08/08/2022
August 8, 2022 Inc, Denver – Executive Board Meeting
Attendees:
- Greg Sorenson
- Adam Meltzer
- Loretta Koehler
- David Halterman
- Keith Meyer (dropped off early)
- Maggie (dropped off early)
- Joel Noble
- Drew Dutcher (arrived late)
Randy Stafford crashed the meeting asking about ADU’s in Elyria Swansea. Loretta let him know that Inc, Denver will not take a position on the issue.
Discussion of August meeting.Agenda review.
- City Council may show up. = Councilwoman Torres
- Colorado Symphony
- DEI update? Emmet could give an update on progress
- Light agenda, but that is okay because many people are on vacation
Review of Delegate meeting topics for monthly meetings until the end of the year.
DEI discussion
- Frustration around progress of DEI policy
- Originally there were a lot of discussions around hiring a DEI organization that understood RNO’s. The board decided to start the process with just the board and not include the RNO’s.
- GS: Does not want to continue the contract with Juston. We would be best served by asking the delegates to work on their own RNO DEI policy. We can build on past work. Ask the delegates how they would build a DEI policy.
- LK: Wants to make sure we are bringing in diverse people to lead the process. Could we bring in other people in an advisory capacity? Inc had a group working on DEI policy and then they looked for a facilitator. They were expensive, out of towners who didn’t understand our local experience. They then landed on Juston. How do we get people to feel accepted and welcome to the Inc? How do you take a position on issues if you don’t have adequate representation?
- DD: Agrees with LK. Would like Emmet and Lamone’s opinion. Lamone has not attended many board meetings. There are larger forces at work than just gentrification. Forces are working against us. The city is getting less diverse. We want volunteers and we can’t control who volunteers.
- Maggie: New RNO’s are coming online. These RNO’s are in diverse neighborhoods. Sun Valley, etc. We can’t just bring in people of color. We have to appeal to everyone. A lot of our new neighbors are disinterested in organizations like Inc. Inc used to be very robust and diverse. They have moved elsewhere.
- KM: Suggested we look at the Elks Club DEI policy and process
- DH: Thinks we should take a position on issues that support equity and inclusion. Such as ADU’s. Gentrification is an issue. Intersection of equity and infrastructure. Support policies that support equity.
- ADM: Doing nothing is worse than doing something with the people we have.
Do we still want Juston to continue?
- What happens if Natalie takes over?
- GS: Definite no
- DH: Definite no
- ADM: No
- KM: What specifically does Inc want? The contract is vague.
- DD: Agrees.
Motion: To not continue with phase 2 DEI work with Juston Cooper.
Second: DH
GS: In Favor
ADM: In Favor
DD: In Favor
DH: In Favor
LH: Oppose
Path forward:
- Take it to the delegation
- Define the policy
- JN: What does Inc need to become to engage the neighborhood? Attendance is steadily dropping. “Adopting a DEI policy alone, or instead of the hard work needed to examine what neighborhoods need and what INC can be, is not going to change that.” There is deeper work that needs to be done to make the organization relevant.
- DD: Membership composition is an issue. How do we diversify our membership? Can we go back to in-person meetings in diverse neighborhoods? This will have us directly connecting to neighborhoods.
- KM: Agrees with Joel and Drew. Outreach is needed. Can we have a committee for outreach?
- LK: The issue with in person meetings is Covid, monkey pox and low vaccination rates.Tried to diversify the board by bringing on Trupti and Lamone.
- GS: Couldn’t a DEI policy be the first step towards connecting with the community. In the by laws is that the Inc board will create a DEI policy.
Action Item: Take the task of creating a DEI policy to the delegates at the next meeting. Create a subcommittee
