Leaders for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Council (LEDIC) - Sept. 25, 2025

Minutes

Staff: Maria Magallon
Members Present: Chair, Tory Blackwell; Joselito Tanega, Emily Cooper, Lori Bender, Vanessa Huckaby, Gabrielle Blaug, Desiree Thomas, Sirius Bonner 
Members Absent: Aprille Flint-Gerner, Brandi Johnson, Melissa Roy-Hart, Mike Foley, Monte Starr, SandeBea Allman

Meeting summary 

The council reviewed leadership positions and the need for elections of a new vice chair.  They also discussed online nominations and the possibility of changing the council's name to better reflect its mission. The group covered upcoming events and community engagement initiatives, while also addressing challenges faced by local organizations regarding funding and capacity building.

Next steps

• Tory: Forward May to Maria for council approval at the next meeting.
• Maria: Update the bylaws by removing equity office language and send the revised version to council members for review.
• Maria: Follow up with Chair Roberts and Gary to confirm their attendance at the October or the November meeting.
• Council members bring ideas for a possible alternate council name to the October meeting. 
• Council members: Continue community outreach activities and report at future meetings. 

Summer Updates and Acknowledgments 

Chair Tory called the meeting to order at 5:55 p.m. The group reconvened after the summer with introductions and check-ins, during which members shared their favorite summer activities. Tory led a land acknowledgment for Clackamas County; he shared that Clackamas Community College is working on a new, broader labor acknowledgment. Participants discussed their summer experiences, including travel, family time, and personal health initiatives.  

County Updates 

Maria shared the County Administration update, which included approval of the new members and council bylaws. Maria also shared the cancellation of various community events, highlighting concerns about the safety of immigrant communities and the lack of guidance on how to keep communities safe.   The County Administrator sent an all-county email outlining staff responsibilities in the case of ICE presence on campus.  There has been no guidance on what to do if staff members are targeted on campus or while conducting outreach in the community.  

Leadership Nominations and Transition Discussion 

Maria led a discussion about leadership positions, noting that Dina had stepped down from both the vice chair and LEDIC roles. The group discussed nominations for chair and vice chair positions, with Tori potentially continuing in the vice chair role. Maria suggested collecting nominations via email for the October meeting, where voting would take place. The group acknowledged Tori's exceptional leadership and discussed the need for formal member acceptance from the Board of County Commissioners, which Maria anticipated would occur before the November meeting.  

Council Name Change Discussion 

Maria proposed a discussion about potentially changing the name of the council to better reflect its mission.  She noted that other organizations have changed their names in response to political climates and to better align with their work. The group agreed to consider this topic and brainstorm alternative names that accurately represent their goals. They also discussed updating the council's bylaws to reflect Public and Government Affairs as the sponsoring department.

 The group planned to review the Coalition of Communities of Color Report, "Belonging in Clackamas County", to identify areas for improvement and effect change.  

Announcements and Upcoming Events  Calendar 

The council would like to know what the county is doing to meet the needs of CBOs that are struggling due to funding cuts and the shutdown of multiple food distribution sites in Clackamas County.   

The group discussed event promotion and access to the county calendar, with Maria noting that county-sponsored events are easier to add to calendars, while non-county-sponsored events face challenges. They reviewed upcoming events, including a mediation training from October 1 to 10, an opportunity to join the Internal Audit Oversight Committee, and two cultural events: Indigenous Peoples Day on October 12th at the Clackamas Community College (CCC) Niemeyer Center, and a Hispanic Heritage Month event on October 22nd at the CCC Harmony Center. The discussion also addressed concerns about ICE interactions and legal resources, with Maria noting that organizations like the Mexican consulate and Oregon Legal Aid are stretched thin but continue to offer community preparedness presentations in Clackamas County. 

Adjourn  

Meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m.

Next meeting October 26, 2025