HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6d - Consideration of the 2025-26 DEI High Impact Grants Funding Recommendations Item 6d
Department: Administration
Cost Center: 1010
For Agenda of: 3/17/2026
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager
Prepared By: Samantha Vethavanam, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Admin Specialist
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF THE 2025-26 DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT
FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATION
1. As recommended by the Human Relations Commission, approve the revised 2025-26
Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) High Impact Grant funding allocations in the
amount of $150,000; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute agreements with each grant recipient.
POLICY CONTEXT
The purpose of the Human Relations Commission (HRC) is to advise and make
recommendations to City Council and the City Manager which promote and advance
inclusion, mutual understanding, respect, and equitable treatment to all San Luis Obispo
community members. Recommendations made by the HRC to City Council help address
social concerns and the needs of the community, including recommendations for funding
for the DEI High Impact Grant program. The DEI High Impact Grant program provides
financial support to non-profit organizations that focus on advancing and implementing
diversity, equity, and inclusion through innovative practices that seek to narrow equity
gaps and address intractable, systemic, and structural issues.
DISCUSSION
Background
The DEI High Impact Grant was created in 2020 to enhance a sense of belonging for all
people in the San Luis Obispo community and to support local projects, programs, or
initiatives that contribute to creating a San Luis Obispo that is welcoming, inclusive,
equitable, and safe. The funding initially focused on narrowing equity gaps that have
disproportionately impacted marginalized communities. City Council approved a total of
$709,800 in DEI High Impact Grants between 2020 and 2024.
The most recent grant cycle (2024-25) began on January 1, 2025, and closed on
December 31, 2025, with final reports submitted by January 20, 2026. These grantees
implemented a diverse array of programs designed to address structural and systemic
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Item 6d
issues, including the creation of a mental health resource guide, a mentorship program
for elementary school students, and various opportunities for community members to
learn more about different cultures and groups in the City.
All funded projects provided services available to the City of San Luis Obispo community-
at-large.
Funding Priorities
In preparation of the 2025-26 grant cycle, the Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
brought the DEI High Impact Grant funding priorities and information to the HRC on June
4, 2025, which the HRC updated slightly and approved. The DEI High Impact Grant
funding priorities and information were subsequently reviewed and approved by City
Council on July 15, 2025. The funding priority for 2025-26 stated: “Funding should
primarily focus on advancing and implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion throug h
innovative practices that seek to narrow equity gaps and address intractable, systemic,
and structural issues.”
Interested applicants were also given examples on the City’s grant webpage of
systemic/structural issues and previously funded activities.
DEI High Impact Grant Application Process
On July 21, 2025, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion formally launched the 2025-
26 DEI High Impact Grant process by advertising the availability of grant funds and grant
information, including the timeline, applicant criteria, and application requirements, to the
public as well as to past applicants and non-profit agencies. DEI High Impact Grant
applications were due on September 2, 2025. The City received 20 applications from
various agencies requesting funding for programs totaling $321,330. Attachment A
includes a complete list of the applicants, including a summary of each project submitted
to the City for DEI High Impact Grant funding and the HRC’s final recommended funding
amounts. All applications received can be found on this webpage.
HRC Review Process
On September 17 and September 23, 2025, the DEI High Impact Grant Review
Subcommittee of the HRC, comprised of Vice Chair Campos, Commissioner Fields, and
Commissioner Parker, met to review the grant applications and make preliminary funding
recommendations. The subcommittee members considered the sustainability and
longevity of the intended impact, how direct the impact would be for City residents
specifically, the ability to track impact, and how many people would be served versus how
much funding was requested.
On October 1, 2025, the Review Subcommittee presented their preliminary funding
recommendations to the full HRC during a noticed public hearing. The public hearing was
noticed via the New Times San Luis Obispo newspaper and via email through the City’s
e-notifications system. During the discussion, the Review Subcommittee engaged with
other Commissioners to adjust the preliminary recommendations , and the full HRC voted
to approve the adjusted funding recommendation s. Minutes from this meeting are
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Item 6d
provided in Attachment B.
Subsequent to the conclusion of the October 1, 2025 HRC meeting, staff were alerted by
one of the grantees that was recommended for funding, the San Luis Obispo Disabled
American Veterans Memorial Chapter 45, that they were a 501(c)(19) and not a 501(c)(3)
and inquired if they were still eligible. After a discussion with the City Attorney’s office,
staff determined that this grantee was ineligible for funding under the existing, published
program guidelines (which require a grantee to be a “501(c)(3) non-profit organization,
government or education entity, or faith-based organization,” rather than a tax-exempt
organization more broadly.)
As a result, the funding recommendations were brought back to the HRC on November
5, 2025, at a public hearing to revise the initial 2025-26 DEI High Impact Grant funding
recommendations and redistribute the $4,475 that was allocated to the San Luis Obispo
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Chapter 45 and make other changes as
necessary. This public hearing was also noticed via the New Times San Luis Obispo
newspaper and via email through the City’s e -notifications system. During this meeting,
the HRC heard public comment and decided to redistribute the $4,475 to SLO for Home
& Church World Services for resettlement efforts within the City of San Luis Obispo for
refugees. SLO for Home & Church World Services was not previously recommended for
funding. No other changes were made. Minutes from the November 5, 2025, meeting are
included as Attachment C.
After the completion of the November 5, 2025, meeting, an additional, final review of the
applicants recommended for funding under the DEI High Impact Grant was completed in
advance of sending the recommendations to City Council for approval. Th is review
resulted in staff requesting some grant applicants to provide additional clarifications
and/or confirmations on funding uses for their proposed programs. The requested
clarifications and confirmations were completed by most of these applicants. However,
one grant applicant, the Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP),
determined that they would not be able to meet the requirement that all funded activities
be held in the City and withdrew their application.
The revised applications were reviewed by the HRC at a public hearing on February 18,
2026, during a Special Meeting of the HRC (video can be found here). During this
meeting, the HRC heard public comment and deliberated, eventually voting on a new set
of funding recommendations to send to City Council. HRC found that the projects
recommended for funding further Council’s adopted goals to advance and implement
access and belonging initiatives through innovative practices that seek to narrow equity
gaps and address intractable, systemic, and structural issues.
The HRC’s final recommendations include (full descriptions provided in Attachment A):
$10,000 to Court Appointed Special Advocates of San Luis Obispo (SLO) County
for their SLO CASA DEI Project
$14,000 to Diversity Coalition for their SLO Equity Podcast
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Item 6d
$15,000 to GALA Pride & Diversity Center for their Queer Leadership and Civic
Engagement Initiative
$14,925 to Literacy for Life for their Literacy Program
$10,000 to One Cool Earth for Salud y Conocimiento en el Jardin – One Cool Earth
School Garden Program at Pacheco Elementary School
$6,600 to RACE Matters SLO County for their Advancing Community Belonging
and Cultural Representation through Signature Events program
$19,475 to SLO for Home & Church World Services for their SLO for Home
program
$20,000 to SLO Noor Foundation for their Accessible Healthcare for All – City of
SLO Project
$40,000 to UndocuSupport, Corazon Latino, San Luis Coastal Unified School
District, and Womenade SLO for their Connected Resources: Schools and
Nonprofits in Partnership for Families program
The HRC’s final recommendations altered the Subcommittee’s initial recommendations
as listed below. The HRC came to these decisions after hearing public comment and
discussing the desire to fund a larger number of applicants, even if it meant providing
partial funding for some. The HRC based their decisions on who to fund by considering
certain applicants’ history of increasing access and belonging in the City, their ability to
leverage other funding sources to supplement programming, and their direct impact on
City residents.
Deducted $5,000 from the original funding recommendation for GALA Pride &
Diversity Center from $20,000 to $15,000.
Removed the original funding recommendation for SLO People’s Kitchen from
$10,000 to $0.
Removed the original funding recommendation for Transitions Mental Health
Association from $15,525 to $0.
Provided $14,000 to the Diversity Coalition. The Subcommittee’s initial
recommendation was $0.
Provided $14,925 to Literacy for Life. The Subcommittee’s initial recommendation
was $0.
Provided $6,600 to RACE Matters SLO County. The Subcommittee’s initial
recommendation was $0.
Provided $19,475 to SLO for Home. The Subcommittee’s initial recommendation
was $0.
The Subcommittee had also initially provided $4,475 to the SLO Disabled
American Veterans Memorial Chapter 45 and $20,000 to MICOP, who are no
longer eligible for funding (as noted above).
Grant Contracts
Upon Council approval of the DEI High Impact Grant funding recommendations, the City
will enter into a contract with each organization that has been awarded grant funding .
Organizations awarded grant funding will be required to provide a mid -year and year-end
report describing administrative functions, metrics and outcomes, and use of City funds
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related to the application for each program. Reports are reviewed by City staff and the
HRC for completeness and compliance. As a result of the delay noted above, the grant
timeline for this cycle will be extended to March 31, 2027.
Public Engagement
The public, and more specifically non-profit organizations, were engaged throughout the
DEI High Impact Grant award process. Non-profit organizations received communication
of available funding, an information session was provided in English and offered by
request in Spanish, and office hours were provided as well. Grant applicants were also
informed via email about the October 1, 2025, HRC public hearing about two weeks in
advance and one week in advance. When the funding recommendations were sent back
to HRC on November 5, 2025, applicants were informed of this via email. Finally, during
the additional delay during November to January, grant applicants were kept informed via
email multiple times and informed about the February 18, 2026, public hearing in late
January and one week prior to the meeting. This item is on the consent agenda for the
March 17, 2026, City Council meeting and will follow all required posting and notification.
The public can submit comments on this item at or before the meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to the recommended
action in this report, because the projects recommended for funding do not constitute a
“Project” under CEQA Guidelines Sec. 15378, as they will not result in either a direct
physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change
in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2025-26
Funding Identified: Yes
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding
Sources
Total Budget
Available
Current
Funding
Request
Remaining
Balance
Annual
Ongoing
Cost
General Fund $150,000 $150,000 $ $
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total $150,000 $150,000 $ $
DEI High Impact Grants were budgeted at $150,000 in FY 2025 -26 and the
recommendation ensures that this money will be spent as intended.
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Item 6d
ALTERNATIVES
1. The Council could decide to revise and adopt different funding
recommendations. If Council decides to revise and adopt different funding
recommendations, Council will need to pull the item from consent, deliberate, and vote
on new final funding recommendations during the Council meeting.
2. The Council could decide to request that the HRC reconsider and recommend
different funding allocations. If Council decides not to approve the
recommendations and to request that the HRC consider different recommendations,
the HRC would need to hold a special meeting to reconvene and modify their original
recommendations. Council should also provide direction on the modifications desired
if they decide to go with this option. This may delay prospective grant recipients’
implementation of projects recommended for funding in the 2025-26 grant cycle.
ATTACHMENTS
A - 2025-26 DEI High Impact Grant Final HRC Funding Recommendations
B - October 1, 2025, Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes
C - November 5, 2025, Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes
Page 48 of 219
Organization Project/
Program Description of Project/Program Req.
Amount
Rec.
Amount Comments
1
Asian American
& Pacific
Islanders of SLO
(AAPI SLO)
AAPI SLO: Our
Voices, Our
Stories
Project would build organizational and
programmatic capacity while honoring the
community's resilience. Funding would support
the 5th annual festival, which is a one-day AAPI
cultural celebration with food, music, and art.
Leading up to the event, there will be storytelling
events throughout the year. Funds will support
staff training, supplies, rent, and professional
support.
$15,000 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
2
Court Appointed
Special
Advocates
(CASA) of SLO
County
SLO CASA DEI
Project
Project would support and build cultural
competency and expertise of CASA staff and
volunteers by expanding outreach and
recruitment efforts to diversify pool of volunteers
for underrepresented demographics. Funds
would support a portion of the CASA Training
Manager's salary, a portion of one of the CASA
Advocate Supervisors who leads programs
serving LGBTQ and other teens within the CASA
program, and training for staff in best practices.
$10,000 $10,000 Recommended fully
funding this grant cycle.
3
Diversity
Coalition of SLO
County
SLO Equity
Podcast
Program would be an episodic podcast (at least
12 per year) dedicated to amplifying
underrepresented voices in SLO County. Podcast
will highlight the experiences of BIPOC, women
of color, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, low-
income and housing insecure individuals, and
others. It will also feature the efforts of local
leaders in the equity space. Each topic will align
with funding priorities for this grant. Funds would
support production, marketing, admin, and other
expenses.
$20,000 $14,000
Recommended partially
funding this grant cycle.
Funds cannot be used for
stipends.
4 GALA Pride and
Diversity Center
Queer
Leadership and
Civic
Engagement
Initiative
Program would empower individuals in San Luis
Obispo County to become effective community
leaders, advocates, and changemakers. The
cohort will include 8-10 emerging leaders (with an
emphasis on recruiting youth and young adults
ages 18-35) who will participate in monthly
workshops, mentorship, and projects. Funds
would support staffing, training, events, reporting,
admin, and other.
$20,000 $15,000
Recommended partially
funding this grant cycle.
Grantee to scale services
based on amount funded.
Additionally, HRC would
like to stipulate that at least
75% of the cohort must be
from City of SLO or have a
strong tie to the City. Funds
cannot be used for
stipends.
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5 Hospice of SLO
County
Volunteer
Training &
Community
Outreach
Program would include comprehensive DEI
training for new volunteers and outreach
initiatives to spread awareness about services to
hard-to-reach populations. Funding would support
staff salaries, volunteer onboarding, training
materials, technology, and marketing.
$20,000 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
6 Literacy for Life Literacy
Program
Program teaches non- or low-literate adults to
read, write, and speak English. Program
assesses each learner's literacy level and guides
them to meet their individual literacy learning
goals. Tutors work one-on-one with the learners.
Funds would support all aspects of the program.
$15,000 $14,925
Recommended partially
funding this grant cycle.
Grantee to scale services
based on amount funded.
7
Mixteco
Indigena
Community
Organizing
Project (MICOP)
Housing/
Wellness
Navigator
Program
Program provides direct housing support, eviction
prevention, and rental assistance to families
facing housing insecurity. Funds will also assist
families in accessing wraparound services such
as Medi-Cal, SSDI, etc. Funds would support an
Admin Assistant salary.
$20,000 $0 Grant applicant has
withdrawn their application.
8 One Cool Earth
Salud y
Conocimiento en
el Jardín - One
Cool Earth
School Garden
Program at
Pacheco
Elementary
School
Program provides culturally-sensitive garden-
based education to students at Pacheco
Elementary School during the 2026-27 school
year. Includes a campus garden and a trained
garden educator who delivers a minimum of 6
lessons in both English and Spanish. Funds
would support the cost of the bilingual garden
educator and gardening supplies.
$10,000 $10,000
Recommended fully
funding this grant cycle.
9 RACE Matters
SLO County
Advancing
Community
Belonging and
Cultural
Representation
Through
Signature
Events
Project would support two annual events: 1)
Stories Matter (a live storytelling showcase that
features community members’ stories in addition
to local musicians) and 2) Day with Santa (a
family event with a Black Santa). Funds would
support rentals, admin, decor, labor, and
refreshments.
$6,600 $6,600 Recommended fully
funding this grant cycle.
10
SLO Disabled
American
Veterans
Memorial
Chapter 45
2026 Ability Fair
and Expo
Project would be a two-day event gathering
federal, state, and local benefit agencies,
assistive technology vendors, health providers,
and peer-support organizations in a one-stop
hub. Funds would support food and beverage,
set-up, transportation, printing, and postage.
$17,703 $0
Applicant is ineligible to
receive funds as a
standalone entity.
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11
SLO for Home &
Church World
Services*
SLO for Home
Program would support resettlement for refugees
of war-torn countries, provided through direct
referrals from Church World Services, including
housing, culturally appropriate food, healthcare
referrals, legal services, transportation,
education, and technology support. Financial
support is provided in the first year, which is
gradually reduced as the family gains financial
independence. Funds may support rent and
transportation.
$20,000 $19,475
Recommended partially
funding this grant cycle.
Grantee to scale services
based on amount funded.
HRC would like to stipulate
that funds must be used
only for resettlements in
the City of SLO.
12 SLO Hillel
Central Coast
Jewish Heritage
Festival
Project would support Central Coast Jewish
Heritage Festival, which includes the Jews of
Color free speaking event. Funds would support
advertising, security, and
photography/videography costs.
$20,000 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
13 SLO Museum of
Art
Peter Krashes
Exhibition and
Public
Programming
Project would present a Spring 2026 exhibition by
artist and community activist Peter Krashes as
well as free public programs to engage
historically marginalized communities. Funds
would support exhibition production, public
programming, marketing, and staff time.
$10,000 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
14 SLO Noor
Foundation
Accessible
Healthcare for
All - City of SLO
Project
Program would provide underserved residents
with free medical, dental, vision, and mental
health services through brick and mortar and
telehealth access. Program would also provide
translation services and community resources as
well as medical training opportunities for
students. Funds would support staffing costs and
supplies.
$20,000 $20,000 Recommended fully
funding this grant cycle.
15 SLO People's
Kitchen
SLO People's
Kitchen
Program provides a hot meal at noon for anyone
that needs it in San Luis Obispo, with increasing
numbers. Funding would support paper goods
and food. There are no screenings or
preconditions for meals.
$10,000 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
16
SLO United
Methodist
Church
Beacon Art
Show
Project would be a venue for local artists to show
their talent, vision, and interpretation of the
show's theme - which this year is "DEI - Diversity,
Equity, & Inclusion."
$1,500 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
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17 SLO Wind
Orchestra
Movement to
Music: An
Equitable
Concert Series
for Seniors
Project would expand the Movement to Music
concert series, which is designed to provide
accessible cultural experiences that promote
physical and mental well-being for seniors.
Funding would increase the number of concerts
and provide a licensed PT to guide light, seated
movement. Funds would support outreach, venue
costs, and marketing.
$10,000 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
18
Smart Share
Housing
Solutions
Creating
Inclusive,
Welcoming,
Accessible
Community:
Connecting the
Past, Present, &
Future
Project would be done in two phases: 1) gather
input and inform community members on
inclusivity and 2) design and incorporate
interpretive signs into residents' social networks
in below market rate housing. Funds would
support the production of the workshop series
and the interpretive signs.
$20,000 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
19
Transitions
Mental Health
Association
Fear-Less: A
Spanish-
Language
Course on
Managing
Anxiety
Program would support parents of children ages
6-14 who experience anxiety and help them learn
new cognitive behavioral strategies for anxiety
management. Bilingual instructors will work with
Pacheco Elementary to provide free Spanish-
language versions of the course. Funding would
support personnel costs and some operating
costs.
$15,526.50 $0 Did not recommend for
funding this grant cycle.
20
UndocuSupport
& Corazon
Latino, San Luis
Coastal Unified
School District,
Womenade SLO
Connected
Resources:
Schools and
Nonprofits in
Partnership for
Families
Program would support families in the City of
SLO who have concerns related to emotional
well-being, mental health, and basic survival
needs. Services include Emotional Support
Groups and one-time financial support for basic
needs. Connections to families will be made
through the school district. Funds would support
staff salary, supplies, direct aid, and admin costs.
$40,000 $40,000 Recommended fully
funding this grant cycle.
TOTAL $321,330 $150,000
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1
Human Relations Commission Minutes
October 1, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Human Relations
Commissioners
Present:
Commissioner Stephanie Carlotti, Commissioner Esmeralda
Parker, Commissioner Jenn Fields, Vice Chair Catuih Campos,
Chair Angie Kasprzak
Human Relations
Commissioners Absent:
Commissioner Vincent DeTurris
City Staff Present: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon and
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Admin Specialist Samantha
Vethavanam
_____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was
called to order on October 1, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at
City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Kasprzak.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment:
None.
--End of Public Comment--
3. CONSENT
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 HUMAN
RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
Motion By Commissioner Parker
Second By Commissioner Carlotti
To approve the Human Relations Commission Minutes of September 3,
2025.
Ayes (5): Commissioner Carlotti, Commissioner Parker, Commissioner
Fields, Vice Chair Campos, and Chair Kasprzak
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2
Absent (1): Commissioner DeTurris
CARRIED (5 to 0)
4. BUSINESS ITEMS
4.a REVIEW OF THE 2024-25 DEI HIGH IMACT GRANT MID-YEAR
REPORTS
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon presented the staff
report and responded to Commissioner inquiries.
Chair Kasprzak opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
None.
--End of Public Comment—
Chair Kasprzak closed Public Comment
Action: The Commission Liaisons for the 2024-25 DEI High Impact Grant
reviewed their mid-year reports and provided feedback for staff to relay to
grantees. The mid-year reports were received and filed. No formal action
taken on this item.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.a REVIEW 2025-26 DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE A RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon presented the staff
report and responded to Commission inquiries.
Chair Kasprzak opened Public Comment
Public Comment:
Rita Cassaverde
Bob Williams
Katrina Cathcart
Chelsea Ruiz
Bernadette Bernardi
Courtney Haile
Leroy Kemp
Velanche Stewart
Patricia Segoviano de Pier
Leila Daniel
Tara Clapham
Linnea Valdivia
--End of Public Comment--
Chair Kasprzak closed Public Comment
Page 54 of 219
2
Motion By Commissioner Fields
Second By Vice Chair Campos
Action: To provide the following funding recommendations to City Council
for the 2025-26 DEI High Impact Grants:
1. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of SLO County - SLO
CASA DEI Project: $10,000
2. Diversity Coalition - SLO Equity Podcast: $10,000
3. GALA Pride & Diversity Center - Queer Leadership and Civic
Engagement Initiative: $15,000
4. Literacy for Life - Literacy Program: $7,925
5. Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) -
Housing/Wellness Navigator Program: $20,000
6. One Cool Earth - Salud y Conocimiento en el Jardin/One Cool Earth
School Garden Program at Pacheco Elementary School: $10,000
7. RACE Matters SLO County - Advancing Community Belonging and
Cultural Representation Through Signature Events: $6,600
8. SLO Disabled American Veterans Memorial Chapter 45 - 2026
Ability Fair and Expo: $4,475
9. SLO Hillel - Central Coast Jewish Heritage Festival: $6,000
10. SLO Noor Foundation - Accessible Healthcare for All - City of SLO
Project: $20,000
11. UndocuSupport, Corazon Latino, San Luis Coastal Unified School
District, & Womenade SLO - Connected Resources: Schools and
Nonprofits in Partnership for Families: $40,000
Ayes (4): Commissioner Carlotti, Commissioner Fields, Vice Chair
Campos, and Chair Kasprzak
Absent (2): Commissioner DeTurris, and Commissioner Parker
CARRIED (4 to 0)
6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
6.a STAFF & COMMISSIONER UPDATES AND AGENDA FORECAST
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, Matt Pennon and Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion Admin Specialist Sam Vethavanam provided the
following updates:
• Upcoming Agenda Items: Council Liaison visit, an overview of the
Responding to Hate and Bias Toolkit, and tentatively the public
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3
hearing for the Community Development Block Grant funding
recommendations.
• Candidate Education Offering on November 13th.
• Diversity Coalition Government Commissions and Mixer event on
November 13th.
• Staff went on the Cal Poly Indigenous Walking Tour.
Commissioner Fields provided the following updates:
• Upcoming GALA events:
o Pride Prom on October 4th
o National Coming Out Day event on October 11th
o Fall Harvest Festival on October 24th
Chair Kasprzak provided the following updates:
• NAMI Walks event on October 4th
• SLOMA new exhibit unveiling on October 11th
• CAPSLO Fundraiser on October 11th
• RACE Matters Stories Matter event on October 18th
• Trunk or Treat on October 31st
• Dia de los Muertos on November 1st
Vice Chair Campos provided the following updates:
• Support local businesses at the Farmer’s Market
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:54 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Human
Relations Commission is scheduled for November 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the
Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
_________________________
APPROVED BY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: XX/XX/2025
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1
Human Relations Commission Minutes
November 5, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo
Human Relations
Commissioners Present
Commissioner Stephanie Carlotti, Commissioner Esmeralda
Parker, Commissioner Jenn Fields, Vice Chair Catuih Campos,
Chair Angie Kasprzak
Human Relations
Commissioners Absent:
Commissioner Vincent DeTurris
City Staff Present: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon,
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Admin Specialist Samantha
Vethavanam, Assistant Planner Ethan Estrada
____________________________________________________________________
1. CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the San Luis Obispo Human Relations Commission was
called to order on November 5, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room at
City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, by Chair Kasprzak.
2. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Public Comment:
None.
--End of Public Comment--
3. CONSENT
3.a CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES - OCTOBER 1, 2025 HUMAN
RELATIONS COMMISSION MINUTES
To approve the Human Relations Commission Minutes of October 1, 2025.
Motion By Vice Chair Campos
Second By Commissioner Carlotti
Ayes (4): Commissioner Carlotti, Commissioner Parker, Commissioner
Fields, and Chair Kasprzak
Absent (1): Commissioner DeTurris
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CARRIED (4 to 0)
4. BUSINESS ITEMS
4.a OVERVIEW OF THE RESPONDING TO HATE AND BIAS COMMUNITY
TOOLKIT
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon presented the report
and responded to staff inquiries.
Action: The Commissioners provided feedback to staff on the Responding
to Hate and Bias Community Toolkit. No formal action taken on this item.
5. PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.a CONSIDERATION OF THE 2026-27 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
BLOCK GRANT FUNDING RECOMMENDATIONS
Assistant Planner Ethan Estrada presented the report and responded to
Commissioner inquiries.
Public Comment:
Michelle Pedigo
Nathan Rubinoff
--End of Public Comment--
Motion By Commissioner Parker
Second By Commissioner Fields
Action: To provide the following funding to City Council for the 2026-27
Community Development Block Grant Program:
• Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) –
Prado Homeless Services Center: $67,172
• People’s Self-Help Housing – Supportive Housing Services: $11,853
• San Luis Obispo Nonprofit Housing Corporation – Monterey Family
Apartments: $173,943
• Access Support Network – Adriance Court Rooting: $70,000
• CAPSLO Energy Services – Minor Home Repair: $98,500
• City of SLO – CDBG Administration: $18,349.50
• City of SLO – Capacity Building: $18,349.50
Ayes (3): Commissioner Parker, Commissioner Fields, and Vice Chair
Campos
Noes (2): Commissioner Carlotti, and Chair Kasprzak
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Absent (1): Commissioner DeTurris
CARRIED (3 to 2)
5.b REVISION OF THE 2025-26 DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT
RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE A NEW RECOMMENDATION TO
COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Matt Pennon presented the report
and responded to staff inquiries.
Public Comment:
Greg Ellis
Katie Lichtig
Vance Rodgers
Mary Parker
--End of Public Comment--
Motion By Vice Chair Campos
Second By Commissioner Parker
Action: The Commissioners reviewed their initial funding
recommendations and redistributed the $4,475 originally allocated to SLO
Disabled American Veterans Memorial Chapter 45 to SLO for Home &
Church World Services for their SLO for Home program. The following
funding recommendations for the 2025-26 DEI High Impact Grants will be
provided to City Council:
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of SLO County – SLO
CASA DEI Project: $10,000
• Diversity Coalition - SLO Equity Podcast: $10,000
• GALA Pride & Diversity Center - Queer Leadership and Civic
Engagement Initiative: $15,000
• Literacy for Life - Literacy Program: $7,925
• Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) –
Housing/Wellness Navigator Program: $20,000
• One Cool Earth - Salud y Conocimiento en el Jardin/One Cool Earth
School Garden Program at Pacheco Elementary School: $10,000
• RACE Matters SLO County - Advancing Community Belonging and
Cultural Representation Through Signature Events: $6,600
• SLO for Home & Church World Services – SLO for Home: $4,475
• SLO Hillel - Central Coast Jewish Heritage Festival: $6,000
• SLO Noor Foundation - Accessible Healthcare for All - City of SLO
Project: $20,000
• UndocuSupport, Corazon Latino, San Luis Coastal Unified
School District, & Womenade SLO - Connected Resources:
Schools and Nonprofits in Partnership for Families: $40,000
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Ayes (5): Commissioner Carlotti, Commissioner Parker, Commissioner
Fields, Vice Chair Campos, and Chair Kasprzak
Absent (1): Commissioner DeTurris
CARRIED (5 to 0)
6. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION
6.a STAFF & COMMISSIONER UPDATES AND AGENDA FORECAST
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Manager, Matt Pennon and Diversity, Equity,
& Inclusion Admin Specialist Sam Vethavanam provided the following
updates:
• Staff tabled at the Dia de los Muertos event on November 1st
• Two separate events on November 13th: Candidate Education
Forum and Understanding Government Commissions/Civic and
Nonprofit Leadership Mixer
• Staff will be on Central Coast Voice on November 20th
• Update on how to provide public comment as an Advisory Body
member
Commissioner Fields provided the following updates:
• SLO Tenants Union Letter Writing on November 9th
• Trans Day of Remembrance on November 20th
• Chosen Family Potluck on November 22nd
• Social justice/climate letter writing on November 23rd
• SLO Grassroots Thanksgiving Dinner November 26th (volunteers
needed from November 24th to 26th)
Vice Mayor Shoresman provided an update regarding interviews for a new
Human Relations Commissioner.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:13 p.m. The next Regular Meeting of the Human
Relations Commission is scheduled for December 3, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the
Council Hearing Room at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
_________________________
APPROVED BY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION: XX/XX/2025
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