Inclusion, Diversity, Equity,

and Access in Hallowell—

Celebrating the “all” in Hallowell *

Report of the IDEA Task Force

July 7, 2021

* To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1990 Americans with Disability Act, young Anne McKee marched in the Old Hallowell Day parade carrying her homemade sign saying, “There is an ‘all’ in Hallowell!” Anne’s message from more than a decade ago resonates today and reflects the spirit behind the work of the IDEA Task Force.

Throughout this report, “IDEA” is an abbreviation for “inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.”

Table of Contentspage

I. IDEA Task Force Members 2

II. Message from the Chair—Priorities and Thanks 3

III. IDEA Task Force History and Work 4

IV. Key Findings and Observations 5

V. Recommendations 8

AppendicesA. Concerns, Ideas, and Potential Actions Identified by IDEA Task Force 13

B. IDEA Survey Questions and Results 17

C. Proposal to Create and Fund the IDEA Grants Program 30

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I. IDEA Task Force MembersBerkeley Almand-Hunter, Ph.D. – City Councilor, Ward 4.

Chris Myers Asch, Ph.D. – Historian, educator, and author. Co-Founder and Executive Director of Capital Area New Mainers Project. Member of RSU 2 School Board.

Alexandria S. AuCoin, L.M.F.T. – Advocate of LGBTQ+ rights. Member of Hallowell Pride Alliance and Pride Across Maine. Therapist specializing in Gender Therapy.

Aimee Campbell-O’Connor, L.C.S.W. – Consultant with Berry Dunn. Deep expertise in Medicaid among other areas.

Mary Kane – Retired K-12 educator. Active volunteer. Served on Capital Area New Mainers Project Team for Afghan family.

Roberto Mandje – Retired Olympic distance runner. Barcelona born and globally raised, having his feet and heritage firmly placed in two continents—Africa and Europe.

Bob McIntire – Media producer. Chair of the Hallowell All Age-Friendly and Historic Hallowell Committees.

Jane Moore, J.D. – Advocate at Disability Rights Maine.

Diana Scully, M.S.W. – City Councilor, Ward 3. Chair of IDEA Task Force.

Lakshman Subrahmanyan, M.D. – Cardiologist at MaineGeneral Medical Center.

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II. Message from the Chair—Priorities and Thanks

During the first half of 2021, our IDEA Task Force began a journey to gain a better understanding about how Hallowellians experience inclusion, diversity, equity, and access, as well as the role Hallowell City Government plays in advancing these building blocks of a welcoming, fair, and safe community. This is just the beginning.

The IDEA Task Force respectfully urges the City Council to continue this work by taking seven priority actions. These are spelled out in greater detail in Section V of this report.

Establish the IDEA Subcommittee as part of the City’s Personnel and Policy Committee. Summer 2021

Adopt, prominently display, and base Council actions on the Granite City Values Statement. Summer 2021

Display welcoming flags along Water Street throughout the year representing a range of cultures, abilities, ages, and identities. 2021-2023

Provide training about inclusion, diversity, equity, and access for the City’s elected officials and staff. Explore partnerships with the public schools to do the same for teachers and students. October 2021 through June 2022

Improve access to public spaces, programs, services, and activities provided and offered to the public by Hallowell City Government. Encourage businesses and private organizations to do the same. Begin July 2021 and Ongoing

Approve and implement an IDEA Grants Program to help support other priority actions on this list. By Fall 2022

Identify and implement multiple strategies to increase low-income, affordable, and attainable housing in Hallowell. Ongoing

I offer heartfelt thanks to many people for helping us get off to a good start.

The members of the IDEA Task Force for the time, energy, honesty, creativity, and life lessons they generously shared to help advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in Hallowell.

The 101 Hallowell residents and visitors who responded to our 11 questions about their experiences in Hallowell.

Former City Manager Nate Rudy for planting the seed to do this work, the Mayor and City Council for authorizing the Task Force, and the City Clerk and other staff for supporting our work administratively.

Laura Ligouri, Executive Director and Founder of the Mindbridge Center, for persistently reminding us to reach out further and deeper into our community to discover who and what we do not know yet.

Diana Scully, Chair3

III. IDEA TASK FORCE OVERVIEWCreation and Purpose. Appointed by the Mayor, Hallowell’s 10-member IDEA Task Force spent six months (January through June 2021) exploring how to make Hallowell a more welcoming, fair, and safe place for people to live in, work in, and visit. The Task Force was asked to identify 3-5 immediate steps to advance IDEA and to include a blueprint for future work.

The impetus behind the Task Force was a July 2020 memo from the City Manager suggesting several Council actions to “advance matters of diversity, equity, and intersectionality in Hallowell.” The City’s Personnel and Policy Committee reviewed these ideas and recommended that the Council form the IDEA Task Force to gain a broader perspective about what is needed to advance IDEA in Hallowell.

Questions. During its six meetings, the Task Force considered several questions, including:

Is the City of Hallowell reaching people who need services? Who is left out?

Do people living in Hallowell feel represented?

What barriers do people living in Hallowell experience?

What should the City of Hallowell do to advance IDEA?

What resources are needed to advance IDEA?

Information-Gathering. Task Force members shared their own experiences and perspectives related to these questions and also reached 101 community members through an 11-question survey. Task Force recommendations are based on both sources of information.

Definitions. The survey described the terms used throughout this report, as follows:

Inclusion. An inclusive community is a place where everyone feels valued and feels that they belong.

Diversity. There are many types of diversity. Some examples are race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, income, language, national origin, religion, age, (dis)ability, marital and parental status, political views, and physical appearance.

Equity. Equity means fairness. Equity is not the same as equality, as this image demonstrates:

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Access. Equal access means that everyone is able to participate. Improving access means breaking

down barriers to opportunity. IV. Key Findings and Observations

The work of the IDEA Task Force, including both discussions and the survey results, form the basis of the key findings and observations described in this section.

Task Force Discussions. The IDEA Task Force identified a broad range of concerns, ideas, and potential actions. Areas of focus included accessibility challenges for many Hallowellians; the lack of economic diversity and affordable housing; suggestions for promoting IDEA through education, arts, culture, and history; issues of importance to Hallowell’s LGBTQ+ community; and recommendations for Hallowell City Government. Appendix A includes a more detailed summary of issues emerging from Task Force discussions.

From the very first meeting, IDEA Task Force members noted that many voices were not represented on the Task Force, including people with low-income, people younger than 30, people living in congregate settings, people from the east side of I-95, and others.

IDEA Survey. Given their concern about the need to reach and learn from more community members, the IDEA Task Force decided to ask people who live, work, and visit Hallowell 11 questions about how they experience IDEA.

Methodology. During the second half of May 2021, the Task Force circulated a survey in three ways:

Electronically via the City’s Constant Contact and on various Facebook pages

As an insert in “The Hallowell Champion,” sent to the 1,645 active US Mail addresses in Hallowell

The distribution of paper copies at congregate living sites, the Farmers’ Market, and a Hallowell Pride Alliance event

Of the 101 people who responded, approximately two-thirds did so through an electronic link to Google Forms and one-third filled out a paper version of the survey questions. Survey responses were anonymous, except that a few of the paper responses included a return address. Nine out of ten respondents live in Hallowell and one out of four work in Hallowell.

The next three subsections summarize key survey findings. The complete survey questions and findings are included in Appendix B.

Findings about Fairness and Access to Services. The survey started by asking whether respondents feel treated fairly in Hallowell and whether they have difficulty accessing opportunities, resources, goods, and/or services in Hallowell. Survey results displayed in Graph 1 show that that a majority of respondents feel that they are treated fairly and that Hallowell City Government is doing “very well” or “pretty well” in addressing inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. However, more respondents

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reported difficulty accessing opportunities, government, resources, or services than inequitable (fair) treatment. More than one in four respondents reported difficulty with access to services in Hallowell.

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Graph 1

Findings about How Well City Government Is Doing. The survey asked respondents how well they think Hallowell City Government addresses and encourages diversity, inclusion, equity, and access. Survey results shown in Graph 2 reveal that a small majority believe that City Government does a good job. Respondents rated City Government worst on addressing access, with one in four voting “not very well” or “not well at all.”

Graph 2

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Findings about Identities and Barriers. The survey asked respondents to check off identities on a list that they feel are barriers for them to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. The 49 people who responded most often mentioned age, income, disability or physical/mental limitations, and gender/gender equity as barriers.

Observations. Some observations emerge from the rich information gleaned from the Task Force’s discussions and survey.

Why is IDEA Work Necessary? Many Hallowellians appear to believe that we already are doing quite well as a welcoming community. Some wonder why this work to advance IDEA is necessary. And yet the Task Force has heard about:

Conflict over how to refer to winter holiday celebrations in the City

Hurtful comments experienced by students

Older people who feel disconnected from our community

Newcomers who find it challenging to find out how things are done

The absence of accessible voting options for people who are blind and visually impaired

Hallowellians who do not feel comfortable speaking out about their political views

The “cliquey-ness” of Hallowell, which can make others feel apart and not welcomed

The lack of access experienced by many Hallowellians in spaces and proceedings

This Is Ongoing Work. This report to the Hallowell City Council includes recommendations based on six months of work by the IDEA Task Force to gain greater understanding of how residents, workers, and visitors experience IDEA here in Hallowell. This is just a start. The roots of inequity, exclusion, and lack of access are embedded deeply in the foundation of America, including right here in Hallowell. Figuring out how to talk about and ameliorate the resulting barriers will take ongoing work.

Don’t Dismiss Race and Ethnicity. A few years ago, 2,389 Hallowell residents described themselves as white and 117 residents described themselves as non-white.1 Readers of this report will discover that there is little focus on race and ethnicity. A common view seems to be that because there are so few non-white people here in Hallowell, there are few race-related issues. While most of the more than 95% of Hallowell residents who are white may not see or experience issues related to race and ethnicity, the same cannot be said with certainty about Hallowell residents who are Black, Indigenous, Asian, or people of other races and ethnicities.

Dismissing race and ethnicity as issues to pay attention to is short-sighted. One study reported that between 1980 and 2014, Maine’s “minority” population grew by 236% from 18,800 to 63,144 and projected that it would increase by another 73% by 2050.2

1 Hallowell Comprehensive Plan-Existing Conditions, p. 94, November 2020. 2 Mattingly, Shaefer; Changing Demographics, Changing Needs: A Profile of Maine; Carsey School of Public Policy,

University of New Hampshire. 8

Here in Hallowell we are experiencing an exciting development with the arrival 18 immigrants who have come here to live. The Capital Area New Mainers Project has assumed ownership of the former Episcopal Church on Union Street to provide housing for immigrant families. There also will be a Hallowell Multicultural Center that will serve as a community site for celebrations, potluck dinners, speakers, concerts, art shows, and other events. The arrival of new Mainers presents a wonderful opportunity for Hallowellians to hone our welcoming skills and learn about cultures different from our own.

V. Recommended Priority ActionsThis section provides more details about the seven priority actions recommended by the IDEA Task Force.

1. Establish the IDEA Subcommittee as part of the City’s Personnel and Policy Committee. Summer 2021

The six months of effort by the IDEA Task Force has laid the groundwork for an ongoing process to continuously advance IDEA in Hallowell. As stated previously in this report, the roots of inequity, exclusion, and lack of access are embedded deeply in our society. Gaining a more complete understanding of IDEA-related challenges and implementing strategies for addressing these can happen only over time.

The City Council should continue the work of the IDEA Task Force by establishing the IDEA Subcommittee as part of the City’s Personnel and Policy Committee and providing a budget of $2,500 for its work during FY 2022. The IDEA Subcommittee should:

Include representatives from both the Council and the community.

Be chaired by a member of the Personnel and Policy Committee.

Meet on at least a quarterly basis, or more often if needed.

Continuously evaluate and assess the City’s progress in implementing the IDEA Task Force’s recommendations.

Offer guidance to the City about IDEA-related issues that come to the attention of the IDEA Subcommittee and/or when requested by the City Council.

Flesh out the details of the IDEA Grants Program initially recommended to the City Council in April 2021.

Partner with other organizations in Hallowell on intersecting interests and issues.

2. Adopt, prominently display, and base City Council actions on a Granite City Values Statement to help advance IDEA in Hallowell. Summer 2021

During its first few meetings, the IDEA Task Force spent time developing a values statement to guide its work. The Task Force believes that the City Council should do the same, in order to have a sound foundation for making for IDEA-related decisions in the future. The Task Force recommends that:

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The City Council should adopt the full Granite City Values Statement on the next page.

The City should post the Preamble to the Granite City Values Statement prominently on the City’s website and in City Hall and other City buildings.

There should be clear electronic links from the prominently displayed Preamble on the City’s website to other pages on the website with IDEA-related policies and statements, such as the full Granite City Values Statement, the Hallowell Welcoming Resolution (Resolution 06-20-R), and other relevant documents.

Granite City Values StatementAdvancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in Hallowell

Preamble

In Hallowell, we believe in the dignity of all human beings. We embrace and celebrate the full diversity, complexity, and beauty of humanity. We strive to be accessible, inclusive, and respectful so that residents and visitors of all cultures, abilities, ages, and identities feel safe, welcomed, and appreciated in our community.

Granite City Values

Hallowell’s Mayor and City Council—

Value and listen to marginalized voices, while welcoming all members of the community.

Strive to facilitate open, honest, courageous, and respectful discourse about issues related to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility.

Recognize our limitations based on our own experiences, implicit biases, and knowledge.

Acknowledge the ways in which power and privilege are present in City Government and across our City.

With these realities, the Mayor and City Council accept the responsibility to address and dismantle inequities when they occur in Hallowell.

These values are intended to promote a feeling of safety and belonging for all residents of the City of Hallowell and its visitors so that their experiences and perspectives are welcomed and appreciated in the pursuit of understanding and attending to the needs of our diverse community.

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3. Display welcoming flags along Water Street throughout the year representing a range of cultures, abilities, ages, and identities consistent with the Granite City Values Statement. 2021-2023

The IDEA Task Force supported a proposal, presented by the Hallowell Pride Alliance to the City Council, to celebrate Pride Month by having rainbow flags fly along Water Street every June without the need to get City Council approval each year.

Building on this idea, the Task Force recommends that flags should fly year-round in downtown Hallowell to honor and celebrate different groups or topics consistent with Granite City Values Statement, such as human rights, immigrants, elders, children/schools, Hallowell’s businesses, and many other possibilities.

As has been the case with the rainbow flags, it is understood that American flags would continue to fly each month, as well.

4. Provide training for the City’s elected officials and staff about inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.3 Explore partnerships with the public schools to do the same for teachers and students. October 2021-June 2022

Gaining a fuller understanding about how each of us perceives inclusion, diversity, equity, and access takes time. The IDEA Task Force understands that many of the City’s elected officials and staff have had some training in IDEA-related topics. However, this is not a one-time event.

The Task Force members had some conversations about barriers to inclusion seen in our schools. They ask the Mayor and City Council to reach out to the schools with students from Hallowell and explore how they address these barriers, the extent to which they provide a diversity curriculum in the schools, and their interest in partnering with the City to tackle IDEA-related issues.

The Task Force recommends the following:

The City’s Mayor, Councilors, and Staff should participate in training. By End of June 2022

Among the training components, should be the use of pronouns, including what this means and why it is important; the Americans with Disabilities Act; and other issues related to inclusion, diversity, and equity.

By End of June 2022

The Council should include $3,000 in the final budget for FY 2022 to pay for experts to provide the training.

Summer 2021

The Council should contact RSU 2 schools in Hallowell and Farmingdale to explore possible collaborative IDEA-related training projects.

By End of June 2022

The City Manager and the proposed IDEA Subcommittee should be responsible for the implementation of these training recommendations to the extent possible within available funding.

3 Accessibility training should focus on issues relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act, including disability etiquette, communication, and legal requirements.

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5. Improve access to programs, services, and activities provided and offered to the public by Hallowell City Government. Encourage businesses and private organizations to do the same. 2021 - 2023

The IDEA Task Force had wide-ranging discussions about access to places and processes in Hallowell, including the need for accessible communications and meetings. It has been over 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed.4 For many people, it is hard to hear “we need more time” to make things accessible. The IDEA Task Force recommends that the Mayor and City Council get started on this work by taking the following steps:

Include funding in the FY 2022 budget for City Hall accessibility improvements and sidewalks.

Summer 2021

Designate a City employee to serve as Hallowell’s Accessibility Point Person, responsible for ADA compliance. Make sure this person is aware of the range of disability issues and not just physical access. Publicize this position so residents are aware that it exists.

By Fall 2021

Designate a City employee to serve as Hallowell’s Language Point Person, responsible for assisting people for whom English is not the primary language.

By Fall 2021

Implement City Hall improvements and sidewalks funded in FY 2022 budget. 2021 – 2022

Assess the extent to which City property, services, and proceedings are accessible to the public. Study and estimate the cost of installing flashing lights and sound at crosswalks. Create an action plan to improve access for people who experience physical, sensory, and language challenges.

Spring 2022

Include funding in FY 2023 budget for more accessibility improvements. Spring 2022

Implement improvements identified and funded in the FY 2023 budget. 2022 – 2023

Encourage businesses and other private organizations in Hallowell to improve 2021 – 2023

4 Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), people with disabilities must have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from state and local governments’ programs, services, and activities. Applying for a business license, using a town playground, participating in a county fair, registering to vote, and attending a public university are some of public entities’ programs, services, and activities covered by the ADA. Many people with disabilities are prevented from participating fully in programs, activities, and services because of communication difficulties. To address this, the ADA requires that communication with people with disabilities must be “as effective” as communication with others. Generally, this applies to people who are deaf, people who are hard of hearing, people who are blind, people with low vision, and people with speech disabilities.

https://www.adaactionguide.org/ada-title-ii-requirements#introduction  

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accessibility. Develop an IDEA pledge poster for them to display in visible locations.

6. Approve and implement an IDEA Grants Program to help support other priority actions on this list. By Fall 2022

In an attempt not to miss the City’s budget-building process for FY 2022, the IDEA Task Force proposed an IDEA Grants Program in April. Based on feedback from both the City Council and Task Force members after April, it was determined that more work is needed to flesh out the mechanics of the proposed program. Appendix C includes the preliminary proposal shared with the City Council on April 12, 2021. The Task Force recommends that the City Council approve and implement this by the fall of 2022.

7. Identify and implement multiple strategies to increase low-income, affordable, and attainable housing in Hallowell. Ongoing 2021-2023

Like other groups doing good work in Hallowell—such as the All-Age Friendly Committee, Heart and Soul, the Comprehensive Planning Committee—the IDEA Task Force has identified housing as an issue.

The lack of economic diversity is a barrier to IDEA in Hallowell. Refugees and many others in Central Maine cannot afford to live here. However, there are glimmers of hope and change. As mentioned previously in this report, the Capital Area New Mainers Project has assumed ownership of the former Episcopal Church on Union Street to provide housing for immigrant families.

The IDEA Task Force urges the City to continue actively promoting and pursuing accessible and affordable housing of many types (including working with Maine State Housing and other programs to create new Section-8 housing opportunities), as well as attainable housing options for people whose income falls somewhere between low- and high-income levels.

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Appendix A

Concerns, Ideas, and Potential Actions Identified by IDEA Task Force

Beyond the priority actions highlighted in this report, the IDEA Task Force also identified many other concerns, ideas, and potential actions which follow.

1. Accessibility

It has been over 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act passed. For many people, it is hard to hear “we need more time” to make things accessible.

a. People Who Use Wheelchairs

With so many historic buildings, Hallowell is dreadfully inaccessible for anyone using a wheelchair. Even when there has been new construction where wheelchair access could be provided, it has not been.

If an entrance is dependent upon a staff person to unlock or move something away so a customer using a wheelchair can enter, this should be done in a way that is easy and not requiring long waits.

There is virtually no accessible rental housing except at the Cotton Mill and Stevens School. Not everyone who uses a wheelchair needs or wants to live in these locations.

There should be education about things like not saying "handicap" parking but “accessible parking” and not saying people are “wheelchair bound”, but “use a wheelchair.”

b. People with Sensory Impairments

If we had crossing lights that flash when a pedestrian wishes to cross, it would be safer for everyone. There also could be sound, which helps those without sight.

If one is deaf, it should be easy to request an interpreter for city meetings. Is there a budget? How would someone ask for an interpreter and how much time in advance would one need?

Why don’t the city meetings being done by Zoom include captioning?

Do pictures on our website have alt text to describe the picture for someone who is blind?

c. People with Mental Illness

Some people have been discharged from Riverview to Hallowell. Often they live in subsidized housing. One person felt that people were suspicious because she didn’t look like most people here and couldn't dress in nicer clothes. She said she once was referred to as "crazy," because she was talking to herself.

Many people have stereotyped views of people with mental illness.

d. Suggested City Government Actions

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Make renovations/accommodations for accessibility to City Hall, including City Council Meetings.

Provide support to help businesses purchase ramps.

Repair and maintain existing sidewalk and build and maintain new sidewalks.

Add crosswalks with flashers and sound to the downtown and crosswalks at intervals throughout the City.

To maintain accessibility, pay closer attention when snow is removed and clear the sidewalks downtown.

Require ADA compliance at shops, restaurants, and businesses throughout the City.

Review accessibility at the playgrounds and identify any opportunities for improvement.

Consider and recommend how recycling can become accessible and age-friendly.

Use the term “accessible parking” in City signage.

Clarify who Hallowell’s ADA Point Person. Make sure this person is aware of disability issues (and not just physical access.)

Designate a Language Point Person to assist people for whom English is not their primary language. Arrange for translator services for those who are not fluent in English.

Make sure City Council and other City meetings (in person and Zoom) and materials are accessible to people who are deaf or have a hearing impairment.

Make sure the City Council meets a room large enough to accommodate the public, when needed.

2. Economic Diversity

The lack of economic diversity is a barrier in Hallowell. Refugees and many others in Central Maine cannot afford to live in Hallowell.

The City should actively encourage accessible and affordable housing, including working with Maine State Housing to create Section-8 low-income housing opportunities.

3. Education, Arts, Culture, History (EACH)

In downtown Hallowell, flags should fly year-round with each month honoring/ highlighting a different group or topic. For example: January (Winter); February (Black History); March (Women’s History); April (Gardens/Spring); May (Mental Health); June (Pride); July (People with Disabilities); August (Arts/Culture); September (School/Kids); October (Fall); November (Native Americans and/or Veterans); December (Human Rights).

Ask teachers, principals, and students to identify barriers to inclusion seen commonly in our schools.

Provide a diversity curriculum in the schools.

Create an ongoing curriculum of IDEA topics for the community.

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Establish an annual “Community Reads” program with a book and events oriented around a different theme each year.

Create/coordinate a public speaking series, including Black, Native American, and LBGTQ representatives. This could be in conjunction with the City, Hallowell Historical Society, and/or other organization(s).

Acknowledge the importance of the Hubbard Free Library in providing services and resources on diversity and inclusion, as well as outreach to all members of the community.

Update the “History in the Streets” to include more recent history, including the movement to preserve downtown and growth of LGBTQ community. Identify resources to support this.

Create a mural celebrating diversity (for example, include Indigenous peoples, Franco-Americans, immigrant, etc.)

The City should make sure all citywide events are inclusive and accessible, including Old Hallowell Day, Holidays in Hallowell, etc. Organizers should consult with members of different communities about how to promote inclusion during these events.

4. LGBTQ+ Community

The IDEA Task Force should Ask City Council members and staff to add their pronouns to their Zoom name and emails.

The City should create an annual tradition in which throughout the month of June the City will fly LGBTQ Pride flags across downtown in honor of Pride month. See 1st bullet, Section 3.

The City should make an annual fiscal contribution to Hallowell Pride Alliance and other groups advancing IDEA to recognize the value of supporting their efforts for the benefit of all citizens. See 4th bullet, Section 5

The Task Force should ask the Pride Alliance if an oral/written history celebrating Hallowell’s LGBTQ community is what is needed to dismantle inequities.

5. City Government Actions See also Section 1e.

a. Advancing IDEA Values City Government should:

Adopt and publicize an IDEA values statement to guide the advancement of IDEA throughout our City Government and our community.

Acknowledge that because the IDEA needs of our people will never be fully met, there should be a community needs assessment, an ongoing equity implementation process, and a person or persons designated by the City to coordinate the implementation process.

Encourage City Council members and staff to add their pronouns to their Zoom name and emails.

Create a grant program that invites applications for funding Hallowell-specific projects that promote IDEA themes.

Support only public events that are inclusive. See last bullet, Section 3.

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Design and implement an internship program for students of minority identity and/or immigrants.

Require annual training for councilors, mayor, city manager and staff regarding issues of discrimination based on race, gender, education, and/or socio-economic level.

Consider diversity in all hiring and volunteer appointments.

Ask the Hallowell police and other City employees to identify IDEA barriers and issues that affect the people of Hallowell.

b. Promoting Democracy (small “d”) City Government should:

Remind Hallowell residents about car registrations.

Consider establishing a Newcomers Club or similar group in Hallowell.

Keep in mind the following as it updates the City website:

o Add a range of holidays to the City Calendar so people know when they are (RSU 2 does this.)

oUse brief, clear, jargon-fee language with a welcoming, encouraging tone.

o Include easy-to-find contact information on every page.

o Include a calendar of things that residents must do annually to stay up-to-date with the city—taxes, license plates, dog registration, etc. with links to appropriate documents.

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Appendix B

IDEA Survey Questions and Results1. Do you feel that you are treated equitably (fairly) in Hallowell?

Check only one: # Responses Always 55Most of the time 37Sometimes 7Rarely 1Never 0Total Responses 100

1a. Feel free to explain your answer to Question 1.

This section includes comments by 27 respondents focusing on perceptions about policies, experiences with local businesses, whether people feel they belong or feel left out, concerns about holiday celebrations, and observations about City Government.

Biased Policies and Systemic Issues:

“Transportation and land-use policy is highly biased towards those who own and operate private motor vehicles. If you don't own or use a car (children, aged, poor, disabled), you are not treated as an equal citizen in our public spaces. This status quo increases physical danger and adverse health outcomes for these people.”“I’m a white male. I rarely experience any systemic issues.”

Businesses:

“There's one local shop owner who aggressively genders me by calling me girl, lady, woman which, while accurate, is also obnoxious.”“Downtown businesses are great, but in Hallowell, I often feel like it's who you know not what you know.”“Local businesses and residents are always happy to help you with a smile on their face.”“The businesses downtown go out of their way to make all of their patrons feel welcome.”“Every business I have gone to has always been very welcoming.”“Lots of good businesses and people.”

Feeling of Belonging:

“I have lived here since 1982 and always feel welcomed by neighbors & strangers.”

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“I think Hallowell has always been an inclusive community.”“Always felt welcome.”

Feeling Left Out:

“The town is very cliquey and people can be cruel. If you are not part of the crowd or have not lived here your whole life, then your opinion is discarded.” “Hallowell is a little clique-y, like high school. There are established mini-communities and it can be tough to fit in.”“I am an Anglo, but old. Sometimes I am not taken seriously even though I am reasonably intelligent & somewhat educated. Lifetime Mainer, obviously experienced with…my long-time military experience, etc.”“Because of age, I do not consider myself part of the community.”“I’m ‘from away’ so there’s that.”“Once at a bake sale at the playground I was referred to as an immigrant.”“Having a 'conservative' viewpoint is not acceptable by many. There is a big lack of…acceptance of different viewpoints. I am often uncomfortable interacting with members of the community because of their hostile attitude towards people with different viewpoints from their own.”“I feel that as a conservative, I am not accepted.”

Holidays:

“I was very disturbed by the discussions that occurred a few years ago about changing Christmas in Old Hallowell to Holidays in Hallowell. This simple name change would have done wonders for making EVERYONE feel included in the holiday festivities, yet it was met by dissent and really shone a light on how people really feel about a certain type of diversity in this town. Not a great side of the city to see.” “I find the Christmas in Hallowell program to exclude non-Christians and in my experience the business community has not cared about those concerns.”

Observations about City Government:

“City government can be more transparent in terms of public information access to City meetings. One of many good things that came out of pandemic is recorded meeting records. Unfortunately, minutes were not captured in the past from the majority of meetings except monthly council meetings.” “The Zoom public hearings are NOT public. There are secret, private, hidden conversations between Planning Board or City Council members that the public is not allowed to see or hear. I'll be happy when we again can see what's going on in the same room.”“There seems to be a good old boys’ network at City Hall.”“The City doesn’t always seem to make decisions in a fair way. It seems that knowing the right people helps you.”“I don’t always feel treated fairly by the City.”“I have served on many committees and the city staff know me.”

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2. Do you have difficulty accessing opportunities, resources, goods, and/or services in Hallowell?

Check only one: # Responses Always 3Most of the time 12Sometimes 13Rarely 31Never 40Total Responses 99

2a.Feel free to explain your answer to Question 2. We are particularly interested in learning about specific barriers you have faced.

Here are comments by twenty-nine respondents who described whether or how they have difficulty accessing opportunities, resources, goods, and services in Hallowell.

Accessibility:

“I am blind and need to use a walker. I am aware of my white privilege.”“Water St is a challenge to navigate as a visitor at times, especially the intersection at the end of Winthrop St turning onto Water St. I would like to see that intersection have a light because it can be difficult to see either direction because of street parking and speeding, and I have concerns about the safety of that intersection for drivers as well as pedestrians. With a little more fine-tuning and optimization, I think the challenge of navigating Water St/parking in Hallowell could be greatly reduced. I would also like to see better accessibility for the disabled community such as transitioning the staircase to the Water St parking lot into a ramp instead of stairs. This would also be safer for general pedestrians in inclement weather.”“It is hard to move around Hallowell on foot or bike, especially for children or people with disabilities. We have not invested in resources to help children get what they need from our community: well-maintained sidewalks, trails, parks, safe streets and play spaces. Mobility to exercise, play, and interact with neighbors is denied to children (and everyone) who cannot move freely and safely around their neighborhood and between neighborhoods and to public resources like playgrounds, parks, natural areas, and schools. Traffic is too fast, road design is poor, and public spaces are reserved for, occupied by, and degraded by private motor vehicles.”“I have concern for people with mobility challenges because so many places are not easily (or at all) accessible without the ability to climb stairs.”“Public transportation—there isn’t any. I don’t live IN downtown and especially in winter it is… difficult to get into town to shop or eat.”“I work a non-traditional work schedule and have childcare issues that make accessing community resources during “banking” hours sometimes difficult.”

COVID-19:

“No real issues outside of Covid restrictions.”“Will be happy when the library is open without restrictions.”

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Communication:

“I often find out things after the fact or as they’re happening, especially with the City.”“City meetings are not always posted in advance. It would help to use constant contact more.”“I send email to the City and never get responses.” “I find the City website cumbersome.”“The City doesn’t communicate to the public about meetings and other things going on.”“I emailed Diana Scully regarding harassment and abuse in Hallowell and she did not reply.”“It took me a long time after I moved here to figure out how to access services, get involved. It can feel like small groups of people make decisions for the rest of us without seeking input, it is mainly a communications problem.”“I depend on the KJ for news and it does not do what it should. I see people and have no knowledge about what is happening.”

Income:

“People with money have status, while those who fall in a lower income bracket are made to feel like they don't matter.”“People have a lot of money, and it is hard to rent anymore unless you have a lot of money.”“Never asked, budgeted and took care of my own. Leave resources for the truly needy.”

Observations about City Government:

“No outreach---meetings are hard for access…City Council elitist & ineffectual/nonresponsive.”“I find my representative intimidating. I contacted him once and he made me feel stupid and like I was ridiculous for asking my question. I felt schooled.” “The government offers very few services and doesn’t promote those that it does.”“[I] rarely have trouble tracking down information needed about city services.”“More info on recycling.”“I wish I was able to see more volunteer opportunities for this city.”“Never have difficulty, but not always quickly.“Sometimes the people in the city office are rude to me.”

3. How well do you think Hallowell City Government addresses and encourages diversity? There are many types of diversity. Some examples are race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, income, language, national origin, religion, age, (dis)ability, marital and parental status, political views, and physical appearance.

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Check only one: # Responses Very well 30Pretty well 27 About average 21 Not very well 8 Not well at all 2 Unsure 13Total responses 101

4. We believe that an inclusive community is a place where everyone feels valued and feels that they belong. How well do you think Hallowell City Government promotes inclusion?

Check only one: # Responses Very well 30Pretty well 21 About average 22 Not very well 9 Not well at all 3 Unsure 13 Total responses 98

5. How well do you think Hallowell City Government addresses and encourages equity (fairness)?

Check only one: # Responses Very well 20 Pretty well 30 About average 18 Not very well 6 Not well at all 5 Unsure 20 Total responses 99

6. Equal access means that everyone has the ability to participate. Improving access means breaking down barriers to opportunity. How well do you think Hallowell City Government addresses and encourages access?

Check only one: # Responses Very well 17 Pretty well 25 About average 22Not very well 13 Not well at all 6 Unsure 17 Total Responses 100

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7. What recommendations would you make to address inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in Hallowell?

The survey asked respondents for recommendations about how to address inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in Hallowell, and fifty-five of them did so. This section organizes their comments by topic.

Good Job. Some people indicated that Hallowell does a good job when it comes to IDEA:

“Hallowell is one of the most inclusive towns in Maine! Kudos!” “There’s no need to keep pushing it.”

Ongoing Task Force. In contrast to the person feeling that there is no need to keep pushing it, others recommended that City Government keep this effort going:

“City government should be much more explicit about its intentions towards equity, diversity, inclusion and access. The more you say it, the more it becomes real.”“Make IDEA a visible priority…turn the Task Force into a Standing Committee to ensure *long-term* commitment.”

One respondent suggested several actions for an ongoing IDEA Task Force to take, consistent with priority actions described elsewhere in this report. These include:

Develop an Action Plan to advance equity and inclusion.

Include training police force, city officials, and city staff in interpersonal relationships and micro-aggressions.

Build cultural competencies.

Identify barriers (such as language for new Mainer families) for our citizens.

Partner with the library to offer programing on inclusion.

Develop an IDEA pledge for businesses to post in their windows.

Examine housing issues, with a goal to ensure decent affordable housing for all.

Partner with the school to provide affordable after-care and summertime childcare.

Have more communications about how the Task Force and City are addressing IDEA.

Reach out to organizations fighting for equality and justice in Maine.

Accessibility. Many respondents commented on accessibility issues:

“Give everyone access into shops by widening doorways so wheelchairs or walkers can get inside, make more elevators in businesses that have upstairs so handicap people can go upstairs, have more benches that our older neighbors can sit and rest, outside electrical plugs so people on oxygen can charge up their portable machines…”“The biggest strides would be in accessibility for the disabled. I would also like to see a footpath extended all the way along Water St with more parking places for

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when Hallowell has larger events. The only other issue I personally have is that Hallowell is not a great place for someone with severe arachnophobia. I have had to leave several times becaue the buildings are absolutely covered in spiders, and I should not have to duck under nests of arachnids to get into a bar or retail establishment.”“Invest in mobility for those who cannot use private motor vehicles. Invest more in sidewalks, sidewalk plowing and maintenance, safe crossings, traffic calming, a network of connecting foot trails, parks, and pedestrian-only streets. Invest less in car roads, parking lots, pavement, and road plowing.”“Downtown needs better accessibility to the businesses.”“Make Central/Water intersection into an open space park area to encourage gathering and mixing downtown.”“[P]ublic transportation resources would help reduce the challenge of access. Even something like a shuttle running back and forth from downtown Augusta to downtown Hallowell would be a great opportunity.”“Hallowell is good with gender & LGBTQ+ rights. Very poor in ADA accessibility. Also poor on people with different level of income.”“Hallowell is apparently a difficult city to manage if one is in a wheelchair; handicap accessibility should be improved.”“Better standard pavements and building access. Difficult to get around with a stroller in Hallowell.”

Housing and Income. Several comments addressed affordable housing and income:

“Fair market housing (true fair market not developer determined) would help diversify the overall population. Keep taxes as low as possible to keep housing affordable.”“Promote and subsidize affordable housing for low- and middle-income individuals/families, using state and federal housing funds.”“More aid for low-income residents. Assistance and outreach to homeless community.”“Greater inclusion of those who are less affluent. Greater support to the Food Bank and low-income housing.”

Inclusion. Many respondents commented on various aspects of inclusion. A few felt that Hallowell is not inclusive when it comes to differing opinions or for people who do not live downtown. A few others referred to the privilege they experience.

Communications:

“Continue to very public about welcoming all and being committed to fairness & justice.”“I think the best way to promote inclusion in the community is to take surveys like this, as well as having more virtual events via zoom that people can view.”“Do not presume that everyone lives by their computer the way that you do. Find other ways to inform people other than website & Face Book.”

Community and School Activities:

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“Plan all events that recognize and honor diversity – like planning holiday celebrations that aren’t tied one religion.”“Maybe potlucks with diverse communities to share cultures?”“Programs in school/social events that promote and welcome different holidays and more languages.”“Greater inclusion of youth & families with small children.”“Don’t teach Critical Race Theory in our schools. NO C.T.R.”

Different Parts of Hallowell:

Downtown“Address inclusion for the elderly---more shops, less bars…”“Make Central/Water intersection into an open space park area to encourage gathering and mixing downtown.”Western Hallowell“I notice that geography is not mentioned in any of the questions…I live in western Hallowell, 2 miles from downtown. In my opinion, there is too much emphasis on things that are good for the historic district and downtown. The rest of us also pay taxes.”

Different Viewpoints:

“Needs to be inclusive of all viewpoints and not hostile towards different opinions…It is not as inclusive as people tend to believe or preach.”“Be open to differing opinions.”

People Affected by Lack of Access and Equity:

“Follow leadership of those most affected by lack of equity and access. Outreach to those communities.”“Provide opportunities for anyone who feels unfairly treated, or anyone advocating for them, to speak and share ideas that would help them make others realize and be aware.”

People with Privilege:

“As a privileged white male…I have trouble knowing what barriers may be there for minorities.” “I enjoy a number of privileges that make accessibility easier for me (I'm white, reasonably able-bodied, and cisgender, for instance), and I suspect it's very different for people who are Black, brown, with disabilities, and/or transgender.”

City Government. Respondents shared a range of observations about Hallowell City Government. Remarkably, during this time of heightened scrutiny of law enforcement nationally, only one person commented on Hallowell’s police suggesting that they should “be more visible walking downtown greeting people.”

Communication:

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“I wish there was a centralized place to go online to find out all that is happening in the city. We often hear about events the day of, or the day after something has happened. This means that only certain people are participating.”“Better communication about what various committees are doing, how to get involved or give input.”“Do not presume that everyone lives by their computer the way that you do. Find other ways to inform people other than the website & Face Book.”“Take reports of harassment seriously and reply to people who report it. Hallowell should be free of targeting.”

Priorities and Guiding Values:

“…focus on the entire community and neighborhoods, not just downtown; prioritize & invest in infrastructure that solves problems for the residents, small things count. Continually look for, solve, and repeat process; figure out how to establish a set of key values that every committee should use as a basis for guiding decisions, 1-3 key City values plus 1-2 values based on the committee’s purpose. There is NO direction or ‘north star’ for the city...”

Lack of Diversity:

“Most primary committees are white old men. Not a bad thing, but that is also the primary demographic.”“It’s time for gender diversity in those public positions.”“Hire a City Manager with a life experience is not that of a straight white man. Time to finally change that. A couple hundred years is long enough.”“Hire and onboard people from minority groups to City initiatives and groups.”“Involve more youth, maybe high school level if interested, on special pop-up committees…”

Police:

"...have the police be more visible walking downtown greeting people, have more police down at the Chairs parking lot especially in the evening where we have been hassled by homeless people living out of their cars.”

Policy Impacts:

“Take more time to consider how policies and actions affect workforce rather than just the businesses and owners.”

Power and Respect:

“The power held by those in office has created an uncomfortable environment for anyone that dares to disagree. It is ironic that we now seem to be in the reverse power struggle/environment.”“Less arrogance from City Council.”“City Hall needs to respect opinions of all its citizens, not just of those who are well spoken.”“Make the people at the front desk in city hall be nicer.”

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Volunteers:

“Utilize the professional expertise of volunteer committees…”“As with many small towns, I think sometimes the same smaller groups of the "usual suspects" do a lot of work for the city. They are interested and engaged, and one thing often leads to another. I would love to see some more outreach to others who have not been as involved.”

8. What organizations and community groups should be involved in efforts to help Hallowell become a more welcoming, fair, and safe place? (Mark all that apply)

__All Age-Friendly Committee__Hallowell Board of Trade__Hallowell Pride Alliance__Harlow Gallery__Hubbard Free Library__Old Hallowell Day Committee/any event planning committee__Other:

To inform ongoing IDEA work, the survey asked this question about organizations and groups that should be involved in efforts to help Hallowell become a more welcoming, fair, and safe place. Ninety-one people responded to this question. Here are the results:

Groups that Should Be Involved in IDEA # Times Mentioned

Groups listed in the survey:All-Age Friendly Committee 80Hallowell Pride Alliance 74Old Hallowell Day Committee & Other Planners 70Hallowell Board of Trade 67Hubbard Free Library 66Harlow 51

Respondents added these groups under “Other”:Schools and young people 7Hallowell Food Bank 5NAMI 5Vision Hallowell 5Churches/Faith Groups 3City Council and Police/Other City Staff 3Domestic Violence Project, Housing, League of Women Voters, Rail Trail

2 each

Cohen Center, Disability Rights Maine, Heart and Soul, Kennebec Chamber, Land Trust, Pedestrian and Bicycle Committee, Vaughn Woods, Veterans

1 each

9. Are you a resident of Hallowell? 91 yes + 10 no = 101 responses

10. Do you work in Hallowell? 26 yes + 73 no = 94 responses

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11. Is there anything about your identity that you feel is a barrier to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access? (Mark all that apply)

__Race __Ethnicity__Religion__Gender/Gender Identity__Gender Expression__Income__Age__Sexual Orientation__Disability or Physical/Mental Limitations__Other:

As the following table shows, the forty-nine people who responded to this question most often mentioned age, income, disability or physical/mental limitations, and gender/gender equity as barriers.

Identities that Are a Barrier for Respondents # Times Mentioned

Age 16Income 14Disability or Physical/Mental Limitations 14 *Gender/Gender Identity 12Religion 7Sexual Orientation 5No Barriers 5Gender Expression 4Ethnicity 2Political Affiliation 2Race 1Nationality 1Family Size 1Location 1Newcomer 1My Own Shyness 1

*One of these respondents specifically mentioned children with disabilities.

11a. Feel free to explain your answers to Question 11.

Thirty people explained their answers to Question 11. They shared the following comments.

Age:

“In other towns my age has been used against me in the state of Maine. I have been living in Hallowell for over 3 years now and see this as much less of an issue than any other place I have lived in Maine.”

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“I’m too old to care and fortunately have the means and mobility at this time to do what I want.”“As older citizens of Hallowell, we think the City should begin coordinating the recruitment of younger Hallowellians for volunteer work that is currently done by older citizens. This would assure that the public outdoor spaces, some of them tied closely to Hallowell’s history, are maintained in good condition for future generations.”

COVID-19:

“I have been shut in for over a year --- no transportation when no Covid-19, but this are too far away to walk --- no computer!”“My family has a disability that limits childcare options. My family has more children that HFL allows during COVID, so we have not been able to access the stacks.”

Different Viewpoints:

“Differing viewpoints are not accepted like they used to be. It can be uncomfortable and somewhat hostile. People certainly get treated differently for having a different opinion. Those that claim to be inclusive seem not to demonstrate that behavior which makes participating in community events uncomfortable and not welcoming.”“I am a conservative Republican - there is no open discussion - it's a liberal view or nothing.”

Feeling Welcomed or Not:

“I have lived in Hallowell in the past and still own property there. I have always felt that Hallowell was a very diverse and accepting community. But perhaps that easy for me to say since I am a white, over 70 woman with adequate means.”“I am from Tennessee, married a sweet guy from Middle St Hallowell. I have felt welcome from the start, even with a southern accent.”“Just moved here. Looking for way to meet people.”“Hallowell is diverse & friendly. Don't over think it.”“When I was new to the area I tried to join in but was ignored.”

Holidays and Flags:

“I feel included, but I’d like recognition of our diverse community to be on our minds. The school calendar noting various religious holidays and renaming the Holiday in Old Hallowell Celebration showed that this isn’t always easy.”“Hallowell is very lacking in diversity and very white in its make up. Also the types of events, initiatives and conversations lack ethnic or racial diversity recognition. Having so many American Flags downtown feels very aggressive. It makes me uncomfortable.”“Gay flags should not be hung on public property such as street lights that taxpayers (all) have paid for.

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Income and Housing:

“Over the past decade, Hallowell has evolved into a gentrified community with income disparities becoming more tangibly present.”“Being a gender fluid Gay person is an equity barrier throughout the country, but for Hallowell specifically Income is a huge barrier. I would love to live in Hallowell, but there is no affordable housing options for people who do not have eligibility for housing assistance because they are not old enough and make too much for Section 8. Hallowell seems geared towards 20-40 age range especially and yet most people in this age range could not easily afford to rent in Hallowell.”“The apartments are not easily found and rentals seem inflated.”“Income has become a barrier to living in Hallowell.”

Privilege and Power:

“I am very aware of my privilege in many circles.”“I feel there is a great deal of privilege afforded to white affluent men in Hallowell Those with few resources are almost always left out of conversations. Hallowell needs to dismantle the good old boy network in City Hall.”“If you’re not white, affluent, male, able bodied, well educated, and less connected you have a lot less influence or inclusion.”

Race:

“Do not allow Critical Race Theory or any form of Indoctrination of our children!!!!

Survey Critiques and Other Comments:

Respondent #1“Question 11 forces one to select a discrimination of some sort. I don't feel discriminated against at all so I can't answer that except as I have. Because of that problem I would doubt the results of this question. Will we assume that anyone who left it blank feels not discriminated against? That's one way to use it, but on the other hand, we might also assume that some responders selected one of the 10 discriminatory activities because the felt that had to choose one. I might have said "Age" because I am old and retired, even if I really don't feel any significant age discrimination but feel I must select one or another, right.

Should Question 10 be considered discriminatory? A third option might have been "retired," as many retired people in our fair city don't work for that reason. Yes or no assumes those are the only alternatives. If I put NO you have no idea why, and since working is such a strong motivating factor in our lives, leaving other options out is a mistake. Since I marked NO you could assume I am a loafer, a criminal or some other negative alternative who doesn't work. Would you automatically decide I am retired? Is retired a form of work? I live on SSEC a pension and rental income, that's a kind of work, if working really means income producing. What did you mean by the word "Work." That makes me think, the dozens of students newly in Hallowell might not work either, but as student are probably neither loafers

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nor criminals. Oh my, so many other alternatives to yes or no. What if I work in Farmingdale does that make my answers more or less valid? I mean I am working, but it can't be counted because I am an "alien." Is this question about working or about place of work? Oh and what about those family members like my sister-in-law who cares full time for my brother, a disabled veteran. Is she working? I think this question should be ignored in the tabulation as it is inherently discriminatory.

In closing, thank you for your efforts, clearly I have too much time on my hands.”

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Respondent #2“I have assumed that there are efforts to include and accept youth, a working mom, a patient, from the trades, etc. I respect activists and those who do participate, but many cohorts get lost.”First, have (likely do) an efficient and effective feedback way commensurate for full understanding and clarity. Include short or longer actions and on-going changes. Second, consider feedback with a better way to target short and longer range priorities…When something is not working well, may not lead to the highest or urgent intervention. It’s bad, but whatever is being done is working. The annoying issue…not bad but getting worse. So get in front of it. Each survey question to see how bad it is and what direction is going. Also, the 4-box model can help prioritize tasks or organizing one’s day or committee work.Third, work with partners to use 3-way or 4-way stop signs…Currently, there have been near misses believing the other had the sign.Fourth, work with partners to clear out the trash, especially along the tracks. While the culprits are causing the issue, we can assume the moral ground and be part of a Hallowell which we can pass along our imagination of our future from us.Fifth, rethink where two-sided parking makes narrow streets unsafe. Too many cars fighting for the middle while watching out for walkers crossing and the side street cars difficulty seen my them.”

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Appendix C

Proposal to Create and Fund the IDEA Grants Program

Hallowell IDEA Task Force Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access

April 12, 2021

$20,000 Request. Launched this past January, the 10-member IDEA Task Force5 will submit a report to the City Council in July 2021 with recommendations for short-, medium-, and long-term actions to advance inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in Hallowell.6 However, the Task Force is ready now to ask the City Council to include $20,000 in the City’s FY 2022 budget to create and fund the IDEA Grants Program.7

Purposes. The primary purpose of this new City program is to support initiatives in Hallowell to broaden awareness of and deepen understanding about the importance of IDEA at both an individual level and the community level. Another purpose is to reach local people whose voices generally are not heard.

Applicants. The Task Force has identified two categories of grant applicants:

Community groups and businesses (such as Hallowell Pride Alliance, Harlow, Hubbard Free Library, Hallowell Board of Trade, and others) with proposals to advance IDEA.

Teachers and students with proposals to help students understand the importance of IDEA.

Grant Content. The Task Force has discussed possible actions and issues that could be addressed by grants:

Support for monthly flag displays along Water Street representing different aspects of IDEA. This builds on a recommendation by Hallowell Pride Alliance to fly rainbow flags every June to recognize and celebrate the LGBTQ community.

Diversity and implicit bias training for kids and others in the community, including funding to support high school students’ community service projects focusing on IDEA themes.

Training about the Americans with Disabilities Act and other actions to help businesses address accessibility.

Other creative proposals bubbling up from the community to advance IDEA in Hallowell.

Next Steps. The Task Force will:

5 Task Force Members: Berkeley Almand-Hunter, Chris Meyers Asch, Alex Aucoin, Aimee Campbell-O’Connor, Mary Kane, Roberto Mandje, Bob McIntire, Diana Scully, and Lakshman Subrahmanyan. Consultant: Laura Ligouri, Mindbridge.

6 Please see Concerns, Ideas, and Potential Actions, by Topic to get a glimpse of issues and actions identified so far. Over the next three months, the Task Force will continue to develop recommendations for action by the City Council.

7 The City’s draft budget for FY 2022 currently includes $10,000 for a summer intern and $10,000 for a community needs assessment. The Task Force recommends including in $20,000 for the IDEA Grants Program. Most of this amount could be offset by dropping $10,000 for the summer intern and reducing funding for the community needs assessment to $5,000.

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Continue to flesh out the details of the IDEA Grants Program in order to determine: the range of grant amounts, matching requirements (if any), priority areas of focus, application/selection process, timetable, and implementation responsibilities.

Gather more information about barriers to IDEA experienced by Hallowellians to help inform grant specifications and decisions.

Report back to the City Council with final implementation recommendations for the IDEA Grants Program.

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