Multi-Cultural Committee

The Multi-Cultural Committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month, from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

2010 Scheduled Meetings:


January 5, 2010
January 20, 2010
January 26, 2010 (NOTE: This will be a joint meeting with the Planning & Grants Committee.)
February 2, 2010
March 2, 2010
April 13, 2010         Joint meeting with Planning & Grants Committee, 9:30 to 11:30 AM
May 4, 2010
June 8, 2010           Joint meeting with Planning & Grants Committee, 9:30 to 11:30 AM
July 6, 2010
August 10, 2010      Joint meeting with Planning & Grants Committee, 9:30 to 11:30 AM
September 7, 2010
October 12, 2010     Joint meeting with Planning & Grants Committee, 9:30 to 11:30 AM
November 2, 2010
December 7, 2010

Meeting Activities
Date: March 2, 2010

ISSUE:

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Minutes
3. February 26 meeting with P&G
4. Next steps
1. Information from Workshop on Jan 7
2. Advisory role to Council
3. Five-Year Plan Regional Forums
5. MCC involvement with TASH
6. Public Comment

DISCUSSION:

1. Minutes
1. Feb 26 meeting notes: Correct spelling for Jeanette’s last name to Cordova.
2. February 26 meeting
1. Consensus is that the meeting went well.
2. The perspectives offered by Yvette and Darlene were valuable.
3. Concern that not enough communities are going to have regional forums that the Denver area is so large that many people won’t be reached.
4. One approach could be to take advantage of groups already meeting, such as El Grupo Vida’s summer conference, and allow a focus group to occur, or for survey questions to be available, say, at the Juneteenth celebration where CPRC will have a booth.
3. Next steps
1. Jan 7 workshop
2. Advisory role

                                                               i.      The committee may need to meet on MCC matters one month and then meet with the P&G in alternate months in order to help with the development of the Five-Year Plan.

                                                             ii.      What is the work of this committee

1.       The committee discussed what they could do to clarify the committee’s mission, goals and objectives.

2.       The committee discussed cultural competence assessment of the Council and tools that could be used

3.       The committee would like to see the goals and objectives adopted by the committee in previous years.

3. Five-Year Plan forums

                                                               i.      Is there a way to use the forums as a way to impart MCC information? Marna will be working on a draft curriculum, and incorporating the Workshop questions.

                                                             ii.      Deon Gillespie has expressed interest in being one of the coordinators in the Denver Metro area

d. MCC and TASH

i. Yvette will be a tomorrow’s meeting by phone, and Sue will be there in person.

ii. Yvette will be working on recruiting families of color, as part of her role as director of CPRC.  She’ll be working with Lori Park, Maria Cabral, and Sue Fager. Ed Steinberg will be at the meeting of subcommittee on recruiting families of color on March 25 10 AM at CPRC. Sue is considering the Wednesday night reception as an opportunity to involve the MCC. Would dance/music groups have to donate their time or could they be paid?

a.       Family participation in the TASH conference. Recruiting families to the conference will be on the agenda for March 25. Will TASH help with registration costs?

b.       Call for Papers: CPRC will be submitting a proposal. Sue is thinking of doing a session on sexuality.

g.      Public Comment

a.       Sue mentioned the Denver Public Schools Transition Training for Parents on March 6^th.

b.       Penny asked for referrals to a Spanish-speaking clinician—sue suggested Jose, Darlene suggested Jack the translator, her pediatrician, and the CCDC.

c.       KEJI College Fair April 27^th

d.       NOVA is hosting a community engagement conference on March 6^th.

e.       Jeanette and Yvette--Denver CADRE of parent volunteers—training for parents including advocacy, idea, effective IEPs build up volunteer core to attend IEPs with other parents.

f.         State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement (SACPIE)—council charged with finding best practices, sending it to schools, fundraising so schools can have a parent involvement program.

g.       COPINE—networking around parent involvement, working with SACPIE

ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

1. Minutes approved, with noted correction to February 26, 2010 minutes.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1. Marna will send out a request to members of the MCC and the P&G committees for dates in alternate months for meeting on the development of the Five-Year Plan.
2. Penny will locate goals and objectives adopted by the MCC in previous years.

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Yvette Plummer (by phone), Karen Ferrington (by phone), Jeanette Cordova (by phone), Darlene Beals (by phone), Penny Gonnella

Staff Present: Marna Ares

Those absent:  José Reyes, Deon Gillespie

Meeting Activities
Date: February 26, 2010
Joint Meeting: Multicultural Committee and Planning & Grants

ISSUE:

Purpose: Design the curriculum for 6-7 regional forums in order to gather data for the strategic planning process of developing the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council’s next Five-Year Plan for 2012-2016.

1. Introductions

2. Review of DD Act and Development of current Five-Year Plan for 2007-2011

DD Act directions

 Strategies employed

Text of survey document

Modalities for gathering citizen input

3. Review of Voting Item providing for regional forums

            a.  Communities to outreach to:  what is the rural community to be chosen? Consensus was to try to include a rural farm community in the southeast part of the state (La Junta, Lamar, Rocky Ford).

            b.  Council members on the list for various communities would be helping with finding the regional coordinator, not being the coordinator.

4.  Timeline:  The Plan should be submitted to the DSA in May or June 2011.  After Council approval, the Plan will be submitted to DSA. Have the forums finished by the fall of 2010.

5.  Job description and logistics of hiring regional forum coordinators

            a.   Using existing community organizations for cross-disability outreach:

                                                               i.      Katherine emphasized the importance of including CCB’s. Also suggested local coordinator could convene a committee that could help them with ideas for outreach. The advantage can be in including young people, college students.

                                                             ii.      Mary Anne talked about the Legal Center’s focus on serving people with mental health issues.

                                                            iii.      Public forum versus focus groups. Would we want to have a number of different types of focus groups (people with disabilities and families, service providers, others)?

                                                            iv.      What is the message to potential participants that will make them want to come to the regional forums? Combination of what the projects have done to push the system in positive directions, and knowing that participants can help the Council focus on what’s important to the participants.  People’s ideas could generate ideas for the potential projects that the Council could fund in the future.

                                                              v.      For Denver it might be great to have one graduate from each of the two leadership projects be co-coordinators for the Denver forum.

6. Curriculum for each regional forum

a.       What are the best practices to be emphasized?
i.          Cultural responsiveness

ii.       Person-centered decision-making

iii.     Active inclusion in all aspects of community life

b.       Who are the local contacts?

c.       Which grantee would be available for making the presentation?

6. Map of each session

 3:30 PM to 5 PM
Overview of Council, grant projects that have been funded under current Five-Year Plan.
Grantee/Council presentations

 5 – 6 PM Dinner

 6 to 8 PM Focus group to gather information through responses to Focus Group questions

_______________________________________________________________________________________

ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

1.  Introductions, followed by viewing of video Sue Fager brought (“The Potato Video”)

2. Committee members are encouraged to send in names of potential regional coordinators so that Council staff can start interviewing and selecting coordinators. The deadline for getting names to Council staff by next Friday, March 5, 2010.

3.  Mary Anne wants definitions (State and federal definitions of developmental disabilities) to be a handout at the forums. Mary Anne will review the focus group questions with her DD group that meets on Monday.

4.  La Junta was chosen as the seventh rural community

5.  We need an orientation for all regional coordinators before the forums are begun.

6. Need to give gifts of some kind as an incentive to regional coordinators. They can each come up with something to offer participants at their forums, and the Council needs to come up with something for each coordinator. Their will be a group orientation and a group celebration with coordinators.

7. Let participants know that they will be invited to the unveiling of the Plan in July 2011.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1. Marna to email Katie the focus group handout from 5 years ago.
2. Marna to send out notes and the job description after this meeting.

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Katie Grange (by phone), Ben Sutton, Karen Ferrington, Mary Anne Harvey, Penny Gonnella, Yvette Plummer, Betty Henderson, Darlene Beals

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Marcia Tewell

Those absent:  Todd Coffey, José Reyes, Jeanette Cordorva, Mike McCarty, Deon Gillespie

Meeting Activities
Date: January 26, 2010
Joint Meeting: Multicultural Committee and Planning & Grants

ISSUE:

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. History of the formation of the two committees
3. MCC issues and concerns
4. Resolutions/solutions to concerns
5. Planning & Grants responsibility for Five-Year Plan development
6. Plan for MCC and P&G joint work and technical assistance

DISCUSSION:

1. Marcia began the meeting with a welcome and introductions.
2. History of the formation of the two committees
1. The group discussed the history of both committees and the Council, with input from most members.
2. Discussed more in depth the early history of the MCC.
3. MCC issues and concerns
1. Issue one was not having the third annual Cultural Competence & Responsiveness conference and follow-up workshop.
2. Other issues: Penny being cut off in time to present on cultural competency to the council before finally being given time a third time to present; Council members not in attendance at the conference and follow-up workshops; the disapproval of food costs for the workshop that meant that Committee members had to contribute private dollars.
3. The status of the MCC and the conferences/workshops needs further defining: are those efforts those of a grantee or a subcommittee o the Council?
4. Resolutions/Solutions
1. Make sure that discussions at Council meetings are allowed to fully explore the issue at hand.
2. Give people new to the Council the benefit of the kind of historical review that was discussed at this meeting.
3. Bridge-building from committees to the Council, especially important for Multicultural Committee in its providing technical assistance in the development of the Five-Year Plan.
5. & 6. combined:
1. How can the Committees work together in developing the forums (assuming they are approved by the Council tomorrow)?
2. Work on best way to do outreach and maximize participation.
3. Meet jointly to develop the curricula for the regional forums.

ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

1. After the Council vote tomorrow, Marna will send out a Doodle calendar survey to all members of the MCC and P&G to determine which dates work for most.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Todd Coffey, Mike McCarty, Katie Grange, Ben Sutton, Karen Ferrington, Mary Anne Harvey, Darlene Beals, Penny Gonnella

Staff Present: Marcia Tewell, Marna Ares

Guests: 

Personal attendant:

Those absent:  Jose Reyes, Yvette Plummer, Jeanette Cordorva,

Meeting Activities
Date: January 20, 2010
Multicultural Committee Meeting

ISSUE:

1. Minutes
2. Review of Workshop
3. Joint meeting with Planning & Grants January 26, 2010
4. Where do we go from here?
5. MCC involvement with TASH
6. Public comment

DISCUSSION

1. Minutes for January 5, 2010
2. Review of Workshop
1. Attendance was about 50% of registered. Low attendance may have been related to cold temperatures.
2. Follow-up:

                                                               i.      How to get people involved in the future:

1.       Face book page, website page on the Council’s website

2.       Conduct meetings at different places, times, e.g. school meetings, media professionals’ monthly meetings, Public Relations Society Association monthly meeting, black preachers’ monthly meetings, annual black history events, Colorado Press Association monthly meeting, Tina Griego who writes for the Denver Post.

                                                             ii.      How to capture personal anecdotes, and experiences

                                                            iii.      Evaluations reviewed:

1.       Tools shared were for professionals, and family members made up the largest segment of the attendees. Next opportunity for using the tools could be a more interactive session where people are able to make the tools usable for their particular perspective and set of interests.

3. Joint meeting with Planning & Grants Committee
1. Committee would like to meet next week with a plan to work together in moving forward. If the discussion is “Where do we go from here?” it will be important to define “here.”
2. Karen looked at the current Five-Year Plan goals and objectives: Would like to inform the Council of the outcomes of the last two conferences and workshops in terms of goals and objectives in the Quality Assurance and Formal & Informal Community Supports areas of emphasis. Would like the committee to develop tools that could be used by new service and support people in increase their awareness of and ability to use that awareness (of cultural considerations and their own competency).
3. Outline for next week’s meeting

                                                               i.      Acknowledge what we say may be confrontational.  (What we feel, brief history, abused, again, misled, frustration.) The Committee needs to review the facts of lack of support, both in Council members not attending and in the State preventing money to be spent on the January workshop, and to tell the P&G Committee of the hard feelings and fatigue from being ignored and unsupported.

                                                             ii.      Discuss how to go forward after airing the grievances by describing what support from the Council would like. What we need to go forward with support, information sharing, put outcomes up front, valued, Council involvement, accountability.

                                                            iii.      Goal to build capacity of direct support and managers (what are some tools that can be provided online, for instance, when in-person attendance is not a possibility?)

4. Where do we go from here?
1. Discussion of the support/buy-in, or lack of it, from the Council.
2. What are the outcomes the Council is looking for?
3. What is the culture of the Council, and what are the activities of that body?
5. MCC involvement with TASH
6. Public Comment

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1. Jose moved to approve the minutes, Darlene seconded. Minutes for January 5, 2010 were approved, with Karen abstaining.
2.  

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Darlene Beals , Karen Ferrington (by phone), José Reyes, Yvette Plummer (by phone), Deon Gillespie, Penny Gonnella

Guests: Stacey Pina

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton

Those absent:  Deon Gillespie, Jeanette Cordova

Meeting Activities 
Date: January 5, 2010
Multicultural Committee Meeting

ISSUE:

1. Minutes
2. Update on release of funds
3. January 7 workshop
1. Registration
2. Final workshop documents
3. Cultural competencey tools
4. TASH’s role
5. Status of invite to Jeannie Ritter
6. Role for students
7. Role for Greg Root from DSS office of Metro State
8. Other items
4. Public comment

DISCUSSION

1. Minutes for December 16, 2009

1. Release of funds: Mackenzie needs to clarify whether the $300 Mary McGhee referred to is to cover the workshop or the Council meeting on January 27. The official function form was faxed yesterday morning, but there is no answer as of the time of this meeting.

1. Workshop: 

1. Update on registration: including committee members, the number of people registered is 61. A reminder will go out later today.
2. Documents/handouts: handout not translated and the time is too short. Evaluation from the conference was modified and will be used for the workshop. The evaluation is translated into Spanish, within the same document.
3. Cultural competency tools: the tool will be a compilation from the three to four that were being considered.
4. TASH’s role: Haley said that Barb and Dara will be at the workshop. They would like to speak at the beginning of the workshop, and committee assented.
5. Status of invite to Jeannie Ritter: won’t happen.
6. Role for students:
7. Role for Greg Root from DSS office of Metro State:

1.                                                                i.      He has been asked to speak about the importance of post-secondary education.

2.                                                              ii.      BJ is coming, and is registered. He will be involved with planning the TASH meeting.

8. Other items:

3.                                                                i.      The wireless microphones will cost $50 each. The committee asked iPlanIt to order two wireless microphones. No charge for wired mikes, so two will be ordered.

4.                                                              ii.      CDDC will bring computer and lcd projector, markers, flip charts, 3 easels. Penny will bring post-it notes and an easel.

 Public Comment:

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.  Penny moved to approve the minutes, Deon seconded. Minutes for December 16, 2009 were approved with Yvette abstaining.

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Darlene Beals (by phone), Penny Gonnella, Deon Gillespie, Jose Reyes, Yvette Plummer

Guests: Stacey Pina, Tammy White

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton

Those absent:  Karen Ferrington, Jeanette Cordova

Multicultural Committee Meeting Notes:
 Meeting Activities
Date: December 16, 2009

ISSUE:

1. Minutes
2. Status of training
3. Review of meeting with P&G Committee
4. Workshop
5. Public comment

DISCUSSION

1. Minutes for December 11, 2009
1. No corrections to the minutes were noted. Sue moved to approve the minutes, Darlene seconded.
2. Status of training:
1. CDHS did not approve providing food, and needs justification for using a venue that charges.  The two police stations are not available. The charge of $100 for St. Cajetans will only be approved if free venues are not available.
2. Why the committee decided not to use a police station: Members of the communities this committee wishes to welcome to the follow-up workshop may not feel safe or comfortable to attend a workshop held at a police station. Also, the attendance at the workshop held at the police station last year was extremely low.

3. Review of Meeting with P&G Committee

4. Workshop: 

1. Update on registration

                                                               i.      50 people registered already who are planning on that venue. Email blast to change the location would cost $150. Forty-four are registered, in addition to the committee members

                                                             ii.      Tammy distributed the list of attendees at the October conference who have not registered for the workshop on January 7. The e-blast will be postponed to Monday, after phone calls have been made.  Deon will call Acevedo to Buchanan, Sue will call Cabral to De Baca, Marna will call DeSantiago to Granger, Darlene will call Gunnell to Kreiselmeyer, Penny will call Lahmann to Lloyd-Wright, Jeanette will call Looper to Muniz, Yvette will call Murillo to Schaffner, and Stacey will call Seiler to Wright.

2. Review agenda

                                                               i.      Logistics: CDDC has 3 easels, Penny has one. Flip charts will be used for small group discussions, with two questions already written on the charts.  The action plan will also include the questions.

                                                             ii.      CDDC will bring LCD projector and tablet computer, iPlanIt will arrange for a screen, microphones.

                                                            iii.      Questions for final session: “Something you learned that’s new, something you’d care to repeat, something you’d care to share.”  Post them around the room, refer at the beginning so that people will be thinking about these questions, review at the end of the session, have people  write ideas on post-its (supplied by Penny) to add to the flip charts that are up on the walls.

                                                            iv.      Reminder email to registrants will be sent out on January 5.

3. Review cultural competency assessment tools

                                                               i.      Committee reviewed materials that Penny provided (Georgetown, BLOOM) and selected items to use in the simplified tool for January 7.

                                                             ii.      Penny and Sue will be meeting, with input via e-mail from committee members, and putting together a one-page tool for the workshop.

4. TASH’s role

                                                               i.      Haley joined the meeting at 11:15 AM.

                                                             ii.      TASH representatives will be available of Jan. 7 (Barb Trader and Dara, new staffer) for the first hour. They want to announce the TASH conference, and let people know possibility to be involved with the planning committee.

                                                            iii.      TASH will be included at the beginning after Greg Root’s welcome.

                                                            iv.      The Jan. 6 planning meeting will be at the ADAPT office on Cherokee

                                                              v.      The dates for the TASH conference are December 8-11, 2010, at the Denver Sheraton Hotel downtown.

5. Status of invite to Jeannie Ritter: no word as yet
6. Role for students

                                                               i.      BJ will be at the conference, and could introduce Greg Root.

                                                             ii.      Honor students from Metro (see notes in g. below)

                                                            iii.      Darlene suggested students be asked to write article for newsletter, as well as BJ to be asked.

7. Role for Greg Root from DSS office of Metro State

                                                               i.      He’d like to be the person there to stamp people’s parking vouchers. Darlene would like him to be part of the welcome and let people know that college is possible (5 minutes).

                                                             ii.      He has a group of honor students who are students with disabilities. Penny suggested those students spread out and be part of the small group discussions.

8. Resources/handouts for workshop

                                                               i.      Stacey and Tammy will draft evaluation.

9. Other items

                                                               i.      Deon offered to set up a Facebook page for the MCC and the Conference/Workshop. Survey cards will be on the tables to have people check of the social networking sites they use.

                                                             ii.      When to meet to de-brief on the workshop? That date will be the 3^rd Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

5.  Public Comment

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1. Minutes for December 11, 2009 were approved.
2. Mackenzie will contact St. Cajetans to check on cancellation policy and fees.
3. Sue will attend the Executive Committee meeting this afternoon to represent this committee’s concerns.
4. At the January 5 meeting the committee members will write the questions on the flip charts.
5. Mackenzie will order 5 Post-It flip charts, to be used in addition to the 4 charts on easels.
6. Marna to send Jeanette the logo file for CDDC, so that she can set up Facebook page for the Council, pending discussion with the Executive Committee this afternoon.
7. Marna will send Haley the updated agenda for the Jan. 7 workshop after she receives the updated agenda from Sue.
8. Deon will send a blurb on TASH to Colorado Matters at KCFR.

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Jeanette Cordova (on phone), Darlene Beals, Penny Gonnella, Deon Gillespie

Guests: Stacey Pina, Tammy White, Haley Kimmet

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton

Those absent:  Karen Ferrington, Jose Reyes, Yvette Plummer

Meeting Activities
Date: December 11, 2009

ISSUE:

Agenda for January 7, 2010 Workshop

DISCUSSION

1. Minutes for December 1, 2009

2. Roadblock to approval of the workshop official function form was discussed. Decision was to move ahead with the workshop and hope that the official function will be approved.  If there is a denial, the committee’s Plan B is to buy cheese pizzas or to ask participants and Council members to bring food, contribute to a multi-ethnic potluck, in other words.

3. Agenda for the Workshop: 

3:30  - 3:45 PM            Welcome and Introduction (Penny will invite Jeannie Ritter to open the workshop) “Be the Fish that Discovers the Water”

3:45 – 4:05 PM            Start with examples and orientation: Help the Committee to Do its Work: Definitions of Cultural Competency: How will the information you generate be used?

Small group work on 1) What do think is cultural competency,

4:05 – 4:25 PM                      Report back on first question (Darlene will facilitate the discussion.)

4:25 – 4:40 PM            Start with examples of indicators. Small group work on second question:  How do you recognize cultural competence when you see it. (What are the indicators of cultural competence?)

4:40 – 5: 00 PM            Reporting back on second question (Darlene will facilitate the discussion.)

5:00 -- 5:15 PM                      BREAK

5:15 --  6:00 PM            Tools You Can Use: Georgetown University tool revised (simplified) to get across point of establishing baselines. (Penny will introduce.)  

6:00 – 6:45 PM            DINNER

6:45 --  7:00 PM            Discussion of the 7 Questions            (Have small groups join to form groups of 10 people.)  Split up the questions so that each group gets one or two questions.

7:00 -- 7:20 PM            Report back

7:20 –  7:45 PM  

7:45 – 8:00 PM            Wrap-up. Get consensus of what will be the definition of cultural competence. (MCC needs to be accountable to the workshop participants, also invite them to be part of the MCC)

Announce TASH Conference in 2010

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.      Minutes for December 1, 2009 were reviewed, Penny moved to approved, Jose seconded. Minutes were approved with Yvette abstaining.

2.      Penny moved to proceed with making plans for the workshop, Darlene seconded. Motion approved.

3.      Penny will ask Jeannie Ritter to open the workshop, and to bring a potluck dish.

4.      Penny will simplify the Georgetown University assessment tool and bring it to the December 16 meeting next week.

5.      Develop webpage for the MCC to use to give and get information from conference and workshop participants. Leadership, development of benchmarks, webinars Need a contact form just for this webpage, or allow posting of comments. (doctorchannel.com for example of place to post 1-minute videos).

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Penny Gonnella, Jose Reyes, Yvette Plummer (by phone), Darlene Beals
Guests: none
Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton
Those absent:  Karen Ferrington, Jeanette Cordova, Deon Gillespie

Meeting Activities
Date: December 1, 2009

ISSUE:

9:30 a.m. Meeting Begins

9:30 - 9:35 a.m. Review of and Approval of Meeting Minutes

9:35 - 9:45 a.m. Reflection on Penny's Presentation to the Council on Nov 18th

9:45 - 11:25 a.m. Planning for Follow-up Workshop

                  Venue

                  Catering

                  Advertising

                  Agenda

                  Further clarify goals for follow-up workshop

                  Flesh out agenda

                  TASH participation

11:25 - 11:30 a.m. Public Comment

11:30 a.m. Meeting Adjourned  

DISCUSSION

1. Minutes for Nov. 10, 2009 approved. Penny moved to approve the minutes, Darlene seconded. Minutes approved.

2.       Reflection on Penny’s presentation to the Council on November 18, 2009 included plans for the committee’s work in planning for future activities after the January 7 workshop.

3.       Planning for Follow-up Workshop

a.      Venue: St. Cajetan’s has limitations on caterers to use, and Mackenzie is waiting for one last estimate. The official function paper work will go into the State process beginning tomorrow, with a memo explaining the request for a 5-week turn-around instead of the required 8-week turn-around.

b.       Catering: see notes above.

c.      Advertising:

                                                               i.      registration numbers are at 32, including the 21 pre-registrations. Numbers are up to 41 with committee and Council staff registered.

                                                             ii.      Another email blast went out this morning, with the last to be sent out on January 4, 2010.

                                                            iii.      The list of registrants will be divvied up among committee members in order for committee members to make phone calls.  The list will be distributed at the December 16 committee meeting. At that meeting the committee can also decide which people should receive registration information in the mail.

d.      Agenda

                                                               i.      How include experiences in the workshop to encourage development of listening ability was discussed, possibly including small-group work on scenarios and then bringing the discussion into the large group. Penny suggested deciding on the scenarios at the workshop, and basing the scenarios on who shows up to participate in the workshop. Ask an opened-ended question such as, “Describe an experience you’ve had in being discriminated against.”

                                                             ii.      Action plan for each participant: Start with Action Plan (hand-out, with an offer to have a blank form emailed to them after the workshop). “Acceptance makes tolerance unnecessary.” (phrase Darlene took from the Inclusive Education Conference, and the Nth Degree)

                                                            iii.      Sue: ask people what they think cultural competency is, and how do you know when you have just had an encounter that is culturally competent or inclusive? Have a couple of people around the room to record people’s definitions of cultural competence.

                                                            iv.      Sue’s list from the whiteboard: (this could be done in small groups)

1.       What is CC?

2.       How do you recognize CC when you encounter it?

3.       CC is not a set of guidelines for how to communicate with people who are African American, Native American, living with disability, LGBT, and etc.

a.       Respectful listening, respectfully curious, moving out of comfort zone

4.       Small group activity – speaking and listening:

a.       describe a time someone made a judgement about you ased on how you look or

b.       describe a time you were discriminated against.

c.       Report back

5.       Discuss teaching peole how to communicate in a culturally competent way with you.

e.      Further clarify goals for follow-up workshop

                                                               i.      Ask people, if they are comfortable, to share their action plan at the end of the workshop.

                                                             ii.      Maybe end the session, too, with pumping people up with the idea that they can be part of community groups, find out what people are interested in doing, and give them some resources or possibilities for membership.

f.        Flesh out agenda

g.      TASH participation: Halley on the phone said that TASH will be in CO Dec 7-10 for ADD grant. Someone from TASH does want to participate in the follow-up. Their workshop with ADD is being held in Empire, CO in the Rocky Mountain Village.

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       November 10, 2009 minutes were approved.

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Penny Gonnella, Darlene Beals
Guests: Stacey Pina, Tammy White
Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton (for discussion of catering), Pat Murphy (for discussion of contact with St. Cajetan’s)
Those absent:  Karen Ferrington, Yvette Plummer, Jose Reyes, Jeanette Cordova

 Meeting Activities
Date: November 10, 2009

ISSUE:

9:30 a.m.                      Meeting Begins

9:30 – 9:35 a.m.            Review of and Approval of Meeting Minutes

9:35 – 11:15 a.m.            Planning for Follow-up Workshop

                                    Venue

                                    Advertising the Workshop

                                    Agenda:

                                       TASH Participation

                                        Review of learning objectives for 2009 Conference                                   

                                        Feedback from participants on 2009 Conference

                                        Review feedback from participants of 2008 Conference

                                    Develop Goals for Follow-up Workshop        
                                   

11:15 – 11:25                Collaboration with Planning & Grants Committee, Penny’s presentation to the Council on November 18, 2009

11:25 – 11:30 a.m.      Public Comment

11:30 a.m.                     Meeting Adjourned

DISCUSSION

1. Minutes approved

2.       Planning for Follow-up Workshop

a.      Venue

                                                               i.      Penny will call about the Ben Nighthorse Campbell space today, and the Italian-American Hall near 32^nd and Harlan

                                                             ii.      Sue is looking into St. Cajetan’s

                                                            iii.      Jeanette called CP Colorado about their meeting space, and it is not workable

                                                            iv.      Sue and Marna checked out three recreation centers in the area, and none would work.

                                                              v.      Marna talked with St. Paul’s Lutheran church on Capitol Hill but they have a conflict for the schedule

                                                            vi.      Deon will find out about Corona Presbyterian

b.      Advertising the Workshop

                                                               i.      Stacey will send email for save the date to all who registered, with a link to registration site

                                                             ii.      Went over the draft of workshop objectives and decide that the message needs to be what will you achieve or contribute to if you attend

                                                            iii.      Jeanette volunteered to take the calls from people who need information in Spanish

                                                            iv.      Need to offer people concrete things they can take from the workshop; want to offer them opportunities to become leaders, give them leadership tools around cultural competency

                                                              v.      Agenda:

1.       TASH Participation – Haley Kimmet is not sure how they will be involved, but they will be present and involved in some way, especially in light of their conference being in Denver Dec. 8-11, 2010.

2.       Review of learning objectives for 2009 Conference

a.       Use the list of questions from last year

b.       Use summaries from 2008 and 2009 to pose questions on what groups would you work with on becoming more culturally competent, what organizations could provide you with the information and strategies you would need

c.       Adopt a layman’s definition of cultural competence that the MCC can adopt and put forth

d.       Penny will do presentation to begin the workshop and have people fill out self-evaluation, followed by the activities of the workshop, and then re-administer the self-evaluation.

3.       Feedback from participants on 2009 Conference

a.       In addition to sharing information need to talk about lack of resources or presence of resources

4.        Review feedback from participants of 2008 Conference

a.       Most of the feedback was concerning skill development

5.       Develop Goals for Follow-up Workshop

a.       Identify skills needed to take the message of cultural competency to people’s various communities

b.       Share information on resources available

c.       Answer the 7 questions from last year’s conference brochure

d.       Emphasize that participants are resources for each other

e.       Invite people to join the Multicultural Committee

6.       Working Agenda

a.       3 to 3:30 Registration

b.       3:30 to 4:15 Penny’s presentation and self-evaluation (a tool you can use)

c.       4:15 to 5 Opportunities and Obstacles to implementing new ideas (using 7 questions to guide discussion)

d.       5 to 5:10 BREAK

e.       5:10 to 6  Putting Tools into Practice (role-playing)

f.         6 to 6:30 Networking Dinner

g.       6:30 to 7:00 open for now Panel Discussion

h.       7:00 to 7:30 Conversation with National Leaders

i.         7:30 to 8 Developing an Action Plan

3.       Public Comment:

a.      Deon wanted people to be on the Channel 9 Helpline call-in to promote the Workshop Jan. 7, 2009

b.      St. Joseph’s Community Forum, every first Friday: Deon would like the MCC to get on the agenda, from 9 to 10:30 AM.

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Jose moved to approve the minutes, Jeanette seconded. Minutes for November 3, 2009 were approved.

2.       Jose will email committee members various definitions of cultural competence

3.       Stacey will draft an invitation to the workshop and email it to committee members for approval

4.       Sue will send an email to committee members about how workshop objectives mesh with workshop agenda

            Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Jeanette Cordova, Deon Gillespie, Jose Reyes, Penny Gonnella

Guests: Stacey Pina (by phone)

Staff Present: Marna Ares

Those absent:  Karen Ferrington, Darlene Beals

Meeting Activities
Date: November 3, 2009

ISSUE:

9:30                              Meeting Begins

9:30 – 9:35                    Review of and Approval of Meeting Minutes

9:35 – 10:05                  MCC Conference Review and Discussion (Stacey/Tammy)

10:05 – 10:20                Participant Participation Review and Discussion (Penny)

10:20 – 11:25                Planning for Follow-up Conference

11:25 – 11:30                Public Comment

11:30                            Meeting Adjourned

1.        Minutes were approved.

2.        Conference review:  There were approximately 100 attendees on Friday, out of 146 registered. There were about 40 people on Saturday. There seemed to be a core group of people who attended both days, and it was a mix of professionals and non-professionals. Speculation was that the weather was a problem on Saturday, when I-70 was closed west of Denver for a while.

Deon observed that no one from the three years of African-American Parent Leadership attended the conference.

Committee discussed the need to continue with better outreach in order to get the word out to various groups.

Jose suggests this committee needs to advise the Council of the lack of cultural competence in the way it plans to develop its next Five-Year Plan. The MCC could offer technical assistance to that end. It was noticed that very few Council members attended the conference.

Penny wants to use an assessment tool and introduce it to the P&G committee before introducing it to the whole Council.

3.        Planning for Follow-up Workshop

Penny had people identify for themselves what cultural groups they belong to. Discussion revealed that most people stay in the groups they are familiar with, feel a sense of belonging.

What have you learned?

What would you like to learn; what more are you looking for?

Where are you going to get the learning from?

What are your plans after you leave the conference?

Jose suggested using feedback from both 2008 and 2009 conferences and use that to develop the agenda/curriculum for the January 7, 2010 workshop.

Venue: need to decide on a place and make a decision within the next four days for the State approval process. Marna will check our Hiawatha Davis Rec Center, St. Paul’s Lutheran on Capitol Hill.  Deon will check on Corona Presbyterian. 2PM to 9 PM is the estimated time window the group would need.

How to get the message out to folks? Phone calls, with committee members splitting the list may be the most effective method. Surface mail may or may not have resulted in more registrations at the last minute, though it was done at the same time the registration fees were waived.

Also need to talk with TASH to learn what role they would like to play.

Next steps before the Nov. 10 meeting:

1.        For the next meeting: need learning objectives from the first workshop, agenda from the first workshop, Penny’s compilation of feedback from Saturday afternoon session on October 10, 2009.

2.        Who will contact TASH?  Yvette Plummer.

3.        Decide on a venue.

4.  Public comment

            a. Darlene reviewed information from being at the Employment Summit. Darlene is also on the statewide advisory committee for Project SEARCH.

            b. Compliments to Stacey and Tammy for the “qualitatively different” conference planning work they did. The Summit Event Center staff also did a good job. They use an outside caterer, the contact information for whom iPlanIt will get to the MCC and Mackenzie Helton.

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.        Penny moved to approve the minutes, Jeanette seconded. Minutes for October 6, 2009 were approved.

2.        Members of the MCC who can meet with the P&G Committee today: Sue Fager. The next P&G meeting is December 15, 2009, from 2:30 to 4:30 PM. Penny plans on attending, as is Jeanette.

3.        Jeanette will ask Yvette to contact TASH and let the committee know by the Nov. 10 meeting what TASH is expecting from the workshop.

4.        Next meeting is November 10, 2009 from 9:30 to 11:30. December 16, 2009 is the second additional meeting for December, as the regularly-scheduled meeting will occur on December 1, 2009.

5.        Jeanette Cordova moved to adjourn the meeting, Penny Gonnella seconded. Meeting adjourned at 11:40.

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Darlene Beals (on phone), Jeanette Cordova, Deon Gillespie, Jose Reyes, Penny Gonnella

Guests: Stacey Pina, Tammy White

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton

Those absent:  Karen Ferrington

Meeting Activities
Date: October 6, 2009

ISSUE:

9:30                              Meeting Begins

9:35 – 9:40                    Review of and Approval of Meeting Minutes

9:40 – 11:25                  Conference

Registration

As of last night there are 129 people registered.

Session registration:

Numbers of people registered for each session were reviewed and volunteers assigned from among the committee members

Each registrant will be given the names of the sessions they registered for with their name badge and conference packet

Jeanette will help at registration table, as a volunteer

Meal options and requests for accommodations

Translation:  only 2 attendees are Spanish-only speaking. Norma’s session will be presented in Spanish, and translated for English speakers.  Jeanette’s session will be in Spanish, but Jeanette will be flexible about presenting in Spanish or English as participants request.

Specifications guide (draft)

Summit Event Center

Sponsorships and vendors: reviewed 6 sponsors.

Contributions:  looking for alternatives to CollegeInvest for bags. Penny will have the notepads in-hand by the end of today. Jose will donate gift cards. Stacey is looking into getting bags from Vitamin Cottage

Specifications guide

Stacey and Tammy will arrive on Friday morning at 5 AM to make sure venue is ready for our set-up needs.

Other items

Dinner with TASH reps on Friday night will be at Macaroni Grill (Sue will make reservations)

What do we want to talk with TASH about?  Learn what they have been doing and have learned.  How can we be helpful with the 2010 conference? Ask for their suggestions for how to incorporate the message that people of color are needed to be part of national advocacy organizations. What role can the MCC play in helping with their community outreach here?  What strategies do they have around inclusion?

11:25 – 11:30             Public Comment

                        a.  There were no public comments.

11:30                            Meeting Adjourns

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

Penny moved to approve the minutes, Jose seconded. Minutes for Sept. 16 and Sept. 30 were approved.

Everyone will have cell phone numbers of every committee member and staff at the conference.

Those in attendance: Yvette Plummer, Penny Gonnella, Jose Reyes, Sue Fager, Jeanette Cordova (on phone), Darlene Beals (on phone)

Guests: Stacey Pina, Tammy White

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton

Meeting Activities
Date: September 30, 2009

ISSUE:

1.       Registration

      a.       Stacey updated registration figures: 102 as of today
b.       Session registration:

                                                                           i.      All are pretty even in terms of numbers, except for Jeanette’s and Norma Diaz’s sessions.  The meeting on Tuesday October 6 will be the time to decide if any sessions need to be cancelled.

                                                                         ii.      Each registrant will be given the names of the sessions they registered for with their name badge and conference packet

                                                                        iii.      José offered to help at registration table, as a volunteer

c.       Volunteers: Darlene, Jeanette and Sue were looking for volunteers and there is no feedback from any.

d.       Conference program:

                                                                           i.      Draft letter from MCC reviewed and approved

                                                                         ii.      Conference program will be printed on glossy stock, similar to the way it was done last year.

e.       Specifications guide (draft)

                                                                           i.      Summit Event Center has another group in the space the day before the conference.  Stacey will try to get in the night before.

                                                                         ii.      Menus: Mexican food for day one, Italian food for day two proposed by Summit Event Center. Stacey will ask what the Asian option may be.

                                                                        iii.      Sue will introduce the conference Sen Carroll, and TASH speakers.

                                                                        iv.      Lunch: any presentations? No.

                                                                          v.      Saturday to introduce Ian – Sue

                                                                        vi.      Conference evaluation: Attendees will receive the evaluation by email after the conference to give them a second chance to submit the evaluation. Speakers will be sent a separate evaluation by email after the conference.

                                                                       vii.      Stacey will get a couple of restaurant gift certificates to offer to people who show up at the plenary and hand in their evaluation of the conference.

                                                                     viii.      In the packet will be a registration form so people can pre-register for follow-up workshop

2.       Sponsorships: 5 sponsors. CollegeInvest will give iPlanIt the donated bags by Monday.  Pens from HILLS are in hand, erasers will be delivered to CDDC, Penny will get notepads to iPlanIt. $200 from Arc of Colorado means their logo will be in the brochure.

3.       Vendors: listed in handout from Stacey today.

4.       Presenter issues:

a.       AV issues: the committee needs to be informed if any LCD projectors are needed, i.e. donated, by committee members

b.       Tammy will check with Stacey on requests for Spanish translation

c.       There have been no requests for ASL

5.       TASH

a.       Yvette will talk with Halley about what materials they want in the conference packets,

6.       Resource items/materials to be included in conference packets:

a.       5yp booklets in English and Spanish booklets will be available at the registration table

b.       Creativity at Work in English and Spanish booklets will be available at the registration table

c.       CPRC brochures – Yvette will bring them to the Oct. 6 meeting.

d.       TASH materials – Yvette will check with Halley to see what materials they’d like to overnight to CDDC

7.       Other items

a.       When Planned Parenthood presented to the Council on September 23, 2009 they wanted to know more specifically why their presentation wasn’t chosen. The committee reviewed that decision and surmised that the proposal may have put people with disabilities in a separate category for consideration, and that is not in keeping with Council values of inclusion.

b.       There was a discussion with Stacey and later with Tammy that reminded them that the original agreement about marketing was that it needed to include far more than just e-mail blasts, as experience from the last conference and for the current one indicates that e-mail blasts don’t work. Stacey and Tammy agreed they would send out individual contacts through fax or e-mail to specific neighborhood papers, churches and chambers of commerce to provide further

10:55 – 11:00             Public Comment

11:00                            Meeting Adjourns

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Minutes weren’t reviewed at the beginning of meeting due to low attendance

2.       iPlanIt will send out press release to neighborhood newspapers, Chambers of Commerce, churches, before the next meeting on October 6, and the method will include individual emails and faxes.

3.       Yvette will talk to TASH about getting materials to put in the packet

4.       Marna will call Deon and ask her help with getting an interview with TASH folks while they’re in town.

5.       Penny will talk with Maria Cabral about getting information about the El Grupo conference for the registration packets.

6.       Penny will bring information on TBI to the Tuesday meeting for inclusion in the packets

7.       Marna will call People magazine to get permission to put copies of article in the packets

8.       LCD projectors: José, Penny and CDDC have projectors to use at the conference instead of having to pay to rent them from Summit.

Those in attendance: Penny Gonnella, José Reyes, Yvette Plummer (on phone)
Guests: Stacey Pina, Tammy White
Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton
Those absent:  Deon Gillespie, Karen Ferrington, Sue Fager, Darlene Beals, Jeanette Cordova

Meeting Activities
Date: September 16, 2009

ISSUE: /DISCUSSION

1. Welcome: Sue began the meeting at 9:37 AM
2.  Review, Discuss, and Approve Minutes
3.  Conference

a. Spanish translation for registration issues/questions: Enough people have offered to respond to requests for information in Spanish.

                        b. Updates

i. Registration: numbers are extremely low.

a) Hard copy of registration is for Pat to mail out to those who don’t have email.

b) What else is being done to recruit? Denver Metro CPRC may be ready to send out registration info since the agenda is now in English and Spanish. 

c) Mackenzie suggested calling last year’s attendees.

d) José moved to waive all fees for conference registration. For those already registered, refunds will be arranged, in the interest of conference attendance and recognizing the change in economic circumstances for many people.  Penny seconded the motion.

e) iPlanIt will put out press releases and put articles in local papers.  Committee members are asked to give iPlanIt contact information for local papers.

                                    ii. Vendors

a) Committee discussed the possibility of waiving fees for vendors. Right now there are two vendors whose fees total $100. There is a cost for the vendor tables, so fee may be reduced to the at-cost amount of $35. Lopsided Heart Creations will be re-invoiced for $35. Penny moved to charge vendors at cost, José seconded.

                                     iii. Tables

                                     iv. Furlough day and speakers

Council staff has still not been approved to attend, though Council executive director continues to pursue the issue. Steve Allen, speaker for break-out session from Voc. Rehab. has had to pull his session. Sue asked Tom Muniz if he would be available to fill the time slot for Steve Allen, and Tom consented. José and Yvette have offered to pinch hit if more speakers don’t show up at the last minute.

Stacey has all information she needs from speakers.  They’ll work with Mackenzie to clarify the AV needs and what equipment if available or needs to be rented. They’ll report at the next meeting.

a.       Volunteer recruitment and preparation
Sue talked with someone who works with transition-aged students in DPS. Will follow up to see if any of the students will be able to help out. Darlene will ask KEJI group for volunteers. Jeanette suggested Mile Hi Down Syndrome Association. Stacey pointed out that in a day only 8 volunteers are needed.

Preparation: Stacey will assume that a volunteer is probably going to be with us for that day, and she’ll ask them to arrive early in order to receive orientation to their duties and the schedule.

b.       Committee member commitments (introduce speakers, provide training) committee members will provide back-up for volunteers

c.       Access door: Sue has been in contact, and they are waiting to hear from corporate.

d.       Select date for follow-up conference: The committee discussed the pros and cons of holding the workshop on a Friday or a Saturday in January. The possibility of having the follow-up workshop on Thursday January 7, 2010, starting at 3:30 to 8 PM.  Discussion of place included considering a recreation center. It could be billed as for professionals from 3:30 to 5, and family members from 5 to 8. Places to consider: Apex center in Arvada, Rec Center in Louisville. Are there any on a bus line? Hiawatha Davis, Mile Hi Youth Core, Amazing Jake’s place off 225 and Mississippi, YMCA on Colorado and Yale

e.       Conference evaluations
Speaker evaluations will be sent to speakers via email the day after the conference.

Attendance tally sheet is for session volunteers to fill out. They will be asked to poll the attendees at a session as to how many are parents/family members, people with disabilities, professionals. Questions about ethnicity and race won’t be asked but answers estimated.

f.         TASH

i. Meeting with TASH during conference
They are arriving the day before. Committee plans on having dinner on Friday night, October 9.

ii. Planning for interaction with them next year
Yvette wants to talk about the strategy to make parents aware of the TASH mission to encourage people of color to be part of national advocacy groups. Council members on this committee will share information about TASH 2010 with the Council so that the entire Council may participate when the TASH conference is in Denver next year.

                                                            g. Translation of handouts
If a session attendee wants a handout translated into Spanish, that will be done after the conference, upon request.

Jeanette and Norma are presenting in Spanish. Gabriella Perez can do her session in either language, and only asks to be told which language she will be using.

4. Public Comment

            a.  Sue: there has been a request from a community committee member attendee to hold a vote on committee membership.  The next vote on membership will be held at the October 6 meeting.

            b.  Darlene: National ADA conference will be held in Denver in June 20-23, 2010. The Council will be notified of it at the Council meeting on September 23, 2009.

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Minutes for September 1, 2009 were approved.
2.       Pat will mail out hard copies of registration forms
3.       Pat will send the phone numbers for last year’s attendees to iPlanIt to call.
4.       Stacey will prepare press release, send it to committee members, and will send it to  a variety of neighborhood newspapers.
5.       Pat will send Stacey a press release example from Dan Davidson
6.       Motion to waive and refund registration fees passed.
7.       Motion to charge vendors at cost was approved, with Yvette abstaining.
8.       The committee will add an extra meeting on September 30 at 9 AM.  The next regular meting is October 6, 2009, beginning at 9:30 AM.

___________________________________________________________________

Those in attendance: Penny Gonnella, Sue Fager, José Reyes, Darlene Beals (by phone), Yvette Plummer, Jeanette Cordova (10:20 AM on phone)
Guests: Stacey Pina
Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton, Patricia Murphy
Those absent:  Dion Gillespie, Karen Ferrington

Meeting Activities
Date: August 19, 2009

___________________________________________________________________

ISSUE:
1.      Approval of Minutes from August 4, 2009
2.      Conference/Planning & Grants Committee
3.      2010 ADA National Summit
4.      October Council retreat
5.      Article
6.      9 News Helpline
7.      Outreaching to Multilingual media
8.      DD Summit
9.      Media opportunity from/through Deon

DISCUSSION:

1.      Regarding the inclusion of Gloria Semien's comments into the meeting minutes for the Aug 4 meeting, the minute taker did not understand Gloria's comments, and at the subsequent meeting Gloria was welcomed to contribute her comments via email, since the audio recorder was not working. Gloria declined to provide them.

2.      Conference:

a.             Stacey checked with speakers to see if any were affected by the October furlough for state employees. DVR has been talking about Steve Allen being co-presenter with someone who is familiar with school to work transition questions that come up for people seeking DVR supports. Marcia Tewell sent a letter asking for exemptions for CDHS staff to Karen Beye, and there has been no response to date.

b.             Contact list of potential conference sponsors has gone out to committee. Hard-copy registration form is not yet finished, awaiting Spanish translation.

c.             Senator Carroll is set as first keynote.  Second potential keynote, still not confirmed, is Norma Diaz. Norma was unable to attend today’s meeting, as planned. Stacey read email from Norma from this morning:  Committee members are concerned that she has been difficult to get in contact with, that she hasn’t been able to make this committee meeting.

d.             Discussion about TASH involvement at the conference: They are interested in doing a workshop.  They are holding their national conference in Denver in 2010. The committee and TASH are interested in having a meeting to talk about what each entity is doing in the way of multiculturalism and inclusion of people of color in advocacy organizations. Haley reviewed for the committee TASH’s People of Color Initiative. They have been going to the national conferences of national disability rights organizations (NDSC, ASA, for instance). Intend to creative greater cultural competency in national disability rights organizations. Want to share what they’ve learned at the October conference. The follow-up workshop could be another opportunity for TASH and the MCC to work together.

e.             Holiday Inn Express is very accessible, and has 4 rooms that are fully accessible. They have been told that 10 rooms, total, will be held for this conference.

3.   2010 ADA National Summit

4.   Gloria’s feedback on the Planning and Grants Committee meeting August 18, 2009 and information on the African-American Parent Leadership Project.

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Gloria will send Pat the text for her comments on committee structure and process that were not reflected in the minutes. Minutes for August 4, 2009 will be reviewed and approved at the next meeting

2.       The next meetings are September 1 and September 16, 2009. The meeting before the conference is the 6^th of October.

3.       TASH will be asked to give the second keynote after Senator Carroll and Norma will be asked to give a break-out session. MCC wants to add a meeting with TASH during the conference.

4.       Sue moved that committee members who want to have a vendor table at the conference not be charged, Yvette seconded. The motion passed. The motion was amended to reflect the actual cost of vendor tables, and committee members will be charged the $35 per table.
___________________________________________________________________

Those in attendance: Sue Fager, Darlene Beals (by phone), Yvette Plummer, Karen Ferrington (by phone), José Reyes (by phone)
Guests: Tammy White, Stacey Pina, Gloria Semien, Haley Kimmet from TASH (by phone)
Staff Present: Marna Ares, Pat Murphy, Mackenzie Helton
Those absent:  Jeanette Cordova, Penny Gonnella

 Meeting Activities
Date: August 4, 2009

 ___________________________________________________________________

ISSUE:

1)       Call to Order / Introductions / Minutes

2)       Planning for October 2009 Conference

a)       Governor-ordered furloughs for State employees:  furlough day on Friday, 10/9/09 will affect staff, etc., participation in Conference

b)       Registration update

c)       Hotel site visits / speaker planning / volunteers / corporate sponsorship

3)       Planning for Non-Conference Work of the MCC

a)       Article for Council newsletter, Between the Lines, about the MCC

b)       MCC as part of Council’s Retreat on 10/22 – 10/23/09

__________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION:

1. Minutes:  were not reviewed
2. Planning for October Conference
1. Discussion of problem:  Governor-ordered furlough day on 10/9/09 will impact CDDC staff participation and possibly, participation of some presenters and attendees
2. Stacey Pina reported regarding registration process for both regular attendees and presenters.  The on-line registration site, (https://iplanit.emeetingsonline.com/emeetings/websitev2.asp?mmnno=183&pagename=ATTENDEE) is now operational.  Registrants may also call contact Julie Vaughn at iPlanIt (1-800-781-1193, ext. 606), to register.
3. Stacey reported that the e-mail “blast” soliciting possible conference sponsors has gone out.
4. Colorado State Senator Morgan Carroll has expressed her willingness to participate in the conference.  The plan would probably be for her to attend the Friday (10/9) breakfast, introduce herself and talk with attendees.  This would probably be from 8:45 – 9:00 that day; however, this time allotment could be expanded.
5. Conference logistics:  need volunteers to introduce breakout sessions and coordinate feedback sheet distribution and collection, etc.  Perhaps Yvette Plummer can help contact organizations for help with volunteers—NOVA / Bridgette Larkin were mentioned as possibilities.
6. Stacey passed out the current draft schedule for breakout sessions; discussion followed.
7. Stacey announced that she will do site visits this afternoon, to check out the hotels located close to the conference venue to assure they are accessible, etc.  Mackenzie will need to review and sign off on a forthcoming informal “letter of intent” with the hotels.
8. Update regarding keynote speakers and speeches:

a.                   We finally have contacted Norma Diaz, tentative Friday [?]keynote speaker.  (Other keynote speaker [Saturday/], Ian Watlington, is now confirmed.)  Discussed logistics regarding Ms. Diaz’s tentative presentation:  How can we get enough Spanish-to-English translation equipment sets for everyone in the audience?  Does her presentation focus only on autism?  (If so, needs to be broadened.)

b.                   We need a back-up keynote speaker in case Norma Diaz does not work out.  How about Bob Lawhead of Employment Link and Project Search?

9. Talked about how to distribute handouts following the conference—on web site?  .PDF files only? On flash drives?  Could we get a sponsor to donate flash drives?
2. Planning for Non-Conference Work of the MCC
1. Penny Gonnella detailed the history of the MCC.  The MCC was created in 2004, with the goal of sensitizing the full Council and others regarding issues of underrepresented people with disabilities.  The Council issued two Requests for Proposals (RfPs) shortly after the establishment of the Committee.  In regard to the question, “What is mission and vision of the MCC?”—Penny’s take is that the “majority” population has rights that the “minority” populations don’t have.  Goals of the committee have been to increase cultural and linguistic competence and encourage the Council to do an organizational “cultural assessment” (or, one could use different terminology to avoid the negative, medical-model-based term “assessment”—the term “self-exploration” could be substituted).
2. Penny talked about the funding granted by the Council for the “Cultural Competence and Responsiveness Conference” (Year One and Year Two).  She also talked about concerns raised by the Council’s Planning and Grants Committee regarding its perception of lower-than-expected outcomes from the C. C. and R. Year One follow-up workshop held 4-18-2009.  The Council voted not to fund Year Three of the C. C. and R. Conference at its July meeting.  She discussed suggestions from the Planning and Grants Committee for possible changes in emphasis regarding the Conference in future years.
3. Sue summarized the recent MCC meeting where the Planning and Grants Committee’s concerns and ideas regarding Year Three of the Conference were aired.
4. Mackenzie clarified that the Planning and Grants Committee desires outcomes assessment after “skipping” a year.  He explained the history of funding decisions, votes, etc.  He explained that for the current (Year Two) conference, the plan is to get increased funding from sponsors, compared with Year One’s amounts.
5. José suggested the Committee develop a standard, accepted definition of cultural competence; also, it should stress non-conference-related goals and plans.
6. Sue suggested the committee continue to work on defining itself.
7. Sue mentioned the possibility of having MCC members compose an article covering the Committee’s work and the importance of cultural competence.  This article would be published in the upcoming Fall 2009 issue of Between the Lines.  Discussion followed (see also below).
3. Handouts at this meeting:

a.                   Current draft of Breakout Session schedule

b.                   Summary of participant input from October conference (handed out again)

c.                   Background Statement RE:  MCC

d.                   Council Mission Statement

e.                   “CDDC Philosophical Precepts”

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

(1)     Stacey will send out an e-mail re:  “Will any speakers or presenters scheduled thus far for the Conference be affected by the October 9^th furlough day?”

(2)     Stacey will send the e-contact list regarding possible conference sponsors to MCC members

(3)     Stacey will send Pat a version of the registration form that can be printed out; Pat will make arrangements to send out to those on the CDDC newsletter mailing list who don’t have access to e-mail.  (Need to consult with IDS and/or Mail Services on this task.)

(4)     Stacey will invite Sen. Carroll to the breakfast and get a confirmation from her.

(5)     iPlanIt will create volunteer sign-up sheets and help coordinate process.

(6)     iPlanIt will look process for obtaining extra translation equipment sets (over and above the 75-person capacity available through equipment that can be borrowed free of charge from PEAK Parent Center).

(7)     Mackenzie will contact Bob Lawhead re:  Would he be willing to serve as a back-up keynote speaker?

(8)     José Reyes volunteers to be a “pinch hitter” backup speaker or breakout session presenter.

(9)     Gloria Semien suggested asking questions of policy makers at the conference [Senator Carroll or Lisa Weil (breakout session presenter)], regarding whether ARRA / special education funding is available, and how the process for obtaining it works.

(10)     Darlene Beals suggested that each committee member send a conference invitation to her/his legislative representatives; they could participate in meals and/or sessions.

(11)    Penny will re-send the Georgetown University cultural competence materials from last October’s conference to all current MCC members.

ACTIONS

Consensus re:  submitting a newsletter article—“Yes.”  Sue asked committee members to send her ideas that they think should be covered in the article.

1.       Sue and Penny (?) will meet to work on the article.  Guessing at the timeframe:  apparently, it needs to be completed and sent to Marna for inclusion in the newsletter by early September. (?)

2.       Next meeting will be Wed., August 19^th from 9:30-11:30.

3.       Meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.

 ___________________________________________________________________

Those in attendance:, Sue Fager (Chairperson), Darlene Beals, Jeanette Cordova, Karen Ferrington, Penny Gonnella, Stacey Pina, José Reyes

Guests: Gloria Semien

Staff Present: Patricia D. Murphy, Mackenzie Helton

Those absent:  Yvette Plummer

___________________________________________________________________

Meeting Activities
Date: July 15, 2009

___________________________________________________________________

ISSUE:

1.       Proposals for break-out sessions

2.       Committee conversation between MCC and P&G

3.       Next steps

DISCUSSION:

1.      Proposal review:

a.  Proposals rated at 3: A, C, E, F, M, P, Q, R, S, T (Fager session on sexuality); U (employment session to be added, maybe) Sue asked that Stacey have the ADA presentation include the Civil Rights Act.

b.  Proposals TBD: B, G, H, I, J, K, N, O

                                                                                             i.                         B:  it is interactive, previous sessions committee members have attended were inclusive of cultural diversity in many aspects. Stacey will ask her to redefine her objectives in terms of the goals of the conference.

                                                                                           ii.                         G: After discussion, this proposal is accepted, but the outcomes need to be more specific (restate and expand the wording of the objectives, and use her background in hospice to bring health care into the presentation)

                                                                                          iii.                         H:  Move them to the YES group. Ask them to define themselves in cultural terms.

                                                                                          iv.                         I: moved to the NO group

                                                                                            v.                         J: How do the objectives apply to the realm of cultural competency? Didn’t use people-first language. Moved to NO group.

                                                                                          vi.                         K: Very medically oriented, doesn’t address cultural aspects, not necessarily respectful to people with disabilities. Moved to NO group.

                                                                                         vii.                         N: moved to YES; with addition of steps people can take after awareness to bridge the gap. Committee wants to see what the presentation of the steps will comprise.

                                                                                       viii.                         O: moved to NO group. Medical model (handicapping condition, for example).

c.  L?

d.  Proposals not to discuss further: D

e. Tammy and Stacey will work on the 11 plus B and G to develop a rough agenda for breakout sessions to provide the committee.

f.    What about the gaps of information?  We can still solicit particular presenters on particular topics.  Sue Fager may provide a second session on sexuality. Need another session on how family can help their young adult with a disability go through the employment process.

2.      Committee conversation: Betty explained the P&G reasons for not recommending funding for Year Three of the Cultural Competence conference, taking what is learned from the two conferences and doing regional conferences.  The added benefit would be in getting feedback from citizens around the state in order to develop the next Five-Year Plan that would be a data-driven strategic planning document with current information.

José was saying it sounded like doing focus groups. Marcia pointed out that it was difficult in the past to gather people to participate in focus groups and that the conference would offer people information and a conference format.

Betty also explained that the Planning & Grants Committee didn’t see enough outcomes from the first conference and workshop, and they have no other information to go on now since the second conference and workshop have not occurred. Betty emphasized that the P&G wants to help with this since it is an in-house project.

Sue suggested that the MCC provide a training for the Council on what cultural competency is and how to incorporate it into the Five-Year Plan to be developed for 2012 – 2016. Marcia reminded the group that when the MCC was formed there was an intention to use the Georgetown University assessment tool for the Council, and that could be revisited now.

Marcia reviewed the history of the MCC and the goals of the Council and the MCC.

Suggestions for future: Sue suggested that an article on multiculturalism and the Council’s perspective on cultural competence be in the fall newsletter.  Sue also suggested doing a self-check at the September Council meeting.  Third suggestion is to discuss ongoing awareness of cultural competence as part of the Council retreat in October. Fourth suggestion is for ongoing awareness of words, acronyms, and cultural faux pas.

3.      Need a keynote: To Consider: Morgan Carroll.  Sue might have the person she met at the NOVA training consider coming to the August 4 meeting.

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       The next meeting is August 4, 2009 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM.

2.       Stacey and Tammy will be emailing committee members with proposed schedule and responses from the B and G proposals. Committee members are asked to respond to emails (reply to all) promptly.

Those in attendance: Yvette Plummer, Penny Gonnella, Sue Fager, Betty Henderson, Darlene Beals, José Reyes

Guests: Tammy White, Stacey Pina

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Pat Murphy, Mackenzie Helton, Marcia Tewell

___________________________________________________________________

Meeting Activities
Date: June 17, 2009

ISSUE:

1.        Proposal for third annual conference

2.        Minutes from June 2, 2009

3.        Conference update

DISCUSSION:

1.       Proposal for third annual conference:  The Planning & Grants Committee meets tomorrow and will consider all proposals for continued funding.  The Council will vote on the P&G recommendations at its July 22, 2009 meeting. Tammy White pointed out that the date of the conference in the proposal is incorrect – it should be 2010.

2.       Minutes: approved.

3.       Conference update

                                                               i.      Mackenzie: Official function form has gone to CDHS for approval.   Last year’s conference was budgeted at $70,008. $50,617 was spent on the conference, and the workshop cost $5.130.83, leaving $14,260.17 being rolled forward. The second year was granted $54,450, giving budget of 68,710.17. $34,710.17 is left after planners and venue costs are accounted for.

                                                              ii.      Call for Presentations deadline being extended to July 8, and proposals will be considered on July 15. The Spanish translation will be ready today, and Marna will work with Electronic Stores to post the interactive form on the Spanish website.

                                                            iii.      Call for Presentations and save the date have gone out in eblasts.

                                                            iv.      Sponsorship announcement is almost ready to go out on emails and be posted on the web.

                                                             v.      Mackenzie made changes to the speaker agreement form and will let Tammy take the modifications to correct the form that will be used. Mackenzie suggested that speakers not be charged for the conference registration. Committee agreed with that approach.

3. Committee membership
1. Penny talked with Maria Cabral to see if someone could be on the Multicultural to represents El Grupo Vida. Members are asked to recruit other members as well.  

ACTIONS/DECISIONS/BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.        The meeting on July 7 is cancelled.  The Committee will meet on July 15 from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. The committee will review proposals for presentations and the draft registration form.

2.        The Call for Presentations turns out not to have been mailed out. Pat and Marna will get it out to print and mail services today, and the deadline date will be July 8, 2009.

3.        The committee decided to pay José $2500 for one day of the conference so that he and Penny can end the conference with the group-centered planning for the workshop.

4.        The committee decided that pursuing the offering of CEU’s was at cross-purposes to the vision and intent of the conference.

Those in attendance:, Jeanette Cordova, Penny Gonnella, Deon Gillespie

Guests: Tammy White

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton, Pat Murphy

Those absent:  Yvette Plummer, Sue Fager, Darlene Beals, José Reyes

Meeting Activities
Date: June 2, 2009

ISSUE:

      1.       Proposal for third annual conference
2.       Conference update

DISCUSSION:

1.  Proposal for third annual conference

• Discussed how parents would be drawn to the conference and whether to add a track for young adults. Sue would like to do a session.  What other groups would be invited? Denver Interagency Transition might be one. Other grantees of the Council could also be recruited (those that include diverse communities – Access and  Ability in Weld County, PEAK’s Life Building in Aurora, Parent-to-Parent African-American Parent Leadership project).
• Darlene and Sue will come up with 5 possible sub-titles for the conference (we’ve moved beyond learning), and send the suggestions out to the committee for a vote.
• They will send out another draft for Committee input before submitting it to the Planning and Grants Committee.

2. Conference update

1. Discussed call for presentations as it is being made ready for email blast. 

                                                               i.      There will be a sentence in English and Spanish promising that Spanish version of call for proposals, and other materials will be available soon.

                                                             ii.      Stacey will send Marna the proposed list of email blast recipients.

2. Pricing for conference attendees, vendors, etc. discussed, and pricing is in two tiers, with costs increasing to $50 for participants after September 10, 2009.
3. Reviewed the list of sponsorship possibilities and commitment form.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Marna post last year’s agenda in the description of the upcoming conference/save the date blurb on the frontpage.

2.       Stacey will send Marna the lists of prospective recipients of email blasts for call for presentations and for sponsorship/vendors.

3.       Stacey will send Marna the text for the call for presentations so that it may be translated into Spanish. José and Jeanette will review the translation before it is posted on the website.

4.       iPlanIt will have online registration draft will be ready by July 15.

Next Meeting: June 17, 2009, 9:30 to 11:30 AM.

Those in attendance:, Sue Fager, Jeanette Cordova (by phone), Darlene Beals, José Reyes,

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton, Pat Murphy

Meeting Activities
Date: May 20, 2009

ISSUE:

1. Call to Order, Introductions, Minutes
2. create agenda for conference to process Official function form for state
3. call for presentations status, save the date card, Proposal June 9, review master timeline, vendors, sponsorship
4. New business
5. Old business

DISCUSSION:

1. The committee approved the tentative agenda for the conference itself
2. Call for presentations went out but it is not interactive yet.  Planners want to know who this went to, so Pat needs to follow up with them with contact list.  Email blast to presenters from planners approved by Marna before they sent it. Jim will get on the website interactivity project this week. Due date June 26^th  for call for presentations.   Questions were raised on the translation by José to Jeanette and clarified.  Ian Watlington is confirmed as a keynote for either day. 
3. Fifteen slots for presentations, may have had 17 submissions last year.  Marketing will hopefully increase the submissions.
4. Will want to make calls to those we WANT to present, to invite and assure they will submit a presentation.
5. Sue presented her proposal for the P and G committee and minor adjustments were made to fit the ten page restriction.  Penny will get the template that Marna developed so that it is standardized with other proposals being submitted.  Evals. from last year will be included in the proposal.
6. Sponsorship – space is foyer space and very visible with 6-8’ tables.  What are costs of exhibiting and is cost part of sponsorship?  Agencies and companies can sponsor a keynote, lunch or other very specific items involved with the conference.  ( $35 for registration)  If a group is a sponsor, they would get a free display table as well as a mention of their group in the brochure.
7. Note that directions to the Sumit are wrong if Mapquest is used – maps and directions need to note that the event center is in a shopping center next to the Hobby Lobby.

ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

Stacy will develop a sponsorship benefit/fee schedule for the next meeting.

Marketing plan for email blasts by next meeting.

Sue will get out the P and G proposal via email.

Stacy create an at a glance dates/e-blast for communications.

Stacy will send out a TBD list with updated checklist of things accomplished and not.  Her information will supplant for information in this section of the minutes. 

Those in attendance:  Penny Gonnella, planners Tammy and Stacy, José Esquibel, Sue Fager, Jeanette by phone

Staff Present: Marcia Tewell, Mack Helton

Those absent:  Marna Ares

Meeting Activities
Date: May 5, 2009

ISSUE:

1.       Call to Order, Introductions

2.       Proposal for third conference and workshop

DISCUSSION:

1.       Minutes

2.      Conference and Workshop outcomes:  the workshop was more interactive because it was a small group. Only one person attending the workshop had not been at the October conference. Penny acknowledges the need to look at the performance targets. The Five-Year Plan area of emphasis of Quality Assurance, Goal 1 and Objectives 1, 3 and 4, is directly addressed by the proposed conference and workshop. Also addressed is the Formal and Informal Community Supports Goal 1, Objective 2.

Mackenzie pointed out that the Planning and Grants Committee has requested that proposals from all current grantees request no more than 80% of the previous year’s funding.  The amount for the conference year three would be $43,560.  There is a 10-page limit for all proposals.

The conference planners were not able to attend this committee meeting because their purchase order has not been processed.

An ad hoc committee will be working in the interim to write the proposal.  Members who volunteered are Darlene Beals, Sue Fager and Penny Gonnella. Darlene will be the coordinator for the ad hoc committee. José and Penny will best be able to participate by conference call.

3.      Conference planning for October 2009.

a.       Meeting will be on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2 PM to draft a call for presentations.. Darlene, José, Sue and Penny will be at the meeting.  Yvette voiced concern that the call for presentations be inviting to family members as well as professionals. José was suggesting that there be invited speakers to ensure that family members and people with disabilities are part of the conference.

b.       Have a line on the “save the date” postcard – to submit a proposal for a presentation, please see the website. Besides a notice in the newsletter, committee members made calls to presenters they wanted to be presenters.

c.       Mackenzie met with Summit Event Center to go over accessibility and catering aspects of the conference.

d.       CEU’s are needed.  Penny will get the details of what information is required in order to offer CEU’s.

e.       Deadline for presentations is June 30, 2009.

f.         Keynote speaker(s) needs to be set asap. Mackenzie will talk with Ian Watlington to be the keynote speaker in October. Sue suggested Kathy Martinez who is now in ODEP. Sue will get in touch with Kathy Martinez to see if she could be a keynote.

g.       Should the meeting schedule be changed to allow for two meetings per month?  First Tuesday and third Wednesday each month, at 9:30 to 11:30 AM.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Marna will email committee members copies of the last two proposals that were approved.

2.       Marna will email committee members a copy of last year’s call for presentations.

ACTIONS

1.       The next meeting is June 2, 2009.

2.       Sue will give the committee report at the May 27, 2009 Council meeting.

Those in attendance:, Sue Fager, Penny Gonnella, Yvette Plummer (by phone), Jeanette Cordova (by phone), Darlene Beals, José Reyes, Deon Gillespie

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton, Pat Murphy

Meeting Activities
Date: April 15, 2009

ISSUE:

      1.  Call to Order, Introductions, Minutes
2.      Planning for April
     i.      Registration update
     ii.      Venue arrangements

DISCUSSION:

1. Minutes from April 7, 2009: approved
2. Planning for April
1. Registrant numbers: Approximately 60 people are registered. Corrections were made to account for people who will not actually be coming.
2. Panel members: Frank Kim, Norma Diaz, Darlene Beals, three from Alpha Alpha chapter of international org. honor society for people with disability Delta Alpha Pi at Metro State: The suggestion is to have one person of the latter group be designated as the spokesperson for the group.

                      i.      For the panel discussion, Sue had a comment on the draft handout, thinking there may need to be a definition of cultural responsiveness. José will add the definition, and will email it to the panel members. He will also add a definition of cultural competence.

3. Sue will moderate the discussion section for asking people how they applied what they learned from the October conference.
4. Handouts:

                                                               i.      Agenda

                                                             ii.      Summary of participant input from October conference

                                                            iii.      CLAS standards specific to health care cultural competency expectations.

                                                           iv.      Self-evaluation (for handing out at end of session) José will prepare it and email to Marna within the next couple of days.

                                                             v.      Workshop evaluation form is finalized, and is in English and Spanish.

                                                           vi.      Overview of organizational assessments:  

                                                          vii.      Articles from José (given to staff today as hard copies)

                                                        viii.      Marna will make up Save The Date for October conference

                                                           ix.      Include in the packet the handout Darlene brought to the last meeting from Mile High Down Syndrome Assoc.

                                                             x.      Include in packet the Council’s brochure on including people with disabilities on boards of directors.

5.  Role play skits. (format is to do one skit, break into discussion groups, do second skit, break into discussions)

                                                               i.      The committee chose the Teachers’ Lounge and The Community Center skits.

                                                             ii.      Who will play the roles?

1.      Community Center: Darlene will play the employee, Marna will play the parent

2.      Teachers’ Lounge:  Penny and Sue will play the parts.

                                                            iii.      Questions to use for debriefing:

1.      Do you have experience with this type of situation?

2.      What does the scenario say about the organization (community center or school)?

3.      For second skit, ask the question about how you would apply cultural skills.

                                                           iv.      Each committee member will take responsibility for moderating a small group discussion, and is encouraged to refer to the focus group handout that Penny sent out a few weeks ago.

6. Penny will close the workshop with a talk promoting the October conference and recruiting committee members for the Multicultural Committee.
7. Council will bring extra laptop, docking station. José will bring extra speakers, lcd projector, his computer. Penny as easle for flipchart paper in her car. CDDC will bring markers.  We need name badges and markers.
8. AGENDA:  who does what

                                                               i.      8:30 to 9 – Penny will do welcome

                                                             ii.      9 – 9:15 Review of days activities and agenda

                                                            iii.      9:15 – 9:35 Review of feedback from October(José will moderate)

                                                           iv.      9:35 to 9:50  Sue will moderate discussion of how people were able to apply the information

                                                             v.      Break from  9:50 to 10

                                                           vi.      10 – 11:30 AM José will begin panel segment.

                                                          vii.      11:30 to 12: When the Moon Come Up: Framing question is how can one person’s decision impact a person’s life? Marna will help with discussion by introducing the concept of the least dangerous assumption/ presuming competence.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.      Marna will prepare agenda and make copies. One will be a working agenda for committee members and the other will be for the packet.

2.      José will prepare the self-evaluation and email it to Marna

3.      Packets will be stuffed on Friday morning

4.      Include Five-Year Plan booklets in English and in Spanish

5.      Pat will prepare registration sheets

ACTIONS

1.      The next meeting is Cinco de Mayo.

Those in attendance:, Sue Fager, José Reyes, Penny Gonnella, Yvette Plummer, Darlene Beals (by phone)

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Patricia D. Murphy, Mackenzie Helton

Those absent:  Jeanette Cordova

Meeting Activities
Date: April 7, 2009

ISSUE:

      1.   Call to Order, Introductions, Minutes
2.      Planning for April
   i.     Registration update
   ii.     Venue arrangements
3.      October 2009 conference
   i.      Conference planner job description
   ii.     Venue search

DISCUSSION:

1. Minutes:  were not reviewed
2. Planning for April
1. Discussion of list of people to call:  Ben Sutton needs someone for personal support in order to attend the workshop.
2. Panel members: Frank Kim, Norma Diaz, Darlene Beals, two from Alpha Alpha chapter of international org. honor society for people with disability Delta Alpha Pi at Metro State: Ashley Alexander and Joanna Littau. Norma will probably present in Spanish, so we will able to use the interpreters and translation equipment.
3. Sue will moderate the discussion section for asking people how they applied what they learned from the October conference.
4. Handouts:

                                                               i.      Summary of participant input from October conference

                                                             ii.      CLAS standards specific to health care cultural competency expectations. (José will prepare.)

                                                            iii.      Self-evaluation (for handing out at end of session)

                                                           iv.      Workshop evaluation form

                                                             v.      Overview of organizational assessments (Penny and José will work on it, have it ready for April 15 meeting)

2.  Evaluation:  Use the handout from last meeting – self-evaluation (José is working on format and will send out to committee).

                                                               i.      Questions to include:

1.      Application of cultural skills

2.      What is best practice?

3.      What is cultural competence?

4.      What are cultural skills?

5.      What have I tried?

6.      What new information have I gained that I can take with me from today?

                                                             ii.      Marna will synthesize the evaluation questions from the October conference so that we can get the information that is needed for funding agencies and committee’s need to know about how people like/don’t like the logistics, location, agenda, etc.

3. Role play skits. We will use the role play skits as a way to raise the consciousness of the participants.  One skit will take one minute, and the open-ended issues posed will be discussed by the attendees.  (We have time for two skits.)   Asking questions of the audience is important.  (Maybe those who are developing and performing the skits could even take them “on the road.”

4. Fall Conference

                                                               i.      Planner Search: iPlanIt was chosen as conference planner.  Mackenzie talked about the search process.

                                                             ii.       Venue Search results:  the Summit Conference Center in Aurora is our chosen venue.  Roxie Crow is the contact person.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.      José will work on phrasing for last part of his opening PowerPoint presentation and send to group for word-smithing.

2.      Pat will send José the logos for the Council and conference so that he can finalize the handout of participant feedback on October conference.

3.      Penny and José will finalize handout on CLAS standards for the April 15 meeting.

4.      Committee as a group will approve all handouts at the April 15 meeting and Council staff will make the necessary copies.

5.      José will send sample “role play” ideas to the committee.

6.      Yvette will rework the draft skit.

7.      Darlene will create a different skit.

ACTIONS

1.      The group has the next meeting to April 15 instead of April 17.

             Those in attendance:, Sue Fager, José Reyes, Penny Gonnella, Yvette Plummer, Darlene Beals

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Patricia D. Murphy, Mackenzie Helton

Those absent:  Jeanette Cordova

                                                Date: March 3, 2009

ISSUE:

1. Call to Order, Introductions, Minutes
2. Planning for April
3. Registration
4. Venue arrangements
5. October 2009 conference
6. Conference planner job description
7. Venue search

DISCUSSION:

1. Minutes:  for February 20, 2009 were reviewed and approved

2. Planning for April

                                                               i.      Sue gave Mackenzie a paper copy of the bid from Three Tomatoes.

                                                             ii.      Pat and Marna made a site visit to the District 1 Police station where the April workshop will be held.

Agenda for workshop:

1.       Presentation on examples of best practices by a panel. The panel needs to include a parent, a young person, and others. Norma Diaz is one suggestion – Yvette will contact her.

2.       Carey Ann Tanaka is another. Metro State student group focused on multiculturalism. Pat will contact a student who is part of starting the student group on disability. Penny has connections with El Futuro (gay and bisexual Latinos).

3.       Group discussion of people’s experiences in implementing ideas from conference (based the list of questions that were in the conference brochure)

4.       Have José review his PowerPoint presentation

5.       Break into three groups to discuss the CC skill development. Penny suggested having members of the MCC facilitate the three group discussions.

6.       Discussion Today:

a.       Opening the session:  welcome, review the October conference and what we accomplished with the conference in October 2008. Darlene suggested making a handout of the questions with space for taking notes.

b.       José suggested giving the group a walk through the powerpoint that reviews the participant feedback from October 2008.  Sue was wondering if going through all the slides would take too long. José suggested taking 10-15 minutes to review the feedback without going through each slide.

c.       Tell people what was said in the evaluations (summary) and ask people how they were able to apply information from the conference in their lives.

d.       Introduce the panel of people who employ best practices.  Ask participants to include on the evaluation suggestions for who would be good presenters for October 2009

e.       What does cultural competency mean and what is best practice?  What about groups that are monolingual or leadership development for people with disabilities and family members that excludes service providers?

f.         Panel will be given an hour, including 5 presentations and time for questions. Sue suggested it would be a good idea to have questions ready in case there aren’t enough from participants. The panel will present first, and then questions will be taken for all panelists. Have the group develop definitions of best practices.

g.       Follow panel discussion with group work to define best practice.

h.       José suggested using “When the Moon Come Up” film as a point to begin discussion of how to apply skills of cultural competence, also can be used with skits.  We may want to give them a set of generalized principles. Sue thought about list of general skills – how similar would it be to asking people what their ideas of best practices are?

i.         After lunch: need to use the feedback the group gave last October.  What makes the MCC and what it has been doing evidence of best practice? Yvette was talking about the importance of helping people think about change from the bottom up rather than top down.

Draft Agenda:

8:30 –9:00            Breakfast

9:00 – 9:15            Welcome, Review of Agenda

9:15 – 9:35            Review of October Conference (José)

9:35 – 9:50            Break

9:50 – 10:00            Question: how were you able to apply…and notes

10:00 – 11:00            Group discussion on what people understand to be best practices

11: - 12:00            Panel

3. Fall Conference

                                                               i.      Venue Search summarized by Patricia Murphy:  Radisson has the dates available. The only other hotel that may have the dates available is the Red Lion Hotel and it is not sure it will have the dates available yet.  Penny is looking into using the Anschutz center.  The other non-hotel site is the Summit Events Center in Aurora.  Colorado History Museum hasn’t replied by the deadline.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Yvette will talk with Norma and Ian to be on the panel.

2.       José will bring list of skills to the next meeting.

ACTIONS

1.       Darelene Beals moved to approve the minutes, Sue seconded. Minutes for February 20, 2009 were approved.

2.       The committee needs to develop the list of questions that will be asked of prospective conference planners.

3.       Pat will follow up on Metro State student from the students with disabilities honor society

4.       José will talk with Kary Ann Tanaka about being on the panel

5.       Penny will contact El Futuro for a panelist

6.       Darlene will contact people at Denver Academy who presented at the Inclusion Conference.

Those in attendance:, Darlene Beals, Sue Fager, Yvette Plummer, José Reyes (by phone)
Staff Present: Marna Ares, Patricia D. Murphy, Mackenzie Helton

Those absent:  Penny Gonnella, Jeanette Cordova

Meeting Activities
February 20, 2009
Multicultural Committee Meeting

ISSUE:

1.       Call to Order, Introductions, Minutes

2.       Planning for April

                       i.      Registration

                         ii.      Venue arrangements

3.       October 2009 conference

                       i.      Conference planner job description

                     ii.      Venue search 

DISCUSSION:

1.       Minutes:  for February 3, 2009.

2.       Planning for April

                                                               i.      Sue distributed the information she’s gotten on potential caterers.  On the list: Three Tomatoes, Udi’s and Gourmet to Go. Three Tomatoes is on 29^th and Federal, and is located closest to, approximately, the venue.

                                                             ii.      PowerPoint: the group talked about doing skits illustrating points, and to break up into three groups to discuss the three CC Skill Development slides.  Penny noted that best practices needs to be discussed and it could be where the skits would fit in.  The group could use specific examples of what best practices have worked.

Sue suggested putting best practices at the beginning so people will be introduced to what has worked, as the information will inform the middle segment of the workshop. The end of the workshop will review best practice again in terms of what has been learned at the workshop, what can be taken forward as individual’s best practices.

Agenda for workshop:

1.       Presentation on examples of best practices by a panel. The panel needs to include a parent, a young person, and others. Norma Diaz is one suggestion, Carey Ann Tanaka is another. Metro State student group focused on multiculturalism. Pat will contact a student who is part of starting the student group on disability. Penny has connections with El Futuro (gay and bisexual Latinos).

2.       Group discussion of people’s experiences in implementing ideas from conference (based on the list of questions that were in the conference brochure.)

3.       Have José review his PowerPoint presentation

4.       Break into three groups to discuss the CC skill development. Penny suggested having members of the MCC facilitate the three group discussions.

3.       Fall Conference

                                                               i.      Job description: Penny suggested putting listed items in groups of major categories: working with the venue staff, marketing, designing conference materials. The group worked on changing the format, will send the draft out via email, with finalized language accomplished by Feb. 26, 2009 by Noon.  Instead of “work closely” be specific about attending MCC meetings. As conference and workshop time nears those meetings will be twice a month.

Add a budget page with categories and let the planners know what the budget is.

                                                             ii.      Penny wants to fit the 2010 conference into the Council’s schedule for approving grants, i.e. that it be voted on in July 2009. The proposal has to be into the Planning and Grants Committee on June 9, 2009.

                                                            iii.      Venue Search summarized by Patricia Murphy:  Renaissance, DoubleTree, Radisson, Red Lion, Creek Hotel.  Marcia is looking into using the Anschutz Center, and will talk with Penny and Corry Robinson about how to go about that.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Pat will call all prospective planners for whom we do not have email addresses.

2.       Sue will contact Three Tomatoes for a revised budget proposal, excluding coffee for lunch and chips and salsa in the afternoon.

ACTIONS

1.       Minutes for February 3, 2009 were approved.

2.       On the agenda at the MCC May meeting will be on the agenda to prepare a proposal to the P&G Committee to approve another conference and workshop for 2010.

3.       Three Tomatoes was chosen for the April workshop. The budget will cover the Council buying pan dulce and chips and salsa for the afternoon.

4.       Penny will send out her example of conducting focus groups, as a guide for facilitating the three groups at the April workshop

Those in attendance:,: Darlene Beals (by phone), Sue Fager, Penny Gonnella

Guests: none

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Patricia D. Murphy

Those absent:  Eileen Forlenza, Yvette Plummer, Jeanette Cordova, José Reyes, Maria Cabral

Meeting Activities
February 3, 2009
Multicultural Committee Meeting

ISSUE:

4. Call to Order, Introductions, Minutes
5. Planning for April

                                                               i.      Postcard text

                                                             ii.      Registration

                                                            iii.      Venue arrangements

6. Fall 2009 conference

DISCUSSION:

1. Minutes:  for Jan 16. One correction is needed: Spell out the BHO (Behavioral Health Organization). Minutes approved.
2. Planning for April
1. Postcard and registration process:  Registration information will include email and phone number for the Council.  Confirmations will be returned in the mode the registration was made. Anyone calling needing Spanish Pat will link with Maria or José.
2. Venue arrangements:

                                                               i.      Food: we’ll be using an outside caterer. The choice of caterer discussed. Boxed lunches are preferred to buffet.  Of note is the need for trash bags for the clean-up. Morning coffee, pastries, fruit. Afternoon break could be chips and salsa.

                                                             ii.      AV needs:

3. Agenda:

                                                               i.      José will summarize the feedback from the Conference and refer it to the questions listed in the conference brochure.

                                                             ii.      Will ask participants for feedback for the fall conference. Penny suggested that part of the day include breaking up into smaller discussion groups. The groups can be focused on strategies to address the various issues.

                                                            iii.      Participants will be encouraged to share their stories about what information they got from the conference, and how they were able to use the information or how it changed their perspective or thinking. Also ask what kinds of questions or needs for more information have come up for them since the conference.

                                                            iv.      José would like to ask them to offer their ideas for drawing more people to attend the fall conference. 

                                                              v.      Penny talked about the need to have a discussion on assessments that can be done by organizations to examine the cultural competence of the organization. Darlene suggested a handout that people could leave the workshop with to use. It is basically what questions to ask, and why ask those questions?

                                                            vi.      Budget: free venue, $3000 beverage cost; payment to José for his day of consultation $2500.  Mackenzie asked the committee to approve these expenses (estimated).

3. Fall Conference
1. General discussion

                                                               i.      Could include two tracks; one for those who attended the first conference, and those who are attending for the first time.

                                                             ii.      In order to give everyone a chance to hear the variety of speakers the conference could include general sessions with panels of speakers. This discussion followed Sue sharing her thoughts on having attended an LGBTQ conference that included two well-attended sessions on disability issues.

                                                            iii.      Darlene suggested a session on how to give a presentation, with an awareness of cultural considerations.

                                                            iv.      The committee discussed the model of having participants meet with committee members in a form of coaching to create, for instance, speaker teams to be resources to the various communities.

2. Conference Planner selection

                                                               i.      Pat distributed the beginning text of the planner job description. The planners who will be contacted include Sol Consulting, Pippa Lakeman, and Mary Spicer.

                                                             ii.      Site selection will be done by Council staff because of state fiscal rules.

                                                            iii.      Mackenzie had some modifications to job descriptions: site selection deleted, add that they will also be helping with the April 2010 workshop. Sue suggested more details be added about conference materials, such as putting together conference packets.

                                                            iv.      For handouts: there could be a deadline for presenters to submit their handouts, with a limit on the number of handout pages (e.g. 5-10 pages). All can be submitted electronically, a CD of all handouts in the registration packet, and paper copies made according to the number of people registered for their session. Make sure to let presenters know this is not an opportunity to market their services or businesses.  If the deadline has passed, presenters are responsible for their handouts and the costs associated. Format needs to be pdf to protect copyright.

                                                              v.      Include in the planner job description the need to produce the CD of handouts.

                                                            vi.      List of potential planner will be finalized by Feb. 27 EOB. People will be contacted on March 2 to ask if they will respond.  They will have their proposals in by Tuesday March 17, EOB.  Interviews can be held between the 17^th and the 24^th, conducted by staff and MCC members.

3. Venue selection

                                                               i.      Pat tried Metro State.  It can be counted out, but we need something on their letterhead explaining why that venue is not available.

                                                             ii.      Campbell Center is now accessible by bus, though the venue could only be considered the April 2010 workshop.

                                                            iii.      Radisson Stapleton Plaza is tentatively holding the space for October 9-10, 2009.

                                                            iv.      Pat will check into availability at the Doubletree and Renaissance (both on Quebec near the Radisson).

4. Sponsors

                                                               i.      Planner should be primarily responsible for soliciting sponsorships.  Committee members can be resource for organizations that could be potential sponsors. Sponsors can cover the costs of various parts of the conference or make a donation at a certain level.

5. Speakers

                                                               i.      Mackenzie asked Ian Watlington about being a keynote.  Norma Diaz has been considered, to do her session in Spanish, José Reyes.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1. Next meetings are: February 20, March 3, March 13, April 7, and April 17.
2. Marna will send out draft of postcard text to MCC members by Wednesday, Feb. 4.
3. Sue offered to call to see which caterers are in the area. Penny knows of one on 29^th and Speer (Three Tomatoes). Sue will also ask if there is a projection screen available.
4. José will prepare a PowerPoint for the February 20 meeting that summarizes feedback from the fall conference.
5. Penny will bring an example of an assessment tool to the February 20 meeting.
6. On Monday February 9, Penny will send out finalized job description to all MCC members with the deadline for responses the 18^th of February. Job description will be approved at the February 20 MCC meeting.
7. Each committee member is asked to bring ideas for sponsoring organizations to the February 20 meeting.
8. Penny has asked the Governor’s wife, Jeannie Ritter, to consider opening the October 2009 conference, and will follow up to firm up her agreement to do so.

ACTIONS

1.       Minutes for January 16 were approved, with one noted correction.

2.       Committee approved Mackenzie’s estimated costs for food and consultant fee for the April workshop.

Those in attendance:, Darlene Beals, Sue Fager, José Reyes, Maria Cabral, Penny Gonnella

Guests:

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton, Patricia D. Murphy

Those absent:  Eileen Forlenza, Yvette Plummer, Jeanette Cordova

January 16, 2009
Meeting Activities

ISSUE:

1. Call to Order, Introductions
2. Fall 2009 conference
3. Planning for April

DISCUSSION:

1.       Fall 2009 conference:  Marcia reviewed the Council’s budget status and decision-making process.  The committee’s proposal for the fall conference will first need to be reviewed by the Planning & Grants Committee.  If that committee recommends funding the conference, the voting item would be voted on at the March 2009 Council meeting.

a.       Need for conference planner:  three, at a minimum, need to be considered.  The committee wants the planner to do more in terms of outreach and marketing, do more in terms of soliciting funding from additional sources.  The committee also decided that the planner will need to be paid more than the planner was for the conference in October 2008. Marcia suggested that it might take two people to do the planning; one to do outreach and another to do marketing.  The planner would also be hired to help with the April follow-up workshop.  Refer to the sheet of expectations that Penny developed after Sol Consulting had been hired.

b.       Sue Fager supplied the committee with copies of the hotel disability awareness training that she developed while working with PACER.

c.       If the Planning and Grants Committee recommends funding for the second cultural conference, there will be approximately $20,000 left over from money unspent on the first (October 2008) conference. The MCC is asking P&G to consider the fall 2009 conference out of the grant-funding sequence.

d.       Pat thinks that a majority of the no-shows were people who did not pay for registration.

e.       Some discussion of bringing in the BHO’s (Behavioral Health Organizations) and mental health community. José is currently working on the cultural diversity component of the Medicaid proposal with the BHO’s.

f.         Consider Ian Watlington for keynote speaker.  Norman Kunc’ videos might also be a possibility.

g.       Venues: Broomfield and Commerce City Events Centers, Denver Zoo, Aquarium, History Museum, Museum of Nature and Science, Central Library in Denver

2.      April workshop

a.       Pat reviewed the venue. The police/community center in northwest Denver. 1311 W. 46^th Avenue.  No cost, it’s okay to bring in food. One half-hour would be allowed for set-up, and Pat will ask for an hour (means getting there at 7:30 AM).

b.       Pat had talked with CVENT that does online conference planning and suggested Mary Spicer as a local person who could do on-site work.

c.       Part of putting together the agenda for April is to keep an eye to doing outreach for the October 2009 conference.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.       Penny will develop a draft of the job description for conference planner.

2.       Marna will send out draft language for voting item so that all committee members can work via email to finalize language by next Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

Those in attendance:, Darlene Beals, Sue Fager, José Reyes (by phone), Penny Gonnella
Guests:
Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton, Patricia D. Murphy, Marcia Tewell
Those absent:  Adrien Albert Hollands, Eileen Forlenza, Yvette Plummer, Maria Cabral, Jesus Castillo

Date: January 6, 2009
Meeting Activities 

ISSUE:

1. Call to Order, Introductions, Minutes
2. Article for newsletter
3. Planning for April

                                                               i.      Mackenzie report on budget

                                                              ii.      Venue search

                                                            iii.      Postcard mailing

4. Voting item for Fall 2009 conference

DISCUSSION:

1. Minutes:  for December 2, 2008 reviewed and approved.
2. Article for newsletter:
1. Darlene based her article on the evaluations from the October conference.  People commented on the modeling of inclusion, the food reminding them of home, learning things they hadn’t expected.
2. Article should include a couple of photos from the conference.
3. Article needs to include information on the April workshop, using the blurb from the postcard as part of the information, and a link to the website.
4. February 17 is the deadline for the Spring 2009 newsletter articles.
3.  April workshop

                                                               i.      Discussed other conferences going on in April and the interest by some in the mental health advocacy community in the cultural responsiveness workshop.  April 5-7 is the 21^st Annual CO Child & Adolescent Mental Health Coalition and DD Conference.  LINKS is having a 4^th annual conference on April 17 (CDHS, CDPHE, Public Safety, etc.)

                                                              ii.      José cautioned that the mental health centers may not be part of the loop that knows about LINKS or the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Coalition.

                                                            iii.      Venue search:

1.        Aurora Community College is not available (9 News Healthfair)

2.        Blair Caldwell library has no availability

3.        Central Library has no availability

4.        Library at 7^th and Santa Fe doesn’t have big enough room

5.        Metro State would be $2000 without a sponsorship from a school club

6.        District 2 police station at 38^th and Holly is a possibility, also District 5 at University north of I-25 is also a possibility (free); Rita Bass trauma center as part of Denver Health at 6^th and Bannock

                                                            iv.      Budget for April workshop

1.        $8,000 is put aside for the workshop.

2.        Costs: travel reimbursement, respite care, photocopying and mailing, food, maybe room rental, Spanish interpretation, ASL interpretation

4. Voting Item for Fall 2009 conference
1. Voting item will include the additional goals and objectives that Darlene handed out at this meeting.
2. Budget needs to be developed at the January 16 meeting in order for the voting item to be written.
3. Suggestions: reduce budget on food, increase budget on printing. For overnight and travel the budget was close to expenditures. Don’t offer the evening meal and have people the opportunity for snacks in a hospitality suite before dinnertime.
4. Second conference will be the time to ask for sponsorships. For example, work with Behavioral Health Organizations, and begin now to search for sponsors.
5. Conference planner:  Committee agrees that a planner is needed. Process necessary: look at two or three planners and justification for choosing one over the other.

                                                               i.      Discussion included need for a planner who has a lot of experience and can guide the committee. Mackenzie referred to the two proposals the Council received for the first conference. Meeting Management Services (Pippa Lakeman) and Sol Consulting (Flo Ramos Hernandez) were the two companies considered last year.

                                                              ii.      Pointers to include in job description: gaining understanding of work we do, meeting each month with committee to develop conference agenda, providing contact reports on outside meetings planner has had, providing timelines, hotel and outside supplier budget accountability, interfacing with hotel sales and banqueting (especially concerning training in respectful attitude and practice toward people with disabilities), press release and text to offer sponsors as incentive to sponsor the conference, negotiating with vendors (interpretation, transportation, special needs, vendors), prepare conference packets, coordinating session facilitators, speakers, conference sponsors, registration process, onsite during the conference to be “expeditor,” post meeting program evaluation. Penny wants the post evaluation to be a well written summary, including feedback from breakout sessions, coordinating session and overall conference evaluation (development of eval questions and summary of results).

6. Penny suggested that we charge everyone a nominal fee since many state agency employees do not have departmental budget funds to cover the costs of conferences.  Also, people are more likely to attend if they pay for attendance.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1. Next meetings are: January 16, February 3, February 20, March 3, March 13, April 7, and April 17.
2. Darlene moved to accept the minutes, Sue seconded.  Minutes approved.
3. Pat will add to the Council’s database the people who registered for the conference but are not on the Council’s general mailing list.
4. Penny will contact Metro to see if sponsorship of the workshop is a possibility
5. Venue will be decided at the January 16 meeting.
6. Marna to send José the photographs from the October conference
7. Sue will send Marna a copy of the pamphlet she developed for hotel staff training

Those in attendance:, Darlene Beals, Sue Fager, José Reyes, Maria Cabral, Penny Gonnella, Jesus Castillo (by phone)

Guests:

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton, Patricia D. Murphy

Those absent:  Adrien Albert Hollands, Eileen Forlenza, Yvette Plummer, Jeanette Cordova