City leaders hope a new board will increase engagement, integration and access to city services for all cultural communities in Kent.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Kent city Council members voted in December to establish a Cultural Communities Board; whose volunteer members will serve in an advisory capacity to the mayor and council.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
According to former Councilmember Debbie Ranniger, Kent is at a juncture where we should embrace the diversity that has come to our community and be a role model for other cities.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cNone of us want any part of discrimination and cultural hatred that is sadly emerging in other parts of the country,\u201d Ranniger said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Ranniger was chair of the council\u2019s Parks and Human Services Committee that recommended approval of the new board.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Board composition, term and skills needed:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Members will be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 18 members, including two youth (must live in and be representative of the cultural and ethnic diversity of Kent)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Must actively participate and speak up about the issues facing cultural communities<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Work respectfully with people from all cultures<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Possess skills that allow them to work on solutions to issues that affect their community as well as other cultural communities<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Have the social connections that allow them to serve as linkages between the city and various cultural communities<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Meeting schedule will be determined by the board; however the group must meet no less than once a quarter and may be called to meet by the mayor or chair (members must attend regularly to remain on the board)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 One-year term, renewable upon approval by the mayor and city council<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Examples of issues\/questions the board will address:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
How to create culturally responsive programs that teach and inspire people to become involved in making and influencing decisions that affect cultural communities<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Determine the most appropriate ways for the city to give and receive information from Kent\u2019s diverse cultural communities<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Provide consultation on how the city can reach out to and include those who feel left out or reluctant to get involved<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Identify what programs, tools, or events that could strengthen the relationship between the city and cultural communities<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u2022 Determine how the city can increase its knowledge of and benefit from the strengths, skills and experiences that cultural populations bring to the Kent community.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n