Skagit & Snohomish Counties Diversity Task Force Meeting Thursday, January 16, 2003

INTRODUCTIONS: See attached roster for attendees

 GOALS FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE TASKFORCE:

·         Help employees and clients appreciate differences within their communities

·         Find jobs for clients with disabilities

·         Diversity training programs

·         Job posting services

·         Attend job fairs as “the taskforce” collectively

MISSION STATEMENT: Discussion on Mission Statement.  Members in agreement that mission statement needs to be revised.  Focus shifted from matching current job openings with diverse candidates to event based projects as a group and working within the community to increase awareness.  New mission statement to be formulated by the Steering Committee at the February meeting.

GUEST SPEAKERS: Wendy Clarke and Marilyn Werner.  Displaced Homemakers program @ YWCA.

·         Displaced Homemaker = Labor Term

·         Program funded by a $10 surcharge on Marriage Licenses

·         Each session includes a 58 hour Job Search Workshop

·         Partnership with Shoreline Community College, Everett Community College, Edmonds Community College, and Everett Public Library

·         Workshop focus is on confidence building

·         Follow up work with clients includes goal setting, resume building, and Working Wardrobe program

MARTIN LUTHER KING VIDEO AND GROUP DISCUSSION

·         January 16th 2003 celebration beginning at Everett Community College, proceeding downtown to the Everett Historic Theatre at 11:30am. 

·         “I Have A Dream” handout and discussion. 

TASKFORCE COMMITMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES

·         Maintenance of e-mail contact list, reminders, and meeting minutes: Sarah Baltzell, Pam Baker, and / or Lisa Goshorn

·         Meetings to be held bi-monthly.  Hosted by a different organization each month. (See attached tentative schedule and meeting host information)

·         Steering Committee meetings to be held on alternating months.  (See attached)

·         Each organization will look into attaching a link to the Diversity Taskforce on the it’s own website

·         Web classes offered at Everett Community College.  Contact Betsy Shields for more information

·         Possible Northend Diversity Taskforce job fair booth at the March 27^th High School Transitions job fair at Everett Community College