Reparations Task Force

Reparations Task Force Meeting, Thursday, July 14, 2022, 5:30PM *Hybrid Meeting* 7/14/2022 Sharon Bushor Room, 149 Church St. City Hall Burlington VT July 14, 2022 05:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Reparations Task Force Draft Minutes Attendance: Rebecca Zeitlow, Pablo Bose, Christine Kemp-Longmore, Phet Keomanyvanh, Issac of VT Racial Justice Alliance Start 5:35pm Motion to approve the agenda Rebecca motioned and Pablo seconded 1. Motion to Approve the Minutes from April 11, 2022 Rebecca Zeitlow and Pablo https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/Press/reparations-task-force-to-hold-first-meeting 2. Public Forum Filling in for the VT racial justice- Isaac Director Community Engagement. Filling in for the VT Racial Justice Alliance. Work of VRJA is to mitigate systemic racism. Four pillars. Original resolution of reparations task force was that VRJA appointed Christine to be on the task force. 3. Scholars’ Reports Discussion • 1. Laura Hill and Rashad Williams created and delivered a primer on the history and efforts of the Reparations movement (1865-2000) into readily understandable terms, frames, questions, and a timeline. They used newspapers.com to research “racial harm” caused in or by Vermont during the requisite period (1865-2000) around healthcare disparities, wealth disparities, prison inequality, educational inequality, and land ownership. This research prong also explored any “colorblind” legislation that has had a disproportionate impact on Black communities or community formation in Vermont. • 2. Rashad Williams create a manual to explain the step-by-step process of identifying racial covenants in the City. 17,000pages of land records obtained from the City will also be scanned for language on race through a software called Mapping Prejudice's sorting script to help indicate covenants. • 3. Elise Guyette researched various prejudicial attitudes and types of discrimination against Black people in the early state of Vermont. Themes include the Constitutional authorization of slavery and related laws, forced indenture, and Page 1 of 3  Reparations Task Force Meeting, Thursday, July 14, 2022, 5:30PM *Hybrid Meeting* 7/14/2022 de facto discrimination in granting loans, in court, and in hiring practices Has been good effort from Elise studies to represent task force objective Other scholar reports did not touch on main task force objectives. Would like to focus on models of reparations. Can see how to go forward with Rashad’s work but less unclear of how to use Laura’s historical content. Also, want to keep this Vermont focus. Good to have the historical contend but needed to get more raw data specific to Burlington. For example, did Burlington benefit from slavery in the economy, which is tied to reparations? Looking at the history of racial covenants is important but it is not relevant in what the task force is interested in terms of reparations in Burlington. Need to pause on next steps. The task force was put together as a committee 2years ago and have not seen any City Council. Also, there was a pause due to COVID-19 pandemic. Need more members and direction from City Council and have more local people and students on the task force. 4. Discussion on Task Force Main objectives Document the histories of enslaved persons within Burlington Examine the broader connection of Burlington to the institution of slavery (through economic relations, etc.) Explore the historical and contemporary legacies of slavery in Burlington Research and present some of the main models for reparations for slavery 5. Task Force Budget Original Budget = $50,000.00 Total Expense Cost = $25,067.00 Remaining Budget = $24,933.00 6. UVM Fall Interns Page 2 of 3  Reparations Task Force Meeting, Thursday, July 14, 2022, 5:30PM *Hybrid Meeting* 7/14/2022 Pablo proposed to work with Urban Geography and Methods class at UVM to look at the land record files to share results in late fall. This won’t involve resources. Will vote on it at next meeting. 7. Electing new Chair and Next Steps Phet and Rebecca will write up report and reach out to City Council to invite the original Councilors to attend next meeting. Pablo will write a proposal up about Intern work. Christine will reach out to Tyeastia for background 8. Adjourn 6:35pm Cristine motioned and Rebecca 2nd Page 3 of 3