| Members Present: Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore, Chair Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox, Chair Sen. Lincoln Fillmore Sen. John D. Johnson Rep. Michael J. Petersen Rep. Candice B. Pierucci Michelle Love-Day Nubia Peña | Members Absent: Sen. Luz Escamilla Sen. Michael S. Kennedy Rep. Sandra Hollins Rep. Angela Romero Staff Present: Robert Wood, Policy Analyst Rhonda Bailey, Associate General Counsel Victoria Firmage, Administrative Assistant |
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Note: A copy of related materials and an audio recording of the meeting can be found at www.le.utah.gov.
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| Chair Wilcox called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. |
| 1.Committee Business |
| MOTION:Sen. Cullimore moved to approve the minutes from the June 15, 2023, meeting.The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. L. Fillmore Sen. J. Johnson M. Love-Day N. Peña Rep. M. Petersen Rep. R. Wilcox | Sen. L. Escamilla Rep. S. Hollins Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. A. Romero |
| 2.Peoples of Utah Revisited Project |
| Jennifer Ortiz, Director, Utah Division of State History, and Wendy Rex-Atzet, Public History Program Manager, Utah Division of State History, presented the Peoples of Utah Project currently underway. |
| 2 - People of Utah Revisited Project Presentation |
| Sen. Cullimore assumed the chair. |
| The commission commented and asked questions of Jennifer Ortiz and Wendy Rex-Atzet and they responded. |
| Rep. Wilcox resumed the chair. |
| 3.Perspectives of Pacific Islanders |
| Charlene Lui, Executive Director, National Association of Multicultural Education - Utah Chapter, and Dr. Saia Hafoka, Analyst, Salt Lake County Health Department, presented on the historical contributions and current challenges faced by Pacific Islander communities. |
| 3 - Perspectives of Pacific Islanders in Utah Presentation |
| Chair Wilcox asked a question of Charlene Lui and they responded. |
| Saia Hafoka presented on health disparities facing the Pacific Islander population. |
| Charlene Lui presented on business disparities in the Pacific Islander population and recommendations for the commission to consider. |
| The commission commented and asked questions of Charlene Lui and they responded. |
| 4.Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging |
| Ze Min Xiao, CEO, Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging, and Robert Roarke, Director of Operations, Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging, presented the Center's actions to bridge opportunity gaps and increase belonging among Utahns of diverse ethnicities. |
| 4 - Center for Economic Opportunity and Belonging Presentation |
| The commission commented and asked questions of Ze Min Xiao and they responded. |
| 5.Committee Discussion |
| Chair Wilcox opened the commission up for public comment. |
| Bob Woodson, Founder and President, Woodson Center, and Will Crossley, Senior Advisor, Woodson Center; President, Piney Woods School, spoke to how slavery and Black history is taught in schools. |
| The commission commented and asked questions of Bob Woodson and Will Crossley and they responded. |
| Darlene McDonald, Director, 1Utah Project, spoke to what constitutes one's character and each individual's journey. |
| Betty Sawyer, President, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People - Ogden Chapter, spoke to the her experience of being one of the first students to integrate into a white school. |
| Jamie Renda, Cofounder, Path Forward Utah; Marcus Carr, Founder, Growing Unified Development; and Chad Saunders, resident, Stansbury Park, spoke to spoke to their personal experiences. |
| Chelsie Acosta, educator, Salt Lake City School District, spoke to their experience as a teacher. |
| Chair Wilcox explained the one pager given to the commission outlining its duties. |
| 5 - Ethnic Studies Commission Progress |
| 6.Adjourn |
| MOTION:Sen. Johnson moved to adjourn. The motion passed with a vote of 7-0-5. | |||
| Yeas - 7 | Nays- 0 | Abs- 5 | |
| Sen. K. Cullimore Sen. J. Johnson M. Love-Day N. Peña Rep. M. Petersen Rep. C. Pierucci Rep. R. Wilcox | Sen. L. Escamilla Sen. L. Fillmore Rep. S. Hollins Sen. M. Kennedy Rep. A. Romero |
| Chair Wilcox adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m. |