Human Rights Commission

HTCJP Recognizes and is Mindful of Latinx Heritage Month

(formerly known as Hispanic Heritage Month)

(formerly known as Hispanic Heritage Month)

The concept to recognize Hispanic/Latinx achievements, first introduced in June 1968 by California congressperson, George E. Brown sought to acknowledge the contributions of the folks he represented who were living in East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Brown wished to highlight the important roles played by Hispanic and Latinx people, regardless of specific ethnicity or specific cultural norms throughout the history of America.

Representative Henry Gonzalez of Texas meets with President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 at the White House.

Representative Henry Gonzalez of Texas meets with President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 at the White House.

Less than three months later, on September 17, 1968, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 90-48 that authorized the president to officially proclaim a nationwide commemorative week-long celebration of the contributions and achievements of a diverse Hispanic population as Hispanic Heritage Week starting on September 15th. President Lydon B. Johnson issued the first Hispanic Heritage Week proclamation the same day. It called upon all Americans to observe such a week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the week to a 30-day recognition that would cover September 15 to October 15. His action was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, with the approval of Public Law 100-402.

From 1513 to 2021, there is crucial evidence of Hispanic/Latinx contributions to the overall welfare and development of the United States that are all too often buried, purposely overlooked, or simply disregarded in the teaching of American history.

HTCJP understands that recognition of all the diverse “communities” that form the American character enables and emboldens a more purposeful and strong nation especially in times of social distancing and partisan political debate. And more importantly, such recognition should not be necessarily dependent on any residential presence of the group who is central to the core essence of the national recognition.

We trust all city and county agencies and organizations will recognize our Latinx neighbors in the remaining days approaching October 15th and plan for a variety of organizationally-driven public recognitions in 2022.

 
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Enhancing Our Children’s Education

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On Tuesday afternoon, October 13, 2020, Jeffrey A. Pirozzolo, Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, Jeffrey Evener (Auburn Enlarged City School District -AECSD) met with and briefed social justice leaders, Dr. Eli Hernandez  and Dr. Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson (Auburn/Cayuga branch of the NAACP) Robert Ellison (City of Auburn Human Rights Commission) and Dr. Lucien Lombardo and bill berry (Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace {HTCJP}) as to the district’s current endeavors to tackle and implement diversity and equity issues throughout the school system.

Using Zoom for some participants supplemented by in person physically distanced and masked participants, school officials articulated strategies developed by the AECSD to implement and further its initiatives to embed equity and inclusion throughout all phases of school operations. This strategic, long range effort will encompass curriculum enhancements, personnel recruitment and retention efforts, diversity-driven and systemic institutional changes, and better and more focused community outreach via a planned Equity/Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.

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AECSD looks to enhance its efforts to engage the community to be mentors and participants in, and supporters of a written and measurable strategic plan to enhance student learning; to instill a greater appreciation of all racial groups and cultures that will better prepare students for a global society, future employment and a more comprehensive understanding of human dignity values. These core efforts will also recognize the vibrancy of student/teacher backgrounds in the learning process. Furthermore, the district has developed a “scorecard” to assess and evaluate specific objectives to reach its inclusion objectives, the creation of diversity task force that will engage all stakeholders in the education arena including community members, and a greater transparency so the overall community is informed of district initiatives.

The overall Mission of the school district may be furthered reviewed. There are recommended adjustments that can empower the district to fully capture the challenges and more importantly, vibrant opportunities to create a better and more encompassing learning environment driven by an organizational culture that embraces the dignity of all AECSD stakeholders.

Some of these points for further review and discussion centered on a basic point that the district’s mission should fully recognize and support the dignity of all members of the educational community: students, parents, teachers, administrators, and support staff. Other recommendations center on addressing problem identification and problem solving as integral components of maintaining a high-quality curriculum and instruction; recognizing the diversity of life experiences that students and educators bring to the educational process as critical components for institutional and meaningful change. And these recommendations should be grounded in and permeate all phases of primary, and secondary learning that enables all students to develop a sensibility as to what effective citizenship is while recognizing the intrinsic value of life-long learning.

Social justice leaders and school administrators understand that planned change is a long-range objective fueled by open communication  and a cooperative spirit. And everyone understands and recognizes that while some objectives may be challenging in terms of implementation, budgetary constraints, and possibly long-standing inbred organizational culture issues, there is a willingness that effective partnerships can continue the over-arching goal to reach the goal of enabling the community to better understand and embrace differences while finding commonality versus difference as an unifying force to better the life of all residents.

The AECSD Power Point slide show featured below may give you a preliminary sense of these efforts and we recognize there may be gaps in understanding the metrics without a detailed explanation. However, as with other HTCJP efforts to present practices and protocols  of law enforcement, we hope to coordinate a public (via social media and live stream) event when the school district is ready to rollout the full plan to the community. (There are currently small group meetings to flush out objectives and finalize doable initiatives.) At this point, it is premature to try to present the overall district plan before it is fully ready to be operational. But that will happen.

Remember, planned change is not an immediate situation. It is an evolving process that temporarily  rests at the stage of action when it is ready for public presentation. And then the community will be informed and invited to be fully engaged in a variety of AECSD objectives that will help make the education of our children better.  And with these planned initiatives. Our children, our future will be better equipped to be global citizens, leaders, and influencers.   

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Blue Matters...Black Matters...Community Matters

A “ Connecting Bridges” Initiative meeting held at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Auburn, NY on October 5, 2020.

(Left to Right) Lieutenant James Slayton, APD, Deputy Chief Roger Anthony, APD, Chief Shawn Butler, APD, Jack Hardy, HTCJP board member, Patrol Lieutenant Michael Wellhauer, CCSO, Custody Captain John Mack, CCSO, Dr. Lucien Lombardo, HTCJP board mem…

(Left to Right) Lieutenant James Slayton, APD, Deputy Chief Roger Anthony, APD, Chief Shawn Butler, APD, Jack Hardy, HTCJP board member, Patrol Lieutenant Michael Wellhauer, CCSO, Custody Captain John Mack, CCSO, Dr. Lucien Lombardo, HTCJP board member, Sheriff Brian Schenck, CCSO, Kathleen Barnard, board member Human Rights Commission, Steve Webster, HTCJP board member, Dr. Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson, Vice-President, Auburn/Cayuga Branch NAACP. Not pictured but present, Brian Muldrow, Auburn/Cayuga Branch NAACP and bill berry, jr., HTCJP chair (Photo Credit: bill berry, jr.)

CONNECTING BRIDGES INITIATIVE

Getting To Know You: Round Two –

Getting Down to Business – The Start

Monday, October 5, 2020

9 – 11 AM

Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center

(Masks used appropriately and physical distancing was maintained.)

The purpose of this second, open discussion session was to continue efforts for law enforcement and social justice leaders to get to know each other. In addition, it was a conversation to begin to set the organizational foundation and platform for ongoing 2020-21 “connecting bridges” forums with the larger community. While we were not able to scratch the surface regarding subsequent community meetings that would include front line officers, that initiative remains a priority objective for the next session.

There is an understanding that it is critical to address community concerns regarding law enforcement practices, officer concerns, overall public safety, maintenance of equal policing treatment for all citizens even as we continue to tackle strategies to further promote employment possibilities and diverse  employment ranks in all public positions.

Notes on this meeting are provided after the agenda.

October 5th Agenda:

  • This is Who I Am – a pictorial roundtable and pass around that helps to define who you are as a person with a brief explanation*.

  • Describe yourself as a “spirit animal” and why – (You may want to reference Native American beliefs for guidance.)

  • What inclusions or exclusions should be made to enable the City/County to be stronger as a community; how do we make that happen? How do we measure planned changes?

  • What is the Number one priority and/or experience regarding your job or activism that the community should know about?

  • What continuously “scares” you – an opinion that can be job related or a nagging thought in general?

  • What should be the basic tenets in a “pact” with the community that seeks to combine differences as a shared obligation for mutual respect, understanding and appreciation for  commonality; enhances the mutuality of law enforcement/uniformed services for officers and residents to serve and protect each other in a proactive effort for unified public safety?

{Coffee and orange juice were provided.}

* Bring a family specific photo that defines who you are as a person – individual or group family photos are recommended. No pets, landscapes, or any other third-party innate object photographs allowed.

* * *

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October 5, 2020 Annotated Notes:

- Welcome & Introduction

- Sharing photographs with personal stories, and a challenge.

The challenge question to ponder: While people evolve and change over time, the core relationship between people of color especially African Americans and law enforcement has not changed on a global/national level. It portends to be the same relationship through several decades into the 21st century.

This getting to know you U-table exercise was to continue our proactive efforts to get to know each other on a personal level and not necessarily as someone defined by a uniform, job position, economic class or even a racially or culturally defined group.

- Discussion Themes and take-aways:

  • Recognition of local initiatives over the past few years that may be best practices as to the changing relationship between people of color and law enforcement; need to expand the participants by bringing other voices into the conversation. Emphasis on separating local dynamics from national occurrences.

  • Need to better understand and value the background of all people. Sort through the dynamics of power and its impact on those without. Work to understand how we got to be who we are and to understand and appreciate that others with different experiences got to be different! It takes work to understand and appreciate salient differences.

  • Articulated the effects of geography, where one grew up as a defining component of who you are and how that influences who you become through developmental years and maturity levels. Need to tackle who a person is and not by a physical feature or what that feature may represent. How does prejudice experienced as a youngster shape one’s worldview as an adult.

  • Recognize in discussions that at one level we are part of one community (city, county, state) but on other levels we are simultaneously part of different communities of experience and culture (racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, occupational – e.g. police communities). At this level we also have different experiences across and within each characteristic!)

  • The complexities of military service that can create a singular mindset and group experience that suggests a denigration of differences. And how folks still hold onto difference in various social settings.  Have to tackle the systemic obstacles that deny opportunity to African Americans and how white parents do not bring the same concerns of survival to their children in the manner that black parents have to engage their children. Must ponder the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse on the societal temperament and perceptions of all people regardless of a race.

  • The importance of family as a common denominator among all people. As well as the critical importance of children and their friendships growing up. Need to embrace our youngsters’ ability not to see societal barriers to friendship and group play devoid of those indicators that continue to divide adults. What are the dangers of assumptions?

  • The overwhelming impact of a significant other regardless of the societal construct that may try to define that relationship. The value of teaching and embracing differences as well as the fear that those differences may bring based on surroundings. The need to build relationship among and between people. What is the intrinsic value of geographical size in terms of relationships? What is possible and achievable being a small community versus a large regional sector or diverse city?

  • The need for a camaraderie of shared experiences even within the artificiality of separateness. The inherent danger of “painting” a group with a broad “brush” based on the act or actions of a single individual who may look like but not necessarily represent a racial group the individual may belong to. The need to better understand and comprehend the critical juncture and apex where white privilege is confused with racism. These characteristics are distinct, but all too often are meshed to take on the mantle of sameness. The  intrinsic hurt when one neighborhood is deemed better than other neighbors fueled by racial attitudes without understanding the larger forces that create less-desirable neighborhoods based on race and  culture. And how do we maintain the significance of tribal communities (if we value that distinction) when there is the need to develop a singular concept of community?

  • The need to listen and really hear varied opinions.

  • The value of diverse community where shared values and attitudes can be embraced by the entire neighborhood. What has happened to the old-time community/neighborhood dynamics where residents valued each other, and their families could morph into a larger community family? Understanding the dynamics of the digital age on growing up and the resulting disassociation with each other.

  • The commonality of anxiety, apprehension and fear that is instilled by national events and incidents and how those situations permeate and influence local communities and grassroot movements seeking change.

  • What are the initial motivators when law enforcement interacts with the public especially if “color” is not a driving force? 

  • How does exposure and interpersonal relationships impact trans-generational relationships when age and life experiences are radically different?

- Characters of community:

  • Ability to listen and really hear

  • Enable missteps without onerous or demeaning reactions

  • Appreciate different life experiences

  • Constructive dialogue and criticism should be the norm

  • Take time to learn and understand

  • The ability to transition what you thought you knew to accepting what you now know

  • Disagreements are not necessarily obstacles if opinions are grounded in respect

  • Evolution of understanding and the willingness to bring in voices that are not necessarily heard

  • The ability to move past the uncomfortableness of personal sharing to expose the real person

  • Try to expend from just doing the job towards a better sense of belonging to a community

  • Strengthen the ability to be patient.

  • Focus expectations with a realm of human dignity Recognize and appreciate our own human dignity and the human dignity of others.

  • Transformative nature of planned change

  • The need to lead by example

  • Face to face interactions needed in a greater frequency

  • Find solution


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Cayuga County Sheriff's Office Presents, “Who We Are… What We Do…How We Do It”

Cayuga Community College Auditorium, September 14, 2020

(Left to Right) Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace (HTCJP)  board members, Steve Webster, Jack Hardy, Dr. Lou Lombardo, Undersheriff Wm. Steven Smith, Sheriff Brian Schenck and bill berry, jr., Chair, HTCJP  (photo credit:  Lisa Brennan)

(Left to Right) Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace (HTCJP) board members, Steve Webster, Jack Hardy, Dr. Lou Lombardo, Undersheriff Wm. Steven Smith, Sheriff Brian Schenck and bill berry, jr., Chair, HTCJP (photo credit: Lisa Brennan)

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Monday, September 14, 2020 at 2 PM in the auditorium of Cayuga Community College, SUNY, the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office presented a community initiative that poignantly detailed “Who We Are… What We Do…How We Do It” via YouTube and live-streamed on the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace (HTCJP) Facebook page.  The Tubman Center was the principal sponsor in its ongoing series of “Connecting Bridges” community engagement discussions in partnership with the Auburn/Cayuga branch of the NAACP and the City of Auburn’s Human Rights Commission.

The second and final local law enforcement dialogue was developed to enhance the larger community’s understanding of county public safety issues and practices. (The City of Auburn Police Department (APD) did the initial presentation on August 10 led by APD Chief Shawn Butler.) The CCSO led by Sheriff Brian Schenck and Undersheriff William Steven Smith , as well as their colleagues who are the Command Officers, adroitly detailed and articulated the agency’s mission, policies, protocols, practices, proactive community engagement, and officer wellness to a limited in presence audience due to Covid -19. Invited audience members wore facial covering and were physically distanced by pre-arranged seating. Upon arrival, participants were temperature checked and responded to the Covid-19 inquiry questionnaire while also providing contact data in case there was a need for contract tracing.)

Enjoy the slide show below of the presentation by the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office. (Photo credit for all images: Lisa Brennan, HTCJP Secretary)

 Please click the play button below to view the full LIVE STREAM

Questions or concerns regarding the presentation  may be addressed directly to Sheriff Brian Schenck via sheriff@cayugacounty.us

The Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace appreciates and applauds CCSO and APD for its willingness to remain transparent; engage community members in conversation even when such dialogue may be difficult; proactively work to discover pathways to not only better serve and protect the community but for non-law enforcement neighbors to see officers as meaningful residents whose job does not define who they are as people; embrace them as fellow neighbors and along with other front line “protectors,” embrace the fact that they keep all of us locally safe and equally protected. Their mission. Our expectation. Together. One community. 

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This is…The Auburn/Cayuga Way.

 

A Gathering of Community Leaders: Getting to Know One Another

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“Getting To Know You” was a private event held on August 28, 2020 for leadership of law enforcement and local social justice agencies to engage each other in a fun, social way similar to speed dating over lunch with timed conversations. Eight distinct physical distancing tables with two chairs enabled participants to focus on a simple goal. Get to know something about the person you were talking to and not get into what the person did for a living. The photo montage (below) gives you a glimpse that personal group conversations between individuals who really need to start to know one another is possible even with the regulations related to keeping everyone safe during the pandemic.

Enjoy the Slide Show below of the “Getting to Know You” event held on August 28, 2020: (Photo credit: Lisa Brennan, HTCJP Secretary)

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         Hosted by the chair of the Harriet Tubman Center for Peace and Justice with members of that organization involved, the leadership of the Auburn/Cayuga branch of the NAACP, Auburns’ Human Rights Commission, Auburn Police Department and the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office rounded out the participants.

          The bottom line take-away or what I routinely refer to as “aftershock” is restively simple and not that complex.

          If you are able, with minimal organization and time allotment, identify a small group of neighbors or co-workers who want to move past the artificiality of  knowing who our public safety officers are and are ready to get to know them as people. I am confident there will be officers who would welcome (depending on assignment and schedule) to get to know residents as long as there is no discussion of what someone does career-wise so perceptions and long held beliefs are not part of the person to person engagement.

I stand ready to advise such grass root initiatives and share with you what was learned from the first “Getting to Know You” initiative. At its essence, the “Auburn Cayuga Approach”  attempts to identify and build a viable and specific platform to be the action plan when community  demonstrations, marches, speeches, signs and other efforts to sway public policy start to recede in the public’s mind and folks look to figure out what is next. In a small way, all collaborating partners involved in the social justice milieu will continue to chart a plausible path. The community’s ideas and concerns are welcome.  

~ bill berry, jr. 

bill berry, jr. is the CEO of aaduna, Inc. and publishes the Auburn-based global literary and visual arts journal called aaduna. He serves as chair of the HTCJP and from his perspective, this essay is a profoundly personal assessment of where he feels social justice in Auburn is headed, evolving and its need for further community engagement.

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The Age of Hypocrisy: Understanding Our Truths in a Divisive National Atmosphere-

an opinion essay by bill berry, jr.

 

The Age of Hypocrisy: Understanding Our Truths in a Divisive National Atmosphere-

an opinion essay by bill berry, jr.

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To put what I am sharing in its proper perspective, if you do not know about; are not from, or even if you live in Auburn, New York, here are a few basics. {Of course, our local tourism board can provide a more in-depth analysis.} https://www.tourcayuga.com/

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        Auburn is a small and only city in predominately rural and basically agricultural Cayuga County. This upstate New York State city is sited within the Finger Lakes region  and is noted for its legacy of being “home” to American heroes Harriet Tubman and William H. Seward. The city’s population of  27,687 residents is 86% white, 8% Black, 3% Hispanic, 3% bi-racial, and less than 1% Asian and Native American. The County’s population is similar with a population of 76,576 neighbors. Whites account for 92%, Blacks 4.4%, Hispanics 3.1% Bi-racial 2.3%, Asians .07% and Native American .05%. These demographics may help frame and put into perspective what a small city and upstate county can  achieve to start to address issues involving the 21st century dynamics of law enforcement while being cognizant of the simple fact that no community’s thinking is homogeneous or purposely single-minded.

           It is not necessary to re-iterate all the societal complexities that are faced as local communities, regional areas, and the nation grapple with current events and historical realities steeped in American racism and inequality. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, BLM, armed militias, neighbors existing in their tribe solely based on deeply-seeded politics, race, and culture. Society is beginning to better comprehend that opportunities for success and family wealth have been for some and not others. The ladder of equity has been hampered by a legal system that renders a distinct brand of law to a majority group and has been totally oblivious to the unequal, unfair and often times brutal treatment of others permeated by law enforcement and the judicial system. The result continues to be the planned subjugation of an essential working class that all too often are people of color. And then, whether it is covert or overt, there is what is becoming increasingly routine, senseless killing of, or unprovoked assault on Black men, women, other peaceful white protestors. The harrowing mental impact of subjecting young African American children to the same vicious assault placed on their parents has shocked the nation and is indicative of a callous disregard for protecting the safety of Black children. (And note, the police’s use of less lethal weaponry, without appropriate training, since 1990 has led to over 300 people becoming disabled with at least 50 deaths according to the journal, BMJ Open, a “peer-reviewed open access medical journal that was established in 2011.”)

          Black lives are now measured in minutes, seconds, the number of bullet holes, body bags and caskets and no longer predicated on life insurance actuarial tables. The bended  knee once seen as disrespect for the flag, military service and a signal of “how dare they” black arrogance fueled by the blatant ignorance of elected national leaders is now a global multi-racial symbol of courage, peaceful resistance, and willingness to do the work for planned and systemic social justice change. 

          Now, it may be common-sense to appropriately cast dispersion on those rogue police officers who are sworn to serve and protect yet they miserably fail to do that basic exercise for people of color. There are significant numbers of American and global citizens who are beginning to better understand the proposition that not everyone is served or protected equally under the law. Unfortunately, the majority of “those in blue” are cast as agents of forced containment and keeping certain people in their generational  place as being “less than.” However, the majority of law enforcement officers are decent individuals who want those things in life that are guaranteed for all by the U.S. Constitution. They have been stigmatized and cloaked in nefarious actions by reprehensible uniformed police criminals who remain protected by the “blue wall of silence,” wily defense attorneys, unyielding unions that have only one consistent, never changing message, reluctant and tardy prosecutors, and juries that do not adequately represent the diverse fabric of who we really look like as a unified people belonging to one nation.

          Auburn/Cayuga, like other communities, is influenced emotionally and in its collective and individual mindset by national events. More notably, as a local community, we continue to strive to better manifest the community we aspire to be, inclusive and equitable. Truth be told, we are not there; yet, planned change is not an instant mix of ingredients for immediate gratification. It is hard work that must be consistent and unrelenting.

“Connecting Bridges” first public forum held on November 18, 2019 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Auburn NY.  A second forum was held at the Booker T. Washington Center, Auburn, NY on December 3rd, and on December 10th, the third and final f…

“Connecting Bridges” first public forum held on November 18, 2019 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church, Auburn NY. A second forum was held at the Booker T. Washington Center, Auburn, NY on December 3rd, and on December 10th, the third and final forum of the fall series was held at the Apostolic Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, Auburn, NY.

            A few years ago, the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace (HTCJP,) which was  organized in 1996 to address social justice issues in all its various stages in the Auburn/Cayuga community, started to work proactively with the Auburn Police Department (APD,) the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Auburn Fire Department under the leadership of Chief Shawn Butler, Sheriff Brian Schenck and Fire Chief Joseph Morabito, respectively. The long-range goal was to develop strategic plans to diversify the employment ranks of those agencies, as well as to build a better relationship between law enforcement, uniformed services and the community. With a focus on people of color, as well as other residents who were not represented in policing ranks and often on the receiving end of a different level of public safety engagement, an increased number of applicants were platformed on enhanced applicant diversity in 2019. (Interestingly, the son (Jack Hardy) of Auburn’s first Black fireman is now the leader of the City of Auburn Civil Service Commission.)

[Left to Right] Chief Joe Morabito, Auburn Fire Department, Jack Hardy, Chair, Auburn Civil Service Commission, Deputy Chief, Roger Anthony, Auburn Police Department, and Lieutenant, James Slayton, Auburn Police Department. Photo taken at the “Conne…

[Left to Right] Chief Joe Morabito, Auburn Fire Department, Jack Hardy, Chair, Auburn Civil Service Commission, Deputy Chief, Roger Anthony, Auburn Police Department, and Lieutenant, James Slayton, Auburn Police Department. Photo taken at the “Connecting Bridges” second of three public forums held on December 3, 2019 at the Booker T. Washington Community Center in Auburn, NY.

        Partnering with the City’s Civil Service Commission and in collaboration with the Auburn/Cayuga branch of the NAACP and the City of Auburn’s Human Rights Commission (HRC,) a long range, measurable strategic and assessment oriented plan was developed to position the community, law enforcement and uniform services as one community with shared values, respect and the willingness to be partners at a time where many communities were becoming or continuing to be disjointed. This Auburn effort was initiated in a national limelight when efforts to tear down separateness and obstacles between residents and officers sworn to protect and serve were locked in a Sisyphusian dilemma. 

          The Auburn approach was simple in its goal but complex and arduous in its execution.

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          Build community where different opinions could be heard, valued, and respected; where everyone recognizes that compromise is a stance to achieve in order to reach an agreed upon end game of true partnership and cooperation. To embrace a person beyond the artificiality of a uniform, job title, or social standing in the community. To see a person beyond the perceived confines of race, class, culture, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. To value and empower the unique features that make each person who s/he is. To cease, whenever possible, pre-determining a person’s worth. To tackle the difficult task of appreciating commonalities, shared goals, common dreams of living a life worth living, of preparing a better future for one’s children and grands.

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          “Connecting Bridges,” a 2019 collaborative initiative between social justice agencies spearheaded by the HTCJP, city and county law enforcement, propelled leaders to sit down, listen to and engage community residents in frank discussions that were sometimes difficult. While community attendance at these three forums were low, there was the shared realization that change cannot be manifested without sowing the seeds for such change. And often that is a learning process, an objective cemented in trial and error… Missteps became needed learning lessons. Adaptation and evolution were critical to keep one’s eyes on the end goal.

          Operational changes were made in how the community bridges would continue in 2020. With a focus on audience specific forums that would pinpoint residents in housing complexes, students in educational institutions, and the membership of other organizations, HTCJP and uniformed services recognized that “captivated” audiences were better suited to the investment of social justice time instead of the open to all public forums that kicked started the initiative.

          And then Covid-19 reared its nefarious shadow; hidden; invisible; deadly, and still relentless in its pursuit of rampant world-wide sickness and untimely death.

          The “connecting bridges” concept had to adapt, to mutate towards another route that could serve the community during the restrictions developed to combat “19.”

On August 10, 2020 the Auburn, N.Y. Police Department (APD) executive team provided a community presentation to the leadership of Auburn’s social justice organizations. Led by Chief Butler, the goal of this gathering was to enhance understanding of …

On August 10, 2020 the Auburn, N.Y. Police Department (APD) executive team provided a community presentation to the leadership of Auburn’s social justice organizations. Led by Chief Butler, the goal of this gathering was to enhance understanding of APD’s policies, protocols, operational procedures, and other issues. This event was co-sponsored by the following partner organizations: the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace, Inc. ; the Auburn Cayuga Branch NAACP; and, the City of Auburn Human Rights Commission.

        The resultant thinking centered around presenting statistical and current data, as well as protocols and policies that govern law enforcement by each policing agency in a transparent and informative manner. The rationale was driven by the community’s need to better understand what law enforcement did and how. With this approach, community folks could better define and articulate their opinions based on facts. Collaborative partners wanted the community to take law enforcement to task based on its data sets; recognize achievements and outstanding service based on departmental policies and hard data. Hot button issues regarding use of deadly force, as well as  arrest records by race and gender, training issues, the philosophy behind the departmental mission statement, programs designed for community engagement and officer wellness, governmental funding and the rationale behind the operational budget, and other issues.

        The Auburn Police Department (APD) via its entire leadership command presented a live streamed and recorded session in the City Council chambers at Auburn Memorial City Hall. (And it should be mentioned that through all initiatives, some that I have not mentioned, were routinely communicated to governmental leaders and encouraged their participation to listen, learn and be engaged.) The “Auburn Cayuga Approach” continued to move forward.          


The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office will host and present its live streamed presentation on September 14 in the auditorium of Cayuga Community College. The HTCJP will also live stream this event via its Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/htcjpauburn

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        And while these events enable the larger community to grasp the intricacies of public safety and policing, the partners (law enforcement and social justice organizations) recognized this was not enough. We had to start to tackle who we are as people While the data driven information and protocols would help frame the more difficult conversations to come as we started to focus on the actuality experienced by community members, a piece was missing.

          We needed to know each other as people.

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view of the garden taken from upstairs window.JPG

“Getting To Know You” was a private event for leadership of law enforcement and local social justice agencies to engage each other in a fun, social way similar to speed dating over lunch with timed conversations. Eight distinct physical distancing tables with two chairs enabled participants to focus on a simple goal. Get to know something about the person you were talking to and not get into what the person did for a living. The photo montage (below) gives you a glimpse that personal group conversations between individuals who really need to start to know one another is possible even with the regulations related to keeping everyone safe during the pandemic.


Enjoy the Slide Show below of the “Getting to Know You” event held on August 28, 2020:

DSC_6074.JPG

         Hosted by the chair of the Harriet Tubman Center for Peace and Justice with members of that organization involved, the leadership of the Auburn/Cayuga branch of the NAACP, Auburns’ Human Rights Commission, Auburn Police Department and the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office rounded out the participants.

          The bottom line take-away or what I routinely refer to as “aftershock” is restively simple and not that complex.

          If you are able, with minimal organization and time allotment, identify a small group of neighbors or co-workers who want to move past the artificiality of  knowing who our public safety officers are and are ready to get to know them as people. I am confident there will be officers who would welcome (depending on assignment and schedule) to get to know residents as long as there is no discussion of what someone does career-wise so perceptions and long held beliefs are not part of the person to person engagement.

I stand ready to advise such grass root initiatives and share with you what was learned from the first “Getting to Know You” initiative. At its essence, the “Auburn Cayuga Approach”  attempts to identify and build a viable and specific platform to be the action plan when community  demonstrations, marches, speeches, signs and other efforts to sway public policy start to recede in the public’s mind and folks look to figure out what is next. In a small way, all collaborating partners involved in the social justice milieu will continue to chart a plausible path. The community’s ideas and concerns are welcome.  

~ bill berry, jr. 

bill berry, jr. is the CEO of aaduna, Inc. and publishes the Auburn-based global literary and visual arts journal called aaduna. He serves as chair of the HTCJP and from his perspective, this essay is a profoundly personal assessment of where he feels social justice in Auburn is headed, evolving and its need for further community engagement.

 

Letter: History shows we can make social justice progress

“My View,” Gilda Brower, Letter to the Editor, The Citizen Newspaper, published August 21, 2020

Gilda Brower, HTCJP Vice-Chair & Founding Member, speaks at the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace, Inc. sponsored Town Hall Community Meeting held on June 27, 2020 at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn, NY (Photo credit: …

Gilda Brower, HTCJP Vice-Chair & Founding Member, speaks at the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace, Inc. sponsored Town Hall Community Meeting held on June 27, 2020 at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn, NY (Photo credit: Lisa Brennan, HTCJP Board Secretary)

I trust each one of us can agree that societal changes have happened during our lives and our grandparents’ lives. Cars, televisions, computers, as well as world wars and the atom bomb, which was dropped on Hiroshima when I was  1 month old, are dynamic situations that prompted profound changes in human society. What is “normal” today was not normal at all in my grandmother’s day, or during most of my life. Consider the following facts to understand the “universality” of social justice changes that benefit every one of us today.

1. In 1900, when my grandmother was born, 80% of the world population was serf, peasant or slave and did not have the right to vote or legal protection.

2. Though voting rights were expanding throughout the world at that time, to a large extent only white men who owned land could vote. Most men and women were “owned” by their traditions, such as “share crop,” in which peasants, serfs and former slaves gave a portion of their crops to the “lords” who owned the land.

3. Peasants, serfs and slaves did not have legal “rights” to life and liberty.

4. It was legal to own humans for more than 40 centuries. Bias, such as white supremacy, inferiority of women and dehumanizing blacks and all nonwhites, was legal, and existed for centuries and throughout my own grandmother’s life (1900–1953).

5. Women were “purchased” for marriage and their person and their belongings became the legal possessions of their husbands.

6. Every kind of bias was legal, even unjust and abusive behaviors were condoned. Domestic violence was legal and condoned! Child abuse and sexual exploitation was condoned. “Victims” were ostracized and punished by the “system” which blamed the victims.

7. The 13th Amendment “freeing” all citizens of the United States was passed just 30 years before my grandmother was born.

8. “Civil Rights” legislation was passed in 1963, when I was in college, which allowed education and jobs to be available to blacks, women and other minorities.

9. Before “Civil Rights” legislation it was legal to deny education and jobs to women and people of color. Housing and jobs could legally be denied on the basis of race and sex. After "Civil Rights" legislation, jobs, housing and education started the long road of seeking equality for all; however, there continued to be obstacles, both covert and overt.

10. Prior to 1963 and throughout my life up to that time, it was legal to deny housing, deny jobs and physically abuse minorities, wives and children. (Remember the old saying, “spare the rod, spoil the child”?) It was legal to hang a sign saying, “Blacks need not apply” (for jobs or housing).

11. Since 1963, the long hard road of pushing against long-established norms and biases has been challenged legally. We now, thanks to civil rights legislation, openly address domestic violence, which is no longer condoned. We now openly address child abuse, and priests are no longer allowed to sexually abuse children, which was quietly condoned and overlooked all over the world. Workplace sexual harassment is no longer condoned, as evidenced by celebrities who have lost their “privilege” and their careers due to sexual harassment of employees. African-Americans and women are now able to study medicine and law. Blacks are more able to live wherever they would like, rather than finding absolute restrictions confining them to one (often rundown) neighborhood.

Therefore, we all agree that ...

12. There are many good reasons why we all feel biases for our political parties, sports teams and churches. Most of our biases are helpful and good. Only biases removing personal safety and liberty of others are both unconstitutional and, thankfully now, unlawful.

13. Every citizen, Republican, Democrat, woman, man, Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, or Muslim, are benefiting from equal opportunity, freedom from sexual harassment and freedom from violence (domestic and institutional).

14. Violence, which law enforcement addresses every day, is the product of neglect, mental illness, poverty, systemic racism and ignorance. We are all united in our commitment to address violence and the victims trapped in abusive and toxic lives.

15. It now feels normal to have African Americans and women become doctors, lawyers and successful businessmen and women, and for diverse candidates and politicians to routinely seek the votes of women and minorities. None of that was normal in my grandmother’s day. The vote was given to women when she was 20 years old. And in my lifetime prejudice and legally condoned injustices did not start to be addressed until I turned 20! Not that long ago!

Auburn resident Gilda Brower is a founding member of the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace and also a member of the Auburn Human Rights Commission.

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“My View,” Gilda Brower, Letter to the Editor, The Citizen Newspaper, published August 21, 2020

 

JOIN US! August 10th @ 11AM for LIVE STREAM with the Auburn Police Department

Become knowledgeable.

Tell your neighbors.

Tune into the August 10th LIVE STREAM to learn more about your Auburn Police Department 

http://www.auburnny.gov/livestream

Monday, August 10th at 11 AM.

"Knowledge is Power."

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Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace board members speak at a Cayuga County Legislature special meeting held on Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Legislator Andrew Dennison's chair, center, sits empty as he did not attend the Cayuga County Legislature meeting in person but opted to hear complaints during the public session about his recent racially charged comments via videoconferencing.Kevin…

Legislator Andrew Dennison's chair, center, sits empty as he did not attend the Cayuga County Legislature meeting in person but opted to hear complaints during the public session about his recent racially charged comments via videoconferencing.

Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen

HTCJP chair, William Berry, Jr., vice-chair, Gilda Brower, secretary, Kathleen Barnard, and board members, Dr. Lucien Lombardo, and Dr. Rhoda Overstreet-Wilson were present during the public to be heard segment of the Cayuga County Legislature meeting held last evening to condemn Legislator Andrew Dennison’s racist letter to the editor, published in The Citizen Newspaper on June 26, 2020. (Cayuga County legislator faces backlash over racist letter to The Citizen)

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Public condemns Cayuga County legislator's Black Lives Matter comments

Mary Catalfamo, The Citizen Newspaper 07/01/2020

Dr. Lucien Lombardo’s presentation to the Cayuga County Legislature, June 30, 2020:

I am here speaking to you today because the words of one member of this legislature are trying to undo or at least make more difficult the work of making Cayuga County and Auburn a fairer and more peaceful place for all of its citizens to grow, live and work!”

How can mere words to that? They do it by reinforcing prejudices; pandering to historical stereotypes and images, humiliating groups of people, attempting to prevent the empowerment of marginalized people, appealing to a past that never was and ignoring the reality of that past and its manifestations in the present.  Pitting groups of people against one another; not supporting but violating black and brown people’s inherent human dignity! Such words add to the social toxicity of the world adults in our community create for our children.

I returned to Auburn and Cayuga County 7 years ago when I retired after nearly 40 years in Virginia. Before I went to Virginia I worked as a teacher in Auburn Correctional Facility in the late 1960’s an early 1970’s.

In the prison I learned the importance of working hard to understand people and circumstances that were different from mine. I was a young white person from small town central NY and my students were primarily Black and Hispanic, young and middle aged from New York’s inner cities (or Ghettos as they were called then).

If I were going to be an effective teacher, I felt I needed to understand the world from which my students came. Central to my learning was the importance of respecting the experiences of the men I taught, not calling them names, not resorting to stereotypes as a means of understanding;  understanding their complaints, trying to find ways of empowering them in an institution and world so often structured to disempower and humiliate them because of their race and ethnicity.

From my perspective this meant supporting and not violating their human dignity! This meant using my privilege and power to help empower them with what I could teach and how I related to them as people.

When I returned to Auburn, I was amazed at the Symposium on Harriet Tubman that the Harriet Tubman Boosters organized at the community college. I saw the diverse programming at the Auburn Public Theater. I got involved with Celebrate Diverse Auburn, the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace, the Southern Cayuga Anne Frank Tree Project and provided programs for the Cayuga County Museum.  I saw that Auburn and Cayuga County were pro-actively working to recognize and build support for the human dignity of all citizens regardless of color and ethnicity, sexual orientation and economic position: making Cayuga County and Auburn a fairer and more peaceful place for all of its citizens to grow, live and work!”

It is incumbent upon all county leaders to take advantage of these programs to educate themselves and their constituents and not appeal to the lowest common denominator.

When a member of the county leadership undermines these efforts, it is also incumbent on the other members of the leadership to hold that member accountable!


HTCJP chair, bill berry’s presentation to the Cayuga County Legislature, June 30, 2020:

At critical times, usually not expected, every community faces its watershed moment. This dilemma is not predicted, nor planned but its occurrence always defines and crystalizes what a community stands for, what a community believes in, what a community values and how it articulates its respect for human dignity for all members of that community.

Cayuga County and this elected body now have a watershed moment thrust upon it through the actions of one of its members. As we approach the conflicting thinking in what July 4th means particularly in a time of health and racial pandemics, as elected officials you  need to understand, internalize and fully embrace the contributions made by a race of people who look like me. You need to understand and be knowledgeable about the historical legacy of people who look like me; people who were systematically denied basic American rights. We are a people who were forced to contribute to the welfare, privilege, and protection of your ancestors, you, and your family’s pursuit of life, liberty, freedom and happiness.

Now there is a member of this legislative body who has squandered and debased the liberating spirit of Juneteenth as well as this Saturday’s Independence Day. Legislators, you can change that profound negativity and send a strong signal to all residents what this body will not tolerate, condone, or embrace.

Your silence, inaction or less then forceful condemnation of your colleague will also send a strong signal to this community especially people who look like me.  

Through the actions of one of your members, you are now mired in having to decide between ugly and derisive words by a colleague who publicly stated his archaic racist ideas or your duty to represent the best interests, hopes, aspirations of everyone who calls Cayuga County home.

Do not get caught up in misrepresentations of free speech.  Hateful words whether spoken or put in writing by any Cayuga County legislator has the explicit  purpose to denigrate, demoralize and demonize an entire segment of Cayuga County residents based on their race. That behavior cannot stand. Your colleague has now positioned  this legislative body to take significant action and impose long-standing consequences.

As an elected official, each of you are held to a higher standard. Your constituents accord you respect based on your position. Just remember, respect is not a one-way street.

Conduct by your colleague that is undeniably hateful can never be legitimized or accepted by any other elected official who is privileged to sit in a seat in this chamber. Your colleague has embarrassed this body and now compels each of you to come to grips with how you want to see this county progress.  Just know, a public or private apology is no longer enough. That pacifier has been rejected.

Now, you must determine how you want to resolve your watershed moment. I trust you will not abandon what is best for your family, your neighbors, and embrace the expanding spirit of equity for all residents and the tenets of anti-racist behavior that is beginning to permeate every area of Cayuga County. This watershed is the moment for your profile in courage and commitment to the best interests of the entire community.

Thank you.

William Berry, Jr. – Auburn resident, South Street Historic District

Chair, Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace


View the June 30th Cayuga County Special Legislative Meeting

https://youtu.be/wqQT_CeEZyE

‘We all can do better’ ~ Social Justice suggestions brought to town hall event

The Citizen Newspaper, June 28, 2020, by Kelly Rocheleau, Reporter

HTCJP Vice-Chair, Gilda Brower speaks at the social justice town hall at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Ceter in Auburn, NY on Saturday, June 27, 2020.  (Kelly Rocheleau Photos, The Citizen)

HTCJP Vice-Chair, Gilda Brower speaks at the social justice town hall at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Ceter in Auburn, NY on Saturday, June 27, 2020. (Kelly Rocheleau Photos, The Citizen)

People listen at the social justice town hall at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn, NY on Saturday, June 27, 2020.  This event was organized by the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace in partnership with the Auburn/…

People listen at the social justice town hall at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center in Auburn, NY on Saturday, June 27, 2020. This event was organized by the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice & Peace in partnership with the Auburn/Cayuga NAACP. (photo by Kelly Rocheleau, The Citizen)

AUBURN — After other recent events in Auburn addressed institutional racism, the social justice town hall held in the city Saturday was meant to allow people to suggest ways to address these issues.Various speakers during the event, at the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center, were given two minutes to explain their ideas on social justice change and talk about systemic issues. The forum was organized the Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace in partnership with the Auburn/Cayuga branch of the NAACP. Other events, such as a protest in late May through the downtown area and a demonstration earlier this month, have occurred in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by police in Minneapolis."The town hall's purpose is to hear, listen and enable the community to articulate suggestions for social justice," a flier on the center's website said. "Social justice organizations and governmental bodies need to hear your voice as collaborations are developed to implement planned change that will seek to eradicate institutional-driven racism especially when unconsciously embedded in organizational culture or individual implicit bias or microaggressions."

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‘We all can do better’

Kelly Rocheleau, The Citizen 06/28/2020