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02.26.18 HRC Packet Human Relations Commission Monday, February 26, 2018 West Senior Center 909 Arapahoe Boulder, CO 80302 6 p.m. I. Call to Order II. Agenda Adjustments III. Approval of Minutes A. January 17, 2018 B. January 22, 2018 IV. Request for a Joint Meeting, Arts Commission V. Quasi-Judicial Hearing: Joint Motion to Dismiss, City Attorney’s Office VI. Community Participation (non-agenda action items) A. Staff Response VII. Action Items A. 2017 Event Report for Human Relations Fund 1. Boulder School for German Language and Culture B. 2017 Event Report for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 1. Motus Theater 2. Second Baptist Church 3. Showing Up for Racial Justice 4. SPAN – Peers Building Justice C. 2018 Human Relations Fund Proposal 1. The Blind Cafe 2. Boulder Jewish Festival 3. Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art 4. Out Boulder County 5. Postoley Dance Ensemble 6. Right Relationship-Boulder D. Celebration of Immigrant Heritage Resolution VIII. Discussion/Informational Items A. Welcoming and Inclusive Work Plan 1. HRC Annual Work Plan 2. Community Speak-Out: Share Your Experience of Discrimination and Inclusivity in Boulder 3. Community Gathering Regarding Community Perception Assessment 4. Inquiry on Limited Gender Options on Employment Applications B. Firearm Safety in Boulder C. HRC Retreat D. Event Reports E. Follow Up Items IX. Immediate Action Items X. Adjournment Attachments: Minutes: January 17, 2018 January 22, 2018 Joint Motion: Dismiss for Failure to File Brief and Witness List 2017 Applications: Boulder School for German Language and Culture Motus Theater Second Baptist Church Showing Up for Racial Justice SPAN – Peers Building Justice 2018 Applications: The Blind Cafe Boulder Jewish Festival Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art Out Boulder County Postoley Dance Ensemble Right Relationship-Boulder Resolution: Celebration of Immigrant Heritage Report: Community Speak-Out Minutes Human Relations Commission Wednesday, January 17, 2018 West Senior Center Creekside Room 909 Arapahoe Boulder, CO 80302 6 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Art Figel, Lauren Gifford, Lindsey Loberg, Nikhil Mankekar, Emilia Pollauf COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Carmen Atilano, Eitan Kantor, Karen Rahn I. Call to Order The January 17, 2018, special HRC meeting was called to order by E. Pollauf at 6:00 p.m. II. Public Hearing Forty-two people attended the public hearing and 17 spoke. Comments shared provided insight into the community perspectives on welcoming and inclusive community issues in Boulder. Speakers mentioned struggles experienced by people of color, white people, trans people, indigenous people and people with disabilities. Speakers conveyed the point that racism is still a problem in Boulder. Suggestions for ways to address problems included such ideas as having community dialogues with people from diverse backgrounds, uniting marginalized communities, confronting painful parts of history, reaching out to fellow white people to help dismantle white supremacy, taking responsibility for addressing homelessness, using restorative justice principles, granting reparations, speaking to a city council member, addressing housing development and making specific changes to the law, among other ideas. The speakers seemed to find value in the speak-out event, but also indicated that the HRC needs to take additional action besides just hosting a speak-out. No HRC decisions, deliberations or discussions took place at the public hearing. III. Adjournment N. Mankekar moved to adjourn the January 17, 2018, meeting. A. Figel seconded. Motion carries 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 p.m. Attested: Approved: Board Secretary HRC Chairperson Human Relations Commission Monday, January 22, 2018 West Senior Center Creekside Room 909 Arapahoe Boulder, CO 80302 6 p.m. COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Art Figel, Lauren Gifford, Lindsey Loberg, Nikhil Mankekar, Emilia Pollauf L. Gifford left the meeting at 8:30 p.m. COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: None. STAFF PRESENT: Carmen Atilano, Karen Rahn, Marla Riley, Wendy Schwartz I. Call to Order The January 22, 2018, HRC meeting was called to order by E. Pollauf at 6:00 p.m. II. Agenda Adjustments 1. Agenda Item 6A, Homeless Strategy Update, was moved after Community Participation and is now Agenda Item 5A. 2. Agenda Item 5D was moved to Agenda Item 6A. III. Approval of Minutes A. December 11, 2017 – N. Mankekar moved to approve the December 11, 2017, minutes. A. Figel seconded. Motion carries 5-0. IV. Community Participation (non-agenda action items) 1. Sharon Simmons with Cities for CEDEW thanked commissioners for their help with the successful CEDAW resolution passed by City Council. And she informed HRC about an upcoming event to brainstorm with nonprofits and discuss the next steps with the city. 2. Robert Sharpe spoke about his concerns regarding an incident at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day rally involving an HRC Commissioner and requested a resolution. Staff response: Staff will follow-up with Mr. Sharpe regarding pathways for resolving the issue. V. Discussion/Informational Item A. Homeless Strategy Update – Staff provided an update on the Homelessness Strategy that focused on strategy development, adult homeless services, housing goal process and family homelessness. VI. Action Items A. 2018 Funding Levels for Special Events The HRC discussed funding the Celebration of Immigrant Heritage at $5,000, Indigenous Peoples Day at $7,500 and Martin Luther King Jr. Day at $2,500. L. Gifford moved to accept the funding allocations as shown. N. Mankekar seconded. Motion carries 5-0. B. 2018 Human Relations Fund Proposal Presentations for fourth quarter funding were made by: 1. Creekside Parent Organization – L. Gifford moved to fund Creekside Parent Organization at $2,000. E. Pollauf amended the motion to fund Creekside Parent Organization at $1,700. L. Gifford seconded. Motion carries 5-0. 2. Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art – E. Pollauf moved to approve $5,000 for Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art. L. Loberg seconded. Vote was 3-2. Following further discussion, N. Mankekar moved to approve $4,500 for the project with the stipulation that the funds go to Dreamers’ salaries. E. Pollauf seconded. Motion carries 5-0. 3. The Latino Chamber/The Colorado Latino Festival – L. Gifford moved to fund The Latino Festival for the full amount ($5,000). E. Pollauf seconded. Motion carries 5-0. C. 2017 Event Report for Human Relations Fund 1. Boulder School for German Language and Culture – Grantee went to incorrect meeting location and will report at the February meeting. 2. Bridge House presented a fund report on the Kids Give Back Thanksgiving Dinner, which has become so popular they held the event for two nights. More than 20 families participated in serving meals to Bridge House clients. E. Pollauf moved to approve the Bridge House fund report. A. Figel seconded. Motion carries 5-0. 3. Second Baptist Church presented a fund report on the Feed the Community project on Thanksgiving Day, which served more than 200 traditional Thanksgiving meals throughout the Boulder community and provided other physical resources and support to 55 walk-in guests. N. Mankekar moved to approve the Second Baptist Church fund report. L. Gifford seconded. Motion carries 5-0. D. Celebration of Immigrant Heritage Date Change – The HRC discussed revising the calendar dates for the celebration to be consistent with national efforts. E. Pollauf motioned to move the Celebration of Immigrant Heritage from one week in October to the entire month of June, known as Immigrant Heritage Month. L. Gifford seconded. Motion carries 5-0. VII. Discussion/Informational Items A. Welcoming and Inclusive Work Plan 1. Community Gathering Regarding Community Perception Assessment – Staff informed the HRC that analysis of community feedback will be provided at the February HRC meeting. 2. Community Speak-Out: Share Your Experience of Discrimination and Inclusivity in Boulder A. Figel read statements he had received from community members who explained their reasons for not attending the Jan. 17 Speak-Out. Following this, community member Tracey Jones spoke about her experience at the Speak-Out and why she became afraid after several encounters with community member Robert Sharpe. Ms. Jones stated that she had called the police at the current meeting (an officer arrived during the meeting) because she did not feel safe because of Mr. Sharpe’s presence and his brief interaction with her. Ms. Jones also stated that she did not expect the media to be at the Speak-Out and that she was featured on the front page of the Daily Camera. The HRC discussed safety issues at HRC meetings and the possibility of future HRC Speak-Outs. Commissioners also discussed specific speakers and issues brought forth at the Speak- Out and possible actionable items that the HRC may address. Two motions were made to add Immediate Action Items: N. Mankekar moved to add as an Immediate Action Item having a police officer at the February HRC Meeting. A. Figel seconded. Motion carries 4-0. E. Pollauf moved to add as an Immediate Action Item to follow-up with Robert Sharpe about having a facilitated dialogue with Nikhil, Art and Mr. Sharpe. A. Figel seconded. Motion carries 4-0. 3. April 17 City Council Meeting – Staff informed the HRC they are scheduled to discuss their work plan with council on April 17. Staff suggested an alternative date of June 5, with the HRC annual retreat moved to May so they can finalize the work plan. By a nod of three, the HRC agreed to have staff put the discussion on the June 5 council agenda. B. Event Reports – Several commissioners discussed their participation in Martin Luther King Jr. Day events. N. Mankekar also attended the Bridge House Homeless Persons’ Memorial and the City Council retreat. C. Follow Up Items – Staff will follow-up on items identified in the meeting. VIII. Immediate Action Items 1. Police officer presence at February HRC Meeting – After discussion about Commissioner Mankekar’s safety concerns, N. Mankekar moved to have a police officer present at the regular February meeting of the Human Relations Commission. L. Loberg seconded. Motion carries 4-0. 2. Follow-up with Robert Sharpe – After discussion regarding possible solutions to the conflict between Commissioner Mankekar and Mr. Sharpe, N. Mankekar moved for staff to look into the potential of a facilitated dialogue with Mr. Sharpe and the Human Relations Commission. E. Pollauf seconded. Motion carries 4-0. N. Mankekar added that he still feels threatened and unsafe by Mr. Sharpe and his actions and, although he has made this motion in the interest of finding an amicable solution, he relinquishes no rights legal or otherwise in making such motions at the meeting. IX. Adjournment N. Mankekar moved to adjourn the January 22, 2018, meeting. A. Figel seconded. Motion carries 4-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:54 p.m. Attested: Approved: Board Secretary HRC Chairperson Joint Motion 2017 Applications Human Relations Fund (cover sheet) Agency/Organization Street Address City Zip Code Telephone Fax Website Project Name Project Date Contact Person Email Address Project Description (please do not exceed space provided) Boulder School for German Language and Culture Mailing Address: 3363 Cripple Creek Trail Boulder, CO 80305 Te. 720 316 1003 http://bouldergermanschool.org/ Advent Celebration and Craft Making 10 December 2017 Regula Mueller regulamueller@msn.com The Advent season, i.e., the time between the forth Sunday before Christmas and Christmas Day plays an important role in German-speaking countries. Practices asscociated with Advent include keeping an Advent calendar, lightning candels on the Advent wreath, crafting gifts with kids, baking Christmas cookies and getting together with family and friends. The Advent Celebration of the Boulder School for German Language and Culture will take place at the Atonement Lutheran Church in Boulder. During the event, we will craft Christmas decorations and gifts with the kids, sing German Advent carols, serve refreshments and eat Christmas cookies, and enjoy German Gemuetlichkeit with the attendees. We are very excited to share this beloved German tradition with the larger Boulder community. HRF Funding 2017 - Narrative Narrative 1. Organization applying for this funding The Boulder School for German Language and Culture was funded in August 2015 as a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. Our school’s mission is to foster the German language, as well as German music, theater, literature and art, heritage and traditions in the Boulder area and beyond. Our cultural events are open to the public and contribute to the international and cultural variety in Boulder. 2. Need for this funding The project provides the opportunity to share a German tradition with the larger Boulder community. More than 50 million Americans have German ancestry, and more than 20% of all people in Colorado have German roots which makes it the largest single ancestry group in our state. Other German events we organize, such as the May Dance and St. Martin, regularly draw a significant number of people, demonstrating an interest amongst community members for such events. This will be the third time that we will be organizing the Advent celebration for kids and adults. Since its opening, the number of students at our school has continuously increased. We are thus expecting more participants this year than last year and the year before. We would like to offer the event for free so that everyone can attend. However, we cannot finance the expenses for the event from the school budget, as we are a non-profit organization with low class-fees. These fees are kept low deliberately so everybody can attend our German classes, very much in the European spirit where education is affordable for all. We are thus applying for funding to cover the costs for the supplies for the Christmas crafts for 50-60 children, room rental and refreshments. 3. Goals of the project Through our Advents celebration we want to provide insight into the German culture for the members of the Boulder community and raise interest in the German language as well as our school. The Advent traditions are a wonderful opportunity to share a piece of German culture and the German language with the larger community. 4. Promotion of a more inclusive, engaged and respectful community An inclusive culture involves the integration of diverse people and a climate of respect and positive recognition of differences. Celebrating together and at the same time learning something new about another culture is one of the best ways of achieving this. 5. Promotion to Boulder residents The event will be sponsored, organized and implemented by the Boulder School for German Language and Culture. It will take place at the Atonement Lutheran Church in Boulder on December 10, All students, their families and friends as well as the larger Boulder community are invited to attend. We will advertise this event amongst our community (several hundred people thru e-mail) as well as to a wider audience thru flyers and postings to social media like Facebook and craigslist as well as to the school’s website. Proposal Budget Table for ___________________________ Budget Item Projected Expense If this project has been previously funded by the HRC, please provide Actual Expenses for the previous year. Postage Advertising Copying Office Supplies (Please specify) 1) 2) 3) 4) Office Supply Total Space Rental Food Other Direct Expenses (Please specify) 1) 2) 3) 4) Other Direct Costs Total Total Expenses Revenue Sources Revenue Amount Amount Requested from HRC Other Sources of Revenue 1) 2) 3) 4) Total Revenue Advent Celebration and Craft Making $ 25. -- $ 100.-- $ 80.-- Posters, flyers, music sheets for Advents carols Room rent at Atonement Lutheran Church Mulled cider, soft drinks, Christmas cookies $ 75.--Craft supplies for candle holders, straw stars, gift bags, window decorations $ 280.-- $ 280.-- $ 280.-- Cover Sheet: 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Event Grant Request (up to $1,000): __1,000______________ Agency Name Motus Theater Street Address 4519 8th Street, Unit C City, Zip Code Boulder Co 80304 Telephone Website 303-440-3682 www.motustheater.org Event Name Dominique Christina: Poetic Justice in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day Event Location (if on Pearl Street Mall, please provide block number) Old Main Theater, CU Boulder Contact Person Rita Valente Email Address Rita@motustheater.org Event Description (please do not exceed space provided) Motus Theater will collaborate with the Student Creative Writing Association (sCWA) at CU-Boulder to bring in world renowned slam poet champion Dominique Christina to perform poems about current civil rights challenges in honor of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dominique Christina is an award-winning writer, performer, educator, and activist. She holds five national poetry slam titles in the three years she competed, including the 2014 & 2012 Women of the World Slam Champion and the 2011 National Poetry Slam Champion. She is presently the only person to have won two Women of the World Poetry Championships. She is also the 2013 National Underground Poetry Individual Competition Champion (NUPIC), and 2013 Southern Fried Poetry Slam Champion. She is presently an actor/writer for the HBO series High Maintenance Season 2 and has done branding for Under Armour's #UnlikeAny campaign. Her work is greatly influenced by her family's legacy in the Civil Rights Movement and by the idea that words make worlds. Her grandfather was a Hall of Famer in the Negro Leagues, while her aunt received the Congressional Medal of Honor for desegregating Central High School in Little Rock. Her poetry rises out of the civil rights legacy of Dr. King and she has brought it forward to the challenges facing African Americans today. In addition, she brings a strong feminist lens to her poetic explorations of civil rights and current injustices. This event will launch from Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous statement: “There comes a time when silence is betrayal;” as Dominique challenges us all to find our own language, action and voice during this challenging time. In addition, student poets from CU-Boulder’s sCWA will open the performance for Dominique Christina. MLK Day Event Budget Table Budget Item Projected Expense Postage $5 Advertising (Flyer Design $150, Flyer Service $90) $240 Copying (Color Printing of flyers $250, Evaluation and Programs $40) $290 Office Supplies (Please specify): 1) Misc.: pencils for evaluations $9 2) 3) 4) Office Supply Total $9 Space Rental Old Main Theater Rental and Tech $495 Food Other Direct Costs (Please specify): 1) Honorarium for Dominique Christina $750 2) In-Kind Motus Staff ($700) NOT INCLUDED IN REQUEST 3) In-Kind sCWA volunteer poets and organizers $400 4) Other Direct Costs Total $1850 Total Expenses $2,889 Revenue Sources Revenue Amount Amount Requested from HRC/YOAB MLK Day Event Fund $1,000 Other Sources 1) Motus Theater Staff $700 2) sCWA Poets and volunteers $400 3) sCWA Space at Old Main $495 4) Motus Theater misc. income $294 $1,889 Total Revenue $2,889 Motus Theater HRC MLK Jr. Day Proposal, 2018 1. Who is on the organizing body of this event? This event will be organized by Motus Theater. We were the moving force behind the collaborative projects One Action 2012 Niwot’s Arrow Project and One Action 2016: Arts + Immigration Project. Our artistic director Kirsten Wilson has been lauded for her ground-breaking performances which have played an instrumental role in moving conversations in our community about the colonial legacies of Boulder history, Native American Rights, and Immigrants Rights in Boulder County: Rocks Karma Arrows, Do You Know Who I Am?, SALSA Lotería, and Law Enforcement Leaders Read ‘Do You Know Who I Am?” We have been key collaborators on MLK Jr. Day in Boulder since 2011. The Student Creative Writing Association at CU-Boulder’s mission is to create, support, and fund new programming as well as sustain current projects aligned with literary innovation, cultural diversity and educational encounters with focus on creative writing. sCWA is the official MFA student group which receives University funding for sponsoring and co-sponsoring guest speaker events, including the CU-Boulder Creative Writing Reading Series and Reading in the Raw Series. In addition we will be approaching CU INVEST and talking with YOAB about youth related marketing and outreach as well as the YWCA of Boulder. 2. Provide a description of the event, including: (a) Motus Theater the Student Creative Writing Association (sCWA) at CU-Boulder will present world renowned slam poet champion Dominique Christina on Monday, January 15th from 7pm-9pm at Old Main Theater at CU Boulder. She will perform poems that arise out of the historical legacy of the civil rights movement and speak directly to current challenges facing African Americans. Dominique Christina is known for the feminist lens she brings to civil rights struggles. Her work is empowering to young women of color and all women struggling to find their voice to fight for justice. After her performance she will engage the audience in a conversation on her poems and current civil rights challenges. Motus is still working out with sCWA the ways they want to participate but their current plan is to invite some of their members to present poems that open the event and to participate in the talk back with Dominique Christina. (We are open to discussions on best times and dates – but these changes will have to be confirmed with Dominique Christina). Dominique Christina is the perfect poet to honor Dr. King’s legacy in that she directly addresses the challenges facing the civil rights movement and the historical legacy of violence against African Americans. She brings civil rights history into current conversation. For example her poetry has been performed for both the Emmett Till and the Trayvon Martin families. She is one of the strong leaders emerging in honor of the particular challenges facing African American women and was a keynote speaker at the Emerging Women Conference, (b) This event will engage the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. through poems that reflect on historic and current civil rights challenges. This type of event ensures that Dr. King’s is not simply a celebrated as a great leader – an icon, a noun of the past. But that the action – the collective verb – that was the essence of the civil rights work of Dr. King’s legacy is brought forward into the future. (c) This event will help the audience understand that inclusivity and respect for diversity requires us all to stand with African Americans who are struggling to have their lives and bodies valued in a culture in which white supremacy has strived to dehumanize African Americans and justified violence against them. This event will also place the struggles of African American women in the center of the civil rights conversation. 3. If your event is targeting youth, how will youth be involved? This event will be targeting a diverse cross section of the Boulder community with a particular focus on young adults, college students and women’s organizations. We are just starting to meet with sCWA on this project and planning for this event. Although all aspects of the collaboration with the sCWA are still in conversation, the current plan is for sCWA to sponsoring the event, support marketing and provide a venue for the performance. In addition they are interested in offering young poets of color from the sCWA an opportunity to read poems on the subject of Martin Luther King Jr. and social justice to open the event. 4. What are the goals of the event? a) To haunt the audience with the challenge of Dr King: “There comes a time when silence is betrayal.” And inspire them to see Dr. King, not as a dead icon, but a living legacy that we participate in as we find our creative and political voice. b) To use poetry to engage the community – both in heart and mind – in the civil rights challenges of today. c) To empower all people, but particularly people of color and and women with the power of their creative voice. 5. How will you advertise and attract participants to your event? The event will be promoted through small flyers distributed throughout the community. It will be part of Motus Theater’s and sCWA’s social media listserves, websites and Facebook pages. Motus will also promote the event through our partnership through KGNU Community Radio. 6. Are you applying to another City of Boulder department: No but we are interested in additional collaborations that could bring in audience and support marketing for this event. 7. How have Motus Theater’s MLK projects evolved? Motus Theater has brought in African American poets and historians in 2016 and 2017. Both of these events were standing room only and were attended by diverse audiences. This is our first event with a college-age group collaboration. And we hope to find other collaborators so this event to increase outreach and decrease the financial stress on Motus Theater. Cover Sheet: 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Event Grant Request (up to $1,000): $. 930.00________________ Agency Name SBC MLK Heritage Committee Street Address 5300 Baseline Road City, Zip Code Boulder 80303 Telephone Website 303.499.4668 SBCBOULDER.com Event Name Courageous CARE Event Location (if on Pearl Street Mall, please provide block number) Second Baptist Church Contact Person: Glenda Robinson Email Address mingsrobinson@gmail.com Alternate: Rev. James Ray, revjamesray@gmail.com Event Description (please do not exceed space provided) Our event takes place on January 13, 2018. The time: 9am-11am. *Note change from 3-6pm 1. The organizing body consists of Rev. James Ray, Pamela Ray, Glenda Robinson, and DeAndre Taylor. 2. Courageous CARE (Conversation, Action, Reflection, Empowerment) can serve as sort of a precursor to the other Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events taking place in Boulder. Our event will be a panel-based forum where panelists and attendees engage in dialogue about Dr. King's deepest desire for humanity- love. We believe that love-oriented discussion can lead to love-enabled actions. The panel will draw from current social issues / events to invoke courageous Conversation necessary to cultivate courageous Actions, Reflection, and Empowerment. This event will provide an opportunity for participants to be educated on the works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and its focus on the things all humans have in common and the unity that can exist within the context of diversity. The panel will include a diverse group of individuals who were foot soldiers during the Civil Rights Movement. The panel will be directed to examine and discuss the nature of the Movement (in terms of diversity among race, religion, age, social status) and its resulting effectiveness. The panel will be facilitated by local activists and students. There will be Civil Rights era songs rendered during the event. Participants will also receive accompanying resources (pamphlets, flyers, etc.) that provides information about organizations and activities that exist to sustain the ideals and work of Dr. King. 3. This event will not target youth but plans to invite and encourage youth to attend. There will be specific discussion regarding the role of youth and young adults in keeping Dr. King’s Dream alive. 4. The goals of the event: Celebrate the person and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; to Educate participants on Dr. King’s legacy and the broader post Civil Rights Movement agenda; to encourage each participant on how they matter to Dr. King’s legacy and can be effective in making a difference in the world; provide the space and opportunity to discuss the truth concerning race relations in order to change the existing narratives that seem to separate rather than unite communities; provide practical ways people can get connected (and stay connected) to others who share in making our communities more inclusive; Plant a seed in the hearts of the curious who seek to become more involved but simply need a place to start their journey to changing the world; To establish an event that will continue to grow in the future and become a source for unifying and empowering our community. 5. We plan to advertise utilizing: existing Internet and radio resources; local and regional newspapers; flyers and word-of-mouth. 6. We are not applying to another City of Boulder department for money for this event. 7. This will be the first Boulder MLK event for this planning team. We are consulting/collaborating with other individuals who have played a major role in the planning and execution of MLK Day in Boulder in the past (circ. 2000). MLK Day Event Budget Table Budget Item Projected Expense Postage 30 Advertising Copying 200 Office Supplies (Please specify): 1) 2) 3) 4) Office Supply Total Space Rental Food 400 Other Direct Costs (Please specify): 1)Guest speakers / panelist 2) 3) 4) Other Direct Costs Total. 300 Total Expenses $930.00 Revenue Sources Revenue Amount Amount Requested from HRC/YOAB MLK Day Event Fund MLK Day Event Budget Table Other Sources 1) 2) 3) 4) Total Revenue $930.00 Cover​ ​Sheet:​ ​2018​ ​Dr.​ ​Martin​ ​Luther​ ​King,​ ​Jr.​ ​Day​ ​Event Grant​ ​Request​ ​(up​ ​to​ ​$1,000)​:​ ​$800 Agency​ ​Name Showing​ ​Up​ ​for​ ​Racial​ ​Justice​ ​–​ ​Boulder​ ​Chapter Street​ ​Address City,​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Zip​ ​Code Telephone​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​Website ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​https://www.facebook.com/SURJBoulder/ 339-788-1445 Event​ ​Name Direct​ ​Action​ ​Training Event​ ​Location​ ​(if​ ​on​ ​Pearl​ ​Street​ ​Mall,​ ​please​ ​provide​ ​block​ ​number) TBD​ ​(possibly​ ​St.​ ​John’s) Contact​ ​Person:​ ​Suzy​ ​Belmont Phone:​ ​339-788-1445 Email​ ​Address:​ ​​suzy.belmont@gmail.com​​ ​or​ ​​bouldersurj@gmail.com Event​ ​Description​ ​​(please​ ​do​ ​not​ ​exceed​ ​space​ ​provided) Utilizing​ ​skills​ ​developed​ ​through​ ​multiple​ ​years​ ​of​ ​community​ ​education​ ​on​ ​racial​ ​justice,​ ​members​ ​of Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​will​ ​facilitate​ ​an​ ​interactive​ ​event​ ​focused​ ​on​ ​the​ ​history​ ​of​ ​Dr.​ ​Martin​ ​Luther​ ​King​ ​Jr.’s​ ​legacy and​ ​the​ ​Civil​ ​Rights​ ​movement​ ​to​ ​train​ ​people​ ​in​ ​direct​ ​action​ ​movements.​ ​The​ ​event​ ​will​ ​challenge participants​ ​to​ ​consider​ ​the​ ​role​ ​of​ ​the​ ​white​ ​majority​ ​in​ ​contemporary​ ​racial​ ​justice​ ​work,​ ​the​ ​impact​ ​of direct​ ​action​ ​movements​ ​and​ ​how​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​that​ ​to​ ​the​ ​current​ ​climate,​ ​and​ ​will​ ​inspire​ ​participants​ ​to become​ ​more​ ​actively​ ​engaged​ ​in​ ​the​ ​multicultural​ ​struggle​ ​for​ ​liberation. *Please​ ​note,​ ​we​ ​would​ ​request​ ​that​ ​the​ ​City​ ​choose​ ​to​ ​fund​ ​an​ ​organization​ ​led​ ​by people​ ​of​ ​color instead​ ​of​ ​Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​should​ ​a​ ​restriction​ ​in​ ​funds​ ​require​ ​such​ ​a​ ​decision. 1.​ ​This​ ​event​ ​would​ ​be​ ​organized​ ​and​ ​facilitated​ ​by​ ​Showing​ ​Up​ ​for​ ​Racial​ ​Justice​ ​(SURJ)​ ​—​ ​Boulder​ ​Chapter: We​ ​are​ ​a​ ​local​ ​group​ ​of​ ​racial​ ​justice​ ​advocates​ ​who​ ​are​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​national​ ​SURJ​ ​network.​ ​Our​ ​mission​ ​is: “Through​ ​community​ ​organizing,​ ​mobilizing​ ​and​ ​education,​ ​Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​moves​ ​white​ ​people​ ​to​ ​act​ ​for justice​ ​with​ ​passion​ ​and​ ​accountability.​ ​Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​engages​ ​communities​ ​by​ ​fostering​ ​relationships​ ​and skills.​ ​We​ ​leverage​ ​cultural​ ​and​ ​political​ ​analysis​ ​in​ ​an​ ​effort​ ​to​ ​build​ ​an​ ​anti-racist​ ​movement.”​ ​We​ ​envision a​ ​society​ ​where​ ​we​ ​struggle​ ​together​ ​with​ ​love,​ ​for​ ​justice,​ ​human​ ​dignity​ ​and​ ​a​ ​sustainable​ ​world.​ ​Boulder SURJ​ ​has​ ​held​ ​monthly​ ​community​ ​events​ ​in​ ​Boulder​ ​over​ ​the​ ​past​ ​two​ ​years​ ​and​ ​engages​ ​regularly​ ​on​ ​local Boulder​ ​County​ ​and​ ​Metro​ ​Denver​ ​issues​ ​concerning​ ​racial​ ​justice. Primary​ ​facilitator:​ ​​Suzy​ ​Belmont Co-facilitator:​​ ​Renee​ ​Morgan Additional​ ​Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​organizers​ ​&​ ​facilitators:​ ​Marissa​ ​Hallo​ ​Tafura,​ ​Judy​ ​Huston,​ ​Jaime​ ​Duggan,​ ​Laura Maguire,​ ​Ben​ ​Williams,​ ​and​ ​Ryan​ ​Rivas. Co-Sponsor:​ ​​Robert​ ​Chanate,​ ​Woodbine​ ​Ecology​ ​Center Robert​ ​Chanate​ ​is​ ​a​ ​member​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Kiowa​ ​Nation​ ​and​ ​has​ ​lived​ ​in​ ​Denver,​ ​Colorado​ ​for​ ​several​ ​years.  He​ ​is​ ​a​ ​volunteer​ ​for​ ​various​ ​Native​ ​organizations​ ​in​ ​which​ ​his​ ​support​ ​role​ ​differs​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​groups  mission.​ ​Some​ ​of​ ​this​ ​work​ ​includes​ ​Native​ ​Youth​ ​leadership​ ​development,​ ​grassroots​ ​community  organizing​ ​and​ ​educational​ ​presentations.​ ​He​ ​also​ ​is​ ​a​ ​contributor​ ​to​ ​Indian​ ​Country​ ​Today.​ ​Robert  trained​ ​as​ ​a​ ​wildlands​ ​firefighter​ ​and​ ​served​ ​as​ ​an​ ​engine​ ​crew​ ​leader. 2.​ ​ ​A.​ ​FACILITATORS​ ​–​ ​​Suzy​ ​Belmont,​ ​Renee​ ​Morgan,​ ​and​ ​Robert​ ​Chanate B.​ ​BODY​ ​OF​ ​THE​ ​WORKSHOP​ ​-​ ​​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​two​ ​hour​ ​event​ ​broken​ ​up​ ​as​ ​follows: MLK’s​ ​vision​ ​on​ ​direct​ ​action This​ ​portion​ ​of​ ​the​ ​event​ ​will​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​helping​ ​participants​ ​understand​ ​Martin​ ​Luther​ ​King’s​ ​view​ ​and explanation​ ​regarding​ ​direct​ ​action. Working​ ​in​ ​breakout​ ​groups,​ ​participants​ ​will​ ​learn​ ​about​ ​these​ ​theories​ ​with​ ​Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​facilitators​ ​and other​ ​resources​ ​and​ ​then​ ​share​ ​their​ ​findings​ ​with​ ​the​ ​larger​ ​group.​ ​Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​facilitators​ ​will​ ​then​ ​lead the​ ​group​ ​in​ ​a​ ​discussion​ ​about​ ​direct​ ​action,​ ​the​ ​important​ ​it​ ​has​ ​played​ ​in​ ​social​ ​movements​ ​throughout history,​ ​why​ ​they’ve​ ​been​ ​minimized​ ​and​ ​forgotten,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​race,​ ​economics,​ ​and​ ​other​ ​intersectionalities were​ ​leveraged​ ​in​ ​the​ ​civil​ ​rights​ ​movement. Making​ ​the​ ​Connection​​ ​ Next,​ ​Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​will​ ​partner​ ​with​ ​Robert​ ​Chanate​ ​from​ ​Woodbine​ ​Ecology​ ​Center​ ​to​ ​facilitate​ ​a​ ​direct action​ ​training.​ ​The​ ​training​ ​will​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​methods​ ​and​ ​tactics​ ​of​ ​nonviolent​ ​direct​ ​action​ ​and​ ​the importance​ ​of​ ​safety,​ ​leadership,​ ​communication​ ​and​ ​planning​ ​for​ ​direct​ ​action​ ​events.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​tie​ ​this discussion​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​work​ ​of​ ​Dr.​ ​King​ ​and​ ​other​ ​leaders​ ​during​ ​the​ ​Civil​ ​Rights​ ​Movement. Childcare/Children’s​ ​Event​ ​Portion Due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​success​ ​from​ ​our​ ​2017​ ​MLK​ ​Day​ ​event,​ ​Boulder​ ​SURJ​ ​is​ ​preparing​ ​a​ ​children’s​ ​component​ ​for​ ​this event.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​the​ ​hope​ ​that​ ​parents​ ​or​ ​guardians​ ​will​ ​attend​ ​the​ ​main​ ​event​ ​and​ ​children​ ​and​ ​youth​ ​will​ ​attend a​ ​separate​ ​but​ ​related​ ​event​ ​with​ ​similar​ ​activities​ ​described​ ​above​ ​that​ ​are​ ​accessible​ ​to​ ​children.​ ​In​ ​this way​ ​parents,​ ​guardians,​ ​and​ ​children​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​discuss​ ​what​ ​they​ ​learned​ ​at​ ​the​ ​event​ ​together.​ ​ C.​ ​INCLUSIVITY​ ​-​ ​​We​ ​will​ ​foster​ ​inclusivity​ ​by​ ​hosting​ ​the​ ​event​ ​in​ ​a​ ​space​ ​that​ ​is​ ​accessible​ ​to​ ​people​ ​of​ ​all abilities,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​free​ ​to​ ​the​ ​public,​ ​with​ ​childcare​ ​available.​ ​We​ ​respect​ ​diversity​ ​by​ ​recognizing​ ​and addressing​ ​the​ ​intersectionality​ ​of​ ​discrimination​ ​and​ ​oppression,​ ​in​ ​that​ ​there​ ​are​ ​multiple​ ​ways​ ​that people​ ​can​ ​experience​ ​oppression​ ​(such​ ​as​ ​racism,​ ​sexism,​ ​homophobia,​ ​transphobia,​ ​classism,​ ​ableism, ageism,​ ​and​ ​religious​ ​bias).​ ​We​ ​will​ ​ask​ ​participants​ ​to​ ​wear​ ​name​ ​tags​ ​that​ ​include​ ​their​ ​gender​ ​pronouns. 3.​ ​While​ ​this​ ​event​ ​is​ ​targeted​ ​toward​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​Boulder​ ​community,​ ​we​ ​do​ ​intend​ ​for​ ​it​ ​to​ ​be​ ​inclusive​ ​and meaningful​ ​for​ ​youth. 4.​ ​ Our​ ​main​ ​goal​ ​is​ ​to​ ​“call​ ​in”​ ​white​ ​people​ ​to​ ​engage​ ​in​ ​racial​ ​justice​ ​advocacy.​ ​We​ ​recognize​ ​that​ ​we​ ​live in​ ​a​ ​predominantly​ ​white​ ​community,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​many​ ​of​ ​the​ ​issues​ ​facing​ ​people​ ​of​ ​color​ ​may​ ​not​ ​be apparent​ ​to​ ​those​ ​who​ ​feel​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​not​ ​directly​ ​impacted​ ​by​ ​racism​ ​and​ ​other​ ​types​ ​of​ ​oppression.​ ​By creating​ ​a​ ​space​ ​in​ ​which​ ​white​ ​people​ ​can​ ​engage​ ​in​ ​educational​ ​activities​ ​and​ ​dialogue​ ​about​ ​oppression, particularly​ ​racism,​ ​we​ ​can​ ​move​ ​closer​ ​toward​ ​creating​ ​the​ ​“beloved​ ​community”​ ​that​ ​Dr.​ ​King​ ​spoke​ ​of. We​ ​also​ ​hope​ ​to​ ​expand​ ​our​ ​local​ ​network​ ​for​ ​future​ ​events​ ​by​ ​raising​ ​awareness​ ​about​ ​the​ ​local​ ​Boulder SURJ​ ​chapter. 5.​ ​We​ ​will​ ​advertise​ ​the​ ​event​ ​through​ ​our​ ​Facebook​ ​Page,​ ​our​ ​community​ ​mailing​ ​list,​ ​and​ ​community connections​ ​such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​Unitarian​ ​Universalist​ ​Church​ ​of​ ​Boulder,​ ​Rocky​ ​Mountain​ ​Peace​ ​and​ ​Justice Center,the​ ​Boulder​ ​Quaker​ ​community,​ ​Out​ ​Boulder​ ​County,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Boulder​ ​Valley​ ​Unitarian​ ​Universalist Fellowship.​ ​In​ ​addition,​ ​we​ ​will​ ​advertise​ ​the​ ​meeting​ ​through​ ​our​ ​own​ ​regular​ ​community​ ​meetings. 6.​ ​No 7.​ ​The​ ​community​ ​feedback​ ​from​ ​our​ ​2017​ ​Boulder​ ​MLK​ ​event​ ​was​ ​incredibly​ ​positive. MLK​ ​Day​ ​Event​​ ​​Budget​ ​Table Budget​ ​Item Projected​ ​Expense Postage N/A Advertising N/A Copying $50 Office​ ​Supplies​ ​(Please​ ​specify): 1)​ ​Markers 2)Crayons 3)Paper 4)Flip​ ​Chart 5)Name​ ​tags Office​ ​Supply​ ​​Total $50 Space​ ​Rental $150 Food $100 Other​ ​Direct​ ​Costs​ ​(Please​ ​specify): 1)Speaker​ ​Fee Other​ ​Direct​ ​Costs​ ​​Total $500 Total​ ​Expenses $800 Revenue​ ​Sources Revenue​ ​Amount Amount​ ​Requested​ ​from​ ​HRC/YOAB​ ​MLK​ ​Day​ ​Event​ ​Fund $700 Other​ ​Sources 1)BSURJ​ ​Community​ ​Meetings $100 Total​ ​Revenue $800 Cover Sheet: 2018 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Event Grant Request (up to $1,000): ____$1,000____________ Agency Name Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN) Street Address 835 North St. City, Zip Code Boulder 80304 Telephone Fax, Website 303.449.8623 303.449.0169 www.safehousealliance.org Event Name To be determined by the youth involved in planning Event Location (if on Pearl Street Mall, please provide block number) Alfalfa’s Community Room – Boulder Location Contact Person Nancy Chávez-Porter Email Address nancy@safehousealliance.org Event Description (please do not exceed space provided) Boulder students who are participating in the Peers Building Justice Program (PBJ) after school program will research the civil rights movement, the work of Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists/movements, and explore their own stake in and connection to the racial justice movement in Boulder, their lives and beyond. Beginning in the fall 2017, PBJ student organizers will reach out to other youth groups and form a cohort of young people to collaborate on art based projects, including: graphic arts; video; poetry; and more. Participants will develop themes and find authentic expression both of the legacy of MLK and of their personal experiences and understanding of oppression. Students are the main organizers, with oversight and support from adult volunteer mentors and the youth violence prevention education staff of SPAN and MESA. Youth will decide the event name, projects presented, MC, what questions to ask for the racial group conversations and close the event. Students will host their event on MLK Day to showcase their work to community members. The event will foster youth empowerment and engagement while also creating opportunities for PBJ youth to reach out to and collaborate with other local youth-based groups. Community members have responded positively in the past to youth-led PBJ events, noting the hope and empowerment found in the students’ projects and the importance of bringing youth voice to center space for social change. Narrative 1. Who is on the organizing body of this event? Please list members of the organizing body or co-sponsoring groups if it is a collaborative effort. The organizing body of this event is Peers Building Justice (PBJ), a collaborative program run by Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN) and Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA). PBJ youth violence prevention educators (Jackie Manzo, Reina Ross from SPAN and Sarah Dobson from MESA) and adult mentors partner with high school students from BVSD who are interested in challenging cultural norms that promote and encourage relationships, violence prevention, sexual assault, and youth empowerment . 2. Provide a description of the event, including: a. a general description of the event, including who will facilitate it; b. how your event will engage and educate the community about MLK; and c. how your event will foster inclusivity and respect for diversity. For the 2018 MLK event, PBJ organizers will continue to research the civil rights movement, the work of MLK and other civil rights activists, and explore their own stake in and connection to the racial justice movement in Boulder and beyond. As they develop themes, they will use arts-based projects to find authentic expression both of the legacy of MLK, and of their personal experiences and understanding of oppressions. The event will aim to educate community members on the youths’ findings, the impact of violence in community, racial justice movements, and will invite and encourage community members to participate in anti-oppression work. This event will foster youth engagement, personal awareness, and empowerment around racial justice, so that youth and community members can see themselves as critical agents of change invested in creating a more peaceful, just, and equitable community. 3. If your event is targeting youth, how will youth be involved in the planning and implementation of the event? Beginning in the fall, PBJ student organizers will dedicate time to developing and implementing the project. Their work will include examining their own racial identity, understanding it within their socio-historical context, and connecting their own experience to historical and present day movements. The project and the MLK Day event will be organized by youth participants, with oversight and support from adult volunteer mentors and the youth violence prevention education staff from SPAN and MESA. Participants will use the bi-monthly PBJ meetings as well as outside independent work time to research and design the event. The high school students, or PBJ youth organizers, meet twice a month after school and use arts- based projects to promote social justice and resist violence in their communities. 4. What are the goals of the event? The goals of the project are to: (1) increase student understanding of historical and contemporary racism on individual, interpersonal, institutional, and ideological levels; (2) allow students to explore their own racial identity and relationship to race-based violence; (3) encourage community conversation and participation in racial justice movements. 5. How will you advertise and attract participants to your event? PBJ youth like to create content about their events through the different social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram, etc. Also, all PBJ events are advertised through email listings and on our websites (SPAN, MESA and PBJ). Paper flyers are also printed and distributed as needed. Material is translated into Spanish as needed. 6. Are you applying to another City of Boulder department for money to cover the cost of your 2018 event? If so, please specify. We are not applying to other City of Boulder departments for money at this time. 7. If you were a recipient of the 2016 or 2017 Boulder MLK funding, how has the project evolved based on past implementation experience and community feedback? PBJ was a recipient of the 2017 Boulder MLK grant funding. The event was a success and had around 70-80 community members attending. Thirteen youth presented projects on the following: #BlackLivesMater; Chicana/o movement as part of the Civil Rights Movement; art describing the different lived experiences between white women and women of color; youth voices in movements; the Prison Industrial Complex; solidarity efforts; and, intersectionality within the Civil Rights Movement. PBJ youth came up with questions and lead racial justice conversation circles in both English and Spanish. The community dialogue was rich and very impactful. The youth received very positive feedback from attendees. Many participants expressed how powerful the event was with youth as the leaders. MLK Day Event Budget Table Budget Item Projected Expense Postage Advertising Copying Office Supplies (Please specify): 1) Art Supplies 2) 3) 4) Office Supply Total $100 Space Rental $0 Food $100 Other Direct Costs (Please specify): 1) Youth Compensation (15-18 Youth) 2) 3) 4) Other Direct Costs Total $800 Total Expenses $1,000 Revenue Sources Revenue Amount Amount Requested from HRC/YOAB MLK Day Event Fund $1,000 Other Sources 1) 2) 3) 4) Total Revenue $1,000 2018 Applications Human Relations Fund (​cover sheet) Agency/Organization ​Blind Cafe Street Address ​2401 Broadway City ​ ​Zip Code Boulder 80304 Telephone Fax Website 812-361-6686 www.theblindcafe.com Project Name Project Date The Blind Cafe ~ Dismantling Racism Workshop In The Dark (Pilot Program) March 16, 2018 ( part of our The Blind Cafe ~ Social Impact Dinner & Music In The Dark Experiences at E-Town Hall March 16 - 18, 2018 Contact Person Casey Papp, Pedro Silva, Brian (Rosh) Rocheleau Email Address casey.thebindcafe@gmail.com Project Description ​(please do not exceed space provided) We are hosting “The Blind Cafe ~ Dismantling Racism In The Dark Workshop Experience” with pastor Pedro Silva of the First Congregational Church, as part of our Blind Cafe ~ Social Impact Dinner & Music In The Dark experiences at E-Town Hall March 16 - 18, 2018. The Blind Cafe Experience, our community awareness program is made up of three components, all held in 100% darkness. A community dinner served family style, where the guests literally break bread together at large tables, a social impact discussion/Q&A, between the audience and our legally blind staff facilitated with a Tibetan Singing bell and a live music performance. In the Social Impact Discussion/Q&A component, we facilitate a highly curated community awareness Q&A about blindness and what it means to relate to others without the involuntary prejudgements and distractions of our visual conditioning, social etiquette and cells phones. We’re excited to integrate Pedro Silva’s ‘Dismantling Racism Workshop’ program, usually done in the light at First Congregational Church, into the Social Impact component of The Blind Cafe Experience. We plan to offer several opportunities during the daytime slots of our Saturday March 17 and 18th dates. This workshop will take place in 100% total darkness - allowing people to examine, sit with, and re-write their prejudice stories in a way that they haven't gotten a chance to experience yet. Without the presence of our visual social conditioning, we will be able to go deeper into exploring prejudices and their underlying assumptions than we would be able to in the light. With this pilot project, we hope to create a “disorienting dilemma” in the experience of the participants by having them confront a simple question, “Can you be racist in the dark?” Through the artistic mediums of music, spoken word performances by Pedro Silva and Blind Cafe Lead Blind Ambassador ‘Rick Hammond’, coupled with the effects of emotion and pure reason, we will invite participants to challenge assumptions about race. The Blind Café is a social impact organization that uses the concept of social engagement in 100% darkness to create innovative and imaginative pop-up experiences that profoundly impact people's social perspective. The Blind Cafe is fiscally sponsored under the 501(c)3 of the Boulder County Arts Alliance, which is dedicated to providing professional development to the arts community through its programming and services. Experience includes a family style dinner and live music in the dark performances! ​We have experience putting over 20,000 people into the dark since 2010. This live 'music experience' held in 100% darkness, no blindfolds, allows you to be present without the distraction of our visual conditioning, social etiquettes & cell phones. Music experienced in darkness allows the audience to remember what it is like to truly listen and feel music again. Guests are challenged to socially engage as they break bread at large tables and experience an intimate live music concert performed in total darkness. The Blind Café ~ Music in the Dark Experience does not try to perfectly recreate blindness. Instead, it allows people to interact, trust each other, and experience music and community in an entirely new way. In the dark, there are no uncomfortable glances, no self-consciousness about what you’re wearing or what you weigh, and no distinction between the sighted and the blind. Founder Brian Rocheleau, an American singer-songwriter, attended a dark cafe in Reykjavik, Iceland while on tour in 2007. After engaging socially in the dark, he designed an intimate music listening and dinner experience in 100% darkness, music performed by his band Rosh & the Blind Cafe Orchestra. In 2010, Rosh met Rick Hammond, a blind poet and Richie Flores, a blind singer-songwriter and invited them to contribute a blind awareness Q&A to the program. And so the social impact Q&A with legally blind staff completed The Blind Cafe Experience. We have an upcoming 3 night event at eTown here in Boulder (March 16, 17, 18), and we would like to pilot a “Dismantling Racism” workshop/discussion. It will be a free event in the early afternoon before one of our evening shows. We are partnering with eTown on this event. eTown​ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to educate, entertain and inspire a diverse audience through music and conversation. It also functions as a multi-purpose building in the heart of downtown Boulder. In addition to housing the eTown offices, it is also a world-class live music venue, full service recording studios, and a community center. eTown has a very unique and intriguing story. They began as a radio station, and have always been committed to environmental education and “doing the right thing.” The building they have now is possibly the greenest music and media center in Colorado. eTown hall is recycled (a former church), rebuilt (a total renovation from the ground up), renovated (state of the art sound systems, recording studio) repurposed (a green building that makes its own solar power, has extremely efficient heating and cooling, used recycled and repurposed materials in the renovation) and reinvigorated (the community LOVES eTown Hall!). YWCA Boulder County’s Reading to End Racism program and the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center will also be involved in this event. We are meeting with them on the 21st of this month to discuss what exactly that involvement looks like. We have also gotten some preliminary commitments of involvement from youth and young adults at Second Baptist Church - Boulder’s oldest African American Church, as well as interest from an African American student at CU. This program/project will address an issue that is fundamental to this nation and our communities living up to their highest ideal—racism. The institute of race was created by a misunderstanding of human skin color and a false belief that humans with varying darker skin tones are somehow created ‘lesser.’ The institute of racism was created by assumptions made by men, and is perpetuated through agreements about race that society continually makes. In politics, it has come in contact with professions such as “All [men] are created equal…” and “Freedom and justice for all…” These obvious contradictions have created a sense of cognitive dissonance, and until resolved will continue to hold this nation captive to creative limitations that are part of a restrictive paradigm. Rocheleau attended Naropa University, and the Buddhist framework and perspective is what has shaped the Blind Cafe from its conception. Buddhist virtues include moral discipline, patience, and tolerance. We innately believe that all humans have a right to equal treatment and opportunity. No justification or reasoning need be, it just is. Our world is witness to massive amounts of unjust treatments to humankind - our role as ambassadors of humanity is to do what we can to help others toward a self-love that allows them to love another deeply and unconditionally. With this project, we hope to create a “disorienting dilemma” in the experience of the participants by having them confront a simple question, “Can you be racist in the dark?” Through the artistic mediums of music and imagination, coupled with the effects of emotion and pure reason, we will invite participants to challenge assumptions about race. At the end of the event the goal is to feel empowered to deconstruct racism wherever it is encountered. This empowerment will come from the realization that if one in fact ​cannot ​be racist in the dark, then how do we feel about encountering racism in the light? One may realize that they have the opportunity to decide whether or not they will allow unconscious bias to navigate encounters with people they consider to be from a different race. This project will directly impact all that choose to come and participate, and will have an exponential impact on this community and all others as these people working toward conscious deconstruction interact with people within this community and others. Another goal of ours is to explore how we can focus and refine how we use the concept of engaging people in 100% darkness. The dark holds so much potential for social change. We intend to hold the space for people to witness their own personal prejudices in a way they never have been able to before. We hope to create a space for things to come up and be released safely and with intention and care. Being in total darkness allows one to open up with more vulnerability, presence, and honesty. We create a space for people to open their hearts and feel free from visually based judgement. In the dark, we don’t know if other people are black, white, tall, blind, etc… this creates a uniquely safe environment for these issues to be explored with more depth, honesty, and vulnerability than in the light. If participants choose to take this experience with them into their daily lives, they will become ambassadors of this awareness. They will promote a more inclusive, engaged, and respectful community simply because once aware, it will be challenging to rest in the disorienting dilemma of human-constructed race. The desire for a more balanced orientation will necessitate that they stay engaged. Much like a person must remain engaged to scale a rockface, the aware person will see clearly the results of climbing this metaphorical mountain with as much awareness as possible and the relational detriments of not doing so. When we allow ourselves to be present, we may discover there is some stuff that is asking to be worked through. When we add darkness to this equation, the effect intensifies. When we sit with our prejudices in the dark, we have a unique opportunity to work with and witness them. Pedro and Garrick have experience facilitating dismantling racism and social impact discussions/workshops and have discovered that in some ways we have awareness, and in others we do not have a firm grasp on our true privilege. By engaging people in the dark, we are able to provide a profoundly more powerful change of perspective. Darkness requires more presence, therefore engagement is deeper, resulting in a higher quality, focused experience as the facilitators, blind staff, and audience share their personal stories and experiences. By breaking of bread together and interacting in a warm, positive, emotionally entertaining but growth stimulating and challenging environment, we can facilitate interaction, understanding, collaboration and civic participation among diverse communities; and enable members of Boulder’s communities to celebrate events significant to them while they provide learning opportunities to the general population. This experience will allow both attendees and social impact facilitators to share their personal stories, triumphs and socially marginalizing experiences on civil and human rights issues such as discrimination, racism, and ignorance towards people of disability without the distraction and self consciousness of glances/eye contact, visual conditioning, and social etiquette. We can create an opportunity to explore, discover and innovate ways to listen & share with those of different race, class, gender, ability or social/ethnic backgrounds. This experience aims to increase self awareness, therefore increasing awareness of others. This expansion of self-awareness creates an opportunity for the attendee to feel a deeper sense of vulnerability and commonality with people who are different than them. This creates space for a greater sense of patience and compassion for oneself, which naturally leads to expansion of that patience and compassion for others. Our team includes a diverse group. Brian Rocheleau, Executive Director/Founder of Blind Cafe, is originally from Boston. He started the Blind Cafe in Boulder in 2010. Pedro Silva is our lead ambassador of this pilot program. Silva is an African American man currently residing in Boulder and actively works to reconstruct how people experience race and prejudice. Rick Hammond is one of our incredible lead blind ambassadors. Rick is from Portland, OR, and was born blind. He lived in the Denver area for six years, and now resides back Portland. Hammond is a spoken word artist. He started writing poetry as a teenager to express his discontent with the world around him. His poetry has expanded to include topics like love, injustice & overcoming mental traps. Garrick is another one of our lead blind ambassadors. He currently lives in Atlanta, GA. We recently brought him on the word of Richie Flores, a blind ambassador that lives in the Bay area. We love having him on the team! We told him about this pilot program and he was excited to get involved and share his experience as a blind black man in the world. Marty is our Master of Darkness and originally from Sweden and was raised in Switzerland. He now works on a number of projects, Blind Cafe and Burning Man being two of them. Casey Papp is our production/tour manager. She is in her mid-twenties and originally from Indiana and of Lakota heritage. She moved to Boulder in 2017 and began working with the Blind Cafe after having an impactful experience at a show in Denver. Dango Rose is one of the Blind Cafe Orchestra performers and the founder of the band Elephant Revival. Dango has been involved with the band for 12 years - they recently decided to go different directions - but first will headline their first show at Red Rocks this summer. Pedro will be leading the Dismantling Racism workshop - he was inspired to host this event and others like it because of his experience as a black man in our society. Other sources of funding include ticket sales from our public event, Rockdale Innovations, and donations. Rockdale Innovations periodically provides loans and donations to The Blind Cafe. The funding will cover travel & accommodations for our blind staff, production costs of creating a 100% dark room, sound recording production crew, payment of Blind Cafe & eTown Staff, liability insurance, PR/Marketing assistance, eTown hall rental, and other misc costs associated with hosting an event. This funding will help us cover the costs of incubating a social change program whose goal is to transform how we relate to one another and bridge the gaps between us. . Proposal Budget Table for ___________________________ Budget Item Projected Expense If this project has been previously funded by the HRC, please provide Actual Expenses for the previous year. Music and Entertainment Performance Fees $3000.00 - $4000.00 Social Impact Curators & Facilitator(s) $1000.00 $3000.00 - $5000.00 $3000.00 - $4000.00 Music & Entertainment Artist Fees: Depending on acceptance of official invites to well-known, popular performing artists and bands that draw significant audience ticket sales. Includes musician fees for headlining featured performing artists and music/speaker curators, Dango Rose, of popular Boulder Colorado based band Elephant Revival and Rosh of ‘Rosh & the Blind Cafe Orchestra’ band with accompanying featured guest musicians. Social Impact Curators & Facilitators: For Blind Cafe Experience main event and dismantling racism workshop program facilitors. Advertising Service Fees/Promo Materials: $700.00 Contracted Event Marketing/PR Services $1800.00 Total: $2500.00.00 $1800.00 for 120 hours (30 - 35 hours week) secured as a flat rate, avg. of $15.00 hour for contracted marketing services February 15 - March 15, leading up to event dates. $700.00 for printed pre-event and at event marketing materials (flyers, posters, postering services, online Facebook Advertising etc.) Travel costs for two legally blind Lead Blind Ambassadors, Rick Hammond and Garrick $1500.00 Estimate including flights, accommodations, airport transport and per diems. Production of 100% darkness (Please specify​) 1)Darkness fabric $170.00 - $225.00 2)Duct tape $90.00 - $150.00 3)Pvc pipe $50.00 4)Misc. tacks, zip ties $25.00 Total $450.00 Space Rental $6000.00 $2000.00 per day x three days, a sponsored discounted rate offered by venue, usually $2500 - $3000 per day. Food & Catering costs by local Blind Cafe Experience Chef, food supplies, serving materials and service staff included $3500.00 Serving food for 300 - 450 people Other Direct Expenses ​(Please specify) 1)Darkness production crew x 2 for three days $900.00 2)Payment of two lead blind ambassador staff $1050.00 3)Payment of Blind Cafe event production staff $5200.00 a)Event Production Manager $900.00 b)Event Producer & Blind Cafe Experience facilitator fee $1500.00 Other Direct Expenses 1)Special Event Liability Insurance GDI Insurance $300.00 2)Table Rentals & Chairs for up to 90 persons estimated at $550.00 Total Total Expenses $20,650.00 - $22,650.00 Amount Requested from HRC $5000.00 Other Sources of Revenue 1) Rockdale Innovations $5000.00 2) Ticket sales $11,150.00 3) Donations (at-event cash donations, square app online donations and donations made directly through Blind Cafe’s fiscal sponsor Boulder County Arts Alliance estimated) $1500.00 Total: Total Revenue $22,650.00 Boulder Human Relations Commission Human Relations Fund (cover sheet) Agency/Organization Boulder Jewish Festival Street Address 6007 Oreg Avenue City Zip Code Boulder 80303 Telephone Fax Website 720-878-3222 www.boulderjewishfestival.org Project Name Boulder Jewish Festival 2018 Contact Person Elizabeth Barrekette E-Mail Address boulderjfest@gmail.com Project Description (please do not exceed space provided) A one day celebration of Jewish culture featuring related music, dance, art, food, community information and interactive activities for young families, young adults and community members of all aes. Narrative – Each of the following five points must be addressed in the following order. All five responses should take no more than two single-spaced pages. 1) Describe the agency/organization applying for this funding. The Boulder Jewish Festival is produced each year by a committee of community volunteers, operating under the umbrella of ACE: Arts, Culture and Education. The event is sponsored primarily by Jewish organizations and congregations. The committee members’ and Festival participants’ ages range from 16 to 70+, and reflect the wide diversity of belief and practice in the Jewish community today. 2) Describe the need for this funding. What is the problem/opportunity this program/project would address? • Overview: The Boulder Jewish Festival is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 3, 2018 on the Pearl Street Mall and Courthouse Lawn. This is a free, family-oriented event, open to the public. The overriding objective of this event is to share and celebrate the rich and eclectic Jewish culture and heritage. We work to make engaging with the many aspects and perspectives of the Jewish experience to be accessible among Boulder’s very diverse Jewish Community and across the broader Boulder community and it’s diverse and eclectic population. The 2018 event is the 24rd consecutive year the Festival has been held in Boulder! • Funding Allocation: Funding helps support all the expenses required and costs incurred to put on the Festival and make it free to the public. Each year we work to improve the Festival and continue to create new and compelling features. In particular, we are focusing on increasing the interactive activities to keep visitors engaged at the Festival for longer thus improving the experience for both vendors and visitors. Below are rough guidelines into how funding sources are allocated. The strategy behind the funding allocations is based on what are variable vs fixed costs and which are scalable vs what we prefer to be non-negotiable. We take the quality of the event and the variety of experiences we create and provide to the community to be of utmost importance. TYPE ALLOCATION RATIONALE Community Organization Registration Fees Organization tents and equipment Fees are set to cover the cost of tents and equipment. These are variable costs so directly correlated to the number of registrations. Grants All other Festival costs such as Festival tents, Kids’ Zone, Bands, all other interactive activities. We generally know the level of grant income further in advance of all the other funding sources so we can allocate these to guarantee an excellent, fun and engaging event. These plans facilitate a better sales pitch to corporate sponsors. Corporate sponsors Marketing, promotions, printed materials, signage, t- shirts, etc. These items do not create the event itself but enhance it significantly and help attract visitors, volunteers and further sponsorships. Last year we tried to capture information on the participation of the Festival focusing on number of visitors. Our efforts were in vain and clearly required a more formalized method. In 2018 we will intensify our efforts to gain insights and data about the Festival and its visitors and participants. We will be utilizing professional help in designing and conducting surveys while adding incentives for individuals to participate in the survey to learn valuable demographic information and some customer behavior tracking. The results will help us benchmark performance measures and then track success against this benchmark year on year. In this way we will be able to better allocate funds in the future to the areas most effective in achieving our goals and objectives. We already know we have a weakness in our addressing the young adult market. We have recruited volunteers to specifically focus on this segment of the community and create some programs and activities to appealing to them. Some of these will include Israeli food experiences such as pita baking and making humus (in a bike blender, no less) and a silent disco. We are hoping for some increased funds from Boulder HRC this year to help cover the costs of these two new initiatives (benchmarking and young adults). In the past the HRC funds have also gone to help subsidize smaller organizations in our community that cannot afford all the costs of tents and tables and chairs. We are hoping to be able to continue this tradition among all the other initiatives we have in place. • Engage, empower and educate the community: With ethnic food, art, craft booths, children’s activities, live music and dance throughout the day, the event engages community members of all ages and in many different ways. We endeavor to educate the community through the experience of taking part in cultural activities such as Israeli Folk Dancing as well as partaking in Tikkun Olam (service and charity) activities. It is also a venue for Jewish congregations and organizations to display the diversity of Jewish experience and culture that make up the vibrant and unique community here in Boulder, and to engage with community members on a personal level. Each organization regardless of size and finances are represented at the Festival. • Involvement of Youth: Local youth organizations are involved as volunteers for the event and as participants, and many of the organization booths include activities and information for youth. The entertainment line-up includes performers that will attract youth. We reach out to local teen organizations for day-of-event volunteers, particularly for staffing the kids’ area and assisting with recycling. This year we are also showcasing the service projects – or Mitzvah projects – of our teens. In particular, many students in preparation for their bar and bat mitzvahs are required to do a mitzvah project. This type of work is a key representation of the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam – Repairing the World (or making the word a better place.) The Mitzvah tent is intended to give these industrious young people an opportunity to show-off their efforts as well as give them an opportunity to raise more awareness if not also donations for their chosen beneficiary. • Foster inclusivity and respect for diversity: The festival showcases the diversity of thought and practice in the Jewish community. The 30+ community organizations include the spectrum of religious thought, educational opportunities, and supporting organizations such as Keshet, a national organization for LGBT Jews and their families. • Opening discussions and dialogue by celebrating and sharing Jewish Culture with the broader Boulder community and beyond: The venue on Pearl Street and the courthouse Lawn opens the event and shares it with all persons in Boulder regardless of race, religion or orientation. The Festival draws musicians, artists and organizations from beyond Boulder to share in the festivities and celebrations. We have also created a Rabbi’s Living Room in which a rotation of Rabbis from a diverse set of synagogues take a shift on a couch available for discussion on any topic in which the visitor is interested or wants to engage. Not only is this a fun opportunity to engage on any level, it is also an easy point of exploration for anyone too shy to enter into a religious institution but might be curious about the thought that happens within. 3) What are the goals of the project? How many Boulder city residents will be impacted and what specific impacts or benefits will they receive? A. To foster respect for diversity by sharing culture and history with the wider community. For the general Boulder audience, the Festival is an opportunity to increase awareness and appreciation of the Jewish community and culture here in Boulder. The festival brings art, music and opportunities to interact with spiritual leaders and community organizers out in the open, without the traditional boundaries of institutions. For those who are curious, this is a unique way to meet people and learn more. B. To strengthen community identity through exposure to Jewish culture including music, dance, tradition, food and art. For those with a connection to or interest in Jewish community, the festival is an exciting day to reach beyond organizations and celebrate together. For many, it is an opportunity to increase involvement and enthusiasm. For one day, the community has no walls and no divisions. Visitors from Wyoming, New Mexico, Kansas and throughout Colorado are drawn to this model of openness and cooperation. C. Impact on the community: • Estimates of around 10,000 walk down Pearl Street on a given Summer weekend day. Each of them will pass through the Festival area. In addition, we have all the participating members of the community and those who have heard about the Festival from further afield and come specifically for this event. • The impact to visitors to the Festival is exposure to the diversity and richness of Jewish culture, education and fun. The Festival is a lively event for all. 4. How would this effort promote a more inclusive, engaged and respectful community? We have mentioned several times above Tikun Olam which is one of the core values of Jewish faith and culture. It translates to repairing the world or “making the world a better place.” It is only through working together and sharing the richness of culture and values can the diverse population of Boulder truly be able gain greater understanding and appreciation of our differences and similarities in order to Tikun Olam together. 5. How will the effort be promoted to Boulder residents? This event will be promoted through a combination of free and paid advertising and publicity, throughout the Boulder and greater Denver area. • All major local newspapers will carry ads and/or articles about the event, as well as listings in their event calendars (Daily Camera, Denver Post, Intermountain Jewish News, Boulder Weekly, Westword, Longmont Times-Call). • Boulder Jewish organization newsletters (print and electronic) give the festival extensive free publicity. • Posters are placed at key locations in Boulder, Denver, and institutions throughout Colorado including senior centers, coffee shops, etc. • Flyers are distributed to local schools and organizations. • Social media: the Festival website attracts “clicks” from around the world. Facebook (facebook.com/boulderjfest) and Twitter (@boulderjfest) are also used to build excitement, share info, and recruit volunteers. We now have a dedicated social media volunteer who is focusing solely on spreading the word on these platforms. Budget Table - Boulder Jewish Festival 2018 Budget Item Projected Budget Cost Entertainment/Program 1. Performers fees (includes kids area) 12,000 2. A/V 1,650 3. Misc Entertainment 3,350 Venue and Equipment 1. Equipment Rental – stage, tents, etc 14,000 2. Security 1,600 3. Other site costs including Zero Waste and city/county fees 1,500 Marketing and Promotion 1. Paid Advertising (newspapers and online) 4,600 2. Festival Program (Ad Book – design, layout, printing) 5,500 3. Other PR, print and online (includes copying, website, etc) 2,500 5. Postage and other admin 1,850 Volunteers 1,600 Surveys 2,000 Other miscellaneous program costs 2,000 Total Budget Expenses: $54,150 Revenue Sources Projected Revenue Amount Amount Requested from HRC ** 5,000 Other Sources (* = in process for 2018) 1. Jewish Colorado 5,000 2. Rose Community Foundation 15,000 3. Oreg Foundation 1,800 4. BJCF 2,500 5. Scientific & Cultural Facilities District 6,000 6. Congregations and Community Organizations* 6,200 7. Other Sponsors (primarily businesses/ad book) * 11,000 8. Art & Food Booths – participation fees * 2,200 Total Revenue Sources: $54,700 * In process but not yet committed for 2018 ** This is an increase from previous years to help support the implementation of interactive activities to keep individuals engaged for longer thus increasing the impact of participation in the Boulder Jewish Festival, to help us manage the cost of a benchmarking study and to help subsidize smaller organizations. Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art Human Relations Fund February 2018 Application Agency/Organization Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art Street Address 1750 13th Street City Zip Code Boulder, CO 80302 Telephone Fax Website 303.443.2122 www.bmoca.org Project Name Project Date Día del Niño April 28, 2018 Contact Person David Dadone Email Address david@bmoca.org Project Description (please do not exceed space provided) Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) is seeking a grant from the Human Relations Fund in support of the museum’s eighth annual presentation of Día del Niño (Children’s Day) on Saturday, April 28, 2018. This daylong, free access festival celebrates the international holiday honoring children and families. BMoCA has successfully presented Día del Niño to growing audiences each April since 2011, and the museum projects that the 2018 event will engage over 500 youth and families. Día del Niño is BMoCA’s public festival celebrating Latino culture through family programs, inclusive activities, and community collaborations. Scheduled concurrently with the Boulder Farmers’ Market and BMoCA’s free access day, this free event features performances of traditional dance by local performers, live music, hands-on art making, storytelling, costumes, arts and crafts, and locally made refreshments. Día del Niño fulfills a specific need within Boulder to promote the visibility, inclusion, and participation of populations of color through celebrations that honor diversity. For many families, it is financially challenging to take children to see performances and participate in cultural celebrations. There is a need in the Boulder community for free access, family-oriented cultural events, and Día del Niño is vital to addressing this need and to making Boulder an inclusive and diverse community. The museum will work with the City of Boulder to host Día del Niño outside in the Civic Center area, enabling the event to attract a large and diverse audience while activating this public area with cultural programming. BMoCA is grateful for the Human Relations Commission’s prior support of the festival. The museum would look forward to publicly acknowledging the Commission’s support at the 2018 event by inviting an HRC spokesperson to give the opening remarks. The event will be promoted through several marketing channels, including: the City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation calendar displayed at all recreation centers; bilingual flyers handed out at parks throughout the City of Boulder and other community centers like the Family Learning Center; BMoCA’s media platforms including social media (5,250 followers on Twitter, 8,050 on Facebook, and 2,285 on Instagram), email newsletters (7,500 subscribers); printed materials; and through flyers given to students in the Boulder Valley School District. BMoCA seeks to expand corporate sponsorship by building new and expanded partnerships with local companies. Long-time partners such as the Mexican Consulate, the Mexican Cultural Center, and the Longmont Museum will continue to collaborate with BMoCA to provide support for this community event. The Boulder County Farmers’ Market also partners with the museum to present Día del Niño during the Saturday Boulder Farmers’ Market. BMoCA is proud to report that its community partnerships for the presentation of Día del Niño have significantly expanded over the past two years. In 2016 and 2017, BMoCA hosted the Día del Niño celebration in conjunction with the Longmont Museum, Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, History Colorado Center, Clyfford Still Museum, Denver Public Library, and Byers Evans House Museum. In 2018, BMoCA will continue to partner with these and other organizations throughout the Denver metro area to expand community support and involvement with Día del Niño. Narrative Questions Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art Día del Niño 2018 1. Describe the agency/organization for this funding. Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) has served diverse audiences since 1972. BMoCA’s mission is to be a catalyst for creative experiences through the exploration of significant art of our time. As a non-collecting institution, BMoCA presents rotating exhibitions and programs that stimulate active participation in the global and local dialogue about contemporary art. The museum has garnered critical praise for its thought-provoking exhibitions and programs serving audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In 2018, BMoCA celebrates its 46th year as a cultural cornerstone of the Boulder community. The museum has established itself as one of Colorado’s premier contemporary art venues, attracting approximately 40,000 visitors annually. Over 8,000 youth in Boulder, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Douglas, and Jefferson Counties annually participate in BMoCA’s youth education programs, free of charge. In the course of a calendar year, BMoCA produces more than 500 events for children of all ages, adults, and seniors. Boulder’s cultural community continues to grow and contribute to the region’s burgeoning reputation as an arts, culture, and educational outreach leader. Throughout its history, BMoCA has been an integral catalyst to arts and culture in Boulder, enacting hundreds of collaborations annually, bridging the arts, technology and business communities, and attracting tens of thousands of visitors to the area every year. 2. Describe the need for this funding. What is the problem/opportunity this program/project would address? As a growing percentage of Boulder County’s youth identify as Latino, there is a continual need for public events in the highly visible Civic Area that represent this population. The 2017 Boulder County Trends Report published by The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County indicates that, in 2017, 14% of Boulder County’s population was Latino, 5% was Asian, and 78% was Anglo. The study states that one in four Boulder County residents identifies as a person of color. 29% of the Latino population in Boulder County is under the age of 15. By comparison, 14% of the Anglo population is under the age of 15. Further, 32% of the Latino population under the age of 18 is currently living in poverty. The report also indicates that within populations of color, there is a perception that Boulder residents and organizations are not always inclusive regarding racial and ethnic diversity. A public celebration, like Día del Niño, in honor of local youth and their families is a unique opportunity to celebrate Boulder’s diverse community and enhance feelings of connectedness among populations of color. Offered on a Saturday in conjunction with BMoCA’s free access day, this free event attracts over 50% Latino attendance. BMoCA is a cultural organization dedicated to presenting programs in service of the community and to serving as a catalyst for creative experiences through the exploration of art. Día del Niño advances the museum’s mission by engaging broad audiences with contemporary art and by fostering community and enhancing understanding among individuals living in Boulder. The event has proven to attract diverse audiences to the museum and to downtown Boulder’s Civic Area, and we are eager to see this program continue for many years to come. We would be grateful for the Human Relations Commission’s continued support of Día del Niño as we grow the programs’ impact. 3. What are the goals of the project? How many Boulder city residents will be impacted and what specific impacts or benefits will they receive? BMoCA’s primary goals for Día del Niño 2018 are to: 1) Promote inclusiveness and embrace diversity; 2) Celebrate multiculturalism and multicultural traditions; 3) Enhance feelings of connectedness of populations of color to the community; 4) Educate members of the community about Latino culture; 5) Activate the Civic Area as a family-friendly space; 6) Engage more members of the local Latino community with BMoCA and the arts; and 7) Enhance collaborations with local artists, performers, and community organizations. Día del Niño will engage over 500 Boulder youth and families in the day-long festival celebrating Latino culture. Boulder residents will have free access to Día del Niño’s dance performances, music, hands-on art making, and locally made refreshments. As a major stakeholder in the Civic Area Plan and the Community Cultural Plan, BMoCA is committed to developing Boulder’s creative identity as an innovative world leader in cultural matters and to projecting that identity to the region and the world (Boulder Community Cultural Plan, Community Priority D). Día del Niño has proven to be an effective and inclusive program by activating the Civic Area and creating a family-friendly space for all Boulder residents. 4. How would this promote a more inclusive, engaged and respectful community? BMoCA’s annual presentation of Día del Niño fulfills a specific need within the city of Boulder by promoting the visibility, inclusion, and participation of populations of color through celebrations that honor diversity. Día del Niño successfully promotes a more inclusive and respectful community by enabling diverse members of Boulder’s community to engage in multicultural traditions. Some Boulder residents may not be familiar with these traditions, and BMoCA facilitates understanding between different audiences by offering all residents the opportunity to actively participate in multicultural traditions. Presenting Día del Niño is vital to strengthening civic participation among non-white residents of Boulder who may feel isolated from the community. Over the years, BMoCA staff members and program partners have observed the ways that Día del Niño facilitates new friendships and connections among youth, adults, and organizations participating in the festivities. In 2016, a family who had relocated to Boulder from Colombia expressed their appreciation of the free, family-friendly event with diverse activities for children. It was their second year attending, and they have since made attending the festival an annual, family event. 5. How will the effort be promoted to Boulder residents? BMoCA will promote Día del Niño to Boulder residents in the following ways: 1) Bilingual event postcards mailed and distributed to businesses as well as non-profit and community organizations throughout Boulder; 2) Event information and announcements on BMoCA’s website; 3) Bimonthly email newsletters (over 7,500 subscribers); 4) Bilingual advertisement in Boulder’s Daily Camera; 5) Cross-promotion with collaborating organizations; 6) Social media, including Twitter (over 5,250 followers), Facebook (8,050 followers), and Instagram (2,285 followers); and 7) Local events calendars, including Boulder Weekly, Downtown Boulder, Inc., and Boulder County Arts Alliance. BMoCA will also promote Día del Niño among participants in its youth programs, including ARTlab and Art Stop on the Go. ARTlab is an in-class art education program that BMoCA launched in 2011 in collaboration with Justice High School, and expanded to Boulder Preparatory High School in 2015. ARTlab provides the underserved youth at these Boulder Valley School District schools with free, weekly art education. Art Stop on the Go is BMoCA’s outreach program that provides free access, hands-on art making for youth ages 5-12. In 2017, Art Stop on the Go impacted over 1,200 youth. BMoCA will further promote the event through cross-promotional efforts, including a feature on the City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation calendar and the distribution of bilingual flyers throughout parks, community centers, and Boulder Valley School District schools. Proposal Budget Table for BMoCA’s 2018 Budget Item Projected Expense If this project has been previously funded by the HRC, please provide Actual Expenses for the previous year. Postage $200 $100 Advertising (Daily Camera) $500 $600 Copying (Printing of bilingual postcard) $1,000 $700 Office Supplies (Please specify) 1) Spanish Translations $100 2) Event Documentation $200 4) Office Supplies Total $300 $300 Space Rental $2,000 $2,000 Food $500 $356 Other Direct Expenses (Please specify) 1) Honoraria for performers $2,000 2) Hands-on art workshops $600 3) Rental event equipment $300 4) Decorations $250 Other Direct Expenses Total $3,150 $1,900 Total Expenses $7,650 $5,956 Revenue Sources Revenue Amount Amount Requested from HRC $1,500 $1,500 Other Sources of Revenue 1) BMoCA’s Contribution (secured) $2,450 2) Shears Giving Fund (secured) $1,000 3) Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) $1,000 4) Anchor Point Fund $1,700 Total $6,150 $4,456 Total Revenue $7,650 $5,956 Human Relations Fund (cover sheet) Agency/Organization Boulder Pride dba Out Boulder County Street Address 2132 14th Street City Zip Code Boulder 80302 Telephone Fax Website 303.499.5777 720.328.6794 www.outboulder.org Project Name Project Date Boulder Pridefest Celebration September 9, 20 18 Contact Person Juan David Moreno Rodriguez – Development and Special Events Manager Email Address Jmoreno@outboulder.org Project Description (please do not exceed space provided) As 2017 has proven to be a very challenging year for folks of marginalized identities, the work and services that Out Boulder County provides is increasing in need. Our annual celebration of Pridefest 2018 is more important than ever for our local community. Boulder Pridefest is a free community festival that commemorates the start of the modern LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) civil rights movement in the U.S.A, while celebrating the ordinary and extraordinary lives of LGBTQ and Allied people, and their friends and family in the City of Boulder. Boulder Pridefest is a chance for LGBTQ and Allied communities to openly celebrate our diversity. From 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM, more than 110 community organizations and businesses will participate in Pridefest 2018 situated on the visible 13th street block of Boulder Central Park. We expect over 5,000 people to participate in various events and activities, including live music from a variety of entertainers, child and family-focused activities (arts, crafts, photo-booths, group games, youth performers, etc.) and a health and wellness area. By holding and annual Pride festival in the heart of downtown Boulder that is free and open to the public, together we make the powerful statement that everyone is welcome in the City of Boulder. We promote this event and all others that are also part of Pride Week through the social media, postering, local and state-wide newspapers, radio and word of mouth. Proposal Budget Table for Boulder Pridefest 2018 Budget Item Projected Expense If this project has been previously funded by the HRC, please provide Actual Expenses for the previous year. Postage $100 $120.21 Advertising $4,000 $4,569 Copying $850 $943.07 Office Supplies (Please specify) 1)Toner ($550) 2)Paper ($100) 3)Decorations ($500) 4)Miscellaneous ($250) Office Supply Total $1,400 $548 Toner $85 Paper $75 Decorations $71 Miscellaneous $779 Space Rental (Central Park) $1,100 $1,100 Food (Volunteers) $250 $235 Other Direct Expenses (Please specify) 1)Translation ($100) 2)Off-Duty Police ($2500) 3)Fee for Pride Party Venue (2500) 4)Toilets ($3300) 5)Fencing and Barricades ($3000) 6)Liquor License ($100) 7)Entertainment ($8000) 8)Eco -Cycle ($1500) 9) Traffic Control ($500) 10)Banners ($2500) 11)Sound Engineer ($1500) 12)Parking Services ($250) 13)Tables and Chairs ($450) 14) VIP Food Coverage ($700) Other Direct Costs Total $26,800 $100 translation $0 Police $2,500 Pride Party Venue $2,100 Toilets $1,849 Fencing $100 Liquor License $5,350 Entertainment $1,228 Eco-Cycle $387 Traffic Control $943 Banners $150 Sound Engineer $191 Parking Services $410 Table and Chairs $15,881.07 Total Expenses $33,500 $23,728.60 Revenue Sources Revenue Amount Amount Requested from HRC $5,000 $1,500 Other Sources of Revenue 1) 2) 3) 4) $28,500 (fees and sponsorships) $10,040 Booth Fees $25,000 Sponsorships Total Revenue $33,500 $35,040 1. Describe the agency/organization applying for this funding. For over 20 years, Out Boulder County has been the only LGBTQ community resource center in Boulder County. Our mission is to educate, advocate and provide services, programs and support to Out Boulder County’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities. Currently, Out Boulder County provides the only LGBTQ celebrations not only in the city, but the county as well. 2. Describe the need for this funding. What is the problem/opportunity this program/project would address? The reason that Out Boulder County requests funding from the HRC this year is in ho pes to expand the Health and Wellness Area. Here is where we generally place folks whose businesses/organizations’ work might fall under this area of expertise. In past year’s this has been our least active section of the event, and we would like to see that change. We would like to see an increase in health resources for members of the transgender community, resources for PoC, and a larger emphasis in mental/healthcare among the community in general. This funding would permit for further outreach (on-site wellness, trans-friendly organizat ions/businesses, etc.), a staff member to take full control of planning and layout for this area, e xpanding our ability to provide more of our own resources to multiple communities in English and Spanish as well. 3. What are the goals of the project? How many Boulder city residents will be impacted and what specific impacts or benefits will they receive? The goals of this project are to ultimately encourage the visibility of a st rong, vibrant, and active LGBTQ community in the City of Boulder. Through t he visibility promoted in this event, we hope to educate people on issues affecting all branches of the LGBTQ community as well as provide the necessary resources for those who are still in need of assistance. This is aided by our close work with community partners as well as other non-profits that we bring towards this event. Resources provided by organizations such as Boulder County AIDS Project , Attention Homes, Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center, Boulder County Area Agency on Aging, etc. are vital in ensuring that a broad range of topics are being covered. 4. How would this effort promote a more inclusive, engaged and respectful community? We strive to ensure that these aspects are strongly present within our events. To promote this, Pridefest is free and open to all members of the public who wish to attend. We encourage and provide a variety of educational, social, and other opportunities that cater to all that might attend in hopes that folks of all backgrounds feel w elcome at our event. Some of these pieces involve multi-cultural performers, having bi-lingual staff at the event, provid ing promotion in Spanish and English as well. 5. How will the effort be promoted to Boulder residents? This event would be promoted to the residents of Boulder through various means. Firstly, the organization strongly utilizes the use of its social media ha ndles. Boulder Pridefest is promoted through our Facebook (4,600+), Twitter (1,500+), Newsletter (3,000+), Instagram (750+), and among our website visitors as well. The event is also spread through postering throughout the entirety of Boulder County, printed ads in local publications, radio ads in local and state-wide media, external online calendars, Having our event mentioned through our already committed sponsors and their media streams. Human Relations Fund (cover sheet) Agency/Organization Right Relationship-Boulder/Philanthropiece Foundation Street Address 6105 Monarch Road City Zip Code Longmont 80503 Telephone Fax Website 303-440-8484; 303-530-3108 http:philanthropiece.org Project Name: “Welcome the Arapaho People Home” Phase II Project Date: June 6, 7, 2018 Contact Person Paula Palmer and Jerilyn DeCoteau Email Address Paularpalmer@gmail.com; decoteau_jerilyn@hotmail.com Project Description (please do not exceed space provided) Right Relationship Boulder proposes to bring Southern and Northern Arapaho people to Boulder to participate in the 2018 celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, October 6-8. In order to plan and prepare for this event, we are inviting delegations from both tribes to a meeting here, June 7-8. In addition to planning the October event, during this time we will arrange private meetings for the Arapaho delegates with Boulder and Lafayette City Councils, City and County departments and commissions, (including the Human Relations Commission), Boulder Valley School District, University of Colorado’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies, American Indian Youth Leadership, the Museum of Boulder, faith communities, and others who request meetings. We also plan to provide a dinner reception for these groups and the Arapaho delegates, with performances or presentations by Native organizations in Boulder, led by American Indian Youth Leadership students. Proposal Budget Table for Right Relationship Boulder: Welcome the Arapaho People Home (All expenses and income are for the June 7-8, 2018 Phase II events.) Budget Item Projected Expense If this project has been previously funded by the HRC, please provide Actual Expenses for the previous year. Postage Advertising Copying ($100.00 in kind) Office Supplies (Please specify) 1) paper 2) flip charts and markers 3) flyers, posters Office Supplies Total $100 $100 $200 Space Rental ($500 in kind) Food Meals x12 Arapaho x $20 ea $1200 (Plus $720 in kind) Other Direct Expenses (Please specify) 1) Fundraising 2) Fiscal Sponsorship 3)Consultants –Program planning 4) Performers 5) 6 Arapaho delegates 6) 5,000mi @20mi/gal x $3gal 7)Lodging 3nights x6 @$150ea 8) Reception/dinner with City officials Total $1000 ($1300 in kind) $3000 $2000 $1200 $ 750 $2700 $1200 $13,250 Total Expenses Revenue Sources -Pending Boulder Arts Commission Mountain Forum for Peace BVSD Philanthropiece Foundation Total Revenue Amount $2600 $1000 $2600 $2050 $8250 Amount Requested from HRC $5000 $2,930(received from HRC in 2017 for Phase I) Other Sources of Revenue 1) Tod Smith Law Firm (copying) 2) Venue Museum of Boulder 3) Meals provided by churches 4) Fiscal sponsorship $ 100 (in kind) $ 500 (in kind) $ 720 (in kind) $1300 (in kind) Total Revenue $13,250 1. Describe the agency/organization applying for this funding. Right Relation Boulder (formerly Two Rivers) is a citizens group of Native and non- Native people working to help the City implement its 2016 Indigenous Peoples Day Resolution. The Resolution calls for building collaborative relationships with Native peoples and educating all Boulder citizens about the history, presence, and contributions of Native peoples in the Boulder Valley. Right Relation Boulder works with local governments and organizations to help all Boulder Valley residents learn about the Native peoples who lived here historically and those who live here today. Our goal is to promote and practice right relationship among all peoples. Philanthropiece Foundation serves as fiscal agent for Right Relation Boulder. Philanthropiece believes that “By building deep and authentic relationships, the Philanthropiece Foundation empowers changemakers around the world to co-create resilient communities.” 2. Describe the need for this funding. What is the problem/opportunity this program/project would address. With initial funding from the City’s Human Relations Commission (HRC), Right Relationship Boulder sent a delegation to visit the Southern and Northern Arapaho tribes, which were effectively banished from Colorado after the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. The delegates, Ava Hamilton (Arapaho), Jerilyn DeCoteau (Turtle Mountain Chippewa) and Paula Palmer, asked the tribes how they would like to relate to the land and current people of the Boulder Valley. They all said they think of Boulder as home and would like to establish people-to-people and institutional ties. They would like to share their history, culture and current realities, and they would like to have a protected space here to camp and hold sweat lodges and ceremonies. We submitted a full report to HRC, Boulder and Lafayette City Councils, City Open Space and Mountain Parks, and Boulder Valley School District, and we initiated meetings with these and other entities. We continue to correspond and consult with Northern and Southern Arapaho and include them in our meetings in person when possible or by phone or skype. Right Relationship Boulder proposes to bring Southern and Northern Arapaho (Hinóno'éí) people to Boulder to participate in the 2018 celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, October 6-8. In order to plan and prepare for this event, we will invite delegations from both tribes to a meeting here, June 7-8. In addition to planning the October event, we will arrange private meetings for the Arapaho delegates with Boulder and Lafayette City Councils, City and County departments and commissions, Boulder Valley School District, University of Colorado’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies, American Indian Youth Leadership Institute, the Museum of Boulder, faith communities, and others who request meetings. We will provide a dinner/ reception for these groups and the Arapaho delegates, with performances or presentations by Native organizations in Boulder, organized by American Indian Youth Leadership students. June 7-8 Planning meetings in Boulder with six Arapaho delegates from Oklahoma, Wyoming and entities named above. June 8 Reception/dinner/performances organized by the American Indian Youth Leadership Institute (AIYLI). October 6-7 Public events with Arapaho presenters and performers and community participation. October 8 Arapaho presentations in BVSD schools 3. What are the goals of the project? How many Boulder city residents will be impacted and what specific impacts or benefits will they receive? Short-term goals: Bring 6 Arapaho delegates to Boulder June 7-8, to plan for Oct 6·8; facilitate meetings of Arapaho delegates with 5 or more City departments and organizations; and bring up to 40 Arapaho presenters and artists for Indigenous Peoples Day, Oct 6-8 and to complete presentations for the public and for BVSD schools. Long-term goals: Educate Boulder public and motivate continued interest in Native cultures; initiate ongoing collaborations between Arapaho people and City departments and organizations. We expect more than 300 people to attend the planned Indigenous Peoples Day events, including community members and organizations, city and county personnel and staff, and educators from all levels. We also expect participation from the surrounding communities of Lafayette, Louisville, Nederland, and others. The public events we propose for the "Welcome the Arapaho People Home" project will be free. They will involve Native and non-Native youth in Boulder schools, university students, Native American organizations, city officials, and the public, offering many opportunities for meaningful interactions between Native and non-Native people in Boulder. The events will be planned by Arapaho people themselves, in collaboration with Right Relationship Boulder and our partners and collaborating organizations. 4. How would this effort promote a more inclusive, engaged and respectful community? The Arapaho people who lived here when the settlers arrived now live in Oklahoma and Wyoming. Their ancestors were effectively banished from Colorado after the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre. The volunteer cavalry unit that carried out the massacre trained in Boulder County. For the Arapaho people, Boulder is home, and they are enthusiastic about coming here to share their stories, songs, games, dances, arts and crafts with the people who live here now. In our project, the Arapaho people will plan and develop their own presentations/performances for Indigenous Peoples Day in October, and Right Relationship Boulder will help them make long-lasting ties with City departments, commissions and organizations. This project builds a foundation for lifting up Native voices, expanding cultural expression, learning Boulder’s true history, enriching our cultural knowledge and appreciation, and developing long-lasting relationships that enhance inclusivity and diversity in our community. Our many partners and collaborating organizations will help carry this out. The education offered and carried forward by the educational institutions in Boulder will create a more accurate and fuller understanding of our shared history, thereby promoting a more inclusive, engaged and respectful community. 5. How will the effort be promoted to Boulder residents? Right Relation Boulder will use its network of partners in this project to reach out to their members and constituents. We already have letters of support from the Southern Arapaho Tribe, the Northern Arapaho Elders Committee, Museum of Boulder, American Indian Youth Leadership Institute, Boulder Valley School District, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, Mountain Forum for Peace, Community United Church of Christ, CU’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies, and Philanthropiece Foundation. We will also advertise the Indigenous Peoples Day events through area newspapers, KGNU, Boulder County Arts Alliance, Boulder Arts and Culture Newsletter, and social media. Resolution RESOLUTION XXX A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE MONTH OF JUNE AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH TO CELEBRATE AND TAKE PRIDE IN THE IMMIGRANT HERITAGE OF THE CITY OF BOULDER THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO, HEREBY FINDS AND RECITES: A. Immigrants have enriched the United States beyond measure, bringing many contributions to our society, including the unique customs and traditions of their ancestral homelands; B. Immigration has been one of the largest single factors in our nation's social, cultural, and economic development; C. Immigrants have had an indelible impact on the growth and development of Boulder throughout its history, making it a vibrant and diverse place to live; D. Immigrants have provided meaningful and significant contributions to the community and the City of Boulder; E. Boulder recognizes the importance of preserving immigrant histories for all who visit, live or work in Boulder; and F. Boulder celebrates Immigrant Heritage Month with a series of events honoring the experiences and contributions of the millions of immigrants who have shaped the community over many generations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO: Does hereby recognize the month of June as Boulder’s Immigrant Heritage Month and invites all Boulder residents to celebrate the vibrant life stories and contributions of immigrants in our community and facilitate the successful integration of immigrants into the civic, economic and cultural life of Boulder. Adopted this xxx day of xxxxxx 2018. CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO _________________________________ Suzanne Jones, Mayor ATTEST: ___________________________ Lynnette Beck, City Clerk Report 1 Summary of January 17, 2018 Community Speak-Out Background On January 17, 2018, the City of Boulder Human Relations Commission (HRC) hosted a Community Speak-Out at West Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe. This event included a reception and a public hearing. Forty-two people attended the public hearing and 17 spoke. Comments shared provided insight into the community perspectives on welcoming and inclusive community issues in Boulder. No HRC decisions, deliberations or discussions took place at the public hearing. Ideas shared by speakers at the public hearing are listed below, including some direct quotes and some paraphrasing. Additional detail on comments can be found in the attached hearing transcript. The gender identities of the speakers are unknown to staff, so gender pronouns below may be incorrect. Summary of Comments Issues mentioned by speakers • One speaker recounted that the writing of threats against black people and Mexicans gave the speaker’s daughter a nervous breakdown. Also, this speaker said that her daughter did not receive acting roles at Boulder High and was told that the roles are for Caucasians. Discrimination in BVSD caused the speaker to bring her daughter to a school in Monarch instead of attending the school nearby (Raynita Johnson). • One speaker read a statement on behalf of a transmasculine student. Part of the statement read that, “Only in Boulder have I been asked point blank on the street if I was ‘trying to be a woman or a man,’ what’s in my pants, if I was born a man and other unwarranted questions about my gender by strangers. Only in Boulder have I walked in the men’s restroom and feared for my life because a man was staring at me when I walked into the stall.” The statement also mentioned that at the MLK Day rally in Boulder, Boulder officials did not give information about protections for trans or queer people (Alayna Shaw, speaking on behalf of Marcello Conroy). • One speaker was disturbed to hear generalization of white people at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center’s MLK Day rally. This speaker expressed that standing up against the generalization of white people led to a defensive and prejudicial response (Robert Sharpe). • One speaker shared that a car full of Caucasian teenagers screamed the N word at her and threw garbage out of their vehicle at her. This speaker felt unsafe because of this incident. This speaker expressed being broken daily by microaggressions and macroaggressions (Tracy Jones). Another speaker also mentioned being called the N word (Martine M. Elianor). • “I can’t even wear a scarf anymore. I switched to hats because they said go back to Africa” (Martine M. Elianor). • One speaker shared that “…practically every time I’m on a mountain, some white person will come up to me and say are you black?” (Annett James). This speaker described an intimidating experience when a man on his horse yelled out “are you black?” (Annette James). • “So I think that the problem in Boulder is any interaction that you have with white people, or non-colored people as I like to call it, they’re looking for a problem” (Annette James). • “And besides the problems that all of us face, us people of color, of being followed in the stores, being asked if we are going to buy something…” (Carmen Nelson). • Several speakers mentioned that racism and hatred still exist in Boulder. One speaker said that, “…racism still lives in Boulder, okay” (Raynita Johnson). Another speaker expressed that the fact 2 that people are still experiencing anger, hatred and name-calling in 2018 must be changed (Tracey Jones). • One speaker expressed that, “Boulder hasn’t moved forward as fast as it could have, should have when it comes to diversity” (Liz Padilla). This speaker also mentioned that the government is not representative of local diversity. • One speaker expressed that, “…racism and calling someone a racist is the beginning of a conversation, not the end.” This speaker also mentioned that Boulder should do better than other places because Boulder has the HRC. This speaker mentioned that all white people benefit from the system, and non-white people must work harder than white people (Martine M. Elianor). • One speaker expressed that, “…non-colored people in Boulder exhibit an air of tolerance for a few people of color. Like, ‘I will tolerate you.’ You know, be a minute minority. But to be sure, this is a white community for white people. But what I want to say is people of color, you have the right to be in any community you choose” (Annette James). • One speaker expressed that it can be especially difficult for artists from other countries to understand arts grants, and the same people receive the arts grants each year (Carmen Nelson). That speaker also mentioned that, “…we are also used as artists of colors without sometimes our knowledge” (Carmen Nelson). • One speaker expressed that ableism is not mentioned enough and mentioned that a section about disability is not included in the Boulder County Trends report. The speaker expressed that people with disability are invisible in the community. The speaker also said that, “After the age of 18 to 24, adults with disabilities age-out of any and all access to supports specifically aimed at disability…And the disabled population is seven times more likely to be repeatedly sexually assaulted throughout the course of their life…whether or not someone is disclosing to you, the likelihood that someone with a disability is in your immediate social circle, family or work environment is extremely high” (Amira Merz). • One speaker said that someone should talk to code enforcement, the prosecutor’s office and/or City Council about allowing indigenous people to practice their ceremonies and pray on their own land. He said that these ceremonies have important healing powers. He said that laws were written on indigenous land without consultation with indigenous people, and that it is not okay to deny the right of native people to pray on their own land, the land of their ancestors. He said that necessary changes to the law have already been drafted (David Young). • One speaker expressed that homelessness is an issue that the HRC should address and that Boulder should not criminalize homelessness. This speaker mentioned the struggles that some people have in accessing mental healthcare. He mentioned that Boulder has a lot of resources, and Boulder should take responsibility for solving issues related to homelessness (Rob Stuart). Suggestions and solutions • Several speakers mentioned the importance of dialogue. One speaker expressed the importance of conversations between people of different skin colors (Harry Hempy). Another speaker mentioned that community speak-out events are important (Liz Padilla). Another speaker expressed that the speak-out event is healing (Tracey Jones). • One speaker said, “…if there’s one thing I could say it would be start the conversation and hold yourself accountable” (Martine M. Elianor). • One speakers said that “…we all need to find ways, and hopefully the HRC can take the lead in this, in bringing community members together and having conversations so we as a community can move forward. It’s not up to just our councilmembers to make these decisions” (Liz Padilla). 3 • One speaker mentioned that restorative justice principles and practices can be used to address any issue. That speaker mentioned that he is starting a pilot project related to training youth in restorative justice (Scott Brown). • One speaker said that people should give comments to councilmember Jill Grano. This speaker mentioned that she is a realtor with STEPS Real Estate, and she pointed out that STEPS has a Spanish-speaking realtor. This speaker also suggested that people consider writing a letter to the editor of the Daily Camera (Sue Pratt). • One speaker said that Boulder should publish articles about welcoming all people (Annette James). • One speaker spoke in favor of reparations, and said that those reparations should be in the form of something other than a handout (Lynn Segal). • One speaker said that the HRC can address equality by addressing housing development. Less density is better. She also said that addressing the jobs/housing balance is important. The speaker said that “…the more people we have coming with more jobs to this town, the more low-paying retail jobs or support jobs come to this community, and those people can’t live here. And that affects the nonwhite community more than anyone, because they’re the least able – or the least enabled, let’s say, because we haven’t done reparations like we should have” (Lynn Segal). • One speaker expressed that we should remember and confront painful parts of local history, such as the six people that died car bombings in 1974 and the fact that the Lafayette pool was filled-in instead of being de-segregated. The speaker said that remembering this history will help heal. The speaker suggested that Boulder should designate a day every year to honor “Los Seis de Boulder” and should enhance the way that the sites of these bombings are marked (Manuela Sifuentes). • One speaker said that, ‘…this is a community just like the rest of the United States that was built on white supremacy, and we need to dismantle that. And white people – and as a white person I’m talking to all white people – need to be part of dismantling that…We need to really look at the systems that we as white people have endorsed and continue to endorse and put in place that hurt people in our community; not just people of color, but trans folks and unhoused and all those that are marginalized, indigenous folks. And we should live in a community where white people know that reverse racism is not a thing.” This speaker also said that, “I think it’d be really powerful coming from leadership to talk about dismantling white supremacy” (Suzy Belmont). • One speaker said that, “…we all function best as a community by uniting all these marginalized groups who are struggling for access, struggling for resources and supports” (Amira Merz). Conclusions Speakers mentioned struggles experienced by people of color, white people, trans people, indigenous people and people with disabilities. Speakers conveyed the point that racism is still a problem in Boulder. Suggestions for ways to address problems included such ideas as having community dialogues with people from diverse backgrounds, uniting marginalized communities, confronting painful parts of history, reaching out to fellow white people to help dismantle white supremacy, taking responsibility for addressing homelessness, using restorative justice principles, granting reparations, speaking to a city council member, addressing housing development and making specific changes to the law, among other ideas. The speakers seemed to find value in the speak-out event, but also indicated that the HRC needs to take additional action besides just hosting a speak-out. Attached: January 17, 2018 Community Speak-Out Transcript 4 Attachment: January 17, 2018 Community Speak-Out Transcript [00:00:55] Emilia Pollauf: Good evening. I would like to call to order this special meeting of the Human Relations Commission on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. Welcome everyone. Thank you for coming to our speak-out. This public hearing serves to address yo ur experiences of discrimination and inclusivity in Boulder. My name is Emilia Pollauf. I am chairperson of the Human Relations Commission, and with me are co-chairs Nikhil Mankekar and Commissioners Art Figel, Lauren Gifford and Lindsey Loberg. Let’s see, I made some notes so I wouldn’t forget everything. {Laughs} We also have city staff here (inaudible) as an extension of the MLK day events to honor the spirit of his legacy and, in particular, our call to action. We planned this event to collect information about how welcoming our community is. It’s important to our work plan item of welcoming and inclusive community, which comes in part from the results of the Community Perceptions Assessment conducted last spring. Some data from that study reflects that some people don’t feel that Boulder is a welcoming and inclusive community, and that’s why we want to hear from you. So first some notes about this hearing. No decisions, no deliberations and no discussions will be made. We only want to hear from you. We intend to consider what we hear tonight for a presentation we’ll be making to council in April. We also hope it might be the first in a series of speak-outs we have to hear different voices in the community. So we will have one hour for this public hearing. And each speaker will have three minutes and then we will adjourn the meeting. Alright, is it okay to begin with (Raynita Johnson)? (Liz), is it okay? {Crosstalk} (Liz): Oh yes. Emilia Pollauf: No, after these. Male: Oh after, okay. Emilia Pollauf: (Raynita), would you come up and… (Raynita Johnson): Oh that’s really nice of you. Thank you. Female: You're welcome. (Raynita Johnson): I really appreciate this. I have to go pick up my son. Thank you so much. My name is (Raynita Johnson), and I have been living in Boulder. Can you hear me? Emilia Pollauf: Yes. 5 (Raynita Johnson): Okay. I have been living in Boulder for ten years. Oh, I don’t want no picture taken. {Laughs} Thank you. Thank you for appreciating that. I’ve been living in Boulder for ten years. Real quick, I came from San Diego, but I was originally born here in Colorado. And I knew it was pretty racist, because when I was younger I experienced, it was in the ‘50s during the Civil Rights movement, it was racism everywhere and including Colorado. Like I did get all the education I needed. But anyway, to make a long story short, I was really adamant of making sure my kids receive a really good education. So my kids went to San Diego. I moved to San Diego. Really diverse. And they received everything they could possibly have. My daughters, my children, they’re really bright. They’re really smart. My older daughter, when I was in San Diego, she was in performing arts and a Montessori school there; thriving really well. Then my mother got sick, so I came back. And I knew if I moved to Boulder, that they would get a really great education here. So I came here and racism still lives in Boulder, okay. And don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of nice people that live here. But racism has a domino effect, okay, and I suffer with it daily. And I said I have to have someone hear my story. I talked to the superintendent of the Boulder district – Boulder Valley District Schools, and he has moved on and now I have to go through the process all over again. But to make a long story short, when my daughter came here, she never received – I put her in Manhattan because it was a performing arts school. She never received any acting roles. And remember, she has been doing acting since kindergarten. She was very professional in her craft. So then we went to Boulder High and they still didn’t get any parts because they said all the parts are for Caucasian people, and so it’s okay. And she can sing, she can dance, and one teacher said, well, she’s too professional. She makes the other kids look bad. So okay, so we kind of rolled with that. But it was killing her inside. So in her ninth grade when she went to Boulder High, she came from a school that was just 250 kids, but then she comes to Boulder school and I don’t know where we think it’s okay that we can write on the wall today we’re going to kill all the black people and the Mexican people. And that was a truth that happened a couple of years ago. I don’t know if it’s still happening now, but it was happening when she went to school. And it made her have a nervous breakdown. I’m like, where’s my (Autumn)? So they told me that there’s this school, because I live in Boulder, there’s a school in Monarch that has a black principal; you probably will fare better there. So I get in my car every day, and Boulder is one second away from me, because I live right in front of the bus that comes to Boulder to take them to school. I get in my car every single day for the last nine years. Do you know how much gas {laughs} I have used? Because my child didn’t ever get an equal opportunity in the Boulder Valley District school. And that is a hardship on myself. Because I live on social security, so I live on little money. And I really 6 could make it if I didn’t have to lease a car to go all the way out of this district to another school for my child. Okay, I have other issues, but my three minutes is over. And I don’t know how you can address that or how you can make it better, but I can put my email address and if you have any solutions for me, if you just want to drop some ideas, I just have two more years. (Autumn), my oldest child, is a senior and she’s the one who had the nervous breakdown. She’s a senior in college now. (Jasmine), she did fare very well. She was even in the Boulder Camera. She graduated with a 3.8. She’s in Boulder now. Thank you Boulder Valley District Schools. And Josh is my sophomore. I just have two more years with this journey, but I just want to tell you it has been a hard, unfair journey. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you (Raynita). {Crosstalk} Female: Can we turn the mic on? Because the speakers are going that way and the air conditioning or heating is… Emilia Pollauf: Okay, thank you for letting us know. We’ll hope we can be able to address that. (Raynita Johnson): Oh, did you guys hear me? Do I need to speak again? {Laughter and applause} Emilia Pollauf: Even though I wrote everything down, I did forget to say something. Male: How’s this? A little better? Group: Yes. Emilia Pollauf: So I talked about the format. Oh, we want to acknowledge that issues of discrimination can be emotional and we want everyone to feel safe to speak freely, but we also are interested in experiences in which you felt welcomed or ideas that you have on how Boulder might be more welcoming. Should you not have an opportunity to speak tonight, please consider coming to public participation at the beginning of our regularly scheduled meetings, which generally occur on the third Monday of each month at six o’clock in the council chambers of the municipal building. Our next meeting is this Monday the 22 nd. Meeting dates and agendas are available on our website. You can also email human services staff or HRC members directly. Our contact information is also available on that website, boulder.colorado.gov. And then I wanted to inform everyone before we got started, I meant to if you’re not aware, Boulder has a human rights ordinance that was established in 1972 7 that protects various classes from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Incidences of discrimination of this nature are of particular interest to us because of the probability that they’re underreported. More information on filing complaints if you have them is available on the table in the lobby. So just a reminder, we want to hear from you. Your voice is very important to us. But please be concise so as many people as would like to speak can do so. (Liz), did you say you wanted to talk at another time? (Liz): Last. Emilia Pollauf: Last, okay. (Matt Mersman)? (Matt Mersman): Oh, that was a mistake. I meant to sign in instead. Emilia Pollauf: Oh, okay. (Harry Hempy). Welcome. (Harry Hempy): Yes, I just want to thank the Human Relations Commission for the events of the weekend with the Martin Luther King celebration. I went to the workshop Saturday – or Monday afternoon. I think it was called showing up for racial justice. And it was quite an impactful thing for me, and probably for everyone there. We – the Black Lives Matter group from Denver came up to the workshop and did a panel discussion, and then we divided into very small groups to answer some questions that were up on the board having to do with race and our experience and so on. It was great. I was fortunate to be in a small group with a person with brown skin. There weren't enough brown skinned people to go around in all the groups. And that’s kind of a problem we have in Boulder in general. To me, you know, what I got out of it was real conversation back and forth. And what we can’t seem – what we have a hard time doing in Boulder is getting that conversation on a day to day basis with people that don’t have white skin like me. And so that’s your challenge, I think. That’s what you’re about is to make those conversations happen. And we can have all the ordinances we want, but until we know each other face to face, I mean that's how we get together. So just keep what you're doing and do more of it and thank you very much. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you very much. (Rob Stewart). (Rob Stewart): I just want to say a few very quick words about homelessness as being a Human Rights Commission issue. And I find it distressing that in a nation that does not provide healthcare to poor people, that does not provide mental healthcare to almost anybody who doesn’t pay for it, when mental health issues are the consequence of social experiences, including being a member of the military, sexual abuse, the systemic problems with poverty itself. To find a community like Boulder that is a magnet for entrepreneurs, educators, students, all manner of people who want to make it in this world, it is also a magnet for people who 8 don’t have anything. And for Boulder to have a law which criminalizes poverty, which adds criminal charges and fees to people who have nothing and documented things that say you will never get an apartment or a job because you have been so criminalized, is it beyond my imagination how Boulder can think of itself as a fine place to live. You have the resources in this city that few other communities have. And if we don’t have the humanity to make a difference, we lose dramatically in the understanding of the rest of the world. When I was a selectman in a small, remote community in Maine, it was a 10 or 12 year period back in the beginning of the 21st century when we got mandates every year from the state and from the federal government telling us that if we didn’t have enough people in our community to fulfill certain offices, then the next highest elected official must assume that office; whether it was dog catcher, homeland security, emergency management administrator or welfare and homelessness. We could not say that’s not our problem and put up signs saying you may not camp in our community, forcing them to go somewhere else and making it someone else’s problem. A Supreme Court decision was made a few years ago in Texas that someone was elected to a public office, he or she was responsible for every constituent, not just those who talked the message of which they approved. We elected officials, city governments, are responsible for everyone’s well-being. And when we so visibly say no in Boulder, it ruins our claim to be decent human beings. Thank you. Emilia Pollauf: {Applause} (Alayna Shaw)? (Alayna Shaw): Hello, so I’m here representing Boulder County Public Health, the OASOS program, which stands for Open and Affirming Sexual Orientation and gender identity Supports. And a student of mine, a budding young social activist, wasn’t able to be here tonight, but he sent something to me, so I’m just going to read it verbatim here. So bear with me if I stumble in my words a little bit. Emilia Pollauf: Do you mind giving that person’s name? (Alayna Shaw): Yes, it’s written in here. Male: Do we need you closer to the mic? (Alayna Shaw): Can you hear me? 9 Male: We can, but I know we’ve had comments before. (Alayna Shaw): Hello, my name is (Marcello Conroy). I’m a student at Fairview High School. I’m trans masculine and I’d like to bring attention to the inadequate treatment I’ve experience living here. It’s funny; I was talking to a friend yesterday and I couldn’t help but remember that I felt more unsafe here in Boulder than I have in the Deep South; “homophobia/transphobia central.” Only in Boulder have I been asked point blank on the street if I was “trying to be a woman or a man,” what’s in my pants, if I was born a man and other unwarranted questions about my gender by strangers. Only in Boulder have I walked into a men’s restroom and feared for my life because a man was staring at me when I walked into the stall. Only in Boulder have I had to bear the title of class insert slur for trans people and other “pranks” by my peers. Only in Boulder have I met people so entitled they won’t recognize me with the right pronouns, even though they only know me as (Marc). And it’s hard to ignore that at the MLK Day rally, when the Boulder officials were going over how much sparkling legislation they passed, I noticed there was no information about trans or even queer people in general and the steps the city has taken to protect us. Why is it that a city that prides itself on being trans friendly has made me more scared of being trans and open than the places that people in Boulder warn me about? Thank you. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you (Alayna) for speaking on (Marc)’s behalf. {Applause} (Robert Sharpe), is it? Welcome. (Robert Sharpe): Thank you. Thank you very much for holding this hearing. I appreciate it. I used to go to a lot of meetings in this town, having grown up in the area. I’ve gotten involved for 25 or 30 years in hundreds of meetings throughout the last several years. But I’ve always been ready to speak up for justice for any kind for anyone. And tonight I have to speak something that I never imagined that I would speak about in public in any fashion. But I did go to a rally recently and was listening to some wonderful speakers and important ideas and policies, actions. And from one speaker I heard several comments about white people; white people this and white people that, white people the other, you need to educate white people, white businesses. And it became more and more disturbing to me to hear that kind of language. I’ve learned that language is very important. And if we don’t have qualifiers in language to say some or sometimes or something, it tends to mean all and always. That’s the rules of our language in English. My mom was an English teacher. And so I found that disturbing to keep hearing white people this and white people that. And so I raised my voice, which I would not normally 10 interrupt a speaker. I think in 25 years of hundreds of meetings that might have happened once or twice. But it just seemed so egregious that I did say please, please, please; we’re not all one. We’re not all the same. Well the response was very defensive, evasive and I was accused of trying to silence the speaker; trying to disrupt the message; trying to silence the message. And that was very disturbing to have those negative things assigned to what I was trying to bring forward at that meeting, at that rally. Such statements of there’s always one of those at this kind of event. So now I’m one of those. I think it’s a very prejudicial, these are very prejudicial kinds of things to say to someone. I felt it was very prejudicial. I found it very hurtful. I mentioned that it sounds like reverse racism. Well, that produced a firestorm. {Laughs} And a young… Emilia Pollauf: I’m sorry, your time is up. (Robert Sharpe): Oh my goodness, well, I guess I’ll write you a letter and tell you more, but this went from bad to worse and this was one of your members here at the table that was speaking and had this incident. I tried twice to say let’s please have a conversation. I was rejected twice, and at a later meeting was ordered to leave the meeting because I had asked to try to resolve the issue. Emilia Pollauf: Well, you’re welcome to come to our meeting on Monday or any other Monday we hold a meeting or email any of us directly. (Robert Sharpe): Thank you. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you. Male: I apologize, but the microphone is not very good. You have to speak very, very close to it for it to pick up. It’s turned all the way up. Emilia Pollauf: (Scott Brown). Welcome. (Scott Brown): Thank you. I just want to speak very briefly about a way to address harm and issues such as – hopefully we’ll hear more, you know, real issues tonight. But I used to run the restorative justice program for the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. And my first career was as an activist. And I always thought in my restorative justice days that those principles and practices were too good to be limited to the justice system or to schools. And so my mission this year is to launch a pilot project in Boulder focused on youth to educate them in, one, the deep heart of nonviolence, and building on that foundation, empowering them with the principles and practices of restorative justice. It’s basically community peacemaking. It’s a way to hear the full extent of the harm in an atmosphere of respect and live into the truth of our non separateness while we address these 11 issues, with the intention of addressing the root causes and changing the systems. And I feel like it’s time for a different approach to addressing really any issue that we can think of, but it’s fully applicable here. And so I just wanted to put that out there. And yes, I probably will come and attend one of your regular meetings. And I’d love to talk with anyone who is interested in that. I’m committed to making it happen in the fall of this year, and organizing in the meantime to make it happen. Thank you. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you, (Scott). {Applause} Next, (Sue Pratt). Is she here? Oh, hi. (Sue Pratt): Good evening. I’m a concerned citizen and a realtor here in Boulder. And I was curious about how you held your meetings this evening, so that’s why I’m here. I was going to make some remarks about what I thought would be appropriate to council here tonight. We have a city council that we just elected, and on that city council there is a realtor named Jill Grano. And I would refer any comments or complaints you have to her so that she can represent you amongst the entire council here in Boulder. She has a lot of experience with this and she’s been very concerned, obviously, about affordability and zoning and the plans we have in the future for building here in the city of Boulder. So that was a comment I wanted to make on her behalf. And hope that you’ll take that seriously, or even write a letter to the editor in the Daily Camera, because I think you’d get a lot of attention that way, as well. I’m a realtor with STEPS Real Estate and I’m located over in the Chase building on Arapahoe, so if any of you feel free to stop in my office any time, we can certainly talk about this further. And we also have a Spanish speaking realtor in our office for any of you who have, you know, a language issue that needs representation. So please feel free to stop by and see us. We’re on the second floor over the bank. Thank you. Thank you, (Sue). (Liz)? (Liz): So my name is (Liz) and I used to be on the Human Relations Commission from 1995 to 2000. So I have a bit of a bias in what I’m going to say tonight, and that is I’m really pleased that this commission and city staffers chose to do the speak-outs. I think each and every time that this can happen, it’s really important. Because as you’re hearing tonight, everybody has an issue that came forward. And it’s important. And we all need to discuss that together. And I don’t think that anything’s going to really change until we do find ways. I agree with you, (Scott). We’ve got to find new approaches. Boulder hasn’t moved 12 forward as fast as it could have, should have when it comes to diversity. I’m just being honest and this is my perspective. {Coughs} Excuse me. We do have a lot of different people here, but it’s not represented in our government. It’s not represented in a lot of manners in which it needs to be. Most importantly, though, we all need to find ways, and hopefully the HRC can take the lead in this, in bringing community members together and having conversations so we as a community can move forward. It’s not up to just our councilmembers to make these decisions. They cannot do this all by themselves. It really has to come from us having conversations. And we had really great comments tonight. So I just wanted to say thank you to the Human Relations Commission and to each and every person that attended tonight. Let’s keep coming. Let’s keep attending their meetings and encouraging them to have more meetings like this so that we can heal and move forward, progress as a community. Thanks. Emilia Pollauf: Thanks (Liz). {Applause} (Tracy Jones)? (Tracey Jones): Good evening. My name is (Tracey Jones) and I have been a member of the Boulder community since 1997. I am here to share some sensitive things. I was standing at the bus stop going to work at seven o’clock in the morning. A car full of Caucasian teenagers starts screaming… Female: A car full of what? (Tracey Jones): A car full of Caucasian, white teenagers screamed the N word at me; throwing garbage out of their vehicle at me. And I don’t understand this. I am a productive, respected member of this community. And I was on the bus stop going to my job to care for ill and dying people and this happens to me. How is this still happening in Boulder? How is this still happening? Just a little bit of history. Racism isn’t new to me. I’m from Boston, Massachusetts. I was part of the desegregation of Boston Public Schools. I was bussed from a poor community to a really rich, non black community. So I’m familiar with the anger and the hatred. I’m familiar with the name-calling. I am familiar with – thank you, thank you. I am familiar with what that feels like. But what that feels like now in 2018 is inconceivable. We have got to stop this. Since the age of five I’ve been dealing with this. I’m almost 50. What are we going to do? What can we really do to change this? And of course it’s seven o’clock in the morning, so there was no one outside but me. And then the bus. I have not felt so unsafe in my community since I left 13 the drug ridden streets of Boston in the middle of the drug war. I have not felt that unsafe since then. We have to do something now. We got to make change. I fear for my babies. I fear for your babies. I fear for my elders. What are we going to do? What can we do? This; thank you for having this event, because it’s healing, in a way, to share this and to realize that not everyone is so hateful. But as a strong individual, the fact that I’m broken daily by micro aggressions, by macro aggression, simply trying to live my life is unacceptable. We’ve got to change this. Male: Amen. {Applause} Emilia Pollauf: (Martine) (inaudible). Hi, welcome. (Martine): Thank you for having this. Thank you for being here. I’d like to say that racism and calling someone a racist is the beginning of a conversation, not the end. So this is the beginning. I want to just express total solidarity with you. People have shouted the N word at me. They have. I can’t even wear a scarf anymore. I switched to hats because they said go back to Africa. Some of you may have read a letter to the editor that I wrote back in October where I detailed step by step by step every micro and macro aggression that I’ve dealt with in Boulder. Where I’m from in Lancaster County, an all white male commission disbanded their Human Rights Commission, so it goes straight to the state. We don’t even have you. So in Boulder, I expect better since you’re here. I just, if there’s one thing I could say it would be start the conversation and hold yourself accountable. And I will say white people, because, no, not everybody’s evil. No, no; but you benefit from the system. My mom right now has a master’s degree in nursing, and when she went to school her school director said, you know, immigrant women, they usually fail the nursing exam the first time. And white nurses failed it; she passed the first time. So, everybody who’s not white, we have to work twice as hard, be twice as good, and then they ask where we’re from; if we really are a doctor on a plane and whatnot. So as a white person, you may be doing the best you can and, you know, paying your NAACP dues on time. Awesome. But you have to recognize that it’s so much harder for everyone else. And I recognize other people have it so much, so much harder than me. So just recognize that struggle and check yourself. That’s it. Just check yourself. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you. {Applause} 14 I have one more speaker. Is it (Annette)? (Annette James)? Welcome. Thank you for being here. (Annette James): Thank you. I hadn’t planned to speak. I came to listen. I’ve lived in Boulder for 38 years. And it hasn’t been a crystal stair, let’s just say. Female: Can you speak louder? (Annette James): I’ll probably do better without it. Is it working? Hello. Emilia Pollauf: Yes. (Annette James): So I just want to say that non colored people in Boulder exhibit an air of tolerance for a few people of color. Like I will tolerate you. You know, be a minute minority. But to be sure, this is a white community for white people. But what I want to say is people of color, you have the right to be in any community you choose. And if you choose to be in Boulder because you enjoy hiking with the best of them, then we have to get out there and make sure that we enjoy these things. I go hiking all the time. And I can tell you that practically every time I’m on a mountain, some white person will come up to me and say are you black? {Laughter} I was out in Eldorado Springs, a girlfriend and I, both black; going for a hike. Just talking. Some man riding his horse came up to us and stomped his horse, and I thought he was going to run us over. It was very intimidating. And then he yelled out are you black. And I didn’t know what to do with that. And it’s fearful to be kind of isolated on a trail and you get these, you know, I don’t know… Female: Ask him if he’s white. (Annette James): So I think that the problem in Boulder is any interaction that you have with white people, or non colored people as I like to call it, they’re looking for a problem. You can’t do anything in this town. If you walk up to a cashier at Walgreens to return something, the question is here’s the receipt, here’s the product. They’ll look at it and they’ll say, oh, that’s not on there. And then you’ll stand there and you’ll go, look again. It’s not on there. It’s like, okay, just keep looking. And then finally they see it. But this is just – and they’ll say, oh, I see it now; oh I made a mistake. But the process is that they were looking for a reason to be objectionable. There is no sense of just being calm. But as soon as they see that black/brown face there’s an immediate knee-jerk reaction to be objectionable. 15 It’s I know that some of this stuff is inherent in who we are as both genetically, but also in community. And Boulder really needs to step it up. You need to publish more articles. You need to talk about being a welcoming community. You can’t just have this small group of people and have us believe that you’re a welcoming community. We live here every day. So you need to step up the game by publishing. Once a week put something in the paper. You know, we care about all of our citizens. We want black and brown and Asian people in this community. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you, (Annette). Your time is up. (Annette James): I’m preaching. {Applause} Emilia Pollauf: Please hold your applause. I missed this note. I want to make sure that people of diverse opinions feel safe and welcome to speak. So please do not clap even if you do want to show solidarity and support. Let’s see, I did have one more speaker, (Lynn), sign up. Can you tell me your last name? (Carmen Nelson): Yes, my name is (Carmen Nelson). I am a person that stutters, so please bear with me. I have been living in Boulder for 25 years. And besides the problems that all of us face, us people of color, of being followed in the stores, being asked if we are going to buy something, I have been in the world of the arts for many, many, many years. And what I have seen is that there is a lot of artists here from Africa, from Latin America, from many, many places. And when it is the time to write grants, the grants are especially hard for us to understand. And then there is, like, the same companies that win the grants year after year. So I have seen that it is very hard for the artists of color to be seen for their talent. So I don’t know how – and I think there is a lot of changes. I think that they are trying to change that. But we are also used as artists of colors without sometimes our knowledge. Like this company is going to – yes, they are going to dance with these other people just to be seen while they are doing something for the community of color. So I think that’s all I have to say. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you very much. (Lynn)? {Applause} Remember not to give applause, thank you. (Lynn Segal): (Lynn Segal), 538 Union. Yes, I’m a recipient of white privilege. {Laughs} I guess we can all see what color I am. And I’m also a believer in reparations. Not just, you know, handouts, because that’s really kind of demeaning to people. And I see in Boulder, like the thing that the Human Relations 16 Commission could do to equalize things in some small way is to take it to how this community’s housing gets developed. And I know people have spoken earlier about Jill Grano and I’m opposed to the high density folks in Boulder. And in spite of the fact that Jill Grano liked what I said at a housing working group meeting and got me a free drink at that expensive drink place next to Trident’s. And Jill’s a very nice person and I’m glad that she’s gay or lesbian and can be, you know, openly, you know, accepted in this community. But she still is on the side of the density folks. And I think that this is – and I don’t think she really understands the implications of this. We need to balance our jobs/housing imbalance. And that’s not going to happen under a council that’s going to be pro growth with the other folks besides Bob and Aaron and Jill, that could overturn the council at any point in time. That’s the best thing that could be done; the jobs/housing imbalance reverse. Now the first person that spoke this evening brought up this issue herself when she had to take her kids to Monarch to a different school out of town because of this, and that’s kind of an offset of the problem here. But the more people that we have coming with more jobs to this town, the more low paying retail jobs or support jobs come to this community, and those people can’t live here. And that affects the nonwhite community more than anyone, because they’re the least able – or the least enabled, let’s say, because we haven’t done reparations like we should have. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you, (Lynn). I’m sorry; I’ve got to cut you off. (Lynn Segal): That pretty much says it. Emilia Pollauf: Okay, thank you. (David Young). (David Young): {Speaks in native tongue} On Sunday we held a ceremony. I live at 1228 (J Street), which is west of (Pioneer Park) that’s right up here up against the mountain. We held a ceremony on Sunday, which was a healing ceremony. It’s an indigenous native ceremony. I’m part of the Native community. Yesterday I received a call from code enforcement saying that we cannot have open burns or a port-a-potty on the site there. I want to tell you a story about Tyler. Tyler was 12-years -old. His parents – his mother brought him to us. Tyler is a young man who didn’t want to be here anymore. Didn’t want to live. He wanted to take his life. And so she brought him to us because she didn’t know where else to go. The doctors can’t help him. Your doctors can’t help him. Your medicine can’t help him. The psychiatrists can’t help him. We brought him into the ceremony and we did the things that we need to do in our ceremony, and today Tyler is 16-years-old and he’s doing just fine and he has no desire to take his life anymore. 17 This is the kind of work that we do in the ceremonies that we have. And you can’t help us. You can’t help us because you’re part of the problem. And so one of the problems that’s happened here that you can very specifically address within the week is to talk to the prosecutor’s office, talk to the code enforcement and to talk to the city council and let them know that we as an indigenous community here on our own land need to be able to continue to hold our own ceremonies. And you can cite all the codes that you want, all the laws that you’ve written here on our land without ever consulting with us, but at the end of the day we need to be able to hold our ceremonies for ourselves, for our healing, for our well-being. In order for us to contend with all the racism and all the issues that we have to deal with every single day here in Boulder, we need a space to go to and the lodges are the places for us to be able to do that. By saying to us that in our church we cannot go to pray, then you are very explicitly saying that we do not have a right as Native people on this land, on our own land, on the land of our ancestors, to be able to come and pray. And that is just not okay. So whatever you need to do on your end, I’m happy to work with you. I have the attorneys that’ll stand up. I already have the laws written in order for you to make the changes that you need to be able to make, but we need to be able to continue our ceremonies, and it’s not okay that you want to shut us down. So thank you. {Applause} Emilia Pollauf: Is there anyone else who wants to speak? (Manuela Sifuentes)? (Manuela Sifuentes): Hello. Hi everybody. In May of 1974, there were two car bombs that went off in the city of Boulder. How many of you know that nowadays? Female: Oh yes, I remember that. (Manuela Sifuentes): And so the history of that, six people died; three in each car each time. It was within two days of each other. And in the early ‘70s, Boulder was actually an important and active city and campus of the Chicano movement. And then the car bombs went off and the students and alumni that were killed in that were accused – or, the crime has never been solved. And what was said was, well, they were making, you know, homemade bombs and they were going to set them off and, you know, accidentally bombed themselves twice. Really? Like, that just doesn’t make sense. And we now know what in the ’60s and ‘70s the FBI said about the Black Panther Party. Completely made up stuff, when in reality they were creating awesome social programs that we have today. So what I want to say is that there’s some really hurtful history. And it doesn’t help when we ignore the history and say that’s not who we are anymore. So I would like, I have a little tidbit of information. The Latino Taskforce of Boulder County, I’m on the board of directors, did a study in 2013. It found that in 18 Boulder, Latinos in Boulder County proportionally are more likely to be from here or have come as very young children than white people. And so we remember. We remember these bombings. We remember that the—I know we’re not in Lafayette, but—the Lafayette pool was they built a pool, they were forced to integrate it, and the city of Lafayette would rather fill it up and not have a pool than have an integrated pool. So these are things that people remember. And to just sort of be like, well that’s not who we are anymore and ignore it does not heal. So I am asking that you highlight these issues. I would really like to have La Seis de Boulder, like a day that every year honors these young activists. I would like to have a bigger marker up on Chautauqua and a marker on Baseline and Broadway where the other car exploded. So thank you. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you (Manuela). {Applause} Is there anyone else who would like to speak who did not have a chance? You don’t need to have her sign up before she… Female: We’ll have her sign after. Emilia Pollauf: Welcome. (Suzy Belmont): I did sign up. Female: Oh, you did. Emilia Pollauf: I’m sorry I missed your name. (Suzy Belmont): That’s okay. I put it on the bottom. Maybe that’s why. Emilia Pollauf: I’m sorry. (Suzy Belmont): So my name’s Suzy Belmont and I’m with Showing up for Racial Justice. And I had a lot of thoughts in listening that sort of left me. I think one of the biggest things we talk a lot about being a welcoming community and being more welcoming, and this is a community just like the rest of the United States that was built on white supremacy, and we need to dismantle that. And white people—and as a white person I’m talking to all white people—need to be a part of dismantling that. And it can’t just be us talking about how nice we’re going to be to people of color. We need to really look at the systems that we as white people have endorsed and continue to endorse and put in place that hurt people in our community; not just people of color, but trans folks and unhoused and all those that are marginalized, indigenous folks. 19 And we should live in a community where white people know that reverse racism is not a thing. It does not exist. And that’s really important. We need to do more education in this community so that we can reach out to white people and do more education about what they need to do to dismantle. Because white people are doing the harm, and so as white people we need to reach out to other white people to end the things that are happening. And so I just wanted to add to that that there’s a lot of responsibility as white people to end the things that are happening, because white people created this. And we need to talk about not just being welcoming, but talk about dismantling white supremacy in this community. And I think it’d be really powerful coming from leadership to talk about dismantling white supremacy and not just how welcoming and great we’re going to be. So that’s what I want to say. {Applause} Emilia Pollauf: Is there anyone else? Would anyone else like a chance? Okay, thank you all so much for your opinions. They’re really important to us. We will consider your input as we develop our welcoming and inclusive work plan. We hope that you’ll feel free to contact us at a meeting or by email. Our next meeting is this coming Monday, the 22nd, at council chambers in the municipal building. Female: What time? Emilia Pollauf: Six PM. Female: Thank you. Emilia Pollauf: This concludes the speak-out public hearing. Do I have a motion to adjourn? Art Figel: Is it not okay for me to share the comments that were received online? I can wait until Monday’s meeting to do that. {Crosstalk} I’ll share them at Monday’s meeting. We did, just to clarify for folks in the audience, that when we put the notice out there were responses from people who’ve done work in the community over many years who just shared some of their feedback. And I’ll be happy to share that on Monday at the HRC meeting. Male: Are those comments accessible online anywhere? Art Figel: They were shared in a distribution list that somebody maintains. It wasn’t a city list. So I could forward you probably an email just as individual tidbit 20 (inaudible) if you want to reach out to me. I’d be happy to. Well, actually, yes, I don’t know that they – look for Monday, I guess. Female: How many comments were there? Art Figel: Well, there were a dozen or so different comments from folks who’ve just been doing work for a long time. (Mary): Art? Art Figel: Yes, (Mary)? (Mary): You could send it out without the names with the comments only. Art Figel: Okay, yes, I can do that. (Amira Merz): (Inaudible) the community (inaudible) to racism. I’m just asking because I read an article on (inaudible). Emilia Pollauf: That’s a great question. It wasn’t necessarily that community perceptions assessment covered a variety of things, such as the aging population, you know, the trans community, accessibility, all kinds of things. Do you want to make a statement? (Amira Merz): If I may. Emilia Pollauf: Yes, of course; please. (Amira Merz): My name’s (Amira Merz), and as I said, I’m sorry I was late this evening. {Laughs} I was actually coming from another event. Emilia Pollauf: Can you speak up a little bit? Female: You have to get really close. You have to swallow the mic. {Laughs} (Amira Merz): Sorry I was late this evening. I was coming from another event. My name is (Amira Merz). I’ve been a resident of Boulder County for about 26 years. We have a lot of work to do when it comes to inclusivity. I’m a board member with Autism Society of Boulder County, and I’m a late life diagnosis with autism. And I just wanted to address that, because these are all valid and we all function best as a community by uniting all these marginalized groups who are struggling for access, struggling for resources and supports. One of the terms that I almost never hear used, and I just feel compelled to bring it up in this moment in this room with all of you is the term ableism. And I don’t hear it very often. I don’t see it acknowledged very often. The Boulder County trends report doesn’t even have a column for people with disability. So within 21 marginalized communities and within the invisibles in our communities, we are invisible to our invisible community. The big push has always been for early intervention and diagnosis with any developmental or intellectual disability. There’s a big push for transition age resources. After the age of 18 to 24, adults with disabilities age out of any and all access to supports specifically aimed at disability. And I just wanted to address that, because I have worked with adult members of the community over the age of 30 in both the Boulder County area and the Denver Metro area for the last three years, and the bulk of them continue to struggle for access of any kind to assistance or supports, regardless of whether or not it has to do with mental health assistance, housing, healthcare. And the disabled populous is seven times more likely to be repeatedly sexually assaulted throughout the course of their life. It won’t happen once; it’ll happen repeatedly. There aren’t specialized services or resources. It isn't being addressed. It isn’t being talked about. So I wanted to talk about it and I wanted to share it with all of you. The other thing that I wanted to say is I don’t remember the exact statistics of it; regardless of whether or not someone is disclosing to you, the likelihood that someone with a disability is in your immediate social circle, family or work environment is extremely high. And concealing an invisible disability is a two- fold sword. It cuts both ways, because you’re struggling with the stigma of being less than, both to yourself, to your peers, to your community and to your supervisors. Thank you. Emilia Pollauf: Thank you very much. Alright, with that I’ll close out the public hearing. Do I have a motion to adjourn? Nikhil Mankekar: Motion to adjourn. Art Figel: Second. Emilia Pollauf: All in favor? Motion carries. Thank you everyone so much for coming tonight. Group: Thank you. [00:59:15] THE END