Title
Approval of Appointments of the Inaugural Members of the Social Justice and Equity Commission
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee recommends approval of the appointments listed below.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the appointment of the slate of 11 candidates for inaugural membership on the Social Justice and Equity Commission.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve appointments to the Social Justice and Equity Commission.
Staff Contact:
Kellie Purce Braseth, Strategic Communications Director, City Manager’s Office, 360.753.8361
Presenter(s):
Tobi Hill-Meyer, Diversity Equity Inclusion Manager
Background and Analysis:
Over the course of two special meetings on April 6 and April 7, the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee interviewed 19 applicants for the inaugural seats on the newly established, 11-member Social Justice and Equity Commission. The Committee recommends the following appointments to the new Commission:
• Parfait Bassale to Position #1, with a term ending March 31, 2025
• Genevieve Chan to Position #2, with a term ending March 31, 2025
• Sarah Lloyd to Position #3, with a term ending March 31, 2025
• Rachelle Martin to Position #4, with a term ending March 31, 2025
• Fauziya Mohamedali to Position #5, with a term ending March 31, 2024
• Wesley Nguyen to Position #6, with a term ending March 31, 2024
• Jessicarae Nunez to Position #7, with a term ending March 31, 2024
• Marianne Ozmun-Wells to Position #8, with a term ending March 31, 2024
• Omar Santana-Gomez to Position #9 with a term ending March 31, 2023
• Eyota Wak’ishwit to Position #10 with a term ending March 31, 2023.
• Larry Watkinson to Position #11 with a term ending March 31, 2023.
Should the slate of candidates be appointed, the Social Justice and Equity Commission would include 64 percent people of color, 45 percent people who have experienced poverty and/or homelessness in their lives; 36 percent immigrants or children of immigrants; 45 percent people who identify as LGBTQ and/or non-binary; and 27 percent people who live with a disability.
The candidates’ applications and resumes are attached.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Advisory committees are a structured way for individual community members to share their opinions and perspectives, study issues, and develop recommendations in a focused small group. Their primary purpose is to provide judicious advice, from a community member’s perspective to the Olympia City Council.
Options:
1. Approve the appointments as recommended.
2. Do not approve the appointments and send the issue back to the Community Livability and Public Safety Committee. This would delay the appointment schedule and the work of the Commission.
Financial Impact:
No cost is associated with the action. To reduce barriers to community member participation, the City offers stipends of $25 per meeting attended to Advisory Committee members. Those members who certify as low income are eligible to receive stipends of $50 per meeting attended. Advisory Committee members may waive the stipend upon request.
Attachments:
Parfait Bassale Application and Resume
Genevieve Chan Application
Sarah Lloyd Application and Resume
Rachelle Martin Application
Fauziya Mohamedali Application and Resume
Wesley Nguyen Application and Resume
Jessicarae Nunez Application and Resume
Marianne Ozmun-Wells Application and Resume
Omar Santana-Gomez Application and Resume
Eyota Wak’ishwit Application
Larry Watkinson Application