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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 7598City of Palo Alto (ID # 7598) City Council Staff Report Report Type: Informational Report Meeting Date: 1/23/2017 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: Human Services Community Forum Series Title: Being Different Together - Taking the Conversation Deeper - A Series of Community Forums Aimed at Building and Nurturing a Community That Models Respect for Differences From: City Manager Lead Department: Community Services This report is provided for City Council information only at this time, and provides information on a series of community forums that the Community Service Department’s Office of Human Services is hosting to further build and nurture a community that models respect for differences and a safe and welcoming community. Executive Summary In response to overwhelmingly positive feedback received after a Human Relations Commission (HRC) sponsored forum on implicit bias last spring, the Office of Human Services will be hosting an additional series of four community forums in early 2017. The first forum is scheduled for February 2, 2017, 7-9pm at the Palo Alto Art Center. Discussion The community forum held last spring was titled Being Different Together and focused on raising awareness of implicit biases and how stereotypes affect our interactions in our schools, workplaces, civic and community life. The forum was well attended and stimulated meaningful dialogue on the topic. Accordingly City staff, along with a committee of HRC Commissioners and community members, has been planning a series of follow-up gatherings. The focus is on the process of recognizing and acknowledging our biases and respecting differences. A broad cross-section of people who live, work, or worship in Palo Alto are being invited to participate in a series of four conversations called Being Different Together-Taking the Conversation Deeper. These thought provoking conversations will take participants on a “journey together” towards building and nurturing a community that models respect for differences such as race, religion, gender, origin, sexual orientation, socio- economic status, political affiliation and opinion. City of Palo Alto Page 2 The objectives of the 2017 series are to:  Grow personally in our ability to listen to and understand another’s point of view  Build a community which can talk through difficult issues  Create an opportunity to build relationships with others and develop a dialogue about respect for difference and diversity in Palo Alto  Work towards becoming a model city for respect and inclusion; a community of “up-standers” against acts of intolerance The planning committee believes that the program will affirm our community’s commitment to the principles of respect, inclusion, dialogue, justice, and responsibility. The series will be moderated by Dr. Joseph Brown, Associate Director, Diversity & First Gen Office at Stanford University along with assistance from Pastor Kaloma Smith, University AME Zion Church. The first forum in the series will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2017, 7-9pm at the Palo Alto Art Center. Each forum will start with a group exercise (see description below) followed by small group discussions, with pre-assigned seating set up to be intentionally diverse. The event will be open to the public, but reservations are required to attend. Below is a draft description of the series of four forums: Forum #1 - Crossing the Line (CTL) provides a space for participants to learn about each other through intentional self-disclosure. It promotes community by embracing the widest range of differences. By repeatedly inviting participants to share their different experiences, they discover commonality. The exercise validates the prospects for achieving authentic engagement and community without requiring cultural uniformity. Forum #2 - Beyond the Line (BTL) employs a similar format to Crossing the Line but includes more deliberate dialogue and discussion. BTL’s goal is authentic engagement across difference. BTL explores the intent and impact of participant’s actions, thoughts, and beliefs. The statements included in BTL aim to dig deeper into contentious identity- based topics, allowing all participants to make listening an active engagement with others. In giving participants the tools to listen and acknowledge their own preconceived assumptions about others, Beyond the Line equips them to interrogate their own experiences and engage new perspectives and ideas. Forum #3 - Unpacking the Terms builds on the experiential work in CTL and BTL and discusses common terms and controversies that come up in discussions around diversity, including bias, prejudice, micro-aggressions, implicit bias, power, privilege, gender diversity, and ally-ship. Cultural humility is presented as a useful approach for City of Palo Alto Page 3 engaging difference, casting it as an ongoing life-long process of learning about, and listening to, other people and groups. The topic of the fourth session is yet to be determined as the planning committee wants to assess the conversations during the first three forums and gauge what topic(s) best meet the needs of the attendees at that time but may include a further discussion on implicit bias or micro-aggressions. For more information on the forums please contact Minka van der Zwaag, Manager, Office of Human Services at minka.vanderzwaag@cityofpaloalto.org or 463-4953.