Okay good.
>> All right, welcome to Human Services
Commission here uh Wednesday, May 20th.
We got time at 6:32.
Um we're going to call to order and I
also want to welcome a few of our new
commissioner members, Micah and
Danielle. Uh so welcome, welcome. Um, I
think we have everybody except but the
excuse of Preston
and then we're going to wait for Human
might join in a few minutes. And so
online in terms of commissioner, we have
Matteline. Hello. Good afternoon. And
then we have Commissioner Mory as well.
>> Hi. Hi.
>> Welcome. Welcome. Uh, we're going to go
into order. Uh we have a we we have a
pretty good agenda today and uh the
first thing we're going to go into is
public comment. We have a few folks from
our community and I want to give the
space for public comment and we have
about three minutes per if you all
there's is there an order you want to
have or
>> up to them. Um anyone want to volunteer
to go first?
>> Okay. Yeah. if you want to sit or come.
>> Go ahead and silent and then just
introduce yourself.
>> So, thank you. First of all, good
evening. My name is I serve on the board
of the Sophia Way and at Sophia Way, we
actually serve the women who are
experiencing homelessness in the east
side including the Isakua uh community.
So um in the past year alone uh more
than 500 women accessed our services and
over 140 were supported into stable
housing. Uh these are women navigating
extremely low incomes as you can imagine
uh trauma and complex barriers who with
our right support are able to stabilize
and be care. Uh our work spans a
comprehensive continuum to of care
including emergency shelters, a resource
center we have in Belleview, uh vehicle
outreach and uh transitional housing
plus the permanent supportive housing uh
grounded in our three core pillars,
shelter, safety and stability. We
empower women with the resources,
support systems and confidence needed to
move forward uh towards uh long term of
independence. Uh our mission is streng
strengthened by the community
engagement. Volunteers, donors and
partners play a critical role in
providing mentorship, connection and
sustained support helping women rebuild
their lives with dignity, hope and sense
of belonging. uh every day we see that
homelessness for women is not simply
about the absence of housing. It is
about the need for consistent trauma
informed care and a clear supported path
forward. Uh that is why Sophia focuses
not only on the emergency response but
on enabling long-term stability through
housing uh solutions, support services
and strong community partnerships. Uh we
know that women uh have uh have
stability, a safe place to sleep, access
to food, consistent support and a path
forward and they are able to heal,
regain confidence and achieve
independence if we support from all the
communities that that they are coming
from. As we look forward based on our
projections, we request consideration
for approximately $100,000 in funding
for F2027.
This support would directly enable us to
serve approximately 10% of the women
from Isakawa community to access our
shelters and vehicle outreach programs.
Thank you for your time leadership and
your continued partnership. Thank you so
much and any questions?
>> Any questions from the group?
Well, thank you so much for taking time
to inter.
>> Thank you. So nice to meet you.
capacity. I missid
hear me. Okay. Yes. Um, good evening,
commissioners. My name is Heidi Stalber.
I work at Kindering, which is a
nonprofit serving more than 3,300
children with diverse needs and their
families each year, including more than
200 in Isaac each year. Thank you for
helping us support families navigating
economic hardship, immigration
challenges, and child care issues. In
our free child care and preschool
consultation program, we address
inequities in early learning by
partnering with child care and preschool
providers to help them successfully
serve children of all backgrounds and
abilities. We also support the child
care workforce through provider
education and training. We regularly
visit child carees and preschools in
Isiqua, including larger center-based
programs, family home child carees,
church-based preschools, and bilingual
programs conducted in Spanish or
Mandarin. We see children from the full
range of income levels and ethnicities.
As an example of our work, one Isqua
child care provider recently came to us
for help with a child whose behavior
created serious safety concerns. The
child often ran out of the classroom,
climbed the shelves, or put small
objects in her mouth. The staff were so
overwhelmed by trying to supervise this
child while managing the rest of the
class that the director worried some
might leave their jobs. Our team helped
the teachers create a safer environment
to support the child's sensory needs and
recommended a developmental evaluation
free of charge so that the child could
access special support. The director
said that our support helped the child
be quote more at ease and safe in the
environment and greatly relieved the
stress of the teaching staff. Overall
last year, 96% of the children served
through CCPC, the child care and
preschool consultation team, avoided
expulsion from their school program.
Family uh Kindering's families in
transition program called also called
FIT FIT supports children and families
experiencing homelessness, poverty,
domestic violence, and immigration
challenges. Every child in FIT also has
a developmental delay. We provide
developmental evaluations, pediatric
therapies, infant mental health
services, case management, and
connection to basic needs such as
housing, food, and employment. Families
are served where they live or where they
feel most comfortable meeting us,
whether in a shelter, in their car, in a
friend's home, or in a park or community
center.
Last year, 88% of the children in the
families and transition program made
measurable progress toward their
developmental goals. In closing,
Hindering is grateful for the
opportunity to address the child care,
developmental, and basic needs of
families in the Isakqua community. Thank
you for your time today and for
considering our application. and I'm
happy to answer any questions if there
are any.
>> All right. Well, thank you.
>> Hi. My turn. Yes.
>> I'm J Longoria with Domestic Violence
Survivors. Um I'm a domestic violence
survivor myself, uh who fled to this
city 20 years ago seeking shelter and
help and all kinds of stuff. Um and so I
know firsthand what it's like to be in
this city and need help. Um along that
journey, I kind of realized that through
my healing, there are some things that
were missing, gaps and holes that could
be filled with services. Um and so
that's where why I developed my
nonprofit organization. Um and we had
our first year of funding with you guys
last year or last cycle. Um we're asking
for a considerably larger amount this
year because there's been
excess need that we couldn't support. Um
and we would love to. We feel that we
have the capability to support uh more
people and would love to do so. Um
services that we offer are hotel
vouchers for immediate housing needs,
medium and long-term rental assistance,
cell phones for those escaping violent
uh relationships and have no access to
communication or their partners are
monitoring them. Um temporary shelter
and warding for pets because that's
important and can hold people back
sometime, believe it or not. clothing
and hygiene supplies and culturally
competent behavioral health support um
provided by a group that we contract
with called uh for the culture
counseling services. Uh legal guidance,
assistance filling out protection orders
and court filing family services,
referrals and connections to local
services, assistance with resume
building, job searches, applications for
schooling. Um, our organization is, I
feel, is different than some of the
larger organizations that help with
domestic violence in the area because we
don't just step in and put a band-aid on
and pay rent. We step in and we come up
with a plan. We develop that plan and we
execute the plan. The participants have
to be willing and wanting to change
their life and remove theirel from a
domestic violence situation. It can take
seven to 10 times for a woman to
actually leave. And so we're we're there
for that seventh to 10th time when they
actually want to move on and move
forward. Um I have done that myself and
I know how hard it is to leave. Um and I
know the steps that need to be t taken
to get out of those situations and to
sustain that success. Um and so that's
why our group is a little bit different.
We're probably haven't heard of us. We
have helped, I think,
25 or 30 people um in our funding cycle
this last couple of years. We still have
a few more. The year's not over yet. Um
but um we're we're more based word of
mouth based. Um we haven't really
released our website yet because um I'm
afraid that we'll get flooded and I
don't have the funding to help those
people. Um but we did make a website.
Yay for us. Um it was really hard for us
to do. Um, so I encourage you guys to
look at our new website, look at all the
services that we offer, and um, I hope
that you consider my application for
more funding this cycle. Thank you very
much.
>> What was your agency?
>> Domestic violence survivors.
>> I do have a question. What is your
service area?
>> Um, so we started and focused really on
Isiqua, but we have helped everybody
locally in all of the east side cities.
And so we have asked for funding from
all of the east side cities this year
for the first time including Reon um
because we help a lot of people up in
the highlands. Um we've even helped
people in Seattle um with donations that
we received and um some private funding
that we received as well.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Thank you so much Jamie. You guys have a
good night.
>> You too.
Jamie, before everyone leaves,
>> Jamie, before everyone leaves, what was
the name of the first the organization
of the first presenter?
>> Sophia Wayi.
>> Sophia Wayi. Uh, tell me your in your
application. Uh, you mentioned that you
uh I don't see um a um a brickandmortar
place here in Isiqua, but you do say
that you do home visits. Is it possible
for you? Um,
>> we do vehicle vehicle outreach.
>> I see. Is it possible for someone to be
in Isiqua to apply for your services,
get your services, and to um graduate
from your services while staying in the
city of Isiziqua?
>> That I'm not aware. I have to check
because we have Kirkland, Belleview, uh,
and Isaakqua covered, but how they stay
here and do that, I don't know. But we
actually bring them to the value shelter
or to the culture because we when we do
the outreach vehicle outreach they are
anywhere they are and then we take them
there.
>> Yeah.
>> I see. Thank you.
>> Absolutely. Thanks.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
I thought I'd mention that um Jamie the
last presenter she was on the human
services council. Yeah. His commission
brief. I was I mean we over overlapped.
Yeah.
>> Oh wow.
>> Yeah. So just FYI.
>> Couple of years ago you said or
>> it was right when I started so it was
during co
>> it must have been before you right.
>> She had us a strong testimony. Yeah,
>> personal journey uh given her efforts.
Um wow.
>> All right, we're going to move on order
if that's all right with the group. Um
>> just a quick minute to do introduction
so our new
>> people know everyone.
>> Yes,
>> I know that's not Let's do that real
quick.
>> Thank you, Brandon.
>> Yeah, you want to start?
Hi, welcome Bri Manahan. Um, fairly
newbie right before you two. Um, so
prior to joining this commission, I was
also on the equity board. Lived here in
Isiqua for now six years. Didn't come
too far. I was um in Seattle. Lived
about four blocks down that way here in
the Oldtown area. So, it's a pleasure to
be here and working with the group.
>> Um, name's Micah Lorenz. This is first
meeting. Um been living in Isiqua for
almost 2 years. I really really love it.
We were living in Kirkland for that my
family until we moved over here. So
really really enjoy it and honestly
excited to be a part of this commission
and get to know you all and jump into
this work.
>> Michael
Danielle Jbert. Um I've been living here
in Esqua for about four years. I'm
actually in the process of attempting to
buy the condo that I'm renting. Um like
paperwork is happening. Uh, so that's
very exciting. I love this area. I'm
very um invested in um supporting my
neighbors. Uh and so I'm very happy to
be uh able to do that with the work
you're um on this uh commission.
Um my name is Trish Flor. Everybody else
knows me. So um and I've been in the
Isiqua area since the mid 80s. I raised
my children here and and launched them
successfully. and um I've been involved
um on a volunteer basis with a lot of
different nonprofits in the area um and
um been on the prior to this commission
I was on the arts commission and then I
moved over here during co I can't
remember what year it was but I think I
might be the I think I might be the most
veteran now. I think Manny was and then
we had a commissioner that just left or
retired or whatever you want to call it.
I I think I might be the longest term,
but yeah.
>> Um I'm JD Ramirez. I've been in
Washington since 22 and living in NSF
since 2023. Um I joined the commission
last year. Um so starting with Ray and
yeah, it's pretty much me, right?
I want that focus real quick.
>> Maline, do you want to go next?
Over here.
>> Hi, I'm Meline Fish. I've lived in
Isiqua since 1992
and I think this is my second uh is it a
term on the human services commission
and I volunteer with other local
organizations as well.
Do you want to go next?
>> Sure. I apologize to everyone. My camera
doesn't seem to be working, so I You
can't see me. Right.
>> Right.
>> Right. Okay. So, um I've been uh I think
this is my third term, I think. And uh I
have been living here in Isiqua since uh
85.
I love it here. Um I was a long-term
resident of Bellingham, Washington. And
uh this reminds me a lot of topography
or geographically a lot of uh the area
around Bellingham. It's it's real pretty
here. Lots of hills and I really enjoy
it. I came to do this work uh through uh
my church. Uh I was um a friend of a
fellow activist with Manny Brown who is
no longer part of this but um uh Manny
uh encouraged me to apply and I did and
uh I've um I feel like uh I feel like I
have a little bit of impact by doing
this and I really appreciate the
opportunity to continue to do it. That's
me.
>> Thank you Amorei and Huma. Welcome.
We're just doing a quick introduction
because we have our our new commissioner
starting tonight. So, if you want to
just do an introduction, that'd be
great.
>> Sure. Hi, my name is Huma and uh this is
my
third year on the commission. Um what
brought me to this work was being a
fairly new Isiqua resident and I'm going
on 10 years now, but you know, compared
to Manny Brown and others, it's that's
being a newbie. Um, and I just wanted to
get involved in the community,
particularly around, um, you know, areas
where I could help minoritized
communities. Um, and, yeah, just create
be part of a positive impact there. So,
I, uh, heard from Monica Negrilla, who
used to be Brenda's predecessor, and she
invited me in, and I've just been really
grateful to be a part of this community.
>> Great. Thank you. Yeah, I just kind of
piggyback a little bit on him saying is
my name is Haime and what brought me
here too was the same thing around just
wanted to give back and contribute and
get to know the community a little
better, right? From having cultural fest
to funding to our community based
organization, you know, to school
districts and how to serve the
underserved. Um, so I've been on the
board for man, I would say plus five
years, something like that. Um, but I'm
I'm very grateful to be part of these.
These are great great great people here.
They have their hearts in the right
place to ensure that we're making
decisions based on the community's
voices. So, that's what keeps me coming
is knowing that everyone's in the same
collective impact. Um, so welcome.
Welcome, Michael. Welcome. I have
Danielle and Mike is what I have here.
So welcome.
>> All right. So, we're going to
go forward here with approval of
minutes. We did have two of them. So, I
do need to get kind of a motion on these
uh minutes for April 15, 2026. Do I get
a motion from
>> I move that we've approved the minutes
from that meeting.
>> I second.
>> Second from both JD and Trish.
Um, and then we're going to have to also
do the same thing for our equity joint
commission meeting that we had um in
Redmond Human Services Tuesday, May 12,
2026. I will need a motion for that as
well from the group.
>> A motion to
>> Okay, I'll second.
>> Oh, I think we have a second from R.
I'll second.
We We got it, but thank you.
We're going to go to our third item or
actually a item um for joint human
service commission equity training
workshop workshop followup. I do re
recognize that a lot of us were there uh
at Redmond Hall to talk about um
what was the group community rise that
kind of came in and and provided uh I'm
going to speak a little so folks can
hear me online as well is and a platform
to have discussions around biases,
equity, equality, institutional racism,
structural racism and and I and I was
talking to Brenda, you know, I
uh and we'll share the next slides here
uh as attachments
um was how does that fit within human
services funding right and how do we
kind of look at some of the blind spots
to ensure that we're we're doing what we
should be doing right and I one of the
items that was shared through Brenda on
folks's email was um the equity
statement shared funding priorities
>> I think does everyone have that online.
>> Okay, perfect.
>> And so I I I I thought it would be very
pivotal just to always center our work
around this statement because I know a
lot of work was done. I know Manny would
be super happy knowing that uh this is
being still continued to be at the
center of our vision. So I'm going to
read it out loud. Um, isqua human
services. Our work in human services is
centered around the vision of Isiqua as
a welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and
just community with a broad range of
social services where every person is
respected and we're meeting basic need,
basic human needs, a shared
responsibility.
So with that in mind, I I did want to
talk about uh for our group here and and
I don't want to make it I do want to
make it more of a reflection where I do
want folks to speak and how does that
fit within your internal compass
um new or no new I I still feel there's
a lot of wisdom in the room right is so
I did have uh some questions but I did
want to if folks want to take out um
there is another uh attachment around
uh equity, what is equity, what is
equality, and then what is bias.
>> This was good. I'm glad you brought
this.
>> Absolutely. I I and thank you for
bringing it up uh commissioner is that
for folks that could not attend how it
was broke it down was there's three
groups and it was really to look at
biases and actually to
pull those muscles around what are some
stereotypes that folks have. So um we
all have biases and I think the more we
can have conversations of like hey
here's what I have here is my internal
compass uh what does that mean now for
have discussion and dialogue to then
being able to make decisions and a in a
very uh going back to our statement of
equity going back to that statement to
ensure that we're making uh funding
recommendations based on the best we can
to our underserved communities and so I
wanted to just talk about equity
equality and biases and and I'm going to
read it out loud or someone has someone
wants to read it in terms of equity
definition on that attachment. I'm
looking for volunteers.
>> You want me to read it?
>> Yes, please. Thank you. Thank you.
Um, equity in power distribution
involves fairly assigning influence,
resources, and decision-making authority
while considering different starting
points and needs to promote fair
outcomes. Can you hear me? Okay.
>> Yep.
>> Okay. Unlike equality, which offers the
same for everyone and may overlook
systemic disadvantage or disparities,
equity is a proactive fairness approach.
It ensures all voices are included,
opportunities are accessible, and
support tailored to address barriers,
fostering an environment where everyone
has a genuine chance to succeed.
We want to read the equality or the
group.
>> Come on. It's pretty short. You guys
>> I'll do it.
>> Versus equality. Equality is the
condition of having equality or being
equal in equality or sense.
>> Thank you, Commissioner Ray. Anybody on
the bias one?
I can take it. So bias implicit or
unconscious bias involves automatic
stereotypes and attitudes that influence
our perceptions, decisions, and
behaviors without our awareness. These
biases often involve declared beliefs
and can affect sectors such as hiring,
healthcare, and justice through quick
judgments based on background, culture,
or appearance. shaped by personal
experiences, these mental shortcuts may
cause unfair treatment even when we
consciously endorse fairness and
equality.
And and so I'm going to piggy back. So
one of the examples they used here was
resumeé audit studies show that
identical application received different
responses based on a racially coded
names. Right? These findings demonstrate
that unconscious biases shape hiring
decisions even among employers who
endorse diversity. Um, so that's a a
bias and so I I I fielded some questions
to Brenda and um and I think given the
the the learn learning we had last week,
I think it would be in our best favor to
have these discussions as a group,
right? And it's one of the questions I
have and I really again it's very
important because we're all going to be
split in groups when we're talking about
funding recommendations and what I want
or my hope our hope is to go back to the
equity statement is that how do we
normalize discussion and say hey
actually do have a bias around you're
not good or bad but I think we should we
have to speak about them because that's
when we have these uh unconscious biases
and we're making recommend ations
without really having a conversation.
So, and so I just I'm going to put these
questions out there, but but I want to
put it in practical as we get split up
in groups for recommendations that it's
very critical to ensure we're having
discussions around biases, equity,
equality. So, my question to the group
here as we learn and stretch our muscles
and and I I do want to say everyone's on
a different continuum, right? So, how
that looks like is is is very important
too, right? Again, wisdom in the room.
So the question I had here uh what
biases may impact access to services or
in our community
>> what biases that we have.
>> Correct.
>> Okay.
>> Can be I see someone back there too.
>> Commissioner can make it. Go ahead.
>> Me.
>> Yes. Yes. Yep.
I was going to say um classism.
>> Okay.
>> Like um yeah
>> say more
>> um well
who
okay I'll just use a specific example um
and I don't mean to call anybody out but
it's just a specific example that I
that's coming to mind. um clothing drive
that happens at the barn and we have
assumptions about who deserves to be
there and who doesn't
>> and our people who are well off you know
but yes so are people are people who are
welloff just coming to get free stuff
>> yep
>> but we cannot necessarily know people's
class status or um should lower income
people look a certain way to gain access
to some of our services. Right? So, some
of those uh assumptions that we all
carry where we're trying to figure out
who really deserves our help or who
belongs uh in a particular category or
who doesn't. And I think it's something
that really each and every one of us
carry. It could be about class, but it
could certainly be about anything else
too, like white passing folks. um do you
really are you really uh okay to get
access to this or that resource if you
don't appear as a person of color
because you're white passing any number
of biases
>> and that's a great point. Uh one of the
things that to add to that was the
training was you know most of the
community based organizations are going
to be closer to the work right which
means also representation
identification
uh is very critical. Um one of the
things that I'm always mindful of is
when we do we have our site visits or
folks coming in is that you know they
might speak different languages too
right? So if they're speaking English
and they and it's not as proficient as
it is, there is biases with that and
there's some privilege around that. So I
think of it that way. Who has access and
who doesn't, right? Some of our
community based organization, I'm
thinking like the circle, right? They
might have some great people, but
English is maybe not the first. And so
um and I think of it that way. Who has
access, who doesn't have access, right?
And I think about it in a bigger scope
for isqua as we're diverse in our
community is some folks might not be
proficient with English doesn't mean
they're less than. they actually might
be more equipped because they might
speak four or five six languages and
that just something that I'm just being
mindful right so I think of it when
people come and present right is I that
can be something that how do we shape
that belonging piece to fact is that we
want you to show up for who you are and
speak to the great work you're doing and
so I think of it in that way even small
presentations like that I'm just I'm
mindful like okay what are they saying
how do I how do we try to examine that.
So, um that's just a quick observation.
I want to hear from the group if there's
anything biases that may impact
um around the work we do.
>> Well, I I thought um you know, yours was
a really good one. It made me think that
I have kind of one that's on a little
bit of a tangent off that. I have I I
admit I have not pulled up the link yet
to see who has applied, but hope link
I'm assuming has applied. they always
apply. And I tend to have a barrier
sometimes against funding Hope Link
because they're this big mega place and
they get, you know, hundreds and
thousands, millions of dollars. And so
that's something I have to think about
as I evaluate
their application
is um I have to kind of, you know, put
blinders on and just forget about the
fact that they've got all this money
flowing in and look at the true merits
of what they're trying to tell us. But
it's hard. It's really hard because they
get millions of dollars.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. And and that's I think as we go
into grammar, it's going to be an
ongoing tension. I think that's
something that is uh big organizations
and how much how much they serve our our
community right
>> that can be more intentionality is like
out of that pie how much are is and I
know some of you will ask that say hey I
think it was just asked just a minute
ago was how many folks do you serve that
are isiqua I think it was commissioner
Murray that asked that question so those
are good critical questions to keep
having on our front minds and saying hey
what is being served in our community
and that's going to be something that
comes up when we have funding decisions
around our groups. I think those are
great examinations, great reflections.
Um, anybody else from the group in terms
of how biases might show up uh in terms
of services in our community?
>> Well, to piggyback of what Trish just
said, my big bias is familiarity. I
mean, I walk here at every meeting and
there's two that are right on my path to
get over here, which is the clothing
bank and the garage next door.
I walk my dog and I see those two CBOS
right there. I go, "Oh, wow. Great
work." And there's 30 plus other
applications in my folder going, "Right,
you you that's you need to go take a
look at those. That's not the only ones
that you need to consider." They're
doing great work.
>> So, go open up those folders and go
figure out what they're trying to do.
How many people in the community do they
serve? What are they trying to
accomplish? What are their numbers? go
dissect them and look at them and
analyze them to see what they did, what
they're trying to do because they could
do equal amount of impressive work. So
don't let don't let that bias get in the
way of really trying to understand what
those organizations are trying to do and
that goes right along what you're trying
saying Trish whether it be the circle or
Kinderling that's another huge
organization is go in there and tr truly
understand what it's going to take some
time you just got to block off that that
will really go in there see what
>> on the flip side familiar I mean I I get
what you're saying, but familiarity
means access hopefully to other
community members, right? And people are
are familiar with the organizations and
particularly the food bank. Yeah. And uh
and go there because of their
familiarity. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Anybody else? I see.
>> I have a question. I have a question
related to familiarity. um and bias
reduction. Are we doing field trips at
all this time? Like sometimes we go
visit the organizations to get a better
sense of um what they've done when
they've been funded.
And since the last uh batch of funding,
I have not taken that field trip, but I
hear that they are done. So, I was just
wondering if that's in the works for
this round or
>> Yeah, generally we do the field trips
before. So we we did those this last
this past year. There were field trips
and there were presentations. So at some
point after the funding um that that
will happen after the these groups are
funded and then you'll go out and kind
of monitor and see them throughout the
grant cycles.
>> Thank you.
>> Question. And to that point, one of the
things that we identified when we got
done or concluded our grant sension
recommendations was like, "Hey, there's
like like six of these that we would
love to." So think about that. So as
you're going into funding is uh identify
which ones are like hey I would like to
know more about that one or you know so
you know having that back mind so it
does get presented to the human services
commission and just and then it gets on
the books and then we're all kind of in
there because that that that will be the
season for this upcoming year is doing
site visits and or one of the things
that we recommended was how do we get
folks to come to you know kind of a
two-way sphere right because sometimes
it might be difficult to go to their
spot. So, making it space where we have
I think there was one commission meeting
where we had like four or five folks
lined up and kind of giving their
overview of what they do, why they do
it. Um, and not just I think the rhythm
is great in that regard because they're
just not waiting for like, oh, it's
grant time. I got to go present. It's
more like, hey, it's naturally to say, I
really want to know your work. I think
it it helps us not be transactional. Uh
and so that was the the the discussion
we had last year was how do we get more
how do we get more participation even
from us right not just having them come
to us but us going out to their to their
space and community. So that will be
something that comes up and then folks
will raise their hand I would love to
check out and then kind of report back.
I think that was one of the things we
did. I'm looking at Commissioner Manlin
here too is that or Commissioner Manlin
and is that we we did come back and
report some site that we had and do it
that way. So that would be coming up for
the upcoming year.
>> Well, and I just want to add wh um I
can't remember which grant cycle it was.
I think this is my third now. Um there
were um applications where I wasn't
familiar with the organizations. I went
I went and did my own site visit,
you know, and I I you know, because most
of these places are I mean, you don't
even have to identify that you're a
commissioner, you know, you can just I
mean, I can't remember which
organization it was, but a lot of these
places are fine, you know, particularly
if they have a brick and mortar. If
they're working outside of their home,
it's different.
Now, we were we were discouraged from
doing that uh a couple of cycles ago by
uh Monica and uh uh she said to give her
questions that we had uh and that she
would follow up on those and get back to
us. Uh is that is that something that we
can do now that we can go to those
sites?
>> Okay. My and I see you Yeah, you're
taking it even further. I I just wanted
to see these places and I I can't even
remember if I really grilled them. And
you're you're talking about reading the
applications and then having questions
specifically that are arising from the
applications.
>> Yeah, there's that too. Yeah. And I
would also say too that when you start
meeting in the subgroups in August with
Hannah, that's a great time where as you
review the next couple of months, all of
your applications and you still have
questions to meet with the other people
in your subgroup and then ask those
questions directly to Hannah. I think
that'll be really helpful because there
there will definitely be some that
you're just not as familiar with.
>> Yeah.
>> And you're having some questions. So
that's part of the design for those
subgroups
>> and I remember more of what you're
talking about. Yeah.
>> Uhuh. because I think you and Manny and
I were in that subgroup together and and
we were all energetic and we wanted to
contact these organizations and you know
email them and ask some questions and
yet we were told no we shouldn't
>> because the and the reason is it was a
good reason. The reason is is that is
they have their jobs to do and if
they're constantly being peppered by the
commissioners from Redmond, from
Belleview, from Kirkland, from Isiziqua,
you know, they're it's going to be hard
for them to get the job done. Right.
Right.
>> Yeah. And that's a good point, Morin.
>> Yeah. One of the things that, you know,
Jamie, you were talking about um uh my
comment to the Sophia way lady. Um one
of the things that I think um
that that we have built into our system
here is that we have to care for just
isquat people. Um, or they have to be
there has to be a a place where
Isizakiqua people can get to. Um, you
know, I I've got this one uh application
here. I I've already gone through my my
applications and I've rated them and I I
kind of know kind of where they're at,
but one of them is u is for uh
indigenous veterans. Um, and it's
specifically for indigenous veterans um,
who are homeless or are struggling and
in in in uh, perhaps going to be
homeless. They have to go all the way to
SeaTac in order to get help, right? So,
you know, how possible is it going to be
somebody who who's homeless to get to
SeaTac to get assistance
um, and then, you know, get back home?
You know, it probably isn't going to
work out too well. Uh that's that's like
a three four hour bus thing for them to
get there. Um if you've ever ridden the
buses in the area, it's crazy. Um
so uh and then uh
so we can't and and then there's other
people who really need the help who
maybe don't who live just on the other
side of the city line or are living in
Belleview or are living in Seamish that
really need the assistance but we're not
helping them. We're helping only ours.
Um, so there is that little bit of
that's a little bit grading to me, but I
I mean I'm I go with the program because
I know what the program is, but it still
grades on me that we're not helping
others.
>> And that is a great observation. It kind
of leads into like my I'm trying to be
mad full time. So my next question here
is as we make recommendations and
decisions and brainstorming and so forth
is constantly asking who may still feel
underserved in Isiqua, underserved in
Isiqua. And it goes back to what
Commissioner M was saying is as we make
uh decisions and recommendations is
being mindful. we have our our
priorities around our strategic plan,
right? Those are the ones that guide our
our decision and I would say and who is
still feeling who is still being
underserved.
>> I think that is uh to your point,
Commissioner Murray, is uh having that
as
uh as a reflection.
>> Sorry. Sorry,
>> Mory. That was a very specific list of
check boxes that you had. Could I just
have to backtrack a little bit?
Indigenous,
>> homeless, and then isolas. So, as you go
down your list of check boxes, how how
are you going through that list? So,
homeless, I can understand, and I I
don't know which categories you're which
subgroup you fall in, but homeless and
indigenous and isqua. So, all those have
to be and veteran and veterans. So, how
how are you like h how are you making
sure that you check all of those or
what's the what's the list of how are
you how are you um
what's a good word for this? Um
>> it's a really great question.
>> A really great question.
>> The you you become a little bit of a
detective. How many how how many people
in Isiqua are identify as indigenous or
or Alaskan native? because you got to
include that, right? Um and so of those
people,
what's the percentage of that population
that actually was a veteran, right? And
of those people, it turns out that
there's about 124. If you just go
statistically, which is what I just was
what I went the process I went through,
um there's about there's about 124 that
are indigenous veterans that live in in
Isiqua. How many of those people are
homeless? I really don't know. But
they're only talking about serving maybe
three or four with this program that's
in SeaTac, right? But you have to be a
little bit of a detective. You got to
think outside the box a little bit. Not
that much uh to try to figure out who it
is that that's u that that uh is act
this is actually applying to. Right.
So, so the list of CBOS that are that
you're overseeing, there has to be some
some some connection to that that
population that you just
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> I'll tell you my priority and I think
we've talked about this is I mean in in
that list that check list,
it has to be a place if it's not
something that's here in Isiqua, it has
to be a place that our isqua population
can readily get to. That's my very top.
>> Sure, that makes sense.
>> Yeah, that's Yeah, that comes first. And
then those other things Manny looked
into that would that would come after.
But if they if even if they say, you
know, they project that they might um
you know, service 10 people. I mean, I
don't know first of all how they're
coming up with those projections or
maybe they explain and again I haven't
looked at man. Um my and I happen to be
we're in the housing continuum. That's
our subgroup. But um yeah, if if if it's
not readily available, we're readily
accessible. I I pretty much rule it out.
That's what we did the last grinding
period, right guys?
>> That's right. Yeah. If it has to be
readily accessible to people that are in
isqua.
>> I mean it is it's taxpayer money.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. It's it's sad because because it
all you know we it's it's not like we
all exist in just within Isqua. We exist
in a in a larger area and people that
are outside this area that are
marginalized have effect on the people
that are in this area. For instance, uh
the city wants to put in this uh uh this
new deal where they photograph uh
license plates so that they can catch
the criminals as they're coming into
town, right? Um,
you know, the there's there's we're
we're not just existing within the city
limits, but but for our funding, we have
to kind of look at it like we're just
existing within the city limits.
>> Did you have a question?
>> Well, no, I was going to add to Mory's
comment. So,
like thinking about like him saying
like, okay, well, how is this small
percentage of people might get to CAT?
And I think another way of also looking
at it and kind of like
defending is not the right word but like
standing by your choice of choosing to
maybe not fund that organization is also
like what other services can we fund in
Isqua that maybe have a broader lens but
also support homelessness for example or
veterans for example.
>> We're fortunate because we have a city
excuse me we have a city I mean Brenda
heads it up.
>> Yeah.
>> The homeless outreach for Isiqua.
>> Correct. Yeah. And so that's what I'm
saying like and along that so like one
sometimes like we may think like okay
like this there's this really niche need
but can we find other ways for this need
to be met through maybe one of the other
programs that's like within our
applications
>> and then the other on the other side of
that is also thinking like about the
fund like programs that you're funding
and making sure that we're not like
duplicating services um and I think
that's something that
>> like as we continue to get like just
like beyond just like the funding years
and looking at how can current
organizations maybe like work together
or link them to like other organizations
that are providing similar services and
how can they like work together to
strengthen their programs and their
services. Um so yeah, I think that's
like a huge need or huge issue in just
like the nonprofit world. And just
listening to all of your comments, it's
makes me so much more grateful for the
work that you do because I know that you
have to say a lot of nos and it's not
going to be easy. So all of those things
that you're talking about, you're
checking a lot of boxes, but at the end
of the day, you're going to say no to a
lot of programs. And no one wants to do
that, but that's the job that you're
tasked with. And and if we had
more money and you know, if money were
not an option, we would want to fund all
of them. we could find a we could find a
reason why we want to fund every single
one of them. But again, so that's it
just makes me very grateful for the work
that you're about to do or have started
doing. So I
>> think I want to say hopefully I get the
numbers right. I think it was the we
have about $600,000 to provide back. I
think the request was like one point.
>> Yeah, I I'll actually that. So, so that
that goes back to again this is just a
discussion within that is that when you
are splitting your groups and and that
that's why I wanted to center this to
our equity statements not just a
statement there's also how we practice
that you know it's one thing and one
thing to practice that is those are the
muscles that we should be you know uh
increasing growing uh and and and the
with your partner and your team this is
a great way to kind do that. Uh, I'm
going to end it. Does anybody have any
more comments,
>> thoughts?
>> Okay. I just want to say one thing. Um,
>> the
granting that they did when CO first
started, I wasn't on the commission
then,
>> but they kind of did what is called a
peanut butter approach. And it could be
just because it was co, but they tended
to want to give money to everybody.
>> And so it meant not so much money to
everybody. And I remember Mayor Mayor
Paulie and I believe the council gave us
even though they don't like to give us
directives, we we definitely got the
message that we really should focus on
organizations where we want to make
meaningful contributions, which means
we're not going to do peanut butter.
Yeah. So, I just thought I might mention
that.
>> Good stuff. Jamie,
>> I will say to I know Commissioner
Danielle was there. Is there any com
You're right at the train. Um any
comments from you thoughts?
>> Plenty. Oh yeah.
Just trying to you know listen in and
absorb. Absolutely. One thought that I
had surrounding bias is um you know and
and um fairness and uh just ethics is um
you know do do the people who end up
making it to um the meetings and present
um could a bias develop from that
because they're presenting to us and so
they're more familiar to us um when we
are reviewing applications.
Um and and on an ethical side of things
or fairness um side of things um you
know the the resources are are un um
unbalanced you know for example with um
domestic violence survivors. mentions
the the website, you know, not having a
website and so how does that impact the
the you know, the ability to kind of
evaluate that um service or CBO. Um, so
this is as I'm thinking of bias like
having somebody coming in and presenting
may create a little bit of that because
you know you know them they're they're
presenting well or they're present you
know they're speaking well to their
mission or they have a compelling story
and so just being able to um you know
make sure that you're not influenced by
that is where I've been thinking a lot
of lately.
>> Good point. Yeah, that was I'm I'm glad
that up there is when we were going
through the grand funding and we were
talking about like we need to get to
know more our organizations, right? Was
this was one method of like can we have
more folks present and or us going out
and there I can I can see there can be
unintended consequences too of just like
hey they have more facetime
>> you know um there can be biases within
that too. So I just I'm glad you're
pointing that out. Um,
>> since I'm new, it's just something that
as I'm, you know, trying to be cognizant
of these things, I can see how it could
create a bias for myself
>> as I'm moving into this process and to
be aware of it as I do.
>> That was a good one to bring up. Yeah.
>> I'm going to end with one of the the
boxes here of recognizing and being
transparent with discomfort. I'm going
to read it out loud here because I think
it's so vital and needed when we're
having discussions of such, right?
Recognizing and being transparent about
discomfort means viewing feelings as a
sign of growth rather than threats.
Using mindfulness to stay within
feelings without reacting immediately
and communicate honestly about your
internal experience, your feelings and
impact rather than just facts to foster
deeper trust even when vulnerability is
involved. It also involves practicing
self-compassion, gradually taking small
consistent steps outside your comfort
zone to strengthen resilience and
self-awareness, turning discomfort into
growth opportunity instead of avoiding
it. So I say that is that is the muscle
we're trying to stretch is that if
there's discomfort, we're growing,
right? And so please lean into that as
we are splitting into our group
discussions.
And that is it. Thank you all. you're
here.
Uh I think the next item in order here
is uh Brenda Parker
uh application process check-in.
>> I will figure out how to share my screen
with you.
structural question if that's okay.
>> Um, since we're losing some members, um,
and as our newer members came in as
alternates, does that change our
position, do we move into a different
position or do we remain as an
alternate?
>> Um, there will be some change. We we
opted to put that um to push that back
until August. So in there will be let's
see how do I say this? So um
the mayor will appoint Trish from
alternate to a regular member that
happens in June and then in your August
meeting before the the very first order
of business we'll be electing the chair
and the co-chair. So that will be the
extent of the changes for now.
>> Yeah.
>> Is there a question?
>> Yeah.
behind me. I can't remember how to do
this.
>> Got Ray right there. Raise your guy.
>> I practiced that earlier. That worked. I
thought I could just share my screen,
but
>> this right here,
>> but I want to emphasize, you know, right
now
>> that we don't treat
we don't treat alternates. I mean, we
treat everybody the same.
>> I think though alternates don't uh vote.
If it came to a and I should even well
Brenda is busy. If it came to um where
we had to vote on a motion
>> um then and if we had a quorum with just
the regulars and the alternates I mean
how many regulars do we have? Seven
something like that. Oh, there's
>> But um if if we don't have all the
regulars here, then none of the
alternate will vote as if they're a
regular
pay attention will
>> like when you're in your subcommittee,
you'll be able to um
>> get as much weight in decision making as
anybody else.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, uh yeah, thank you for that.
Those are good points and those are also
questions. If you have additional
questions any of you about how that's
going to to work during the transition,
feel free to reach out and be happy.
So, I'm just going to give a very brief
um presentation tonight. I wanted to
just give kind of an overview of what we
talked about before, reminding you that
there were 119 applications received
from 77 total organizations
u requesting $3,631,894.
So that's a lot
um as you all know.
And then we had um we had some
>> Can you go back?
>> Yes. Was this like the received and then
like I know some were
removed like
>> Yes. So that's the next slide that these
are the list. This is the list of 11
programs.
>> 11.
>> Oh, that did not qualify. Okay.
>> Maybe not quite 11. Uh this is the group
that
>> had incomplete applications or requested
below the minimum amount. So those are
the programs unfortunately that didn't.
You know, I I think it's interesting
with the requested below minimum amount.
So Hannah didn't go back and say, "Do
you want to just up it a couple thousand
dollars and you're at?"
>> We we cannot. Unfortunately, when the
application cuts off uh at four o'clock
on the cut off date, that's all we get.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> I mean, it makes our job easier.
>> I know. I know. Uh actually, I think
this is the old PowerPoint that I'm
looking at this. Oh,
>> let me go back to this for just a
second.
>> Yeah, I'm sorry. We're in the wrong
PowerPoint.
>> The applications I'm are clear on the
parameters. I
>> sure right amounts and what is required
to be complete.
>> Uh I would say we do provide some
sessions, right, where they can kind of
get some upfront kind of like here are
the rules of engagement, right? And so
but we do come across these issues where
some incomplete application or below the
minimum. Uh I know the year before we
had a cycle uh Hannah reached out but it
was be like a couple of days before. So
there was some wiggle room but it is
something that does happen to us where
unfortunately you know we do try to
provide a learning opportunity the the
rules of the engagement of the
application through share was it one
share to your point one share that where
it's a it's a portal through Bel um
>> yeah and there are meetings where
anybody that wants to attend can attend
to learn how to fill out these
applications. Yeah. So they're given if
they put in below the minimum it's their
fault for paying attention.
>> Yeah.
>> Did they treat it? What's the minimum?
Three or 5,000?
>> 5,000.
>> Yeah. I saw
>> Can I Can I ask a question?
>> 15,000,000.
That's a lot.
>> Yes.
>> Yeah.
Uh so uh I'm wondering how much my
housing continuum
uh section uh is uh allotted this time.
>> That'll come in the that'll come in one
of the slides.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> You think so? Okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Because we've seen
>> Yeah. We're coming to
>> we've seen this deck before and it has
that breakout,
>> right? I didn't write it down last time.
Last time it was around 215 per category
is what I wrote down.
>> Uhhuh.
>> For some reason 169,000 sticks in my
head, but I wanted to verify that.
>> Oh yeah.
>> So my in our group, you, me, and who
else?
>> Um, I would have to look back on the uh
>> It's a new person. I don't know if it's
my card or
>> Dan.
I'm realizing that I missed some because
I wasn't able to attend the meeting.
>> Well,
>> I do not know either.
>> Okay.
>> We will we will we will we will assign I
think there was some meeting
>> not the the equity training but the one
before there was
>> there's a slide. There's a slide. Yeah.
So, what will this come up?
>> It's actually in the It's in the agenda
of one of the things. I'm I'll leave the
meeting and come back. I I can go get
it.
>> Sorry, everyone. We're getting there.
>> See you. I'll see you back here in a
minute.
>> Okay, Mari.
Yep, this is it. Okay. Okay. Sorry about
that. So, I wanted to just um I wanted
to make this very brief and I've already
messed that up, but I wanted to just
look at this slide here. We took the
original our current baseline of 612,000
just over 612,000.
We added like we normally do the
population growth which was actually
zero this year and the per capita rate
or which is 3.9%.
Giving us the new numbers for 27 and 28.
And then we were given permission just
to round those numbers. So the 650,270
650,276
was the amount that we will get for each
year.
And so again, this is just an overview.
So, I'm not going to go into I I know
more was going to pull up how that broke
out into each of the groups, but what I
really want to focus on tonight is did
you we had last time we talked about the
the process tools, the review process
tools, and so there was share one app,
which you should all have access to, and
then there were also the PDF files on
SharePoint.
>> Oh, and there was homework, right?
>> There was. So, we're we're getting to
that. Yes, you can do it.
>> But I' I've done it before. So,
>> okay. And let's see. Okay. Over here,
right?
>> Yeah. I mean, I just reviewed like one
application.
>> Yeah.
>> Well, it sounds like my is all done.
>> Yeah,
>> I know.
>> Oh, you want to share?
>> I just want to scroll over. Maybe I can
do it this way.
>> No, I just want to go over to the next
slide. Oh, let's go back to
>> There we go. Okay.
>> Did it go? It didn't go.
>> It's not changing on the screen.
>> Let's click on it. Okay. So, this was
your assignment. Your assignment was to
uh verify that you have access to your
applications. Was everyone able to do
that?
>> Yes.
>> And then
>> maybe maybe not. Okay, that's fine. We
have lots of time. That's the good news.
And then you are going to review one or
two of those applications or like my you
would review all of them
>> and then write down any questions or
observations that you had and then we
really wanted you to be able to use all
the tools and then write down any
questions, comments or edits that you
might have. So for tonight the
discussion will be first of all did you
have any trouble accessing the
applications
>> okay
no problems there
>> I do not know how to access
>> okay
>> okay so let me work with you
individually since you've been this
you're just kind of joining us and so
you and I will connect and
>> should I have received some guidance on
that or or was this a self-study
you should have received a link with all
of with the applications and with your
subgroup of applications. So if we don't
have that
>> then yeah we'll definitely
>> independent
>> but we'll get you to
>> yes and so the second question then is
is do you have any questions regarding
the application content?
>> I think it's pretty straightforward. I
mean, there's a lot of information in
there, but um you know, you don't
necessarily have to read it word for
word and understand everything, but
definitely, you know, have a pretty good
understanding of what they're asking for
and and then definitely any questions
when you get ready to meet in your
subgroup. So, you can talk that out with
your
>> and the purpose. There's no difference
between share one and and and um share
point right?
>> Those are two different things. So,
share one is the is the application that
all the cities use.
>> Yes.
>> And you have um you have all been
granted access to that. That's what you
were talking about today that you didn't
have access and then we reached out to
all Alaric and now you do. I do.
>> So, that's all of the cities and that's
where the application was submitted.
>> Okay. And then what Hannah did and does
generally with this is she goes through
and puts everything to make it easier
for you instead of having to if you
don't want to access the share one app
you can use our SharePoint and we gave a
special permission for that. So you can
go in and just see our stuff.
>> Okay.
>> Which I think simplifies it quite a bit.
>> And it's digital. SharePoint is digital
whereas she one would be PDF files and
stuff like that.
>> Yeah. Okay.
Yeah. So again, Danielle and Micah, I'll
work with you um in the next couple of
days to make sure that you know how to
access those. Okay. So, what is your
current experience reviewing the
applications? What how's it looking?
Mory, you're all done. What do you
think?
>> Um it's good. I I you know, I I've uh I
have this group of of uh people that I'd
like to give money to. That totals about
$450,000
just for this small group. great out of
the 30 I wintered it down to I don't
know six or eight and and uh so there
you know it's a question of you know not
enough money how much how much are we
going to give these if those are the
ones we choose so that's why
>> yeah
my dad work for us
>> nice you have nothing left of you Daniel
>> has anyone else been to review any of
the applications
I only looked at one, but it was easy to
get in and out of the folders.
>> Okay. And did you use SharePoint or
SharePoint?
>> Uh, I do both, but I like I prefer
SharePoint.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. I do too.
>> I use the one that Hannah set up for us.
>> Yes. Yeah, that's SharePoint.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. You know, Mori, I might have
misspoke. Maybe maybe Hannah said
she would figure out the breakout of the
monies between the subgroups later.
>> No, she did. She gave an estimate for
that and it it was on previous slides,
>> but and I can get that for you.
>> I'm looking for it now.
>> I also have the name the the names of
who's on each group
>> if you want that.
>> Yeah, sure. You can you can tell us
that.
>> Okay. The physical behavioral health is
uh Jamie and Ray and and Huma
and the housing is Trish, Mory, and
Danielle. Community um
um resources is uh Meline, JD, and
Micah.
>> There it is.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. Is there any other discussion that
you would like to have about the
process?
>> Yes.
>> Okay.
>> So, um Moraurice's um been able to look
at everything and he's come to sort of a
um conclusion um where preliminary
conclusion on where he'd like to go. Um
is that generally how it works? We all
look at them individually and then we
come together.
>> Yes, absolutely.
>> Yeah.
>> And and then we hash it out.
>> Yes. Okay.
>> And when you're in that group, Hannah
has a spreadsheet and she'll be asking
you like, "Okay, you're a green, you're
a yellow, you're a red.
>> What are the questions? What is the
discussion?" And then you'll come
together and you'll make that decision
based on that additional information
that's provided. You don't have to do
that all in in one subgroup. You'll
probably meet two to three times in each
of your subgroups in August. And so,
you'll really be able to hash out all
the questions. What happens if if you
can't agree?
>> Well, you we will
>> I think you will. I think I think using
the tools that you have,
>> I think you'll have enough structure and
enough check boxes that we've talked
about that you'll get to a place where
like yeah, definitely on the same page.
Um I will find that I at the equity
meeting the um
um person that was leading the
discussion was saying
um you shouldn't go through and um
immediately focus on who you want to
eliminate.
>> Do you remember them saying that? And we
actually do you guys. So that's one of
our assignments I think before we meet
as a subgroup is to have figured out who
you want to be in the red. There's red,
yellow, and green
>> and who who you want to be in the red
and then Yeah. And then the yellow and
the green. But yeah, I mean we do go
through and figure out who we want to
eliminate right away.
>> I think Hannah said last time like at
least 50% you need to put in the red.
>> Say it again.
>> I think Hannah said it was like at least
50%
>> Yeah.
>> has to go in the red.
>> Yeah. which is
>> I think it's still accurate though when
you're when you're reviewing it when
you're reading it for the first time. I
still think you can use that lens of
>> I'm not trying to eliminate. I'm trying
to find the strengths and the good and
ultimately it's still a no. And so I
still come up with that list of
>> I mean and again my major priority is
okay can people in Isiqua get to this
place
>> and then if they can't it's a no it's a
red.
>> Yeah.
>> I'm sure there's certain guidelines. Are
we can you approve like a partial amount
or is it a straight yes or no? like or
can we say we'll 50% fund them or
they're asking for 40,000 and we give
them 20,000 or is it just yes or no?
>> No, it the the you first decide if it's
a a yes or a no and then the the funding
amount comes in because you only have so
much to work with in the budget.
>> And so definitely there are a lot of
people who I mean we had someone say
today they're asking for $100,000.
>> Most people don't most applications
don't get what they
>> That's what I was wondering. Okay.
Gotcha.
>> You know, the first round is, you know,
choosing your color. And I would say too
is you're all selected for a reason. You
know, you guys are bringing your own
reality, your own perspective. So, if
there's certain agencies that you're
like, "Hey, that speaks to me." Mark it
down. You know, have a conversation,
>> you know. Um
and and that's why you meet with the
groups to say, "Hey, um there's this
comfort around that." And that's okay.
is saying, "Hey, this is important to me
and and and my reality, my world."
>> Yeah.
>> Um and that's why you're selected to be
on this commission is to do that to to
speak to those voices in the community.
I I I think that is so critical and so
important. Um you're selected for a
certain reason to be here. Um so don't
take this stuff lightly. You know, speak
to what's important to you and then have
a discussion. You know, there was a
couple of times in my sharing where me
and my other commission, we were in a
good dialogue and it was just like,
"Hey, here's what I'm seeing. I'm this
is what I'm seeing." And so then it's
like, "Okay, can we take a pause and
reflect and then come back at again?"
>> And so you're going to have those. Um,
so there's the strategic plan that we
have for the city of Isiqua, our equity
statement. uh those are all like I would
say uh documents of evidence to say hey
how do I compromise to that right and
also to just some of the realities that
we we're trying to serve here in the
community of Is right um so I'll give
you an example
uh what was it uh about a a few months
ago when ICE was going around our
communities and uh the mayor the board
they came to us and say hey there's
about $50,000 I think it was like
$50,000 000 75,000 we were trying to
like what does that mean and what's the
most going back to your point uh
commissioner man uh
>> or not
is that commissioner sh brought a good
point was that was we had the discussion
was do we do a peanut butter spread or
do we say who's doing the work right now
because there's an urgent need to have
and so the circle was like can we all
agree to the circle being closest to the
word and so we all voted on it. I think
it was about $50,000 and that
recommendation went down to the mayor
and the board and so forth. But you'll
you'll have instances like that where is
um discussions around it. You know, some
folks might say, "Hey, but I think we
all got together and say what's the best
bank for that?" And uh so versus the
peanut butter spread.
>> Um but I would say you're all selected
for a reason. And so, you know, have
those discussions, you know, have that's
why I I I I really was being intentional
around the biases conversations saying,
"Hey, because I'm I'm I'm going to miss
things." And so, how do how are we open
to that,
>> right?
>> And I will add that, okay, Hannah's
going to be in all these meetings, okay?
And Hannah will help guide us.
>> Yes.
>> And she will have an opinion.
>> She will have an opinion. And she's also
going to be able to tell us particularly
if a lot and a lot of these applications
will be repeats and she will tell us how
they performed last, you know, this last
granting cycle and any concerns she has
about them if we fund them again. So
Hannah will be a tiebreaker if we if it
comes to we can't make a decision or we
can't come to consensus. But I we always
come to consensus. Yeah.
>> Okay. For my fellow commissioners who
were at the Redmond meeting last week,
what was the one thing that they kept
saying over and over again that we that
was a bias? Do you recall?
>> There was one word that that that kept
coming up over and over again and it was
data.
>> So my question to you was is there a
tool that and I'm thinking spreadsheet
because I too am a spreadsheet person. I
can put because I'm in the in the the
share one application now that can pull
each one of these and pull them on a
common column and say oh this is the
statistics of how many ISO residents
this program serves and compare it to
another program and align it and say
this this is how many individuals it
serves.
>> Do you want to do that?
>> I believe I believe Hannah already has
that in a spreadsheet. Stay tuned.
>> No, because I I plan to cuz I did this
one with Morin and uh
>> Manny and I I made some changes to the
spreadsheet and I plan to go in there
probably make some changes. I I'll do it
just in ours. Our little subcommittee
spreadsheet unless
>> But no, what you do is that would be
fantastic. But if Hannah's already done
it,
>> that was a really good that was really
good stuff too that you did for us that
really helped.
Fantastic. Okay.
>> All right. Well, let's go ahead and move
on then.
>> Okay. All right. Any other comments,
thoughts from the group?
>> I'll just add really quickly. So, at the
last meeting that we had, if you go into
like the city of Isiquad, like to the
past agendas.
>> Um there is so it this will be my first
funding year as well. And one thing that
was like really really helpful just like
when you open the SharePoint it was a
little overwhelming and that's why I was
like okay we're going to do one and then
we'll come back. Um but we have like um
Ha mentioned the strategic plan and
that's attached on like last month's
agenda and then um I think you know we
keep talking about the tool but I don't
know if you guys have seen it but this
is the tool and so that's like a really
easy way to say like yes maybe or no.
Um, and it I think this is one thing
that was kind of missed during the
training last week. They kept saying
like, you know, don't let your biases
get in the way and like don't let data
get in the way and kind of like we do
have areas that the city has determined
like these are the areas of need for the
city. Like there was a whole um study or
>> strategic plan has
Yeah. And so I think that was like
obviously I understand where the
training was coming from of like don't
don't let your biases get in the way but
for the city of Isiqua which is like at
least like how I see myself as like I'm
a servant of the city.
>> Um this is what I follow and it can also
like help take myself out of the
equation. Um yeah so like that helped a
lot
>> and just like some of the things that
I'm like thinking about so you don't I
don't get overwhelmed when I open a
SharePoint again. Yeah,
>> and it's helpful because I think to your
bias question like for the first one
that said then only we serve 10% of
their population serves as like I I'd be
curious based on guidelines and the
stuff that I'll look at like does that
not meet a threshold or do we need to
hit a higher percentage of their people
>> for us to fund it? Um and that could
definitely be a bias or is that just us
following the guidelines that Isiqua Yes
wants us to.
>> Yeah. But I heard that and I was like,
"Oh, I don't know if that's high enough,
but that might be a bias and
>> or that might just be us listening to
the guidelines." So,
>> yeah. And I think at the training like
anything was kind of like, "Oh, that's a
bias." And I was like, "Okay, we always
have a strategic plan."
>> So, it's like having that balance of,
you know, we have direction and like
obviously understand where the trainers
were coming from, but like we have a
direction that we need to follow.
>> Yeah.
>> Help simplify it.
>> Absolutely.
>> Direction. And I would say again, you're
all selected for a reason, right? You
know, your your identity, your your
experiences, you know, just like is it
was it Jamie, right? She's new to give
it develop that new website having
having a powerful testimony. Folks are
grassroot is something, you know, she
might not have a proven track record,
but I know she's trying to help our
young our our folks in Isiqua, right? So
just I would say just again uh be
mindful advocate and have those
discussions you know because we do go
into the tier system with with with
Hannah you do the yellow green and then
you're like okay how do we compromise
and the second round is like the funding
how much is being dedicated to the
funding on that. So um have fun
>> might be a silly question I've gotten
emails from Hannah. What is Hannah's
role exactly?
>> So Hannah is the senior human services
coordinator and all of this is her role.
>> So we all serve Hannah.
>> Yes. Well, and then Hannah went on
maternity leave and had beautiful little
twin girls.
>> Oh, yes.
>> In the middle of the grant season.
>> Ah, okay.
>> So, yes, she will be back. And but she
requested and I am actually leaving as
you all know. And so, um, our timing
kind of missed a little bit with life.
>> We'll be fine.
>> But yes, you'll be fine. And and all of
that to say, uh, yeah, that is her role.
This is her baby. Cool. and she
requested to come back in August and
meet with you all in the subgroup. So,
she will be back to help you through
that. And what that also means, I'll
just kind of say this and then we can
wrap up this section, but um what that
also means is you have the next two
months to be looking through those and
making your decisions. So, um take your
time, you know, go through them
thoroughly and then be ready. Hannah
will get you all straightened out in
August and make sure that you're all on
the same page. So
>> that's great. That's helpful.
>> Brenda,
>> yes. More
>> is it would it be it seems to me that it
might be good for us to meet a couple of
times as in our little subgroups before
Hannah comes back in August.
>> So we're so we're ready to engage with
her.
>> No, that that was done intentionally.
Normally you would be meeting in July in
your subgroups with her or I but because
or I'm sorry in June but with me
transitioning out we opted just to push
it back and have all of that happen in
August. So you will get
>> when we when we've done it in previous
years we haven't met with Hannah at the
beginning. We usually would hash it out
a little bit first and then meet with
Hannah.
>> Right. Well, she will be she'll be
scheduling meetings for all of your
subgroups. So that's not anything that
you have to do on your own.
>> Okay. So, but if we want to,
>> I would recommend that you wait for her
to schedule those subgroup meetings so
that you're all on the same page. That's
my recommendation.
Um, again, it's a little bit backwards
because normally you would be starting
the subgroups right away, but now you
just have additional time to look
through those and we have plenty of time
before we have to get this information
to council. So, uh, I know it seems
weird, Mory, because it's flipped. It's
backwards, but that's what I would
suggest is that you just go with it. Um,
do your do all of your ratings
individually and read through those and
then she will schedule all of those
meetings.
>> I wanted to ask cuz you were asking
about guidelines. Do you do you feel
like you know what what we all are
supposed to do before we show up to our
first meeting with Hannah? I think I
have enough time to figure that out.
>> Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And that's where I'll
meet with
>> You're gonna meet with that.
>> So, I'm okay with Mory. I'm I could
sense your uh disease with the uh the
change, but I feel really good about it
because it gives me time to to
familiarize myself before I get together
with such experienced raiders.
>> Yeah.
>> I would I would say to that is take your
time on that really. You know, I I I I'm
I'm going to give you when I started
this was like six six years ago. I I got
the applications right. I did like all
95 when it was like I it was only
supposed to be 30 and I pull an
allnighter just like oh I'm so stressed
out. I'm around focus. I know it more
than I and so and this is just me and
and I was and then I ended up being a
group and I'm like 30 I did I'm 95
so I didn't excel. So again,
take your time reviewing them. Um, and
so I'm just g to my person. I did review
all 95 and I scored over
>> and I will not and so when I was
relieving I was like it was only 34 what
it was.
So um I'm just sharing that example to
relieve some I see somebody like okay
you're you're you're a good company
>> this. Yes. Um, any reports from chair
and or commissioner reports for 5A from
the group?
>> I think you have a report for us.
>> I do have a report. I'm going to say so
this is a little different. So I would
say on Sunday we had our Asian-American
Pacific Islander Heritage Month
celebration
>> and we had it here at the Isiqua
Community Center. It was fabulous.
Awesome. Around including the dragon
lion dance, Japanese school of drums, uh
tah tahian
>> tahesian hoola dance. Uh it was uh the
aa aapi cultures within our community.
The event was free, open to the public.
So it was great to see um just a
multicultural
uh uh event down at the community
center. And so it was cool to see kids
just run around, dance, uh, and embrace
the cultural. So I just want to make as
an announcement that I know we have two
new board members. Uh, and so we do
have, one of the things I joined the
commission was to be intentional around
my footprint when it came to our our our
diversity, equity, inclusion here. So I
would encourage folks to kind of check
it out. We have a cultural fest coming
up. It is so awesome to see it happen.
So awesome to see people with our
community come out express themselves.
Uh it it just brings uh music to me. It
what we say it it feeds my soul.
>> So I would say please do that and and
and trust me it will make this grant
funding a lot easier as you because some
of those folks do attend uh uh our
cultural facilities.
Uh
so there's no press in today.
um in terms of uh reports. So that would
that be
>> Yeah, I have a staff report. Not not an
official report, but I just want to give
you a couple of brief announcements. Uh
like Haime said, CultureFest is going to
be coming up. It's scheduled for Friday,
September 18th at 5:30.
>> Please turn it. That's awesome.
>> A couple of things to follow up on. The
mayor did meet with the nonprofit
organization uh group. We met April
30th. Some of you had asked questions
about that. he intends to continue
meeting with our nonprofits just to be
able to um to keep up to date on some of
the federal changes, the the impacts
that they're experiencing with different
things that are happening, current
events. And so that was a great u
opportunity to get together with all of
our nonprofits and just hear from them.
It was very well attended. and mayor I
think plans to put uh we'll put I think
take a break in the summer and then
maybe meet back in late summer after
people have kind of finished traveling a
little bit and then those will have the
the cadence will be about two to three
times a year but he definitely continues
to or plans to continue what Mayor Polly
started so we're excited about that and
then uh others asked about the transit
oriented development u just to give you
a brief update on that we continue to
meet with interested parties with that
transit oriented development project and
we um I was in a meeting just this week
with a partner who's very very
interested and so we'll continue
following up and when we have more more
information that we can report out we
will but it does look like it's moving
forward and and they will the housing
structure will actually break ground in
July so they're in the permitting
process right now but some good things
happening there
>> you want to explain to the new people
about the behavioral health component of
the tod.
>> Yes. So there because of of funding that
happened many years ago that that money
was tied to having behavioral health or
mental health or and even physical
health services. So we're looking for a
tenant who can come in and be able to
provide kind of our anchor tenant who
can come in and provide those key
services that Isiqua really needs. And
the city is not looking to make a profit
on that. where we'll be, you know, that
space will be leased out at below market
value just so that we can give these
nonprofits an opportunity to come in and
provide the services we really need. So,
looking forward to that.
>> And then there will be apartments for
rent.
>> Yeah, the apartments will be uh between
30 and 80%
um AMI and then one of the buildings
will actually be full market rate. So,
we'll have a lot of a lot more choices
in Isaqua for housing. So, very excited
about that.
>> Yes.
>> Where's going to be? It's across from
the transit station.
>> Yes.
>> Behind it kind of. I guess. Yeah. Behind
it.
>> That's already been determined where
it's going to be.
>> Yes, it has.
>> Oh, okay.
>> Ground groundbreaking coming soon.
>> And then on Monday, we were at the city
council meeting. If any of you were
there, we recognized um former council
member Barb D. Michelle. It was a a
great tribute to her. It was great to
see her and and have her um receive that
recommend recognition from the community
and from the fellow council members. We
also recognized um Chief Paula Swan who
will be who's retiring. She'll be
leaving in June. So that was really fun
to be a part of. And then the final
announcement is just again staff
updates. I will be with the city until
the end of June. Um, I will actually
only been be in office until the end of
May. So, please feel free to reach out
to me with questions. I'll be working
with the two of you additionally. And
um, we don't have all of the answers
right now, but things are coming
together. My director has been on
vacation. He returns next week and we
can kind of um, continue to piece things
together, but I know that that you're
going to be in good hands and we're
we're going to get we're going to work
through it. So, and then uh, Hi, May. I
think you have additional
>> I would say things come in seasons as
they say, right?
>> Yes.
>> You know, unfortunately I've
>> um I want to say unfortunately is uh I
was talking to Brenda and chatting with
Hannah is that um I've been trying to
get my clinical supervising as a social
worker. So um I was talking to Ray and
so I'm going to be pretty busy with the
top of my job and then trying to get my
clinical hours and so something had to
give and I was like I can't do
everything. And so even that itself 40
hours plus clinic hours is going to be a
lot. Um but this so unfortunately I I
will have to step down. Um and so this
is it was not an easy decision and u
I've been involved for five six years
and seeing new folks you know having the
same advocacy brings a smile to me. You
know I I think we we need more people
like you all to continue the fight
continue to vocalize that. That's the
reason why I got um I say that because I
was um I worked at city of Belleview. I
was a paid intern at the time for human
services and that's why I knew about
human services. This is back in 2014
and so this when maybe had like half an
FTE on the human services side and so
I've seen it evolve and grow to you know
a couple of staff strategic plans at the
time didn't have a strategic plan or an
equity statement. And so it it it that's
kind of how I knew about human services
and I was like okay let me get when I
was kind of getting with my career like
let me get involved with the human
service here in cities as well and um so
I've been here for five six years and
hopefully it's not a it's not a for
everything hopefully I do come back um
but I wanted to say um for August we'll
be having you know the the conversations
of a chair and vice chair u please work
with with Hannah and Brenda to if your
folks are interested it's It's a
position of the community. That's the
way I look at it. There is no ego. It's
how do we support you all to the to the
faces and and the I think about that
example of uh of ICE and the $50,000 and
how to make an impact. That was all you
all.
>> You know, we all had a decision around
that. We could have said no, yes,
modified it, but we all made
recommendations. And one of the things I
would say to this group is the mayor
does listen. They do take our feedback.
um to to that conversation around the
construction. I was asked to can I can I
speak on that and and and have a
conversation on the human services side.
So I I would say the this is a position
that's not lightly. So um I will I will
be stepping out and putting the work to
you all and hopefully still be connected
in a different way. And I thank you so
much for your all like um love and care.
Uh it means a lot to me. So,
>> so Hime are you not going to be in?
You're not doing the grants.
>> This is it. Today is my last day.
>> It's my last day.
>> We'll be missed.
>> Hi May.
>> Things coming soon.
>> We will miss you.
>> We'll see you around town,
>> you know. So
>> he's not leaving town. That's a good
thing.
>> Uh but I I would say too, you know, I I
always say this, you know, things are
never permanent. I think it's the
opportunity for someone to step up step
up and um I I really believe that I it's
uh I'm always happy to let something go
and let the baton be carried with
someone else and I I I love that. I love
I I I to me is when we were having
conversations in the beginning was we
all have people that care for this work.
You know, you're all taking time out of
your day to volunteer. Um, and so I I I
I think that's very critical and
important and it's in good hands. So I
thank you all. This will be my last one.
So hopefully in the future I'll come
back, but for now
>> is I look forward to connecting with you
in a cultural fest on the community. So
thank you so much for your for your
guys' uh support.
>> Thank you.
>> Good luck in your next chapter.
>> I try to get emotional.
>> I do I do have something for the good of
the order.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. But I I'll wait till you are we
there
>> I think as far as a staff announcements
staff report um Brenda um I think any
other business or announcements from the
group
>> that'll be your cue there.
>> Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Um, I just
wanted to say that um, I don't know if
people are aware, but the um, Chamber of
Commerce does their community awards
once a year and it was last Thursday and
I attended um, as a um, officer in the
um, nonprofit influence the choice which
helps um, young young people with their
well-being and um, trying to encourage
them um, not to use substances among
other things. Um and um we do a award
once a year to um somebody who has been
very impactful in our community with
young people and I would I had the
privilege of giving it to Barb bar de
Michelle um she couldn't attend. She's I
don't I don't know if and she told me
she and I are good friends so she told
me she's very open about this
information and it was it always is
helpful so people can know you know to
share. Um she had a stroke in January
and um she has rehab pretty well and um
but she is and she can walk. She's
learning how to rewalk. She lost all of
her mobility on her left side and um
she's regained it in her left leg, but
um she is still working and this is
apparently how it happens when you get a
stroke. The arm and the hand is the last
thing to return. And so she's working
with OT on that. But um but she was at
Monday's event.
>> Yes.
>> Yeah. And her son brought her there.
She's living in Covington with her son
right now.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. So she luckily cognitively it
didn't impact her. She might say it did
because you know she has an excuse if
she forgets things now.
>> Yeah. She was a big proponent for human
services.
>> Oh yeah. Absolutely.
>> That she I don't know if people are
aware she co-founded the garage with
Kaylee.
>> She did? I
>> Yeah. Well, she I I contacted Kaylee
when I knew I was going to do the
presentation. I said, "Kaylee, what was
Barb's role in the garage?" She said,
"Oh, she co-ounded it with me."
>> Yeah. Yeah. She co-ounded it. So,
>> thank you, Trish. Appreciate that.
>> All right. So, we will not be having a
meeting June or July. That'll be
cancelled. So, our next meeting will be
scheduled for August 19th, 2026. In the
meantime, please uh review the
applications, make your notes, work with
Brenda and Hannah. And Hannah, it sounds
like Hannah's going to make some sort of
uh meetings come August around this
work.
>> Um so, and we do have time. I I remember
last time we working a little early. Uh
so, we do have time. So please, you
know, do work with Brenda and um and
Anna for those questions about that.
All right. Well, mean is ajourned 809
May 20th.
>> Thank you, Jamie.
>> Thank you.
>> Thanks, Hime.
>> Good one. Y'all take care.
>> Thanks, Hime.
>> Thank you.
>> Did you turn up the recording?
Okay.