##VIDEO ID:czqoxniHFR4## hello hi hello everyone welcome to the reviewer Human Rights Commission meeting of December uh 5th 2024 um I'm glad to see everyone who is here today before we start I will now call a Mee to order um before we start our meting I'm just going to have a roll call of Commissioners who are here um I uh chair husseini is present uh commissioner s larusi presid Dr Garcia present commissioner Karu pitch present attorney Molly McGee present and I see a fellow uh Dia director Steve morbido um for tonight's meeting uh Chief brigh and chief Callahan will no longer be here uh will will not be in today's um meeting however um we will um say something uh towards the end of the meeting regarding um Chief brigh so stay in tuned for that uh before we start our meeting I would like for everyone to look at the mission of the Human Rights Commission we're going to read that before we start our meeting uh whenever uh we are ready the the mission of the r Human Rights Commission is to promote human and civil rights and Empower all people of R by ensuring that everyone especially the most vulnerable and marginalized have Equitable opportunities equal access and are treated with dignity respect fairness and kindness oh Justice wow um for moving on to the land acknowledgement um is something that we do every meeting is that we acknowledge that we are in indigenous land and native land the land of the P Tucket we invite any indigenous peoples or native peoples in our um in our city to join our meetings um now and for all present meeting all present and future meetings for um uh I would like for someone to set a motion to approve the minutes from the November 7th monthly meeting motion to approve the minutes Madam chair I'll second all in favor say I hi hi thank you for the monthly uh acknowledgements wow uh December 1st starts the universal human rights month uh December 1st was also World AIDS day December 3rd was International Day for people with disabilities December 7th will be Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day uh December 10th is international human rights day December 20th is international human solidarity day uh December 21st is the winter solstice December 24th is Christmas Eve December 25th is Christmas December 26 is Quan uh K Quanza starts up until January 1st and the Hanukkah manora lighting will be on December 30th 2024 from 4: to 5:00 p.m. um to add on to upcoming events are happening in our city on December 10th the school department is hosting a presentation on immigration in the learning comings of the um rier High School um I would like to give space for Dr Garcia to present more information on that yeah that's right on December 10th uh R public schools in partnership with mea mea stands for Massachusetts immigration and Refugee advocacy coalition and the goal of this organization is to really come in and give parents and families a little bit um training about their constitutional rights as we know we have a different climate in this country now um and obviously um we are a district that serves a significant number of students from a wide range of latitudes around the world uh and obviously um it's not secret to anyone that we serve a lot of document undocumented students and undocumented families and we are all a little bit worried about um some of the um ideas that have been put in motion by the incoming Administration um special with the ideas um the idea about massive deportation and um other types of um things that have been P have been pushed and it's our job as Leaders not just leaders of the school but leaders of the community to really stand up and advocate for those whose voices have been always um absent from decision-making process and other types of things so um those are our students those are our people that we interact with every day families parent you know students caregivers and there are the ones who really make up the fabric of the city uh if you look our at our um demographics 64% of our kids are from Latin American countries uh about and certainly um it would be disaster uh and we want to bring as many um organiz organization as possible those who really stand up with um those who are vulnerable to really come and train us and train the families and bring bring that distress and anxiety a little bit down uh it's important for us to this is our difficult times it's important for us to stand up and work with families and support them so they'll be there from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the learning commment at the high school and we want all of you to come this is an opportunity for you to be there ask questions and also listen to some of the advises and some of the uh and get some of the resources that probably will serve you um you know um as we go through this difficult journey in this country so show up make your voice heard uh attend the training that's important to all of you and I'll be there also supporting you I'm sure that many of us will show up in support our families our caregivers because they deserve it thank you thank you very much for that Dr Garcia is there a flyer for um uh that event that will happen do you mind if you could send it over just so we could put it on the Rev Human Rights Commission website thank you very much sir um I believe there's also um another event that will be happening at the riv Public Library uh library on Saturday regarding um Cambodian his story um I believe it's like a a book I don't know much information about that but uh commissioner Patrick our attorney McGee can speak on that just so we could let the public know about that that's happening in the city as well I'm so excited to speak about this yes uh the little that I do know there is a book release for a former resident of Rivier who is a renowned scholar poet and author and we are looking to get former residents current residents out to support um this former resident of R and somebody that I hope um will tell part of the story of rier we haven't heard before I'm looking forward to going I'm looking forward to participating in R hosting events like this thank you very much for that Molly um I think it would also be great to get insight on um on what especially since she is talking about a prominent group that has been in R for a long time it would be get it would get um awesome Insight on the r history project that uh attorney McGee is currently working on so I can't wait to see that as well um the next meeting on the agenda we did mention that it says like reflection on the basics of immigration that was the event that happened yesterday in the riv Public Library from 4: to 6:30 um that's basically um if we're getting any information from the from that event um as soon as we get some sort of presentation regardless of the event we're going to post it on our website for people to have access to um additionally is very similar to what uh is going to be happening at the riv Public Schools um on December 10th so if you did miss that you also have a chance to learn something about um immigration in regards what's happening in the current social climate on December 10th at R public R high school at the uh learning commment uh additionally I just would like um to make present that uh Chief Callahan has joined us for today's meeting welcome back Chief Callahan uh I think moving on from that there isn't much on the agenda we do have a short agenda today um since there wasn't much to go on other than like what happened when the and stuff like that but the next thing on the agenda is acknowledging Chief brigh I know that he physically is not here but um I'm going to give space for everyone to speak about Chief brigh but I want to say in representation of the Human Rights Commission that it was an honor to have chief brigh on um on the Human Rights Commission he was been here since day one um he was in or he was an OG as we say um inducted with the rest of us back in 2020 um I do appreciate all of his um efforts to be in our meetings and to also um thank you for his insights and his dedication to the city even Beyond The Human Rights Commission but as the chief of um fire um firefighters and um just like just part of the firefighting team um in the city of Rivier um I'll open up to anyone in the commission to really you know address um how they feel about Chief right and just Express their gratitude for all the work that he's done with the city the only meeting that Chief brigh has missed has been the one we're supposed to be celebrating him so I think that speaks volumes about who he was it was definitely an honor to work with him and serve with him and he's somebody that I would look forward to seeing around uh R again thank you attorney McGee [Music] um well I am honored to be in this team with ch bright I appreciate his commitment um dedication to not only to the team and also to the work of um human right commissions um he's been showing up and also really you know speak well volumes [Music] um okay um so we hope that we get to celebrate him and honor him um in [Music] person um I could speak uh about him on a very personal level I think of him as like my third father um I saw him as a father figure um and he gave me Insight on things in the city that I really didn't have before and really um gave me the I guess like Pathway to really know how rever works so that we could have these meetings so I could enter these meetings with a completely different mindset that I had before so I do want to thank him for that uh and all this time that he's dedicated to us um if there isn't anyone else that would like to speak on him I would let oh Chief Callahan go ahead thank you madam chair I I just want to say that uh Chief brigh is a consument professional uh dedicated to the fire department in the city of Rivier for over 35 years and he's always been there for the community the community has always come first with Chief brigh and myself as well as the Human Rights Commission he's he's going to be missed dearly missed and I just wish him well in his retirement thank you thank you very much Chief Callahan go ahead Dr Garcia I also would like to add my words to what everyone has expressed I think Chief Bry is a professional I have met him since I would i' probably say 10 years ago when I was a high school principal uh he always been a professional uh a man with a lot of integrity and uh certainly um he taught me a lot of things about Riv uh each city is unique in itself so and be embrace the cause I I remember training that we got about two or three years ago and I truly see his true character that he really believe in this stuff he really believe in the um in the the work that we doing around um the f def ing human rights uh defending Universal values and you know uh issues related to equity inclusion so he got a nice chat it gave me uh a perspective into his soul to really see who this man is all about so um he will be certainly missed and I wish him a well-deserved you know retirement uh it's a very hard professional profession being a you know fire you know U fire is a very tough uh job and being as a leader I'm sure that that puts a little bit extra on the job so um well done I think that we will we will keep you uh in our memories for years to come thank you very much Dr gcia thank you just to add on um I guess um me as well as some people who are not present today but have also joined around the same time as me I feel comfortable in saying for all all of us that in a short time it has been a pleasure um to be with working with Chief brigh um especially knowing his background as a first responder and how important that is to serving the community um and I look forward to are we planning to reschedule for yes okay we I'm sure everyone is looking forward to celebrating him at a different time and we're all excited for him to be entering a new part of his life in retirement thank you very much commissioner we'll see um I would like to pass the mic to uh director morido to um furthering honoring uh Chief bright thank you um Chief brigh may an individual great integrity character um I've known him for a long time I've known his family um I've known him when I was a city counselor I've worked with him then I've had experience dealing with him now that I'm a director in the city um he's always willing to listen open for explanation um he takes the time to elaborate on things whether it's whether it was um asking about procedures on fire pits in the summer that a constituent had a question on or barbecues being on um the porch you know he just always took the time and he was never above anyone he always had that uh mentality of hey I'm on the same page as you and that goes a long way and it shows in his career he he climbed this uh the steps of success with admiration of his peers and co-workers and that says a lot being in working for municipality because there's always uh decisiveness and with him there never was um so I just want to take a moment to read a couple things um the Human Rights Commission pres um was going to present this plaque to sorry to sorry to cut you off um director um Karu would like to say some words before you say anything my apologies for that no no no so I will read this afterwards I apologize I ran up and down three flights of ster so I thought uh commissioner pitch already spoke I apologize don't be a poli itic um I just want to add one more opportunity to thank Chief BR on a different level besides um you know sitting with him um in the commission team he also been supportive of Survivor domestic violence he always come through and support um har Cove um either for training and also he makes it visible I remember remember that when we had a white ribbon day campaign asking men and boy to stand up and wearing white ribbon and one day he's not only wearing that white ribbon on that day that we had the um the campaign but I ran into him randomly and I saw him wore that white ribbon and I was so impressed and honored to see a man in leader and stand up U for Survivor domestic violence on a regular basis not just the day that he um attended the the event and the campaign so I just want to appreciate him for that um I'm I'm honored to have him as a friend as a coworker I mean not coworker as a colleague on um the commissioner um human right commissioning uh oh my God I can't speak today um I am honored to sit in a team with him um especially um doing this work for the last um I would say four years and he will be missed terribly and I hope that he will continue to show up in a community and um that we can utilize a lot of his his insights and um his intelligence thank you thank you commissioner pitch continue director Moro I was so excited to read this I was jumped the gun so this first C certificate is from mayor Patrick Keefe a certificate of recognition in recognition of your four years of service in dedication as commissioner of the riv Human Rights Commission your efforts have made a lasting imp impact on the city of river congratulations are hereby accorded to Chief Christopher brigh this certificate is presented by the mayor of city of Rivier Massachusetts city of Rivier Massachusetts on behalf of its citizens this fifth day of December in the year of Our Lord 2024 in the independence of the United States of America the 248th signed by city clerk Ashley Melnick and mayor Patrick [Applause] ke this next plaque is Will was supposed to be presented by the Human Rights Commission all the Commissioners um presented with deep appreciation to Chief chrisa p brigh in recognition of his lifelong commitment to human humanitarian efforts and outstanding contributions to the Human Rights Commission 2020 to 2024 thank you very much for presenting that director Steve morbo um other than that I mean there's nothing else on the agenda we do have an open Forum um there's no one in the audience or I mean we don't have a zoom is there anyone in the commission that would like to bring something up for us to discuss before we end our meeting go ahead so I have some good news to announce one of our commissioners was nominated for black Excellence by the and will be recognized by the juneth Association in February Dr [Applause] Garcia and I just informed him today congratulations congratulations congratulation Dr G something very well deserved very well deserved um thank you very much for letting us know about that all congrats to both Chief R and of course Dr Garcia on this amazing news um is there any other commissioner or Committee Member that would like to bring up a topic for us to discuss before we end our meeting I would just like to speak on that since before we I didn't get a chance to highlight the amazing work that the school department is doing doing to bring education about immigration to our very diverse School I've had a chance to do some volunteer work through um my work with Dr Garcia and we often speak about the work that you do Dr Garcia in passing as if it's not life-changing for these students as if it's not Monumental for this community to be a part of and see the work that we're doing to keep ice out of schools to keep the policing away from our students when they're in school so that they can just learn especially when we want to keep R A Safe Community it's amazing to have somebody in the school department that's a leader that can do that for kids that are my clients in this city it's nice to be an attorney representing those students knowing I can trust at revier school what they're learning and as somebody that has the privilege that this does not directly affect me because I don't have to worry about ice coming for me I still am a privileged person in this community that we will speak about this in front of our students and let them know that we're allies we're here it matters for us and them and that's how we stand as a community together so I just heard about this award that you're getting it couldn't be a more fine way to end 2024 and all the things you've been a part of all the things that you've helped facilitate for this commission including celebrating um Native American history the trip that we just took to Plymouth the school department stepped up and was there for us in ways that honestly no one in the city is able or willing to be there so I as an adult am continuing to benefit from the educational services in rever and that is incredible because through Ed education we have Liberation and freedom for our people and thank you thank you for believing in that and thank you for highlighting director morido this very well-deserved award from my friend and colleague go right ahead Dr Gracia now now I uh I'm a little bit emotional but I'm going to still say a few words I just want to thank you all I you know I need people to work with me to get this done I um I'm an immigrant myself uh and I have lived under very different conditions throughout my life life immigration has been my path has been my journey has been my life when I do look into and I was a I was an ESL teacher I taught bilingual education in Brockton for 11 years my entire family um has deep immigrant you know immigrant roots that I cannot avoid of and I cannot stand you know aside when I hear I hear fear when I look into the eyes of kids I can see fear when I do talk to a parent from Colombia from any other country that has no documentation but is here that particular planet is here that planet has children or one child with us in R Public Schools I listen and it really doesn't matter who the passion is my job I do it because I feel a call to do it and uh sometimes I go above and beyond I say things and people say well you say things sometimes that are not conventional I don't want to be conventional that's my who I am and I being conventional sometimes you can conform I will not not conform and reason I don't conform is because we have kids that are with us that we have to protect and teach those are the kids they are the sons and daughters of taxpayers in our city they are doing jobs that a regular American probably would not do and they still being under the gun fearing massive deportation and when I hear radical activists or conservative activists or talking that way it's really shakes the the real Foundation of this country which is basically was based on immigrants African-Americans and other groups so I cannot just stand and not defend the cause it's a call that I have to respond and I will and our school department has me a champion in that direction there's no doubt about it I remember one day right after the election you know somebody asked asked me no what now what we have done all these Equity work now what we feel a sense of defeated or being defeated my response to him was no this is not time to feel defeated and I will tell you the same thing now this is not not time to be defeated to fill down this is time to double down to reinforce our vision and continue to fight the good fight and get our community where it needs to be and it's our job to defend the Fe the people who live in the city I just was entering through the cor the corridor I was walking I see so many immigrant families in the hallway with Christmas tree and taking pictures how wonderful is that you can clearly see that there's a culture shift in our city in our city hall in the community and it's only if we stand together that we will be able to defeat the trend that we see evolving this country it cannot be done otherwise I'm not going to be able to do it alone I will count on you and I hope that we can work together towards that so I appreciate the great the great words um that came from you uh Steve morido um torney Molly uh but this is all of us uh you know joining this journey so that we can keep our community safe and we create a space where everyone has a voice and the space that people feel that they being that are safe they really do doing amazing things so that's that's those are the words I would like to leave you guys with thank you all um thank you very much for that Dr Garcia go ahead commissioner pitch I um I am so excited to hear this um that I always call Dr Garcia a world renowned leader and um to receiving this award it's welld deserved and it's long overdue from the city and I had the I have the privilege to collaborate with um the school department and through Dr Garcia that we are able to bring a lot of um domestic violent awareness and training to not only faculties but also to families and parents we also had the opportunity to collaborate to host um the um Black History Month um with a beautiful show and history of of of a black an ancestor and um not only that we have also brought the restorative justice circle into um the school and the school also have been um doing the RO restorative justice Circle which is a different form of um doing effective work it's a different way to involve the community to um promote equity um and inclusion within um the restorative justice cirle and I am honored and then also want to give you a lot of credits for taking on the tasks that are not traditional that are not a regular mainstream tradition how we do work um in our community and take on that piece is so important not only I have a a son and daughter and also um a daughter who went to Ria public schools and also a son who is in public school and um to have a leader who can find different way to involve the parents and kids it's it's an honor and it's also I always say it speaks volume and um you create a space that parent and Community can trust and um today on a personal level I encourage a parent to connect with you to navigate some of the system that they can support their their children and the community so I'm not only honored to have the privilege to collaborate and work with you I also um appreciate the work that you have been doing um throughout your um career um locally nationally internationally so it's a privilege to sit in this room with you Dr gcia thank you commissioner pach Peach for those wonderful words I truly appreciate it thank you much everyone and congratulations once again to Dr Garcia um [Applause] before um we move on to closing out the meeting is there anything else that uh commissioner commissioner or Committee Member would like to bring up before we close out one more additional thing Madam chairwoman thank you I wanted to elevate since the last meeting when a citizen joined our Circle the issues that were presented about hate crimes within the city um I'm happy that this has provided a forum for people to feel that they could come and speak and that that would get the attention of the city hall through the diversity equity and inclusion director and chief Callahan who's sitting with us and that we could Elevate the voices of the most marginalized which is our charge here on this commission so thank you for those that are willing to come forward have come forward and for the people that are sitting on this commission willing to work through those issues thank you very much for that um attorney moolly McGee um yeah it doesn't seem like there's anything else um before we end know I also um would like to Echo Molly's um points that we are here to hear about what's going on in the city and that this is a place for people to come with any concerns so and this is something that I've also mentioned in the minutes if the people who are watching this video um come to read that we are here to address or investigate anything that happens in the city to the best of our abilities and we will work with the appropriate people to do that um with that being said I would like um someone to set a motion to approve sorry set a motion to adjourn the meeting motion to aend the meeting second all in favor say I I I I all right meeting is adjourned thank you very much everyone have a great evening Ste you have a chance