HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Cultural Communities Board - 01/24/2017 (2)
Cultural Communities Board Agenda
Kent City Staff: Mayor Suzette Cooke, Dinah Wilson – Human Services
Hardy Awadjie – VISTA
City Council Members: Bill Boyce, Council President, Jim Berrios, Brenda
Fincher, Dennis Higgins, Dana Ralph
Cultural Community Board Members: Beabe Akpojovwo, Davies Chirwa, Josephine Karanja,
Yusuf Bashir, Marvin Eckfeldt, Mizanur Rahman, Norma Maldonado (Alternate), Rand Al Hammadi,
Satwinder Kaur, Sharnsdeep Kaur, Sonia Morales, Hussein Al Kinani, Cesar Rangel, Ta Kwe Say
Vaivao Semisi Tupou, Yuriy Zaremba, Shamso Issak, Ted Schwarz
Board Advisors: Pastor Herbert Carey, Marwa Almusawi
January 24, 2017
6 - 8 p.m.
Green River College-Kent Campus at Kent Station, Room 323
417 Ramsay Way
Kent, WA 98032
5:30 p.m. Dinner/Networking
Item Description Action Speaker Time Page
1. Call to order 1
2. Roll Call 1
3. Changes to the Agenda 1
4. Welcome Mayor Cooke/Dinah
Wilson
5. Approve Minutes of December 27, 2016 Yes 1
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6. Announcements/Updates
7. Leadership Model-Do you want to select a
Chair?
Yes Mayor Cooke
8. CCB Action Plan Mayor Cooke/Dinah
Wilson
9. Adjournment 1
Unless otherwise noted, the Cultural Communities Board meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each
month at the Kent Senior Center Activity Center, 600 E. Smith Street, Kent, WA 98032.
For additional information please contact Dinah Wilson at 253-856-5076, or via email at
DRWilson@KentWA.gov.
Any person requiring a disability accommodation should contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-
856-5725 in advance. For TDD relay service call Washington Telecommunications Relay
Service at 1-800-833-6388.
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Cultural Communities Board (CCB)
Meeting Notes
December 27, 2016
Centennial Building North and South Meeting Rooms
400 West Gowe St. Kent, WA 98032
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Board Members Present: Yusuf Bashir, Davies Chirwa, Marvin Eckfeldt, Rand Al
Hammadi, Satwinder Kaur, Sharnshoke Kaur, Hussein Kinani, Sonia Morales, Mizan
Rahman, Cesar Rangel, Ted Schwarz, Vaivao Semisi-Tupou, Yuriy Zaremba, Norma
Maldonado, Marwa Almusawi
Absent: Beabe Akpojovwo (excused), Rev. Herbert Carey, Ta Kwe Say, Josephine
Karanja
City Staff Present: Mayor Suzette Cooke, Dinah Wilson, Hardy Awadjie
Welcome
Dinah Wilson and Mayor Suzette Cooke
CCB Minutes approval
September 2016 – November 2016 CCB minutes were approved (motion to
approve, Ted Schwarz).
Cultural Holiday Sharing Circle
CCB members brought dishes showcasing traditional foods from their countries of
origin and then shared stories about native holidays.
Informational Items/Updates
Living Well Kent
• Living Well Kent (LWK): Establishing a Farmers Market on Kent East Hill; first
meeting will be at the Golden Steer Restaurant on January 10, 2017 at 6:00
pm.
• 20 volunteers needed to help organize the event scheduled for May 13, 2017
(location of the market is to be determined-vendors will be invited and may
receive a stipend)
• Collaborating with the YMCA, Seattle Foundation Neighbor2Neighbor Program
Ramadan: Saturday, May 27, 2017 – Saturday, June 24, 2017
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Folklore Mexicano Tonantzin: Mexican dance group (youth dance group – 50
members).
• Mayor Cooke attended the group’s Christmas party – reported on the
accomplishments of the group (they promote educational advancement of
community youth by helping them solidify their cultural identity and
confidence
• FMT hosts positive cultural activities as a means of making a difference in the
lives of youth
• All are welcome to participate or drop by to see a dance class
Slavic Community: Celebrating its traditional European Christmas on January 7,
2017.
Coalition for Refugees from Burma: Establishing a board for multicultural youth
in South King County (aged 12-24).
Marvin Eckfeldt: CCB member, Marvin Eckfeldt, was commended for his op-ed
piece in the Kent Reporter (Let’s End the Hatred, Mistreatment of Others –
December 22, 2017).
Mayor Cooke: Made a statement before City Council about the importance of Kent
being a safe and inclusive City for everyone.
CCB Discussion
CCB members reported on their attendance at meetings responding to the backlash
against welcoming immigrants and refugees.
• Know Your Rights meeting - Centro Rendu (St. Vincent De Paul) - Held an
event Wednesday, December 14th to teach refugee & immigrant populations
about their legal rights; Centro Rendu provides some legal services and free
immigration services twice a month
• Safe spaces on community college campuses: Letter sent to President-Elect,
Donald Trump, signed by members of the Washington State Board for
Community and Technical Colleges, including presidents/chancellors of the
state’s 34 community and technical colleges
• Questions/concerns relating to immigration should be directed to legal
professionals; e.g., Northwest Immigrant Rights Project or One America
Other Issues
• Shamso and Yuriy will create a google doc so that the CCB can compile a list
of “go to” resources; i.e., who do you turn to for information, resources,
assistance, what resources could benefit the community, etc.
Community Speakers Forum
• CCB was asked to edit the speakers’ sign up form that Marvin created-this
form will be used by members who are available to speak on various topics
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Media Sub-committee
• CCB asked about the possibility of having a Facebook page and a policy on
sharing information with the community about CCB activities
• CCB members Satwinder Kaur, Davies Chirwa, Cesar Rangel, and Sharndeep
Kaur Shoker agreed to serve on the sub-committee
Items for follow-up
Yuriy/Shamso– Will create a Google Document online folder to be used by CCB
members for posting information and follow-up items.
Kent TV21 link (CCB members interview) to be sent to CCB members
Next CCB Meeting – January 24, 2017
Notes taken by: Hardy Awadjie
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