Pittsburgh



914400-571499Gender Equity Commission Meeting – December MinutesDecember 17, 2019; 2:30pmCommissioner Attendees: GEC Executive Director anupama jain; Commissioners: Jessie Ramey, Amanda Neatrour, Lee Fogarty, Janet Manual, Mike Strelic, Sarah Hansen, Megan Block, Janet Manuel, Kathi Elliot, Rick Williams, Sabrina Korbel, and Kelauni CookPublic Attendees: Marcia Bandes (Pittsburgh for CEDAW); Itha Cao (policy analyst with the Office of Equity in Mayor’s Office, Pennsylvania Commission for Women); Tiffani Simoneaux (Mayor’s Office); Deven Taliaferro (MidWife Center; Director – City of Pittsburgh Public Schools); Megan Stanley (Executive Director, PGHCHR) Anne Pehle (AAUW Pennsylvania); Gloria Blackwell (AAUW; WorkSmart); Liv Bennett (County Councilwoman Elect District 13); Zinna Scott (resident of Homewood); Ala Mohamed (Mayor’s Office); Richard Parksakian (LBGTQ+ Advisory Council); Faith Miller (LGBTQ+ Advisory Council); Ciora Thomas (SisTers PGH; President of LGBTQ+ Advisory Council; Governor’s Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs); Miracle Jones (Vice President – LBGTQ+ Advisory Council). Welcome and introductionJessie takes roll call. Quorum is reachedPublic Testimony and Invited GuestsPublic attendees and invited guests introduced themselves.Approval of minutes from November meetingJessie opened discussion on the meeting minutes, Megan Bock moved to accept the November Meeting Minutes; Kathi Elliot seconded motion to accept the November meeting Minutes; Minutes are accepted for November. Report from Executive Director:End of Year Report – draft to be approved at the next meeting – anu will send a link to all Commissioners prior to the meeting in January for their final reviewOne of the challenges is how the Commission shares information. anu encouraged everyone to take a time to look at the documents on the shared on-line folders – instructions were provided.Provided the most up-to-date version of the By-Laws for review.Articles from the Ordinance were included in the packetProvided Assessment Tools for Commissioners Gave a presentation for the Pittsburgh Business Group Discussed having talking points available for Commissioners about the work of the GEC – so when representing the Commission – we are all on the same page with representing the Commission publically.anu will be out of the office on December 19, 2019 through January 5, 2020.ACTION ITEM – Need to discuss the schedule of the Executive Director during the Commissioners’ meeting with Chief Lane and Chief Gilman.ACTION ITEM – For the January 2020 Working Group – it would be helpful to meet as a group to work on the End of Year Report – but anu will also provide the link prior to this meeting so that we can have it prior to the working session meeting in January.ACTION ITEM – Governance and Leadership Development Committee will need to meet to discuss the assessment of the Commission for the End of Year Report.Q&A with AAUW Representatives – Ann Pehle (AAUW) and Gloria Blackwell (AAUW’s Main United Nations Representative; Worksmart)Award nearly $4 million in fellowships and grants each year.National Conference of College Student Leaders – takes place each May – focuses on leadership development.Salary Negotiation Program – took this over about 5 years ago.Three Prongs Approach to tackling the pay wage gapSalary NegotiationAdvocacy Work Eliminate Salary History QuestionTrains on Practices for Women to go in and negotiate their salaryThis past year – really amped up their training – received funding from the Coca Cola foundation – trained 102,658 women.Do this in partnership with cities across the countryPartnering with organizations on the ground – more grassroots approach – get the word out to the communityImportant to look at issues related to pay equity as not just those that affect women – when anyone is paid less, it compounds and follows you into your retirement – less money for your daily lives (i.e. to pay student loan debt)Work to figure out what an individual’s priorities may be and then how do those priorities affect the entire community.AAUW Pennsylvania – Started the Pennsylvania Commission for WomenLaunched a Program where eight in-person workshop pilot programs were done across the Commonwealth (Philadelphia, NEPA, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, etc.).Ann has been talking with Amanda Neatrour and Sarah Hansen to give them feedback from the programs that were going on throughout the Commonwealth.Expect that a majority of the folks trained in Pittsburgh will be done online (although AAUW has just finishing training 10,000 people in person in Boston). By offering this online – it’s opening the door to everyone. Ann noted that even if folks participate in person (where they receive a sense of community), they should still go back to the online tools because the videos and roll playing are so professional and helpful (refresh whenever you find it to be helpful). There are benefits to both.Janet pointed out that perhaps it would be helpful to “Pittsburghize” the WorkSmart workshops before we start.Beginning in the New Year, would need to establish an MOU so that everyone’s rolls are defined and there is a clear understanding as well as a method for support as needed.Ciora Thomas – Executive Director – SisTers PGH; Commissioner – PA Commission on LGBTQ+ Affairs; President LGBTQ+ Advisory Council of PittsburghStarted the Council on November 28, 2016 – a lot of the members have been there since the startThere have been some set backs since starting the Council.Meet the third Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Mayor’s Office; at the last meeting on December 18, 2019 – will be discussing finalizing the legislation for the year.Miracle Jones: at the upcoming meeting in January, City Council will vote to turn the Council into a Commission. Want to make sure that Commissions are not competing for resources; want to do a community needs analysis (looking at how Pittsburgh is a safe city but the County is not – this is a barrier). Also looking at the aging population; rehabilitation centers (HIV and AIDS), homelessness and LGBTQ+ issues in the jail population. Important to make recommendations for the city – but also looking for County partners who are willing to take on these initiatives. Ciora focused on how Commissions can really learn from each other. By prioritizing this (Collaboration of Commissioners) – could become a model for the state and the country.Richard – wants to make sure that the Commission focuses on the whole community; don’t want to leave people behind in this process. Created a Directory of resources. From the outside, Pittsburgh appears to be a progressive community, so members of the LGBTQ+ Community are moving to Pittsburgh and then let down when they see the true conditions.Ciora spoke about things going at the Commonwealth level – working on creating units for LGTBQ+ homeless. Also focus on rehabilitation services for the LGBTQ+ Community. Finally, legislative efforts.Kelauni pointed out – where would someone go to find out what the goals are of the Commission. There is a website – this information will be on the website. Miracle suggested focusing on issues related to protecting the LGBTQ+ in employment as part of our working group of the GEC.GEC is excited to partner with the LGBTQ+ CommissionACTION ITEM: How do we collaborate with the CommissionsACTION ITEM: How can the GEC hold ourselves accountable to the LGTBQ+ Community as we do our mittee ReportsExecutive CommitteeGovernance and Leadership Development Committee vs. Nominating Committee (voted out of existence – is only an Ad Hoc Committee and not a standing Committee). Kathi, Megan and Sabrina are expiring terms – need to confirm whether you would wish to have your term renewed so that a recommendation can be made to the Mayor. anu has a meeting during the first week in January 2020.ACTION ITEM: Governance and Leadership Development Committee – What is the job description of the Commissioner; are we recommending that we should add Commissioners now or later; how do we communicate to everyone to apply for these positions.Meetings in 2020 – ACTION ITEMS - Could we put a group together to figure out the logistics. Doesn’t seem to be able to get done in the first quarter. Idea is maybe once a quarter – have the meeting in the community. Executive Committee will appoint an Ad Hoc Committee.anu noted that if you have a speaking engagement, please have a look at the talking points and comment documents – this will help you.anu reminded folks to please add any accomplishments to the shared google document.Finance CommitteeSarah H. made a motion to pass the $22,000 budget as proposed and described in the work plan. Megan Block seconded the motion. Passed unanimously. We will send the work plan back to the Mayor’s office as the proposed budget for ernance and Leadership DevelopmentWill just follow up on the Action Items set by this meeting.d.Gender Analysis Ad Hoc CommitteeKathi brought up some great points at the last meeting. Do we want to hire consultants? Sarah helped us focus on what where we are, which is a qualitative report of the analysis. A proposal was made that the group of folks who have been part of the research group to come up the questions we should be asking.Next steps for qualitative reportHiring a Consultant? – what does that look like, do we want to go through the RFP process again and if not, how do we make that process inclusive.The Pitt Team is more than half way through the HR Report. The focus groups are not something the Pitt Team would do at this point. However, the Pitt Team does want to help with whatever is going to be developed as we move forward.This has been stalled because the lawyers are working out the confidentiality piece and the ownership piece.The discussion has been what does the third report look like? Three separate pieces – but could be one entity doing all three The missing piece is how we need to get that work done.Also need to make sure that we don’t duplicate the efforts that are already going on with City Council and racism is a public health crisis (but nothing in the legislation about the black maternal mortality). Kathi suggests that we continue regardless of City Council’s legislation.Amanda reminded us that per our original discussion about the gender analysis is that we do not have the capacity to bring together several different experts in several different fields – so we need to also consider hiring someone to put all the data together (if this is the way that we were going to do it)Sarah Hansen summarized the three separate piecesA person and/or group who could compile all of the existing efforts, legislations, work that is already being done.Finishing the Qualitative data and analysis – community meetingsCompiling of all of this into recommended strategies for what the GEC can do.Jessie reminded us that we are not budgeted for all this work.ACTION ITEM: Megan is going to convene a working group to address these items.Workforce Development Working GroupChief Gilman would like a follow-up call with the individuals doing this work in Boston.Pay Equity Initiative really aligns with the Community Work that we are doing – Sarah Hansen would like the opportunity to explore more of how this would intersect.New business & ongoing discussionsPittsburgh Police: Models for Breast Feeding Policies – Megan, Jessie and anu met with female police officers about difficulties they are facing a few months ago. One of those officers reached out to Megan – about the conditions for breastfeeding while on duty. They resolved it that morning, but this is going to come up again. They have a maternity policy that is okay but they do not have a breastfeeding policy. Janet has a model policy and she would welcome commissioners feedback on that policy and would be willing to talk to Chief Shubert and some of the Deputy Chiefs about that policy. Megan will follow-up with Janet about this conversation and we would love to see Janet’s model breastfeeding policy and will reach out to other commissioners. ACTION ITEM: By-Laws meeting to amend the By-Laws as to who oversees the executive director.ACTION ITEM: How are we going to improve the communication between Commissioners – in the meantime, best practice would be that when e-mails go out, they go to everyone. Megan suggested that we look into “google group” to communicate. anu will do it in the first week of January and get back to us.Concluding the meetingResponse from public participants Bethani Cameron – looking to take this work out to the County.Liv Bennett – County Councilwoman Elect – affirmed comments made by Bethani – would love to look to this work to expand it county wide.Marcia – Family Care Act – trying to get more support at the state level. She will provide a letter that is already drafted – let the labor and industry committee know that there is support across the state to move the Act forward and get it out of the committee. Sarah Hansen mentioned that we could just sign it as individuals. We have an advocacy process if we want to use it. Jessie said, let’s look.Rick – discussion at CCAC on Thursday – Janet Manual will be on that panel, representing us, as well as Meg Stanley from the commission on human relations – Larry Davis from UPitt School of Social Work. Moderator is Carmen Livingston. – At Allegheny Campus Auditorium at 6:00 p.m. on November 21, 2019. ***put on the agenda to revisit using the use of the form for events where the commissioners are representing the commission – what is the effectiveness of this process; also talking points for when you are appearing on behalf of the commission.Sarah Hansen moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Megan Block, and the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 21, 2020 working group 1:30 p.m. public meeting 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 6th floor (room 646) city county building ................
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