HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/5/2022 Item 4a, Albers
Delgado, Adriana
From:Laura Albers <lauraalbers@me.com>
Sent:Wednesday,
To:Advisory Bodies
Cc:Dusty Colyer-Worth; Angie Kasprzak
Subject:In support of R.A.C.E. Matters' Black Salon & Cultural Space, HRC Committee, Agenda
4.a. for meeting 10/5/2022
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Dear HRC members,
I had planned to attend today’s meeting in person to provide comments in support of today’s meeting, agenda item 4.a.,
and R.A.C.E. Matters' Black Salon & Cultural Space project.
Unfortunately, I learned at 4:30 that someone in my home tested positive for COVID. While I am testing negative
currently, I didn’t want to risk possibly exposing others, so I asked Courtney Haile to deliver my comments.
I know that it is too late to submit comments for inclusion in the meeting or official recognition, but I thought I would
provide this follow up of comments that Courtney should be delivering, just to be extra sure my support is recognized,
even unofficially.
Thank you,
Laura
Laura Albers, MPA
she | her | ella (Why do pronouns matter?)
805.550.4222 (call/text)
lauraalbers@mac.com
www.linkedin.com/in/lauraealbers
p.o. box 4654, slo, ca, 93403
Comments for Human Relations Commission, October 5, 2022
Agenda item 4.a. - APPROVAL OF THE DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT FUNDING RECOMMENDATION
My name is Laura Albers, and I am here in support of the grant application from R.A.C.E. Matters SLO County
for a Black Salon & Cultural Space. As the founding and current treasurer of the incorporated and 501(c)(3)
iteration of RACE Matters, I wanted to express how excited we are to be at this point in our work to be
prepared to implement this project.
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In 2020, R.A.C.E. Matters’ community exposure skyrocketed. While the City was recognizing the need for their
own commitment to DEI issues - creating the DEI task force, allocating funding, and hiring the first DEI
manager - R.A.C.E. Matters was quickly recognizing our need to grow up from the grassroots collective it was
to an established organization ready to strategize for the future.
Since 2020, we have incorporated, obtained 501(c)(3) status, hired our first contractor position, separated our
steering committee - which had guided the organization’s work prior to 2020 - from our board of directors, built
and expanded our board, and delivered collaborative programs, events, and even a film!
The mission of R.A.C.E. Matters SLO is to create artistic, cultural, educational, and social experiences that
amplify Black voices and matters of racial justice. Why do we do this work when less than 3% of our population
identifies as Black? Because work in the space of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and justice requires us to
look outside of who is already here, to support those who are not currently supported, to change the ways
we’ve always done things in order to provide a community in which people outside of our current community
members can feel that same sense of belonging here that I do. If we build it, they will come, and/or they might
be more likely to stay here after their time at Cal Poly is done.
The particular excitement around the Black Salon & Cultural Space project is that it offers an opportunity to not
just create a space for the less than 3% of the community that are our Black residents - a project which meets
DEI goals, values, and strategies on its own - but due to the space we have identified, it offers an opportunity
to test run the multicultural space that so many of our like-minded organizations have been brainstorming on.
The space we have would not only meet R.A.C.E. Matters’ mission by supporting our Black community, but
allows space for groups such as the Diversity Coalition, Latino Outreach Council, SLO Undocusupport, AAPI,
and many others to have a physical presence as well. Our community has SO many good people working in
this DEI space - this project would create a physical space for that work to be furthered. We can collaborate on
trainings and events related to our shared missions of culture and inclusivity, and take a trial run at what the
City of SLO can create to help everyone here find SLO to be a place where they BELONG.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and we look forward to continuing to work with the City of the
Human Relations Committee as we fulfill our mission here.
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