EVERETT – Two city groups have released recommendations for improving race and cultural relations.
Last week, after meeting for a year to identify and discuss Everett’s cultural and racial issues, the Advisory on Diversity panel released a draft report for public comment.
And earlier this month, after collecting input on racial relations in four Snohomish County cities, activist J.J. Frank and the grass-roots Communities of Color Coalition released a list of recommendations.
The advisory had an Everett focus, but the themes will likely resonate around Snohomish County, said Carlos Veliz, panel chairman.
The list of goals may seem small, but they add up in a positive way, he said. Instead of lofty rhetoric, the group sought suggestions that city administrators could take immediate action on.
The group is calling for such things as an expo for minority business owners, a diversity-awareness training program for law-enforcement officers and a single-page information sheet on the city’s parks and recreation in multiple languages and Braille.
To help with outreach, the report has been translated into Arabic, Russian and Spanish.
The advisory group will accept public comments through mid-October, and in November will incorporate those comments into a final draft for Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson.
The mayor appointed the 22-person advisory panel in 2004. The group split into committees to set goals in education, economic development, communications and outreach, civil liberties, law and justice, and children and families.
While the report centered on Everett, the Communities of Color Coalition set its sights on Everett and three other Snohomish County cities.
Frank, who has led the annual Martin Luther King Jr. march through downtown Everett for four years, was inspired after this year’s King memorial to start a traveling countywide discussion on race.
Frank was joined by the coalition, a group that organized almost four years ago but revived itself earlier this year.
At public meetings in Arlington, Everett, Lynnwood and Monroe, about 250 people discussed how race affects education, employment, law enforcement and economic development.
“I think anytime you go out to the community and they come together around various issues, that’s a good thing,” Frank said.
The group suggests implementing cultural competency training for educators and advertising employment in minority publications to seek out diverse job candidates.
It also suggests developing a mentorship program for young people of color interested in law enforcement careers, and providing training and support for minority business owners.
Frank said some of the recommendations were purposely broad so the group could work directly with city and county leaders to develop more tailored plans.
The next step for the Communities of Color Coalition is to meet with city and county leaders, as well as education and law enforcement leaders, all of whom they hope will prioritize race relations.
“We need to turn the dialogue into priorities, action and dollars,” he said.”
Frank said recommendations are also due from County Executive Aaron Reardon’s committee on diversity and from a Lynnwood committee.
Frank and his group would like to meet with all of the committees.
“We’re going to talk to them (and say), ‘Here are our recommendations. Do you see similarities? If so, how do we start working together?’”
How to join
To join the Communities of Color Coalition, or for more information on its recommendations, call 425-259-2827, ext. 33.
To join the Everett Advisory on Diversity Committee, or for more information, call Kate Reardon at 425-257-8687.
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