APPT-2024-3 : Appointment of Jake Rogers, 11 Cherry Street, to the Melrose Human Rights Commission, for a three-year term set to expire on the last day of February 2026.

Transcript (~10 min @ 6:12)

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▶ 6:05 Leila Migliorelli: Seeing none, we are now closed for public comment. Since we have members of the administration here tonight to speak on the items before us, I'd like to motion by unanimous con consent to suspend the rules before we proceed. Seeing no objection, the rules are now suspended. Our first order tonight is appointment 2024 dash three. Appointment of Jake Rogers, 11 Cherry Street to the Melrose Human Rights Commission for a three year term set to expire on the last day of February, 2026. Tonight we have Mayor Paul Broder, along with the candidate Jake Rogers. Welcome.

▶ 6:41 Paul Brodeur: Thank you Madam Chair, members of the committee. I was just joking with Jake. He's clearly a popular man. The room is packed. That's very, that is, uh, very, very exciting for us all. Uh, but in all, seriously, in all seriousness, uh, as you know, uh, Jake is here for consideration for membership on the Melrose Human Rights Commission. And, um, one thing in particular that excites me about this candidacy is deep experience in HR and workplace matters. And what that means as you, as you all know, there's a lot of issues on the table around, around the table around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Not that that is the only thing that Human Rights Commission, uh, deals with, uh, but having folks that have been, uh, had that as part of their professional background in integrating that into the workplace, considering it in terms of HR policy, particularly at this time. Whereas, I think you all know we are, uh, in the midst of working with a professional consultant to work with the city on some of those issues. And being able to have someone, uh, not that he, he'd be the only person, but having, uh, a person on the H R C, um, that can marshal that, um, that personal exp or that professional experience. Uh, but also his, uh, his particular interest and his, um, background, his personal experience with, um, broadening the community and making sure everyone's voice is heard. Uh, so I think we have an opportunity to do something really great here by adding this candidate to the commission. And with that, sir, I turn it over to you. Thank you.

▶ 8:26 Speaker 4: So, uh, I'm for you. Thank you. So, uh, previous fo I moved to Melrose in 2016. Geez. I just, I just hit seven years in May. Uh, previously I'd actually been on the JP Neighborhood Council, uh, with them. And I really enjoyed my time. Unfortunately, work commitments took me away from that. So I now have more free time to give back to my community. Everybody welcomed me here. And now it's time after seven years to start giving more to the community. Um, as Paul, our mayor Broder said that, you know, with the human resources experience, and I keep broadening, in fact, I just actually got certified, uh, with the Society Human Resources that I'd like to bring that skillset with. And with that comes a deeper understanding of human behavior. Um, not just in the workplace, but you can integrate that into the community. And so that I also come with mediation experience, with working with difficult personalities, to be quite honest with you at all different levels. And myself, I actually specialize in diversity, uh, equity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace. And so that's what I'm working towards right now, evolving our culture. And I'd like to do that in my city as well.

▶ 9:49 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Questions from the council, vice Chair, Jamal. Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you for, um, taking on this role and, um, you know, I appreciate that, um, your, um, resume is quite impressive. Thank you. And, uh, I appreciate the skills that you're gonna bring to our community. Um, the, um, you know, like, um, d I b uh, that you are, um, you have your, um, experience and skills and, um, how do you feel you can bring that sense of belonging to those that feel that they still don't belong in this community?

▶ 10:30 Speaker 4: I think we really have to kind of concentrate here on those marginalized groups to allow them to have a voice. So I've noticed that a lot, and this is, I, I appreciate the H R C, very much so, but I find that there's a lot of events going on and not enough, um, not not enough voice being heard for these groups. So I'd really like to get in the community and actually see what people want, not assume what they want. So I I, I want to work with different groups to make sure that they're all being heard. You know, there's a huge L G B T Q group in, in the seniors section, and they're not being heard. And, you know, we've got the kids at middle school who they're facing a lot of discrimination and harassment and bullying. I want them to have a voice, you know, so we're talking about early stages of life and later stages of life and everywhere in between. Mm-hmm. So I want to be able to actually have those conversations in the community to hear what everybody's experiencing. Yeah.

▶ 11:32 Maya Jamaleddine: So you brought up two very important things. First, we should not make assumption and, and ask those that are marginalized. What do they need before we make assumption and the decision for them? And the second one is the bullying in our middle school and schools. Um, we all wish that this ends, but what ideas do you have to build those bridges, uh, with the school and work with them on ending that?

▶ 11:57 Speaker 4: I think I'd like to work more with the school committee, not on the school committee by any means, but work with them to, to bring up the awareness, you know, possible funding, but more to get involved in it, to hear their, what's going on and how I want to help them see the issues through a different lens. Mm-hmm. And bring them closer to it. So I would rather, you know, work with the G S A, work with the school committee and kind of bridge those gaps mm-hmm. That are there right now.

▶ 12:27 Maya Jamaleddine: I'm looking forward to see what you will bring and the changes that you're gonna make. And I appreciate that. Thank you.

▶ 12:32 Speaker 4: Thank you very much.

▶ 12:36 Manjula Karamcheti: Councilor Kara Shady. Well, councilor Jamal asked a couple of my questions, so, and actually I think in your response to her question, you answered a lot of things that I was hoping to hear. So I guess the only thing that I would ask is, given your background in human resources, are there any like best practices that you've seen that you would hope not necessarily make happen right away? 'cause I'm also hearing that you wanna listen and learn from the community and what the community needs. But any best practices you've seen like, that have been really successful, sort of either in HR or that a community has taken on in regards to D E I B that gets beyond celebrations and actually gets into like, real change and in real inclusion, You know, that's so difficult because if without the background of what they're looking for, because they may feel a certain part of inclusion or belonging. And so it, it, that's a hard one to answer because you, you have to listen. You have to find out what's going on. You have to visit the centers. You have to talk to the groups. You have to immerse yourself into their culture so that you can, you can hear what they want. So I wish I had a better answer for you, but I can't answer that because every situation is different. Well, I really love that answer, actually. Thank you. Because to me it says human-centered design and Right. Paying attention to needs as opposed to just having like a laundry list of things that are more performative. So I really appreciate That answer. Thank you. I Appreciate that. Thank you Councilor Williams.

▶ 14:06 Speaker 5: Thank you. Um,

▶ 14:08 Ryan Williams: I wanted to ask you to explain a little bit where the B falls in D E I B. I'm, um, aware that belonging is, is kind of a new domain of thinking. It's around this. And I, I thought you might expand on your thinking a little bit for what you think that means and how you think that you would bring that to Melrose in the H R

▶ 14:29 Speaker 4: C. It depends on what initiative there is. You know, the diversity is obviously getting a group of people together from all different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, you know, the inclusion is making sure that, that you got everybody involved and you can do that. You can create diversity and, you know, you can give 'em an equitable environment and you can create inclusion. But you have to make sure that person or that group of people actually feels like they belong to it. And I think that giving people part ownership and having a voice to where they're going, that's gonna create the belonging. You know, so you, you can have all these things in place, but you have to make sure you're touching, you have to make sure they're feeling and hearing what you are saying and that you, you are hearing them. Does that answer your question?

▶ 15:14 Ryan Williams: Yeah, I think it ties into, you've talked a lot about giving people voice. Yes. You've talked a lot about action, you said, um, something that I found pretty funny 'cause it mirrored something that I've said for a really long time, which is, you guys do a lot, not, not to the H R C, but to the own groups I'm involved that you do a lot of good events. You know, let's do something a little bit different. Right? Right. And so I really appreciate that approach. Um, it can be kind of a little challenging to start off because you might find yourself in an environment where you don't have as much direction, but you seem to me like the kind of person who can set direction and take people on the path with you. And I think that's fantastic. It's just what the thank you. What the group needs and what the city needs. So thank you so much for stepping up. I Appreciate that. Thank you. And getting involved. You'll do great. Thank you.

▶ 15:59 Leila Migliorelli: Thank you. Mr. Rogers. As a former H R C member, myself, I'm excited to see you, uh, join the commission and bring some of your good ideas. Uh, what is the will of the committee?

▶ 16:09 Speaker 3: Motion to recommend second motion to recommend made by Councilor Carrum Chey, seconded by President Greg on discussion. Seeing none.

▶ 16:15 Leila Migliorelli: All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? This order will be brought to the full counsel with a recommendation for passage. You do not need to attend that meeting. Alright.

▶ 16:27 Speaker 4: Thank You. Thank you very much. Appreciate