Community Conversation Approval Placed on January 13 Agenda

It was announced at Tuesday night's Special Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC) meeting that the long-awaited City Council deliberation on approving a community conversation regarding the Israel-Palestine-centered conflict is scheduled for the January 13 City Council meeting. An informal motion to consider the potential approval of a community conversation was made on October 28, but the date still needed to be decided.

To help put together a detailed staff report, members of the EHRAC worked Tuesday night to nail down the many logistical details necessary for council members for it to be considered appropriately. A February Community Conversation Ad Hoc Subcommittee consisting of Chair Samia Bano and commissioners London McBride and Rebecca Rona-Tuttle was also created to continue organizing this conversation.

Here is some more information about what could be coming to Culver City:

Why

Many Culver City residents have publicly responded to the conflict in the Middle East, calling for a ceasefire resolution similar to other nearby cities.

However, residents supporting Israel voiced vocal opposition to this, and community members from both sides need a place to feel acknowledged, a document on the proposed event prepared by Bano reads. The council has yet to consider a ceasefire resolution, but the October 28 motion informally approved consideration of a community conversation, which will happen on January 13.

While several facilitators have volunteered their time to help manage the conversation, EHRAC has approximately $4,400 in unused budget money related to a canceled event, giving it the resources to host this conversation.

Up to $3,000 of that will be allocated for this event, as EHRAC was uncomfortable declaring their entire remaining budget, which they have to spend until the next fiscal year in July, for the event.

What

This is meant to be a community conversation that brings healing and understanding between impassioned Culver City residents. It is also meant to serve as a learning tool, helping those participating reduce and confront their implicit biases.

While the issues center around the Israel-Palestine region, the EHRAC hopes to focus the conversation on Culver City residents and the impact the conflict has had on them.

The current plan is to hold a very structured conversation with professional facilitators. Given the topic's emotionally charged nature, framing was an important aspect of the commissioners' discussion Tuesday night.

Several ideas were shared for building the event, including starting with a model conversation by the facilitators and creating a worksheet with prompts and questions. At least 50 to 100 people are expected to attend, so attendees will be split into smaller groups for event activities.

Bano said that the least productive thing that could happen for this conversation is for it to turn into a debate on specific ideas like the validity of calling the conflict a genocide, so efforts will be made to focus internally.

Who

Outside facilitators will be brought in to help run the event, and several professionals have already expressed interest in assisting Culver City with the event.

Bano has contacted facilitators with origins from both sides of the conflict who are interested in participating. They agreed to help free of charge, but that was under the assumption that the conversation itself would happen on Tuesday.

Not only do they represent the two leading players — Zahra Sakkejha was born to Palestinian parents, and Michal Greenfield earned a Bachelor's Degree from Bezalel University in Jerusalem — but they have both worked together in the past and can collaborate in a healthy manner. However, the facilitators have yet to be finalized.

The event will be open to all Culver City residents, religiously affiliated or not. The EHRAC wanted to ensure that it was clear that this was meant for all Culver City residents and that one didn't need religious ties to attend or be included.

There will be an RSVP form, but RSVPs are not required for attendance as this is considered a publicly noticed meeting. All participants will be required to sign a waiver that includes a unique conduct agreement to help ensure a respectful conversation.

When

The plan is to hold the event in February, assuming the city council gives approval to hold it on January 13.

It is planned to be a three-hour event from 6-9 p.m. The location is still to be determined.