REPORT TO TASK FORCE ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Appointment of Younger Adult Advisory Member and Older Adult Advisory Member
Report
BACKGROUND
At the April 12, 2021 Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (Task Force) meeting, the Task Force voted to establish a subcommittee to develop a selection process for the appointment of a youth advisory member and senior advisory member to serve as non-voting, advisory members, and appoint Member Davis, Member Knaack, and Member Ma to the subcommittee (“Advisory Member Selection Subcommittee”).
At the June 14, 2021 Task Force meeting, the Task Force reviewed the Advisory Member Selection Subcommittee’s (Subcommittee) recommendation and proposed timeline on holding interviews, similar to how the Task Force member vacancy recruitment was conducted, to select and appoint the two advisory members. The Task Force voted to refer the recruitment and selection of one (1) younger adult advisory member and one (1) older adult advisory member to the Subcommittee.
The application for the Younger Adult and Older Adult Advisory Member recruitment was released on July 16, 2021. Staff posted the application packet on the City’s website landing page, Task Force website for two (2) weeks and promoted the recruitment on the City’s social media platforms and communications channels. The application packet was also provided to the City’s Senior Advisory and Youth Commissions, past Task Force member applicants, and the Task Force’s Community Listening Survey participants who subscribed to Task Force updates.
A total of 29 applications were received, nine (9) of which were ineligible to serve as the applicant did not live within City boundaries. The applications of those eligible to serve are included with this report as Attachment 1. To narrow down the applicant pool, the Task Force thoroughly reviewed the applications, scoring each application from 1-10. The five (5) highest scoring Older Adult Advisory Member and the five (5) highest scoring Younger Adult Advisory Member applicants were invited to interview with the subcommittee.
The Subcommittee invited to the following candidates to interview for the Older Adult Advisory Member vacancy:
• Grissel Hernandez
• Mary Hyginus-Joseph
• Alyson King
• Maria Ocampo
• Nira Singh
As only two Younger Adult Advisory Member applicants were eligible to serve, they were automatically invited to interview. The Subcommittee invited to the following candidates to interview for the Younger Adult Advisory Member vacancy:
• Anagha Dogiparthi
• Debrah Magqoka
The Advisory Member Selection Subcommittee conducted interviews on August 25, 2021. Interviews were limited to ten (10) minutes. Applicants were allowed two (2) minutes for an opening statement, seven (7) minutes for questions and answers, and one (1) minute for a closing statement. The interview questions are included with this report as Attachment 2.
DISCUSSION
Following the interviews, the Subcommittee deliberated and scored each applicant from 1-10 to determine who they would recommend to the vacancies.
The Subcommittee recommends Dr. Nira Singh for the Older Adult Advisory Member vacancy. Dr. Singh is a longtime Santa Clara resident and currently serves as the Director of Behavioral Health at AACI (Asian Americans for Community Involvement), a culturally responsive community health center in San Jose. Throughout Dr. Singh’s professional career, she has shown a lifelong dedication to issues around diversity, equity, and inclusion including as a member of the Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Contractors Association’s Anti-Racism Task Force and the California Behavioral Health Community Based Organization’s Racial Equity Task Force. Dr. Singh will bring to the Task Force her expertise serving vulnerable and disenfranchised communities including immigrants, refugees, and the LGBTQ+ community.
The Subcommittee recommends Anagha Dogiparthi for the Younger Adult Advisory Member vacancy. Anagha is a student at Adrian C. Wilcox High School. Anagha served as a Youth Ambassador for EKAM Bay Area, a non-profit organization that works towards proving quality healthcare to needy children and mothers in India. At EKAM Bay Area, she helped raise funds to support women and children in India in need of assistance due to the impacts of COVID-19. Her other community service work includes tutoring underprivileged children in India in Python, managing social media accounts, leading virtual events, and organizing fundraisers.
Staff is bringing the Subcommittee’s recommended appointees to the Task Force to approve the appointments. These are non-voting positions, and do not require City Council approval.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an information report only and no action is being taken by the City Council and no environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) is required.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the City other than administrative staff time.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion meeting agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve the subcommittee’s recommendation to appoint Dr. Nira Singh to the Older Adult Advisory Member vacancy and Anagha Dogiparthi to the Younger Adult Advisory Member vacancy.
Staff
Reviewed by: Genevieve Yip, Staff Analyst I
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Applications Received for Advisory Member Recruitment
2. Interview Questions