July 22, 2020 IRC Executive Committee meeting

Chair Kennelly called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.



Present: Chair Kennelly, Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Khojasteh, Rahimi. 



Not Present: Commissioner Radwan (excused). 



Staff Present: Director Pon, Commission Clerk Shore, Administrative Programs Coordinator Alvarez, Office Manager Chan, Deputy Director Whipple. 

There was no public comment.

(Information/Discussion/Action) 

a. Approval of June 24, 2020 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes 

Vice Chair Paz motioned to approve the minutes from June 24, 2020. Commissioner Khojasteh seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

(Information/Discussion/Action) 

a. Follow-Up Actions on Full Commission Hearing on Impact of COVID-19 on Immigrants in San Francisco (Commissioner Rahimi, Director Pon)  

Commissioner Rahimi provided an overview of the draft letter. Director Pon said OCEIA staff will send it to the Executive Committee. Chair Kennelly asked if the Full Commission must review the letter. Director Pon stated that the Full Commission previously voted to allow the Executive Committee to finalize the letter on behalf of the full Commission. Chair Kennelly thanked Commissioner Rahimi and OCEIA staff.

b. Update on Democracy at Work: Radiate Consulting Immigrant Worker Co-op (OCEIA Deputy Director Whipple, DAWI Senior Managing Director Vanessa Bransburg) 

Deputy Director Whipple provided an update on OCEIA’s partnership with the Democracy at Work Institute (DAWI). After receiving the Commission’s support, OCEIA partnered with DAWI to launch the first Radiate Consulting worker cooperative in the Bay Area. 

DAWI Senior Managing Director Vanessa Bransburg provided a review of Radiate Consulting’s worker cooperatives and answered questions from Commissioners. Director Pon noted that OCEIA trains community interpreters, and Senior Managing Director Bransburg said there may be an opportunity to create a cooperative that provides interpretation.

Chair Kennelly thanked OCEIA Deputy Director Whipple and DAWI Senior Managing Director Bransburg and said the Commission looks forward to participating in the cooperative’s virtual launch. 

(Information/Discussion/Action) 

a. Director’s Updates

Director Pon provided an update on San Francisco’s self-response rate in the 2020 census and the July 21, 2020 memorandum that aims to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment base. She responded to Commissioners’ questions on census messaging and the digital divide. She invited Commissioners to contact technology industry leaders and can provide talking points on barriers to access. She will also contact the Department of Technology. Director Pon provided an update on OCEIA’s Community Ambassadors, who continue to work in the field as Disaster Service Workers and continue OCEIA’s core work.

(Information/Discussion/Action) 

a. Tracking of Commission Deliverables and Results (Commissioner Radwan) 

Chair Kennelly deferred this item to the next meeting. 

Chair Kennelly asked about immigration policy changes. Commission Clerk Shore is tracking and analyzing policy changes, and staff will add policy updates to the next Full Commission meeting agenda. Deputy Director Whipple suggested that the Commission invite the Immigrant Legal Resource Center to present updates. Director Pon asked Deputy Director Whipple what action the Commission could take on the proposed rule change to asylum since the closure of the public comment period. Commission Clerk Shore discussed communications opportunities and Director Pon suggested that the Commission write an op-ed or statement framed by OCEIA staff. Chair Kennelly said she and Vice Chair Paz can meet with Director Pon to work on it. Chair Kennelly requested that 2020 Census Project Manager Clinton present on the census at the next Full Commission meeting.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

Commissioner Khojasteh discussed the prosecution of unaccompanied minors who may be victims of trafficking. He will bring the matter back to the Executive Committee to discuss adding the item to a Full Commission meeting agenda in the coming months.

Chair Kennelly adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m.