May 25, 2022 IRC Executive Committee meeting

Vice Chair Paz called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

Present: Vice Chair Paz, Commissioner Souza.

Not present: Chair Kennelly (excused), Commissioners Khojasteh (excused), Ricarte (excused). OCEIA staff present: Acting Director Whipple, Commission Clerk Shore, Operations and Grants Manager Chan, Civic Engagement and Policy Officer Noonan.

Vice Chair Paz read the land acknowledgment statement.

There was no public comment.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Approval of May 18, 2022 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

This item was deferred due to lack of quorum.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Immigrant Leadership Awards (Co-Chairs Fujii and Ricarte)

Acting Director Whipple provided an update on planning for the Immigrant Leadership Awards. The dress rehearsal is scheduled for June 6, 2022 and the awards event will take place June 13, 2022. Commissioners are encouraged to invite community members to the event. Commissioner Souza volunteered to follow up with an awardee who has not yet confirmed her participation.



b. Proposed Statement/Letter on Anti-Immigrant Attacks at Everett Middle School

Vice Chair Paz provided an update on Everett Middle School. Community members say the incident described by some media outlets as an attack was a fight between two Latino students. Community members are encouraging the public to be wary of misinformation. Commissioner Souza thanked Vice Chair Paz for the update and suggested reframing the letter. Vice Chair Paz and Commissioner Souza can work on it together.



c. Proposed Letter to City College of San Francisco

Acting Director Whipple noted that the Executive Committee had discussed expressing its support beyond Cantonese, but also for ESL and other language courses that serve immigrants. While Cantonese has been maintained, it seems to be at the expense of cutting other languages. OCEIA staff have reached out to the world languages department chair to ask for an update. Acting Director Whipple suggested that the Commission obtain more information before weighing in.



d. Follow-Up Actions on COVID-19 Recovery and Anti-AAPI/Anti-Immigrant Hate

Vice Chair Paz provided an update on Universal Basic Income pilot at the last Executive Committee meeting. He deferred the update on anti-AAPI and anti-immigrant hate until Commissioner Khojasteh is present.

(Information/Discussion)

a. Director’s Updates

Acting Director Whipple provided an update on OCEIA’s meeting with the mayor of Merida, Mexico to discuss language access and the Mayan community in San Francisco. Vice Chair Paz participated in the meeting on behalf of the Commission, and Lydia Candila, executive director of Asociación Mayab, discussed the experience of Mayan immigrants in San Francisco.

There was no old business.

There was no new business.

Vice Chair Paz adjourned the meeting at 5:50 p.m.