HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Cultural Communities Board - 03/26/2019CULTURAL COMMUNITIES BOARD MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday April 23, 2019 / 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. / Centennial Center - 400 W Gowe st. Kent WA 98032
City Staff: Uriel Varela
Presenters: Kent Drug Free Coalition
Board members present: Yusuf Bashir, Davies Chirwa, Marvin Eckfeldt, Sara Franklin-Phillips, Norma
Maldonado, Miszanur Rahman, Vaivao Semisi-Tupou, Ted Schwarz, Tanya Medina, Lelei Masina.
Other’s present: Councilmember Troutner, Dave Hobbs, Paula Frederick
Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m.
Introductions:
Everyone who was in attendance was asked to introduce themselves and answer the following
question.
If you could be anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would that be and why?
All board members and visitors answered the question and learned something about each other.
Conversation with KDFC:
The conversation began with councilmember Toni Troutner explaining the mission and vision of the
Kent Drug Free Coalition.
The board members where then asked the following question;
o What role, if any, does your culture play in how drug use is addressed in your community?
o Board members began to talk about how their culture or religion affects the way that their
community members approach to topic of drug use.
o One of the participants mentioned that in her community, drug abuse by their family
members is not talked about because of the stigma that exists within that community.
o Other board members agreed that a cultural stigma exists within many of our diverse
communities in our city.
The conversation then turned to culturally appropriate resources for communities who do not feel
like they would not receive adequate service by some of the mainstream social services.
A board member suggested that the Kent Drug Free Coalition should have youth representatives
who help reach out to other youth.
Councilmember Troutner mentioned that the Police Department has a very diverse youth group
who works with other youth to prevent drug abuse.
Announcements:
The conversation took most of the meeting and there was no time for announcements.
Meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.