Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Office for Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, March 16, 2022  
12:00 PM  
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A. Call To Order  
The meeting was called to order at 12:04pm by the chair.  
Advisory members present: Dulce Danel  
Others present: Annette Humm, Brooklynne Sundseth, Lucas Robinson, Heather  
Calvin, Lisa MacKinnon, Sunny-Local 720, Eric Anderson-Local 65  
4 - JANEL HEINRICH, BRENDA GONZALEZ, JOSEPH BARING, and GREG JONES  
Present  
Absent  
1 - ANNIE WEATHERBY-FLOWERS  
Staff: Theola Carter, Wesley Sparkman, Rodrigo Valdivia, Reyna Vasquez  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
A motion was made REV. BARING and seconded by GONZALEZ that both Minutes  
be approved. HEINRICH abstained. The motion carried by voice vote.  
2021  
MIN-264  
MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 20, 2021 OEI ADVISORY BOARD  
MEETING  
Attachments: 2021 MIN-264  
Minutes approved  
ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES 11-20-20  
2020  
MIN-513  
Attachments: Advisory Board Minutes 11-20-20  
Minutes approved.  
C. Action Items  
1. 2022 OEI Strategic Planning Presentations  
Discussion ensued. Discussion on outreach and proposing strategic plan;  
Chair JONES and some members to meet with Wesley and Theola of OEI.  
Discussion of Chair JONES meeting up with Ad hoc meeting and resending  
information from January for the basis of the planning.  
2. Board membership  
Discussion ensued. Discussion regarding terms that expired and on-going  
recruitment and suggestions of board members. Discussion on who appoints  
some members and maintaining function of boards. Discussion of personality  
of a good board member.  
D. Presentations  
1. Keen Independent Research - Evaluation of equity and access at Dane County Parks  
and Henry Vilas Zoo  
Chair JONES has joined the National Association of Counties – Which is trying  
to come up with principles that will enhance the counties to use and put in  
place. So the presentation from Keen Independent is timely. Introduction of  
presenters.  
Presented by Annette Humm-Keen, Brooklynne Sundseth, and Heather Calvin  
-This is a 9 month program. 25 person Equity & Inclusion firm located out of  
Arizona. They have work with govt., city, county, parks and zoos.  
Information provided to public and fact sheets in English,Spanish, and  
Hmong as well. They have a designated email and hotline to keep a neutral  
source and individuals can feel comfortable reaching out. Ongoing survey  
accessible by link or QR fold (English, Spanish, and Hmong). Have received  
more than 100 responses. Partnership with the Children’s Museum who have  
posted QR code to access survey. Doing best practices comparative  
research. Looked at 30 parks and 45 zoos. Ad Hoc Advisory Group created  
across the county and outreach to 37 diverse groups, had 13 groups that  
indicated they wanted to participate. Survey was shared to the Ad Hoc  
Advisory Group to send to colleagues and constituents they know. Will be  
doing on site visits in May and June. Goal to have a completed by  
July/August for final review. Project sponsored by the board, parks and Vilas  
Zoo.  
Study hotline 608-205-8444 and email  
danecoparksandzooequity@keenindependent.com.  
Discussion ensued. Discussion regarding issues with parks where community  
may be "more white" and transportation issues. Issues on not feeling  
welcomed, not seeing people who look similar, not feeling safe, staying  
closer to civilization as night comes to feel comfortable. Discussion on  
bringing more diversity by way of mobile vehicles coming to inner city,  
signage and language barriers. Discussion on sending information to  
different organizations and faith groups. Discussion on accessibility to zoo,  
and lack of diverse employees at zoo; OEI to review concerns. Discussion on  
Dane County Parks being an underutilized resource by community of color  
due to not connected to the needs of community may need more inclusive  
approach, and transportation routes to and from the parks. Discussion  
regarding the goal and win of attracting people of color and specifics of area  
and what is being used. Discussion on lack of diverse volunteers. Discussion  
on looking at the action plans of different county groups moving forward with  
strategy plan for the year.  
E. Reports to Committee  
OEI INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES 2021  
2021  
RPT-436  
Attachments: OEI Investigation Procedures 2021  
This was tabled.  
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
Next meeting April 20, 2022.  
Lisa MacKinnon willing to join future meetings as it relates to the Keen  
Independent project.  
G. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
H. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
I. Adjourn  
A motion was made by REV. BARING, seconded by GONZALEZ, that the meeting  
be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously.  
Meeting adjourned at 1:32pm  
Minutes respectively submitted by Reyna Vasquez, pending Advisory Board  
approval.