Diversity and Inclusion Commission Accomplishments

• Held 10 meetings.
• During the January meeting, the Commission Members listened to a presentation from Will Jackson titled “Unifying by Diversifying.
• During the February meeting, the Commission Members listened to a presentation by Kelly Zimmerman and Beverly Horstman from Braver Angels.
• During the March meeting, Police Chief John Crowell provided an overview of the Montgomery Police Department.
• During the April meeting, Assistant City Manager Tracy Henao shared information about minority and woman-owned businesses in Montgomery.
• The Commission held a ‘Know Your Neighbor’ series about Hispanic culture. Juan and Rosa Molina, members of the commission and Montgomery residents, presented the series.
• During the May meeting, City Manager Brian Riblet provided an update on the Diversity Garden at Swaim Park.
• During the June meeting, the Commission Members listened to a presentation from a Montgomery resident about the challenges of having a transgender child.
• During the July meeting, the Commission Members updated about the upcoming Diversity Dinner.
• During the August Meeting, the commission listened to a presentation titled “Using Your Character Strengths to be an Upstander” by Jackie Congedo, Jake Campbell, and Nancy and David Wolf of the Holocaust & Humanity Center.
• Commission Member Priya Viswalingam held a ‘Know Your Neighbor’ presentation about Indian culture and Hinduism. She also shared information about topics such as culture, demographics, values, languages, art, and food!
• During the October Meeting, the commission listened to a presentation from the staff of Hotel California by the Sea, an addiction and recovery home.
• During the November Meeting, the commission listened to a presentation by Justin Kirschner, the Regional Director of the American Jewish Committee Cincinnati, about social media and hate.

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• Held 9 meetings.
• During the January meeting, the Commission Members listened to a presentation about the City’s continuing efforts to recruit diverse local government job candidates.
• During the February meeting, the Commission Members listened to a presentation about pronouns by Lucy Del Guadio, DEI Leader, US Army Veteran, and Sr. Manager at Essilor Luxottica.
• During the March meeting, the Commission Members listened to a presentation from the Sycamore Jr. High International Club: Mrs. Mika Wolfford, Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), International Club Advisor, and MEd in Curriculum and Instruction.
• During the March ‘Know Your Neighbor’ session, Diversity and Inclusion Commission Members Juan Molina and Alfonso Cornejo discussed the history of Cinco de Mayo and how it became a celebrated holiday. They also discussed Carnival and its history in the Americas.
• During the April meeting, the Commission Members listened to a presentation from Julie Leftwich, Esq., Executive Director of the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center.
• During the May meeting, the Commission Members updated about the upcoming Diversity Dinner.
• During the July ‘Know Your Neighbor’ session, Cincinnati Attorney Scott Knox held a discussion about the current governmental issues facing the LGBTQ community in Ohio.
• During the July meeting, the Commission Members provided a recap of the July Know Your Neighbor presentation and an update about the upcoming Diversity Dinner.
• During the September meeting, Commission Member Chris Burns provided a book review of All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, A Black Family Keepsake, written by Tiya Miles, Ph.D., daughter of Benny Miles, Commission Member.
• During the September ‘Know Your Neighbor’ session, Juan Molina, Montgomery resident and member of the Diversity and Inclusion Commission, shared information about the true meaning of the Mexican celebration Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead.
• During the November Meeting, Commission members planned for the upcoming year.

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• Held 9 meetings.
• During the February meeting, Committee Members listened to a professional presentation by Claire Krawsczyn on the topic of “At the Intersection of Motherhood and Entrepreneurship.”
• During the March meeting, Committee Members listened to a presentation on “Greater Cincinnati’s Asian American Community” by CK Wang, Esq, Immigration Attorney and Montgomery resident and Leo Chan, Executive Director of the Midwest USA Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
• A ‘Know Your Neighbor’ series was held via Zoom on Wednesday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. Committee Members Chris Burns and Dell Carter talked about the history of race in America using themes from the book Stamped from the Beginning, The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi.
• During the April meeting, Committee Members listened to a presentation on “Our Aging Population: The Work of the Council on Aging” by Lisa Kruse, Outreach Coordinator for the Council on Aging.
• During the June meeting, Committee Members joined in a discussion on “A Workforce Demographics Conversation” by Julie Prickett (City of Montgomery Staff).
• Committee members participated in the Independence Day Parade & Festival with a decorated parade float and a booth at the festival.
• During the July meeting, Guest Presenter, Scott Knox, gave a wonderful presentation on LGBTQ legal issues.
• During the August meeting, members discussed formalizing the Committee to a Commission.
• The Diversity Dinner Party was held on Saturday, Oct 2 from 6-8:30 p.m. at Swaim Park. Dishes from Artemis Mediterranean, Pacific Kitchen and Mei Japanese were provided. Emiko Moore shared her art of Kamishibai, Paper Theater. The Cincinnati Dayton Taiko group gave a drumming performance. Over 50 people attended the dinner.
• The Diversity Garden is being planned for 2022.
• In December, Montgomery City Council formally approved as a City commission.

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• Held 8 meetings.
• Formed 4 subcommittees which included: Education, Event, Public Awareness and Metrics/Strategic Plan/Surveys and Evaluations.
• Guest Speaker Pete Metz of the Metro Bus Service presented information about public transportation and the Move Forward Plan to committee members during the February meeting.
• At the recommendation of the Committee, in March City officials met with the CEO’s of the Hispanic, African American, Indian American and Chinese American chambers of commerce to explore opportunities for encouraging more minority businesses in Montgomery.
• Committee Members Rosa and Juan Molina gave a wonderful, informative, and fun presentation on Hispanic Culture during the June meeting.
• Represented in the July 4 Reverse Parade with members on a parade float.
• Member Priya Viswalingam presented “Indian Culture and Hinduism” at the July meeting.
• In the aftermath of the George Floyd tragedy, the Committee participated in a 3-part discussion series (August, September and October meetings) about “Why Black Lives Matter in Montgomery.” In September, Chris Burns and Lydell “Dell” Carter gave an informative presentation on the book Stamped from the Beginning: the Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi to committee members.
• Planned the third #IamMontgomery Dinner Party in October but was cancelled due to the pandemic.
• Guest Alona Ballard, Education Specialist from HOME (Housing Opportunities Made Equal) presented “Fair Housing 101” to committee members at the November meeting.
• City Manager Brian Riblet, Community and Information Service Director Matthew Vanderhorst, and committee member Umama Alam gave a presentation about Montgomery’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts during the July 2020 Alliance for Innovation Transforming Local Government Conference.
• The Committee help plan and participate in the April 2020 #TurnMontgomeryBlue campaign to recognize healthcare and front-line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The City of Montgomery has been chosen to receive the Building Inclusive Community award for the 2020 CLIMB Awards presented by the Cincinnati Business Courier in partnership with The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

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• Held 10 meetings.
• Formed 4 subcommittees which included Community Education, Data and Metrics, July 4 Parade Float and Dinner Party.
• Members Steve Coppel and Jackie Congedo presented “The Persistence of Anti-Semitism” at the January meeting.
• Guest Speaker Tammy Bennett presented “Implicit Bias” to committee members, the Sycamore Schools Dean of Students, and to 8 Sycamore Schools students at the February meeting.
• Member Umama Alam launched the first “Know Your Neighbor” community education series on “Islam and America’s Muslim Community” on April 2.
• Represented in the July 4 Parade with members on a parade float. The unit won “Best Float”.
• Represented at the July 4 Festival with members in a booth at the Festival.
• Member Chris Burns presented “Independence Day – with Malice Toward None and Charity for All” at the June meeting.
• Michelle Harpenau, Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky gave a presentation to the committee on “The World Affairs Council” at the August meeting.
• Held the second “Know Your Neighbor” community education session on August 8 with Shane DiGiovanna presenting “Overcoming Disabilities.”
• Hosted the second #IamMontgomery Dinner Party in September with 57 registered. Participants enjoyed food, live music and lit luminaries which floated in the pond at Swaim Park.
• Members Reverend Nancy Turner Jones and Larry James presented “Beloved Community” at the September meeting.
• Member Alfonso Cornejo was the featured speaker in the third “Know Your Neighbor” community education series speaking on “Hispanics in the USA and the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area” on October 15.
• Guest Speaker Priya Klocek held a training session on Cultural Competency for committee members at the October meeting.
• Brian Riblet applied to the Alliance for Innovation Conference to speak about our diversity committee. The presentation was accepted, and committee members will present at the conference in May 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona.
• Was nominated for the Spirit of Montgomery Award by the Montgomery Ohio Chamber of Commerce.
• Advised on the holidays page in the 2020 City calendar.
• Assisted with the recruitment for MCLA class of 2020.
• Profiled Members in the City Bulletins which included Carol Gorley in the April Bulletin, Steve Coppel in June, Benny Miles in September, Alfonso Cornejo in October, and Jackie Congedo in November.

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• Was formed by City Manager Brian Riblet and had its first meeting in January 2018.
• Held 11 meetings.
• Created the #IamMontgomery campaign including a video, 400 buttons, 200 yard signs, t-shirts.
• Completed a cultural review of the city’s social media sites.
• Member Umama Alam presented “Understanding Islam and Muslims” at the May meeting.
• Represented at the Farmers Market with our members in a booth at the Market.
• Represented in the July 4 Parade with members in a parade unit.
• Represented at the July 4 Festival with members in a booth at the Festival.
• Assisted with the recruitment for MCLA class of 2019.
• Member Alfonso Cornejo presented “Hispanics in Ohio and Cincinnati MSA” at the July meeting.
• Member Sasha Naiman presented, “Rebuilding Lives: how people with criminal records reintegrate into the community” at the August meeting.
• Hosted a Dinner Party in Montgomery Park in October with 40 registered and 50 attending.
• Sycamore Schools team Frank Forsthoefel, Karen Naber and Emily Williams the Supervisor of English as a Second Language, presented “Valuing Diversity” at the October meeting.
• Jamahal Boyd of Tri-Health presented on “Diversity and Inclusion:  The Strategy” at the November meeting.
• Shane DiGiovanna presented about turning adversity into opportunity at the December meeting.
• Profiled Member Chris Burns in the December Bulletin.
• The topic of Diversity and Inclusion has been structured into the curriculum of an upcoming Montgomery Citizens Leadership Academy class.
• Added to the 2019 City Calendar information about our Committee and advising on the diverse holidays page in the calendar.
• Created a two-year strategic work plan.
• City Manager Brian Riblet obtained a $4,000 grant for our committee through the Duke Energy Foundation.

Learn more about the Montgomery Diversity and Inclusion Commission