 I got to read my little prompt here 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 telephone. So in person attendance of members of the public will be permitted but every effort will be made to ensure the public can adequately access the proceedings in real time via technological means. And I apologize for any background noise that you all hear my son has a couple of friends over for a little goodbye and so they might be a little more noise than my usual background. I'm going to go over the agenda so we are calling this meeting to order at 632. So we'll do a welcome, and we are doing their review of the agenda so next would be public comment and then action and discussion items and actually I'm going to unless anybody has any objections to move action item a down to the last on our list so we're going to update on affordable housing listening session update on HR bylaws review update on the state of human rates update on reading effect Frederick Doug with speech and update on community events group, and then talking about Latinx heritage months and then the last item on our list would be nomination of chairs slash co chairs. Then after that we'll have another public comment. And then we can do some member report outs but does anybody have any announcements right now that they would just like to share any general announcements sometimes it's an event that's happening or something that you saw down. No one. All right then we shall go to public comment and I have not seen if there's anybody in the audience. I guess the public comment is in the audience if we could let her in. And then I guess that leaves us with no no public comment being that friend will be jumping on to our screens right now and there's no one else in the audience. So we will go to an update on affordable housing listening session so the update there if you all recall we got a June listening session with various community members and through that there was various parts of the town so town counselors, people on planning board, affordable housing trust. I forget what is the other trust in town that deals with housing, people from Craig store on house population, people and as well as just town residents and grad students from UMass and so through that listening session that was conducted we broke up into groups and discussed kind of the various issues that people face when it comes to affordable housing in the town of Amherst and through that there is going to be a report being written. Liz Hey good, who was also on the commission was in partnership with me doing that so she will be taking the reins from on that from this committee, along with that focus for committee that had the other committees that we had so I think she might be reaching out to the various groups as a whole to see if anybody would like to help summarize the report I know that it's difficult to jump into a project when something has already been done but the notes are being compiled with the affordable housing trust, and then it will go out into kind of a general doc as to how then to proceed to move it to town council to make a report recommendations to town council because the overall goal is that we have made a way to listen into the community and through the affordable housing trust they basically said that this was the most fruitful conversation that they've had around affordable housing and so it's a very difficult topic to get people to talk about so in partnership with that night we had 40 plus people in the room, and we had about 20 plus online surveys that are while questionnaires that were filled out through various people so overall 60 residents participated in this. So, other than that, that is being done I will say that summer has gotten the better of us all and so a little bit of vacation time has gotten into the way they're moving that project forward but I imagine in the next week or two, there's going to be a meeting with Liz and that group and it should be back on track. Does anybody have any questions for that. Now. All right, then we will move to the update on the human rights bylaw review panel, can you give that one. I don't have very much to report I did ask Paul if there's been any movement, but I sent that email to him late this afternoon, and I did not hear back from him so at the last meeting I think I just reported that I had passed on the comments to hit to Paul the process is that he will review them, and then make recommendations to the town council, and then they would have conversations with I mean, and I should say town general council so town legal town council, and then they would go to the town council. Once they've gone through that process and I don't have an update on whether there's been any conversation between Paul and legal counsel just to be clear about that. And it's my understanding that general council is meeting with town council to first other bylaw revisions and stuff so it kind of will flow what the overall charter and general bylaws of the town. Is that the idea of it. I think so so I know that in addition to the HRC bylaw revisions there were a couple of other boards that also had revisions so I'm sure that conversation will be one large conversation about all the revisions for the town as a whole, but I don't, you know I have no idea whether those conversations have started or whether they've sent when I sent my information to Paul, I believe that I also sent it to our legal council which is KP law firm as well. And KP represents probably two thirds of the cities and towns and Massachusetts. So they're very, very busy and I have not received. I don't, I'm not even sure if I've received an acknowledgement that Lauren received the, my email I'm sure I'm sure it got to her but where we are on the list. I have no idea. I just got it. I will say that if we could put a plug in the adjusting existing agenda items, just to review this at every meeting because my fear is that it's going to be election year and that this cycle, then it's going to get busy and I would hate for this to then be available in July of next year like, Oh, we're going to work on that because everybody else kind of got a little bit busy so we can just have it in there so that way, hopefully, can be pushed through. Ronnie, you have your hand up. I'm just wondering, of course, we can keep it going on the agenda but I'm wondering if there's anything we could do outside this particular commission to sort of push it along to have it look that I know there is a lot going on but on the other hand, what part of it could be part of the lot that's going on. So if we don't even get an acknowledgement from the law firm, and the town managers had it for a month, it seems like that could be some side urging that we could do to get it moving. And I'm wondering what that is. So I, I mean I fought myself for reaching out to Paul late this afternoon I think if I had reached out to him earlier, I would have gotten a response back for him about where it is but in between the time that I emailed him in this evening and I just looked on my email to see if he would respond it back. He had not. So I'm happy to follow up with him, and, and then share the results of that and you know conversation with the group. So it may be that they might be further along than I, you know that I know I don't, I just don't have any, any information, and then you could make a decision about, you know what sort of other fires or nudges you want to make at that time. I also have any other comments for bylaw review, not seeing any hands up then we're going to move to the update on the state of the human rights so I think I shared with you all last time that I shared the rights that we voted into and signed off on and all agreed upon. So I sent that to town council, as well as to local newspaper the Amherst Indies so I believe that in my understanding I did not attend the town council with a review that I did of the meeting that they did have on Monday, it did not seem to be talked about so I think that it's very heartening and discouraging that you know we, we sent that over and I did make it very clear in my email to that I would put on their agenda, the very least be put in the packet and acknowledge on the 17th of July and so I, yeah, I don't know where to go from that panel. So I can provide a little bit of an update on that just because of the conversation I was able to have with Paul and Lynn Griezmer today. So I think, and please don't quote me or hold me to this 100% because I don't know all of the towns bylaws, 100% but I think the HRC, and there are at least two or three other boards or committees that have in their bylaw a mandate to provide a report to the town council. And what was under discussion today is how to proceed with those reports so rather than having a conversation with just the HRC I think there will be a conversation with all of the committees that are asked to do an annual report, and I don't know the status of whether they're all in but I know that they're, that they are, are thinking about how best to proceed with all of the reports that are supposed to come in. And I do think it's unfortunate that they didn't have an opportunity to do that at the last meeting but they certainly it was received and it's just a matter of like, you know how are they going to package all of the reports that that are coming in together so, in addition to you, this report, there's a final I know that there's a final report for the African Heritage Reparation Assembly, and they've actually they've extended their time a little bit, and they're scheduled to be, the town council agenda I want to say for August but it could be September. So it may be that all of the reports will be discussed at that time, but I, I know that there are that they certainly Lynn and the town council has received it and they're aware of it. Yeah, and I mean, I know that they have received it too because they sent an email receipt, our recipient like whatever receipt is just to your point it is a little, you know if there's not a best practice, why not go with practice that then can be, like I said, let's have a release put it on the agenda because I mean, what is it going to do it. I understand that they could talk about whatever they want with it and just more is like, you know, we, we want our town committees to do this work and I think this is a frustration with many town committees from various people that I talk about is that it feels like we do all this work and yet we are not received in a way that, you know, you get acknowledged or you kind of feel like you're being pushed off or you're getting to a point to where you're not being heard like I will give the example of one CSS JC send something to town council it does not seem that a receipt or received is even sent in an email as opposed to when I send something from the HRC. And I think those practices need to really be looked at from a best practice for the town, you know, it very much feels like favoritism and whoever has the town councils here and what they're going to do so I understand that Lynn and Paul are going there and would like to proceed in a way that's a uniform way but if there's not a uniform way why not acknowledge that. It's a simple email and be like, hey, I know you're asking for us to be discussed on the 17th we're probably not going to do that because of x y and z. And then I could have reported that. That I obviously can't respond to because I don't have I don't have any answer for that. I understand I'm just stating it publicly while we're being recorded. All right, anybody have any comments for the state of human rights. Philip we're just going to miss you so much. Okay, not seen anybody else hands go up for state of human rights discussion. Next is update on the reading of Frederick Douglass Beach and many people were there so please someone else speak. I found it really moving. And what I would love for next year is if somebody emailed me a little advertisement that was Facebook ready, so I could put it up on my social media, and I bet other people would too because we were just, I guess, speaking, since we're reading the speech to the choir right to ourselves. And what an amazing opportunity to educate people. And yeah, so I would have loved to have done outreach and maybe get 10 or 20 people there. Just for myself, you know, and then if each of us could do that. That's the intention. So I thought it was great. I think your intention is your understanding the intention is completely correct to get the more people that are able to hear and read it I think the more power it brings brownie. Yeah, I was definitely educated. I also found the size of the group I know we want to reach more people, but I found the size of the group to be nice itself sort of warm and comfy all of us sitting in chairs in a circle on the green. And I agree I think more people should hear it. I had not heard it before having not had that early part of my education into this country but so I was really moved, really, really moved in a big way. It was a very powerful speech and I was told that all the every American kid knows what it is going through the American school system. But I don't believe it somehow. It's so powerful and I've been here, I mean I am of course an immigrant but I haven't never heard this before. So, I, I, I really, yeah, I found it to be a great great success and everybody was listening and he whether you spoke or not people were thinking and it was just nice to be together with people. I wouldn't have normally be sitting together with. Yeah, definitely and I don't know who you talked to but as someone that went through the US school system I can tell you that I did not hear of the speech until a couple years ago when I joined the human rights Commission so I don't think it is very well known. In broader ways I think some people know about it but not many like this. Anybody else. I mean, I think we're hitting the into the next topic but yeah advertisement I, I feel like that is something and it is not a knock or ding on anyone I think it's just a reality of putting on an event right as you know you have to have the fire out. You have to then social media posts to make more advertisement in a way to then draw on people I think that kind of is the next step here for the group you know we started doing these more events now it's now, how do we grow the events what can we do to make the go into a broader reach of people I will say that there was two individuals there that I spoke to that day that they were quite new to town they literally had just arrived a week ago or a month ago is what they said so something is working I don't know that seems very like you came to town you found out that there was an event happening and you showed up so great so something's working but obviously there are many residents in town that did not show up that day and for whatever reason and you know maybe just having that little pocket of like you said Deb of pulling around community and our own networks of people because I do, I will say that I am guilty of that sometimes I forget and I just assume that people know of events and then I'm like oh wait no you should come to this like yeah like we talk all the time but we never talked about this event that's coming up literally around the form. So definitely, Deb. Yeah so I'm wondering if this is something that we could have a template like a social media template. I use Canva a lot at work, and they have yeah templates they they'll give you a size or this is good for a Facebook post or you know an Instagram post and then just we can feed in the new information you know the new event, and it's not a big deal it's not difficult to do I'm just wondering if that's something that's on considered to be staff job or if we're supposed to do that or. Yeah, Kamala do you want to. Yeah, so I actually think in that it has been a combination of both staff and commission. And one of the things that Jennifer Jennifer and I are hoping to do this summer is to sort of standardize some procedures including like a cultural events calendar so that we're not planning dates. A month and a half out, but really have a calendar that set for the entire year. We have UMass graduate student who's working with us I'm putting some of those things together. And we'll have to have a conversation with Brianna Sandra the communications director about, you know, what the protocols are for the town because the town actually does, as you would expect, have some specific protocols that they use for publicity of town events. And then, I think actually the, the HRC has a Facebook account but that account hat was created by Jennifer as a private account and doesn't follow the town model. And so I mean there's some things that need to be worked out but I agree with you having some standards about advertising would be helpful I think will be really helpful if we are able to, I won't even use the word finalized but if we could really sketch out a very good draft of what our calendar will be the next big event is Latinx Heritage Month. So, hopefully, several weeks months prior to that will have a full schedule so the cultural events start with Latinx Heritage Month and end with really with Juneteenth. And I think there's some hard decisions to be made about the cultural events because there are a large number of them. And what I, you know, I, like everyone else I really enjoyed the Frederick Douglass reading, but I, I'm going to say that I would be in favor of going back to the summer model, which is having that reading done on Juneteenth as opposed to July 5. Just because we need to reduce the number of events that we hold right we need to hold really good events and do them really well rather than a lot not not to. And I'm not saying the other ones weren't done well, but you know, we, we need to be mindful of what our resources are both for staffing and for time and for money. And so if we're, if we're able to do that, I think it will, it'll be better for everybody just. And then the other thing that and I, I can't recall now everything is a big blur, because I've been doing workshop soft weight. In the last meeting we talked about the notion of this community cultural events group was that raised at the last. So, Jen's been out this week, unfortunately, so we haven't really moved forward on that other than I have a couple of names of individuals that I think would be good to invite who are not currently members of boards on the town. I do think that if we are able to pull together a cultural events group that sort of a working group. And it is diverse coming from all of the different rational and ethnic and other groups on on town to really map out what the programming looks like for the year. We have a number of benefits right so there were not just targeting the one group whose events that we're doing at that time, and there's an opportunity for people to hear about all of the events and share as you plan to do with your networks. So that's the hope to get that up and running before Latinx heritage month. That all sounds absolutely fantastic. And I like the idea of doing the Frederick Douglass speech on Juneteenth, especially if there's 300 or 400 people there to listen to it I think that's very exciting, but you reminded me. I saw that there was an event at the Mill River on Juneteenth, and I was like, well who put that on, and was it at the same time I didn't even get you know the specs and what time it was and like, how come I didn't hear about that. And so not only truncating our own calendar but coordinating like we're too small a town. Personally, I think to have two events on the same day for the same purpose. There were three events, actually four events over the course of the weekend. So there was a film and discussion at Amherst Cinema. There was an event on the Saturday. I can't yeah I think I'm either the Saturday or the Sunday with ancestral bridges. There was a town event. And then there was an event on Juneteenth sponsored by the Black Business Association of the Amherst area. I get their acronym. Great. So that, again, I think is one reason why we need a group that's not a formal, you know, board and committee but to have some coordination like I actually like the idea of having a variety of events over the course of the weekend because people can choose which ones, you know, they are attracted to or, you know, I'm really into film so I'm just going to go that to that one or I'd like the historical tour so I'll do that. But yeah, better coordination and collaboration would be a benefit. And if we were, you know, if we could agree to publicize all of the events as well so some of those events got publicized on the town website, but you know I think we should be consistent about trying to get all of those events. You know, onto the town website. So another, yeah, go ahead. Yeah, multiple events is great. It was just that the Mill River event was the same day and it was because it was business association it was like I intentionally went to the one of the businesses to support black businesses. And then when I found out afterwards that there was this other event for black businesses I was like, Oh, no. My goal was into chief right because I didn't know this. Yeah, so it was a little disappointing for me because I would have gone to both, but having them the same day was rough. Yeah, right, right. And there were a few folks who were able to attend both because the, I believe them, the Mill River event was started at 10 and went until noon and then the town event started at noon and went until, you know, 430 or five. So you're right it is possible. I mean there were that I wanted to go to the Mill River event because Dr Shirley Whitaker was signing autographing books and I wanted to get one for my granddaughter I had to. I begged someone who was heading over there like here's money would you please buy a book and have an autograph for me, because like you know I could not go I couldn't be in two places at one time or just, you know, haven't figured that that that out yet. Yeah, I think that oversight on these events is definitely like needed with the coordination the advertising and to your point that we are a small enough town that we can very easily be like hey you're doing that event around the same time I am. Maybe we can coordinate in a way that everybody can go to both. Anybody else have anything. But while we are kind of jumping into the next agenda item so the community events group as Pamela has already said that it's in the works I think that that would be a great and fruitful group I do just want to say out loud that let's have diverse and inclusive people in that group because I do feel like that is. What sometimes some of these events can lack in for advertising and for having it be a part of it so. Does anybody else have any other comments that they want to make about the new formation of the community events group. I am interested to know what it can officially or legally be called Pamela I know that there is that hold up there for whatever role or a lot is. Yeah, so I think that. So there are two questions and they're and they're separate so the first is, I think that the town manager create could create a group at like the community service working group, and we could just get started. So that question I think is easily resolved and the second part of the is whether the group should be a friends of the HRC group, which would provide a legal status and a way for fundraising activities and donations to be made. And then I think it's now been about a week and a half ago I, there was a conversation and some information that was sent to Jennifer and I about establishing a trust. And I had some real concerns about a trust I don't, I don't know of. I mean, I guess I need to have a better standing of like how the affordable land trust works like what is the legal relationship between a trust which I typically understood to be a private entity and a municipal government. So, you know, Deb, maybe we can get together and put our, put our heads around that and I haven't had a chance to look at the affordable husband housing trust documents to know what that relationship is. There is a friends group for like the friends of the Jones library that is that does fundraising and receives donations on behalf of the library. There's also some questions around. Who would be in control of the funds so you know I played a little bit of devil's advocate and said, Okay, so we create this trust and they are able to do this great fundraising. And right now everything is going really hunky dory and we're all getting along but if it's an independent entity which I think it would be at some point if they want to take the money and do something completely different with it. You know what control with the with the town have, after we've done these fundraising for town events and then we don't have control of it so I don't know the answers to those questions yet though that's, that's the piece that means to be worked out but I think we could establish the group and start working together and doing those collaboration, the collaboration, while those legal questions are being answered. Ronnie. I, I mean, I don't know if the trust is the same as the follow one thing three, it may be different but generally there's a board, there's a mission, the all kinds of principles that guide the operations of any kind of these kinds of entities. I don't know why necessarily the town would have to have control for say, which is what you said. It seems to me it's really a community effort, largely carried out by volunteers with donations made by members of the community. So I'm not a lawyer and I don't know the legal stuff, but I have been associated with lots of nonprofits in different ways and I know that you can't just do what you want with it. You know, there are rules around how you can spend the money and accountability. So I guess from my point of view I don't worry so much but I'm not the lawyer here. I mean you probably know all the things that can happen that I don't. I think you're right. The question and I just don't know the answer to is, what, what would be the legal relationship between because a 501 C three nonprofit doesn't necessarily automatically have a relationship with the municipality, or wouldn't, you know, necessarily I'm sure the friends of the Jones library in their documents have some sort of mission statement and and purpose that links them together, but I didn't want to say I'm in favor of one process or another until I've looked at those documents and I don't know I mean I normally when I think about a 501 C three nonprofit or a trust, I think about independent entities that are not necessarily related to municipality, and the goal for this group whatever group we have is to have the group be the fundraising arm for the municipality for these events so we'd want that relationship to be to be, you know, a good and proper one under the state and federal laws and I just haven't had a chance to, to really figure that piece out. Does anybody else have any other comments on the community events group. I think my last comment on it will be that it would be nice to have some HRC involvement being that we have been the ones to put together this group I think that that feels natural to have either someone from the HRC serve on and I know that creates a dole serving but I'm just putting that out there. And if I was staying I would do it. All right. The next item that we have is Latinx heritage month. So, last year what we did was it was meant to be on the common but then it was in conflict with the cider run that happens in the fall. So, if the notes can just reflect to check the date on the number that cider run is so that way then we don't try and plan it on the common and to use the common and then be denied because the Commons already being used that would be great. Last year we did it at Kendrick Park so that's just down the way there next to the circle or rotary. Triangle Street and so there we had we opened up with land acknowledgement and then what should we call it some performances were done as well. So we had I think probably five performers that day and the kids from local, I think it was Pellham Elementary School, then correct me for Pamela, but I believe it was them. They came and did some dancing and then there was Martha Rivera, who was in the schools who did some flakoriko dancing with her group so they were very well attended well performances and we also then got some food from various vendors in town that identify us Latinx and that we were able to do in partnership with Amherst College who gave us a donation to source out that food and I think that's kind of where the Amherst College partnership with HRC kind of began and began with that event and Victor you helped plan that event am I missing anything I know that was almost a year ago. Yeah yeah I did. I feel like the only other thing that I'd only comment on is just, it was everything was really well I mean I couldn't attend because of a family emergency but I, there was nothing that anybody, you know kind of gave me advice about it was more just like, oh like thank you for opening up this opportunity, especially it being a town acknowledgement. I think the only thing was that I felt like some of the younger performers felt a little not necessarily like maybe not like rush but like in a way where I feel like they wanted a little bit more notice about the event, but I think they enjoyed the opportunity I didn't get any you know like anything bad from it it was just that maybe just like giving them a heads up like before we actually need them, if that makes sense. Yeah, that makes total sense as performers putting it on your calendar that you're going to be performing makes a complete sense. So, Victor is referring to we had a bomba some bomba kids from the high school that we were looking to possibly incorporate in the event but I believe it was short notice on their end so if we could possibly reach out sooner, I think having that youth involvement is great with that. And Victor if you have any contacts there if you want to share them with Pamela and Jen, that would be great. And yeah to Victor's point of just identifying as Latinx and someone in town I had many people and many contacts come up to me afterwards and just say how amazing it was to have an event where our community didn't need to put together or people and fund and do that it was nice just to attend an event that the town was putting on and not have to set up any tables or clean anything it was just very nice on their end so I think that these community events really highlight that in every culture and every heritage that we do highlight is that that's the general feedback that I received is that wow this is so great the town is acknowledging like my heritage my culture and I didn't have to do anything other than just show up and enjoy it. Yeah, I just want to give a heads up that there are three weeks of the most important Jewish holidays starting on September 16. So they're all happening within that month, and it would be wonderful. If there's only one event if it wasn't on one of those holy days, and if there's multiple events then, you know, so be it. Yeah. Yeah, that's that's great. Thank you for putting that out there. So, I'll take a look at the calendar of already in planning something from my from my house running up against the 16th of September which I know is Russia so. And last year we ended up with a date in October like the last day of the Latinx heritage month so I'll look at the calendar to see make sure that we can avoid it and the event was on a Saturday. Yeah. So yeah, I will I just wrote a note to myself to talk to. I think it hasn't been in but I can talk to Angela to take a look at the calendar for the common to see make sure that we get on to the calendar. Right. Yeah, I think the other issues that I think the farmers market is also running until then until Saturdays became difficult so Sundays were really the only option and then yeah. I think we're Saturday later in the day after the farmers market market. Although I will say, I think this town doesn't mean to look into the use of the common during farmers markets and cultural events because I do know that the powwow that was put on in may also add that conflict and it is unfortunate that we have to move that to the offsite of the high school, because the farmer market seems to be taking president over these events. Yeah, I think the new space that is designed for. I guess that's North Common. Well, we'll provide both some performance space, and we'll allow for events to occur at the same time so we'll lose that parking lot, but then we'll get another park like area. I'm not sure. I think at one time there was an amphitheater design in. I'm not sure that that amphitheater is still part of the design, but it does provide another space on the town, town, common to have events. So I think with this discussion I just kind of wanted to give that little bit of a background but if we could have possibly some members commit to helping with the Latino heritage month just in case this community events group isn't up and running. That would be probably useful in my correct and assuming that Pamela. Yeah, so I would, I would go a step further and say that I hope that we have the community events group up and running but there would still be an expectation that members of the HRC would be participating because these events are primarily sponsored by this group so I think having more hands you know many hands make for light work. And there have typically been, you know, like a core group of people who've shown up at the events and the more we're able to add to that, the better it will be for for everyone. Roddy. I would like to express that having not been as actively participating as I might have in these events during the last whatever months that I've known about them. One of the problems really has been scheduling for me, and having that annual calendar makes such a big difference. I mean, I was just out of town through much of it, or had a commitment so I'm assuming it will be the same for the others that will be easier to participate if we can anticipate, and no one will be here and we won't. Right. Yeah, so the Latino heritage month will be running from, is it the 15th or the 16th? When does it start? One of those days. Google said the 15th. Yeah. Okay, and then, yeah, I get confused because Mexican Independence Day is the 16th. So my mind goes one of these days is important, but I guess both of those days are the important dates there. September 15th through October 15th is the timeframe that that runs through. And so there are 12345 technically weekends, that could be a possibility for that. And I will say that being in charge of the event to Ronnie, you get to kind of plan what works best for you. And as far as scheduling that I've done that many times where I'm like, I've got to be out of town. So if you all schedule it and someone else is doing it, so then it usually gets moved around. But yes, if we could have possibly one person maybe that wants to jump out. I'm going to jump on Latino heritage month with Jen and Pam, and I will say that a lot of the work is more just sitting down discussing what the overall plan is. That would be great. And of course, if any member to Pamela's point can come the day of the event that is super helpful. Anybody really want to jump on Latino heritage month. I would say the juxtaposition with my holy days makes it difficult for me to take leadership, but and so I'm sorry about that, but I'll jump on whatever the next one is. Yeah, I mean, I love the youth whatever day that was that I was there. This was an experience like I've never had before in my life. So for me it depends on when it is. I really have to know but I would jump in. I'll be there regardless as long as I'm available. I don't need to be the point person, maybe somebody else can jump in for that. But it's hard to do that with us. I was going to say that I would be happy to join any email chain that it happens. I, I know everyone has things going on. It's going to be a difficult seven year just because it'll be junior first semester junior for me so a little nervous but I'm happy to help with labor or forwarding emails, doing anything like that or attending any sort of meetings. I'd be happy to offer any kind of volunteering in that of that sort. Just sent a correct me if I'm wrong, do you speak Spanish. A Spanish major and I can speak Spanish, not the best. ethnically I'm not Hispanic Latino stuff. That's fine I was just more wondering about my name is for deceiving to all right. Well, it seems like just into someone that you possibly reach out to for for this and all right. Yeah, I mean so john, you know Jen and I will definitely get the ball rolling and we'll report back and, and I do think as everyone has pointed out like, having a calendar, an annual calendar will make it much easier for folks to commit right because to. So, and we hope to have that calendar in place before this well and done well before this event and sort of firmed up we've been working on it so if you. I could give I could send out to the group, sort of like what we put together this far like the ideal dates for or, you know, looking at the dates that we've had events. Traditionally in town, but I think, rather than scare you because it's a long list. That one she's back in and we're able to make some decisions about which ones we're going to try to highlight for the next year, it will seem more manageable and I will also say this, they're always going to be additions to the calendar. But we've already received a request and I think we might have shared this already to include in our calendar for next year, a marriage equality celebration so it would be the 20th anniversary of the good rich decision here in Massachusetts and and we will you know delighted to take that on, but that means making some other decisions about other about other things so. That is great any other discussion on Latinx heritage month, not seen any hands up so then we go to our last action item here that. It's going to make me a little bit sad to to leave you all but as my departure goes the seat for co chair opens up and so I think that it would be beneficial tonight to nominate and vote someone into co chair so what we've done in the past is. nominate someone and you can either accept the nomination or decline the nomination, depending on how you would like to go about that and then as a whole of a group we vote year and a person and then you're voted in as co chair. So, with that being said is there any nominations. Tyler. I'd like to nominate Ronnie Parker. Do we have a second. Any other nominations. Not seen any other nominations and I'm going to roll call and so you're voting. Yes, I will ask you sorry running. Are you are you accepting that nomination. Did I ask a question. Where's the other co chair is that other co chair going I haven't been here long enough to really know is that other co chair going to be there. My understanding is that. His plan is to yes, don't be a part of the co chair but I that is my only understanding of it. Okay, and the only reason why he is not accept. Okay, awesome. Yes. Yes, but that exception then I'm going to do a roll call vote so your vote. Yes, is to for yes for Ronnie Parker to be the active co chair of the human rights commission for the town of Amherst. So I'm just going to call you as I see you on my screen. Deb. Absolutely yes. Jacinta. Yes. Tyler. Yes. Laverne. Yes. Victor. Victor are you with us. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. And I am a yes, and Ronnie. Yes, and thank you. Tyler. Yes. Well, congratulations, Ronnie. Thank you so much for taking on this role. I know that you will lead this group. It's been a great way. With that being said that is. Don't expect I'll just make one more comment don't expect any filling of shoes or stuff like that. I know the big shoes are walking away to California so the issues however are very important. So I'm really happy to work with this group. Yes. Thank you for those kind words, Ronnie. That is the end of our action and discussion items. So we will go to reports. Any HRC member reports. What are reports specifically. So reports usually are if so we have a liaison who is not here right now. She is officiating a track final to hopefully get a part of her goal to one day do the track meet at the Olympics but so she is our liaison for the affordable housing trust that she would get that report. So if you want to look at that in the next couple of minutes was a liaison for the community and safety and social justice committee, and as well as any other reports so if you went to a town council meeting and heard something you went to a, I know there's various groups in towns and like if anything is relevant say, in your particular situation of Amherst college, but you would like to report out it's mainly a report to say like hey this issue has come up and the human rights commission should have their eyes on it. Can I answer your question hopefully. As far as the CSS JC, although only report that I have is that if you know anybody that is looking to join the town committee, and you think that they are the right fit for CSS JC please ask them to fill out the interest form that is online like we all did to join the HRC because we're now officially under Corm with my resignation from that group last Wednesday. And so being under Corm is as this group has experienced I don't think anybody on this committee has experienced it can be challenging and that you basically cannot do any actionable items, and it feels like you are just attending a meeting just to attend a meeting, and I think we can all agree that that's not what we signed up for. So if you know anybody that is looking to be a part of CSS JC, please encourage them to apply. Anybody else have any other member reports, not seeing anything, then we will have our last public comment of the night but I'm not sure that there's anybody in the public. So, no one is going to raise our hand there. And then I will say that. Yeah, I guess I didn't want to say this in the report section but if we're in the public comment. I don't know if anybody is interested. But I'm here on campus doing the melon main summer Institute and so in this program, it's supposed to be students from underrepresented marginalized backgrounds. So that's actually ethnically or systematically economically first gen students so that's kind of the students that make up this research position, and we're having a curriculum, which is basically where we present our research for 10 minutes, and then take questions for five. There's about nine of us. I think we're starting. We don't have the specific time but we were thinking of starting at 1pm next Wednesday which I think is July 26. Yeah. But I can send an email to somebody if anybody's interested in attending or I don't think we'll have a live zoom. But if you are interested, me and a couple other people will be presenting on a spectrum of topics so I'm doing Latin American studies, art history. I know someone's doing that project on queer studies and ballroom culture. And I have another person is doing something really specific and niche on radio media studies. So it's, it's really interesting and compelling and if you want to come listen to our presentations you're all welcome. And so yeah, that's something I wanted to human rights related maybe. Yeah, it's definitely worth mentioning at this group. Thank you for sharing Pamela. So first of all, Rose Berry is a good friend of mine. Because I was the MM, Bellamy's undergraduate fellowship director for Smith College when I worked there. And I've already had talked with her about attending so if you send the information to me, I will send it out to the entire group so Thank you, Pamela. All right, any other items that anybody would like to talk about. I've seen anything. All right, well with that everybody it has been a pleasure serving on this commission, I really enjoyed all my time that I spent in this commission and really helped grow and help make it become a powerhouse in town and so all of you individually bring your own self and your own importance into this commission and please don't ever feel like you cannot speak up this commission has given me a voice that I don't think that I knew that I had and so I hope that you all find your own individual parts in this commission and I hope that all these fruitful conversations that we've had throughout our time can prosper into the human rights work that this town desperately needs. May it be so. Thank you. Thank you Phillip and safe transitions and don't leave us login. I'll be looking for you. Yes. So thank you Phillip and. Yeah, enjoy California. Before all of the goodbyes set the next meeting. Date. That should be the third, the third Wednesday. Yeah, just I'm just saying publicly some people will be. Got it. So the next meeting time will be the third Wednesday of August, which is August 16 at 630. Yeah. Well, I feel like Liz like, I'm going to put up barriers. I'm going to misdirect you so you're in truck just circles around in Amherst. It has definitely been a pleasure and, you know, like everyone here we will certainly miss your leadership and your hands on approach to doing this, like everything that was needed. So yeah, so our loss is certainly your community's game and I was thinking today like, you know, I'm at some point in, I think I'll be like, I knew him when, you know, because there is a really big stage ahead for you if you decide to choose to choose it, you know, both, you know locally, nationally, if that's your choice you, it would I could definitely see you taking on that if that's your choice. So best wishes always. Thank you everybody and don't feel like you can't reach me via email you all have my email tonight I will be sending out my official resignation so I will no longer be on this commission but please if you need anything send me. And with that everybody, my time at the Human Rights Commission comes to an end on this day at 733 meeting adjourned.