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Symposium to address racial and gender disparities in policing; Cedric Alexander named keynote; venue changed to Washtenaw Community College
Summary
The oversight commission finalized speakers and logistics for a community symposium on policing and disparities, confirmed a keynote speaker and discussed recording, RSVPs and outreach; the transcript contains inconsistent references to the exact symposium date.
The commission discussed logistics for a community symposium on policing and racial and gender disparities and confirmed Dr. Cedric Alexander as keynote speaker. Commissioners and staff also finalized a larger venue at Washtenaw Community College and planned outreach materials and recording consent.
Commissioners said the event will feature a keynote address and a panel that brings together academia, law and community service perspectives. Chief Anderson and commission staff secured Dr. Cedric Alexander (described by the meeting as a clinical psychologist, former police chief and national analyst) as the keynote speaker. The commission plans a keynote followed by a panel discussion and a moderated question-and-answer period; commissioners discussed having audience questions submitted in writing to manage the Q&A.
Organizers told commissioners that the event venue was changed from Malletts Creek Library to Washtenaw Community College to accommodate a larger audience. The commission circulated a “save the date” and planned a formal flyer with speaker details; commissioners said they had collected about 45–50 RSVPs at the time of the meeting.
The commission discussed recording the session so those who cannot attend—family or colleagues abroad—could view it later but flagged the need for consent language in speaker agreements because the symposium will address sensitive topics. Staff said a recording/release clause should be included in speaker scope-of-work documents.
Meeting remarks about the exact date of the symposium are inconsistent in the transcript: early discussion references “May 21,” while later comments reference the “20 first/21” scheduling language and the commission’s May meeting date. The transcript does indicate the symposium is scheduled in late May (the commission noted the symposium precedes the commission’s next regular meeting) and that organizers will circulate a final flyer with firm date and speaker details.
Organizers asked commissioners to promote the event among their networks, and Chief Anderson agreed to moderate the program. Commissioners discussed a pre-symposium dinner with the keynote speaker and said the commission will cover travel, one night’s lodging and a stipend for the speaker under the commission’s approved budget.
