Sudbury DEI Commission narrows focus, votes to draft position statement and endorse school committee holiday request

The Town of Sudbury Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission voted Wednesday to nominate a small team to draft a position statement that the commission said will assert Sudbury is a “welcoming, inclusive community” and to plan a community event showcasing the town’s diversity.

Commissioners framed the motion as a short-term, measurable focus for the newly sized seven-member commission. Chair (name not explicitly stated in the transcript) introduced the motion as three linked actions: (1) identify a couple of members to draft a position statement saying Sudbury seeks to be “a welcoming, inclusive community” for newcomers and long-term residents alike; (2) plan a community event in service of that position statement; and (3) work with the commission’s consultant to develop policy recommendations to put before the Select Board. The commission voted in favor and volunteers (including Safa) agreed to draft the statement and begin planning.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the commission’s mission and prior goals were broad and difficult to sustain given attendance and quorum issues. Consultant Raul Fernandez advised the group to pick a single, measurable focus for the next year and pursue “quick wins” that build momentum and credibility. The motion aims to make the commission’s work more visible and to tie outreach and programming to a clear purpose and, eventually, to policy options.

What members discussed: The conversation ranged from the practical (holding a children-centered cultural fashion show at the library or school to draw families and sponsors) to policy ideas such as improving language access and building pipelines to appointed roles. Several members urged that events be explicitly linked to an outcome the commission is trying to move, and the consultant cautioned that a statement without follow-up policies has limited impact.

Public comment and school-calendar action: During the meeting, a community representative raised concerns that previous town or school meetings had fallen on Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha, creating a hardship for Muslim students and families who observe full-day religious obligations. The speaker said students miss group work and feel excluded when observances fall on important school days, and asked the commission for an endorsement letter to the school committee.

Commission members noted that other Massachusetts towns (including Wellesley, Natick, Lexington and Brookline) have adopted similar changes to calendars or recognized additional holidays. The commission moved to support the specific holiday request currently before the school committee and to draft an endorsement letter to accompany that request. Joanna Steffey and Janine (name appears in the transcript as Janine Smee) volunteered to collaborate on the draft letter.

Votes and next steps: The commission recorded a roll-call vote approving the motion to form a small drafting team and pursue an event and policy work. Later in the meeting the commission voted to endorse the school-committee holiday request and to draft a letter of support. Commissioners agreed to meet monthly in a hybrid format, settling on a recurring third-Tuesday meeting at 7:30 p.m. Raul Fernandez said he will continue to attend in an advisory role through at least mid-February.

Quotes: “So 1 of the things that we wanted to start was a review of our current mission statement,” the chair said as the agenda item opened. Consultant Raul Fernandez told the commission, “I think really thinking about, identifying a focus, and it need not be the focus for the next generation, but maybe the focus for the next year, to get this work started.” A community representative described the school-calendar concern: “A typical day of Eid requires commitment… it takes most of the day,” and asked the commission to endorse the school committee request.

What’s next: Safa and another commission member will draft the initial position statement; commissioners will continue to refine event plans and consult with Raul on policy templates to consider for a Select Board recommendation. Joanna Steffey and Janine will draft the endorsement letter to the school committee and circulate it for commission review before transmission.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 9:42 p.m.