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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJanuary 3, 2008 CiftJ 0# Minutes PICKERING ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS & EQUITY January 3, 2008 7:00 pm Main Committee Room Attendees: Councillor David Pickles, Chair Marisa Carpino, City of Pickering, Vice-Chair Sethu Madhavan, Community Appointee Cathy Grant, Pickering Public Library Mariyah Gonzales, Dunbarton High School Ishu Vij, Dunbarton High School Linda Roberts (Recording Secretary) Absent: Kirk Mark, Community Appointee Tanya Malika Foster, Community Appointee Siobhan Saravanamutto, Dunbarton High School Sharon Singh, Pine Ridge Secondary School Philip Howard, Durham District School Board Fred Gibson, Pickering Carib Canadian Cultural Association Margaret Lazarus, Valley Farm Public School Joanne Guindon, Durham Catholic District School Board Item / Action Items I Status Ref Details & Discussion & Conclusion (include deadline as # (summary of discussion) appropriate) 1.0 Welcome Councillor Pickles welcomed everyone and introductions were made. 2.0 Review & Approval of Agenda All The agenda was reviewed and approved 3.0 Approval of Minutes All Marisa reviewed the action items from the previous meeting. It was suggested we add a link to the high schools from our website. ~ Page 1 Minutes of the December 6,2007 meeting of Race Relations were approved. 4.0 March Break Diversity Program for Kids Mariyah provided an overview of their plan of action for the March Break Diversity Program. She had a copy of the action plan available. She outlined the program as follows: .~ . To be a 2 day event from 9 - 3 in the Library to be held on March 11 and 13th . Library auditorium has been booked . Participants will be from grades 6 - 8 (11 - 13 age group) . Will be open to all students . Contact feeder schools to nominate students . Program will consist of workshops, hands on discussion, movies . High school students will run the program, Library staff will assist with registration, set-up . Curriculum to be decided prior to first meeting of [YOU]nity in January . Mariayah and Ishu to visit schools and speak to administration . Same group for both days · Prepare a form for parents to sign off on that Cathy to prepare form clearly indicates drop off and pick up times, they must provide transportation and lunch . Snacks will be provided Discussion ensued on criteria. Mariyah questioned funding, and it was indicated the Race Relations Committee has a small budget to work with, but could provide some assistance toward the purchase of food items for the snacks being provided. Cathy suggested the Library could assist with donating markers, paper supplies. Mariyah will pass along budget requirements to Marisa It was also suggested the City could help with certificates to the students once they have completed the program, which would also include the printing costs. ~.~ The Committee is still looking into having guest speakers for this event. Discussion ensued with respect to this and Cathy offered to check with Kirk Cathy to contact Kirk Mark Page 2 ,..~.. 5.0 "a,~ Mark first to find out if he had any lined up, then she will look into other possibilities for guest speakers. She will keep Mariyah informed. It was suggested we have an evaluation tool at the conclusion of the program. We could possibly incorporate some of the questions from our survey in this. School board representatives could contact feeder schools. Mariyah will provide us with electronic material they have and we will forward onto the school board representatives. Councillor Pickles indicated he would advise Mayor and Council of the dates for the program in order for them to drop by. Once agenda has been set, Mariyah will advise on the best times for this. Youth Page Update Marisa informed the Committee she has received a submission from Dunbarton High School. This is the only submission received to date. Cathy suggested possibly the Teen Advisory Group at the Library could meet with [YOU]nity. Mariyah informed her that they have an email for [YOU]nity. Marisa informed the members the deadline for submissions in the Family Calendar for February would be January 10th. This edition comes out the end of January. 6.0 Other Business 6.1 Annual Report Marisa indicated she needs to be informed of any changes or additions as soon as possible in order to make changes and have ready for presentation to Council. Discussion ensued on possible dates to present the annual report to council. Planning committee to create Mariyah to provide to Marisa Mariyah to advise Mariyah to email information to Marisa Marisa to post on website Linda to let Marisa know about possible dates for presentation to Council. Page 3 ~ Comments on report as follows: . Use one slide for mandate . Bullet points for goals and objectives . Bullet points on what the Committee IS pursuing in 2008 . Census information on demographics - Cathy and Marisa to get together on this It was suggested we contact Paul Savel and suggest he ask to be a delegate at the same Marisa to contact Paul meeting in order to promote the 2008 Tapestry Savel event. Councillor Pickles asked if any members would like to be a delegate in February to speak on upcoming events in 2008. We would prepare speaking points. This would be a brief presentation. If anyone is interested, please let Marisa know by the beginning of February. 6.2) Writinq Contest -~' Marisa provided an update on the writing contest. Over 100 submissions have been received as follows: . 17 submissions - grade 2 - 5 category . Over 100 submissions- grade 6 - 8 category . 1 submission - grade 9 - 12 category Marisa passed around the binder she had prepared for the judges and provided a brief outline of the contest. The judging will take place on January 16th at 3:00 pm. We are ahead of schedule to date. The press release has been done and it appeared in the Race Relations Forum paper. Successful this year due to the increased involvement of the school representatives as well as the timing of the contest launch. She also noted we need to acquire a French judge for the future. 6.3) Heritaqe Day ,,~, Marisa provided an update on Heritaqe Day. The Page 4 ,~ deadline is January 9, 2008. The Pickering Town Centre has indicated there should be no problem Mariyah to check into holding the event there. She went over the groups groups for this events that have confirmed to date. Marisa asked the school representatives if they knew of anyone that would be interested in doing cultural events. It was Cathy to follow up on suggested [YOU]nity have a display board there, display board which could also be used to help promote the March break initiative. 6.4) Submissions for proclamations were discussed 6.5) Councillor Pickles passed around an article from the Toronto Star showing the diversity In languages in designated areas. He suggested this could help with our research material. It was suggested we have a link to the citizenship page on the Library website from our Race Relations page. ~ 6.6) Ishu announced that [YOU]nity will be presenting the upcoming "Taste of Dunbarton" event which will include food as well as performances. Councillor Pickles suggested [YOU]nity could also Marisa to forward date participate in the Tapestry Event on June 9th this of next meeting to year. They were invited to attend the next Tapestry Mariyah meeting. 7.0 Adjournment All 8:35 pm Next Meeting: Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 7:00 pm in the Main Committee Room Copy: City Clerk '~ Page 5