Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Advisory Board Meeting

Documenter name: Ayshia McCray

Agency: Wichita City - Diversity Inclusion & Civil Rights Advisory Board

Date: June 18, 2024

Notes

I arrived at Wichita Public Library, Advanced Learning Library (wichitalibrary.org) location to attend the Wichita City - Diversity Inclusion & Civil Rights Advisory Board monthly meeting. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 5:30pm and end at 7:30pm. Around 6pm, I left the meeting and a board member hadn’t arrived. During my wait,  I reviewed the board’s website to see if the meeting was canceled or rescheduled. I did not find any updates in regards to any changes to the meeting.

Per the City of Wichita website, the board meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month, Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights Advisory Board | Wichita, KS. Waiting with me were two other members of the community. One of the members, Mary Dean was looking to learn more information about her reparation ordinance that she filed in February 2024. Per Ms. Dean, she shared that she was directed to the Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Advisory Board to learn next steps about implementing reparations for Black Americans in Kansas. You can find more information about the reparation ordinance here; Local activist calling for reparations commission in Wichita (kwch.com).

Mary Dean is the president of Kansas Justice Advocate, Kansas Justice Advocate | Facebook and became interested in the reparation movement from the efforts that are taking place in Kansas City, MO;  In Groundbreaking Move, KC Mayor Quinton Lucas Appoints 13 Members to Historic Reparations Commission (kansascitydefender.com). Dean also hosts  Seasoned Women Podcast | Facebook available on Mary Dean - YouTube.

I was looking forward to this meeting. I was unaware of the Diversity Inclusion and Civil Rights Advisory Board and wanted to learn more about the efforts. I hope that there will be a meeting next month at the scheduled date and time. I am unaware if a board member arrived after 6:05 pm. When I left the conference room, the two community members decided to continue to wait. I did not obtain the name of the other community member but she was not a board member. The other community member spoke with a staff member at the library to confirm that we were in the right place and if meetings were typically held. The staff member confirmed that the conference room was scheduled for 5pm-8pm for the Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights Advisory Board and usually held. She could not confirm how many attendants or board members typically come to the meetings.

Summary

• The June monthly meeting from the Diversity Inclusion and Civil Rights Advisory Board did not begin at 5:30pm and the documenter left the meeting around 6pm.
• Mary Dean, community activist, created a reparation ordinance.

 Follow-Up Questions

• Why didn’t  the meeting take place?
• Who can the public contact if scheduled meetings are not held?