Michael Nicholls-Pierce
Oct 1, 2023
Consortium Board sets motion to move forward with housing and recitivism research.
Dover, DE- The Racial Equity Consortium of Delaware, an initiative created to address the inequities of the black and brown communities across the state, has been working diligently behind the scenes to help bring forth change to state’s minority population.
Hosting a total of 23 members (13 voting, 10 ex-officio non-voting), each board member serves on at least one of the following subcommittees- education, economic opportunities, health and wellness, infrastructure and environment, & safety and justice. Below are the members of the Consortium Board:
Voting Members
1. The Honorable Stephanie T. Bolden, Delaware State Representative
2. The Honorable Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha, Delaware State Representative
3. Willie V. Scott
4. Matthew Williams, Executive Director- Conscious Connections, Inc.
5. Antonio Boyle, Senior Vice President, Division of Strategic Enrollment Management, Delaware State University
6. Richard Smith, President- NAACP of Delaware
7. Melanie Daniels, President-National Coalition of 100 Black Women- Delaware Chapter
8. Jennifer Thompkins, President- Metropolitan Wilmington Urban league
9. Douglas Gramiak, Director, State Government Affairs, Barns and Thornburg, LLP
10. Jane Hovington, Chair, Sussex County Democratic Party
11. Dr. Freeman Williams, President- Newark Chapter NAACP
12. Wali Rushdan, Partner, Barnes and Thornburg, LLP
13. Maria Matos, President & CEO- Latin American Community Center
The following are ex-officio members, who are nonvoting members of the Consortium.
14. Saundra Ross Johnson, Director- Statewide Equity Initiatives
15. Shavonne White, Director, Office of Supplier Diversity
16. Shoneteusha Quail, Associate Deputy Director- Division of Public Health
Alternate: Sequia Rent, Bureau of Health Equity Chief
17. The Honorable Karryl Hubbard, Secretary- Delaware Department of Labor
18. Cassandra Davis, Director- Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Delaware Department of Corrections
Alternate: Terra Taylor, Deputy Commissioner, Delaware Department of Correction
19. The Honorable Mark Holodick, Secretary- Delaware Department of Education
20. Ilya Moses, Department of Services for Children, Youth, and their Families
21. Caitlin Del Collo, Delaware State Housing Authority
22. Corie Priest, Delaware Department of Justice
23. Richard M. Potter Jr., Chief Diversity Officer, Delaware Division of Human Resources
The Consortium was created by the State of Delaware per recommendation of the African American Task Force to conduct research specifically on the issues faced by persons of color. The Consortium is housed within the Global Institute for Equity, Inclusion and Civil Rights at Delaware State University, where students will be conducting research and assist the consortium staff members with various projects.
During their latest meeting, the following motions were passed, per recommendation of Cailin del Collo from the Delaware State Housing Authority:
- Recommendation to replicate study to look at the relationship between Delaware tenants, criminal background, and housing outcomes.
- Pass a homeless Bill of Rights to protect persons experiencing homelessness.
- Explore additional opportunity to lore barriers to housing for persons with criminal history.
Caitlin Del Collo from DE State Housing Authority going over her recommendations.
Photo: Michael Nicholls-Pierce
The following recommendations were passed per recommendation of Cory Priest of Delaware State Department of Justice
- Create uniform time frame of up to 90 days to clear criminal history (current time is 30 days for mandatory expungement, 45 days for discretionary expungement, 90 days for a pardon)
- Reduce the cost for civilians to gain access to background information at state operated kiosks.
- Create physical content listing voting rights for persons previously incarcerated.
Corie Priest from DE Department of Justice giving his recommendations for the board.
Photo: Michael Nicholls-Pierce
Six out of the eight motions listed were passed. The next meeting will take place November 21, 2023, in Room 310 of the Bank of America Building of Delaware State University’s Campus at 1200 N DuPont Highway, Dover de 19901.