Diversity group drafting proclamation
Nine-member citizens group seeks to address issues of racismin city.
TheHuberHeights Culture and Diversity Citizen Action Commission will draft a proclamation before it recommends an actionable resolution to the city council, officials said.
In its first meeting onWednesday, the nine-member citizens’ group, which the Huber Heights City Council recently appointed, agreed to come up with a proclamation recognizing racism as a priority. A subcommittee is drafting something to bring before the group within the next month.Thecommissionwould then recommend thecouncil pass the proclamation.
Yolanda Stephens, chair of the commission, said this is just the first step. The panel hopes the city council will eventually pass a resolution addressing issues specific to Huber Heights.
Commission members agreed Wednesday that they need to do someinformationgatheringbefore they are ready to draft a resolution. Stephens explained that they intend to conduct a public survey ofHuberHeights citizens, asking what their concerns are.
“What is the actual need?” she said. “What are their areas of concern? So we can address things the community needs.”
Then, the commission plans to do an assessment of what city institutions are already doing to
address diversity and inclusion.
The commission also decidedWednesday to split into three sub-committees focused on education and communityadvocacy, reform and outreach.
The first piece of outreach thecommission plans todois centered around voter registration as October deadlines to register quickly approach.
“We’re coming up on an imperative election year,” Stephens said.
The group did not decide Wednesdayonwhereorwhen they will be out in the community to encourage voter registration. Commission members discussed setting up at the library, local businesses or the city farmers’ market. Stephens said the commission will do at least one event before the Oct. 5 voter registration deadline.
The commission has not set next meeting date.