The Mountlake Terrace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission held their first of two community listening sessions via Zoom on Wednesday, March 3. There were 30 people who attended with about a dozen providing input.
The next listening session will be held on Saturday, March 6, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. A large postcard was mailed by the city last week, so please check your mail for information on how to attend the meeting or follow the directions below.
The Commission desires to help create a community where everyone feels welcome and valued with more equitable (equal or same) access to information and services. As mentioned in the first listening session, the Commissioners have an idea of what they would like to work on and would like the community’s input before moving forward in developing a plan.
Please join them and share your thoughts and ideas as they relate the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion to help the Commission learn more about our community. The Commission’s goal is to receive your input to help them plan their work and events over the next year. Although meetings are currently being held remotely due to the pandemic, there will be in-person meetings, events, and opportunities for input in the future when it is safe to do so.
The listening session format is intended to be “free form” where Commissioners listen to your thoughts and ideas and if you are not sure what to talk about, here are some topics to consider:
What makes a community feel safe and welcoming to you?
- What should diversity, equity, and inclusion look like in our city?
- What expectations are there for this Commission?
- What current barriers do you see or have affected you personally?
- In what areas is the city doing well and where do you think we can improve in regards to diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Additional ideas are listed on the Commission’s listening session webpage at www.cityofmlt.com/2101.
To participate in the listening sessions by telephone, the call in number is 1-253-215-8782 and enter the meeting ID and passcode (noted below). To join online: 1) Go to https://zoom.us/join; 2) Enter meeting ID: 876 9104 7064 and click “join” (you will be prompted to install the Zoom application if you do not already have it); and 3) Enter the passcode: 030621.
To ask a question or provide comments, please use the “hand raise” tool within the Zoom application. Depending on your device, you can find it by clicking the “participant”, “reaction”, or “more” tabs. Or, if participating on the telephone, press *9 to raise your hand. Once you are recognized to speak, the Commission will unmute you or if on the telephone, please press *6 to unmute yourself.
The city’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission meets on the third Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Commission’s webpage at www.cityofmlt.com/2084 or feel free to email them at cityhall@mltwa.gov. We look forward to hearing from you!
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