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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-WFDC-2017-02-23WORKFORCE DIVERSITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE (WDAC) MEETING CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Regular Meeting 9:15 a.m. February 23, 2017 MEMBERS PRESENT: Co-Chairs (1): Liz Klohmann Members (8): Eloise Barrett, Ray Benjamin, Nancy Bereano, Cynthia Brock, Audrey Cooper Staff (3): Schelley Michell-Nunn, Leslie Moskowitz, Denise Malone MEMBERS EXCUSED: Co-Chairs (1): Sue Kittel Members (8): Dan Cogan, Fabina Colon, LaWanda Cook 1 Call to Order 1.1 Welcome/Check-In/Announcements Sister Friend: Tickets are available for the Sister Friend event on Friday – March 17, 2017 at Ithaca College. The cost per ticket is $20. 13th Screening: On Friday – February 24, 2017, there will be a screening of the 13th at Southside Community Center at 6:00 p.m. Black Lives Matter Event: There will be a Black Lives Matter event at GIAC on Saturday – February 25, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. Movie: The movie “I Am Not Your Negro” by James Baldwin will be showing at Cinemapolis. New Jim Crow Speaker: Dawn Porter (criminal justice system reformer, attorney, filmmaker) spoke about the New Jim Crow book at the State Theater on Tuesday – February 21, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. Ithaca College: Ithaca College appointed a Latina woman as their new president. Black History Month: There is a concert on Saturday – February 25, 2017 - 8:00 p.m. – Ford Hall, Ithaca College. The event is free to the public. New Committee Structure: The City has been looking at restructuring the City’s Committees and Boards. The new Committee Structure will be presented to Common Council on March 29, 2017. All are invited to attend this meeting. Schelley gave a brief synopsis of what the new structure would look like; which would have the WDAC reporting into one of these Committees. 2. HR Director Report. No report. 3. Council Liaison Report Cynthia Brock mentioned that the Common Council adopted the Sanctuary City legislation. The intent or purpose of the legislation is to “recognize the importance of fostering a city that is welcoming and Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee (WDAC) Meeting February 23, 2017 Page 2 inclusive for all individuals, regardless of nationality or citizenship status, and to ensure, to the greatest extent permitted by law, that immigration enforcement is a function of the federal government and not the City of Ithaca”. Questions were asked about what power this legislation would have over the Sheriff’s Department, the Sheriff’s election or what impact it would have over the agency if law enforcement agencies were combined. In response to the power over the Sheriff’s Department, it was said that how the Sheriff’s runs their department is under the purview of the Tompkins County legislators. If the City was absorbed by the Sheriff’s Department, what would happen to the policies adopted by the City, especially policies such as the sanctuary city, immigration, etc.? Cynthia mentioned what some schools were doing in regards to allowing Federal Immigrations Officers into their schools. These individuals cannot go on private property to arrest anyone unless they are allowed access. Cynthia talked about what has happened in the past. If a person is arrested or detained, they are not allowed to contact someone to pick up their children. These individuals should have a power of attorney documents, etc. 4. CIITAP Toolkit (Update) The Committee has done a lot of work on the CIITAP toolkit to get it ready for the applicants. Before the applicants get the toolkit, the WDAC would identify individuals to review the document and provide feedback. The Committee looked at the content and flow of the toolkit. There were highlighted parts of the document that needed more information. This information would be provided by Schelley and Leslie. It was discussed that a meeting should be scheduled that would include Schelley, Leslie, Nancy Bereano and Cynthia. Committee members were encouraged to review the documents and send comments to Cynthia by March 2nd. 5. Advance Notes (Review & Discussion) The Committee reviewed the Notes from the Advance in December 2016. Membership: Fabina Colon resigned from the Committee. Recruitment & Retention – Seasonal Strategy: What would this process look like? The Committee suggested inviting to the meeting supervisors who hire seasonal employees to ask them about their goals on diversity & inclusion, outreach & recruitment and what they are doing to meet their goals. The WDAC would provide support and offer suggestions on where to recruit. The Committee asked to see the demographics on all hiring pools; seasonal, temporary and permanent hires. Workforce Diversity Advisory Committee (WDAC) Meeting February 23, 2017 Page 3 The WDAC, also, suggested inviting to the meeting Diane Hessler from BOCES and Jackie Mouillesseaux from Workforce New York. Diane would talk about how to create a back to work program and Jackie would talk about how to get funding to pay someone to work for the City (on the job training). 6. New Business. None. 7. Next Meeting Date: March 23, 2017. 8. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.