Women of Color Caucus Meeting Minutes
WOMEN OF COLOR CAUCUS
MEETING SUMMARY
August 1, 2008
Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center
Gurnee, IL
PRESENT: Gema Alonso, Hickory Hills, Tarliece Shavers, Hickory Hills; Tammy Hicks, Gurnee; Jane Hunter, Gurnee; Jamie Jimenez, C4, Chicago; Addie Johnson, Chicago Heights; Chicago; Ameira Matariyeh, Hickory Hills; Kimberly Mead, Chicago Heights; Nicole Ousley, RVA, Chicago; Indria Perrieloux, Chicago Heights; Michelle Plunkett, Chicago Heights; Consuelo Sanchez, Gurnee; Anika Sterling-Florez, RVA, Chicago; Stephanie Tatum, Parks/Francis Center, Chicago; LaFay Thompson, (Chair), Parks/Francis Center, Chicago; Georgia Vasquez, Gurnee; Artresha Williams, Edgemont.
STAFF: Denyse Snyder
I. WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Zacharias Sexual Assault Center was thanked for hosting the meeting. Announcements for upcoming and past center events were made by caucus members. Returning members gave an individual account of the benefit the Caucus offers them and encouraged others to attend as regularly as possible. For many of those in attendance this was their first meeting and most voiced excitement about attending.
Denyse and Jane gave a history of the caucus including its evolution, purpose and significance of ICASA supporting space and time for women of color.
II. MINUTES REVIEW/ GOVERNING BODY
LaFay reviewed minutes from the Caucus held in May. No changes were noted.
Denyse gave an overview of FY09 budget cuts and the effect it has on ICASA’s inability to providing training in the manner we have over the years. Utilizing modern technology is being explored. ICASA is also looking into the Training Institute facilitating regional and center- based mini trainings.
III. GENERAL DISCUSSION
A. Women of Color Caucus as a Coalition Standing Committee
This discussion began with talk about how caucuses of this type have traditionally been viewed as a fringe or side component of state coalitions and that marginalized groups ought not be satisfied with this designation; that our diversity and multiplicity demand we have voice in policy making at the statewide level.
Discussion ensued regarding the caucus’s hesitation with wanting to be a standing committee of Governing Body. Cited were rationale used in previous discussions around this issue: not wanting to jeopardize the opportunity for women of color on the front line having a space to get and give support and; wanting to maintain a space for feeding our soul and getting reenergized rather than creating a focus on tasks, policy and procedure. Many members believe the change in focus would lead to only members in management position being allowed to attend the caucus. All members recognized the value of maintaining the current focus of the caucus but wrestle with wanting more input into policy.
Denyse, Jane and Georgia provided the history of an ad hoc anti-oppression committee created in the recent past where this caucus was instrumental in providing direction and recommendations to changes in ICASA’s mission statement and bylaws; making the language more culturally inclusive. As recent as last year, when ICASA was doing a major overhaul in the language used in printed versions of the guiding principles and policy of service delivery, women of color caucus provided significant input to changes in ICASA’s Service Standards. In both these situations, the caucus was able to maintain its current stance and have valuable input in policy and procedure for the entire coalition. Caucus members agreed these are both great examples of how voices of women of color in the coalition are heard, but agreed that there needs to be a conduit for having our voices heard on a more regular basis.
B. The Intersectionality Of Class, Race And Gender
Using the outcome of the R.Kelly criminal trial, there was lengthy discussion on how class, race, and gender combined played a significant role in the not guilty verdict. Many caucus members voiced outrage but not surprise at the end result. Discussion moved to the reaction by communities of color and the non supportive message it sends to survivors of these communities. Members were given an opportunity to review an article by a local deejay on the isms at work in this trial. Most were please that the article voiced compassion for the victim and indignation for the job by the jury and support of R. Kelly by communities of color.
This case cried out for communities of color to unite and demand justice for victims of color. The need for more discussion regarding male violence, the affects of economic and social depression seem overriding as we looked at all the components that shaped the outcome of this trial.
IV. SILLY AUCTION
The silly auction raised $27.50.
V. NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Caucus is scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2008, 11:00 – 3:00 p.m. in Champaign. Caucus members agreed to stay overnight in Champaign on Friday to allow additional time to connect and have more in-depth discussion on issues significant in our lives. Tammy Hicks and Gema Alonso will coordinate the event. Caucus members are aware that lodging and meals is on our own and staying overnight is an individual choice. The caucus did agree that at least 15 members have to agree to stay over for the caucus to go thru with the plan. Tentative topics for discussion: Being of color and not straight – can we talk? Post traumatic Slave Syndrome and the Maria paradox.
Special note: At its August 12, 2008 meeting, ICASA’s Executive Committee agreed to a one-year suspension of in-person ICASA-sponsored special meetings due to FY09 budget cuts. Regional meetings for counselors, advocates and educators and statewide meetings for Women of Color, Allies for Racial Justice and the Men’s Group will not be scheduled in FY09.
Minutes submitted by
Denyse Snyder
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