Oct 22, 2025 Commission for Women and Girls

CALL THE RULE COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER.

AND MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE

[ROLL CALL]

FOR OUR COMMISSIONERS, PUSH, PUSH THE BUTTON ON YOUR MICS TO BE HEARD HERE.

COMMISSIONER KEL, I RECEIVED YOU HERE.

COMMISSIONER CHI HERE.

COMMISSIONER DONDO SAP HERE.

COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE.

COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ.

HERE.

HERE.

COMMISSIONER MOALA HERE.

VICE CHAIR ARCHULETA HERE.

AND CHAIR MELLINGER HERE.

[00:05:04]

I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYBODY MISSING TODAY.

ALL RIGHT, GREAT.

UM, SO FIRST I WANNA MAKE A LITTLE NOTE ABOUT LANGUAGE ACCESS.

WE ARE INVITING EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR LANGUAGE OF CHOICE AND BE PART OF THIS MULTILINGUAL SPACE.

INTERPRETATION SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH.

TO SELECT YOUR LANGUAGE, CLICK THE GLOBE ICON LABELED INTERPRETATION AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR ZOOM SCREEN.

OR IF YOU ARE ON A CELL PHONE, TAP MORE AND THEN LANGUAGE INTERPRETATION.

THEN CHOOSE YOUR LANGUAGE, ENGLISH OR SPANISH TO ENSURE THE INCLUSION OF ALL MEETING PARTICIPANTS.

I WILL PERIODICALLY REMIND COMMISSIONERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PROJECT YOUR VOICE WHEN MAKING COMMENTS OR ASKING QUESTIONS.

AND I THINK NOW I WOULD LIKE TO ASK OUR INTERPRETER TO PLEASE, UH, SAY THIS MESSAGE IN SPANISH AS WELL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, SO WELCOME EVERYONE.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR, OUR MEETING OF THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS.

PLEASE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PATIENCE WITH US TODAY.

WE TYPICALLY MEET IN A CONFERENCE ROOM, SO WE'RE ALL GETTING A LITTLE USED TO THE TECHNOLOGY IN HERE.

I DID WANT TO, UM, WELCOME AND INTRODUCE SOME NEW COMMISSION STAFF THAT WE HAVE VANESSA HALL.

VANESSA, IF YOU WANTED TO WAIVE.

SHE IS OUR CITY CLERK SPECIALIST.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE MILLICENT OSORO, DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY JOINING US TODAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR, UM, SERVING OUR COMMISSION.

AND THEN ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONER LEVIT.

UM, WOULD YOU MIND MAKING YOUR REMARKS ABOUT OUR RECOGNITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MONTH HERE AT THE START OF OUR MEETING? YEAH.

UM, OCTOBER'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, ONE OF THE VERY FIRST, UH, WALKS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HAPPENED IN LONG BEACH IN 1981 AND LONG BEACH HAS BEEN A PIONEER IN TERMS OF WOMEN'S SHELTER IN LONG BEACH, WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SHELTERS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT WAS THE FIRST SHELTER, ONE OF THE FIRST SHELTERS IN OLIVE VALLEY COUNTY AND ORANGE COUNTY TO HAVE 24 HOUR ACCESS, UH, TO INTAKES AND TAKING WOMEN IN 24 HOURS.

AND WE WERE THE FIRST PROGRAM TO CREATE A PROGRAM FOR PERPETRATORS IN LONG BEACH.

SO LONG BEACH IS REALLY COOL IN TERMS OF DV AND, UH, THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE.

SO I, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE YEAR THAT, UH, IT WAS ACTUALLY PROCLAIMED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH.

BUT IN 1980, CALIFORNIA CREATED SOME OF THE FIRST LAWS PROTECTING BATTERED WOMEN AND MADE THE PROTECTION OR THE, UH, VIOLATION OF A RESTRAINING ORDER, UH, A MISDEMEANOR SO IT COULD BE CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED.

UH, IT CREATED THE DIVERSION BILL IN 19 EIGHT.

IN THE MID 1980S, 84, UM, CALIFORNIA CREATED ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS TO DEFINE TRAUMATIC INJURY UNDER THE LAW AND MAKE, UH, ARREST, UH, A FELONY.

SO CALIFORNIA AND, UH, LONG BEACH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AREAS TO HAVE A DV DEDICATED COURTROOM.

AND WE HAD THAT FOR I THINK, NINE YEARS.

UH, JUDGE DEBORAH ANDREWS RAN IT AND SHE WAS AMAZING, AND THAT COURT WORKED VERY WELL.

SO, UM, YAY.

WE'RE HAVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH FOR OCTOBER.

SO THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

UM, OUR COMMISSIONER WAS LA VIOLETTE WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FOUNDERS OF WOMEN'S SHELTER LONG BEACH AND IS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IF YOU WANT TO GRAB HER AFTER THE MEETING.

UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD IN MY OPENING STATEMENT HERE.

YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE, UM, ORAL A THAT WILL BE GIVING A FREE WORKSHOP MOMENTARILY.

I DO KNOW THAT ALSO, YOU KNOW, ISSUES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMPLICATE THE ISSUES OF THE IMMIGRATION RAID THAT WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING HERE AS WELL.

SO I DO THINK THIS IS PARTICULARLY TIMELY FOR MULTIPLE REASONS IN AFFECTING MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES.

SO, UM, WITH THAT MADAM CLERK,

[1. 25-56775 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Commission for Women and Girls meetings of Wednesday, August 27, 2025 and Saturday, September 27, 2025. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

[00:10:01]

COULD YOU PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST ITEM? ITEM NUMBER ONE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27TH AND SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH.

NOW, COMMISSIONERS, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM, I, I WOULD PLEASE ASK YOU TO, AND THEN YOU CAN USE THE SCREEN.

AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TELL YOU.

SO MOVED, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CHI, SECONDED BY, UH, COMMISSIONER DONATO SAP.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

UM, COMMISSIONERS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, OR ANY CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? OKAY, SEEING NONE, WE WILL NOW TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

UH, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL FOR, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT? IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF, OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER ONE IN PERSON, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.

NOW, SEEING NONE IN PERSON, IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE.

NOW, SEEING NONE, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

UM, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE THEN CALL FOR THE VOTE? COMMISSIONER LEVI VIOLET.

READ OUR NEXT ITEM? ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A, YOU KNOW, YOUR RIGHTS TRAINING FROM ORLE ORGANIZATION ROOTED IN A, IN ABOLISHING LIBERATION AND EMPOWERMENT.

THANK YOU MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE

[2. 25-56776 Recommendation to receive and file a Know Your Rights training from ORALE (Organizing Rooted in Abolition, Liberation, and Empowerment). Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

UM, TODAY I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME FERNANDO ACEVEDO AND DIEGO MARIN OF ORLE.

UM, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP HERE.

UM, SO IMMIGRATION RAID HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN TARGETING MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN ALIKE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN ADJACENT COMMUNITIES.

I KNOW I SAW SOME UNFORTUNATE FOOTAGE IN SIGNAL HILL JUST A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

UM, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT IN MANY DOCUMENTED INSTANCES, DUE PROCESSES BEING COMPLETELY REMOVED.

YOU'VE GOT AGENTS AND MASKS WITHOUT WARRANTS GRABBING OUR NEIGHBORS OFF THE STREETS HERE IN LONG BEACH.

SO GIVEN THIS ACTIVITY AND ITS IMPACTS ON WOMEN AND GIRLS, THE VICE CHAIR, AND I FELT IT WAS PRUDENT TO HOST A FREE WORKSHOP BY ORLE, UM, IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS IN THESE SITUATIONS.

SO FIRST, UM, BEFORE WE CAN HEAR THIS PRESENTATION, MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE MOVED BY COMMISSIONER DONATO SAPP AND SECONDED BY OUR VICE CHAIR ARCHULETA.

AND THEN, UM, WELCOME VERY MUCH TO FERNANDO AND DIEGO.

JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UM, TO THE COMMISSION FOR HAVING US AND ALLOWING US TO GIVE THIS PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

UM, MY NAME IS DIEGO MAY, I AM THE RAPID RESPONSE ORGANIZER WITH ORLE.

AND THEN, HI, GOOD EVENING.

I'M, UH, COMMISSION, UH, FOLKS WHO ARE INTENDANCE TO.

MY NAME IS FERNANDO VEDO, UH, WITH ORLE COMMUNITY LAWYER.

I USE HE, HIM EL PRONOUNS.

NICE TO SEE YOU ALL.

AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE ARE SOME, UM, SOUND ISSUES SOMETIMES IN THIS ROOM WHERE THE SOUND DOESN'T CIRCULATE AS WELL.

SO JUST BE SURE AS YOU'RE PRESENTING TO LEAN INTO THE MIC AND SPEAK AS AS LOUDLY AS YOU CAN.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

UM, JUST WANTED TO GIVE A QUICK DISCLAIMER THAT, UM, A LOT OF THIS IMMIGRATION LAW AND THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY CHANGE, UM, VERY QUICKLY.

UM, SO SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE MIGHT PRESENT TODAY MIGHT BE, UM, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THE, MAYBE IN A WEEK OR IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

WHO KNOWS? BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION CONSTANTLY CHANGING THINGS REGARDING IMMIGRATION, UM, THIS STUFF DOES MOVE VERY QUICKLY.

SO SOME OF THE INFORMATION MIGHT NOT BE, UM, AS USEFUL IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

IT'S NOT WORKING.

CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT ONE? OH, IT'S THIS ONE.

IT'S STILL NOT WORKING.

OH.

CAN WE JUST MAYBE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE IF POSSIBLE.

FOLKS DON'T RELY ON THAT INFORMATION BEYOND THE PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION.

DO YOU WANNA GIVE THIS BACK? YEAH.

THERE, THERE.

UH, SO THERE WE GO.

YES, THERE WE GO.

UM, SO PART OF, UM, WHAT WE WERE MENTIONING ABOUT, UM, THE DISCLAIMER IS THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE SLIDES WERE SHARED AND ALSO THERE'S GONNA BE A RECORDING.

SO WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT

[00:15:01]

IN ADDITION, UH, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT THE CONTENT OF THE PRESENTATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE.

UM, SO IF YOU DO HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT SOMEONE YOU MAY KNOW YOURSELF, RIGHT? UH, IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSULT WITH AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY TO HAVE THOSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

BUT WE DO WELCOME GENERAL QUESTIONS, UH, TOWARDS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.

CBP AND ICE, UH, FOR IMMIGRATION AND ENFORCEMENT PURPOSES THAT LAID OUT THE GROUNDWORK TO FOR, UH, WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY.

UH, SO WHO IS ? UH, SO CAN I GET A SHOW OF HANDS OF WHO HAS HEARD OF OUR ORGANIZATION? WHO HAS HEARD OF OLE BEFORE? GREAT.

LOVE TO SEE THOSE HANDS.

UH, SO OLE, UH, AS MENTIONED WHEN WE WERE INTRODUCED, UH, IS ORGANIZING ROOTED IN ABOLITION, LIBERATION AND EMPOWERMENT.

UH, WE'RE, UH, WE ARE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION LOCATED HERE IN LONG BEACH, SUPPORTING THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, UM, IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

UM, WE SEE THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN A HOLISTIC WAY, SO WE DON'T JUST BOX THEM INTO POTENTIALLY, UH, LET'S SAY THE IMMIGRATION LEGAL ISSUE THAT'S AT HAND, RIGHT? THEY'RE HUMAN BEINGS WHO NEED SUPPORT IN VARIOUS, VARIOUS FACETS OF LIFE.

UH, SO WE HAVE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED, UH, DIFFERENT PROJECTS, DIFFERENT, UM, PARTS OF OUR ORGANIZATION THAT SERVE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF, UM, WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE MUTUAL AID WHERE WE HAVE PROVIDED, UH, SUPPORT TO PROVIDE FOLKS WITH GROCERIES, ESPECIALLY, UH, NOW IN THIS ADMINISTRATION WITH FEAR OF EVEN GOING TO GROCERY STORES.

UM, THAT'S BEEN AN ESSENTIAL SERVICE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR FOLKS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE LONG BEACH, UH, COMMUNITY.

UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT I'M ABLE TO SUPPORT WITH AS COMMUNITY LAWYER, I HELP TO SUPPORT, UH, THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND, THE CITY, UH, FUND THAT CAME THROUGH A LOT OF ADVOCACY FROM COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING A LA TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT FUND IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD AND SUPPORTING FOLKS IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

UM, AND IN ADDITION, WE ALSO, UH, WORK ON LEGAL, UM, OR RATHER GENERALLY ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT, UM, IMPROVING CONDITIONS HERE LOCALLY FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND PLUGGING COMMUNITY INTO THOSE EFFORTS.

UM, THAT IMAGE RIGHT THERE IS A TESTAMENT TO SOME OF THE ADVOCACY, ADVOCACY THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.

UM, SPECIFICALLY THAT WAS FOR A SANCTUARY FOR ALL CAMPAIGN THAT WE HAD.

UM, AND THEN, UH, WE ALSO HELP FOLKS, UH, WITH OUR ECONOMIC JUSTICE TEAM TO SUPPORT FOLKS WHO ARE STARTING SMALL BUSINESSES, SO NAVIGATING THAT PROCESS SO THEY CAN, UH, GET THE MEANS TO BE ABLE TO, UM, START UP THEIR BUSINESSES.

AND SO THAT'S JUST A HANDFUL OF THINGS THAT, THAT WE DO TO SUPPORT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

UM, HAPPY TO BE, UH, BEFORE YOU ALL TO GIVE THIS, UH, VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND PRESENTATION FOR YOU ALL.

UH, SO BEFORE I GET INTO SOME OF THE RIGHTS THAT FOLKS HAVE AND HOW WE CAN DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO GO OVER, UH, A LITTLE BIT OVER THE BREAKDOWN IN TERMS OF HOW, UM, THE UNITED STATES HAS, UH, CREATED, UH, THE WAY THAT IMMIGRATION IS MANAGED THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, AND SO WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY THAT HAS HOUSES, UM, ALL OF THE, UM, AGENCIES AND SUBAGENCIES THAT ARE, UH, IN CHARGE OF DIFFERENT ROLES, UM, WITH IMMIGRATION IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

UM, BELOW THEM ARE, UH, THESE THREE POTENTIAL, UM, THESE THREE SPECIFIC BRANCHES THAT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT.

ONE US, UH, CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U-S-C-I-S.

UH, THIS IS THE BRANCH OF, UM, THE IMMIGRATION AGENCY THAT RECEIVES ALL THE APPLICATIONS THAT GO TO, UM, UH, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION BENEFITS.

SO IF YOU THINK OF, UM, WORK PERMITS, ASYLUM APPLICATIONS, UM, UH, SOME OTHER APPLICATIONS THAT WE'LL TOUCH ON LATER ON, AWA AND U VISAS, THOSE ALL GO TO U-S-C-I-S WHERE THEY'RE ADJUDICATED.

AND THEN THERE ARE THE ENFORCEMENT BRANCHES.

UM, THERE'S TWO THAT I PARTICULARLY WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, TONIGHT FOR YOU ALL, UM, CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, UH, WHICH OPERATE, UM, WITHIN A HUNDRED MILES, TYPICALLY OF, UH, DIFFERENT BORDERS THAT THE US HAS.

UH, I THINK FREQUENTLY WE JUMP TO US MEXICO BORDER, BUT THEY ALSO OPERATE BY THE US CANADA BORDER AND ALSO ON THE COAST OF THE US AS WELL.

SO IF YOU THINK OF, UM, ANY PART OF THE UNITED STATES THAT BORDERS THE PACIFIC OR ATLANTIC OCEAN, THEY WOULD ALSO OPERATE NEAR THOSE LOCATIONS AS WELL.

UH, AND THEN WE HAVE, UM, PERHAPS THE MOST NOTORIOUS OF THEM ALL, US IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, UM, BETTER KNOWN AS ICE.

UH, THEY ARE THE ENFORCEMENT BRANCH OF, UH, IMMIGRATION THAT OPERATES ANYWHERE REALLY WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW.

AND BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS, UH, DIVISION IN TERMS OF HOW IMMIGRATION HAS BRANCHED OUT, UM, AND HOW WE HAVE IT LAID OUT HERE, IS SOMETHING THAT WASN'T ALWAYS ENVISIONED WHEN, UH, THE UNITED STATES BEGAN THINKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

UH, INITIALLY IT WAS UNDER THE INA, MAYBE FOLKS HAVE, UH, HEARD ABOUT THAT NAME, HEARD OF THAT ACRONYM.

UH, THAT'S ORIGINALLY WHERE ALL IMMIGRATION AFFAIRS WERE HOUSED, UM, IN THE FEDERAL US GOVERNMENT.

BUT AFTER NINE 11, UM, THE GROWTH OF, UM, DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICES AND THE WANT TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW, BIRTH, THIS DIVISION OF, UM, IMMIGRATION AND THE TWO BRANCHES THAT YOU SEE THERE, UH,

[00:20:01]

UM, OKAY, SO AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHO IS DOCU, UM, AT RISK OF BEING ARRESTED BY ICE, IF EVERYONE JUST WANTS TO LOOK AROUND THE ROOM RIGHT NOW, WE SEE WE'RE A PRETTY LIKE DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT, LIKE, PEOPLE COMING FROM DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT ALL OF US, OR EVERYBODY, IF NOT MOST PEOPLE, ARE AT RISK BY BEING, UH, ARRESTED BY ICE JUST BECAUSE INITIALLY, UM, WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW WITH THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION IS THAT, UM, ICE IS BECOMING A LOT MORE FOCUSED ON LIKE THE COLOR OF PEOPLE'S SKIN AND LESS ON DOING THE PROPER PROCESS TO IDENTIFY FOLKS THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO TAKE.

UM, SO THERE'S A LOT MORE, UM, RISK OF EVERYONE BEING, UM, POSSIBLY DETAINED.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS THE REALITY THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SEEING.

UM, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO, UM, TO ORGANIZE AND HELP PROTECT OURSELVES, WHICH WE'RE LEARNING OUR RIGHTS IS ONE OF THEM AS WELL.

UH, SO, UM, BEFORE THE COMMISSION OF WOMEN AND, UH, WOMEN AND GIRLS, I WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION IN TERMS OF HOW WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, ESPECIALLY NOW, UH, WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND THE CURRENT ONGOING RATES, AS WELL AS HIGHLIGHTING WAYS THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS HAVE BEEN, UH, HAVE BEEN IMPACTED, UM, HISTORICALLY WITH, UM, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

UM, AND SO ONE THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IS, UH, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE BEFORE AND AFTER IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING AT DETENTION CENTERS.

UM, SO, UM, ONE THING THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT THERE IS, UM, UH, HISTORICALLY THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN CHANGES IN IMMIGRATION LAWS.

WE'VE MENTIONED, UH, ONE OF THEM, UH, THAT WE FREQUENTLY SEE CHANGE IS, UH, ON THE BASIS OF DIFFERENT ASYLUM CLAIMS. UM, SO IF FOLKS AREN'T FAMILIAR, ASYLUM IS A FORM OF RELIEF FOR FOLKS WHO, UM, ESSENTIALLY THE BOIL DOWN DEFINITION IS THAT THEY HAVE A FEAR OF RETURNING TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN AND HAVE FACED A, A SPECIFIC FORM OF PERSECUTION, UH, OR POTENTIAL FUTURE PER PERSECUTION IF THEY WERE TO RETURN TO THAT COUNTRY.

UM, ONE CLAIM OR KIND OF, UH, CATEGORY OF CLAIMS THAT HAS HAD SUCCESS IN THE PAST, UH, IS BASED OFF OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.

SO AN EXAMPLE I CAN PROVIDE, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, IS, UH, LET'S SAY SOMEONE, UM, A WOMAN, A GIRL LIVES IN A COMMUNITY THAT HAS A LOT OF GANG ACTIVITY.

THAT PERSON MAY BE TARGETED AND, UH, MADE TO BE, UH, FORCED TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE OF THOSE GANG MEMBERS.

UM, AND THAT IN THE PAST HAS BEEN, UM, THOSE FACTS IN GENERAL, UM, HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENT TO HELP TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR AN ASYLUM CLAIM.

HOWEVER, UNDER THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, DIFFERENT CLAIMS LIKE THAT NO LONGER HAVE THAT SUCCESS.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH A CLIENT AND YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH WHAT TYPES OF RELIEF MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR THEM, THE REALITY IS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS REMOVING DIFFERENT FORMS OF RELIEF THAT HAD BEEN AVAILABLE PREVIOUSLY.

UM, ESPECIALLY, UH, AS I MENTIONED THAT ONE EXAMPLE, UM, WHICH IS BASED OFF OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE.

UM, ANOTHER THING ON THAT I'LL, THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT AS WELL IS THAT IN DETENTION CENTERS, UM, FOLKS, FOLKS FACE A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, ISSUES AND PROBLEMS WITH, UH, FOLKS THAT ARE HOUSING THOSE, UM, THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE DETENTION CENTERS.

UM, A A NUMBER OF ISSUES THAT I COULD HIGHLIGHT, BUT ONE OF THEM IS GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SPECIFICALLY.

UM, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF, UH, FOLKS BEING, UM, MOLESTED AND RAPED IN THESE DETENTION CENTERS.

AND SO IT TRULY IS, UM, AN AN ISSUE THAT NOT ONLY SPEAKS TO, UM, THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLKS FEEL IN THE MOMENT IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL ENFORCEMENT ITSELF AND HOW IT IMPACTS FAMILIES, BUT HOW IT CONTINUES TO THEN IMPACT THEM WHEN THEY'RE IN DETENTION CENTERS BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN DEPORTED TO, UH, WHATEVER COUNTRY THEY'RE BEING SENT TO.

IN ADDITION, I ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, THAT THE WAY THAT THE ADMINISTRATION IS CURRENTLY CARRYING OUT RAIDS, UM, HAS LED TO A LOT OF FEAR AS FOLKS CAN IMAGINE.

UM, AND SO A LOT OF, UH, STUDENTS, UM, ARE SCARED TO GO TO SCHOOLS, MAYBE THEIR PARENTS ARE SCARED TO SEND THEM TO SCHOOLS.

AND SO ABSENTEE, UH, ABSENTEEISM RAISED HAS INCREASED.

ANOTHER THING THAT I'LL HIGHLIGHT IN THE EDUCATION CONTEXT IS THAT BECAUSE OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT TARGETING, UH, WORKPLACES SPECIFICALLY, AS I'M SURE ALL OF YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWS, UM, THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS THAT A LOT OF, UM, QUOTE UNQUOTE BREADWINNERS OF THE FAMILY ARE TAKEN FOLKS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC, UH, WELLBEING OF FAMILIES.

AND SO STUDENTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE THINKING ABOUT GOING TO COLLEGE ARE NOW THINKING OF, I NEED TO GET A JOB TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY BECAUSE MY FATHER, MY MOTHER, YOU KNOW, MY GUARDIAN, WHOEVER IT MAY BE, IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY ECONOMICALLY.

AND SO THEY'RE FORCED TO STEP UP AND SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY, UM, IN THOSE MEANS.

AND SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF WAYS THAT, UM, THIS HAS IMPACTED YOUTH, UH, WHO ARE IN SCHOOLS OR THINKING ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION.

AND ADDITIONALLY, WHAT I'LL ALSO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF

[00:25:01]

MENTAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES THAT STEM FROM, UH, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

ONE, THE PERSON WHO, UH, SUFFERED FROM THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT BEING DEPORTED BACK HOME, BEING SEPARATED FROM THEIR FAMILY, BUT ALSO THEIR LOVED ONES WHO ARE LEFT HERE IN THE US, UM, HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT A FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAS BEEN DEPORTED AND NOW HAVING TO, UH, ADJUST TO A LIFE WITHOUT THEM, INCLUDING THOSE ECONOMIC MEANS THAT I MENTIONED.

AND SO THOSE ARE JUST A FEW WAYS, UH, THAT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT IN TERMS OF HOW, UH, WOMEN, UH, GIRLS, FAMILIES CAN BE IMPACTED.

AND THEN, UH, ONE LAST THOUGHT THAT I'LL, UM, LEAVE YOU ALL ALL WITH IS THAT I MENTIONED THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND.

UM, I WENT THROUGH SOME OF THE NUMBERS, UM, BEFORE I, UH, CAME BEFORE YOU ALL TODAY.

UM, AND FROM JANUARY TO TODAY, UM, I, I SAW THAT WE HAD AT LEAST, UH, 60 FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND, MEANING THAT THEY NEEDED LEGAL SUPPORT, UH, BECAUSE OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

AND ABOUT 25%, 25% OF THEM, UH, WERE FOLKS WHO I, I WHO ARE WOMEN WHO NEEDED OUR SUPPORT.

SO THAT ALSO JUST HIGHLIGHTS A LITTLE BIT OF, OF WHO HAS NEEDED THE SUPPORT HERE IN LONG BEACH.

AND THEN I ALSO JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UM, THAT NOT EVERYONE WHO NEEDS LEGAL SUPPORT IS POINTED TO EZ WAY.

AND SO THERE MAY BE COUNTLESS OTHERS WHO WERE JUST UNAWARE OF, UH, WHO HAVE NEEDED THE SUPPORT AND HAVEN'T BEEN PLUGGED INTO THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND.

OKAY, SO TODAY WE'RE GONNA BE COVERING, UM, A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE COVERING IS YOUR RIGHTS SPECIFICALLY IN A COUPLE SITUATIONS.

AND THE FIRST THING TO KNOW ABOUT OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS IS THAT THEY APPLY TO EVERYBODY.

WHETHER WHEN YOU'RE ON US SOIL, IF YOU'RE HERE, NO MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE A RESIDENT, HAVE PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS, THESE CONSTITUTION ARE RIGHTS THAT PROTECT YOU.

SO YOU ARE ABLE TO ENACT THEM WHENEVER THE SITUATION SHOULD ARISE.

HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T, BUT THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE THERE IN CASE THAT SITUATION DOES COME UP.

SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW THAT WE'RE GONNA BE COVERING TODAY AND THAT WE CAN MOVE INTO.

AGAIN, JUST WANNA SAY THAT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING ARE, UM, THE THEORY OF HOW LIKE THE LAW SHOULD WORK.

WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF EXAMPLES WHERE A LOT OF LINES ARE BEING CROSSED AND A LOT OF RULES ARE BEING BROKEN, UM, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE GONNA COVER LIKE, SPECIFIC WAYS TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT PRESSURE.

UM, BUT AGAIN, JUST A DISCLAIMER THAT WHAT WE ARE SEEING, WHAT WE MIGHT SEE IN A CO IN A MONTH OR SO IS MIGHT BE DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE COMMUNITIES ARE FACING NOW.

SO JUST AS A REMINDER, BUT THESE RIGHTS GENERALLY, UM, APPLY TO EVERYONE AND YOU CAN USE THEM WHENEVER YOU'RE INTERACTING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SPECIFICALLY ICE.

SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT LIKE WHAT TO DO IF ICE COMES TO YOUR HOME.

UM, THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS.

THE FIRST ONE TO DO IS TO DEFINITELY NEVER OPEN YOUR DOOR.

UM, JUST BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF EXAMPLES OF ICE IS LOOKING FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN USE FOR LIKE PROBABLE CAUSE.

SO IF YOU LIKE OPEN THE DOOR EVEN A LITTLE BIT SOMETIMES WE'VE SEEN THAT THEY'LL TAKE THAT AS AN INVITATION TO BARGE IN.

SO WE ALWAYS URGE PEOPLE THAT IF ICE OR ANY IMMIGRATION OR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS AT YOUR DOOR, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OPEN YOUR DOOR.

UM, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT ALLOW PEOPLE ONTO YOUR PROPERTY.

UM, SO IF THEY'RE NOT WELCOME OR YOU DON'T KNOW THEM, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO, UM, LET THEM IN.

AND DEFINITELY, UH, THROUGH ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS WE'RE GONNA COVER TODAY, I THINK SOMETHING USEFUL IS TO RECORD THE INTERACTIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING WITH THE OFFICERS.

UM, JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF DIFFERENT, LIKE, LINES BE CROSSED, A LOT OF LIKE VIOLENCE AGAINST FOLKS.

SO RECORDING THAT AND BEING ABLE TO USE IT LATER.

UM, IF YOU WANT TO LIKE, LET'S SAY GO TO COURT OR HAVE LIKE AN IMMIGRATION CASE, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL, UM, TO HAVE THE VIDEOS OF HOW, UM, A PERSON WAS DETAINED BECAUSE THEN A LAWYER CAN LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, HEY, THERE'S A BUNCH OF VIOLATIONS, OR THIS WAS CARRIED OUT, UM, INCORRECTLY.

SO, UM, ONE THING THAT I WILL SAY THROUGHOUT ANY OF THIS SITUATIONS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT TO RECORD.

AND THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO DO.

UM, 'CAUSE AGAIN, IT CAN BE USED AS EVIDENCE, UM, LATER ON.

I DON'T KNOW.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN, UM, ICE COMES TO YOUR HOUSE IS THAT THAT MIGHT PRESENT A WARRANT.

SO IN ORDER FOR ICE TO BE ABLE TO COME INTO YOUR HOME, UM, THEY NEED A JU A JUDICIAL WARRANT THAT IS SIGNED BY A JUDGE.

AND WE'LL GET INTO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND DOESN'T LOOK LIKE, UM, A LITTLE BIT LATER.

UM, SOMETHING ELSE WE'VE SEEN IS THAT, UH, PEOPLE CAN ASK LIKE TO GO AROUND MAYBE TO LIKE A BACKYARD AND PASS IT OVER LIKE A FENCE OR SHOW THROUGH LIKE A CHAIN LINK FENCE.

SO, UM, IF ICE HAS A WARRANT, UM, THE FIRST THING IS THAT, AGAIN, JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE PIECE OF PAPER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE OPEN THE DOOR TO RECEIVE IT.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AND READ THROUGH A DOCUMENT WITHOUT NECESSARILY OPENING YOUR DOOR.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING PEOPLE DO IS ASKING THEM TO GO TO A WINDOW AND LIKE PUT THE WARRANT UP AGAINST THE WINDOW.

'CAUSE THEN YOU CAN READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION, SEE IF IT'S SIGNED BY A JUDGE.

UM, THAT IS ONE WAY.

ANOTHER WAY IS, UM, THEY CAN PASS IT UNDERNEATH LIKE THE SLIT OF THE DOOR.

THAT'S USUALLY LIKE IN THE, UM, WIDTH FOR A PAPER TO GET THROUGH.

[00:30:01]

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE ICE CAN JUST LIKE COME IN AND GRAB YOU LIKE FREELY THEY WANT.

YOU WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING BE IN BETWEEN YOU AND THE AGENT, UM, WHEN YOU'RE, UH, SPEAKING TO THEM.

SO AT YOUR HOUSE, THAT COULD LOOK LIKE A WALL OR A WINDOW, UM, OR A FENCE.

UM, BUT WE ALWAYS SAY THAT IF ICE IS COMING TO YOUR DOOR, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY STAY, UM, INSIDE YOUR HOUSE AND NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR.

UM, JUST BECAUSE IF THERE'S A FENCE, UM, THEY CAN JUST LIKE OPEN IT OR GO OVER IT.

THAT IS A LINE THAT WE'VE SEEN THEM CROSS BEFORE.

SO, UM, THE DOOR AND LIKE A PHYSICAL BARRIER, SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN LOCK, UM, IS ALWAYS BEST, UM, WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PROTECT YOURSELF IN YOUR HOME.

YEAH.

SO I WANTED TO GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THESE WARRANTS LOOK LIKE AND WHAT THEY MAY PRESENT TO TRY AND TRICK YOU TO, UH, SHOW THAT THEY HAVE A JUDICIAL WARRANT.

UM, SO FIRST I WANTED TO GO OVER THE DOCUMENT THAT, UH, WE USED TO SAY THEY MORE OFTEN HAVE, WE'RE SEEING JUDICIAL WARRANTS A LITTLE MORE OFTEN NOW.

UM, BUT WANTED TO GO THROUGH A DOCUMENT THAT THEY HAVE FREQUENTLY TRIED TO PASS OFF AS A JUDICIAL WARRANT BECAUSE THEY'RE ANTICIPATING AND HOPING THAT FOLKS DON'T KNOW THEIR RIGHTS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE DOCUMENTS LOOK LIKE.

SO REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THESE DOCUMENTS ARE, WHAT DO THEY MEAN AND HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY THEM? RIGHT? SO FIRST WE HAVE, UH, THE DEPARTMENT WARRANT.

UH, THIS IS A WARRANT FROM, UM, THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OR ANOTHER SIMILAR AGENCY.

THIS ORDER DOES NOT ALLOW ICE TO ENTER INTO YOUR HOME WITHOUT PERMISSION.

SO IF THEY WERE TO PRESENT THIS DOCUMENT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO OPEN YOUR DOOR.

YOU STILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO, UM, TO DECIDE WHO GETS TO ENTER YOUR HOME.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO ENTER YOUR HOME WITHOUT A JUDICIAL WARRANT.

AND SO IF THEY WERE TO PRESENT THIS DOCUMENT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR.

AND IN A MOMENT, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, UH, AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOME CLOSEUPS, UH, ON HOW YOU CAN IDENTIFY THIS DOCUMENT.

SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS ONE, YOU'RE GONNA WANNA LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE DOCUMENT.

UM, ON THE TOP LEFT, IT SAYS, US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, NOT FROM A COURT, IT'S FROM AN AGENCY.

SO THAT'S, UH, THE FIRST THING YOU'LL WANNA NOTE, WHERE IS THIS, UH, DOCUMENT COMING FROM? SECOND, ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THE DOCUMENT, IT SAYS, WARRANT FOR ARREST OF ALIEN.

UM, IF IT'S USING IMMIGRATION TERMINOLOGY, MORE LIKELY THAN NOT, IT IS A, UM, AN ADMINISTRATIVE, UH, WARRANT, A DEPARTMENT WARRANT.

UM, AND SO IF YOU SEE WORDS LIKE THAT OR, UH, HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT, UM, THAT IS INDICATING THAT THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT STEMS FROM AN IMMIGRATION AGENCY AND NOT A COURT.

UH, SO THOSE ARE KIND OF, UH, SOME IMPORTANT ASPECTS TO NOTE WITHIN THE DOCUMENT.

IN ADDITION, ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF THE DOCUMENT, IT'S GONNA ASK FOR A SIGNATURE.

THERE YOU'LL SEE THAT IT NOTES THAT IT'S REQUESTING THE SIGNATURE OF AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER.

UH, SOMETIMES IT'LL SAY AN AUTHORIZED IMMIGRATION OFFICER, NOT A JUDGE.

SO THAT IS ONE OF THE OTHER KEY THINGS THAT YOU'LL WANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S NOT REQUESTING THE SIGNATURE OF A JUDGE, BUT RATHER AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER.

AND SO IF YOU SEE THOSE THINGS ON A DOCUMENT, UH, EVEN IF IMMIGRATION IS PRESENTING IT AS IF IT'S A JUDICIAL, A JUDICIAL WARRANT, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA WANNA LOOK TO SEE TO CONFIRM, UM, THAT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A JUDICIAL WARRANT, BUT RATHER A DEPARTMENT WARRANT.

NOW, WHAT DOES A JUDICIAL WARRANT LOOK LIKE? RIGHT? SO I HAVE AN IMAGE, UM, ABOVE THAT, UH, FOLKS CAN SEE.

AND FOR FOLKS ON ZOOM ON THE SCREEN.

UM, SO THE JUDICIAL WARRANT, UM, THIS WOULD BE A SEARCH AND SEIZURE WARRANT THAT ALLOWS IMMIGRATION AGENTS TO ENTER INTO THE ADDRESS THAT APPEARS ON THE DOCUMENT.

UM, SO WHAT I LIKE TO SAY FOR THE JUDICIAL WARRANT IS THAT THERE'S TWO STEPS HERE.

ONE, IDENTIFY THE DOCUMENT.

CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THIS IS A JUDICIAL WARRANT? AND THEN TWO, CONFIRMING THAT THE DETAILS ON THE WARRANT ARE CORRECT.

SO EVEN IF THEY HAVE A JUDICIAL WARRANT AND IT'S THE ACTUAL DOCUMENT THAT THEY SHOULD BE PRESENTING, THERE ARE STILL DETAILS ON THE WARRANT THAT HAVE TO BE CORRECT IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE, UM, UH, IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE ALLOWED TO BE USED AGAINST YOU TO ENTER INTO A PRIVATE SPACE SUCH AS YOUR HOME.

SO ON THE TOP OF THE DOCUMENT IN THE MIDDLE IT SAYS UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.

ALREADY WE SEE AN INDICATION THAT THIS IS COMING FROM A COURT, NOT AN IMMIGRATION AGENCY.

UM, IN ADDITION, UH, BELOW THAT INTO THE LEFT, YOU'LL SEE IT'S A KIND OF SMALL, MAYBE FOLKS CAN'T SEE IT, BUT IT SAYS IN THE MATTER OF THE SEARCH OF, THAT'S WHERE THERE'S GONNA BE DETAILS REGARDING WHO CAN THIS JUDICIAL WARRANT BE USED AGAINST AND WHERE.

SO THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO CONFIRM THAT DETAILS ARE CORRECT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF THIS WERE A WARRANT AGAINST MYSELF, MY NAME IS FERNANDO VEDO.

IF MY NAME IS SPELLED INCORRECTLY EVEN BY ONE LETTER, I WOULD SAY, THAT'S NOT ME.

YOU CAN'T USE THE JUDICIAL WARRANT AGAINST ME.

UM, IN ADDITION, IT SHOULD HAVE MY ADDRESS.

LET'S SAY I LIVE ON 1 2 3 MAIN STREET.

IF IT SAYS 1, 2, 3 MAIN BOULEVARD, THAT'S NOT MY ADDRESS.

YOU DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO ENTER INTO MY HOME.

UM, SAME IF IT'S A DIFFERENT APARTMENT NUMBER, IF THE, UH, NAME IS WRONG, IF THE NUMBERS ARE WRONG, ANY LITTLE THING THAT'S OFF ON THE ADDRESS, THAT'S NOT MY ADDRESS.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO ENTER INTO MY HOME.

UH,

[00:35:01]

BELOW THAT YOU'LL SEE IT SAYS SEARCH AND SEIZURE WARRANT, NOT ARREST FOR, UM, ARREST OF ALIEN, RIGHT? THIS IS A PERMISSION TO ENTER INTO A SPACE TO TAKE SOMETHING FROM THAT SPACE.

UM, SO THIS IS PROVIDING THAT PERMISSION TO ENTER INTO A PRIVATE SPACE SUCH AS A HOME.

UM, YOU'LL SEE A BOX IN RED WITH AN, UH, A RED ARROW.

UM, THERE IT'S INDICATING THAT THERE'S, UH, AN A DOCUMENT CALLED ATTACHMENT B.

SO YOU'LL ALSO WANT TO NOTE, DOES THIS DOCUMENT INDICATE THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN ATTACHMENT? AND IF SO, YOU WANT TO ONE, VERIFY THAT THE ATTACHMENT IS THERE AND THEN TWO, THAT THE DETAILS ON THAT ATTACHMENT ARE CORRECT.

UH, WE HAVE HEARD OF CASES WHERE FOLKS ARE PROVIDED WITH A JUDICIAL WARRANT, EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.

IT INDICATES THAT THERE'S AN ATTACHMENT, BUT THEN THE ATTACHMENT ISN'T ACTUALLY PROVIDED FOR FOLKS.

AND SO THAT COULD BE AN ISSUE.

AND SO MAKING SURE YOU'RE NOTING IS THERE AN ATTACHMENT, IS THE ATTACHMENT ACTUALLY PROVIDED AND ARE THE DETAILS CORRECT ON THAT ATTACHMENT? UM, I'LL SKIP ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM.

UH, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE IS, UM, ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, A SPACE THAT SAYS JUDGE'S SIGNATURE.

SO THAT'S THE KEY THING YOU WANNA LOOK FOR, RIGHT? IT'S REQUESTING THE SIGNATURE OF A JUDGE, NOT AN AUTHOR, UNAUTHORIZED IMMIGRATION OFFICER.

UM, A QUESTION WE OFTEN GET IS, HOW DO I KNOW THAT AN ACTUAL JUDGE SIGNED? RIGHT? COULDN'T AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER JUST SIGN AND PRETEND TO BE, UH, AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE? UM, ALTHOUGH THAT IS CORRECT, AND WE HAVE SEEN HISTORICALLY, AND ESPECIALLY NOW IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, UM, IT HAS FREQUENTLY BROKEN THE LAW.

ONE THING THAT WE HAVEN'T, UH, QUITE SEEN IS THEM IN IMPERSONATING A JUDGE.

AT LEAST WE HAVEN'T SEEN PATTERNS OF IT BECAUSE THERE'S, THERE ARE, UH, HIGHER CONSEQUENCES FOR, UH, AN IMMIGRATION OFFICIAL IMPERSONATING A JUDGE.

AND SO THE THING THAT WE SHARE IS THAT JUST MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS A SIGNATURE THERE ABOVE WHERE IT SAYS JUDGE'S SIGNATURE.

UM, ANOTHER QUESTION WE GET IS, DOES IT HAVE TO BE KIND OF, UM, YOU KNOW, A PEN? DOES IT HAVE TO BE AN INK SIGNATURE? CAN IT BE STAMPED ON? UM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE, IT'S, UM, A SIGNATURE THAT'S BEEN STAMPED.

SO EITHER, EITHER IS FINE.

SO JUST PROVIDING THAT LITTLE CLARIFICATION.

AND ON THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THE DOCUMENT, YOU'LL SEE IT SAYS DATE AND TIME, UH, THE WARRANT WAS ISSUED.

THIS IS KEY BECAUSE IF YOU JUMPED TO THE MIDDLE OF THE DOCUMENT, UM, UH, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A SECTION THAT SAYS, UH, YOU ARE COMMANDED TO EXECUTE THIS WARRANT ON OR BEFORE.

AND THAT'S INDICATING HOW LONG THE WARRANT IS VALID FOR.

UM, IN THIS EXAMPLE.

AND FREQUENTLY, UH, THESE WARRANTS, UM, WE'LL SAY 14 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE.

SO 14 DAYS, YOU'LL WANT TO JUMP BACK TO THE DATE, UH, AND TIME IT WAS ISSUED.

HERE WE SEE NOVEMBER 4TH, 2013.

UM, THIS HAS BEEN WAY MORE THAN 14 DAYS.

SO IF THIS WARRANT WERE TO BE SERVED ON ME AND ALL OF THE DETAILS WERE OTHERWISE CORRECT, I WOULD STILL SAY THIS WARRANT IS EXPIRED.

YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO ENTER INTO MY HOME AND YOU WOULD REFUSE ENTRY.

UM, SO THOSE ARE JUST, UH, HOW YOU CAN IDENTIFY THIS DOCUMENT AND THE DETAILS TO LOOK OVER TO ENSURE THAT EVERYTHING IS ACCURATE AND VALID TO BE USED AGAINST YOU.

AND THEN HERE ARE SOME CLOSEUPS.

AGAIN, I'LL JUST HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THEM.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT IS KEY.

DOES IT COME FROM A COURT? AND THEN ALSO IS IT ASKING FOR A JUDGE'S SIGNATURE? AND DOES IT INDEED HAVE THAT SIGNATURE THERE? UH, AND THEN, UH, I'LL GO THROUGH THE DISCLAIMER AGAIN.

SO JUST MAKING SURE IT'S CLEAR FOR FOLKS, UH, MAKING SURE NOT TO RELY ON THE SLIDES, UH, OR THE RECORDING BEYOND THE PURPOSES OF THIS PRESENTATION AS THINGS CHANGE.

AND WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE FOLKS HAVE, UM, THAT UPTODATE INFORMATION WITH THE CONTEXT THAT WE'RE PROVIDING TODAY.

YEAH, UM, JUST TO ALSO ADD AS TO WHY THE DISCLAIMER IS ALSO, UM, IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THE CHART THAT YOU ALL SAW EARLIER, THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS UNDER DIRECT, LIKE THE PRESIDENT IS THEIR BOSS.

SO ONCE THE PRESIDENT SAYS SOMETHING, THEY CAN THEN ENACT THAT.

SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE PUTTING THIS DISCLAIMER IS BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION MAKE A BUNCH OF CHANGES REALLY QUICKLY.

UM, SO WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A COUPLE MONTHS.

OKAY, SO, UH, WHAT CAN I DO IF ICE IS INSIDE OF MY HOUSE TO MAKE AN ARREST? UM, ON THE FIRST POINT, WHAT WE USED TO SAY IS THAT WE SHOULD TELL THE ICE OFFICERS THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN OR ANY VULNERABLE, UM, RESIDENTS IN THE HOME.

THAT CAN BE SOMEONE WHO IS ELDERLY, MAYBE SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION FROM HOME.

UM, BUT THE REASON WHY WE WOULD SAY THAT IS BECAUSE ICE USED TO NOT CONDUCT, UM, ARRESTS IN FRONT OF CHILDREN, UM, JUST TO HELP, UM, MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL LIKE PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE, UM, THAT THE CHILD COULD RECEIVE, UM, FROM SEEING THEIR PARENTS BE ARRESTED.

BUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THAT IN SOME CASES THEY TAKE LIKE THE WHOLE FAMILY AND WILL DEPORT THE WHOLE FAMILY TO THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN REGARDLESS OF STATUS OF UM, THE CHILDREN.

UM, SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT'S WHY WE KEEP MENTIONING THE DISCLAIMERS BECAUSE STUFF CHANGES ALL THE TIME.

UM, NOW I DON'T KNOW FERNANDO, IF THERE'S ANY, UM, LIKE NEXT STEPS FOR THIS SPECIFIC POINT, UM, THAT WE HAVE BEEN LIKE UPDATING FOLKS ON.

'CAUSE IT'S LIKE, AGAIN, IT'S REALLY HARD, UM, BECAUSE THINGS

[00:40:01]

CHANGE SO QUICKLY AND A LOT OF LINES ARE BEING CROSSED.

SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW IF THAT WILL BE HELPFUL ANYMORE.

UM, SO DEFINITELY LIKE SAY THAT AT YOUR OWN RISK AND KIND OF DO A OWN RISK ASSESSMENT, UM, IN THE MOMENT SHOULD YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THAT SITUATION.

UM, AGAIN, THIS IS WHY RECORDING IS IMPORTANT.

'CAUSE WHEN YOU'RE VO VOCALIZING, UM, YOUR RIGHTS, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE EVIDENCE OF THAT.

SO IF ICE IS IN YOUR HOME, WE ALWAYS SAY TO LEAVE UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ORDER SIGNED BY A JUDGE.

UM, IF THEY ENTER WITHOUT PERMISSION, SAYING THINGS LIKE, I DO NOT, UM, GIVE YOU MY CONSENT FOR YOU TO BE IN MY HOUSE, PLEASE GO, UM, ARE ALL THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD BE, UM, VOCALIZING.

'CAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE SEE IS THAT, UM, IF YOU DON'T VOCALIZE YOUR RIGHTS, LIKE LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT AND YOU DON'T ANSWER OR SAY, I'M USING MY RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, THEY CAN TAKE THAT AS PROBABLE CAUSE TO SAY, OH, THIS PERSON DOESN'T WANT TO TALK TO ME.

THEY'RE HIDING SOMETHING, SO I HAVE TO DETAIN THEM.

YEAH, SO QUICK, UH, CLARIFICATION THERE.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY THAT, UH, THEY HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE, BUT RATHER IN ORDER TO, IT SOUNDS A LITTLE, UM, A LITTLE IRONIC, BUT IN ORDER TO USE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO SAY, I'M USING MY RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.

UM, OTHERWISE THE UH, LEGAL PROTECTIONS DON'T KICK IN.

WHICH IS AGAIN, IRONIC, RIGHT? BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO USE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, JUST STAYING SILENT SHOULD KIND OF SHOW THAT.

BUT, UH, THROUGH A CASE LAW THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, YOU HAVE TO VOCALIZE THAT.

SO, UM, THAT'S THE REASON THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO VOCALIZE THAT.

AND THEN ALSO IF YOU'RE RECORDING, UM, IF YOU HAVE THIS, UH, RECORDED, IT ALSO HELPS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BASIS TO SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU WERE EXERCISING YOUR RIGHT.

AND DESPITE THAT, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT VIOLATED THAT BY CONTINUING TO DO AN ACTION THAT, UH, WASN'T PERMITTED THROUGH A JUDICIAL WARRANT.

AND, UM, YOU HADN'T GIVEN, YOU HADN'T GIVEN THEM PERMISSION TO DO THOSE ACTIONS.

JUST THAT QUICK CLARIFICATION.

UM, SO ANOTHER THING, ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR RIGHTS IS ALSO TO NOT HAVE YOUR PROPERTY LIKE SEARCHED AND SEIZED.

UM, SO AGAIN, THAT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO SAY.

I DO NOT GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO SEARCH MY PROPERTY.

AND WE DO TELL FOLKS TO LIKE PRACTICE THAT IN THE MIRROR OR LIKE WITH YOUR FRIENDS JUST BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET INTO THESE SITUATIONS, ICE REALLY TRIES TO LIKE BADGER PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM MESS UP BY BEING AGGRESSIVE OR ASKING A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS OR MAYBE JUST LIKE PHYSICALLY BEING INTIMIDATING.

UM, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO PRACTICE BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EMOTIONS THAT COME UP, UM, IN THESE SITUATIONS.

SO IF YOU'RE ABLE TO HAVE A PHRASE ALREADY DOWN THAT YOU CAN SAY EASILY, REGARDLESS OF ALL THE, OF ANY SITUATION, UM, THAT IS ALWAYS BEST.

AND THEN, UH, BE IF YOU DO GET DETAINED OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS DETAINED AND THEY HAVE MEDICAL PROBLEMS OR NEED TO MAKE, UM, CHILD ARRANGEMENTS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULD ALSO, UM, VOCALIZE ONCE YOU ARE, UM, IN ICE CUSTODY.

UM, JUST BECAUSE, UM, LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ARE SOMEONE THAT NEEDS LIKE MEDICATION, ICE IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU WHILE YOU'RE IN DETENTION.

UM, AND THAT STARTS THE WHOLE PROCESS ON THEIR END, UM, TO BE ABLE TO TRY TO GET THE MEDICATION FOR YOU.

UM, YEAH, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA ADD, FERNANDO? OKAY.

SO ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IS THAT ICE WILL ATTACK, UM, PLACES OF WORK.

UM, AND I WANTED TO PASS IT OVER TO FERNANDO TO GIVE A LITTLE, UM, JUST LIKE SMALL, UM, I GUESS CLARIFICATION ON AB FOUR 50.

UH, SO AB FOUR 50 AS MENTIONED ON THE SLIDE IS, UM, A LAW THAT HAS BEEN ENACTED IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, UH, THAT REQUIRES, UH, EMPLOYERS TO PROHIBIT IMMIGRATION FROM COMING INTO THEIR WORKPLACES, UH, THROUGH CONSENT.

UM, AND SO AS WE KIND OF WENT OVER WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE HOME, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT CAN ONLY COME IN UNDER TWO WAYS.

ONE, DID YOU GIVE THEM PERMISSION TO ENTER? AND IF YOU DIDN'T, DID THEY HAVE THAT JUDICIAL WARRANT TO COME IN? RIGHT? THAT SAME THING APPLIES TO DIFFERENT, UH, SPACES INCLUDING THE WORKPLACE.

AND SO, UM, IN THE WORKPLACE, UM, IT WOULD BE UP TO THE EMPLOYER, THE OWNER OF THAT, UM, THAT LOCATION TO DECIDE WHO ARE THEY PERMITTING TO ENTER INTO THOSE SPACES, RIGHT? UM, AND SO IF YOU HAVE A PRIVATE SPACE IN THE WORKPLACE, A SPACE THAT, UM, EMPLOYERS CAN PROTECT THEIR EMPLOYEES IN UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW, SO THIS IS STATE SPECIFIC UNDER AB FOUR 50, UM, THEY'RE PROHIBITED FROM, UM, PROVIDING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT THAT CONSENT TO ENTER.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THAT MEANS THAT, UH, THAT IF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT WERE TO ATTEMPT TO ENTER INTO A PRIVATE SPACE AT A WORKPLACE, THEY TRULY DO NEED THAT JUDICIAL WARRANT IN ORDER TO ENTER.

SO, UH, SOMETHING THAT I HIGHLIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I PRESENT TO, UM, BUSINESS OWNERS IS NOT ONLY IS IT A MORAL OBLIGATION TO TRY AND PROTECT YOUR WORKERS, BUT UNDER, UH, THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IT'S ALSO A LEGAL ONE.

UM, AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT EMPLOYERS MANAGERS, UM, KNOW WHAT THEIR REQUIREMENTS ARE UNDER AB FOUR 50 SO THAT THEY CAN PROTECT THEIR WORKERS, UM, UH, AS STIPULATED UNDER THAT

[00:45:01]

LAW.

YEAH.

UM, SO ANOTHER THING TOO IS LIKE IF I DOES COME TO YOUR WORK, SOMETHING THAT WE ALSO SAY AND LIKE, UM, ACROSS ALL THESE SCENARIOS IS NOT TO RUN.

I KNOW IT CAN BE REALLY HARD AND IT MIGHT BE LIKE INSTINCT TO JUST KIND OF WANNA LIKE BOLT OUT OF THE SITUATION, BUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING IS THAT THEY WILL LIKELY CHASE YOU AND THAT IS ENOUGH REASON TO ARREST YOU.

UM, JUST 'CAUSE THEY CAN SAY LIKE, OH, THIS PERSON WAS RUNNING FOR ME.

UM, SO THEY MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE.

UM, THAT AGAIN, GOES BACK TO THE POINT OF ICE.

ALSO LOOKING FOR LIKE ANY AND ALL REASON, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ARREST PEOPLE.

UM, 'CAUSE THEY, AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT, UM, FOCUSED ON THE DUE PROCESS.

THEY'RE JUST FOCUSED ON INCREASING THE, THE NUMBERS THAT THEY'RE, UH, BEING TAPED IN.

SO AGAIN, YOU WANNA ALWAYS VOCALIZE YOUR RIGHTS AT WORK.

UH, YOU CAN ALWAYS REMAIN SILENT AND ASK TO SPEAK TO A LAWYER.

UM, FOR EXAMPLE, IN SOME CASES THAT, UM, WE SAW AT LIKE A HYUNDAI FACTORY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I'M NOT SURE IF PEOPLE WERE AWARE OF THAT SITUATION WHERE ICE WENT TO A FACTORY AND THEN HAD THE OFF THE PEOPLE LIKE SELF-SELECT.

AND THEY SAID, IF YOU DON'T HAVE PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS, GO TO THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM.

IF YOU DO GO TO THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM.

SO THAT IT'S SOMETHING, A TACTIC THAT WE'RE BEING, THAT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING AS WELL.

UM, AND IN THAT SITUATION, SHOULD THAT HAPPEN AT YOUR WORK? UM, I THINK THAT WE WOULD SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF POWER IN SOLIDARITY.

SO IF, LET'S SAY FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WERE TO COME INTO THIS ROOM AND NONE OF US SELF-IDENTIFY AS FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS, THAT MAKES IT A LOT HARDER FOR US TO DO THEIR JOB.

UM, SO AGAIN, IT ALWAYS IS A CHOICE NOT TO PRESENT.

UM, THESE LIKE DOCUMENTS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SELF-IDENTIFY.

UM, THERE ARE SOME CASES WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO LIKE GIVE YOUR UM, IDENTIFICATION, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, IF THEY JUST BARGE INTO YOUR ROOM, THEY DON'T UNTIL YOUR WORKPLACE, YOU DON'T NEED TO, UM, GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION.

UM, OR EVEN SAY LIKE IF THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SPECIFIC PERSON, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY LIKE, OH, THEY'RE NOT HERE RIGHT NOW, OR THEY DON'T WORK HERE ANYMORE.

UM, ANOTHER THING IS NOT TO LIE BECAUSE LYING ALSO PUTS YOU IN OF A LOT OF RISK, AGAIN, TO THAT POINT OF LIKE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANY AND ANY ANY REASON.

UM, SO LYING ALSO GIVES THEM, UM, A REASON TO, UM, CONDUCT INVESTIGATIONS.

AND THEN, UM, ANOTHER SITUATION THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IS IF YOU'RE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR, UM, SOMETIMES THEY HAVE LIKE THE LIGHTS TO AND SIRENS TO LIKE PULL YOU OVER.

SO IF THAT HAPPENS, WE DEFINITELY RECOMMEND LIKE NOT OPENING THE DOOR ALL THE WAY, LIKE ENOUGH FOR A PERSON, UM, TO REACH IN.

WE DEFINITELY WANT, UM, FOLKS TO REMAIN, UM, IN THEIR CAR.

UM, AND ALWAYS TRY TO, UM, EXERCISE ALL OF YOUR RIGHTS.

SO YOU WOULD TREAT IT LIKE A NORMAL TRAFFIC STOP.

YOU HAVE TO PRESENT YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE, CAR REGISTRATION AND PROOF OF INSURANCE, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN ANY MORE THAN TO JUST LIKE SHOW IT OR LIKE TO HAND IT TO THE OFFICER.

AGAIN, LIKE IN THE EXAMPLE OF FOR YOUR HOME, YOU CAN JUST PUT YOUR LICENSE UP AGAINST THE DOOR, UM, JUST 'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY DON'T GIVE DOCUMENTS BACK WHEN THEY GET THEIR HANDS ON 'EM IN A WAY TO GET YOU OUT OF YOUR CAR.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE METHODS OF LIKE THE SEAT THAT THEY USE.

IF LIKE THEY TAKE YOUR LICENSE, THEN YOU HAVE TO GET OUTTA YOUR CAR AND THEN THEY CAN GO AHEAD, UM, AND ARREST YOU.

ANOTHER THING IS THAT THEY'LL ASK LIKE CONFUSING QUESTIONS LIKE, OH, LIKE WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU COMING FROM? LIKE, WHERE DO YOU, WHERE'S YOUR HOME COUNTRY? WHERE DO YOU LIVE? UM, AND WE SAY NOT TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND JUST DECLARE THAT YOU WANT TO USE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANY REASON TO BE ABLE TO USE THE UM, LIKE FORCE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE SOMEONE.

SO AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

YOU JUST HAVE TO PRESENT YOUR LICENSE, CAR REGISTRATION, UM, AND PROOF OF INSURANCE.

AND AGAIN, DO NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR UNLESS THERE'S AN EXPLICIT ORDER.

AND THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR OWN RISK ASSESSMENT WITH.

LIKE IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO OUT 'CAUSE YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE, 'CAUSE YOU FEAR THAT SOMETHING MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU, YOU ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO GET OUT, I DON'T FEEL UNSAFE.

UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS, IF YOU ALL HAVE ALSO SEEN THAT VIDEO OF THAT REALLY OLD VIDEO, UM, NOW A COUPLE MONTHS AGO OF AN ICE AGENT LIKE BREAKING THE WINDOW OF SOMEONE'S CAR TO LIKE REMOVE THEM.

UM, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BECOME LIKE A TREND IN ACTIVITY.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NOT DOING LIKE PRETTY COMMONLY.

UM, BUT LIKE THE WAY SOCIAL MEDIA WORKS IS LIKE THE MOST JARRING EXAMPLES OF THINGS GET, YOU KNOW, FILTERED TO HAVE THE MOST EYES ON THEM.

UM, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT SEEING BE LIKE A COMMON PRACTICE.

UM, BUT AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS AGENCY REALLY HAS THE POWER RIGHT NOW TO DO LIKE WHATEVER THEY WANT WITH VERY LITTLE REPERCUSSIONS.

SO THAT'S ALSO LIKE A RISK THAT WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE, UM, AS WELL.

AND ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER,

[00:50:01]

UH, AS A POSSIBILITY.

BUT AGAIN, THAT HASN'T BECOME LIKE A COMMON THREAD.

OH, AND THEN YOU SHOULD ALSO REFUSE, UM, THE SEARCH OF YOUR PERSON AND YOUR CAR JUST BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY NEED A WARRANT.

LIKE YOUR CAR IS YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY, JUST LIKE YOUR HOUSE WOULD BE.

SO THEY NEED A WARRANT TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO THAT.

UM, DEFINITELY LIKE DON'T LEAVE YOUR CAR UNLOCKED.

LIKE IF YOU GET OUT OF THE, FOR WHATEVER REASON FOR THE STOP BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN SAY, UM, COULD CONNECT YOU TO ANOTHER COUNTRY TO SAY, OH, THIS PERSON DOESN'T HAVE STATUS HERE, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND LIKE ARREST THEM.

SO NEVER, UM, ALLOW ANYONE INTO YOUR CAR, UM, FOR A SEARCH.

'CAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD USE, UM, AGAINST YOU.

SO THEN, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE STREET.

UM, SO TYPICALLY WHEN YOU THINK OF A STREET, THIS IS A PUBLIC SPACE, SO I LIKE TO KIND OF GIVE THE IDEA OF A SIDEWALK, RIGHT? ANYONE CAN WALK ON THAT SIDEWALK.

UM, JUST AS YOU OR I COULD BE ON A SIDEWALK IN ANY OF THOSE PUBLIC SPACES ON THE STREET, IMMIGRATION POLICE COULD ALSO BE IN THOSE SPACES.

UM, AND SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT YOU, UH, CAN UTILIZE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.

SO IMMIGRATION, UM, JUST BASED OFF OF LOOKING AT ANY OF US, YOU CAN'T DETERMINE IF SOMEONE IS UNDOCUMENTED OR NOT.

UM, AND SO THEY NEED TO AND SHOULD BE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT INFORMATION THEY CAN GATHER TO MAKE THAT ASCERTAIN.

UM, SO SOMETHING THAT THEY MAY DO IS TRYING TO ASK QUESTIONS, RIGHT? BUT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.

AND SO WE SHOULD SAY, AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO EXACTLY BE THIS PHRASE, BUT I HAVE THE RIGHT NOT TO TALK TO YOU AND I'M NOT GOING TO TALK.

THE IMPORTANT THING IS VOCALIZING THAT, RIGHT? AND MAKING SURE THAT IT'S WE'RE BEING CLEAR THAT WE'RE USING OUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, NOT ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS.

THEY MAY CONTINUE TO PESTER US AND TRY AND GET US TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, UM, TO THE EXTENT WE CAN.

UH, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, IF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS HAPPENING OR POTENTIALLY MAY BE HAPPENING, UM, IT'S A STRESSFUL SITUATION, RIGHT? IT'S A REALLY SCARY SITUATION FOR FOLKS.

AND SO, UH, ONE, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, TRY AND STAY CALM AND DON'T RUN.

UM, BECAUSE WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS EVIDENCE THAT THEY CAN USE TO SAY, HEY, THIS PERSON, UM, HAS PROVIDED ME WITH A REASON TO BE SUSPICIOUS OF THEM, WHETHER BASED OFF OF AN ANSWER TO A QUESTION OR MAYBE SOMEONE IS RUNNING AWAY FROM ME.

UM, AND EVEN THOUGH THAT SHOULDN'T BE ENOUGH TO, FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE THAT, UM, SUSPICION THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, RIGHT? AND SO MAKING SURE TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, THAT WE STAY CALM AND THAT WE DON'T RUN.

UM, ALSO IF YOU ARE EVER FACING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, YOU CAN ALWAYS ASK, UM, IF YOU ARE BEING ARRESTED OR DETAINED.

SO YOU CAN SAY, UM, AM I UNDER ARREST? AM I FREE TO GO? UM, IF THEY SAY YES, AGAIN, WE WANNA STAY CALM AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT RUNNING.

UM, AND BUT YOU KNOW, GETTING OUT OF THAT SITUATION, WALKING AWAY, MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS, EVEN IF THEY HAVE SAID WE ARE FREE TO GO.

UM, AND THEN SOMETHING THAT WE ALSO SHARE, UH, ONE I WANNA HIGHLIGHT, UH, OR AS AN ORGANIZATION ISN'T HERE TO JUDGE FOLKS OFF OF THE CHOICES THAT THEY MAKE.

UM, THE REALITY OF, UM, THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN IS THAT SOMETIMES FOLKS MAY, UH, REQUIRE A FIELD THAT THEY NEED FALSE DOCUMENTS TO, UH, ACCESS SERVICES, ACCESS DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY NEED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND SO SOMETIMES FOLKS HAVE FALSE DOCUMENTS AND AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE NOT HERE TO JUDGE, WE JUST MENTIONED, UM, ON THIS SLIDE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN TRY NOT TO CARRY THOSE FALSE DOCUMENTS BECAUSE IF WE ARE STOPPED AND IMMIGRATION, UM, DOES SEARCH OUR PERSON AND THEY FIND THOSE FALSE DOCUMENTS, THAT CAN BE SOMETHING THAT HURTS US IN THAT IMMIGRATION CASE.

AND SO, UM, RECOGNIZING SOMETIMES WE NEED THEM, BUT ALSO CAN WE EVALUATE ON A DAILY BASIS FOR OURSELVES BECAUSE US AS , WE'RE NOT GONNA TELL FOLKS WHETHER YOU SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T CARRY THEM.

THAT'S A PERSONAL DECISION BASED OFF OF THE REASON THAT YOU HAVE THAT FALSE DOCUMENTATION.

UM, BUT MAKING THAT ASSESSMENT, DO I NEED TO CARRY THIS EVERY DAY? DO I ONLY NEED THIS FOR CERTAIN DAYS? UM, AND ALSO DETERMINING OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT I CAN POTENTIALLY ACCESS EVEN THOUGH I MAY NOT BE DOCUMENTED.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE JUST NEEDS A, UM, AN ID, SOMETHING THAT WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO LOOK FOR, UH, IS A LIBRARY CARD, MAYBE THAT CAN SUFFICE FOR WHATEVER SERVICE YOU NEED.

UM, AND SO JUST TRYING TO SEE IF THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE FOR, UM, SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO CARRY AROUND THAT FALSE DOCUMENT.

BUT MAKING THAT SELF-ASSESSMENT TO SEE WHAT IS BEST FOR ME, UH, DEPENDING ON THE REASONING THAT I HAVE THE DOCUMENT AND UH, WHAT I NEEDED FOR.

FOUND, UM, ON THINGS LIKE, UM, LIKE ANY IMMIGRATION COURT, UM, DOCUMENTS.

UM, A BIG LIKE ASTERISK ON THIS NEXT ONE.

UM, THIS IS THE, UH, ICE DETAINEE LOCATOR.

SO IF A FAMILY MEMBER OR SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW IS TAKEN BY ICE, THIS IS A RESOURCE THAT YOU CAN USE TO LOCATE THEM.

UM, WHAT YOU WILL NEED IS IF PEOPLE ARE IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS OR GET, UM, TAKEN TO A FACILITY BY ICE, THEY'RE GIVEN AN A NUMBER, UM, OR THAT STANDS FOR THE WORDS OF, UM, THE UNITED STATES, NOT MINE, AN ALIEN NUMBER.

UM, THERE IT'S LIKE JUST THE TERM THAT THEY USE TO DESCRIBE FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE LEGAL PERMANENT STATUS.

UM, SO THAT'S WHAT THE A STANDS FOR.

UM, IT'S USUALLY A NINE DIGIT NUMBER THAT CAN BE

[00:55:01]

SO YOU CAN USE THAT NUMBER COUPLED WITH THE COUNTRY OF BIRTH OF THE PERSON TO BE ABLE TO FIND WHERE SOMEONE IS LOCATED.

UM, IN ONE OF THE IMMIGRATION FACILITIES.

UM, HERE, SOMETIMES UH, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT IT'S UP TO THE ICE OFFICERS THAT ARE THERE THAT DAY TO UPLOAD THAT INFORMATION.

UM, SO IF SOMEONE THAT YOU KNOW IS TAKEN, IT MIGHT TAKE A DAY OR TWO FOR THEM TO POP UP INTO THE SYSTEM JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LIKE REALLY LIKE, FOCUSED ON THIS, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO.

SO THEY KIND OF GET AROUND, UM, TO WHENEVER UM, THEY WANT TO DO IT.

UM, BUT GENERALLY WE'VE BEEN SEEING LIKE 24 TO 48 HOURS, UM, TO UH, SEE THAT CHANGE.

AND THE REASON WHY I MENTIONED THERE'S A BIG ASTERISK ON THIS ONE IS BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY NOT WORKING DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

UM, THAT'S ONE OF THE TOOLS THAT WAS IMPACTED BY THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

SO UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE NOT ABLE TO USE THIS TOOL CURRENTLY.

I'M NOT SURE IF THERE'S AN UPDATE ON THAT.

YEAH, SO IT WAS TEMPORARILY DOWN, I BELIEVE IT WAS EARLIER THIS WEEK, MAYBE INTO THE END OF LAST WEEK.

UM, LAST I CHECKED AS OF YESTERDAY, IT IS FUNCTIONING, I BELIEVE IT WAS ONLY DOWN FOR A FEW HOURS.

UH, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN COULD IMPACT WHETHER THE UH, SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING.

UM, HOWEVER, UM, LARGELY, UH, THE IMMIGRATION SHUTDOWN HASN'T IMPACTED, UM, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

UM, SO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT IS STILL CONTINUING, UM, AS IT HAS BEEN EVEN BEFORE.

UM, AND THE DIFFERENT AGENCIES ALSO, UH, LARGELY HAVEN'T BEEN IMPACTED DUE TO AN EXCEPTION, UM, THAT, UH, HAS BEEN PLACED.

UH, AND SO, UH, CAN IT GO DOWN? IT COULD, UH, AT THE MOMENT I BELIEVE IT IS UP.

UH, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO JUST CHECK MAKING SURE IT'S UP.

UH, AND THEN FREQUENTLY JUST KIND OF CHECKING BACK IN CASE IT EVER IS EVER DOWN SO THAT YOU CAN UTILIZE THAT RESOURCE TO FIND A LOVED ONE IF NEEDED.

AND THAT'S AN EXAMPLE JUST TO SHOW Y'ALL HOW FAST THESE THINGS CHANGES.

'CAUSE A COUPLE DAYS AGO WHEN I TRIED TO USE IT, IT DIDN'T WORK.

UM, SO THAT'S HOW WE KNOW THAT LIKE THESE CHANGES HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY AS WELL.

SO JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT TO FERNANDO'S POINT TO LIKE CHECKING IN ON THE SYSTEM TO SEE IF IT'S UP TO DATE, UM, WOULD BE HELPFUL JUST BEFORE YOU START USING IT.

'CAUSE AGAIN, WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WILL LAST AND IF THE TOOL WILL GO DOWN AGAIN AND IF IT DOES FOR HOW LONG? SO FAMILY PREPAREDNESS.

UM, SO WE MENTIONED DIFFERENT RIGHTS THAT FOLKS HAVE AND HOW YOU CAN USE THAT TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR FAMILIES, UM, TO PREPARE FOR THE WORST, RIGHT? IT'S, UH, UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION FOR FAMILIES TO HAVE.

UM, BUT IT'S BETTER TO HAVE THAT PREPAREDNESS IN PLACE IN CASE SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN.

THE FAMILY KNOWS HOW THEY CAN, UM, ASSIGN DIFFERENT ROLES, ASSIGN DIFFERENT THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT DIFFERENT DUTIES, DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

UM, AND SO THESE ARE JUST A FEW POINTS THAT WE RECOMMEND FOR FOLKS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, UH, WHEN PREPARING AND HAVING THAT CONVERSATION WITH FAMILY.

SO ONE, HAVE THE NAME OF A TRUSTED LAWYER, HAVING THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION, UM, UH, SOMEWHERE CENTRALIZED SO THAT FAMILY LOVED ONES KNOW WHERE TO ACCESS THAT INFORMATION IF NEEDED.

UH, KEEPING IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN A FOLDER AND LETTING CHILDREN, FAMILY, LOVED ONES, KNOW WHERE ALL OF THOSE IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ARE SO THAT IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, FOLKS AREN'T SCRAMBLING TO FIND, OH, WHERE'S THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE? WHERE'S THEIR PASSPORT? WHERE'S THIS, WHERE'S THAT? RIGHT? WE ALL KNOW WHERE THIS IS ALREADY LOCATED IN THE HOME.

UM, MAKING SURE WE'RE INCLUDING CHILDREN IN THE PLAN.

UM, I THINK IT'S ONE, A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE GENERALLY, BUT ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR CHILDREN INTO THOSE CONVERSATIONS, IT'S HARD.

BUT WE DO ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO INCLUDE YOUR CHILDREN INTO THAT PLAN BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE DECISIONS ULTIMATELY ARE GONNA IMPACT THE CHILDREN.

UM, AND SO MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE A PART OF THAT PLAN AND THAT EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE IN TERMS OF, UH, WHAT STEPS ARE GONNA BE TAKEN IF SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN.

IN ADDITION, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE A DESIGNATED PERSON WHO CAN CARE FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

UM, AND SO MAKING SURE THAT THAT PERSON HAS A COPY OF YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE INFORMING SCHOOLS DAYCARES OF EMERGENCY CONTACTS SO THAT THAT DESIGNATED PERSON CAN THEN PICK UP THAT CHILD IN CASE YOU AREN'T ABLE.

UM, SO SOMETHING THAT WE ENCOURAGE AND THAT, UH, WE'VE COMMUNICATED WITH L-B-U-S-D ON, UM, IS, UH, THEY'RE ENCOURAGING FAMILIES TO INCLUDE AS MANY CON EMERGENCY CONTACTS AS POSSIBLE.

UM, SO MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE SHARING ALL OF THOSE EMERGENCY CONTACTS AND IN ADDITION, MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE FOLKS WHO, UH, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE HAVE LEGAL STATUS THAT YOU CAN TRUST.

BECAUSE IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO, IF EVERYONE WHO IS ON YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST IS UNDOCUMENTED, MAYBE THERE'S NOT SOMEONE WHO'S GONNA BE ABLE TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD.

SO TO THE EXTENT YOU CAN, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE SOMEONE WITH LEGAL STATUS AVAILABLE TO BE ON THAT EMERGENCY CONTACT LIST.

UM, IN ADDITION, IF THE CHILD HAS ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS, MAKING SURE YOU WRITE DOWN THOSE INSTRUCTIONS.

UM, WHO'S THEIR DOCTOR, UM, WITH WHAT FREQUENCY DO THEY NEED TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS WITH THAT DOCTOR? UH, ARE THEY ON ANY MEDICATIONS? WITH WHAT FREQUENCY DO THEY NEED TO TAKE THOSE MEDICATIONS? UM, WHAT ALLERGIES DO THEY HAVE, RIGHT? SO MAKING SURE THAT

[01:00:01]

WHOEVER THIS DESIGNATED CARETAKER IS HAS THIS INFORMATION TO KNOW HOW TO BEST TAKE CARE OF, UM, YOUR CHILD OR CHILDREN.

AND IN ADDITION, UM, THINKING ABOUT WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR CHILD TO STAY IF A PARENT, BOTH PARENTS, GUARDIANS ARE DEPORTED, WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO STAY IN THE UNITED STATES WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU TRUST OR WOULD YOU WANT THEM TO GO, UH, TO HOME COUNTRY WITH YOU? UM, IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION TO HAVE.

AGAIN, WE ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION AND MAKING SURE THAT A CHILD HAS A VALID PASSPORT.

UM, IT'S MUCH EASIER OF A PROCESS IF YOU HAVE, UM, THE PARENTS AVAILABLE TO, UH, HELP ALONG WITH THAT APPLICATION.

UM, SO WE DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE, UM, VALID PASSPORTS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT EXPIRED.

UM, FOLKS, WE'RE NOW AT ABOUT AN HOUR, SO I KNOW YOU'VE REACHED THE END OF YOUR INFORMATIONAL SLIDES, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST MAYBE A COUPLE MORE MINUTES ON YOUR REMAINING ONES.

SOUNDS GOOD.

UH, SO HERE I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT OUR COMMUNITY DEFENSE NETWORK.

UM, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT? YEAH, SO THIS IS PART OF MY JOB AS THE RAPID RESPONSE ORGANIZER.

THIS PHONE NUMBER IS LINKED TO MY PHONE, MY WORK PHONE, AS WELL AS THE PHONE OF OTHER VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE DESIGNATED THEMSELVES TO WANT TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE THE HOTLINE.

UM, SO PLEASE SAVE THIS NUMBER.

IF YOU SEE ANY ICE ACTIVITY, UM, IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, I WILL LIKELY PICK UP THE CALL AND THEN MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER WE SEND OUT VOLUNTEERS TO DOCUMENT, UM, HELP COLLECT INFORMATION OF ANY ICE RAIDS, UM, THAT IS GOING ON IN THE AREA.

AND ALWAYS JUST LIKE A GENERAL TIP, THE MORE INFORMATION YOU'RE ABLE TO GIVE ME, THE BETTER JUST BECAUSE, UM, THERE'S LIKE CRITERIA THAT HAVE TO BE MET IN ORDER FOR US TO SEND SOMEBODY OUT.

UM, SO SOME OF THAT CRITERIA INCLUDES LIKE HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE, UM, HOW, LIKE, UH, WHAT KIND OF VEHICLES WERE THEY USING? DID THEY HAVE WEAPONS? WHAT WERE THEY WEARING? ALL OF THOSE DETAILS ARE USEFUL.

UM, REPORTING TO THE HOTLINE JUST SO THAT I CAN TELL OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THEN ALSO TELL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN LONG BEACH AS WELL THAT THERE'S SOMETHING GOING ON.

AND THEN, UM, THIS QR CODE, I AM NOT SURE WHERE IT LEADS.

FERNANDO, YOU PROBABLY KNOW BETTER THAN I DO.

YEAH, SO HERE IS JUST KIND OF SUMMING UP WHAT WE WENT OVER TODAY.

UH, FOR PURPOSES OF TIME, I'LL KIND OF LET Y'ALL READ THAT.

UH, REGARDING THE RESOURCES DISCUSSED, UM, THE QR CODE LEADS TO AN THE ICE DETAINEE LOCATOR.

SO YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THAT, UM, AS WELL AS A WEBSITE THAT YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR ZIP CODE AND IT'LL UH, DIRECT YOU TO LOCAL NONPROFITS WHO MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, FREE IMMIGRATION SUPPORT AS WELL AS A FEW OTHER RESOURCES.

SO WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS, UM, GET DOWN THAT QR CODE, UH, TAKE OUT YOUR PHONE, SCAN IT WITH YOUR PHONE, UH, AND YOU'LL BE LED TO A LINK TREE THAT HAS ALL OF THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.

UH, AND THEN HERE IS JUST ORDER'S CONTACT INFORMATION.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL HAVE TIME FOR QUESTIONS, UH, BUT YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO TAKE DOWN, UM, OUR, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION AND OUR EMAIL TO REACH OUT IN CASE FOLKS HAVE QUESTIONS.

UM, AND THEN, UH, AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, IF FOLKS HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT MAYBE I CAN ANSWER, I'LL BE IN THE BACK FOR A MINUTE OR TWO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW IS GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN I'LL INVITE YOU BACK FOR A DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS.

IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE STAND NOW.

AND IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE AT THIS TIME SO WE CAN DETERMINE HOW MANY SPEAKERS.

SEEING NONE.

THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM, AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IN ZOOM.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, NOW, COMMISSIONERS, CAN WE PLEASE MOVE TO QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? UM, I WOULD REMIND FOLKS OF OUR COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS WE ADOPTED TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TRY TO BE CONCISE AND MAYBE MAINTAIN JUST ONE COMMENT OR NOT SPEAK MULTIPLE TIMES.

JUST BECAUSE WE'RE A LITTLE PRESSED FOR TIME ON, ON THIS MEETING, WE HAVE SOME YOUNG STUDENTS WITH US TODAY WHO NEED TO PRESENT AND GO HOME AND DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

SO IF WE COULD JUST BE KIND OF PRUDENT IN, IN OUR QUESTION IN DISCUSSIONS, I WOULD APPRECIATE THAT.

SO, UM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE A QUESTION OR WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT? UH, COMMISSIONER, VICE CHAIR, TOTA.

THANK YOU FOR RAISING THAT QUESTION.

PRECEDENT.

UM, YES, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR THIS VERY INFORMATIVE, VERY COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION.

I WISH WE HAD MORE TIME SO WE COULD GET INTO A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT I KNOW THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

I DO HAVE THE ONE QUESTION.

WHAT CAN WE DO, WE, AS A COMMISSIONER DO FOR YOU? HOW CAN WE SUPPORT YOU? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO DO TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING OUT THERE? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

[01:05:01]

UM, AT THE MOMENT I MENTIONED, UH, THE LONG BEACH JUSTICE FUND, A CITY FUND THAT'S HELPING TO CONNECT FOLKS TO LEGAL SERVICES.

UM, AT THE MOMENT, THE FUND IS ON AN EMERGENCY CONTRACT, UM, THAT WITH LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AT CAPACITY.

UM, SO AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO BE HIT WITH MORE RAIDS, UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE LEGAL SUPPORT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO BEFORE.

UM, AND IN ADDITION, WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE, UM, WHAT'S CALLED AFFIRMATIVE SERVICES.

SO FOR FOLKS TO APPLY FOR IMMIGRATION BENEFITS BEFORE THEY'RE IN IMMIGRATION PROCEEDINGS TO BEGIN WITH, UM, AND APPELLATE LEGAL SERVICES.

SO IF THEIR INITIAL CASE DOESN'T GO THE RIGHT WAY, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO, UH, LEGAL SUPPORT TO APPEAL THOSE NEGATIVE DECISIONS.

UM, AND SO IN AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE AT THE PROCESS OF, UM, GETTING, UH, AGENDA AS THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE TO APPROVE, UH, NEW LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS SO THAT THEY CAN BEGIN WORK AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

UM, BUT AS, AS, AS I'M SURE YOU ALL ARE ALL AWARE, IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME TO GET THINGS AGENDIZED AND FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE.

SO IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC IF THE COMMISSION COULD WRITE A LETTER, UH, TO THE CITY MANAGER, TO TOM TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT PROCESS TO BE EXPEDITED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

UH, BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY TRULY NEEDS THE LEGAL SUPPORT NOW.

UM, AND ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS TAKE TIME, THE MORE TIME THAT PASSES, UH, THE MORE TIMES THAT FOLKS WILL GO WITHOUT LEGAL SUPPORT.

UM, SO I HUMBLY MAKE THAT REQUEST TO THE COMMISSION, UM, AND WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF A LETTER COULD BE SENT OUT, UM, TO SUPPORT EXPEDITING THAT PROCESS SO THAT CITY COUNCIL COULD VOTE, UM, TO ONE WELL ACTUALLY TO HAVE THIS AGENDA AND SO CITY COUNCIL COULD VOTE SO THAT WE CAN GET THESE NEW LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDERS UP AND RUNNING TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, IF THE OTHER, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO SAY IF THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS, WHEN YOU HAVE A COMMENT, IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND, 'CAUSE I'M NOT TRAINED ON THE SYSTEM YET, COMMISSIONER LEVI VIOLET.

UM, YOU WERE SAYING THAT THAT, UM, REMEDIES AND AND RELIEF THAT USED TO BE AVAILABLE IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYMORE.

ARE YOU SEEING RELIEF FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS? YEAH, SO IT DEPENDS, UM, THROUGH DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS AND HISTORICALLY OVER TIME ASYLUM CLAIMS, UM, THEIR SUCCESS HAS CHANGED DEPENDING ON, UM, DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS.

AND SO ONE THAT'LL HIGHLIGHT, UM, IS THAT FREQUENTLY, UH, WHEN IMMIGRATION, UM, LAWYERS SUCH AS MYSELF ARE TALKING TO CLIENTS, TALKING TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, WE'RE TRYING TO ASSESS, UH, WHAT IS THE BASIS OF YOUR FEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR RETURNING TO HOME COUNTRY IF WE'RE SPEAKING ABOUT ASYLUM.

UM, AND SO ONE THING THAT, UH, WE LOOK TO IS, IS THERE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE? UM, IS THERE, UM, A FORCED RELATIONSHIP, UM, DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, UH, WE LOOK TO, TO SEE IS THERE A BASIS FOR YOUR ASYLUM CLAIM UNDER DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND DIFFERENT, UM, OTHER DETAILS? 'CAUSE IT CAN'T JUST SOLELY BE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BUT IT CAN FORM A PART OF A BASIS OF THAT CLAIM.

UM, HAS BROUGHT SUCCESS FOR DIFFERENT ASYLUM APPLICATIONS, UM, BUT CURRENTLY, UH, DIFFERENT, UH, APPLICATIONS FOR, UM, UH, WITH THAT BASIS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

UM, SOME, SOME OF THEM BEING GENDER-BASED CLAIMS, UM, AREN'T HAVING THE SUCCESS THAT THEY USED TO.

UM, AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, UH, THE CONVERSATIONS THAT IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS ARE HAVING TO HAVE IS THAT ONE, UNDER THE CURRENT LEGAL LANDSCAPE, THIS LOOKS LIKE THIS ISN'T GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL.

UM, WHAT WE USED TO SAY TOO IS THAT, UM, WITH THE CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION OVER TIME, BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE IMMIGRATION PROCESSES CAN TAKE A LONG TIME, CAN TAKE YEARS, POTENTIALLY, UM, LATER ON, THINGS MAY CHANGE, BUT YOU CAN NEVER GUARANTEE THAT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE, WE ARE.

I HOPE THAT ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.

THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, IT'S GONNA BE COMMUNITY THAT HAS COMMUNITIES BACK.

AND, AND I SECOND WHAT, UH, COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA SAID.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

UH, COMMISSIONER DR.

ENGEL? YES.

THANK YOU FOR COMING AND GIVING US SUCH AN INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION.

MY QUESTION ADDRESSES BORDER PATROL.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR DO YOU HAVE ANY POWERPOINTS OR, OR RESOURCES ON HOW TO ADDRESS BORDER BORDER PATROL AS THEY'RE COMING MORE AND MORE INLAND IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT ICE IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO, SUCH AS CAR SEARCHES, ET CETERA? YEAH, I THINK, I THINK ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE ENCOURAGE DURING THESE PRESENTATIONS, UM, IS THAT ONE WE DO HAVE, UH, THE COMMUNITY DEFENSE NETWORK, BUT THE REALLY EFFECTIVE THING THAT WE ENCOURAGE FOR FOLKS IS TO CREATE THOSE NETWORKS WITHIN YOUR OWN COMMUNITIES.

UM, BECAUSE IT TRULY, BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, LET'S SAY THERE'S, UH, IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, PERHAPS SOMEONE THAT'S TRYING TO SEARCH A CAR, UH, AND THEY REACH OUT TO OUR HOTLINE, UM, IT'S GONNA TAKE US ANSWERING THAT PHONE, REACHING OUT TO OUR VOLUNTEERS, UH, SEEING IF ANYONE IS NEARBY, AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO COMMUTE OVER TO THAT LOCATION.

AND SO, ALTHOUGH WE STRIVE TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE TO VERIFY DOCUMENT, TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THEIR RIGHTS, THE REALITY IS THEY MAY NOT GET THERE IN TIME.

AND SO WE TRULY ENCOURAGE FOR FOLKS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, CONNECT WITH FOLKS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, SO YOU CAN ALL LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER BECAUSE AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, ESPECIALLY UNDER

[01:10:01]

AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO RELY ON EACH OTHER, RELY ON ALLIES TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT, UH, TO BE THERE.

UM, THERE ARE A FEW VIRAL VIDEOS OUT THERE OF COMMUNITY COMING OUT TO SUPPORT FOLKS, UH, WITH IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND PREVENTING FOLKS FROM GETTING KIDNAPPED.

AND SO THERE ARE WAYS THAT COMMUNITY CAN STAND UP FOR EACH OTHER AND PROTECT EACH OTHER.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE MY, MY MY BIGGEST ADVICE.

UM, THERE ARE GREAT LEGAL ADVOCATES THAT ARE TRYING TO, UM, DO DIFFERENT LAWSUITS, ENACT DIFFERENT PROTECTIONS TO PROTECT FOLKS.

AND ALTHOUGH, UM, I DO HAVE SOME HOPE FOR SOME OF THAT LITIGATION, IT DOES TAKE TIME TOO.

UM, AND SO DEFINITELY ENCOURAGING COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER, CREATING YOUR OWN, UM, UH, TEXT MESSAGE GROUPS, UM, KEEPING EACH OTHER AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND, AND BEING THERE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT OR DISCUSS? OKAY.

SEEING NONE, THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND YOUR FREE WORKSHOP AND RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

UM, OUR MEETINGS ARE RECORDED, SO IF ANYBODY MISSED IT, THEY CAN ACCESS IT.

UM, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE YOUR DISCLAIMER THAT THINGS ARE CHANGING DAY BY DAY, BUT FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OF THESE RESOURCES, I I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THAT WAS THE INTENT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND, UM, APPRECIATE YOU COMING TODAY.

DEFINITELY.

THANK YOU ALL.

APPRECIATE IT.

OH, I, I HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, THIS IS NOT FOR OUR, OUR SPEAKERS, BUT FOR US, WHAT IS THE PROCESS, UH, IF, UH, TO WRITE A LETTER OF SUPPORT ON BEHALF OF ON BEHALF OF THEIR REQUEST? WHAT PROCESS IS INVOLVED? SO THAT WOULD NEED TO BE AN, UM, AGENDA ITEM FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING, UM, TO TAKE THAT UP.

WHAT I CAN SAY ON THE STATUS OF THE, UM, UH, RFP, WE JUST, AND DID THE PRO THE PROTEST PERIOD AS OF YESTERDAY, SO WE ARE MOVING THINGS FORWARD AND SHOULD BE COMING TO COUNCIL SOON.

SO MORE THAN LIKELY WE'LL COME TO COUNCIL WITH THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU HAVE YOUR NEXT MEETING.

OH, OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT THEY THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD? YES, THE, WITH THE ALLOCATION AND SO IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR US TO DO A, A LETTER OF SUPPORT? IS THAT WHAT CORRECT.

ALRIGHT.

SO WE WILL HELPS, IT HELPS PAY ATTENTION TO IT AS IT PROGRESSES AND THEN WE CAN DISCUSS THAT IN OUR PLANNING MEETING FOR, FOR THE NEXT, UH, MEETING WE'VE GOT COMING UP.

SO IF WE CAN, OKAY, THANK YOU.

IF MADAM CLERK, WE CAN CALL FOR A VOTE ON THIS ITEM .

AND FOLKS, IF YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR, HIT THE VOTE CAST BUTTON AT THE TOP LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN TO CAST YOUR VOTE.

I CAN TAKE A VOICE VOTE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE THAT.

YEAH, IF WE CAN DO A VERBAL VOTE WHILE WE WORK OUT THE KINKS HERE WE HAVE EVERYONE EXCEPT VICE SHI THATTA, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JUST PROVIDE YOUR VOTE.

IT'S A YES.

PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM? ITEM NUMBER THREE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION FROM FOUR GIRLS HIGHLIGHTING ITS MISSION-DRIVEN INITIATIVES TO CULTIVATE SELF-CONFIDENCE, LEADERSHIP, AND EMPOWERMENT AMONG YOUNG WOMEN IN LONG BEACH.

THANK YOU MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU

[3. 25-56777 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation from 4GIRLS highlighting its mission-driven initiatives to cultivate self-confidence, leadership, and empowerment among young women in Long Beach. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

AN ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION IN LONG BEACH BECAUSE THEY'RE FOCUSED ON PRETEEN GIRLS.

SO THANK YOU AT COMMISSIONER DONATO SAP'S SUGGESTION TODAY WE ARE PLEASED TO WELCOME CLAUDIA COPELEY, THE FOUNDER OF FOUR GIRLS.

AND I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE OUR COMMISSIONER, UM, DONATO SAP TO PLEASE INTRODUCE THIS ITEM, .

UM, I WAS 13 YEARS OLD WHEN I MET A LOCAL EDUCATOR NAMED STEPHANIE G COFF.

THE FIRST TIME I DELIVERED A KEYNOTE FOR THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

SHE JUST HAPPENED TO BE FROM LONG BEACH AND VOLUNTEER WITH FOUR GIRLS.

STEPHANIE TOLD FOUR GIRLS BOARD MEMBER MARIA GUIE ABOUT ME.

I WAS 14 YEARS OLD WHEN MARIA INVITED ME TO KEYNOTE FOR 100 MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS AT THEIR CONFERENCE IN MARCH, 2024.

I REMEMBER THAT CONFERENCE THEME WAS LIMITLESS AND MARIA ASKED ME IF I THOUGHT I COULD SPEAK ON THAT TOPIC, TOPIC.

I TOLD HER, HECK YEAH, MY MIDDLE NAME IS LIMITLESS.

I ALSO REMEMBER THAT I HAD, I ALSO REMEMBER THAT I JUST HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO THIS COMMISSION WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO SPEAK.

FOUR GIRLS IS

[01:15:01]

MY PRETEEN GIRL, MY PRETEEN YEARS WERE BRUTAL.

SO I LOVE ANYONE WHO FOCUSES ON THE PRETEEN EXPERIENCE AND LOVES ON THESE GIRLS.

I CONTACTED SAMANTHA AND ALANA AND ALANA IN EARLY AUGUST WITH THE HOPE THAT WE COULD HAVE FOR, FOR GIRLS COME TO SPEAK TO OUR COMMISSION AS THE ONLY GIRL VOICE IN THE COMMISSION.

IT IS SOME, IT SOMETIMES GETS LONELY IN HERE.

AND I KNOW THAT I CAN'T ALWAYS SPEAK FOR ALL GIRLS.

I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HEAR FROM GIRLS IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND I KNEW THAT FOR GIRLS WAS THE PLACE TO FIND CIVICALLY ENGAGED, SOCIALLY JUST MINDED PRETEEN GIRLS WHO CARE ABOUT THE WORLD WE LIVE IN, WHO CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN LONG BEACH LIKE WE DO, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHO CAN UNIQUELY SHARE THE ISSUES THAT THEY WANT US TO CONSIDER.

I'M SO THRILLED TO INTRODUCE CLAUDIA.

CLAUDIA COPLEY, THE FOUNDER OF FOUR GIRLS TO THE COMMISSION ON WOMEN AND GIRLS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND GIVING US YOUR TIME.

CLAUDIA, WE'RE EXCITED TO HEAR YOUR WISDOMS AND INSIGHTS THIS EVENING AS YOU INTRODUCE THE FOUR GIRLS ORGANIZATION TO ALL OF US.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.

SO FIRST I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THIS ITEM.

OKAY, MOVED BY COMMISSIONER CHIN, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER DR.

KEL.

AND SO NOW MS. COPLEY, PLEASE PROCEED.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU ALL FOR, UM, HAVING US HERE.

BUT SPECIAL THANKS TO COMMISSIONER DON OP FOR INVITING US AND FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT FRIEND TO OUR ORGANIZATION.

UM, FOUR GIRLS.

I'M GONNA JUST GIVE YOU A QUICK BRIEF HISTORY.

I'M ALSO GONNA ASK IF YOU CAN LEAN A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE THANK YOU.

IS THAT BETTER? YES, LEAN IN.

BUT YOU HEARD ME SAY THANK YOU TO COMMISSIONER DONATO, SO THANK YOU.

UM, FOUR GIRLS IS AN ORGANIZATION, IT'S GRASSROOT ORGANIZATION THAT, UM, ALIGNS WITH THE WOMEN'S COMMISSION MISSION, UH, WHICH IS IN SUPPORTING AND ADVOCATING FOR, UH, YOUNG WOMEN AND GIRLS.

IT'S A 15-YEAR-OLD 100% VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION.

IT'S INCREDIBLE THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING OUR 15TH YEAR AND OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER AND INSPIRE MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS SO THAT THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS CONFIDENT, AUTHENTIC, AND RESILIENT.

IT WAS MODELED AFTER THE, UM, WOMEN'S CONFERENCE THAT WAS HOSTED BY MARIA SHRIVER BACK IN 2004.

SO I TOOK THAT MODEL BECAUSE I FELT VERY EMPOWERED AND INSPIRED, BUT INSTEAD OF, UM, HAVING ADULT WOMEN, I WANTED TO EMPOWER AND INSPIRE MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS.

AND SO WE TOOK THAT MODEL OF HAVING A CONFERENCE AND THANK YOU.

AND, UM, WE NOW HAVE AN ORGANIZATION THAT, UH, EMPOWERS, INSPIRES MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS.

I MENTIONED THE MISSION.

THERE'S OUR MISSION.

UM, HOW WE DO THAT IS WE HAVE OUR MAIN, UM, CONFERENCE.

IT'S A TWO DAY CONFERENCE, IT HAPPENS ANNUALLY AND, UM, WE HAVE DIFFERENT SPEAKERS SPEAK ON DIFFERENT TOPICS.

SPECIFICALLY OUR THEME, WHICH WE CHANGE EVERY YEAR, THIS YEAR WAS THEME CREATIVE.

AND, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE TWO DAY CONFERENCE THAT HAPPENS AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, WE, UM, HELP THE CONTINUITY OF THE THEME AND, UM, CONFIDENCE LEVELS BY, UH, HAVING A PROGRAM THAT WE CALL WORKSHOPS, WHICH IS GENERALLY FOUR TIMES A YEAR, THE TWO TO THREE HOURS.

AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT TOPICS TO EXPOSE YOUNG GIRLS, UM, MAYBE, UM, DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT SUPPORT THEIR ENDEAVORS OR GIVE 'EM A NEW IDEA OR PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AS THEY GET OLDER OR STUDY IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE.

AND, UM, THESE ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WE'VE, UH, OFFERED.

UM, YOU CAN, I CAN TELL YOU STATISTICS, I CAN TELL YOU, UM, DIFFERENT THINGS WHAT WE DO, BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANTLY IS HEARING THE IMPACT FROM SOME OF OUR YOUNG PARTICIPANTS THAT HAVE, UH, BEEN THROUGH THE PROGRAM.

SO I'M HAPPY TO, UH, INTRODUCE ERICA WHO WILL SPEAK ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM.

AND UNDERSTANDING MY OWN EMOTIONS.

COME ON UP.

HELLO, MY NAME IS ERICA AND I AM 12 AND IN SEVENTH GRADE AND I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.

I JOINED FOUR GIRLS, NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT TO EXPECT.

I THOUGHT IT JUST MIGHT BE A FUN PROGRAM WITH CRAFTS AND LESSONS, BUT IT ENDED UP TEACHING ME THINGS THAT HONESTLY CHANGED HOW I SEE MYSELF AND THE WORLD AROUND ME.

BEFORE FOUR GIRLS, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH CERTAIN CHALLENGES.

SOME OF THEM WERE PERSONAL, LIKE STRESS, FRIENDSHIPS

[01:20:01]

OTHERS WERE THINGS I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE WERE IMPORTANT YET, LIKE LEARNING HOW TO RECOGNIZE UNHEALTHY OR ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND UNDERSTANDING HOW TO PREVENT THEM FOR GIRLS GAVE ME THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE TO PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS.

THAT KIND OF LEARNING MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE, NOT JUST FOR RIGHT NOW, BUT FOR THE FUTURE TOO.

ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THE MOST WAS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY, OUR BODIES AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO UNDERSTAND AND CARE FOR THEM.

IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT HEALTH, BUT ABOUT RESPECT.

IT MADE ME REALIZE THAT EVERY PART OF WHO WE ARE DESERVES KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING, ESPECIALLY FROM OURSELVES.

AND THEN THERE WAS ART.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT ART WAS JUST DRAWING OR PAINTING, BUT FOR GIRLS SHOWED ME THAT ART CAN BE ANYTHING FROM DOODLES ON A PAGE TO RIDING A HORSE.

ART IS ABOUT EXPRESSING YOURSELF AND SEEING BEAUTY IN WHAT MAKES YOU.

YOU HELP ME NOTICE THAT CREATIVITY ISN'T ABOUT BEING PERFECT, IT'S ABOUT BEING REAL.

THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, I'VE LEARNED COPING SKILLS, HEALTHY WAYS TO DEAL WITH TOUGH EMOTIONS, AND HOW TO SEE THE WORLD AND MYSELF IN NEW WAYS FOR GIRLS DIDN'T JUST HELP ME FACE CHALLENGES, IT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THEM AND THAT'S WHAT MADE ME STRONGER.

IN MY WORD IS CREATIVE.

NEXT UP IS TUI.

WOULD'VE MADE FOR ME THEN.

COME ON UP.

HELLO, MY NAME IS TU LGU CRAWFORD.

I AM AN EIGHTH GRADER FROM KELLER MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THIS YEAR I ATTENDED MY FIRST FOUR GIRLS CONFERENCE.

AND AFTER THE DISCOVERIES I MADE FROM WAYS TO USE A PAPER CLIP TO USE DIFFERENT BREATHING EXERCISES, I KNOW IT WILL NOT BE MY LAST.

SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH IS MY MENTAL HEALTH AND CONSTANTLY FEELING LIKE I'M NOT ENOUGH.

THIS CONFERENCE HELPED ME DISCOVER I WAS ENOUGH AND THAT I HAVE SHOWN BLINDNESS WHEN I WAS LEARNING NEW THINGS.

THIS YEAR I HAD BEEN VERY EARLY TO THE WEEKEND LONG EXPEDITION, BUT SOON OTHER GIRLS ARRIVED AT THE ASSIGNED TABLES AND ONE GIRL WHO ARRIVED AT MINE CAUGHT MY EYE.

SHE WAS BLONDE, BUT HER HAIR WAS AN AEC CLIP PALE, BUT HAD A ROSY TINT IN HER CHEEKS AND LIPS.

I REMEMBER GLANCING AT HER AS WE DECORATED OUR JOURNALS, NOTICING ALL THE BLUES AND BEACH REFERENCES SHE GLUED ONTO THE LARGE FRONT COVER.

I ALSO REMEMBER TRYING TO START A CONVERSATION WITH HER ONLY TO GET SHORT RESPONSES IN RETURN.

FOR MOST OF THE DAY, THAT CYCLE WOULD CONTINUE AS I TRIED TO GET A SMILE ON HER FACE, BUT IT NEVER APPEARED.

AND ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE CONFERENCE, NEITHER DID SHE.

I REALIZE NOW THAT I WASN'T VERY UPSET BY HER DISAPPEARANCE, BUT I DID FEEL PRIDE AND HOPE.

IT WAS THE CLOSEST THING I IT WAS THE CLOSEST THING I HAD FELT TO GLOWING AT THE TIME.

I WAS PROUD OF MYSELF FOR PUTTING MYSELF OUT THERE AND I HAD HOPED I'D GIVEN HER A NEW MEMORY TO CHERISH, EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY IN HER SUBCONSCIOUS.

I CARRY THIS GIRL WITH ME AND EVERY OTHER GIRL I'VE MET ALONG THE WAY.

AS I NAVIGATE NEW ENCOUNTERS IN THE TREACHEROUS SEAS OF GIRLHOOD, AS THEY PROVE TO ME THAT I'M NOT ALONE ON THIS SHIP, THAT I AM ENOUGH FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS TOO.

I CARRY THE ENTIRE FOUR GIRLS CONFERENCE WITH ME NOW AS IT REMINDED ME OF AN IMPORTANT PART OF MYSELF I'D FORGOTTEN AS I WENT THROUGH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ONE, I EMBRACED ONCE AGAIN BEING KIND.

I ALSO DISCOVERED WHEN I SHOWN BEST WASN'T, WASN'T, WASN'T WHEN IT WAS JUST ME ALONE CONTROLLING THE SHIP.

BUT WHEN I STOOD ALONGSIDE OTHERS WITH SIMILAR MINDS AND VALUES, FOUR GIRLS IS NOT ONLY AN ORGANIZATION FOR CONNECTION, BUT IT IS ALSO ONE FOR DISCOVERY, NOT ONLY OF OTHERS, BUT ALSO OF YOURSELF.

AND SO TONIGHT MY WORD IS EXPLORATION BECAUSE HOW ELSE CAN YOU DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF LIFE, OTHERS AND YOURSELF.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE VIVIAN.

UH, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK CLAUDIA FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES THAT HAS MADE SUCH AN IMPACT ON MY LIFE AS WELL FOR SO MANY OTHERS.

I AM TRULY HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY SURROUNDED BY SO MANY STRONG AND POWERFUL WOMEN.

AND TO SPEAK WITH YOU ALL ABOUT FOUR GIRLS.

IT WAS 2014, IT WAS MY SENIOR YEAR, AND I WAS APPROACHED BY MY PROGRAM DIRECTOR, UH, THAT I NEEDED TO GET STARTED ON MY VOLUNTEER HOURS, UH, THAT I NEEDED TO FINISH BEFORE I GRADUATE.

UM, I WAS GIVEN OPTIONS LIKE BEACH CLEANUP, MARINE LIFE ECOSYSTEM CLEANUP.

AND WHILE BEING IN THE SUN AT OUR LOCAL BEACH WAS TEMPTING SOMETHING ABOUT FOUR GIRLS CALLED TO ME.

I WAS ABLE TO GET ALL MY HOURS DONE IN ONE SINGLE WEEKEND WHILE VOLUNTEERING WITH YOUNG GIRLS.

IT SOUNDED SUPER DUPER EASY TO ME.

SO IT WAS A, IT WAS A GIVEN THAT IT WAS A YES.

LITTLE DID I KNOW WHAT IMPACT THAT WEEKEND

[01:25:01]

AND 10 YEARS LATER THAT WEEKEND I WAS TRANSFORMED.

WE LEARNED ABOUT OUR GROWING BODIES MOVING AND DANCING OUR BODIES, EMBRACING OUR DIFFERENCES AND CELEBRATING OUR UNIQUENESS.

OUR WORD THAT WEEKEND WAS STRONG.

I WAS IN A ROOM FILLED WITH FEMININE ENERGY, WHICH IGNITED THE WAY I RE I VIEWED MY OWN POWER.

EVEN THOUGH I WAS VOLUNTEERING, I WALKED AWAY GAINING SO MUCH FROM THAT WEEKEND.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, I GOT MY VOLUNTEER HOURS, GRADUATED FROM POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL, AND LIFE WENT ON.

I WENT TO COLLEGE FOR A BIT, BUT RETURNED HOME AFTER, AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO ATTEND ANYMORE.

I WAS SUPPORTING MYSELF.

I WAS FINDING MY WAY, MY PURPOSE, AND THAT'S WHEN I HAD MY SON AT 21.

I QUICKLY FOUND MY WHY AND MY REASON TO ACHIEVE AND WANT MORE FOR HIM AND FOR MYSELF.

BEING A YOUNG SINGLE MOTHER WAS NOT AN EASY FEAT.

NOT AT ALL.

THE FINANCIAL STRUGGLE, THE IDENTITY CRISIS, THE NEED TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE WAS AT THE FOREFRONT.

I COULDN'T HAVE MADE IT THROUGH WITHOUT.

I COULDN'T HAVE MADE IT THROUGH MOTHERHOOD, WITHOUT, UH, MY FAMILY, SPECIFICALLY WITHOUT MY GRANDMOTHER AND MOM WHO ARE HERE WITH ME TODAY.

THEY BOTH SINGLE-HANDEDLY HAVE SHOWN ME TRUE RESILIENCE TO PERSIST IN DARK TIMES, IN THE SAD TIMES, IN THE HIGHS, AND IN THE LOWS OF LIES.

WE MUST KEEP GOING.

NOW.

FAST FORWARD TO 2024.

LIFE FEELS LIKE THE DUST HAS FINALLY SETTLED FOR ME.

STABLE HOME, STABLE CAREER, STABLE MIND.

YET SOMETHING WAS MISSING.

I YEARNED FOR MORE.

THAT'S WHEN I CAME ACROSS A FOUR GIRLS FLYER IN MY SON'S BULLETIN AT HIS SCHOOL.

I RAN TO THAT QR CODE.

I QUICKLY APPLIED AND WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, CLAUDIA APPROVED ME TO JOIN IN ON THE NEXT CONFERENCE.

I THOUGHT IT WAS MERE CHANCE THAT I SAW THE BULLETIN AND GOT ACCEPTED.

BUT IN HINDSIGHT, IT WAS DIVINE TIMING.

EXACTLY.

10 YEARS HAD PASSED SINCE I LAST VOLUNTEERED.

YET THE IMPACT THAT FOUR GIRLS LEFT ME WAS INCREDIBLE.

I WAS TRANSFORMED ALL OVER AGAIN THAT YEARNING FOR MORE WAS TRYING TO FILL MY CUP WITH GIVING BACK, MAKING A DIFFERENCE, FEELING FULFILLED.

AND THAT'S WHAT A SINGLE WEEKEND WITH FOUR GIRLS DOES TO YOUNG WOMEN.

WHETHER YOU'RE 10, YOU'RE 15, 20 OR 60, YOU LEAVE THE CONFERENCE FEELING POWERFUL, STRONG, CREATIVE AND RESILIENT.

NOW, MORE THAN EVER, WE SHOULD HAVE OUR YOUNG GIRLS IN OUR COMMUNITIES FEELING EMPOWERED AND SECURE WITH THEMSELVES, THEIR CHOICES AND THEIR FUTURES.

I WISH THERE WAS THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR ME AND MY SISTER WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER, BUT I COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL THAT OUR YOUNGER GENERATION HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS AND SUPPORT FROM FOUR GIRLS.

SO MANY TRIALS, SO MANY TRIBULATIONS, HARDSHIPS, THE LOWEST OF LOWS.

YET I WAS MET WITH THE HIGHEST OF HIGHS WITH CONFIDENCE.

AND I'M STILL CREATING THE LIFE OF MY DREAMS WITH FOUR GIRLS IN IT.

I CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS ORGANIZATION FOREVER.

BUT THIS PROGRAM ISN'T JUST ABOUT ME, IT'S ABOUT THE IMPACT WE LEAVE BEHIND.

IT'S ABOUT FINDING STRENGTH IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND CREATING PLACES WHERE EVERYONE FEELS LIKE THEY BELONG.

UH, OUR NEXT AND FINAL SPEAKER IS YALI.

THEY'RE FREE TO SHARE IT.

COME ON ELLI.

HI EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS YARELI AND I AM A FOUR GIRLS BOARD MEMBER.

I'M A BOARD MEMBER NOW, BUT I WANNA SHED LIGHT OF WHERE I CAME FROM BECAUSE I AM A PRODUCT OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

I BEGAN AS A PARTICIPANT IN 2017, SO THIS IS GONNA BE MY EIGHTH YEAR BEING INVOLVED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF FOUR GIRLS ESSENTIALLY HOLDING MY HAND THROUGH THE HARDEST YEARS OF MY LIFE, WHICH IS MY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL YEARS.

I HAD THE CHANCE TO END UP IN ONE OF OUR YEARLY TWO, TWO DAY CONFERENCES.

BY CHANCE I WASN'T EVEN ENROLLED.

MY SISTER WAS THE ONE WHO WAS GONNA GO, BUT I ENDED UP GOING WITH HER AND I JUST FELT TRANSFORMED.

AFTER THE CONFERENCE.

I LEARNED STUFF THAT I WAS NEVER LIKE, BROUGHT TO LIGHT TO ME BEFORE ABOUT MY CHANGING BODY, ABOUT HOW TO BE ACADEMICALLY SUCCESSFUL AND ABOUT, UM, HOW TO BE CONFIDENT IN MY OWN SKIN.

GROWING UP, UM, AS A PLUS SIZE INDIVIDUAL, I WAS OFTEN BULLIED.

AND FOUR GIRLS REALLY TAUGHT ME THAT MY BODY IS MY OWN AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAY HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS WAS SHARING MY WORD.

DURING THESE CONFERENCES, WE ENCOURAGED THE GIRLS TO COME UP, UH, IN A STAGE SIMILAR TO THIS AND SHARE THEIR WORD OF HOW THIS WEEKEND MADE THEM FEEL.

IF IT MADE THEM FEEL CONFIDENT, EXCITED, WHATEVER THE WORD IS,

[01:30:01]

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE KEEP FOR THEM.

AND THIS WAS ALWAYS MY FAVORITE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE WORKSHOP.

AND NOW CONFERENCE WAS SHARING MY WORD WITH EVERYBODY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE WORKSHOP, NOT ONLY DID I FEEL REFRESHED AND CONFIDENT, I FELT LIKE I HAD BROKEN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF MY SHELL OFF EVERY YEAR THAT I HAD ATTENDED.

SO THAT IS WHY I JUST KEPT COMING BACK.

ONCE I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL, I BECAME A JUNIOR MENTOR.

AND THROUGH THE TRIALS OF COVID AND EVERYTHING, I DIDN'T LET IT KEEP ME FROM THIS ORGANIZATION.

AND I KEPT GOING AS, UM, A JUNIOR MENTOR FOR THE FOUR YEARS OF MY HIGH SCHOOL.

AND ONE THING THAT I REALLY LOVE ABOUT FOUR GIRLS IS HOW MUCH WE HOLD THE HANDS OF EVERYONE THROUGH OR OF GIRLS THROUGH, UM, THE HARDEST, MORE FORMULATIVE YEARS OF THEIR LIVES, LIKE HIGH SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOOL IS ARGUABLY THE TIME THAT YOU BECOME YOU.

IT'S THE TIME WHERE YOU LEARN WHO YOU ARE.

AND NOT ONLY DO WE PROVIDE THEM WITH AWESOME LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO FIND HOW, UM, WHAT LEADERSHIP STYLE THEY ARE OR IF THEY WANT TO LEAD, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE REALLY, REALLY PUT THAT IN THEIR HANDS.

AND ANOTHER WAY THAT WE ALSO HELP IS BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP WITH THE COST OF COLLEGE AS THEY ARE GRADUATING SENIORS.

I WAS THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL ENOUGH TO RECEIVE ONE OF THESE SCHOLARSHIPS WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

UM, THESE WORKSHOPS THAT WE HAVE, THE DISCOVERY WORKSHOPS ARE DIFFERENT EVERY YEAR, BUT THEY'RE AS ENRICHING AS THE LAST WE'VE HAD SOMETIMES WHERE WE TAKE THEM TO TEACH OR TO LEARN CPR TO LEARN ABOUT, UM, MUSEUM ART AS WELL AS WRITING WORKSHOPS, HOW TO WRITE AN ACADEMIC PAPER.

CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THAT IS STUFF THAT WE REALLY, REALLY WANT TO GIVE THE GIRLS THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE NOT OTHERWISE HAD HAD THEY NOT COME ACROSS OUR ORGANIZATION.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT MYSELF IN THIS ORGANIZATION AND I, MY GOAL WAS ALWAYS TO BECOME A BOARD MEMBER.

UM, EVER SINCE I JOINED, I REMEMBER TELLING CLAUDIA WHEN I WAS LIKE 14.

I WAS LIKE, I WANNA BE A BOARD MEMBER.

AND SHE WAS LIKE, GREAT, LET'S DO IT.

AND NOW I'M HERE AT 20 AND I'M A BOARD MEMBER, WHICH I THINK IS ONE OF THE MORE FULFILLING POSITIONS THAT I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A PART OF FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY AM I, UM, PROVIDING THIS PROGRAM TO OTHER CHILDREN AND OTHER TEENAGERS THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE ONCE ME, BUT I'M ENSURING THAT OUR PROGRAM STAYS FRESH, THAT IT KEEPS UP WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE WORLD, AS WELL AS, UM, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PROGRAM IS HEARD BY MANY MORE PEOPLE ACROSS LONG BEACH.

WE DO ALL OF THIS FREE OF COST TO OUR PARTICIPANTS, WHICH MAKES IT EVEN THAT MORE AMAZING.

'CAUSE AS A LOW INCOME STUDENT, I WOULD'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES IF WE HAD TO.

BUT THAT IS THE GREAT THING ABOUT FOR GIRLS AS WELL, IS THAT WE ARE A FREE OF COST, UM, ORGANIZATION.

SO AS SOMEONE WHO, AS I SAID, HAS GONE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND HAS HAD HER HANDHELD THE ENTIRE TIME, I CAN CONFIDENTLY SAY THAT I WOULD NOT BE THE WOMAN THAT I AM TODAY STANDING BEFORE YOU WITHOUT THE PRESENCE AND THE HELP OF FOUR GIRLS.

AND YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH COM COMMISSION FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU ALL.

OH, ARE YOU CONCLUDED? YES, WE HAVE CONCLUDED.

I FIGURED IT'D BE MUCH MORE IMPACTFUL TO HEAR IT FROM THEM AS OPPOSED TO FROM MY STORY.

I AGREE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

SO WE ARE GOING TO ASK YOU ALL TO HANG OUT HERE FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT DONE WITH OUR ITEM.

AND THEN WHEN WE ARE DONE WITH THE ITEM, WE'RE GONNA INVITE YOU UP HERE TO TAKE A PHOTO WITH ALL OF US THAT WE'LL SEND BACK TO YOU.

PLEASE .

SO, UM, FIRST NOW WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE CALL FOR COMMENT.

IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.

NOW, SEEING NONE, IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FUNCTION.

SEEING NONE, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM.

OKAY, NOW COMMISSIONERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? UH, COMMISSIONER DONATO SET.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND JOINING US AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES AND VERY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND I CAN ALSO RELATE TO THOSE.

SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER LEVI VIOLET.

AND THEN I SAW COMMISSIONER DR.

KEL.

[01:35:03]

OH, OKAY.

UM, I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW YOU ALL FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION.

IS IT, UM, ADVERTISED IN HIGH SCHOOLS? IS IT ADVERTISED IN JUNIOR HIGHS? UH, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT.

AND THANK YOU ALL FOR PRESENTING.

THAT'S TERRIFIC.

UH, ALICE, UM, THAT'S WHERE I WAS HOPING I'D GET A QUESTION ON HOW CAN THE COMMISSION HELP US? IS THAT WE ARE IN NEED OF OUTREACH.

WE ARE ALL FULL-TIME WOMEN THAT SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION AND FULL-TIME, UH, WORK.

WE WORK FULL-TIME AND WE, AGAIN, VOLUNTEERS.

SO OUTREACH IS WHERE WE NEED MOST OF THE SUPPORT.

SO HAVING YOUR HELP IN GETTING OUR INFORMATION IN FRONT OF, UH, YOUNG INDIVIDUALS OR THEIR PARENTS WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL TO US.

DIFFERENT, UM, THE GIRLS FOUND OUT FROM DIFFERENT, UM, MEANS WE HAVE ERICA, WHO HER MOTHER FOUND OUT THROUGH A FRIEND AND SAID, WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY COMES TO YOU JUST HAVE HER JOIN.

GRATEFULLY ERICA SAID YES, AND SHE HAS, NOW SHE'S HERE SPEAKING ABOUT HOW, WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME SHE HAD.

UM, YLI, YOU HEARD HER SAY THAT SHE, HER, HER SISTER IN SIXTH GRADE WAS, OR I THINK HER SISTER WAS IN SEVENTH GRADE, BUT YALI WAS IN SIXTH AND SHE JUST JOINED BY ACCIDENT.

AND SHE'S BEEN WITH US SINCE SHE WAS IN SIXTH GRADE.

SHE'S NOW A, A THIRD YEAR AT COLLEGE.

UH, VIVIAN FOUND OUT THROUGH HER HIGH SCHOOL AND TWE FOUND OUT THROUGH THE A PRESENTATION THAT I, UH, PRESENTED AT A FEMALE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY AT, UM, LER MIDDLE SCHOOL.

SO THERE'S MANY WAYS.

I GO OUT TO DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

WE PUT ADS IN DIFFERENT, UM, PUBLICATIONS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH.

WE OFFER IT TO GIRLS ALL OVER LA COUNTY, ORANGE COUNTY, SAN DIEGO COUNTY, WHEREVER.

UM, IT IS FREE.

BUT IF WE PUT ADVERTISING INTO SPEND OUR MONEY RESOURCES INTO ADVERTISING, THEN THAT TAKES AWAY FROM THE PROGRAM.

OR HOW MANY GIRLS CAN ATTEND THE PROGRAM.

UM, WE PAY FOR EVERYTHING OURSELVES.

WE HAVE, UH, AN ANNUAL FUNDRAISER IN ADDITION TO WE RECEIVE SOME SMALL GRANTS.

UM, BUT OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, WHICH I WAS SO HAPPY TO HAVE A COUNCIL, UH, COMMISSIONER STEPHANIE, ATTEND.

UM, I WAS SO GRATEFUL THAT SHE ATTENDED.

SO SHE WAS ABLE TO SEE, UM, WHAT WE DO IN THE FUNDRAISING WORLD.

BUT, UM, WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT US IN PROVIDING WHATEVER RESOURCES AT LOWE OR NO COST SPECIFICALLY OUTREACH WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY.

WE ARE TRYING TO REACH AS MANY MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS 'CAUSE WE HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL COMPONENT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND RECEIVE CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM AT A YOUNG AGE.

'CAUSE THEY ARE THE FUTURE LEADERS OF THANK YOU.

IN FUTURE.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.

DR.

ENGLE, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO OH OH OH .

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PRESENTING.

THANK YOU YOUNG LADIES FOR PRESENTING AND SHARING YOUR STORIES AND YOUR TESTIMONIALS.

THIS WAS QUITE INFORMATIVE.

I DID GO TO THE, TO THE GALA AND IT WAS LOVELY AND EXCITING.

AND , I WILL BRING A BIGGER CHECKBOOK NEXT YEAR.

OUR, OUR 2020, SORRY TO CUT YOU OFF.

OUR 2026 EVENT IS ALREADY, UM, SLATED FOR LONG BEACH.

IT'S IN MARCH.

MARCH, UH, THE WEEKEND AFTER ST.

PATRICK'S DAY.

I THINK IT'S THE THIRD, FOURTH WEEKEND OF MARCH.

AND OUR THEME THIS YEAR IS, UM, OPTIMISTIC.

OPTIMISTIC.

SO THE GIRLS WILL BE, I AM OPTIMISTIC AND WE'LL BUILD A A CURRICULUM AROUND WHAT THAT MEANS.

DO ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? UM, COMMISSIONER MOSQUEDA? YES.

I JUST WANNA ECHO THE GRATITUDE FOR COMING OUT TODAY AND SHARING YOUR STORIES AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING.

GREAT.

APPRECIATE IT.

UH, COMMISSIONER CHI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY.

I WANT TO ECHO ALL THE COMMENT FROM THE COMMISSIONER AND, UM, UM, MOM, MOM OF A EIGHTH GRADER TOO.

I WISH I COULD LEARN ABOUT THIS PROGRAM EARLIER SO THAT I CAN, UH, ENROLL MY DAUGHTER TO THE PROGRAM, BUT I HOPE THAT IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR, UM, THE, THE FUTURE EVEN.

ABSOLUTELY.

SHE CAN JOIN A STUDY EIGHTH GRADER HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL.

THANK YOU, .

WITH COMMISSIONER MOSSADA.

ANY OTHER COMMISSIONERS? UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

UM, I THINK THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IS INCREDIBLE.

UM, I AM ON OUR MENTORSHIP AND EDUCATION COMMITTEE

[01:40:01]

UM, AND I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME ALIGNMENT.

ONE THING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT DOING IS HAVING A MENTORSHIP FAIR FOR GIRLS IN THE COMMUNITY TO ALIGN WITH OUR CONFERENCE THAT ANOTHER SUBCOMMITTEE IS WORKING ON.

AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HAVING ORGANIZATIONS THAT MENTOR AND SERVE GIRLS THERE.

SO THAT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO, TO GET IN FRONT OF THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE'LL BE SURE TO INCLUDE YOU IN THAT.

UM, I ALSO HAVE TO SAY, AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT HER WHOLE LIFE STUDYING WRITING, Y'ALL ARE REALLY GOOD WITH WORDS.

SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TIPS ON AN MFA PROGRAM, COME SEE ME AFTER.

OKAY, .

SO THANK YOU.

NOW LET'S SEE.

I THINK WE HAVE TO GO TO, GIMME JUST A SECOND.

WE'VE ALREADY DONE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO CALL FOR THE VOTE AND THEN PLEASE IF YOU WOULD COME UP AND, UM, I THINK ALANA WILL TAKE A PHOTO OF ALL OF US.

COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER? YES.

MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE? I CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VERBAL VOTE.

COMMISSIONER ENGLE? YES.

COMMISSIONER CHIM? YES.

COMMISSIONER DONDO SA.

COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES.

COMMISSIONER MOSQUE.

COMMISSIONER AR EXCUSE ME, VICE CHAIR ARCHULETA? YES.

AND CHAIR MALINGER? YES.

SO IF I CAN GET ALL OF OUR COMMISSIONERS TO COME DOWN FROM THE PODIUM, AND IF I CAN INVITE YOU ALL UP TO JOIN US IN HERE, WE'LL TAKE A PHOTO AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET IT.

YOU PLEASE CALL THE NEXT ITEM? OH, I'M SORRY.

UM, MADAM CLERK, CAN

[4. 25-56778 Recommendation to appoint two delegates to represent the Long Beach Commission for Women and Girls at the California Convening of Commissions and Anniversary Celebration, co-hosted by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, on Monday, November 10, 2025. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

I SHOULD SAY AGENDA ITEM FOUR HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN.

UM, I'LL JUST READ IT FOR YOU.

UM, AGENDA ITEM FOUR WAS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPOINT TWO DELEGATES TO REPRESENT THE LONG BEACH, UH, COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS AT THE CALIFORNIA CONVENING OF COMMISSIONS AND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CO-HOSTED BY THE LA COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND THE CALIFORNIA COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 2025.

UM, OUR VICE CHAIR JUST HAS A BRIEF REMARK ABOUT WHY THAT ITEM WAS WITHDRAWN.

IT WAS WITHDRAWN BECAUSE, UH, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE STATE DECIDED TO OPEN UP THE, UM, CONFERENCE TO ANYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED TO THE, THE CONVENING TO ANYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED AS SUCH.

UH, ANY OF OUR COMMISSIONERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING, AND I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER WHO IS GOING TO, UH, BE ATTENDING.

AND THAT'S WONDERFUL BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS THE STATEWIDE CONVENING IS THE FIRST.

WE'VE NEVER HAD, UH, A CONVENING, A STATEWIDE CONVENING.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN JUST A REGIONAL CONVENING OF, YOU KNOW, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THE STATE THAT THE STATE HOLDS THE, THE STATEWIDE

[01:45:01]

CONVENING.

AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INTRODUCE THE LONG BEACH COMMISSION.

SO I'M EXCITED.

THE DAY IS GONNA BE A FULL DAY, UH, WITH REGISTRATION STARTING AT, UH, EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

AND I THINK THE PROGRAM ENDS AT THREE O'CLOCK.

AND THE FOCUS OF THE DAY WILL BE TO SET THE AGENDA AND SHAPE THE FUTURE GOALS AND POLICY PRIORITIES TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN AND GIRLS CAN THRIVE IN CALIFORNIA.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE THE AGENDA.

AND THE WAY IT'S GONNA WORK IS THAT WE'RE ALL GONNA BE PROBABLY SPLIT UP IN SMALL FOCUS GROUPS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE, THE, WHAT THE GOALS ARE GONNA BE FOR THE FUTURE, WHAT OUR PRIORITIES WILL BE.

SO IT'S, IT'S, LIKE I SAID, IT'S AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO INTRODUCE OUR COMMISSION.

SO IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THANK YOU VICE CHAIR.

SO NOW WE'LL BE MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FIVE.

UM, MADAM CLERK, COULD YOU PLEASE

[5. 25-56779 Recommendation to receive and file the Commission for Women and Girls Quarterly Budget Report for the period of July through September 2025. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

READ THAT ITEM? YES.

ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS QUARTERLY BUDGET REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, 2025.

SO WE HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION FROM, UM, OUR COMMISSION TREASURER MARIA GONZALEZ.

QUICK QUESTION.

IS THERE, OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M SO SORRY.

MAY I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THIS ITEM? SO MOVED.

SECOND.

UH, WHO MOVED? VICE CHAIR ULTA AND SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE.

AND THEN NOW YOU MAY PROCEED WITH THE REPORT.

THANK YOU, COMMISSIONERS.

SO, HELLO FELLOW COMMISSIONER I, WHAT IS, OH, OKAY.

UH, SO BEFORE I BEGIN TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I'D JUST LIKE TO REMIND THE COMMISSION THAT, UM, AS PART OF THE ADOPTION OF OUR BYLAWS, WE ESTABLISHED AN OFFICER POSITION TO SERVE AS TREASURER.

THE TREASURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING THE COMMISSION'S, FINANCES AND PROVIDING REGULAR UPDATES TO GUARANTEE TRANSPARENCY AND AC AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN HOW OUR FUNDS ARE USED.

UH, PER THE BYLAWS, A TREASURER WILL PROVIDE A FINANCIAL REPORT THREE TIMES A YEAR, UM, COVERING THE MONTHS OF SEPTEMBER, JANUARY, AND APRIL.

AND WE'LL ALSO INCLUDE IN THE ANNUAL REPORT TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, A SUMMARY OF ANY FUNDS USED IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMISSION'S WORK.

SINCE WE DIDN'T HAVE A REGULAR MEETING LAST MONTH, THIS PRESENTATION SERVES AS MY FIRST QUARTERLY BUDGET, UM, BUDGET REPORT IN MY ROLE AS TREASURER.

SO THE COMMISSION, UH, OUR COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS OPERATES EACH YEAR WITH A STRUCTURAL BUDGET ALLOCATION OF $26,786 TO SUPPORT ITS WORK, UM, INCLUDING RESEARCH, COMMUTE, ENGAGEMENT, AND OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

UM, REMINDER THAT UNUSED FUNDS AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR ARE RETURNED TO THE GENERAL FUND WITH COMMISSION'S BUDGET RESETTING AT THE START OF EACH NEW YEAR, OF EACH NEW FISCAL YEAR.

EXCUSE ME.

THIS PRESENTATION SHARES HIGHLIGHTS OF HOW THE FUNDS WERE SPENT IN THE COMMISSION'S FIRST YEAR AND OUTLINES THE FINANCIAL STARTING POINT GOING INTO THIS SECOND FISCAL YEAR, WHICH AS A REMINDER, UM, FISCAL YEARS RUN FROM OCTOBER ONE TO SEPTEMBER 30TH.

IN FISCAL YEAR 25, THE COMMISSION SPENT APPROXIMATELY $4,030 AND 7 CENTS CHANNELING MOST EXPENSES TOWARD MATERIALS AND OUTREACH EFFORTS.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXPENSES SUPPORTED PRINTING AND MATERIALS FOR COMMUTE ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS SUCH AS THE UPTOWN JAZZ FESTIVAL, OUR 24 20 24 AND 2025 COMMISSION RETREATS AND OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OLE FOR TONIGHT'S KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WORKSHOP.

WE ALSO JOINED THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COMMISSIONS FOR WOMEN, WHICH CONNECTS US TO A NATIONAL NETWORK OF RESOURCES AND PEER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES BY YEAR END OF BALANCE OF 22,755 AND 93.

7 93.

SEVEN 93 CENTS REMAINED.

AS THIS NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS, THE COMMISSION HOLDS ITS FULL BALANCE OF 26,786, HAVING YET TO INCUR ANY EXPENSES.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE COMMISSION WILL RENEW ITS, UH, PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP AND FOCUS ON EXPANDING COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING HOSTING THE ANTICIPATED SAFETY CONFERENCE IN THE SPRING.

UM, JUST TO LIKE SUM IT UP, OVERALL, THE COMMISSION REMAINS IN STRONG FINANCIAL STANDING AND IS VERY WELL POSITIONED TO BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM WE DEMONSTRATED DURING THIS, DURING OUR FIRST YEAR.

AND, YOU KNOW, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU.

THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORTS, SHORT AND SWEET.

UM, THANK YOU CHAIR AND COMMISSIONERS, AND IF YOU KNOW, WE'RE HERE TO, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE,

[01:50:01]

HOPEFULLY.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS.

SO FIRST WE'LL TAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU SEE, PLEASE SEE IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS ITEM.

IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM.

NOW, SEEING NONE IN CHAMBERS, IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN ZOOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE, PLEASE USE THE RAISE HAND FEATURE.

SEEING NONE, THAT CON CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? UH, COMMISSIONER LA VIOLET? UM, I NOTICED THAT WE, UM, WE PARTNERED WITH ORLE AND I DIDN'T REMEMBER WHEN WE DID THAT, BUT I THOUGHT IS IS THAT, UM, IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE.

I'M REALLY GLAD WE DID.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THAT WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? UM, SO I, I CAN PROBABLY ANSWER THAT AND THEN STAFF JUMP IN IF, IF I SOUND WRONG OR YOU HAVE AN ADDITION.

UM, THAT WAS THIS EVENING.

SO, OR A'S PRESENTATION TO US WAS ACTUALLY A WORKSHOP THAT WE PAID FOR AS A FREE RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY.

SO YES, UM, WE CAN CERTAINLY, THERE MAY BE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT COME UP FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER MOMENTS IN TIME WHERE WE FEEL, UM, GIVING A, AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THAT A PLATFORM BECAUSE WOMEN AND GIRLS ARE BEING IMPACTED.

UM, WE, WE NEED TO PUT SOME FUNDS TO THAT.

SO YES.

UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? OKAY, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER VERY MUCH FOR THE, UH, CLEAR AND SUCCINCT PRESENTATION ON OUR BUDGET.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I, IF I MAY JUST WANNA SAY THANKS STAFF.

THEY'RE VERY, UM, VERY HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE.

THANK YOU, .

COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ? YES.

NOW WOULD I HAVE THE COMMISSION SUPPORT IN HOLDING OVER OUR FINAL ITEM, A COMMITTEE REPORT UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING? BECAUSE I, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT GOING ON THERE AND I THINK THE DISCUSSION WILL GO LONG.

IS THAT OKAY? ALRIGHT.

SO LET'S HOLD OVER OUR, UM, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER SIX UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.

MADAM CLERK, BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A VOTE FOR ITEM NUMBER FIVE, UHHUH? YES.

PERFECT.

PLEASE CALL FOR THE VOTE AND I THINK WE'LL JUST DO THAT VERBALLY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

UH, COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER? YES.

COMMISSIONER? YES.

COMMISSIONER CHI? YES.

COMMISSIONER DONDO SAPP? YES.

COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES.

COMMISSIONER MOSQUE.

COMMISSIONER ARCHULETA.

EXCUSE ME.

VICE CHAIR? YES.

AND CHAIR MELLINGER? YES.

AND THEN TO LAY ITEM NUMBER SIX OVER, WE'LL, WE'LL NEED A MOTION IN A SECOND AND WE'LL VOTE ON THAT AS WELL.

CAN I MAKE MOTION? YES, YOU MAY.

MOVE ITEM, UH, NUMBER SIX TO THE NEXT MEETING.

I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE TO

[6. 25-56780 Recommendation to receive and file a report from current Ad Hoc Committees; discuss anticipated Ad Hoc Committees for upcoming projects; and, if appropriate, take action to dissolve or create Ad Hoc Committees. Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

SECOND FROM, UM, COMMISSIONER DR.

ENGLE.

AND THEN IF WE CAN TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.

AND THEN JUST FOR THE RECORD THERE, I'M SEEING NO PUBLIC, UM, JUST A SECOND.

, IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM NUMBER SIX, PLEASE LIVE ON ITEM AT THE PODIUM NOW.

PERFECT.

SO FOR THIS, THERE ARE NO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT.

COMMISSIONER ALLEN HARPER.

THEN IF WE CAN CALL FOR THE VOTE.

COMMISSIONER SAP? YES.

COMMISSIONER GONZALEZ? YES.

COMMISSIONER LA VIOLETTE? YES.

COMMISSIONER MOSQUERA? YES.

VICE CHAIR ARCHULETA? YES.

CHAIR BALLINGER? YES.

WE WILL NOW TAKE NON-AG AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT.

NOW I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STAFF.

IF PUBLIC COMMENT GOES OVER, DO WE NEED TO VOTE TO EXTEND THE MEETING? NO, IT'S OKAY.

IT'S YOUR DISCRETION.

OKAY, GREAT.

UM, SO AT THIS TIME

[PUBLIC COMMENT Opportunity to address the Commission for Women and Girls on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes to make their comments unless extended by the Chair.]

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS ON NON AGENDA ITEMS. EACH SPEAKER IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS.

UM, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF THERE ARE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN PERSON THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, OR, OR EXCUSE ME, NON AGENDA, PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE LINE UP AT THE PODIUM NOW.

HI, UH, IS AARON HOOPS.

UM, OH, UH, MY NAME IS AARON HOOPS

[01:55:01]

AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT RANK CHOICE VOTING.

SO RANK CHOICE VOTING IS A SIMPLE UPGRADE TO THE WAY THAT WE VOTE WHERE INSTEAD OF VOTING FOR A SINGLE CANDIDATE, YOU VOTE FIRST CHOICE, SECOND CHOICE, THIRD CHOICE.

AND IT HAS A LOT OF DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, UH, FOR ALL DIFFERENT GROUPS, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR GROUPS THAT ARE LIMITED ON TIME AND MONEY.

UM, IT SHORTENS THE ELECTION CYCLE, WHICH MEANS THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE THE OPTION TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

UM, WHEN NEW YORK CITY IMPLEMENTED FRANK CHOICE VOTING, THEIR NEXT ELECTION WAS 2021 AND THEY ENDED UP WITH THE MOST DIVERSE, UH, BOTH RACIALLY AND GENDER DIVERSE COUNCIL THAT THEY'VE EVER HAD.

UM, BECAUSE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE GOT THE OPTION TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO LONG BEACH AND UH, WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT THROUGH A REAL PRESENTATION ON THE AGENDA IN THE FUTURE.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND IF WE COULD HAVE OUR NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTER.

UM, MY NAME IS LIZ BARNETT AND I CAME TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT ALSO ABOUT RANK CHOICE, VOTING AND SUPPORT, SORT OF THE, WHAT IT COULD DO FOR LONG BEACH.

UM, BUT THEN AS I WAS LISTENING, I DECIDED I WANTED TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON SOMETHING ELSE, UM, AND WHICH IS ABOUT THE CAL KIDS PROGRAM AND MAKING SURE THAT THIS COMMISSION KNOWS ABOUT IT.

IT IS A, UM, THE CAL KIDS PROGRAM STARTED IN, UH, 2022.

SO ALL NEWBORNS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR, UH, A SEED DEPOSIT PLUS SOME INCENTIVES INVESTED IN A 5 29 ACCOUNT.

IT'S ALSO AVAILABLE FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, $500.

UM, FOR ALL KIDS WHO ARE ENROLLED, THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS, BUT, UM, WHEN THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 2022, SO THOSE STUDENTS ALL HAVE MONEY NOW SOME OF THEM ARE STARTING TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THEIR MONEY, UM, BECAUSE IT'LL GO BACK TO THE STATE IF IT ISN'T CLAIMED.

UM, AND THEN EVERY YEAR THE YOUNG KIDS, WHEN THEY ENTER FIRST GRADE, THAT'S WHEN ELIGIBILITY IS ACTUALLY DETERMINED BASED ON THE LCFF CATEGORIES.

SO AS I WAS LISTENING TO THE LAST PRESENTATION, I JUST REALLY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE COMMISSION WAS AWARE OF IT, AND IT CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE.

ALSO GETTING THE WORD OUT CLAIM RATES ARE, CAN ALWAYS BE IMPROVED.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT ACCESSING THE MONEY, UM, ALL OVER THE STATE, BUT CERTAINLY IN LONG BEACH AS WELL.

UM, MADAME CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT QUEUE IN, UM, ZOOM? THERE ARE NO VIRTUAL MEMBERS THAT ONLINE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME.

SO SEEING NONE, THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC COMMENT.

AT THIS TIME, COMMISSIONERS MAY REPORT ON ANY PREVIOUS OR UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS, SHARE RELEVANT INFORMATION OR RECOMMEND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. UM, I WOULD ASK IF THERE ARE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS THAT THEY KEEP IT TO ONE MINUTE, GIVEN THE TIME THAT WE'RE LEFT WITH FOR THIS MEETING HERE.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

[ANNOUNCEMENTS]

SO ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM OUR COMMISSIONERS? NO.

I DO HAVE ONE BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT AND MAYBE I'LL ASK OUR STAFF TO SEND A FLYER OUT AFTER.

IS, UM, THERE IS, OKAY.

THERE IS A, UM, HUMAN TRAFFICKING SYMPOSIUM ON OCTOBER 30TH THAT IS BEING HOSTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS THRASH INUK AND, UM, RICK OTI.

AND THAT WILL BE AT THE MICHELLE OBAMA NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY.

I DON'T RECALL THE HOURS, BUT THAT WILL BE, UM, THAT IS ON THE FLYER.

SO IF WE CAN SEND THAT OUT AND SEE IF OUR COMMISSIONERS WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND AND IF THE COMMUNITY WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND.

UM, AND THEN OUR VICE CHAIR ALSO HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

JUST A A QUICK REMINDER, UM, FOR US TO MARK OUR CALENDAR, UH, FOR OUR WOMEN'S CONFERENCE.

SORRY, I WAS SPEAKING TO THE MIC.

OH, SORRY.

YEAH, JUST A, A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR APRIL 24TH AND 25TH.

THAT'S WHEN OUR, UH, WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AT LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.

AND THIS IS OUR SAFETY, UH, CONFERENCE THAT WE'VE BEEN PLANNING AND WORKING ON.

SO APRIL 24TH, PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS.

TO APRIL 24TH AND 25TH.

2026.