TITLE: Title
Racial Equity Commission Annual Synopsis
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is for the Town Council to accept the Racial Equity Commission’s Annual Synopsis and consider approving a change in the commission make-up.
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DEPARTMENT: Manager’s Office
CONTACT INFORMATION: Anita Jones-McNair, Race and Equity Officer-Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Director, 919.918.7381, amcnair@carrboronc.gov
INFORMATION: Donald Hawkins II, Racial Equity Commission Chair, will make the presentation. This presentation includes the commission charge, opportunities where the commission dived deeper in the work, a proposed plan of action and community feedback from the Carrboro Day Survey. (See Attachment B)
The charge of the Racial Equity Commission is to advise and work with the Town Council, Race and Equity Officer, and Town staff to educate, provide leadership, and facilitate on-going equitable engagement within the immediate and greater Carrboro community toward the goal of creating a community of inclusiveness in which political, economic, social, and cultural institutions are no longer predicated and influenced by race.
The Town Council established the Racial Equity Commission in January 2021. The Commission started meeting June 2021. The need to work on a clear direction and message is a focal point of the commission. Many discussions about the work of the commission are uncharted territory. An ongoing question - what does the work of the commission look like? Unfortunately, people of color are suffering, and the commission should help mitigate harm, be a catalyst in forging a new direction/vision and actionable items. An emphasis should be on economic justice.
The Racial Equity Commission requests that the Town Council approve a change to the commission membership by adding “or BIPOC business owner” to the representative from the Farmer’s Market Board. The change reads - representative from the Farmer’s Market Board or BIPOC business owner.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There are no fiscal or staff impacts associated with this presentation.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Town Council accept the annual synopsis and approve the change to the commission membership.