Multi-Cultural Committee

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

2008 Scheduled Meetings:

February 5, 2008
March 4, 2008
April 1, 2008
May 6, 2008
June 3, 2008
July 1, 2008
August 5, 2008
September 2, 2008
October 7, 2008
November 4, 2008
December 2, 2008

Multicultural Committee Meeting Notes:
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Meeting Activities

___________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION:

1.      Minutes were approved.

2.      October conference:

                                                               i.      Call for Papers: There are three proposals. Committee members were encouraged to solicit more proposals, expecially by making phone calls. We could extend the date to June 19, close of business, as the drop-dead date.

                                                             ii.      Registration form:

1.      First questions should be taken by conference planners, and any questions that can’t be answered by them can be referred to the Council.

2.      Booklet needs to be ready by July 8 in order that it include information on the presenters. Flo and Keely will take care of producing the printed booklets. Flo will send Marna the pdf file of the registration booklet to post on the website.

3.      Committee went over draft of registration booklet to fine-tune the wording. FLo will send Mercedes the second draft of the registration booklet so that she can get started on the translation. The booklet will be published as one booklet in both lanuages.

4.      What will be the role of committee members at the conference? Introduce the break-out session presenters, observe the conference and assess what elements work and what elements might need to be altered. Penny suggested that Eileen be asked to be the MC (Mistress of Ceremonies) for the conference.

5.      Flo asked that committee members send her their bios for inclusion in the booklet.

                                                            iii.      Entertainment: Pat will be contacting Metro professors soon, now that commencement and vacations for faculty may be ending. Penny and Maria also have people they can contact.

                                                           iv.      Menus: Agreement on taco bar came from the last meeting. Committee will invite the hotel chef to the July 2 Committee Meeting at 10:30 AM.

3.  Meeting adjourned at 10:37 AM.

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BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.      Marna to re-send the email “Red Alert” that includes suggestions for topics to cover.

2.      Penny will ask Eileen to MC the conference. She will also set up a meeting with Jose and Eileen to plan for the follow-up conference, and how to prepare for it during the October conference.

3.      Committee members need to send their bios to Flo by June 13. solproject@comcast.net

4.      Pat will send Seely the contact info for hotel personnel.

5.      Pat will send Seely the phone numbers for people who have not RSVP’s for the June 24 meeting. Marna will send out the meeting notice for June 24 on June 17 and ask for RSVP’s by the next day, allowing Keely to call those who don’t send an RSVP.

Those in attendance: Maria Cabral, Yvette Plummer, Kathy Grant, Penny Gonnella

Staff Present: Pat Murphy, Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton

Guests:  Keely Sugden, Flo Hernandez

_ _________________________________________________________________

Those absent:  Darlene Beals, Eileen Forlenza, Ellie Valdez Honeyman, Adrien Albert Hollands

Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Meeting Activities

_______________________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE:

1. Call to Order, Introductions, Minutes
2. October Conference
3. Notes from meeting with hotel on April 28, 2008

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DISCUSSION:

2.  Postcards are out. Proposals are not coming in; discussion included ideas for outreach: email to P2P, NAHRW-Western Region.  Committee members are encouraged to ask past presenters as other conferences, do individual outreach. Therese Yanan needs more info (Native American Protection and Advocacy). Mackenzie will contact Menda Warne in Weld County, Bob Lawhead. Pat will contact people at Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado, Downtown Denver Campus to attempt to get more presentation proposals.  She will also attempt contact with potential (volunteer) entertainers who are involved with the African Drum group at MSCD.

Mackenzie has arranged for ASL and Spanish translators. It is important to let potential presenters know that if they want to present in Spanish that translation to English will be available to attendees.

Menu suggestions:  Mexican food, use some of Yvette’s suggestions, pot stickers during the breaks, spring rolls, Indian food, Korean, Japanese. The committee liked the idea of a taco bar.

Will check with hotel to be sure walkie-talkies so that conference planners can be reached, people at registration table are available for communication.

Flo and Keely like the format for the registration form that SABE is using.  Flo and Keely will finalize the registration form by next week, May 13. The next step will be to get it to Mercedes for translation.

Timeline of conference was discussed: Opening session with welcome/overview on Friday morning done by MCC member, follow with keynote speaker (Wendy Jones) after a short break.

We might use the conference room for a hospitality room since the bathrooms on the 6^th floor are accessible.  The hospitality suites the hotel has do not have accessible bathrooms.

Entertainment for Friday night will have to be provided by volunteers. Pat will attempt contact with potential (volunteer) entertainers who are involved with the African Drum group at MSCD.

3.  Highlights 

Meeting RE C C & R Conference with Radisson Stapleton Plaza Hotel
staff, MCC members, and Council staff 

April 28, 2008

Those in attendance were:  Maria Cabral, MCC Chair; Flo Hernandez-Ramos and Keely Sugden of Sol Project Management; Marna Ares; Mackenzie Helton; Pat Murphy; Tina Ball, Catering Manager of the Radisson; and Ronnie _____ of PSAV Consultants, one of the hotel’s Audio-Visual technicians.

We toured the rooms where conference events will take place and discussed the budget.  We looked carefully to see how “accessible” the rooms are, as accessibility is an overarching requirement for the conference.

Update:  Mackenzie has contacted one person who has agreed to serve as Personal Attendant for our guests who need personal care services.  We may have to contact additional persons to serve in this capacity, depending on needs of registrants.

Mackenzie has contacted American Sign Language interpreters to ask if they will provide services for the conference.

Main topics of discussion:

Meals

MCC will work with the hotel’s chef to decide upon menus that include ethnic foods—going beyond the normal hotel fare.

We need to include vegetarian and gluten-free choices

We need to post signs identifying foods that could possibly cause allergic reactions

Audio-Visual:

A-V needs are crucial, and we need to interface closely with all presenters to ensure that they have the needed equipment.

While the Arapahoe Ballroom, where the keynotes and other events for all at the conference will be held, has built-in audio system, the rooms where break-out sessions will be held have to have equipment brought in.  We need to ensure that we have sufficient data projectors for PowerPoint presentations:  ask presenters to bring their own.

We will need an audio “mixer” for presentations.PSAV will soon supply Mackenzie with a draft budget for the AV charges.

The radio translation equipment has been booked.

Rooms:

Our conference will have a hotel room “reservation block,” and we need to provide the hotel with a rooming list to accomplish this.

We talked about getting an accessible “Resource Room” where people can go to get away from the hubbub of the conference, rest, etc.  We will consult further with the hotel staff about just which room might work for this.

The walkway between the hotel and the Stapleton Plaza Office Center will be the location for exhibits.

The Radisson staff will help us ensure enough accessible hotel rooms by contacting nearby hotels to make arrangements to book their accessible sleeping rooms.

Respectfully submitted,

  Pat Murphy

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ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

1.  Minutes were approved.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1. Marna save the SABE registration form for reference.
2. Marna send out copies of the consumer satisfaction surveys to committee members.
3. Flo and Keely will send out the revised conference schedule to committee members by Thursday this week.
4. Registration deadline has been moved to September 4.
5. Meeting adjourned at 10:47 AM

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Those in attendance: Maria Cabral
Staff Present: Pat Murphy, Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton
Guests:  Flo Hernández-Ramos, Keely Sugden

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Those absent:  Darlene Beals, Eileen Forlenza, Yvette Plummer, Ellie Valdez Honeyman, Kathy Grant, Penny Gonnella, Adrien Albert Hollands

Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Meeting Activities

Issues:

      1.       Introductions
2.       Minutes
3.       Conference planning
4.       Updates/Events

Discussion:

      2.       Minutes:  Penny moved to approve the minutes, Yvette seconded. Motion passed with no objections.
3.       Conference Planning:
    a.       Logo: The majority was support for 5.
    b.       Postcard for hold the date: Pat will pass the postcard to Mercedes so that the Spanish translation is approved.
    c.       Call for papers responses will be emailed to cddpc.email@state.co.us  Registration will go to Flo and/or Keely.

                                                                           i.      Text of call for presentations: Wording for the presentation application was discussed. AV needs budgeted were for the keynotes to the general session. The committee will ask for pre-registration for the breakout sessions so that the right-sized rooms can be assigned to each break-out session.  There will be resource tables, but not a poster session. Eileen advocated for proposals to come to the Council so that the Council is seen as the lead on the conference.  They can go to the CDDC general email.

                                                                         ii.      Deadline for receiving the proposals and handouts: Discussion concerned giving presenters enough time to prepare proposals, committee to choose, and registration forms to include breakout sessions go out in time for registrations to be made. Darlene requested that phone calls be made, in addition to email notices, of extra meetings that are scheduled for the purpose of conference planning. Or require a call to Pat or conference planners to confirm notice and RSVP.

How to get the call for papers out? Email, posting on the website.  Add line to postcard: if interested in presenting at the conference, call X for more information on call for papers. Deadline will be June 10 to submit, meeting to review will be June 24. Need review template for committee members.

                                                                        iii.      When will registration be sent out/posted? July 8, 2008.

                                                                        iv.      Attendees accommodations will be firm by September 19.

                                                                          v.      Between July 8 and September 12: finding donated entertainment, themes.

d.       Agenda outline: Flo and Keely will fill in the time blocks.  Penny reminded everyone that time needs to be scheduled so that planning for the follow-up workshop in April is given ample time.

e.       When presentations have been chosen, Flo and Keely will talk with them about handouts, needing them to be translated, AV needs, and ASL and Spanish/English translation.

Actions:

1.       Meetings have been added to the calendar for conference planning purposes.  All meetings are scheduled for 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM in the Council’s conference room. Those dates are:
a.       June 24, 2008
b.       July 15, 2008
c.       Other dates will be added as needed.

By Whom/By When:

1.       Meetings for conference planning will be inserted between already set committee meetings.

2.       Patricia will re-do the to-do list for conference planning and sent that to all Multicultural Committee members.

3.       Marna to send draft of proposal review template to committee members this week. Make sure to include “action item” in the subject line, and committee members please “reply to all.”

4.       Postcards will be produced this week, posted on web, and available for committee members to label.

5.       Call for papers will be finished by this week, posted on web as interactive form. Date for submission is June 10.

6.       Registration deadline is September 12, 2008.

7.       Flo and Keely will look over the to-do list that Patricia sends out, suggest changes and also indicate what tasks they will assume.

8.       Marna to send committee members the consumer satisfaction surveys the Council is required to gather.

Present:  Yvette Plummer, Kathy Grant, Marna Ares (staff), Darlene Beals, Mackenzie Helton (staff, by phone), Maria Cabral, Adrienn Albert Hollands (phone), Patricia D. Murphy (staff), Penny Gonnella, Keely Sugden (guest), Flo Hernández-Ramos (guest), Eileen Forlenza

Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Meeting Activities

Issues:

1.        Introductions

2.        Minutes

3.        Conference planning

4.        Updates/Events

Discussion:

2.        Minutes:  No changes were suggested for the minutes.

3.        Conference Planning:

a.        Timeline: Committee received timeline to-do list by Pat Murphy and event ideas/notes from Adrienn and Penny.

b.       Choice of Venue: Mackenzie explained why the Radisson was chosen for the conference venue, considering such factors as accessibility, date availability, enough space for breakout sessions. The dates for the conference will be October 3-4, 2008.

c.        The committee developed the budget for the Conference.

                                                                           i.      Budget line items discussed were: Conference planner, speakers’ fees, meals will include morning and afternoon breaks, Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday lunch. Adrienn wondered if there are ethnic foods to choose from. Italian, Mexican meals are already on the menu, and they may be willing to work with the committee on menu choices, audio-visual costs, estimates for translation for ASL and Spanish, printing and mailing costs, childcare reimbursement, lodging costs/ transportation costs.

                                                                          ii.      Charging professionals a registration fee: Consensus is to charge $150 for both days.

                                                                        iii.      Council’s website can set up an interactive registration form.  Payment, though, is done by checks being sent by mail.  This is where a planner would be very helpful.

                                                                        iv.      Resource tables for a fee: $25/table.

d.       Call for Papers and Hold the Date mailings:  Barb Novak, who does the Council’s publications, will offer different logos for consideration.  Deadline for paper proposals: May 23, 2008. June 3, 2008 committee meeting will be devoted to choosing papers for breakouts.

e.        Budget for follow-up workshop:  Include about 80 people, 6 hours on a Friday, 4 breakout workgroups, budget for mailing out a reminder.

4.        Updates:

a.        Cultural Data conference will be on October 17, 2008.

Actions:

1.        Mackenzie will talk with two proposed planners to let them know of the new scope of work the planner will be asked to do. Mackenzie will ask Penny and Maria to decide between the two planners by Friday this week.

2.        Maria will decide on logo, based on committee member feedback.

By Whom/By When:

1.        Planners will be informed of new scope of work and their proposals will be reviewed by Penny and Maria by the end of this week. 

2.        Voting item:  Penny will get feedback from José and Adrienn for the narrative, and get that to Marna to include in the draft of the voting item that the Committee needs to approve before it is included in the Council packet by March 18, 2008.

3.        Call for Papers:  Adrienn and Penny will work on the wording and get that out to the committee in one week.

4.        Speakers and breakout session presenters will have registration fee waived.

Present:  Yvette Plummer, Kathy Grant, Darlene Beals, Marna Ares (staff), Mackenzie Helton (staff), Maria Cabral, Adrienn Albert Hollands, Ellie Valdez Honeyman (by phone), Patricia D. Murphy (staff), Penny Gonnella, José Reyes 

Absent: Jesus Castillo, Eileen Forlenza

Date: February 5, 2008
Multicultural Committee

ISSUE:

1. Meeting schedule

2.  Venue for Fall conference

3.  Conference details: Call for Papers

DISCUSSION:

1. The meetings will be on the first Tuesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 AM.

2. The committee reviewed the information on possible and available venues.

3.  The tentative plan is for 5-6 breakouts: one block on Friday morning, two Friday afternoon, one block on Saturday morning and another on Saturday afternoon. Thinking of having a dinner on Friday night. For families coming in from out of town the committee considers having some money in a budget line item for overnight accommodations. Child care stipends will be offered, too. Maybe there could be some supplemental funding from the Office of Health Disparities. The Colorado Trust has been part of the Culture of Data conference and might be another source of financial support. Penny has begun the development of a narrative about the conference, and has sent it to Adrian. Dr. Reyes agreed to look at it, as well.

Web-based activity log developed by the Office of Health Disparities suggested by Dr. Reyes.  Mackenzie suggested the Gill Foundation, with a focus on diversity of all kinds. Penny has a name of a contact person, and she’ll call to find out if the Council would be of interest to them.

Mercedes Hernandez will be translating printing materials.

Should a fee be charged for professionals and/or organizations?   The consensus is to charge a fee, and also to encourage a team to come from each paying organization. The idea of having resource tables, for a fee, was also put forward.  There also needs to be a book source (Penny’s husband has a contact). Colorado Asian Health Education and Promotion organization has received grants in the past from the Office of Health Disparities, to get monies to work with the Asian community, to look at those communities that are not being served by the Asian Pacific Center. Alok Sarwal = the executive director (303) 300-5263.

ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

1. Need a date and venue, hire a conference planner, narrative developed for fundraising, call for papers for breakout sessions.

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.  Marna to send out the meeting schedule to committee members.

2.  Penny will send José the draft narrative for him to review.

3.  Maria and Penny will talk on February 11 in order to share the list of conference planners to interview.

4.  Mackenzie will send out the conference schedule/timeline to committee members and update it periodically as information is added.

Those in attendance: Maria Cabral, Ellie Valdez Honeyman, Penny Gonnella, Mackenzie Helton (staff), Marna Ares (staff), Kathy Grant (by phone), Jose Reyes (by phone), Darlene Beals (by phone at 11 AM)

Those absent:            Eileen Forlenza, Yvette Plummer, Jesus Castillo, Adrian Albert-Holland

Tuesday, January 7, 2008

Issues:

1.       Call to Order

2.       Introductions – guest Dr. José Reyes with Cultural Competence Consulting

3.       Review of Draft for Proposal for the conference on cultural competence scheduled for October 2008

4.       Decide on meeting date and time for the year

Discussion:

3.       Dates for Conference discussed.  October 23-24 seems to be the best since in is likely to precede the El Grupo Vida Conference.  October 9 is Yom Kippur. The committee also has settled on using the Radisson Hotel, Stapleton Plaza.

People already confirmed (speakers):  Dr. José Reyes, Wendy Jones
People to ask: Ian Watlington, person who Darlene talked about at the meeting today, Vincent Kaniatobe.

Penny is looking for a company who can be hired to organize the conference.  Tracy Williams of Tradewinds is suggested by Dr. José Reyes.

Dr. José Reyes suggested using a meeting with conference attendees as a way to produce a proceedings document that would be used to set the agenda for the follow-up workshop 6 months later (May 2009). Attendees will be attending conference sessions with the idea that they will be involved in the planning for the content of the 6-month follow-up workshop. Dr. Reyes offered to attend future meetings, as he is able to help shape the conference & follow-up meetings.

The discussion included a concern that a conference on week-days will not be easy for families to attend. The group decided to conduct a survey. Question for Survey:  For conferences that deal with your child or family member, would it be better on the weekend or weekday, and what hours would work? It will be important to gather input from adults with disabilities as well.

 Dr. José Reyes would be able to bring a colleague to do a break-out session, in addition to the keynote speech. 

Is it possible to show a profit increase after cultural competency training? One training isn’t effective. The discussion resulted in agreeing that the conference is not a one-shot affair, but to effect a shift in thinking, and that takes an on-going effort.

4.  Next meeting date can’t be set until Penny gets information from other committee members.  Between 9 AM and 1 PM works best for Darlene, and between 11AM and 1 PM work best for Kathy Grant.

Actions:

1.       The conference date will be October 23-24, 2008, with October 2-3 as the second choice.

2.       Mackenzie will talk with North/Central Procurement about how to go about hiring the conference organizer.

By Whom/By When:

1.        Mackenzie will ask Pat Murphy to check on the dates with the Radisson.

2.        Yvette and Darlene will make phone calls and/or send email to ascertain from families and people with disabilities whether a weekday or weekend or evening conference will work best. Deadline for survey responses is January 16, 2008.

3.        Penny will set the next meeting date and email the agenda to committee members a week before the February meeting.

4.        Penny will contact Tracy Williams of Tradewinds, and other organizations, to determine which conference organizer to hire for the conference.

Present:  Penny Gonnella, Yvette Plummer, Kathy Grant, Darlene Beals (by phone), Marna Ares (staff), Mackenzie Helton (staff), Dr. José Reyes (guest)

Absent: Ellie Valdez Honeyman, Maria Cabral, Jesus Castillo, Eileen Forlenza, Adrienn Albert Hollands

November 9, 2007

Attendance:  Penny Gonnella, Jesus Castillo, Kathy Grant, Marcia Tewell

Absent: Maria Cabral 

The committee met as part of the Council retreat in Winter Park, thus some community members were not able to make the meeting.  The topic of discussion was planning for the upcoming Cultural Competence Conference.  A discussion was held on the content in terms of break out sessions as well as outreach.  Penny also updated us on the cost of some of the keynote speakers she has been researching. 

Entertainment:  It was pointed out the DHS fiscal rules will not allow ‘entertainment’’ to be reimbursed by the state, thus any of the cultural events will have to be woven into the content of the sessions. 

Outreach:  to the Indian Center and other groups should be made once there is a set location and date and brochure. Kathy will attempt too reach the Indian Center.  Marcia will contact a Sudanese group that is in her neighborhood. 

Budget:   Penny and Mackenzie are working on a budget to be presented to the full Council in January. 

June 26, 2007

 ___________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE:

1. Choosing DVD for Council presentation tomorrow, and developing guided questions
2. Review of proposed budget

________________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION:

1. Committee watched two videos, one on Ted Polito and the other Marvin and Jack.   Both are part of a series called Special Quest, by Early Head Start. Both videos were enjoyed.  The last video was about a young boy, and people at the Council had commented on Christopher being young and cute, and what would happen as he got older.  Consensus is to show Marvin and Jack so that the Council can see what adult life looks like.

Questions from previous video:

1. Who will be in Christopher’s life as he grows up?
2. Leadership concepts: what have we learned from the NASAP project?

Questions for Marvin and Jack work:

      1.   What kinds of work/jobs do Marvin and Jack have, what did they and others think they wanted as they began to work?

                  2.    How can the Council help employers to consider employment options “outside the box?”

2.             Committee reviewed proposed Council budget for 2008.  Mackenzie reviewed the Council’s process, let the committee know that the budget is a draft at this point and still needs to be reviewed by the Fiscal Oversight Committee. 

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ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

Next meeting is July 24, 2007 from 10 AM to Noon. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 AM.

Those in attendance:  Jesus Castillo, Yvette Plummer, Darlene Beals

Guest: Darlene’s mother, Dottie

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Mackenzie Helton

  ___________________________________________________________________________

Those absent:  Penny Gonnella, Ellie Valdez Honeyman, Eileen Forlenza, Maria Cabral, Adrienn Albert Hollonds, Ellie Valdez Honeyman

                                   May 22, 2007

 ___________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE:

3. Choosing DVD for Council presentation tomorrow, and developing guided questions
4. Review of Penny’s leadership training with National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University.

________________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION:

2. Committee watched two videos, one on Francisco and the second on Christopher.  Both are part of a series called Special Quest, by Early Head Start. Ellie left 12 DVDs for the committee to use.  For the future use Marvin and Jack, Ted Polito.  Consensus is to use Christopher’s story at the Council’s meeting tomorrow.

Questions:

1. Who will be in Christopher’s life as he grows up?
2. Leadership concepts: what have we learned from the NASAP project?

Book suggestion:  Walking with Grandfather

What are the opportunities to discuss cultural diversity and disability?  PEAK’s conference (LeDerick R. Horne) on inclusive education, TASH conference has a strand, also.

What is the objective of making these presentations to the Council, over time?  What is measurable as outcomes?  The goal is a long-term one. The goal, in the broadest terms, is “listening.”  One of the issues the Council faces is disability trumping. Goal is to increase communication and listening, acknowledge the diversity of the Council members, and have the discussions at Council meetings, over time, include more overt acknowledgement and discussion of the influence of diversity on the Council’s work.

New golden rule:  Do unto others as they would have you do unto them. That’s cultural competency.

Introductions can be done with the following rules:  Use just your first name, and don’t talk about your job.

2.             Funding comes from Maternal and Child Health programs.  The project will continue over the next year.  Each person has at least one project to develop over the course of the training. 

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ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

Next meeting is June 26, 2007 from 10 AM to Noon. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 AM.

___________________________________________________________________________

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1.  Conduct Council meeting without name cards (and labels)

___________________________________________________________________________

Those in attendance:  Penny Gonnella, Ellie Valdez Honeyman, Jesus Castillo, Yvette Plummer, Darlene Beals, Adrienn Albert Hollonds

Staff Present: Marna Ares

  ___________________________________________________________________________

Those absent:  Bill Bass, Eileen Forlenza, Charles Blackwell, Maria Cabral

                                        April 24, 2007 

 ___________________________________________________________________________

ISSUE: 1. Letter to Council last November, and MCC draft response

            2. Membership on the committee

            3. Cultural competence

            4.  Grants and grant process at the Council

            5. Minutes from February and March

___________________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION:

1. The issue is being revisited because the Council has asked this committee to respond to the letter.  The committee reviewed the draft of the letter. Suggestions for changes were offered. The committee members supported the resonse letter since the reason a response is called for is that the original letter was copied to key state and federal contacts. The letter is going to be from Penny Gonnella, the committee’s chairperson. 
   
   
2. Committee discussed how to make sure the committee can recruit active members.  Darlene suggested sending flyers to universities asking people to join this committee, specifically students with disabilities. Mackenzie will talk with Julie Farrar and those who have been active in MLK Day activities in Denver.
   
   
3. Penny will be going to the Georgetown cultural competence training in about a month, and will bring back information on self-assessment tools.  Special Quest has produced many videos on multicultural perspectives on disability. All of the references give credit to Early Head Start. Ellie suggested the Council see Norman Kunc’s new version of the Credo for Support with people with disabilities reading the text, noted as being sponsored by the MCC. After each such viewing the Council could be asked for a self-assessment type of feedback.  Colorado is diverse in having a significant rural population, and awareness of that aspect of diversity is important to include.  The important question to ask is not just, “Where are we lacking?” but, “What are we doing right?”  The committee discussed asking Part C (Ardith Ferguson) and Fred DeCrescentis to help this committee survey families about whether and how culturally-competent services are being offered.
   
   The committee would like to include videos and guided discussion as a series for future Council meetings.
   
   
4. Grant process: Council staff reviewed the Council structure and how funding flows, and the priorities of the Five-Year Plan.  It is important that a member of the MCC be on the Five-Year Plan committee in order to let the Five-Year Plan committee hear ideas the MCC has for future funded projects.
5. Minutes: Penny will email Marna with text of the minutes that will be approved to go on the website.

___________________________________________________________________________

ACTION / MOTION / CONSENSUS

1. The committee agrees for Penny to re-word the letter and send it to those originally copied on behalf of the Multicultural Committee.
2. Committee members are encouraged to attend the next Council meeting (May 23, 2007 at 10 AM) in order to support the introduction of videos as part of Council development.  The film will be introduced and followed up with questions for Council members to discuss.

___________________________________________________________________________

BY WHOM/ BY WHEN:

1. Penny will redraft and send the letter.
2. Ellie will bring a selection of Special Quest videos to the next committee meeting (May 22, 2007).
3. Penny will contact DDD about the possibility of surveying families receiving services.

Those in attendance:  Penny Gonnella, Ellie Valdez Honeyman, Jesus Castillo, Yvette Plummer, Adrienn Albert Hollands, Darlene Beals (by phone)

Staff Present: Marna Ares, Marcia Tewell, Mackenzie Helton

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