HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/4/2023 Item 5b, Wendt
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Wendy Wendt <wwendt@first5slo.org>
Sent:Wednesday, October 4, 2023 11:37 AM
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Human Relations Commission -- support for Diversity Coalition BIPOC Training
Application
Attachments:Diversity Coalition BIPOC Training Letter of Support -- City of SLO Fall 2023 (First 5 ED
Wendy Wendt) - FINAL.pdf
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Sincerely Yours,
Wendy L Wendt, Executive Director (she/her)
First 5 San Luis Obispo County
3220 S. Higuera Street #232
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-781- 4058 (office); 805-550-6904 (cell)
Begin with the Children
-Mahatma Gandhi
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1
Helping Give Children the Best Possible Start in Life
3220 South Higuera Street ● Suite 232 ● San Luis Obispo ● CA ● 93401-6985
Phone 805-781-4058 ● www.first5slo.org
,
October 4, 2023
Human Relations Commission
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
RE: Diversity Coalition 2023-24 DEI High Impact Grant Application
Dear Members of the Human Relations Commission:
I am writing to express strong support for the launch of the Diversity Coalition of SLO
County’s upcoming BIPOC Board Training Series, and am thrilled to see that this
unprecedented opportunity is being recommended for funding through the 2023-24 DEI
High Impact Grant program.
For nearly 25 years, First 5 has worked in SLO County and across California to help
children get an optimal start in life, regardless of circumstance. Much of this work seeks
to address root causes of inequities that exist within our society as these lives are getting
that start. The Diversity Coalition’s BIPOC Board Training model goes straight to the heart
of two such root causes – 1) the generations-long existence of systems and institutions
that – whether by design or by accident – have perpetuated deep inequities across race;
and 1) historical lack of diverse representation in decision-making roles -- across private,
non-profit and public sectors.
The Diversity Coalition’s plan for this BIPOC training is simple, concrete, and timely (or
perhaps more to the point – long overdue in our community). Over recent months as the
program has begun promoting its launch, I have observed mounting anticipation -- both
by members of the BIPOC community looking forward to joining the inaugural board
training class, and for local nonprofit organizations who are primed to strengthen the
relevance and effectiveness of their work through a deeper commitment to diversity,
equity and inclusion in governance.
I urge the City of San Luis Obispo to invest generously in this critically important initiative,
one that holds great promise to help our community made significant progress toward
true equity and social justice.
Sincerely,
Wendy Wendt
Executive Director
Commissioners:
James Brescia, EdD
Chairperson
Designated Representative,
San Luis Obispo County
Office of Education
Penny Borenstein, MD
Vice-Chairperson
Designated Representative,
San Luis Obispo County
Health Agency
Patty Clarkson
Designated Representative,
Early Care and Education
Planning Council
Linda Belch
Designated Representative,
San Luis Obispo County
Department of Social Services
Dawn Ortiz-Legg
Designated Representative,
San Luis Obispo County
Board of Supervisors
Erica Ruvalcaba-Heredia, EdD
Representative at Large,
Independent Consultant
James Tedford, MD
Medical Representative
Alison Ventura, PhD
Representative at Large,
Cal Poly Kinesiology, Public
Health
Robert Watt
Representative at Large,
Coast Unified School District
(Retired)
Executive Director
Wendy L. Wendt