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Kalamazoo Civil Rights Board to hold chair election in February; adopts agenda and 2026 schedule
Summary
The Civil Rights Board heard that chair terms are one year and that annual nominations will take place in February; the board adopted today’s agenda, approved Oct. 1 minutes and adopted a 2026 meeting schedule. DEI staff said it will reduce day-to-day subcommittee support beginning Jan. 1.
The Kalamazoo Civil Rights Board on Dec. 3 confirmed that chair terms run for one year and that nominations and elections for chair and vice chair will occur at the board’s February meeting. Chair Faison said the annual process allows the board to nominate and re-elect leaders, noting, “in February, we will go through and we will, do the nominations for a chair that also includes the vice chair.”
Board members moved three procedural items at the start of the meeting. Vice Chair Lukman moved to adopt the meeting agenda, a motion seconded by Director Moradore and approved by voice vote. Director Ursula Moore Doyle moved to adopt the minutes of the Oct. 1, 2025 Civil Rights Board meeting; the board approved the minutes by voice vote. Later, the board approved a proposed 2026 meeting schedule that keeps the board meeting every other month, with the first meeting of the year scheduled for February 2026.
The board also discussed roles and participation in standing subcommittees. Staff from the city’s DEI office told the board that, beginning Jan. 1, the department will step back from performing day-to-day coordination for subcommittees. The staff representative said the DEI office will remain available to answer questions, maintain SharePoint resources and provide limited support, but that subcommittees will be expected to take their own meeting minutes and coordinate meetings going forward.
Chair Faison emphasized the need for active participation from board members on subcommittees and asked members to consider serving as liaisons or stepping into roles left open after recent departures. The board noted that Director Burpee had resigned, creating an open seat and a vacancy on the education subcommittee.
What happens next: the board will return in February to conduct formal nominations and elections for chair and vice chair. The board also directed subcommittees to work with staff to establish meeting times and internal processes ahead of the DEI support change.
