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Racial Equity Advisory Commission outlines 2024 activities, proposes 2025 work plan
Summary
Donald Hahn, chair of the Racial Equity Advisory Commission, reported on 2024 programs — including MLK Week events, an African American Read-In and Juneteenth activities — and described proposed visibility, inclusive recruitment and finance subcommittees for 2025
Donald Hahn, chair of the Racial Equity Advisory Commission, presented the commission’s recent activities and proposed 2025 work plan to the State College Borough Council on March 17.
Hahn listed 2024 events organized or coordinated by the commission, including the borough’s participation in Penn State’s MLK Week and a Peace March that began at MLK Plaza; an African American Read-In that placed community readers in elementary schools; a King remembrance program; the fifth annual Juneteenth art exhibit and block party; and a children-and-youth program at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Hahn said the Juneteenth events were sponsored by the State College NAACP and hosted in partnership with the borough, the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State and the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau.
On commission priorities for 2025, Hahn said members are working on a land-acknowledgement statement assigned last summer, inclusive recruitment strategies to increase participation from underrepresented communities, and visibility work aimed at improving recognition and signage for Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza. He said the commission has discussed design wraps for traffic-control electrical boxes and is considering a recommendation that the borough “increase the identification of the plaza as Martin Luther King Plaza.”
Council members responded with thanks; Council President expressed personal appreciation for the commission’s work and Council member Portney asked for clarification about examples of projects that require financial support. Hahn said outreach, programming and efforts to activate MLK Plaza are examples that may require earlier engagement with the borough budget process.
Why it matters: the commission’s community events and proposed workplan shape local public programming and influence how municipal spaces recognize and serve diverse residents. Hahn asked for support on timing so the commission can submit proposals earlier in the budget cycle.
No formal council action was taken on the commission’s report at the March 17 meeting.
