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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/09/2008June 9, 2008 Southold Anti Bias Task Force Meeting Minutes Southold Town Anti Bias Task Force June 9, 2008 Page Meeting Minutes Present: Peter Bel, Elaine Breese, Marjorie Day, Jean LePre (Co-Chair), Merle Levine, Eleanor Lingo (Co- Chair), Jeanne Marie Merkel, Carolyn Peabody (Vice Chair), Val Selby, Michael Simon, Rev. Addae Watson, Motion to Accept Minutes a. Moved by Carolyn Peabody b. Seconded by MichaeISimon c. Unanimously Accepted Introductions a. Pete Bel (New Task Force Member) i. Activist Longshoreman, sailor, law degree, worked 36 years ~n Brooklyn, fought for the rank & file, came to appreciate the struggles of Black and Latino workers, fought for civil and human rights b. Cindy Smith (Long Standing Task Force Member) i. Family Case Manager at North Fork Counseling & Co-owner of a 64 ft. Fishing Boat always cared about and has fought for equal rights for all people. c. Eleanor Lingo (Long Standing Task Force Member) i. Born and raised in Southold, worked in NYC then returned to work as a Bookkeeper for Eastern Long Island Hospital where she was the first Person of Color to work in the Business Office. Wherever she has worked, she has always been the first to break the "color line." d. Jeanne Merkel (NewTask Force Member) i. Grew up on North Fork, ran a Day Care Center and found that discrimination persists and was very troubled by it. Committed to breaking down barriers. Worked for 11 years at Mattituck Library, went to Union Theological Seminary. Passionate about psychology, spirituality and identity, about the rights of People with Mental Illness, does counseling and runs retreats e. Merle Levine (Long Standing Task Force Member) i. Lived in East Marion for 23 years, Elaine Breese got her involved in ABTF. Marvin Dozier was the chair, was inspirational and taught Merle about the extent of bias on the North Fork. Has been board member of CAST for 11 years, 3 as President of the Board and is also President of the North Fork Reformed Synagogue. Two of her key June 9, 2008 Southold Anti Bias Task Force Meeting Minutes interests are her writing and reading groups. Ist so she can write letters to the editor and 2nd so she can read troubling books such as Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine. Has been very involved in Women in Conversation and has been an extraordinary advocate / rabble-rouser for human and civil rights (some editorializing by the minute taker) f. Reverend Addae Lee Watson (Medium Length Standing Task Force Member) i. Serves as the Minister of the First Universalist Church of Southold for last 2 years after moving here from San Francisco. Has found that racism and oppression are rampant despite much progress. Equality and social justice are close to her heart. g. Val Shelby (Long Standing Task Force Member) i. Owner and proprietor of Val's Custom Design since 1988. Had a dream to pay people a decent wage. Likes to stay involved with community and fight injustice and fight for equality and fair shares for all. Doesn't like the word "bias." Active in everything, proud Deacon at A.M.E. Zion Church, elected Greenport School Board member, elected Greenport Village Trustee, serves on the Recreation Committee. h. Elaine Breese (New and Former Task Force Member) i. One of the earliest members of the ABTF Before that she worked for decent housing for migrant workers and education for their children. She was instrumental in setting up "Women in Conversation" as a vehicle for women of all colors to talk together, get to know each other and each other's problems and concerns. She has suffered from a challenging disease and is now totally blind, but as always, is interested in working towards decency and equality for all. i. Marjorie Day (Medium Long Standing Task Force Member) i. Is a registered nurse who lived in Mount Vernon, moved to Sag Harbor and now lives in Peconic Landing. She has always believed and worked for equaiity and civil rights. j. Michael Simon (Medium Long Standing Task Force Member) i. Professor of Philosophy at Stony Brook University, Pro Bono Lawyer, serves on the Zoning Appeals Board. Has been active in civil rights all his life. k. Jean LePre (Medium Long Standing Task Force Member) i. Very in involved in helping parents of Special Ed children and is very committed to helping all children get the education they need. She and her late husband raised many diverse foster children. Page I. Malcolm Byrd (Guest and Recruited Consultant to Task Force) i. Is the Pastor at A.M.E. Zion Church in Greenport, lives in NYC. Has been involved in fiery conversations about race and equality, jailed 3x for engaging in protests. "If there is a good fight, I'm never too far." Fights for equality for all and will "rarely bite his tongue." Is the first to speak up when he sees significant injustice. Has encountered & observed bias in Southold and hopes to engage in dialogue to address it. m. Carolyn Peabody (Medium Length Standing Task Force Member) i. Is on Faculty at School of Social Welfare at Stony Brook University, member of Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, works with Unkechaug Nation on the June 9, 2008 Southold Anti Bias Task Force Meeting Minutes Poospatuck Reservation. Believes in and works for equality and social justice for all people. 3. Old Business a. Frank LePre Diversity Library i. Having reviewed the film "Who ks Unita Blackwell?' the group affirmed the decision to purchase 12 copies of film to donate to all Southold School libraries and public libraries. The film is: 1. Who is Unita Blackwell? - (2007) - Documentary - 37 min. - A portrait and tribute to Ms. Blackwell, who was jailed 30 times in her pursuit of a humane existence for African Americans and other non-white people living in a state of injustice and segregation during the turbulence of the ,~960s; riving to become the first black female Mayor in Mississippi. Featuring interviews with Dorthy I. Height and Marian Wright Edelman. Produced by Dr. Frances Brisbane. Sponsored by the W.K. Kello§8 Foundation. Director of Photography - Minos Papas. Music by Dan Brown. Directed and Narrated by Aaron Lehmann. Description Source: http://www.lehmannfilms.com/films.htmlhttp://www.lehmannfilms.com/fil ms.html b. Social Justice Film Series i. Addae agreed to provide space and chair a committee to plan a Film Series that addresses Social Justice. 1. Committee will convene in the Fall consisting of Addae, Margery, Merle andcp c. East End Anti Bias Task Forces' Unity Picnic i. Margery reported on ongoing plannin§ for upcoming fall picnic to be held in Red Creek Park in Flanders on September 14th. Plan is to be as inclusive as possible with adults and children from all groups. Lots of food and fun. The A.M.E. Zion Church have offered use of vans for transportation 2. Each group brings food for more than themselves. 3. We'll have a Table there with info re SABTF 4. Unanimous vote to support the picnic with $250. New Business ? Shall we ask Town to make a donation? ? Use our budget? ? Contact Julie Lane to inform her of plans? a, CP met with individual who has had extensive experiences with bias from his employer and supervisors. i. Michael Simon and CP will meet with him and report back. Meeting adjourned to meet with Rev. Byrd: see addendum below. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn Peabody Page June 9, 2008 Southold Anti Bias Task Force Meeting Minutes Addendum Reverend Byrd agreed to meet with the SABTF to discuss a racist and threatening anonymous letter that was left behind his screen door. The group had a lively discussion about the ongoing experience of stereotyping, bias and prejudice in the daily lives of people of color who live on the north fork and elsewhere in spite of the positive strides in civil rights of the last sixty years. The group agreed to explore the possibility of inviting Page all the religious leaders on the North Fork together for a forum to address the role of religious leadership in fighting racism and bias in the community.