Adeniyi Ijanusi

Create a Brookline Commission for Black and Brown Residents

SECTION X.XX.1 ESTABLISHMENT

To Create a Brookline Black and Brown Commission.

SECTION X.XX.2 FUNCTION AND PURPOSE

The function of the Commission shall be to:

(a) Act as a centralizing force in the Town of Brookline and the community, which will deal with all Black and Brown issues, providing information, referral, guidance, and coordination to educate and to offer and provide technical assistance to other public agencies and private persons, organizations and institutions engaged in activities and programs intended to eliminate systemic, racism prejudice and discrimination against a person because of the color of their skin and racial status as Black and Brown. 

(b) Take such action as the Commission considers appropriate to advance the aims of the State Equal Rights Amendment to ensure the equal status of Black and Brown persons.

(c) The term “Black and Brown” in this Warrant Article shall include:

1. Black will refer to persons that are of African heritage, including but not limited to: African, African American, Afro-Caribbean, those descended from chattel slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
2. Brown refers primarily to Latinx and Indigenous persons that suffer from the institutional harms of being racially marginalized, as well as other minorities that are marginalized due to the color of their skin. 

SECTION X.XX.3 POWERS AND DUTIES

The powers and duties of the Commission shall include the following: 

(a) To ensure equity in the status of Black and Brown people in Brookline.

(b) To design and implement programs that promote equity for all Black and Brown people in the Town of Brookline.

(c) To develop recommendations and recommend policy to all departments, divisions, and agencies of the Town, including the Select Board.

(d) To act as liaison with all departments and divisions of Town government on issues affecting Black and Brown people.

(e) To initiate and coordinate and monitor the enactment of legislation which promotes equal status of Black and Brown people on the Municipal, State, and Federal levels, and to assure that appropriate regulations are adopted and enforced pursuant to such legislation.

(f) To work with and assist the appropriate Town agencies in their investigation of incidents of

discrimination against Black and Brown people.

(g) To obtain from Town departments, divisions, and agencies, information necessary to carry out the functions, purposes, programs, and activities of the Commission.

(h) To initiate public exhibits and media events in Town Hall, Town libraries, and other town-owned property as well as in other locations within and without the Town.

(i) To raise funds for the use of the Commission and to accept money, gifts and services for its exclusive use.

(j) To appoint task forces to assist the Commission in its operations.

(k) Such other powers and duties as may be agreed on by the Select Board and the Commission.

SECTION X.XX.4 MEMBERSHIP, APPOINTMENT, TERM

(a)  The Commission shall consist of thirteen members, who shall be appointed by the Select Board in consultation with the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations and with input from the public, including, but not limited to, the Black and Brown community, to serve for a term of three years.

(b)  A person is not precluded from serving more than one term. Commissioners must be residents of the Town of Brookline.

SECTION X.XX.5 ELECTION OF CHAIR & BY-LAWS

The members of the Commission shall elect a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary, from among its members, and shall adopt by-laws for the Commission.

SECTION X.XX.6 ANNUAL REPORT

The Commission shall make an Annual Report of its program and activities to the Select Board.