Oh, we're gonna be passing this around.

It's gonna be funky.

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Talking, but we can't hear.

All right.

Sounds good.

Okay.

My name's Samantha Green, Vice President of the Social Services Human Relations Board, and I'll be serving as acting president for this meeting.

This meeting is being recorded.

The chat function has been turned off.

If members of the public would like to comment on an item, there are multiple ways to do so.

If attending via Zoom, digitally raise your hand, and Secretary Manaeon will announce when it's your turn.

You will then have the option to unmute yourself and proceed with your public comment.

Email your public comment to Secretary Manion at G M A N N A H A Y O N at Alameda C A.gov before or during the meeting with your name, the agenda item number you're referencing, and your comment.

Comments submitted during the meeting before the conclusion of the public comment section will be read into the record.

Her email address is also on the meeting's agenda.

If you're calling in by phone, please email Mrs.

Manayon as we cannot see you raise your hand.

You can also dial star nine to raise your hand, and we will call on you.

To provide a public comment in person, please complete a public comment slip with your name and the agenda item number you are speaking on.

You'll be called up when it is your turn.

Public comments will be limited to three minutes.

The public has two, though maybe more opportunities for public comments.

First, under agenda item two, public comments.

Comments from the audience may address matters not on the agenda, but must deal with matters subject to the jurisdiction of the Social Services Human Relations Board.

Second, under the agenda item, there will be an opportunity for public comment on a specific item.

Each item follows a format similar to city council meetings.

After a presentation, we'll ask if there are any clarifying questions from the Social Services Human Relations Board's members of or staff.

Then we will ask if there are any public comments on this agenda item.

After public comment, we open the item up to board discussion and a vote if recommended.

Speaking in public can be nerve-wracking, and we want this to always feel like a safe, welcoming space where every voice can be heard.

So that we can protect that space for everyone.

California law gives us a few gentle tools to help keep things on track if the meeting is disrupted, starting with a friendly reminder.

We don't expect to need them tonight, and we're grateful to share this evening with all of you.

We'll start with Chantel Carter.

Bernie Wolf, Gerald Bryant, Michelle Buckholz.

On her way, and Samantha Green here.

From the Housing and Human Services Division, we have Simone Falls joining us online, Gracia Manayon, program manager, and Shelby Neal, administrative specialist.

The city welcomes speakers providing public comment, but please be advised this is a limited public forum.

Comments from the audience may concern matters either on or not on the agenda, but must deal with matters subject to the jurisdiction of the Social Services Human Relations Board.

Comments will be limited to three minutes.

Comments concerning matters on this evening's agenda will be heard when that item is called.

Thank you.

All right, so then we move on to item three, the minutes.

All right, motion to approve.

Can we do we have enough folks to just do I?

Because we're here in the room.

Sorry.

Can we just do a just a everyone in I or just okay?

Okay.

Uh so those that will do a oh, I guess we'll do a rule called never mind.

Chantel Carter.

Bernie Wolf.

Joe Bryant.

Samantha Green.

Approved.

And Michelle Buckles is still on the scene.

All right, agenda number four.

We'll have to vote on social services human relations board leadership.

So the Social Services Human Relations Board was formed to create an environment which will encourage and bring about mutual understanding, respect, and goodwill among groups of people in the community, and to improve social services in the community.

Every member is expected to uphold our shared values of inclusion, understanding, and building a community through greater acceptance.

Board members, like all individuals, have the right to hold and express certain views.

Those of us who serve in leadership, however, carry responsibility to maintain the competence of the communities we serve.

Leadership requires not only effective governance, but also the ability to bring people together around our shared values.

Every member of our community deserves to know that they are welcome, valued, and treated with respect, even when we discuss matters on which we may not see eye to eye.

On behalf of our current board members, I'd like to reaffirm our commitment to promoting mutual understanding, respect, and goodwill among the residents of Alameda from every identity, background, and experience.

For this agenda item, we'll discuss candidates for the role of president and vice president of the Social Services Human Relations Board.

After the discussion, members may nominate a candidate by the standard motion procedure.

Social Services Human Relations Boards member are not obliged to accept the position even if the board votes to approve them.

Do we have any clarifying questions from the board?

Okay.

That concludes our clarifying questions.

Are there any public comments on this agenda item?

Okay, this item is now open for discussion and comments by board members.

Yeah, thank you.

So do we want to pause and take a break?

Do we want to pause and take a break?

Or do we want to talk about how it normally goes?

The process.

Folks would have a discussion, and then essentially we would come to some sort of consensus around the people that would serve as president and vice president.

And then there'd be like a formal motion to accept them as president and vice president.

Um we've done it separately, so just voting on president first and then doing a vice president, and then we've also just voted kind of as a ticket of ballot, um, where both are combined.

So that's kind of how it's worked in the past.

Um yeah.

I I don't know.

I per I I personally think all of you are good people and I would be happy to work with any of you.

I'm not personally interested in a leadership vision.

I don't know if Antel is because she's so new.

But I would think that the two of you would be the appropriate leaders, and that perhaps the two of you could decide between yourselves what positions you want and how you distribute the responsibilities.

That's what I think.

I don't think we need much more than that.

Bernie, I appreciate it.

Um I've I'm like extremely new, right?

So I'm here to like learn the process.

Um I was actually thinking Samantha it would be, you know, Samantha and Michelle, but it sounds like Michelle might be is it pretty busy outside of outside of this.

Okay.

Okay.

Okay.

I just wanted to make sure, right?

Um, okay.

I I was thinking, should we circle back when she gets here?

Is that something that we can do?

Okay, because I want to make sure that she has time to speak and you know, the opportunity to say if she would like this or not.

I'm always happy to step in and and learn and and again, this would be learning by fire.

So um, you know, appreciate it.

Thank you, Bernie.

Um, and then yeah, I think Samantha, for me, uh, I think the role for president just makes sense since you've sit sat in this vice president role.

Okay, I was I was trying to uh flex without the mic, but it's not working, so I'm gonna go ahead uh and read the description again.

So uh there are three officers of the board, the president, vice president, and secretary.

Except as otherwise authorized by the board, the president shall sign all correspondence reports and other instruments approved by the board.

Vice president, who shall perform the duties of the president in the absence or in capacity of the president and in case of the resignation or other permanent absence of the president, the vice president shall perform such duties as are imposed on the president until such time as the board shall select a new president, secretary, who shall keep a written record of all business transacted by the board, notify members of meetings, maintain the official records of the board, and perform such other duties as the board may direct.

So I'll do the work that needs to be done, whatever people decide.

I'm just glad to know that like I said, we have an opportunity to do something here that can make a difference and roles are fine, but the work is more important.

So whatever you guys decide, I'll I'll be okay with can we motion to hold this agenda item and then move on to kind of provide the retreat components while we wait for Michelle to arrive?

Because we're gonna need her for a vote anyway, correct?

Okay.

Okay, perfect.

Great.

Yeah.

Of course.

Can we just like elbow each other until we come up to a conclusion?

Okay, that sounds good.

Um he already knows.

I'm pushing it forward.

Um okay, so we're gonna move on to item number four B.

The Social Services Human Relations Board work group planning with SMART goals.

So this meeting will serve as a planning session for the 2026-27 work plan.

Board members will reflect on their previous work plan as well as develop individual specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals to work towards the main goal defined in the purpose of the social services human relations board discuss discussion.

Additionally, data collected from a recent community survey will be presented in order to align social services human relations boards goals and activities with the needs of the community.

So the first kind of piece that we thought we would go through is just a reflection, um, asking kind of I'll go question by question just to think about kind of what were our most significant accomplishments.

This is kind of a basic discussion that we started last week, um, last week, last month.

It felt like a it's a very short time period.

Um, but what were kind of our most significant accomplishments that we've accomplished as a board?

Um and perhaps you've heard of the accomplishments, um, and can think of those that you find the most interesting.

Um so kind of the the most significant accomplishments, those that we're most proud of, and then we'll talk about kind of challenges where we were limited as a board and our our ability to kind of accomplish our goals was limited, and then we'll just talk about kind of what we should carry forward into the next year.

Um, this was supposed to be kind of casual.

Um as we were finishing our meals and our drinks, if that sounds okay.

Um great.

And then after that, we'll kind of do go through uh oh exercise of with start, stop, and continue.

So thinking about items that we want to start in the coming year, items that we want to stop doing, and items that we want to move forward with.

So um, does anyone want to talk about our most significant accomplishments?

Accomplishments that we did as a board, but particularly you and Scott was that volunteer uh piece where you had all of the volunteer roles and different places where people could go and volunteer and you put together a small list that turned into a huge list.

It was a huge list of people that had tons of volunteer opportunities that people would be willing to do, and it's in it's been quite the thing.

It made its way around the city.

So I think that was one of the better accomplishments that the board did because again, a lot of what we're talking about is community effort and volunteer and the volunteer positions was really one of them.

Volunteers, the volunteer list, yes.

That was a big accomplishment.

I think you guys did a great job with it as part of the board.

The board itself was it up all the way.

Everybody else can.

That was that that was truly a a wonderful thing, and it took on a life of its own, and I think it we should definitely try and keep that thing going.

That's the kind of thing we should try and keep going.

I think the overdose response trainings um was a huge one.

I think just based on attendance and the community response.

I think that was huge for the community.

Um yeah.

And then I think and then I think the other thing was the road home was trying to do community outreach meetings, and I think the one that felt like there was the most um interest from community members was the one that we did with PTAC, which is um the PTA principles.

Um, just because there was interest in what kind of services were available through the city that people were unaware of and could get to know how to either um refer people to services or to help, right?

Ways of volunteering.

Those were two.

Sorry.

It's okay.

Um, we're going through kind of what were our most significant accomplishments that we thought of as a board or what were we most proud of, and then if there was anything that we were challenged or limited to in our ability that we had planned to do, but were unable to.

I was I think one of the accomplishments was the um Alameda volunteer of the year or award.

I think I think that was profoundly impactful for the community and the recipients.

Uh the overdose response training.

Um thing that I would say that felt limited was we as part of the road home, we really wanted to do like this talking tour and how to have people better connect to resources.

And I just saw like an Alameda Peeps post of being like, what's the deal with this person that's here and how do I help them?

So I still think there's a lot of um, I want that to be like a simple and like going through the comments that that was like a really quick like our community knows what to do.

Um, so I think that's an opportunity where we can we can mobilize concerned community members so that that they're increase the knowledge among community members of how to serve people who are I would say both in crisis and who are experiencing homelessness.

Oh, you're I think one of the biggest accomplishments of the board was its cohesiveness and the fact that we each brought different skills to the board, which we were able to use in a synergistic way, and that was reflected in the the the way that speakers would come before us from different um backgrounds and with some different organizations and and felt free and comfortable presenting to us what they were doing and what they felt they needed because one of the things that I think is most important about this board is not necessarily so much of what we do individually, but but what we facilitate for the good of the community okay.

Are there any lessons that we want to move forward as we think about things to bring with us?

Yeah, so like for me personally, I think um, you know, we've really concentrated on doing presentations to other boards and other groups um with reports that came through, right?

Through human services or point in time count reports and that kind of information.

And I think for me, while that information is really important, getting it out there in a different way may be more effective.

Um, but the presentations where we're offering trainings or providing additional information on how to connect to resources was much more effective.

Um and so I think um changing how we do that community outreach would be helpful, right?

So of course giving the presentations we have to uh about the reports, but altering kind of what we we spend our time on.

Um I think mainly what we're not getting to do, or at least we had not had the opportunity to do was what Doug Biggs said more of the human relations portion of it than the social services, and that if we were going to do anything and accomplish anything, we should be working with the human relations portion of it.

And I think that's one of the things that we should definitely lean into as part of our board.

We should be at least seen as a board in the community.

Um show up in places and people see us doing good things or just showing up for that.

It makes a difference.

People recognize and remember you from where you were.

Oh, I remember you from that.

You guys went over there and you did that.

Oh, I remember you guys did over that.

I think that human relations portion of it is what really is what we should be leaning into for lessons and we do it.

I think we haven't tapped into our expertise as like a board members.

Like I feel especially our new members.

Like I think there's an opportunity, like especially our organizations of how could we strengthen their capacity?

How could we review?

I mean, I guess we don't have teeth, right?

Like we can't, we have no, I mean we have some but we have we have some carrots of in terms of funding, but I think what we know from the nonprofit world and the community-based organizations is they're really as in economic times are really struggling.

And so, how could we with the power of the city behind our names kind of step in and do expertise consulting?

How can how could we partner with them and just be like, how can we boost folks up?

And I don't really know how to how do we choose which organization and who do we do, you know, that that to me, the how would we work that out, but I think we have a strong knowledge base that we could think about how we could support those community based organizations to be more efficient, to be more effective, to be more impactful.

Um because I think we have a we have an in and we have an intro of like why we're there that I think gives us a foot and door that other people might not have.

So I've been your secretary for just about a year now.

Um so I have like my own lessons learned on like the dynamics and how I can be the most helpful to you all.

And something that I think you all could lean into is that um your potential sway with policy.

I know people hear the word policy and they don't like love it, but what I mean is if you all show up as a group and push on initiatives or programs that you care about, even speaking up at city council or other commissions.

I do think that you all have that influence.

It's just about a little bit more organizing around that.

Um, if you all wanted to give like public comment or have conversations with other boards and commissions, you have access to that.

You have you also have access to the mayor.

Um, and then I think with the human relations piece, something I've I've learned is I think we can just keep it a little bit more simple.

Like we tried to have these large events, which I think were wonderful, and they were things that we hadn't done before, like the screenings and having the panels with young people.

Um, but we can also just keep it a little bit more simple if we wanted to do more, as in like tag on to other events that are already happening, like our communications officers in the uh who moved on to another position.

She had a public events happening all the time.

Um, and if we just like I don't know, got a copy of her calendar and you all showed up with like your name tags or something like that is good.

Um, and that includes like we have like a youth career fair, we have another resource fair happening in a soon, right?

Oh right, but we're part of no, sorry.

There is a resource for how happening it is county level, but our division is going to be participating and tabling that is something you all could also participate in.

Um, so there are those opportunities to just um to participate and maybe not try to like have our own I don't know, I don't know what I'm saying.

That's that I end up, I do know what I'm saying, and that is the end of my thought.

Um yeah, I think for me that was one of the other things that I was thinking about as well is what are what are opportunities for us to partner with other community organizations that are trying to do the work that we would like to see happen in the community.

Um, and I think also being able to hear from folks kind of what their needs are, um, kind of going through the community survey that was there and then kind of looking at the reports um that have been produced as a community.

I kind of realize that we're still missing some information about what the community, you know, what the service social services providers really need, right?

What they need from the community, what they need from the city, what they need from us as a community.

Um, and so I think opportunities for us to connect with those folks and hear what they need um would be great.

I also think that us getting to know what they're actually providing, right?

And how best to connect with them would be really helpful.

Um, and I also feel like attending some of those events will provide us with an opportunity to report back to the board about what we hear people expressing as their needs.

Um, right.

So if we're at a tabling event with you at a resource fair, we'll be able to hear kind of what folks are approaching you with in terms of the needs and what you're hearing and can bring that back uh to the full board.

Same thing with you know, I don't know, attending school board meetings or another city council meeting, just another set of ears to bring back and what we're hearing from community members.

I I I want to I think we interacted and talked to more people that have lived experience of homelessness, which I remember when we did the road home, we had an individual who was at um at Dignity Village, and so like I think that was I and and previously I think in the past year that like we didn't really have that as much, and so I'm grateful for the public that came and get you know talked about needs.

I think that was important to do, and I that is like a thing that I want more of.

It's just to feel like this is accessible to people that want to have their voice here, and so how can how can we spread that so we kind of moved on to what should we start doing?

Is there anything that we want to make sure we stop doing as a board okay?

This is just this is my opinion, not very elevated, but sometimes I'm always like could have been an email.

Like I and I know we have to do public rhetoric, and I know that the like policy, like I know we are we're burdened by our current system, not burden, but we have uh parameters and guardrails and appreciate how the function of the government.

But I think like I want to do more meaty stuff in the meeting.

Like I feel like we talk about the we talk about things that we're gonna just I feel like we'd have more depth and make more decisions, and like it feels like we talk about the things we're gonna talk about, and then we have to meet in the groups, and then we have to bring them back.

So I'd wonder if like I think it I think the challenge about those meeting conversations is they are public, they are you know, recorded that feels a little more difficult to make those tough calls, but I'd like to like feel more like we walked out and be like, what did we do today?

Like, what did we accomplishment?

What did the decisions because sometimes I feel like I'm like that was quick.

That was like it was performative.

Um, and so I sometimes I well, I'd like to put more on our agenda that has a little bit more teeth and make some more decisions and not wait to the subcommittees to do things.

This is gonna foreshadow another discussion later on, but I think one of the things I'd also like to see is to get everyone's kind of interest in presentations that we'd like to see as a board, right?

Because as a board, we have the opportunity to ask folks to make presentations to us, but it also provides the public with receiving that information, right?

And I think if we publicize those presentations, if we work with like whoever the new communications person is to publicize those presentations, we may have more folks that attend the meetings, um, but also would be able to get that information as well.

Um so that's something I'd like to see.

That's a start.

Sorry, more guest speakers.

Presentation.

Um I my question, I guess, is can we do presentations for the board and the public as well?

I would think that that would be something that we should be doing.

It makes just plain sense if it's a topic that Bernie's got and he's been working deeply on.

He should be able to present it for the board to hear and for the rest of the public to hear.

It's a simple way of getting the message across.

Yeah, I've got a topic that I'd like to do if you guys have everybody should be able to do a presentation of some subject that they feel strongly about and make sure that those voices are heard.

Because sometimes you can't really get a guest speaker to do that, but having the ability to do that, having this space in this voice is an opportunity for us to do that and maybe take on that responsibility as opposed to waiting for somebody else that we would have to pay or have to cajole into coming out and doing it on a Thursday night.

We always have a speaker and presenter on some issue.

And I think it's become very important and very useful.

So I think the same should apply to the general board.

I know we have speakers who come in, but perhaps we could do more of that, and perhaps some of it could be as Gerald suggests, you know, could be emanating from the board itself.

That would be very helpful to me.

And I think it would it would enhance the amount of public participation and interest.

I think our focus has also been on really vulnerable and underserved populations, which is my passion and I feel from a fellow board.

But is that at the cost of the general population like are we serving the needs of all Alamedans?

Do we need to give but like do we like?

Are we also supporting you know, even if you are resourced having a child with learning differences, or you know, like there are people that are struggling that are that may be more resource, but that is still someone who could use more additional support.

So I I think that it's something to consider of broadening those who need to connect to social services, and I think that there's you know, everyone could do support.

Like I saw someone posted, I was like, I can't believe our city is doing this.

They there was death cafes, and talking about having a space to talk about feelings about death and dying and having creating like a space to talk about that.

And I think remember you went met with the the coffee with the chaplains or the the religious folks, yeah.

I I think there's something there.

I think we maybe because I remember we talked about our like the populations we want to focus on, and they were definitely um, but I I think in the needs assessment we did really there are people, even though I think of like the 20-somethings who are trying struggling to find jobs or the high school, you know.

Like I suffering is suffering, is what I've reached the conclusion, and how can we really create less suffering in our town?

Feels very true.

Um so for me, social services are generally aimed at a specific subset of people, and the reason for that is because if they were more resourced, they generally have a stigma about accepting social services and the resources that come along with it, and those stigmas, you know, they aren't going away, and so at some level, we have to really look at the ones who are least able to turn away from the system.

Uh I was talking with a young lady yesterday, again, lived experiences.

We're talking about lived experiences.

She started a program where she had this dream of putting together a group to just talk about problems such as recidivism, alcohol, drugs, and she started very small.

She started a Zoom conference call in 2023 when COVID was still going on, and it was maybe four people according to her.

People who are actively looking for the social services, are the ones that need them.

We talked about a story where she was just doing the little things that I talk about that she talked about.

She said, you know, I used to live over here in Oakland, and there was this group of young people that would sit out on this couch that was sitting out on the corner over there, and you could tell that they were clearly homeless or unhoused.

And so at one point she said she made some spaghetti.

She had a whole lot of extra spaghetti left over.

She went downstairs and she handed them out plates.

Well, actually, she handed them out Tupperware.

And they were so thankful that somebody would even think about giving them food.

Now, how much did this cost her?

Not a lot.

She had probably made too much already based on what she said.

But the idea that she started doing it regularly.

And that when she would take it out, she'd take it out in Tupperware, and they would bring it back.

The Tupperware bring the Tupperware back.

When at one point she mentioned one of the ladies offered her her EBT card and said, please take my EBT card, and when you make some food, just bring me a plate.

And again, these are the people that need these social services.

And we need people like her who think about it in terms of this is just how I really how I relieve suffering for other people.

Relieving that suffering is what it's really about.

And if I'm here to do anything, I'm happy to be the guy to help release and suffering.

And so social services for the people who need the most.

Yes, there's always room for people who are struggling.

I talk about things like mental health issues.

I think mental health is a strong pop a strong problem in this community.

And we had a board member at one point who was deep into the uh programs and had a lot of knowledge, and I still carry it with me, the amount of information that she had to offer.

And she's the type of person that I I keep connections with.

I think we should be having those types of conversations.

People like her coming out and speaking in these types of things.

We have a broad base.

We really do.

That's that's what I would think about in terms of social services and our move story.

Okay.

Yes, are you guys ready?

Does everybody feel like we've all right?

Talked on it.

Great.

Sure.

So talking about more information, getting more information to the board.

We um so previously um we attended the the Road Home is completing like their their final um sorry, that's not true.

Um, so there's a new five-year plan that's coming up, and the department is is pulling together the data.

Um, and they hosted these meetings, and I was able to attend those, but we also received the data um from the city so that we could look at the data from the community survey that was part of this.

Um and so we put together some slides to look at real quick.

So this is the community needs survey from 2026, uh okay.

So the we looked at uh so there's 328 respondents.

Um there were 16 service statements or questions that were asked.

Um, and 84% of respondents live in Alameda.

Um, the remainders were service providers.

Now we can go to the next slide.

Oh we really don't need those headers, sorry.

Um, so the who took the survey, right?

So 84 lived in an Alameda, uh 26% were cost burden renters, so 30% or more of their income went to rent, 25% worked in Alameda, 16% use or used social services in the past, uh 10% reported that they were food insecure.

So the survey respondents skew older than the city of Alameda census data, right?

Um and so you'll see that that's reflected in some of the survey data, and there's obviously very few young people who participated in the survey.

Um women were also overrepresented in survey, but that's always how it works in surveys.

Um there's that race ethnicity data.

So um again, kind of overrepresentation of African American and black respondents.

Um, however, that's kind of more reflective of the services for folks that were receiving services and those that are providing services in the community.

Um, and then Asian was underrepresented compared to the city of Alameda as a whole.

Okay.

So 40% were lower income and lower income was identified as less than 87,500.

Um the equivalent household threshold for households that reported that there were more than one person in them.

Correct.

Okay, so then we're moving on to the overall findings.

So, how do residents rate the city's housing and social services?

Okay, so there's a lot in this one, sorry.

Correct.

Yeah, so they're kind of touched together around highs and lows.

Um needers, right?

Um, but among those with the greatest disagreement was around their awareness of affordable housing options, right?

Feeling like there is minimal administrative or procedural barriers, and that the system helps people access homelessness, right?

Easy to find out where services are available.

There's still a lot of folks that find that they're strongly disagree or disagree with students, right?

Um yeah, in the open-ended responses, there's comments about the um service delivery and the services that are available, and one of them was just or a number of them were just um really wishing that people were were kind in their and their ability to um provide services.

So that was kind of one of the the few themes that actually popped up frequently among those that felt like they were um unhappy with the services, was just feeling like they wished that people had just were generally nicer in their approach to folks.

No, so 320 is everybody that responded to the survey.

The survey went out, yeah.

Yeah, so the survey was part of our so our division is currently working on our strategic plan, our five-year strategic plan, and as part of that, we did like a needs needs assessment.

Oh, yeah, that's fine.

A community needs assessment process where we invited like some of our a lot of our stakeholders in a room to have discussion, and then we um distributed the community survey through our networks essentially, so but it was also on our website.

We did it through email blasts, we did it through our social service providers, we shared through our personal networks, so it really was us just like put we did it on social media, I believe, as well.

Um, but I do think, and it's I think this is also part of the issue with the awareness is that you start to limit yourself with what our network is.

So we were able to reach the people who subscribe to our email list or who go on our website.

Um, oh, but I believe we even also passed out paper flyers at the shelter.

So we did have like target audiences, which is why you're seeing potentially leaning towards people who receive services, which we really wanted to see.

Um, but maybe like the general public, like your mom's book club is the first thing I can think of.

Like they're not aware of these community surveys.

Um, and that I think is a gap for us.

So um, I did see some people that like because I live in the city and I sent it to my friends and my neighbors, so I could see some people responding, like, I don't really know anything about this, but I'm responding because it looks good.

Um, so that is a gap, and I'm really embedded in that network, and I think that is like somewhere you all have a strength where you're like you have different networks and different um avenues to communicate with the community.

Um, so yeah, so hope that answers the question.

And in the survey really to that knowledge gap that we have like people do not know people that are not engaging with service don't know that it exists.

And I think as of the current economic climate, how people are able to be one parts in a way that we look, you know, like I think so many people are um in financial and housing situations, like I think we need like that.

Me when I just I want people to know what to do with the friends or the like yeah, I mean, and I think like also I'm not as embedded in our system, but like the systems are not easy to access.

Like even if we make it for the letter, it's still like it's not even combo clearly, you get on the list and then you're on this thing, it's like that part, even if you're on the right list and you're yeah, housing referral that we'll have to get off.

So I just think like that is that is brutal, and I don't think we're in like but do you think we need to remind even if people know it does like it isn't like I think if we could know if you could see like I'm feeding some of the best violence, but where do I go?

I don't think everything is good to use the idea that we get a little bit um and by sending you to another city, they've taken care of the problem.

Oh look, they're in San Leandro now, no problem.

That's not an answer.

Yeah, I I I agree.

I've seen it in San Francisco too, which is why when you said I'm like, yeah, but see, that's that's what we're talking about right now.

How do you how do you solve the problem?

You shift the plot problem to someplace and let them deal with it.

That's not solving the problem.

That's just making the shelf look good up there.

I frankly I don't approve anyway.

That's why I feel like, yeah, these service statements are from the people who probably need them the most.

And should we have the folks that like I think everyone needs affordable house, like I think that even you know that is to know like our program, no one knew about our or I you know, like when I tell friends that about our that affordable homeowner program, like I don't think that I think there's a lot of public, but there was a gap, and I think it's just I want people that live in this community to know that exists in our community, and so that like we also combat NIMBYS in a way, yeah.

Because it is happening in our backyard, and our communities decided that this is of value, so the awareness of affordable housing is one of the big things to me, right?

Where 42% right disagree or strongly disagree, and it's everyone should know whether or not you need it, you should still know where you could look for affordable housing, right?

Because someone you know cannot afford to live here.

Um yeah, that was one of the big ones for me.

Do you want to keep going just a second?

So the next one is um this one was looking at sorry, this keeps going as the lowest rating, yeah.

So that's those topics.

Yeah, I can keep going, that's fine.

Um so then this was where residents want their investment focused, and so the top were around outreach services and affordable housing, um with emergency shelter at just 18%, right?

Um with emergency shelter at just 18%, right?

Um we talked about this a tiny bit about how nobody wants uh permanent supportive housing, transitional housing or short-term rental assistance.

Um, even though I think as a board, we have a responsibility of reminding folks that in order for us to have a full system of care, we really do have to support all of those programs and ensure that we have permanent supportive housing for our folks that are experiencing chronic homelessness.

Um just because it is the best practice, right?

For ending homelessness.

Okay, so then we looked at who rates services poorly.

So um a respondent is considered a frequent critic if they answered four or more of the 16 rating statements, um, and disagreed or strongly disagreed with at least half of the statements that they answered, and so kind of identifying who those forks were folks, not forks.

Maybe like 28%.

So yeah, so vulnerable populations were more likely to rate services poorly, right?

So higher percentages on cost burden renters, food insecure, and then those that were actually using or had used social services.

Um then uh the folks that lived in Alameda.

You can keep going too.

Um, the four lowest rated items, cost burden renters were consistently the most critical, right?

So these are folks that are barely making rent or using most of their income on rent.

That group pain everything that those we had talked about before yeah, I think that those cost burden renters, we really should also think of them as at risk for homelessness.

Um, but I don't think we have thought of they I feel like those are probably more under the radar folks even more than we we think, and how do we outreach them?

Renters already know how rocky it is.

If you're a renter here in Alameda like I am, you know that the prices are outrageous.

If you don't have a great landlord, you might have a management investment firm who really doesn't care.

And moves people in and out on a regular clip.

And so I don't I don't know anyone who rents it doesn't know that they have a rental increase coming, that there's nothing you can do about it, and that it might be enough to make you no longer able to stay.

Um, how do we reach them becomes a real question?

Your your point to your point, how do we reach them?

Um there might I don't know the breakdown of apartment renters versus homeowners here in Alameda, but I can tell you we have quite a few renters.

Yeah, and they are the least uh protected.

Well, I won't take I take that back, they're not the least protected, they are part of a group that has to have rent control programs put together in order to be able to stay here in Alameda because look, I don't know about you, but I can't afford to pay 4500 or $4,000 a month in rent, and yet that's what they're going for in some places right here in Alameda.

$3,500.

That's a paycheck for two paychecks for some people in this town, and if they don't have the resources to be able to pay that next raise of the rent, they have to move out.

So this is how they see themselves, and so when you say they are more critical because they know that it really is true, but then that might be the next step back to Gracia's point about policy work, is like maybe that is our focus in our work group is affordable housing, which I think it and that maybe we in that affordable housing, we think about these rent uh cost burden renters.

I never knew that term, that's a great clear term.

Uh that we had a person from the rent program division come present on the annual plan.

We can that could potentially be another one of the guest speakers.

I think it'd be great to have them come back.

Um, I don't believe they have another annual plan released, but if there's like a specific topic, like if you want to know more about the rent, just like protections in general in the city and its limitations, because there are limitations.

Um the rent control in the city has come a long way since like 2019, but there's still just like unfun fact uh gaps like condos and single family homes do not fall under the rent control.

Um so things like that.

I can write that down.

You know, are then also like opportunities is like how do we then maybe push that division to be like what outreach effort are you doing?

What are like how because I remember being very surprised when I learned all that stuff, and I don't think the average Alameda knows about that division or that board to mobilize that community the next time something like that is on the ballot, something we could do with this group.

Oh god, we go all right.

Uh yeah, so I think the big thing was the the majority of folks were talking about affordable housing options, right?

That's like the greatest concern in their ability to know, and then the investment was for outfit services and affordable health.

Um I think that also highlights have been part of our like let's do it, is it also like that public awareness?

Like, what do we do with all or like out if they have a website, they have actually like an amazing program.

There's a hotline that you call that's staffed during regular business hours, there's an email that they respond to, they have staff committed to just answering the phone and answering questions about the rent control ordinance because that's their entire division, it's the rent control ordinance, so that is their benefit.

Um talk more frequently might also be helpful.

Um, because there's a lot of folks where it's not just about rent being raised, right?

Where they fall outside of that.

Um, and so where do we find affordable housing if we know we're losing it and there's no other option and there's no right consequence?

Because I think that would be great.

Although that process, tough the system is tough, but having somebody talk about it.

The elder senior repair program.

Yeah, yeah.

Like I just wonder I and maybe it Sam and your gap, like my gut is that there's just a gap that there's like a lot of people that don't know about it.

Does that data reflect that about just like my sense is there's actually more resources?

Yeah, I think that is true.

Don't know what the programs are.

Yeah, and I think that was one of the other things that I was thinking of too, right?

Is folks that are you know have this rent burden?

Are there other programs that would alleviate their other costs, right?

Um, so they had more money available for the rent.

Maybe the word we get AI to have the first response, like we the Google, like maybe we we just need to have Googling the first response, and it automatically comes up a Google of this, you know, like that maybe that's the thing we we make it more Google.

Yeah.

I was gonna say one of the last things was that this was the data that was most available to us at this exact moment, and it's new.

Um, but as a board, um, we had also reflected on the community needs assessment and some of the other things, and we had identified um this does talk about food insecurity and housing and homelessness, but we had talked about other needs that were out there, which were mental health, older adults, um, youth and families, um, disability access, just the equity and inclusion components, and then community cohesion and belonging.

Um those were not included in these.

Okay, are we ready to move on to the next component?

Okay, great.

Um so we wanted to talk about the overview of our commitments that are already on the calendar or that we know we have um signed on to as a board.

So the ones that I could think of were the community development block grants, which we have agreed to.

Um the season for nonviolence, which is January to April.

We usually participate in the speech contest.

Um sorry.

Thank you.

There's a calendar.

Right.

Thank you.

Perfect.

Um, just so folks that aren't seeing this in January.

We have the season for nonviolence planning that happens, our work plan review.

We start discussions for the point and time count.

Um, and then we do provide input on the CDBG RFP.

Um let's see, sorry.

Oh, community event.

Thank you.

The actual pit count.

Um in February, we had the age-friendly cities survey that was for approval.

Um, we will at some point need to talk about age friendly cities and whether or not we want to continue that or not continue that.

Um we had the housing and human services six month update in March.

We have our work plan that begins the season for nonviolence event.

Um in April, we had more work planning, more CDBG recommendations for funding, which was in April.

Um, and that's when the non-violence the speech contest happens, right?

And that's the actual event.

Sorry, we need to add that one.

Um in May, we took the CDBG funding recommendations to the board, the sorry, to the city council in June, we do the Sunshine Ordnance Refresher.

Um, and then we took the work plan to City Council in it's supposed to probably yeah, that didn't happen this year.

Um what's the actual date or what is it with the actual date?

Oh, it's October, right?

Thank you.

Okay, so that's when the planning begins is in July, and August we don't have a meeting.

September we didn't have a meeting specific.

Okay, the pit count would only happen every two years.

Yeah, okay.

So November we review and select our volunteer of the year, and then December we do the presentation, and then we do the needs statement that's brought to city council in December.

Are there any other events that we have recurring?

Oh right, they should probably pop on to this board wide.

Okay.

Um okay.

So our thought was are there other commitments that we need to make sure that we're a part of that we know that happened within the city that we want to think about as a board.

Um, but generally speaking, this is the calendar of events.

I think we'll do it after we set our goals and what we want to participate in.

Does that make sense?

Or what we want to remove.

Stop, start, or continue.

But there's the calendar.

Um any thoughts so far on stopping things.

Okay.

Sounds good.

All right.

So we're gonna move on to goals.

Um so we're gonna like talk about.

I asked everybody to kind of go through and make a list, right?

Um, in advance of the meeting, so but we're gonna do breakout time so you guys can go through those lists, prioritize those, and add if there's anything that you as individuals want to bring forward to the board as a whole to talk about as things to start um or to stop um doing.

I think mostly what we should focus on is things that we want to start doing or continue in the coming year, if that makes sense.

Oh, we need to go back.

Thank you.

Bernie, good job.

Can we go back to voting on leadership?

Okay, we had to go back to the late.

I'm so sorry.

That's very we get if we need to.

Oh, do we have nominations?

Do we'll how we got do we have anyone?

Is there anyone?

No, no.

Uh I I really support Sam as president.

I I would like I just feel like I'm not available.

And so I am just in clinic, I I I and then I can't, I ditch you guys when the patient thing comes up.

I would like to serve, I just feel like you would be not served by my time commitments.

So I I in my heart would like to, but I think you it would not be a I think it would be a burden on the group to be dependent on my schedule.

So is there anyone else that wants to be vice president?

Because I nominate Sam as president.

Yeah, let's let's start with I nominate Samantha Green as president.

Oh, Gerald is also wants to be nominated.

I uh could I could I make the proposal for Samantha as president and Gerald as vice president?

Can I nominate as the dynamic new dynamic duo?

I would like to nominate Sam and Gerald, Sam as president and Gerald as vice president.

I put a forward a motion for the for the leadership of both Sam as president and Gerald as vice president throw it out there.

I've been in leadership for a while here as vice president, and uh Gerald has not.

However, I feel like um it's an opportunity for you if you would like to be president to step into that position, particularly as someone who doesn't love to speak publicly.

Um I'm happy to be the person behind you that provides all the documentation.

I appreciate that.

Oh no, welcome.

Yours with the motion.

Oh, I have to facilitate the vote.

Okay.

Um but there the other option is that we could have Gerald as president and Sam.

How about could I?

Okay.

Sorry, can I modify my uh proposal?

Oh okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry.

I put the proposal as Sam as president and Gerald as vice president.

All those in favor.

Wait now, but I just want those two to be, I don't care who's who voted on.

Correct.

I can't facilitate that.

Okay.

Okay.

How many yeses to the vote?

And then how many no's sorry?

I'm obstaining.

I'm not voting for myself.

Great.

The motion did not pass.

Okay.

You're welcome.

I motion to vote for Gerald as president and Sam is vice president.

No or to vote.

All those in favor of Gerald as president and Sam is vice president.

Say aye.

I the motion.

So now do I just hand over the microphone to the president?

I am self-assessed.

Damn you, God.

Ah, okay.

All right.

Uh so we're gonna do breakout groups to do our Sparkles.

Um so the idea is that we're gonna start looking at our list of activities that we would like to sustain or that we would like to start in the coming year.

Um you guys are stuck with me as a threesome because I'm in both of your groups.

You guys will meet together as your group.

Um, and then we'll discuss the goals.

Um we want to just talk about like where can the board have the greatest impact when we think about the goals, what issues align most closely with our mission, and then what's realistic given the staff and volunteer capacity that we actually have in terms of volunteers?

But no, the goal is just to come up with our list of activities that we would like to.

We're gonna do can we run late?

Can we run over past eight?

Oh, you can't say over okay.

So how about this?

Let's yes, so why don't in the next 20 minutes we could pull it together, pull together our lists, identify our smart goals based on that list, and prioritize that list with the activities that we feel are most necessary to achieve in the coming year?

Does that make sense for each of our groups?

I think unless the goals do not connect to the group.

We're bringing them forward just as our individuals and as our groups.

We'll just discuss them and then prioritize them.

And then we'll bring them together and talk about our list.

We'll present the top five first.

Does that seem to work?

All right.

Does everybody already have their existing list that they wanted to bring forward?

Okay.

Um we're gonna start.

Yeah, let's do it.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

Yeah.

But it can be okay.

Okay.

Yeah, and I can go that way.

Um I think the number one thing I wanted to bring up was um I would love to have awareness around when you come back to filing awareness month, which is actually and I think that goes hand in hand with creating awareness as a whole for all of the resources that we can either submit.

I agree, yeah.

So based on your website or whatever website you want to choose, right?

Yeah, you can go to the hope of that.

But it will be oh yeah, no, absolutely, but we're still talking about tax force, right?

So it'd be task for the no, it's passport and the board.

Yeah, it's burning uh yeah, that could just be like a committee-led initiative saying, Hey, we wanna like if we start our meeting in October, we want to acknowledge that it's domestic violence month, and here are the resources that we want to provide to the community.

And then that I mean that could just live, right?

Like yeah.

Oh, oh sure.

In all those restaurants in the background.

Sorry, but office opening, I think.

Oh it was like 70 years.

Oh my gosh, okay.

Um that's that's a lot of now.

So I think we both want to uh continue to hire okay.

Okay.

Oh, that's a lot of people.

No, no, no, no.

I think it's like uh a bench.

Yeah.

Okay.

Sure.

And what is it?

Uh we can just go back up for me.

I just have a few things that I'll be able to rapid and then oh uh yeah, so I think um the other one that I have in the as a whole is um just kind of filmed for a lot of these local events to be there.

So it could be like they had to be library on this weekend.

Like we I went to that.

Yeah, it was awesome.

And I would have loved for us to have a table there so people knew like know who we are, and then that's another opportunity for us.

So I think again that goes hand in hand with uh I'm like yes, love policy, right?

So a little more outreach so people know, right?

So and just with just being partner, right?

I think it's community to partner with what we're gonna meet.

Um so building those relationships.

And I know we have to go to smart goals, so like we can do I'll we can go at the end and I'll just do thought thoughtful, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Um more aware of how to connect with uh yeah, so basically support and they have that for the part of the side of there isn't already.

But I I don't want to want you to go up down, but um like um going with the kind of aligning with partner local organization.

Um I would also mention kind of doing those uh site walk through this, which I think that was part of the SOW really aligning with ensuring that the resources are being used appropriately because site visits.

Um I would also mention kind of doing those uh site, which I think that was part of the SOW really aligning with ensuring that the resources are being used appropriately the site because it's um I just did uh and I think uh I wanted to speak to it at the end, but um I just did uh outreach for the home last Friday.

Okay, so that was yeah, yeah, so that was really like the nine today.

It was me and the van, right, and like we were in really desperate areas of uh open, right?

Like on the shoulder of away and literally meeting with a constituent site, uh that they have anything with the people contact with to make sure that this individual who is experienced on this class for ten years now we're trying to get one of those social security data and and trying to prove that the first diet for easy commissioner for the talent is the uh for the homeless.

Oh I mean so we signed up, so basically they gave us a list and they said we got so I'm saying maybe once a quarter I can do this, but again, and it's not just that I can go to a site for the I chose to do average because I really want to be the outreach program.

But I think very similar to say, you know, maybe we maybe you guys give us like hey, these are all the things that we're doing, you know, city what would she like that's related to focus or this is what would she like what we get?

Yeah, and you can just choose it's not mandatory.

You can choose not the anybody just yet.

Yeah.

Is that is that right?

Yeah, like a sign up list.

Um, but that makes does that make sense, Shelby?

Okay.

Right, exactly.

Exactly, right?

Exactly.

Right, right, because that goes in hand with that SOW.

Right.

Right.

Yep.

Okay.

Oh, very fast for one.

I think I don't think that's yeah, I think that should be in there.

Sure.

Yeah, but it's a remote within the tribulation.

So I think it's I don't know.

Oh, that's yeah.

I know I went and told the movie.

I was expecting to see it in the at the beginning.

So we until that, right?

And that's the students did it, right?

So okay.

Yeah, I'm not sure if coming up with clever committee.

But it's I don't know whether it's like then part of that.

Okay.

So let's I think this did it on uh from like 750.

So let's I think this did a time uh from like 750 with let's I would have to put it smart so maybe in the middle um we can do smart right cool so um doing that so let's just quantify let's focus on maybe quantifying it so I think the let's start off with the easiest one right so we have quarterly task force which that's quantifiable right yeah so that and done and then for the uh for the awareness maybe we can uh you know maybe see how many people let's say we have a specific um QR code or website how many clips do we got like that could be quantifiable um yeah via website something and people might be next so that's part of you could like the thing number that's kinda why I was buying it it's not things but if we all sort of identify more stuff a lot but I'm not for I don't know then I don't know how that we can be part of yeah okay sure and we could do maybe quarterly right like I would say what like maybe we're gonna say quarterly for that as well and then um I mean I guess the what I know is like I mean because I feel as though like when you go to Alameda downtown Alameda or those random events but sometimes they're not really um I would say uh promote it well right like for for pride like we could be at the pride event right and and say here here are our services for LGBTQ plus right like um so we just need to kind of understand then and I guess that goes hand in hand with the partnership yeah right um so let's sit let's start with something that's measurable and easy and maybe we could two events a quarter do you think that yeah and then you guys can send us a list of hey how into pride is doing this would you like to show up for that or you know the friends of the library are doing this right so okay I think right okay okay um and then the site walkthroughs again I think that's just like a sign up list right like I think we would have to you would have to tell us right and I don't I think maybe just even doing one a month again is still achievable but I just don't know what that looks like right like um they are usually like maybe T V D just put T B D for site the the yeah like a sign up list but that's how the count the sign up list for you know this is the outreach that we want people do outreach we want to do the walk through it into any movie and it's really just up to the time right it's not mandatory that's not a every month we have to do something it's every every member of the life would be different like I like I was so excited I wanted to see it.

I'm you know I may do less than I walk around the building but you know yeah number and maybe you can add a very presentation yeah basically and then how many presentations do we want to do like speaking you know publicly about the I think that kind of goes the other organization or even if it's helpful so that quantifiable did you say we would like to do that once in a quarter with different groups like I don't you know I don't know right and I think what maybe click a year.

Maybe we could say click a year maybe every six months I would say sure it's a different like to any it could be face that right it could be based left group it could be you know L G T it could be uh you know maybe the Democratic public I don't know right like I think that's where we just I think that's where maybe other groups we focus on the target like who will be targeted right so I think this is I think we did it.

It was all shelving shelv our shrub thank you.

Thank you so much.

I love that I feel like it's meant right we don't want to cut you could have some stretch goals but I just think what's funny is something that feels good about right.

Yeah and then we put out the conference.

And I want to be the main short okay okay okay.

All right so both of you like one year and a half longer.

Okay.

So you already oh that's for better.

Okay.

But yeah so has my shower oh okay if you want to have anything fire up to uh I don't think that's absolutely community our book and remove it also very small use for the pizza but um like you want to I think that and I don't think I have that so I'm not really the rest of the how we can set it like they have their own category out of oh you mean compensatory weight like that's a different is I don't think about I mean the whole like the umbrella dog out there probably it's also very we try to like and it's everyone's doing what we need to do we're going to use culture right so right.

Oh absolutely I think I think I mean we would you know and I'll be done with it so yeah yeah well I didn't know if I was kind of type of there's that yeah yeah yeah I mean we were we were actually kind of shocked like no the five right yeah yeah so I think a lot of yeah yeah right we're definitely just a partnering with people because we could show up in the table and yeah it doesn't cost more table especially if the representative city with we can see right and we can I don't know what you guys have a lot of or like um I suppose I'm like okay I know how this is part of action holes we just have uh action we have like idea okay do you have like a banner of swords I am like I mean just something to think about right yeah I'm not gonna know if it'll be done as well yeah that's right yeah absolutely

But we don't want to know if it'll say of sure, yeah.

Oh the center.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

That's right, yeah.

Absolutely.

Yeah, I think that's not the same thing.

Right.

So I think I can I would say that a banner for it.

Just put a little note maybe a banner for tape.

Yeah, or I don't know.

How does it go?

Yeah, like what you're doing.

Right.

But if we say it's shrub, right?

We're covering the interference.

Yeah, human relationship, right?

So we can have everything on the table, right?

So whatever you have for, how is it?

Whatever you have for the file, like we would have to everything.

Yeah.

Right.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Um yeah, I think that's doing a whole bunch of tablets and right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I just give myself a slice of that.

I guess I'm sorry.

Okay.

Oh, that means I might have to work.

I don't know who I don't think you'll think like if you got like the regular basis.

Yeah.

But we don't have to keep it in the book and that's the thing I call the how we do something else.

Sure, let's talk anything now.

I'm like, I can see them.

I think it's all right.

Yeah, yeah.

You can get in.

I don't think that's like well.

Okay.

Well, it was uh recorded.

Are we ready to come back as a group?

I think you still have forum and public health out.

Yeah.

Oh yeah.

Yeah, and I've driven my laptop in just in case I got a call.

Sorry, Craig, we have to keep going.

Yeah.

Sure.

Um, do I need a mic?

No worries.

Um, okay, so we started off with uh some goals for the domestic violence committee.

Um one uh the number one goal is to create awareness uh aligned in October with domestic violence awareness month.

Um and uh we would like to continue to have our quarterly task force meetings, um and and again targeting those hard to reach communities.

Um we'll I'll skip the middle because I'll pie it all together at the end.

Uh so uh for the larger portion of the board, um, I think we would love to attend local events, uh again focusing on partnering with local organizations, um, speaking publicly about uh road home plan, and again, this goes back to those presentations, whether we're present presenting to city council and or back focusing back on those local organizations, right?

Uh creating community.

Um site walks, this is part of the SOW.

Um and I would I would say just kind of working with the city in itself, right?

Uh organizations.

And so circling back to the SMART goals uh focusing for the domestic violence committee.

We talked about the quarterly task force, so that's quantifiable.

Um regarding uh sh creating awareness for October domestic violence month, uh, maybe creating a special website or special link that uh provides a lot of awareness, um, and then really kind of looking at the data analytics of how many clicks came through.

Um, then for our shrub awareness, um, or just uh attending local events, really uh keeping it achievable, um maybe not putting too many stretch goals at the moment, but focusing on maybe two local events quarterly, which I think is doable.

Um and recently maybe uh I actually went uh for Alameda County, I went on uh an outreach with uh healthcare for the homeless, which I thought was an amazing opportunity.

I'll speak to that later.

Um, but maybe create a sign up list for walkthroughs and outreach opportunities and so board members can sign up, you know, obviously we this is volunteer for us, but uh we can sign up with what we have available regarding our resources, um, and then again focusing on the biannual presentations.

Um and I think that's good too.

So where I think that's quantifiable and it's achievable.

Um right, I don't yeah, I don't want to speak for Bernie.

Um I think you know, again, I think I think when we talk about just maybe violence in general, right?

Um I mean that I mean that's just like awareness in general, right?

Um, but I think focusing specifically on domestic violence, I do I would like to keep that, yeah.

So yeah.

Um I think you know again I think I think when we talk about just maybe violence in general right um I mean that I mean that's just like awareness in general right um but I think focusing specifically on domestic violence I do I would like to keep that yeah so yeah yeah so I think the this would be for the goal for more of those doing the road home which I think is more focused on housing and uh people experiencing homelessness um we want to continue the evaluation of uh social services and resource mapping we want to continue the volunteer of the year awards um this sort of then became more about trainings for the general population city as well as include and improve like awareness of resources we'd like to do an MLK volunteer day or help with existing events connecting more um volunteer resources and community belonging and then a national night out connection to cert that would be promoting belonging the next one do you want to flip the but I I we were thinking that this the the that the group would consolidate and be about belonging and connection um belonging at home belong belonging at home I I what do you I love that we could workshop it um that's so just to do it quickly we had a list that we went through um a lot of what we have kind of overlaps with some of the things that others are doing in the group so it's really interesting to see um first on the list was to revise and advance the Alameda United Against Hate Action Plan for the shrub and city council consideration um host one United Against Hate Week public event a food class and partner with Chris Tam who's already doing similarly in Oakland um conduct quarterly listening sessions um we would trying to decide how we're gonna do it we're gonna probably just start with uh one right yeah and so it would essentially be listening circles with community groups during the needs assessments and site visits exactly um number four was partner with AUSD we're gonna probably um look back at that one um that's something that we're gonna discuss uh number five develop a quarterly uh community lecture or learning series right now we're gonna start with one and work our way through um number six was build and maintain a stakeholder partnership map and advisory network and partner with Chris Tam who's already doing similarly again he's already out there and so it's a doable thing um as uh community leader yes his organization is all good living and that's one I can pull up detailed for the all good okay thank you thank you um number seven launch uh hate incident reporting and resource awareness campaign since 211 already tracks it so all we have to do is just do the outreach um number eight eight ties in uh as well host an intergenerational belonging in alameda community gathering during the national night out uh partnering with the city police fire city council and maybe even trying to get some discounts on permits um and lastly produce an annual AUH uh findings and recommendations report to include in the collected data in the biannual community needs assessment and so a lot of these are kind of overlapping with the other groups so I think it's a good combination and we'll probably find some good overlap okay so you guys already went through and created your SMART goals we clearly have not quite created our SMART goals we haven't gotten there um right um yeah uh I think do we want to give um do we want to go through and try and identify what the tasks are for your to so that we actually have a work plan where's everyone Tucker down

Um right.

Um yeah.

Uh I think do we want to give um do we want to go through and try and identify what the tasks are for your to so that we actually have a work plan?

Or is everyone tuckered out?

Yes.

Sorry, I think the uh overarching goal is building relationships uh with community organizations and um really I would say maybe tabling at events to create that awareness and um and it could be something I know we just had locally the library con, right?

So it was something as simple as we could have maybe had a table there with all the resources, like who we are, right?

Um you had Pride Alameda, right?

We could have done something at Pride and maybe focus on that target group of LGBTQ plus, right?

So uh just opportunity to partner with different organizations when we think about who we are.

I mean, we're serving all of Alameda and we are touching very different and unique target groups.

Yeah, and I think that's where the overlap is, right?

And and again, what oh yeah, sure, sure, sure.

Yeah.

I I think of our overall also of like we're kind of circling around this is we want we want those who are in need and suffering to know where to go to get help.

Yes.

So I think like the main that that those who are who are in crisis and suffering, suffering, whether it be discrimination, violence, housing insecurity, that they know where to go to get get support, and that the community is aware of their needs, right?

That's like the main thing that we want we want to do that is that we're gonna be the linker and we're gonna be the lens listener.

Does that sound like what we're like linking and listening?

And the belonging is that we as a commun, we are supporting our community to be more engaged linking and listening, and then that our community is better connected, so that in that con community better connected that then when they see someone they know how to respond, they know so I think that's our main deal.

Does that feel right to people that like that's what we're doing?

Because we're not service providers, we're not doing but that's our job is that the citizens are better connected to each other to resources and we could I think and we also like no one's talking about all the C B B thing we're gonna be doing.

I keep on wanting to call it the club in New York.

I mean that's that's everybody, all this stuff.

Yeah, everyone's just okay.

But I think that's our linking aspect, right?

It's we're leaking we're like I try and understand.

Yeah, and what writers are coming to what long at home.

Are there any public comments on this agenda item?

Awesome.

Any more comments from the board?

Okay.

No, I mean we've accomplished the goals.

I was just the only thing I was thinking of is there anything in our accomplishments and opportunities that we did not put onto our list?

The policy piece.

That's the only thing.

It's not a task.

Can we just add it to staff report if there's anything that's coming up for votes?

Okay.

Yeah.

Okay.

Something there about because a city council board when they're doing policy making votes on policy that's within our purview of like maybe.

Yeah, so maybe that's the the thing is that when we are supporting, yeah, like could you let us we could we could do a support.

But like supporting that would have been that.

And then and then and then we could go off the company.

Like I don't know if it's like or like sometimes what I do is like send it out to everyone I know and be like, hey, you should write to what your city council member about this item.

Yeah.

No.

No.

I generally would say just a volunteer.

I would think volunteer, right?

We're we're volunteers in our community.

That's all really need to be.

Doesn't have to be just shrub.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I believe the city clerk with the campaigns that are going to be happening in November should have sent you a document about conflict of interest and like what you can or cannot do as a border commission.

Like you can't promote a candidate, or you can't lobby for specific, you know, or fund, I don't know, or donate money.

Did I just say that?

Donate money to a specific candidate from like as a shrub board member.

So you should have received that.

Right, but I think it's more around like elections that it gets a little sticky.

But uh the other items, I believe it's all fine.

We also asked whoever is elected as new mayor, come talk to our board.

Whomever is elected to mayor, that we could somehow have um there and talk about their policy goals and and if we yeah we're moving on to item number six, item number five, staff communications.

Sorry, you said staff communications.

Okay, here we go.

I really think I'm hard of hearing for the record.

Like it's an on it's it's an ongoing joke, it's not my closest friends.

Like, I'm like I think that's why I talk so loud.

Um, okay.

So that would require steps.

Um, okay, so staff report.

Uh I am uh Gracia Manayon from Housing Human Services here to provide your staff updates.

So uh Dignity Village RFP.

So HHS Housing and Human Services Division is finalizing a request for proposal to solicit qualified developers and service providers to transform the existing interim homeless shelter dignity village into a permanent supportive housing site, or alternatively transition the program to a hotel-based permanent supportive housing model within the city of Alameda.

The initiative is intended to expand long-term housing opportunities paired with supportive services for individuals experiencing homeless homelessness while identifying a financially sustainable operating model for the program.

The RFP is scheduled for release soon.

The RFP is scheduled for release soon.

The request for proposals.

So once we put out a request of proposals, we accept proposals from uh potential developers to convert the housing.

This is for Dignity Village financially.

The grant that was funding at the last five years has run out.

So if we want it to stay open, we have to find alternatives.

I don't know all of the financial aspects.

I know generally that is why it's being transitioned.

This is something that's managed by Simone, and I'm happy to send more information.

The question is, is city council going to review the change of Dignity Village being changed from uh interim shelter to permanent supportive housing.

I believe the answer is no.

Can you all hear me?

Can you do mine?

I can't see.

I think she's trying to speak, but I feel like we oh yeah, she unmuted, but we can't hear her.

Can Shelby can you hear me, Shelby close up?

No.

Okay.

Man, I hope every the recording can hear us.

Oh, hold on, I have her here.

Simone, I'm putting you on speakerphone.

Okay, it's too much to try to type.

Can you hear me?

Okay.

So Dignity Village was funded through a state grant and partially through a federal grant.

Those funds are going to run out in 2027.

Then there's an additional 1.2 million funded from the general fund, which will get it through 2028.

But after that, the program will not have funding.

And so it will be city council's decision if they want to continue to provide general fund to fund the program as a transitional housing program.

Or alternatively, we can seek additional funding from the state to transition the program to permanent supportive housing, which is something the state is doing right now is funding projects to transition them from transitional housing to permanent supportive housing.

And if we do that, the project is much more sustainable because the supportive services are a lower cost for a permanent supportive housing model.

And the reason why is because transitional housing makes no income, but permanent supportive housing, people pay 30% of their income so that those funds can then cycle back into the program and help fund the program.

So it the reason why we're looking at this conversion is just to be able to sustain the program and not lose the beds altogether.

But ultimately, it will be city council's decision.

So the question is the impact to the service care that the impact to the system of care when we reduce the number of shelter beds and move it to permanent supportive housing.

So we would lose shelter bids and gain low income affordable housing bids.

So it would be a trade-off.

We could talk about that.

Oh sorry.

Um the rooms are very small.

They have uh no cooking facilities inside the rooms, and that means that it would be you know, it just feels like the permanent housing for somebody that would have to stay there long term.

That might not necessarily be the type of place that's really conducive for long-term housing.

I'm just saying I it's okay, but go for it.

This is why we do it in council chambers.

Um there would have to be the units would have to be combined.

So they would end we would end up with a lower number of units because you are correct, that would not qualify as a full home, and there has to be at least a kitchenette.

And so for us to fit a kitchenette, that would involve potentially combining some units.

But this is why we're doing an RFP so that we can have proposals and have different options because the developers might have ideas.

The question is they would not be SR if they would be SROs, and I believe the question is no.

The answer is no, is that correct, Simon?

They would not be considered SROs.

It's a hotel room style or dorm room style.

Yeah, for the public for the record.

Finalized, but right now what it includes are three options.

One option is to convert the existing site to permanent supportive housing, which would mean that you have to combine units to make them larger and add kitchenettes into them or complete completely redevelop the site.

The second option is to secure a wholetail site like extended stay, which would include its own kitchenette and bathroom in it.

And the third option would be to propose something completely different that would be able to transition the households at this current location to some other permanent sub supportive housing site.

So it's an open-ended option for the developer to propose something new.

I don't understand your question.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Vacant in its current state for either additional programming or funding some point or sorry, that's it.

It would be the proposal opts to do the extended stay option.

Would Dignity Village remain vacant, or what would happen to Dignity Village?

Yeah, I mean that it's all up in the air at this point.

It would all be based on negotiations.

Potentially the site would be repurposed for something else.

But it would it depends on the result of the RFP and who we select and what the those final negotiations are.

Most likely the land would be relinquished to the developer to redevelop.

Yeah.

Okay.

Um hard pivot.

Uh so I did mention that our one of our staff, Yasmin Obidi, received a promotion uh to full-time last time.

You all might know Yasmin.

She's been working behind the scenes in our division for I think about four years now, um, as one of our youngest staff, also one of the more seasoned staff.

Um so I just wanted to read this blurb because she's such so valuable and so um hardworking in our division and such a deserved promotion.

Um, the housing and human services division is pleased to announce the promotion of Yasmin of Bidey from a part-time position to the full-time permanent role of administrative technician too.

During her time with the division, she has supported nearly every functional area, the housing side and the homelessness side, outreach side, the federal grant side, shrub, everything consistently demonstrating a strong worth ethic, professionalism, and commitment to the city's mission.

Following a highly competitive recruitment process, Yasmin was the top candidate based on her qualifications, experience, and proven performance.

Her promotion recognizes her valuable contributions to the division, and we look forward to her continued success in serving the city of Alameda.

Uh, and then the next update is the launch of the open door cafe.

HHS has launched the open door cafe at the main library.

The program meets every Tuesday and provides unhoused Alameda residents with access to community resources, educational workshops, and supportive services in a welcome welcoming environment.

Participants also receive a meal and opportunities to build social connections, helping reduce isolation and promote engagement with available services.

And part of this was also was actually part of the summer internship for the two interns we hosted these last few weeks.

They helped to uh design and launch this program.

Uh, they also shadowed the shadowed engagement specialists, and then our intern that unfortunately you weren't able to meet, but she did also assist in the preparation of this meeting.

And that concludes my staff updates.

Completely lost track of my script.

So that's why I'm not president.

Sorry.

All right.

Uh do we need to ask for comments to the staff report?

Okay.

Board communications and non agenda items.

So last time I was here, or last time when we we met, I spoke about Dr.

Acker and the Child Unique Montessori School, and that we were hopeful that we would find some means for her to be able to continue to do what she was doing with the students.

She's been a valuable asset in our community.

The people that have come out of her schools have gone on to work within AUSD, and the students have come out have been some of the best students in the city.

We've had her students win the speech contest more often than any others.

Um, and unfortunately, there was no option available.

Um, despite reaching out to several different groups and organizations from secular to religious, we were not able to find anyone who was willing to work with them.

So she is in process right now of trying to do some digging around with a possible uh what is it, the uh Marina Village folks over there.

I don't know where that's going to go.

Um, but it's been a bad run, and I don't see her having an option really pretty soon here by the end of this week, maybe next week.

So if you really want to see Alameda in action, I would say look to the people around you and ask them if they know somebody who can work with it because right now she's been getting doors opened and closed in her face.

One they'll say yes, and then they'll turn around and say no.

And that's just it's just wrong for somebody who's made valuable uh time here in Alameda.

She's worked with us even as part of the shrub board doing uh one of our speaking uh engagements.

She was a wonderful resource.

She's still a wonderful resource, and I think we're doing the city a disservice if we don't take care of the people like her in our environment.

Thank you.

Um, so I mentioned this in our group sex uh you know part of our meeting tonight.

Um, last Friday I had the humbling opportunity to participate in a ride-along with Alameda County Healthcare for the homeless outreach team.

Um really amazing folks and amazing work that the county is doing.

Uh honestly, just building trust coordination and just being persistent to keep in contact uh with these folks, especially with the invatement.

Um, so uh, you know, providing medical care, behavioral health services and housing services and other support uh to our neighbors, and again, just reinforced the collaboration efforts between healthcare social services and the broader community.

So uh really enjoyed my time and it was uh again uh really humbling opportunity.

I went out with um see it was a full team, so it was Phoebe.

Okay, yeah.

Okay, I think we are ready to adjourn our meeting at 8 42 p.m.

Thank you guys for sticking with me.

Oh thank you.