would just to share size of the information that needs to be digest. Not just by a perspective survey recipient. And then responding to the questions there are, which requires under reader digested understand it, and then respond to the questions I think that doing a survey of that kind is has a very, very, very limited utility in terms of the populations that who are likely to get through that, including was truly. Well that's the best, you know, feedback you can give is. So, well, so just to say to sort of respond. First, I'm open to any and all ideas but you know, this doesn't the survey doesn't have to be limited necessarily to having read the reports. There's more about beginning to engage with the community about reparations and so putting a survey out that it could be as general as we want it to be really like what are your feelings about this what you know, we could design anything we want. I think a survey is a really effective way. And it, you know, like Jennifer said there are a few others out right now is a really effective way of capturing data. And given that we can put it online and also have the ability to include it in our listening sessions and other forums. I don't see how else we would sort of be able to capture. You know, on this large scale, what we would want to be able to capture. Go ahead, Jennifer. I think that it would be helpful. You Michelle. Yeah, maybe others here could outline the objectives of the survey. The infrared information that you would like to receive as a result of the survey. And then construct start beginning from that with those two things in mind, start to construct a survey. The other part of that obviously is, is what populations, population or populations, do you wish to reach. When you look at it, we look at any survey. If you don't have any objectives in mind and the survey becomes unwieldy. That's the second thing is if you don't know what why you were doing a survey and what you wish to get out of it, then the survey becomes useless because you don't know where you're going. But if you don't know what road you're traveling on or what direction you want to go, then any road will take you there. So, and that's not what you want to want to do. So I would suggest if you're going to do a survey and as Jennifer said several, several, several survey surveys are out there. So if you look at doing it that way, then I'd also say how does that survey impact with your second thing in terms of the interview questionnaire. How are those two related interrelated not related and related, and can they be accomplished with one. Well, in particular, the interview questionnaire is specifically for African heritage residents so or people that have even lived here previously so we would use the black census to identify folks in the African heritage community that would be willing to respond to the interview questionnaire. And I will just pull this up real quick so you can look at it. This is what Providence's questionnaire looks like and obviously it's specific for their community. But it would only be for African heritage residents. In this case so I thought that survey was for everyone. The surveys for everyone but or was asking about the interview questionnaire. Oh, okay, sorry. No, no, that's fine. So the second part of this year is using the survey and the black census and the black assembly of Amherst, Massachusetts stakeholder group. They'll develop this interview questionnaire using the with the support of those things and then identify individual African heritage residents to interview. So it's essentially like oral history taking, but you, you know, you have kind of a question here that you're that you're using as your template for doing that. And then that information gets collected and and put together so and that can help to inform the harm impact reports that the research team is working on. And it has a structure to it in this sense. Excuse me one second before I just I need to turn my camera off just for one second. Sorry. Just give me one quick second here. I don't even know how to do that when I'm here we go. What's happening. What is happening. But you're not muted Michelle. All right, here we go. Maybe I would be great maybe if we reached or if she or someone from a HRA reached out to Providence to see how like, if they thought that was the survey was successful. I mean Providence is pretty big and they said they got 400 responses back I mean I guess that's pretty good. But I also know like the senior center just sent out a 40 question question survey. It's like that's, you know, I get a little bit worried with those things. But I have ideas for when you're like actually ready to put things out. So one of the things that I suggested for the senior center survey, and because you can't translate everything in English into multiple languages and then mail it out. You know, so was that you know the schools always put in something that says if you need translation in this language if you need it in this language and if you need it in that language. But then you just have to make sure that you have someone that's available to make sure that can be translated, which also comes to mind that there's some people that just aren't literate and so you should definitely have some listening sessions for it. Yeah, yeah, you know I that's an excellent idea so you have somebody that can speak any one of those languages that you would refer basically if somebody needed translation referred to that person. Yeah, that's an awesome idea. I guess for boots on the ground I would utilize the ambassadors they're probably the most around in the community the most, although I, you know, they're all college students so I, you know, yeah, we've talked about. I go back and forth with that one. But you know the other thing is, you can, every community has like that one person that's kind of tapped in with everyone in the area in the immediate area or maybe there's a few of them. And so we could give people stipends perhaps to kind of help get that survey out to folks in their immediate communities I mean there's just a lot of different things that you could do once you're once you settle this part out. Yeah, yeah, well you're really hitting on something so that's exactly what Providence in this case did is they identified stakeholders in the unique communities, and paid them a small stipend to basically get the to get the survey out into their community. And it was very successful it sounded like and to sort of answer your earlier question. I'll send you the report they put together but it sounds like they felt the survey was very, very, very helpful in their process. It also helped them to see that the research reports that they had put together weren't really being engaged with so they made them, like they have more visuals to them now for example so there was sort of a lot of that, because like you're saying a 40 page document is way different than a few pages that have visuals that sort of capture what the report has, you know. Is your hand still up about is your hand. I wanted to lower you know, however, I think I was. When you do a survey, it is such an important step. And so, if you're going to do it, then the amount of energy and time that it takes to do it. You really want to be able to get really good results. So, therefore, it would be good to take some time to really look at the questions even the questions that I was briefly looked at that in terms of provenance. I want to rephrase and put in a different form and whatever format you're going to put this in, which is also important. And more importantly, who is going to develop this survey. That's that's really up to us. I just want to come back to your point about the objectives or because I think that's a really great recommendation and something that could be worked on between now on the next meeting. I just want to pause and see how do you have any thoughts on this or questions or anything at this moment. Thank you, but it might be more in the dissemination of the survey. Okay, it's important to say now or later. Yeah, I think maybe because this is like kind of the first time that we're talking about this. I feel confident that I can get volunteers together to begin to work on the survey to bring back to this group as a guide to start. But it's totally up to the assembly, how we would like to develop. And again, keeping in mind, I think the survey is sort of the more general broad reaching data collection method and then the interview questionnaire is specifically for African heritage residents. And that is sort of the next that would come after the survey was completed. So you don't even really have to necessarily get into that at this moment if we want to focus on the survey. Yes, Hala. I'm grateful there's volunteers to help draft this I don't know if any of them have a background in research or if we can have someone later look at it because the way you ask questions can be very, I can't remember the word but we can be getting the answers more about how we craft the question so if we can have someone neutral later say oh there's bias in the way we're asking this or that that might be helpful to get more unbiased. And actually, whatever your thoughts were previously probably would be helpful in figuring crafting out what the questions for the survey anyways, right, if when you look at things from the back end. I think I understand what you're saying. I didn't explain it very well because I don't there's I don't like, I don't really have anything to use but you know, just going through the process with crests, right we have to have an evaluation plan. We have to have all these different plans and it's just kind of one of those things. Now I'm going to start taking minutes Alexis is back. It's just one of those things where you know we have to kind of start at the end to kind of get to the front or to the beginning. Oh. Yeah, and I think that's a great point about bias and so Mattia Kramer, who led the two research reports that we did does have a research background. As does Anita sorrow who worked with her and some others that worked to produce those reports. And I think that, you know, what I'd also what I could also do is touch base with the folks who have crafted the senior survey and other surveys, so that we're sort of trying to get a standardized format that the town has and maybe even improving upon it. As we do this. Earth. Well you know, developing survey and interview questions is both an art and a science. And there are people who specialize in doing this. And, and, and, and obviously, you know, those groups are known. They really don't. What's happening. What's happening. Alexis, Alexis, Alexis, you're not muted. Oh, sorry. Oh, there you go. Okay. That was neat. I could say, okay, I'm glad Alexis is back. Can I just ask you to recall the meeting so that we can start on time with the specific time. Sure, you need me to read the whole statement again. Nope, I just need to say we're going to resume now at, we're going to resume the meeting of the African Heritage Reparation Assembly at 748pm. And then I will be right back so don't make any big decision. So, or if I think I would, if I think what I've heard you say is that it might be useful for us to touch base with the Donahue Institute and let them know that we're developing this survey and I have a meeting actually with Paul on Monday. So I could speak with him about that too. And we can see if their expertise could potentially be. Is that what, is that what you were, what I'm saying, you know, it costs nothing to talk with them they'll talk with you about anything is this that when it comes to then implementing that's when it costs, but they will have a really good ideas and information. In terms of really conducting a really good first rate survey. Awesome. And especially also in terms of interview questions. They, this is what they do. So, I would highly recommend that they, they be consulted with again it, you know, they will give you great suggestions etc and then if you wanted them to do it then that's where the costs come in but. Yeah, no. I think that's, yeah, I think that's an excellent suggestion I will reach out to Kerry who we're already working with. And talk with her just sort of informally about this, and then I'll also have a conversation with Paula Monday, because if we are in agreement that doing the survey and then having the interview questionnaire or sort of the oral thinking for the African heritage residents is a good method, then I, I think that engaging the Duna Human Institute more on this would be beneficial to us, depending on what it will cost us to do this and I'd like to ask Jennifer. If the other surveys like the senior survey and the other ones that she says are out how what process have they gone through who developed them did anybody, you know, from any of these organizations help or if it was all just volunteer based. But I think you're you're absolutely right that if we want to develop a survey that is going to be to get the results essentially that we want. We should do that. When I look at your interview questionnaire, it says interview questionnaire is similar to what Providence did here and identify African heritage individuals with generational personal familial and community ties to Amherst to those. When I look at that already are we talking about people only who have generational ties to Amherst, or are we talking about African Americans who have generational and African Americans who have personal and African Americans are familiar. I mean, what is, which one of these are we really wanting to get at, are we talking about generational ties, which, and that includes personal familial and community they're all tied in but the guiding one. The one that is guides the whole thing is an individual who has generational ties to Amherst. Is that what you're saying. No, I there was no order there it was just any one of those things. One of those things. Yeah, yeah. All right, so, again, it would be really a good to determine. What are you looking for. What do we what do we want to get out of this. Because when you start doing these interviews. What is it that after after they gone through this interview questionnaire. What information out what is information out of that there that we will be able to use and some manner to guide the decision making process, going forward, and, and, yeah, going decision making process going forward, and what decisions will we be looking to make. Yeah, yeah, absolutely and I so I think that I think this piece of the process will come with more development and will come as we've gone through and develop the survey and have that process established and maybe even completed. And then using that to guide us because the black census is going to be integral in reaching African Americans blacks in the community. So this is we I'm not worried about bullet point number two at this moment, I think we can sort of table it for now. But when we get to the sort of it ties into the harm report and that's part of our discussion tonight, but I want to just kind of hold that for a second. So I, and just summarize what I've heard you say with respect what I've heard assembly members say with respect to the survey. So for the survey we're going to, I'm going to determine what the objectives are. I'm going to reach out to the Dunahue Institute. I'm going to reach out to the research team that we worked with for the two original reports. I'm going to speak further with Jennifer to understand how the other surveys are being completed in the town and who's sort of touched those and helped those to be developed. And then based on all of that information come back to the assembly. So we're, you know, with further development of this, of this part of the process and of the survey. So I don't think there's anything any action that we have to take as long as that sounds like a good plan for the group. I will begin to pursue that work between now and the next meeting. Okay. Great. And Alexis, are you in fact back. I am. Okay, great. Nice to have you back. Thank you. Okay, so with that in mind, let's just, I just want to get through the rest of this year and we'll table the interview questionnaire for a moment because I want to tie it back to our discussion on the harm report and the questions that we have on the idea and Anita on the harm report. So, just checking or were you still watching even with your camera off just. I don't want to get too far into this. Yes. Okay. I think that and I just need to tell you I have been on call since three o'clock this afternoon. I hear you. Yeah. Yep. I totally hear that. So let, let me just hang on one second. Let me just look here. Okay. I think what we can do is table the discussion on the harm report that is tying into the question here and really focus for right now if everyone's okay with it on the survey piece of things and sort of utilize the folks we have who are willing to work with us on this on the survey. And then at our next meeting I'd like to I invited Mattia I think Anita is here, but I can't see who's here when I'm sharing screen. But we can invite them back. Yeah, okay. Mattia could make it tonight so but with advanced notice she can do a Thursday night so we can invite her back for the next meeting. Alexis. Um, I, I apologize because I know I was like, I had to go until this is the reason why I missed it but were we able to talk at all about the workshops listed there I guess I just wanted to know a little bit more information about under engage. Yes, yes, that is what I was about to move on to right now and I want to honor what Irv said about sort of losing his, his being tired and so we'll have we'll wrap up after this we'll go through this piece about the workshops and then we'll do our second public comment and and we can sort of and determine the next time we want to meet and then we'll go from you know we'll go from there. So let's yeah let's go through these. So these on the educate side are three programs, and we're not limited to these three programs these are three programs that I am proposing, based on various conversations that I've had in the community and what I know is available to us and we can add to this and we can of course any one of these may not work for the group. So the first one you saw in your packet the stolen beam series. This series was developed by the JCA reparations committee. They tailored a curriculum specifically for the African heritage reparation assembly to use which I'm very, very grateful for. And this is a wonderful program I can tell you I actually facilitated a session with Matthew it's a five week session. And I, I was a facilitator a co facilitator with Matthew and we had a great group of Amherst residents who participated and it is a very rich curriculum. And the way that it is set up is you unpack the material together so you meet for five sessions and you have reading materials did everyone have a chance to look at the. Okay, great. Alexis did you have a chance to look at it. Okay, great. Do you have a chance to look at the stolen beam. Yeah, when it was. Yes, I've been aware of that for some time. Yes. Okay, great. So the idea here and just so you, you know for all three of these particular educational programs. The HRA could be the sort of organizing body to take that off of the HRA like we're not an event planning committee. And so we can sort of contract at no cost our for a who will make sure that these programs are getting marketed. I think that these programs that people are getting registered, we have our or our fray has its own zoom account, both a meeting account and a webinar account so it would sort of be a little bit, it would give us more flexibility and less of a burden to have to plan these events as as an assembly. The owning up. Oh yeah Alexis please. Sorry. Okay, I, well I know that you didn't even finish talking about them, but I guess I was wondering if these are. I, what are the words that I guess I'm wondering if these are directly tied to and like, like, is this a part of some like our. Okay, so, so in this being in the same piece of paper this is a part of our engage and educate like this is all coming from essentially coming as a part of the AHRA's mission, or is this is this more so reparations for Amherst, or I understand that you said that reparations for Amherst would be willing to take on a workload but I guess I'm, I'm afraid of like, you know, saying like yeah like these are workshops under like, like, giving our blessing by giving my blessing without even like knowing what the workshop is like. I would love to actually like if even if they were like, like recordings or like an opportunity to like see the curriculum or anything I feel like that would give me a way better idea about it if this is something indeed that like is going to be a part of or like have in any way like some sort of affiliation with the AHRA. So yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely and yeah so the stolen beam the curriculum is in our packet. And I don't think we'd be able to get recordings because they're sort of the sessions aren't recorded because they're, you know, sort of personal. You know, they're not public in any way. So I wouldn't, I don't think I'd be able to get recordings, but the stolen beam, the curriculum is in the packet and both, excuse me, Jeff and DeVora, who are the creators of this, this particular program. They have both offered to come and to answer questions they're both traveling this week, but they have both offered to come the next time we meet and answer questions and but I'm not sure how else we might be able to sort of get a read on it other than like I said I facilitated it. We might be able to talk to some folks who participated in it. And then for the owning up workshops that Matthew is wanting or offering to facilitate. I know that he would absolutely come and talk about what he has in mind. I thought his vision was really fantastic. And so we could bring him on as a presenter at our next meeting. And then this one here on the road the case for local reparations I have actually a slideshow presentation that I could share with you all that goes through I've given this presentation to Applewood. And it went really, really well and in fact I just got an email that Applewood is crafting their diversity committee at Applewood is crafting a letter in support of reparations to go to the town council. As a result of that, not just as a result of that but it sort of has sparked an interest so that's what I'm thinking we might want to do is sort of gather all of these people so invite Jeff and devora invite Matthew. And then at our next meeting have those folks here to answer questions and, and sort of further develop these ideas in collaboration with the HR. Does that work. Okay. Great. Any other questions or comments on this. Okay. All right, so let me stop sharing here. And then I'm just going to. So we're going to just do two more things we're going to do a public comment, if there is public comment and then we are going to do. We're just going to pick a date for our next meeting. So, I am going to open it up again for public comment during the public comment period the chair will recognize members of the public when called on please identify yourself by stating your full name pronouns and residential address. You're welcome to speak for up to three minutes, and we will not engage in a dialogue but we will be listening. So if you'd like to speak please raise your hand. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Anita, I'm going to, oh, you're in. Hello. Anita Sarah. She her hers. I'm at 39 Chapel Road. And as Michelle mentioned, I have worked with Matea. On the original reparations report last year. We're calling the harm report just to give you some reflection on what I just heard, because this kind of opens, opens up our questions even further than what we had submitted to Michelle with respect to our questions about the harm report. And I, and I only just saw the community engagement and education. It seems that the survey itself has an objective more of raising awareness in a larger audience, whereas the interview process focused on African heritage. Is much more aligned, at least in my mind at first impression, with the intention of the harm report, because that was was one one aspect so I think Mr. Rhodes, you know, comments, I think are really important. The objectives and the purpose, it seems that the survey and the education. I could see a line between the two of them and a relationship as I was envisioning the survey and that could be very wrong, but I saw more of a link there. The interview, much more focused, much more looking at, at harm, and getting those very, very important stories out. So it really does feel like there are two things going on there. And I don't know if that might, might help you in, in reflecting and, and developing objectives. But, but I do think, you know, it just strikes me that having very clear objectives for both this in the harm report, what population is going to be reached, especially since one thing that is mentioned in the initial definition of the survey is that this might be an important thing for March 13. And that's coming up pretty quickly. So, you know, it may, it may not not come to fruition that quickly, but but I just wanted to underscore everything that that's been said I think it's really important to have very concrete understanding of the objectives of the survey and then to what purpose to, you know, what, what will this, this activity further and whether we're talking about the harm report, or a survey or standalone questionnaires so that's my only comment. And I look forward to working on, on these projects as they unfolds. I'm Anita, and I'm personally very grateful for your involvement and very much appreciative. All right. So I just would like for us. Oh, Ella. Let's see. Ella Adams. Hi Ella. Hi, can you guys hear me. Yes, you're good. Okay. Hi, I just wanted to say, introduce myself my name is Ella Adams. I'm a journalism student at UMass I use she her pronouns, and I live on Meadow Street. I'm, I've done reporting about push reparations and Amherst last semester for a class that I was in this semester I'm in an advanced podcasting class. I'm following up on this on the work that you guys are doing and how you're kind of kind of looking at reparations nationally but also looking at them on a smaller scale in Amherst so I just want to put that out there let you guys know what I'm doing. If you all want to talk to me about this or open to having a conversation that would be greatly appreciated. Michelle has my contact information, but I just want to say hi and thank you so much. Thank you, Ella. Yes, and I do have your contact so anyone who would like to speak with Ella please let me know. I'll just go ahead and send everybody Ella's contact information so you can decide if you'd like to speak with her. All right. So now let's just figure out. Well, actually, I realized when I said figuring out a next date. We don't have Yvonne and we don't have Dr Shabazz here. I also realized that herbs schedule was sort of getting moved around a bunch and Yvonne said Thursdays were becoming more difficult for her. However, Thursdays are, you know, their meetings are just piling on meetings at this point. So, does anybody here have know that they have a particular night that they just is it totally out. Because if there's not if it's not like that then I'm just going to send a doodle poll, and we can respond to the doodle poll and see what the best. Yes, Alexis. Wednesdays are pretty much impossible for me. Okay, great. I just want to say that I do run the school committee meetings. But like once they start, I'm pretty much. Well, okay, wait, I just remember doctors in the school. Same night right there would be anyway so yeah, okay. So can you send the doodle poll. I can totally send a doodle poll. Oh, you mean by open meeting law, can I send a doodle poll. Yeah, I've only seen Athena do it. I think I could send a doodle poll I think I can my understanding I'll double check on this but as long as I'm just doing scheduling, I can do that. But you know without opinions or anything like that just simply scheduling. I just say, you know, most meetings are happening Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays. And I know Monday is Council so Monday's Council so Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays are just and it's budget season. And so those meetings are just compounded. They really are. I know. I just, I'd love to just poll the, the members that are here, would like a daytime meeting ever be possible if it was not two hours like if we just wanted to have an hour meeting just to do the survey for example, that is a yes for you Hala, what about her. Yeah. That's better for me than evenings. Okay, well that's really good information what about for you Jennifer would that be would daytime be would I get in trouble for. No, no, we can meet whenever I you know, the more consistent it is the better for me because then I can just be in my schedule but it's really up to you guys so. Okay, well, what I'll do is if so daytime wise, what days would be best or give me your best day times, not times just days. Any of those days during the day works, you know, prior to four o'clock. Okay, for me. What about you Alexis. I probably, okay sorry I'm pulling about calendar. So probably Tuesdays during the day are tough for me so probably Wednesdays are okay and Thursdays are okay. Okay, okay, but I'm pretty much like I can't like if we're going to go over an hour I might be a little strapped for 10. Okay, good to know. All right. And how about you Hala. Wednesdays will not work sorry Alexis, but on Thursdays of work and then Fridays after the elementary school committee meeting around 11 and think Friday after 11 or Thursdays. Okay, and then Monday and Tuesday. Oh, okay Monday and Tuesday, Tuesday doesn't work for Alexis but is Monday an option for you Alexis. Okay, okay. All right, so let me see what we can figure out I'll call Dr. Shabazz and I don't have a good way of getting a hold to be gone, but I will try to you do. Okay. Can I text her your phone number so she can text you. That would be perfect. If you could do that that would be great. Okay, so we'll figure it out. I'll try to wrap that up very quickly so we know we have another meeting. And then we'll have a lot of folks that we want to invite back so we'll try to coordinate all that too. So if there are there any other questions or comments before I adjourn. All right, well thank you all. Thanks for a great meeting. It was really great to see you and we'll see you soon and adjourning at 816pm.