Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Engagement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board discusses neighborhood outreach and possible land acknowledgement; seeks tribal consultation
Summary
Board members asked for a plan to increase two-way communication with neighborhoods and considered adding a land acknowledgement at meetings; they agreed to consult local tribal liaisons before adopting specific wording and emphasized pairing acknowledgements with action.
During the Feb. 23 workshop, board members discussed ways to expand outreach to neighborhoods and create more regular two-way communication between the board, staff and communities. The board president proposed neighborhood assignments, standardized talking points for members attending local meetings, and the idea of holding listening sessions to gather public input. Members emphasized limits on what individual directors may say at public events and suggested wearing name badges and using scripted talking points to avoid implying board consensus.
Separately, the board raised the possibility of adding a land acknowledgement at meetings similar to the pledge of allegiance or moment of silence. Directors asked that administration consult local tribal liaisons about preferred wording and suggested inviting tribal partners to meetings if the board moves to adopt formal language. Several directors stressed that a land acknowledgement should be accompanied by substantive follow-up actions—such as curricular work or visible partnerships—rather than remain purely symbolic.
No formal motion was made on a land acknowledgement; the board asked administration to reach out to local tribal contacts for input and return recommendations to a future meeting.
