Racial Equity and Social Justice Coalition

Meeting Agenda - March 14, 2022 6:30 to 8:00pm 

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82899505768?pwd=U2dJTDY1amIxb0EvVVplQjZtZkE0QT09

   Establish Racial Equity and Advocate for Social Justice 

Welcome—Vivian  

“Acknowledging the World in Disarray”—Volunteer

Announce we are recording this meeting 

Approve minutes from February 14, 2022

Confirm notetaker 

Introductions and name 

Land and Acknowledgment of the World in Disarray:

Before we get started I’d like to take a moment to center us and acknowledge that while we are convened virtually, we are all still physically somewhere and the land on which we occupy matters. The history of the land, its gifts, its original inhabitants and stewards matter. I am currently on the invaded, unceded land of the —————————-Tribe and the connected tribes of this region, who in all their beauty, love, and strength continue to resist oppression and colonization.

Too often as people, we participate in anti-indegenity and indigenous erasure in our disconnection from the history of the places we occupy and the ongoing plight of our indigenous siblings in their struggle for honored sovereignty, access to their land/ life ways and too often their basic humanity. While Indigenous folks are the victims of America’s first sin, let us be reminded of the power and resiliency of indigenous people around the world as we reflect on our ancestral roots, power and solidarity. Let us all participate in our own and collective decolonization in order to remember and embrace our own indigenous roots. And let us continue to take real action in support of indigenous elders and leaders in their efforts for land back, removal of harmful mascots and imagery acknowledging and fighting for the Missing and murdered  indigenous women and people in our communities and at large and also the protection of our planet's biodiversity and their methods of healing and truth telling, We must acknowledge the historical and modern trauma inflicted on indigenous communities as a result of racism and settler colonialism.

We also want to acknowledge that in addition to a history of attempted Indigenous genocide, the story of the United States includes chattel slavery. Much of what we know as America was built by forced labor of enslaved people. Anti-Blackness has been baked into laws that allowed for slavery, Jim Crow, the prison industrial complex, and is ever present today. Given this context, non-Black folks must actively work towards dismantling anti-Blackness, as well as fight for and pay reparations.

I'd also like to acknowledge the ongoing reality of stolen and occupied land and the history and ongoing practice of settler colonialism that takes place domestically in US territories and also abroad, and the opportunity to recognize how larger systems of power and privilege are interconnected internationally and as we work toward practicing decolonization here we stand in solidarity with  folks around the globe

We have an opportunity to acknowledge all these things and more and to recognize how we have been complicit in upholding systems of violence and power and take part in the responsibility of divesting and dismantling them. I ask that you join me in holding all these things together

Now that we are holding a lot of heavy I wanted to provide an additional offerings, the from the Talmud:

"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief. Do justly now, love mercy now, walk humbly now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

2022 Action Plan Progress Report 

1. Interactive Public Meeting Team—Vivian, Virginia, Carl, Mickey, Irene                                               Proactively interact with school districts, city councils, board of county commissioners, and the state legislature, and bring observations back to this group. Tri-Cities DEI Council members? St. Paul’s members? 

B. Recruit at least one student from each district—high priority—March and April—Shreya

Volunteer to Recruit: Shreya and Irene 

Create a Student Representative position on the Leadership Team and on the Coalition. Approach members of clubs. Honey Baked Store meeting. Rick will try to be present. Be supportive to current student clubs

C. Manage our website—ongoing—Carl 

Volunteer sought to give Durga much needed support: Carl to recruit college students from the League of United Latin American Citizens LULAC. Offer a quarterly (every two months?) gift card to thank a volunteer. 

D. Invite speakers to our meetings each month or occasionally

A team to find speakers education, informational (events), networking ongoing. All of us, bringing your names of possible visitors to the Leadership Team Ukraine Crisis—TBA

E. Write specific issues that arise—Mickey or Laura 

Such as a second Op-ed rational that is calm informative and letter to the editor. Volunteers:  Rick, Mickey, Shreya , Rick will ask Laura Pearson and Sabiha, who helped write the previous op-ed piece.

F. RE&SJ Trainers start training Why Race Matters curriculum—Noemi, Lynn, Virginia, etc.

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Organize ourselves to advocate to the state legislature (next session is in 

January 2023)—Fall

Work with FAN and Washington Coalition for Police Accountability wwwleg.wa.gov

Carl: PRO SB5688 

Talk on a weekly basis all year long. As a group a day at the capital. 

Racial Justice Day at the Capital  

Volunteers...

Identify and speak to individuals discriminated against e.g. hate crimes—Any One? Volunteers... ongoing 

Participate in groups where we are not represented—ongoing

Volunteers...

Print our logo on an all weather banner—Durga and Rick 

Feedback on First Draft 

Focus on anti-racists agenda—ongoing continuing education   

All of us

Educating Ourselves and Others—Noemi 

    Teaching Moment—Noemi

    Red Cross and Sickle cell anemia

Responding to Incidents of Injustice and Racism—Shreya

    Visiting Student 

Proactively Addressing Systems of Unfairness and Oppression—Vivian

    Women’s March in March: We need a representative to attend planning 

    meetings, as per Amber Rodriquez’s update—Vivian 

Closing Business—Rick

    Finance Report

    Printing Why Race Matters and RE&J fliers—TBA 

    Discuss whether to meet in person or via zoom 

Announcements

    Next Meeting April 11 at 6:30pm

    June fundraiser for Urban Poets Society—brochure 

    Poetry Slam April 13 at 7:00pm Hanford High School 

Adjourn

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