1 00:00:14,839 --> 00:00:16,974 Is it? Yeah, it is this morning. 2 00:00:16,974 --> 00:00:19,844 Good morning. Good morning and 3 00:00:19,844 --> 00:00:21,879 welcome to the Virginia 4 00:00:21,879 --> 00:00:23,879 minority Business Commission 5 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:24,715 meeting. I am Senator Angela 6 00:00:24,715 --> 00:00:26,715 Williams Graves, representing 7 00:00:26,917 --> 00:00:27,718 the 21st Senate District in the 8 00:00:27,718 --> 00:00:29,920 Commonwealth of Virginia. And 9 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:33,257 it is wonderful to have you all 10 00:00:33,257 --> 00:00:34,892 here. We are going to start 11 00:00:34,892 --> 00:00:36,894 with introductions, because it 12 00:00:36,894 --> 00:00:39,563 has been a minute since we have 13 00:00:39,563 --> 00:00:40,965 met, and we have some new 14 00:00:40,965 --> 00:00:43,968 members. And so we'll start all 15 00:00:43,968 --> 00:00:45,636 the way to my far right and 16 00:00:45,636 --> 00:00:47,605 work our way down. 17 00:00:47,605 --> 00:00:49,206 >> Hi everyone. I'm Doctor 18 00:00:49,206 --> 00:00:50,741 Byron Cherry. 19 00:00:50,741 --> 00:00:52,843 >> Thank you. Anything you want 20 00:00:52,843 --> 00:00:55,843 to tell us about yourself, 21 00:00:56,413 --> 00:00:58,216 Doctor cherry? 22 00:00:58,216 --> 00:00:59,784 >> Doctor. 23 00:00:59,784 --> 00:01:01,180 >> If it's red is not working. 24 00:01:01,180 --> 00:01:03,688 If it's green is on. 25 00:01:03,688 --> 00:01:06,688 >> I bought myself a 26 year 26 00:01:06,824 --> 00:01:08,793 Army veteran. Retired colonel. 27 00:01:08,793 --> 00:01:11,996 I ran a small business for 15 28 00:01:11,996 --> 00:01:12,830 years. I sold it last year. 29 00:01:12,830 --> 00:01:14,932 This committee is very 30 00:01:14,932 --> 00:01:17,101 important to me because many 31 00:01:17,101 --> 00:01:17,902 times I try to come up to the 32 00:01:17,902 --> 00:01:20,400 Commonwealth and talk business 33 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:21,806 with them and just get blown 34 00:01:21,806 --> 00:01:23,775 off every time. So. So this is 35 00:01:23,775 --> 00:01:25,576 very important to me. So but 36 00:01:25,576 --> 00:01:27,745 the business for 15 years was 37 00:01:27,745 --> 00:01:28,912 very successful. We did well in 38 00:01:28,912 --> 00:01:30,715 sold it last year. So we're 39 00:01:30,715 --> 00:01:33,785 cyber it company up in Northern 40 00:01:33,785 --> 00:01:35,785 Virginia. About 150 employees. 41 00:01:36,754 --> 00:01:39,570 We did. Yeah. So okay good. 42 00:01:39,570 --> 00:01:39,924 >> Good deal. Good deal. Thank 43 00:01:39,924 --> 00:01:41,893 you so much. Thank you for 44 00:01:41,893 --> 00:01:43,428 being here. And thank you so 45 00:01:43,428 --> 00:01:43,694 much for your service to our 46 00:01:43,694 --> 00:01:44,896 country. 47 00:01:44,896 --> 00:01:45,997 >> Thank you. You're welcome. 48 00:01:45,997 --> 00:01:47,640 >> Good morning. I'm Alfreda 49 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:48,660 jarrett Reynolds. I serve as 50 00:01:48,660 --> 00:01:48,900 the director of economic 51 00:01:48,900 --> 00:01:50,768 development for Brunswick 52 00:01:50,768 --> 00:01:52,700 County in Southside Virginia. 53 00:01:52,700 --> 00:01:54,205 This is my first meeting. I'm 54 00:01:54,205 --> 00:01:55,907 so excited to be here, to have 55 00:01:55,907 --> 00:01:57,709 a seat at the table to see how 56 00:01:57,709 --> 00:01:59,277 I can add value to the great 57 00:01:59,277 --> 00:01:59,877 things that's already happening 58 00:01:59,877 --> 00:02:01,813 within this commission. 59 00:02:01,813 --> 00:02:03,781 >> Thank you for being here. 60 00:02:03,781 --> 00:02:05,683 >> Thank you. 61 00:02:05,683 --> 00:02:08,683 >> Good morning. My name is 62 00:02:08,953 --> 00:02:10,588 Doctor Trina Coleman and I am 63 00:02:10,588 --> 00:02:12,988 the ceo of Coleman 64 00:02:13,358 --> 00:02:15,226 Comprehensive Solutions, a 65 00:02:15,226 --> 00:02:17,626 small educational and it 66 00:02:18,296 --> 00:02:21,896 consulting firm. I am also a 67 00:02:23,234 --> 00:02:25,634 physics professor, but my 68 00:02:25,870 --> 00:02:27,371 passion is to do the right 69 00:02:27,371 --> 00:02:30,308 thing for the right people at 70 00:02:30,308 --> 00:02:33,908 the right time. So being on 71 00:02:37,615 --> 00:02:39,884 this commission. Cut off, okay, 72 00:02:39,884 --> 00:02:41,586 being a member of the Minority 73 00:02:41,586 --> 00:02:42,987 Business Commission is very 74 00:02:42,987 --> 00:02:44,822 important. I want to help do 75 00:02:44,822 --> 00:02:46,291 some great things in the 76 00:02:46,291 --> 00:02:47,725 Commonwealth. I want to bring 77 00:02:47,725 --> 00:02:49,961 more exposure to this committee. 78 00:02:49,961 --> 00:02:51,830 I don't feel like people know 79 00:02:51,830 --> 00:02:53,798 we exist. I think we should be 80 00:02:53,798 --> 00:02:55,600 interacting with some of the 81 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:57,600 other organizations and 82 00:02:58,360 --> 00:02:59,704 entities within the government 83 00:02:59,704 --> 00:03:02,704 of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 84 00:03:03,410 --> 00:03:06,111 so I am here to shake things up, 85 00:03:06,111 --> 00:03:07,979 hopefully. Thank you. 86 00:03:07,979 --> 00:03:09,460 >> Good morning y'all. Delegate 87 00:03:09,460 --> 00:03:11,460 Michael Fagan's proudly 88 00:03:11,149 --> 00:03:13,149 representing House district 97 89 00:03:13,284 --> 00:03:14,986 within Virginia Beach. I'm glad 90 00:03:14,986 --> 00:03:16,855 that we are. Legislation that 91 00:03:16,855 --> 00:03:17,789 we passed a few years ago was 92 00:03:17,789 --> 00:03:18,790 able to restart the Minority 93 00:03:18,790 --> 00:03:21,190 Business Commission. As someone 94 00:03:21,192 --> 00:03:23,628 who just recently closed their 95 00:03:23,628 --> 00:03:25,830 first business, I've learned a 96 00:03:25,830 --> 00:03:26,698 lot over the past few years of 97 00:03:26,698 --> 00:03:28,833 being a small business owner, 98 00:03:28,833 --> 00:03:30,902 and I'm glad I'm able to take 99 00:03:30,902 --> 00:03:31,703 that and my experiences there 100 00:03:31,703 --> 00:03:33,771 and be a valuable, valuable 101 00:03:33,771 --> 00:03:36,410 member of this commission and 102 00:03:36,410 --> 00:03:39,641 and also serve as the vice 103 00:03:41,713 --> 00:03:44,113 chair as well. So. 104 00:03:44,949 --> 00:03:46,949 >> Senator Lamont Bagby. 105 00:03:47,819 --> 00:03:49,819 >> Representing, doing. 106 00:03:54,626 --> 00:03:56,461 >> I'm not doing all that. 107 00:03:56,461 --> 00:03:58,363 >> Stephen Hammond. Hammond 108 00:03:58,363 --> 00:04:00,363 Group consulting Richmond 109 00:04:01,900 --> 00:04:04,269 native been lobbying the last 110 00:04:04,269 --> 00:04:05,871 six years now. I started in 111 00:04:05,871 --> 00:04:07,739 this under Lamont Bagby's 112 00:04:07,739 --> 00:04:09,774 tutelage as his la. So it's 113 00:04:09,774 --> 00:04:11,643 cool to be sitting beside him 114 00:04:11,643 --> 00:04:12,911 in this capacity. And so if I 115 00:04:12,911 --> 00:04:15,814 can do nothing else but that, 116 00:04:15,814 --> 00:04:18,814 that's cool in my book. 117 00:04:20,886 --> 00:04:22,886 >> Thank you. 118 00:04:23,788 --> 00:04:24,956 >> There we go. All right. 119 00:04:24,956 --> 00:04:25,891 Hello, I'm Tiffany Boyle, 120 00:04:25,891 --> 00:04:27,826 commissioner of revenue for the 121 00:04:27,826 --> 00:04:28,960 city of Newport News, also a 122 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:30,960 small business owner, 123 00:04:33,498 --> 00:04:34,833 entrepreneur myself. 124 00:04:34,833 --> 00:04:36,868 >> Hello, I'm Kimberly Jackson, 125 00:04:36,868 --> 00:04:39,271 I'm the ceo of United Community 126 00:04:39,271 --> 00:04:40,772 Solutions, a behavioral health 127 00:04:40,772 --> 00:04:42,730 practice here in Virginia. And 128 00:04:42,730 --> 00:04:44,376 I currently serve on the board 129 00:04:44,376 --> 00:04:45,877 of Social Work. And I was just 130 00:04:45,877 --> 00:04:48,877 elected to serve as the 131 00:04:49,130 --> 00:04:50,549 director at large of S.B. So 132 00:04:50,549 --> 00:04:52,550 for the National Board of 133 00:04:52,550 --> 00:04:54,190 Social Work. 134 00:04:54,190 --> 00:04:56,190 >> Thank you. 135 00:04:56,421 --> 00:04:58,223 >> So now that we have all 136 00:04:58,223 --> 00:04:58,957 introduced ourselves and. 137 00:04:58,957 --> 00:05:00,957 >> Some about you. 138 00:05:01,159 --> 00:05:02,661 >> I did in the beginning, I'm 139 00:05:02,661 --> 00:05:03,729 Senator Angela Williams Graves, 140 00:05:03,729 --> 00:05:05,664 representing the 21st Senate 141 00:05:05,664 --> 00:05:07,733 District, where we do good work 142 00:05:07,733 --> 00:05:09,901 on your behalf. And I am the 143 00:05:09,901 --> 00:05:12,804 more than likely the outgoing 144 00:05:12,804 --> 00:05:15,674 chair of this commission. And 145 00:05:15,674 --> 00:05:18,343 we will in our next meeting in 146 00:05:18,343 --> 00:05:20,712 the spring, reelect elect new 147 00:05:20,712 --> 00:05:23,582 officers for this committee and 148 00:05:23,582 --> 00:05:25,851 and get some things done. So we 149 00:05:25,851 --> 00:05:27,786 will move right into Delegate 150 00:05:27,786 --> 00:05:29,354 Fagan's. Did you have any 151 00:05:29,354 --> 00:05:31,156 additional remarks that you 152 00:05:31,156 --> 00:05:32,958 wanted to make? All right. So 153 00:05:32,958 --> 00:05:36,128 thank you all for being here. 154 00:05:36,128 --> 00:05:38,630 We need to adopt the electronic 155 00:05:38,630 --> 00:05:40,799 meeting policy that has been 156 00:05:40,799 --> 00:05:43,735 online and should have been 157 00:05:43,735 --> 00:05:45,137 distributed. Is there any 158 00:05:45,137 --> 00:05:47,706 anyone that has questions about 159 00:05:47,706 --> 00:05:50,106 the electronic meeting policy? 160 00:05:50,175 --> 00:05:50,976 Our electronic meeting policy 161 00:05:50,976 --> 00:05:51,743 is a little dated, but 162 00:05:51,743 --> 00:05:54,379 hopefully we'll be able to 163 00:05:54,379 --> 00:05:56,882 bring it along a little bit by 164 00:05:56,882 --> 00:05:59,685 little bit into the 21st 165 00:05:59,685 --> 00:06:02,685 century. But does anybody have 166 00:06:03,422 --> 00:06:06,358 any questions, any issues. All 167 00:06:06,358 --> 00:06:08,594 right Michael, is this a voice 168 00:06:08,594 --> 00:06:09,861 vote or voice vote. Yes okay. 169 00:06:09,861 --> 00:06:12,397 So I need a motion. 170 00:06:12,397 --> 00:06:15,397 >> Please move to report second. 171 00:06:16,902 --> 00:06:20,239 >> Okay. All in favor I, I any 172 00:06:20,239 --> 00:06:23,239 opposed? All right. We're good. 173 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,713 All right. And then we have the 174 00:06:27,713 --> 00:06:29,614 2024 executive summary that has 175 00:06:29,614 --> 00:06:31,116 we have to move for the 176 00:06:31,116 --> 00:06:31,950 adoption of that. All of that 177 00:06:31,950 --> 00:06:33,752 information should have been 178 00:06:33,752 --> 00:06:36,521 sent to you all so that you 179 00:06:36,521 --> 00:06:36,989 could review it from our last 180 00:06:36,989 --> 00:06:37,956 meeting. Are there any 181 00:06:37,956 --> 00:06:39,956 questions or discussion 182 00:06:42,161 --> 00:06:43,262 regarding it? Nope. I need a 183 00:06:43,262 --> 00:06:44,630 motion. 184 00:06:44,630 --> 00:06:44,897 >> Move to report. 185 00:06:44,897 --> 00:06:46,799 >> Second. 186 00:06:46,799 --> 00:06:48,567 >> All in favor of the adoption 187 00:06:48,567 --> 00:06:50,690 of the 2024 Executive Summary. 188 00:06:50,690 --> 00:06:50,302 Say aye. 189 00:06:50,302 --> 00:06:52,302 >> Aye. 190 00:06:54,106 --> 00:06:56,275 >> Any opposition? All right. 191 00:06:56,275 --> 00:06:58,675 The adoption of the 2024 192 00:06:58,944 --> 00:07:01,344 executive summary is accepted. 193 00:07:03,715 --> 00:07:05,284 And now I am going to actually 194 00:07:05,284 --> 00:07:06,885 turn this over to our vice 195 00:07:06,885 --> 00:07:09,721 chair, who will probably be our 196 00:07:09,721 --> 00:07:12,658 chair next year for a little 197 00:07:12,658 --> 00:07:14,860 bit of an outline over the 2026 198 00:07:14,860 --> 00:07:16,929 work plan. I will tell you, he 199 00:07:16,929 --> 00:07:17,829 is very ambitious in what he 200 00:07:17,829 --> 00:07:20,566 wants to do with this 201 00:07:20,566 --> 00:07:22,100 commission, so I am proud to 202 00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:25,100 allow him this opportunity to 203 00:07:25,371 --> 00:07:27,771 turn over priorities for 2026 204 00:07:27,907 --> 00:07:29,608 2027. And for those of you in 205 00:07:29,608 --> 00:07:31,710 the public who MAY not be aware, 206 00:07:31,710 --> 00:07:33,579 we reelect officers to 207 00:07:33,579 --> 00:07:35,881 commissions every two years as 208 00:07:35,881 --> 00:07:37,816 the House elections. Its in 209 00:07:37,816 --> 00:07:40,816 line with the House elections. 210 00:07:42,554 --> 00:07:46,154 So in in 2026, we will come 211 00:07:46,191 --> 00:07:47,660 back and we will reelect 212 00:07:47,660 --> 00:07:48,627 officers there. So take it away 213 00:07:48,627 --> 00:07:50,627 Delegate. 214 00:07:50,763 --> 00:07:53,665 >> Thank you, MADAM Chair. So 215 00:07:53,665 --> 00:07:55,401 as we move on to 2026 and we 216 00:07:55,401 --> 00:07:56,702 have our we have a really 217 00:07:56,702 --> 00:07:57,937 ambitious, of course, General 218 00:07:57,937 --> 00:08:00,937 Assembly coming up and looking 219 00:08:00,940 --> 00:08:01,740 forward to seeing a lot of the 220 00:08:01,740 --> 00:08:03,275 legislation that will be coming 221 00:08:03,275 --> 00:08:04,944 across from the House and the 222 00:08:04,944 --> 00:08:06,946 Senate side. We'll be looking 223 00:08:06,946 --> 00:08:09,815 to meet hopefully around APRIL 224 00:08:09,815 --> 00:08:10,816 time frame. But additionally, 225 00:08:10,816 --> 00:08:12,885 when we're going into 26, one 226 00:08:12,885 --> 00:08:14,653 important things is to look at 227 00:08:14,653 --> 00:08:16,755 is how we can actually look at, 228 00:08:16,755 --> 00:08:17,957 of course, from the contracts 229 00:08:17,957 --> 00:08:19,691 and procurements. And so one of 230 00:08:19,691 --> 00:08:21,827 the things I would love to make 231 00:08:21,827 --> 00:08:23,562 sure we kind of talked about it 232 00:08:23,562 --> 00:08:25,664 in the past is being able to 233 00:08:25,664 --> 00:08:27,433 get better data on, on, on the 234 00:08:27,433 --> 00:08:28,330 procurement and opportunities 235 00:08:28,330 --> 00:08:30,136 that are happening, especially 236 00:08:30,136 --> 00:08:31,871 at the, at the locality level. 237 00:08:31,871 --> 00:08:33,500 And so, for example, what's 238 00:08:33,500 --> 00:08:33,840 happening in Hampton Roads, 239 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:35,574 what's happening in Richmond, 240 00:08:35,574 --> 00:08:37,574 southwest Virginia, northern 241 00:08:37,643 --> 00:08:38,844 Virginia, to make sure that 242 00:08:38,844 --> 00:08:41,244 those localities that that 243 00:08:41,347 --> 00:08:42,748 state a a goal, you know, if 244 00:08:42,748 --> 00:08:44,884 it's 2%, 5%, whatever that goal 245 00:08:44,884 --> 00:08:46,180 has stated that to see if 246 00:08:46,180 --> 00:08:48,870 they're actually being able to 247 00:08:48,870 --> 00:08:49,889 meet those goals from from 248 00:08:49,889 --> 00:08:50,589 minority business contracts, 249 00:08:50,589 --> 00:08:51,891 additionally strengthening 250 00:08:51,891 --> 00:08:53,891 minority business partnerships, 251 00:08:54,593 --> 00:08:55,494 we know there are a lot of 252 00:08:55,494 --> 00:08:57,494 great minority business 253 00:08:57,797 --> 00:08:59,310 partnerships. Some are exist 254 00:08:59,310 --> 00:09:01,310 within specific regional 255 00:09:02,101 --> 00:09:03,235 chambers, some are exist 256 00:09:03,235 --> 00:09:04,570 outside of chambers and are 257 00:09:04,570 --> 00:09:06,739 built to really bring those 258 00:09:06,739 --> 00:09:08,341 communities up. And so we'll be 259 00:09:08,341 --> 00:09:09,876 looking to strengthen those and 260 00:09:09,876 --> 00:09:12,276 additionally expanding our our 261 00:09:12,845 --> 00:09:14,747 statewide outreach. There's now 262 00:09:14,747 --> 00:09:16,949 is is is the perfect time to 263 00:09:16,949 --> 00:09:18,718 make sure that we're reaching 264 00:09:18,718 --> 00:09:20,190 out to those, those groups and 265 00:09:20,190 --> 00:09:22,355 that maybe we haven't had the 266 00:09:22,355 --> 00:09:22,955 opportunity to meet with in the 267 00:09:22,955 --> 00:09:24,891 past. Maybe those groups have 268 00:09:24,891 --> 00:09:26,559 recently started up. And so and 269 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:28,761 additionally, looking at policy 270 00:09:28,761 --> 00:09:30,620 changes are going to be some of 271 00:09:30,620 --> 00:09:31,797 the final things we kind of 272 00:09:31,797 --> 00:09:34,233 look at to see not just going 273 00:09:34,233 --> 00:09:36,736 into after post session, but 274 00:09:36,736 --> 00:09:38,871 going into 27 as well. A lot of 275 00:09:38,871 --> 00:09:41,600 the great work that we do is is 276 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:42,942 also done, is also done outside 277 00:09:42,942 --> 00:09:44,760 of our session. And so I'm 278 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:45,878 excited about the work that 279 00:09:45,878 --> 00:09:47,413 we're going to get to do next 280 00:09:47,413 --> 00:09:48,648 year and looking forward to 281 00:09:48,648 --> 00:09:50,116 seeing, not just in terms of 282 00:09:50,116 --> 00:09:51,851 the legislation we get to 283 00:09:51,851 --> 00:09:53,686 support and pass, but the the 284 00:09:53,686 --> 00:09:54,887 initiatives all across the 285 00:09:54,887 --> 00:09:57,230 Commonwealth that we can really 286 00:09:57,230 --> 00:09:58,658 help to show that Virginia is 287 00:09:58,658 --> 00:09:59,792 one of the best places to start 288 00:09:59,792 --> 00:10:01,270 a small business, and 289 00:10:01,270 --> 00:10:02,929 especially it's a great place 290 00:10:02,929 --> 00:10:05,331 if you're a minority business. 291 00:10:05,331 --> 00:10:07,233 And that's why we want to make 292 00:10:07,233 --> 00:10:07,867 sure to attract that and not 293 00:10:07,867 --> 00:10:10,103 just attract, but inspired that 294 00:10:10,103 --> 00:10:10,837 next generation of 295 00:10:10,837 --> 00:10:12,805 entrepreneurship that that 296 00:10:12,805 --> 00:10:14,774 maybe just needs a little extra 297 00:10:14,774 --> 00:10:16,309 spark. And that's one of the 298 00:10:16,309 --> 00:10:18,344 best reasons that I believe 299 00:10:18,344 --> 00:10:20,744 this commission is here. 300 00:10:24,850 --> 00:10:27,850 >> Any comment question to our 301 00:10:29,188 --> 00:10:31,588 legislative work plan for 2026 302 00:10:33,493 --> 00:10:34,961 or. Yes, doctor Cherry. 303 00:10:34,961 --> 00:10:36,796 >> Thank you. Yes. Again, 304 00:10:36,796 --> 00:10:38,231 Delegate Fagan's, I really 305 00:10:38,231 --> 00:10:38,998 appreciate those comments and 306 00:10:38,998 --> 00:10:40,767 everything. As far as the 307 00:10:40,767 --> 00:10:41,968 looking forward to getting the 308 00:10:41,968 --> 00:10:43,836 percentage of minority 309 00:10:43,836 --> 00:10:46,836 businesses and so forth, share 310 00:10:46,873 --> 00:10:48,741 contracts. And I'm going to say 311 00:10:48,741 --> 00:10:50,743 this to be very honest, okay? I 312 00:10:50,743 --> 00:10:51,778 hope we put some teeth to this 313 00:10:51,778 --> 00:10:52,845 stuff, because in Northern 314 00:10:52,845 --> 00:10:53,913 Virginia I had a pretty 315 00:10:53,913 --> 00:10:54,948 successful company that's 316 00:10:54,948 --> 00:10:56,749 photography military. But I 317 00:10:56,749 --> 00:10:58,851 can't tell you how many times I 318 00:10:58,851 --> 00:11:00,553 met with U.S. Senators Tim 319 00:11:00,553 --> 00:11:03,890 Kaine and folks up in Northern 320 00:11:03,890 --> 00:11:05,258 Virginia who had these meetings 321 00:11:05,258 --> 00:11:06,659 and so forth with mine, with 322 00:11:06,659 --> 00:11:09,659 minority businesses. But to me, 323 00:11:10,597 --> 00:11:12,765 it was just a pony show because 324 00:11:12,765 --> 00:11:14,934 we met with them. It was a 325 00:11:14,934 --> 00:11:15,768 group of us met 3 or 4 times. 326 00:11:15,768 --> 00:11:17,871 They always called us in, and 327 00:11:17,871 --> 00:11:18,804 they met at my location one 328 00:11:18,804 --> 00:11:20,974 time. But we go through this 329 00:11:20,974 --> 00:11:23,143 rigmarole and sell these things, 330 00:11:23,143 --> 00:11:25,712 but nothing ever comes to 331 00:11:25,712 --> 00:11:27,647 fruition. And there's hope. And 332 00:11:27,647 --> 00:11:29,749 in my I'm prayerful that, you 333 00:11:29,749 --> 00:11:31,170 know, based on what you said, 334 00:11:31,170 --> 00:11:33,152 Delegate Fagan's what the plan 335 00:11:33,152 --> 00:11:34,888 is. I hope we accomplish that 336 00:11:34,888 --> 00:11:36,156 as far as spreading out the 337 00:11:36,156 --> 00:11:37,223 share of minority businesses 338 00:11:37,223 --> 00:11:38,892 and so forth across the 339 00:11:38,892 --> 00:11:40,860 Commonwealth, because this is a 340 00:11:40,860 --> 00:11:41,728 great state to do business in. 341 00:11:41,728 --> 00:11:44,197 And I can say I was in 342 00:11:44,197 --> 00:11:45,650 contracting, we did well with 343 00:11:45,650 --> 00:11:46,833 employees in eight states, 150 344 00:11:46,833 --> 00:11:48,868 employees, but I could never 345 00:11:48,868 --> 00:11:51,268 penetrate this state for 346 00:11:51,805 --> 00:11:53,907 whatever reason. So, so and I 347 00:11:53,907 --> 00:11:54,674 just I'm looking forward to 348 00:11:54,674 --> 00:11:55,975 working. I was very excited 349 00:11:55,975 --> 00:11:57,844 when I was appointed because 350 00:11:57,844 --> 00:12:00,246 this means a lot to me, and I 351 00:12:00,246 --> 00:12:00,847 hope we do some great things 352 00:12:00,847 --> 00:12:04,117 and put some teeth behind this 353 00:12:04,117 --> 00:12:06,517 stuff. Thanks a lot. 354 00:12:11,570 --> 00:12:14,657 >> So. I'm going to be reality 355 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:17,597 Roxy, in that we are 356 00:12:17,597 --> 00:12:19,833 legislative body and we are 357 00:12:19,833 --> 00:12:22,833 legislators. Right. And so and 358 00:12:24,370 --> 00:12:24,971 this commission meets outside 359 00:12:24,971 --> 00:12:26,706 of our normal legislative 360 00:12:26,706 --> 00:12:29,706 session, which this year coming 361 00:12:30,210 --> 00:12:33,810 up is 60 days. And we are 362 00:12:34,114 --> 00:12:35,382 limited in staff and in funding. 363 00:12:35,382 --> 00:12:39,219 There is a small budget that we 364 00:12:39,219 --> 00:12:40,620 have as a commission for 365 00:12:40,620 --> 00:12:41,922 reimbursement and, you know, 366 00:12:41,922 --> 00:12:44,900 stipends for everybody. That 367 00:12:44,900 --> 00:12:46,826 comes because your time is 368 00:12:46,826 --> 00:12:49,620 valuable. And and what we can 369 00:12:49,620 --> 00:12:51,198 do. So if you what I would like 370 00:12:51,198 --> 00:12:52,866 folks to keep in mind when we 371 00:12:52,866 --> 00:12:55,266 start talking about doing 372 00:12:55,702 --> 00:12:58,102 different things throughout the 373 00:12:59,673 --> 00:13:01,775 Commonwealth, is that these 374 00:13:01,775 --> 00:13:02,642 staff members, when we have 375 00:13:02,642 --> 00:13:05,642 commission meetings, we have to 376 00:13:05,946 --> 00:13:07,614 have staff and also and whether 377 00:13:07,614 --> 00:13:08,882 it's these are Senate staffers, 378 00:13:08,882 --> 00:13:10,984 next year will be House 379 00:13:10,984 --> 00:13:13,984 staffers. But they also we've 380 00:13:14,855 --> 00:13:18,455 got what do we have? Lamont 52, 381 00:13:18,725 --> 00:13:21,725 53 or more commissions that are 382 00:13:23,630 --> 00:13:24,898 active that meet outside of 383 00:13:24,898 --> 00:13:26,733 session. Right. They are 384 00:13:26,733 --> 00:13:29,733 meeting outside of session. And 385 00:13:34,241 --> 00:13:37,177 so to so we can put forward. 386 00:13:37,177 --> 00:13:39,177 Ideas, potential legislation, 387 00:13:39,613 --> 00:13:40,747 acts, ask questions about why 388 00:13:40,747 --> 00:13:42,382 different things are happening. 389 00:13:42,382 --> 00:13:43,684 But I think one of the things 390 00:13:43,684 --> 00:13:44,918 that will be beneficial. So 391 00:13:44,918 --> 00:13:47,954 this is the other part of 392 00:13:47,954 --> 00:13:48,955 reality, Roxy, is that we have 393 00:13:48,955 --> 00:13:50,957 a brand new administration 394 00:13:50,957 --> 00:13:52,993 coming in that I believe is 395 00:13:52,993 --> 00:13:55,393 very small, business friendly, 396 00:13:55,862 --> 00:13:57,431 and sometimes what people 397 00:13:57,431 --> 00:13:58,966 really don't understand is how 398 00:13:58,966 --> 00:14:01,680 the sausage is made in that we 399 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:03,237 have a great idea for a great 400 00:14:03,237 --> 00:14:05,500 new sausage, but it takes all 401 00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:06,907 of the pieces of the puzzle of 402 00:14:06,907 --> 00:14:08,909 all the different organizations 403 00:14:08,909 --> 00:14:10,777 and the administration and the 404 00:14:10,777 --> 00:14:12,813 the various departments within 405 00:14:12,813 --> 00:14:14,581 the Commonwealth to all come 406 00:14:14,581 --> 00:14:17,581 together and make that happen. 407 00:14:18,251 --> 00:14:18,886 And they all have competing 408 00:14:18,886 --> 00:14:20,887 priorities that are important. 409 00:14:20,887 --> 00:14:23,223 I've often said to folks I've 410 00:14:23,223 --> 00:14:23,857 met with several, I mean, the 411 00:14:23,857 --> 00:14:24,925 entire time that I've met with 412 00:14:24,925 --> 00:14:26,925 members or constituents, 413 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:28,562 whether it's a constituent or 414 00:14:28,562 --> 00:14:30,962 constituent group or an 415 00:14:31,198 --> 00:14:32,766 organization, I have never left 416 00:14:32,766 --> 00:14:35,836 a meeting feeling like my time 417 00:14:35,836 --> 00:14:37,104 was wasted, feeling like my 418 00:14:37,104 --> 00:14:39,173 time was like that was a whole 419 00:14:39,173 --> 00:14:39,973 waste of my 30 minutes. I'm 420 00:14:39,973 --> 00:14:41,942 never going to get back. Never 421 00:14:41,942 --> 00:14:42,709 left there feeling that way 422 00:14:42,709 --> 00:14:44,711 because everybody comes. If 423 00:14:44,711 --> 00:14:46,747 they come here, if they come to 424 00:14:46,747 --> 00:14:48,782 us, they're at a point where 425 00:14:48,782 --> 00:14:49,916 they need real help or they 426 00:14:49,916 --> 00:14:50,851 have real issues, or they're 427 00:14:50,851 --> 00:14:53,851 looking for real solutions and 428 00:14:55,689 --> 00:14:57,858 not fluff. And so I just want 429 00:14:57,858 --> 00:15:01,280 to just kind of let folks know 430 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:01,962 we're part time, and we have to 431 00:15:01,962 --> 00:15:03,864 be here with the meetings too. 432 00:15:03,864 --> 00:15:05,632 Right. And so and everybody 433 00:15:05,632 --> 00:15:08,368 else works. And so if we can 434 00:15:08,368 --> 00:15:10,737 put together a framework that 435 00:15:10,737 --> 00:15:12,500 in conversations with and 436 00:15:12,500 --> 00:15:14,405 meetings with whoever the 437 00:15:14,742 --> 00:15:16,900 Secretary will be, that we will 438 00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:17,945 more than likely deal with in 439 00:15:17,945 --> 00:15:18,846 these different areas that 440 00:15:18,846 --> 00:15:20,781 affect the Minority Business 441 00:15:20,781 --> 00:15:22,149 Commission, let them know what 442 00:15:22,149 --> 00:15:23,951 it is that we see as priorities 443 00:15:23,951 --> 00:15:24,952 and what we want to accomplish. 444 00:15:24,952 --> 00:15:26,860 And working with the 445 00:15:26,860 --> 00:15:27,621 administration who actually 446 00:15:27,621 --> 00:15:28,889 does work full time and 447 00:15:28,889 --> 00:15:30,991 actually is here every day of 448 00:15:30,991 --> 00:15:32,760 the week. Right. And they do 449 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:34,928 this for a living, right? We 450 00:15:34,928 --> 00:15:37,297 can I think we can move the 451 00:15:37,297 --> 00:15:38,799 needle forward. So just kind of 452 00:15:38,799 --> 00:15:41,702 we're not a chamber and we're 453 00:15:41,702 --> 00:15:44,102 not a separate organization 454 00:15:44,605 --> 00:15:48,175 that has, you know, the we're 455 00:15:48,175 --> 00:15:49,843 not that we're legislators, but 456 00:15:49,843 --> 00:15:51,946 we are legislators with a lot 457 00:15:51,946 --> 00:15:55,546 of power. We are legislators in 458 00:15:55,749 --> 00:15:57,384 the majority. And we which 459 00:15:57,384 --> 00:15:59,787 means something, which means a 460 00:15:59,787 --> 00:16:03,570 lot, right? We and so we're 461 00:16:03,570 --> 00:16:06,126 able to put forth a work plan 462 00:16:06,126 --> 00:16:07,628 and agenda, priorities and work 463 00:16:07,628 --> 00:16:09,730 with the administration. And I 464 00:16:09,730 --> 00:16:12,130 believe that through those 465 00:16:12,533 --> 00:16:14,802 channels, we can get a lot of 466 00:16:14,802 --> 00:16:17,802 things done. So hopefully that 467 00:16:18,839 --> 00:16:20,841 helps to kind of. Get a little 468 00:16:20,841 --> 00:16:23,811 bit of level of expectation in 469 00:16:23,811 --> 00:16:25,450 what we can do and the things 470 00:16:25,450 --> 00:16:26,680 that are really beyond our 471 00:16:26,680 --> 00:16:27,882 purview that fall into the 472 00:16:27,882 --> 00:16:30,282 administrative work that is 473 00:16:31,180 --> 00:16:33,854 actually done every single day. 474 00:16:33,854 --> 00:16:35,854 Yeah, yeah. Yes. 475 00:16:36,724 --> 00:16:38,859 >> Thank you. So, MADAM Chair, 476 00:16:38,859 --> 00:16:43,590 what I think I heard you say 477 00:16:43,964 --> 00:16:47,680 was we have influence more so 478 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:50,404 than we have power or resources. 479 00:16:50,404 --> 00:16:52,239 So I think that the best thing 480 00:16:52,239 --> 00:16:54,742 that this commission should be 481 00:16:54,742 --> 00:16:58,345 able to do in the short term is 482 00:16:58,345 --> 00:17:00,881 come up with a framework to use 483 00:17:00,881 --> 00:17:03,718 our influence, not only here in 484 00:17:03,718 --> 00:17:05,653 Richmond, but in our respective 485 00:17:05,653 --> 00:17:09,190 locales that we come from. With 486 00:17:09,190 --> 00:17:12,190 the support of this commission. 487 00:17:12,793 --> 00:17:15,997 So if we can come to some 488 00:17:15,997 --> 00:17:17,997 synergistic relationship type 489 00:17:18,265 --> 00:17:20,801 activities, I think that we can 490 00:17:20,801 --> 00:17:22,360 make this presence of this 491 00:17:22,360 --> 00:17:23,871 commission known. I know we 492 00:17:23,871 --> 00:17:26,240 have a lot of boards and 493 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,909 commissions, some of them about 494 00:17:28,909 --> 00:17:32,790 eclipse or some, you know, some 495 00:17:32,790 --> 00:17:35,160 of them, they're important, I 496 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:36,751 suspect. But this one is really, 497 00:17:36,751 --> 00:17:38,190 really, really important in 498 00:17:38,190 --> 00:17:40,288 comparison to some of the other 499 00:17:40,288 --> 00:17:43,124 ones. And I say that with all 500 00:17:43,124 --> 00:17:46,127 sincerity. So I just want to go 501 00:17:46,127 --> 00:17:46,928 on the record and say that 502 00:17:46,928 --> 00:17:49,928 influence is important. And if 503 00:17:50,364 --> 00:17:51,432 we can wrangle that in 504 00:17:51,432 --> 00:17:53,432 collectively and individually, 505 00:17:53,668 --> 00:17:56,604 then I think that we can help 506 00:17:56,604 --> 00:17:59,907 our soon to be chair air quotes. 507 00:17:59,907 --> 00:18:01,576 We haven't voted yet with his 508 00:18:01,576 --> 00:18:01,909 vision as well. 509 00:18:01,909 --> 00:18:03,909 >> Absolutely. 510 00:18:04,245 --> 00:18:06,214 >> And I think that was very 511 00:18:06,214 --> 00:18:08,783 well said. Thank you. Thank you. 512 00:18:08,783 --> 00:18:10,151 Any other comments questions 513 00:18:10,151 --> 00:18:13,751 speak now or forever hold your 514 00:18:14,555 --> 00:18:18,755 peace. All right. So now we are 515 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:21,929 going to have a presentation by 516 00:18:21,929 --> 00:18:23,931 Patricia Bracknell, the founder 517 00:18:23,931 --> 00:18:25,867 and ceo of the chamber for 518 00:18:25,867 --> 00:18:28,867 Hispanic Progress. And what I 519 00:18:29,237 --> 00:18:31,205 can tell you is that she is 520 00:18:31,205 --> 00:18:33,605 absolutely amazing. She. Yes. 521 00:18:35,420 --> 00:18:38,980 There you go. She is a one 522 00:18:38,980 --> 00:18:40,682 woman show all by herself. I 523 00:18:40,682 --> 00:18:43,284 every that's that that is 524 00:18:43,284 --> 00:18:45,353 amazing. She's she's she's in 525 00:18:45,353 --> 00:18:46,654 Hampton Roads but she is 526 00:18:46,654 --> 00:18:49,540 everywhere. She's she's very 527 00:18:49,624 --> 00:18:52,126 active, very much an advocate 528 00:18:52,126 --> 00:18:54,950 for the Hispanic community, but 529 00:18:54,950 --> 00:18:55,697 also the Hispanic community as 530 00:18:55,697 --> 00:18:58,866 it pertains to them being a 531 00:18:58,866 --> 00:19:00,969 part of the fiber of the entire 532 00:19:00,969 --> 00:19:03,571 community, not just on an 533 00:19:03,571 --> 00:19:06,774 island or in a silo, but she is 534 00:19:06,774 --> 00:19:07,976 just an amazing person, an 535 00:19:07,976 --> 00:19:09,844 amazing human being. And so 536 00:19:09,844 --> 00:19:13,444 thank you so much for being 537 00:19:13,915 --> 00:19:16,918 here with us. And we are going 538 00:19:16,918 --> 00:19:18,119 to work on the okay. 539 00:19:18,119 --> 00:19:19,921 >> All right. 540 00:19:19,921 --> 00:19:21,550 >> Well, thank you so much for 541 00:19:21,550 --> 00:19:22,824 that introduction. And thank 542 00:19:22,824 --> 00:19:25,260 you so much for the invitation 543 00:19:25,260 --> 00:19:27,950 and for the work that each one 544 00:19:27,950 --> 00:19:30,131 of you is doing and, and 545 00:19:30,131 --> 00:19:32,660 bringing forward that small 546 00:19:32,660 --> 00:19:34,335 businesses. So with that, good 547 00:19:34,335 --> 00:19:35,537 morning. My name is 548 00:19:35,537 --> 00:19:37,537 Patricia Bregno, chair 549 00:19:37,772 --> 00:19:39,674 Graves vice chair. Thank 550 00:19:39,674 --> 00:19:40,875 you so much. And members of 551 00:19:40,875 --> 00:19:43,770 the commission for having 552 00:19:43,770 --> 00:19:44,746 me this morning. I'm the 553 00:19:44,746 --> 00:19:45,913 founder of the chamber for 554 00:19:45,913 --> 00:19:47,615 Hispanic Progress. It is an 555 00:19:47,615 --> 00:19:49,784 honor to provide this 556 00:19:49,784 --> 00:19:51,219 update on the state of the 557 00:19:51,219 --> 00:19:51,953 Latino businesses and the 558 00:19:51,953 --> 00:19:53,187 economic conditions 559 00:19:53,187 --> 00:19:55,187 affecting our community 560 00:19:55,590 --> 00:19:57,725 across Hampton Roads in the 561 00:19:57,725 --> 00:20:00,125 Commonwealth. As a good 562 00:20:00,195 --> 00:20:01,763 military spouse, I always 563 00:20:01,763 --> 00:20:04,166 start with the end at front. 564 00:20:04,166 --> 00:20:05,233 So if you're taking 565 00:20:05,233 --> 00:20:05,967 something out of this 566 00:20:05,967 --> 00:20:07,769 conversation with me today, 567 00:20:07,769 --> 00:20:09,404 please take the following 568 00:20:09,404 --> 00:20:11,804 statement and then we'll 569 00:20:13,207 --> 00:20:14,575 get into something else. We 570 00:20:14,575 --> 00:20:16,975 need to acknowledge the 571 00:20:19,314 --> 00:20:20,815 ongoing Aids, the Ice raids, 572 00:20:20,815 --> 00:20:21,850 and enforcement actions 573 00:20:21,850 --> 00:20:23,451 currently impacting 574 00:20:23,451 --> 00:20:25,860 Virginia immigrants 575 00:20:25,860 --> 00:20:26,387 neighborhoods. These 576 00:20:26,387 --> 00:20:28,156 actions are creating 577 00:20:28,156 --> 00:20:29,791 immediate spread of 578 00:20:29,791 --> 00:20:31,760 disruption to our economic 579 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:33,760 ecosystem. Workers are 580 00:20:34,596 --> 00:20:35,930 afraid to leave their homes. 581 00:20:35,930 --> 00:20:37,866 Businesses are certainly 582 00:20:37,866 --> 00:20:40,266 short staffed. Parents fear 583 00:20:41,690 --> 00:20:43,469 dropping children at school. 584 00:20:43,905 --> 00:20:45,905 Consumer spending drops 585 00:20:46,574 --> 00:20:49,574 when families are afraid to 586 00:20:51,313 --> 00:20:52,880 be in public projects, and 587 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,416 delays an entire sector, 588 00:20:54,416 --> 00:20:56,416 losing critical workforce 589 00:20:57,252 --> 00:20:59,652 stability. For us, this 590 00:21:02,624 --> 00:21:05,240 environment. MISS Graves, and 591 00:21:05,794 --> 00:21:07,362 everyone here has jeopardized 592 00:21:07,362 --> 00:21:08,697 and his jeopardizing the 593 00:21:08,697 --> 00:21:10,697 economic growth, 594 00:21:11,233 --> 00:21:12,701 interruption, supply chains, 595 00:21:12,701 --> 00:21:14,701 destabilizing our 596 00:21:14,769 --> 00:21:16,769 communities and economic 597 00:21:20,942 --> 00:21:22,444 welfare in our in Virginia. 598 00:21:22,444 --> 00:21:23,979 My organization continues 599 00:21:23,979 --> 00:21:25,647 to respond to these 600 00:21:25,647 --> 00:21:26,781 challenges through our 601 00:21:26,781 --> 00:21:28,350 mission to strengthen the 602 00:21:28,350 --> 00:21:30,118 Latino economic engine of 603 00:21:30,118 --> 00:21:31,820 Virginia by supporting 604 00:21:31,820 --> 00:21:33,555 entrepreneurs, stabilizing 605 00:21:33,555 --> 00:21:34,689 families, increasing 606 00:21:34,689 --> 00:21:36,157 financial capabilities, and 607 00:21:36,157 --> 00:21:38,557 building pathways to long 608 00:21:38,927 --> 00:21:40,929 term communities to prosper. 609 00:21:40,929 --> 00:21:43,598 So with that, we're going 610 00:21:43,598 --> 00:21:44,899 to get into my short 611 00:21:44,899 --> 00:21:46,902 presentation. I didn't want 612 00:21:46,902 --> 00:21:47,636 to put the slides up 613 00:21:47,636 --> 00:21:49,738 because that takes a lot 614 00:21:49,738 --> 00:21:51,206 more. So I'm going to walk 615 00:21:51,206 --> 00:21:53,875 you through this as fast as 616 00:21:53,875 --> 00:21:55,544 I can. Who are we? Who is 617 00:21:55,544 --> 00:21:57,944 the chamber for Hispanic 618 00:21:58,747 --> 00:22:00,649 Progress? The chp fills a 619 00:22:00,649 --> 00:22:01,917 critical regional need as a 620 00:22:01,917 --> 00:22:03,917 trusted, bilingual, 621 00:22:04,186 --> 00:22:05,387 culturally competent 622 00:22:05,387 --> 00:22:07,387 institution serving 623 00:22:07,823 --> 00:22:09,240 Hispanic Latino 624 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:10,625 professionals and 625 00:22:10,625 --> 00:22:12,625 immigrants and minority 626 00:22:12,894 --> 00:22:14,529 communities. And when I say 627 00:22:14,529 --> 00:22:16,131 minority communities, we 628 00:22:16,131 --> 00:22:18,133 have been connecting and 629 00:22:18,133 --> 00:22:20,101 and enhancing relationships 630 00:22:20,101 --> 00:22:20,969 with a lot of our growing 631 00:22:20,969 --> 00:22:22,969 African community in 632 00:22:22,971 --> 00:22:25,140 Hampton Roads. So they 633 00:22:25,140 --> 00:22:27,420 identify a lot with with 634 00:22:27,420 --> 00:22:28,610 our the way we look and the 635 00:22:28,610 --> 00:22:30,779 way we think and the way 636 00:22:30,779 --> 00:22:31,847 that we do. So we are 637 00:22:31,847 --> 00:22:33,615 expanding those services 638 00:22:33,615 --> 00:22:36,150 for communities that have 639 00:22:36,151 --> 00:22:38,720 not yet organized. And so 640 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:39,888 we focus on business, 641 00:22:39,888 --> 00:22:41,590 economic development, 642 00:22:41,590 --> 00:22:43,590 supporting Latino entrepreneurs 643 00:22:43,725 --> 00:22:46,125 through training, planning and 644 00:22:46,194 --> 00:22:47,763 navigation of the integration 645 00:22:47,763 --> 00:22:50,650 of the economic system in 646 00:22:50,650 --> 00:22:52,465 Virginia is training community 647 00:22:53,135 --> 00:22:54,603 wealth and workforce mobility. 648 00:22:54,603 --> 00:22:56,271 Leadership is also one of our 649 00:22:56,271 --> 00:22:57,939 biggest points in community 650 00:22:57,939 --> 00:23:00,339 empowerment that helps us 651 00:23:00,642 --> 00:23:02,642 elevate the Latino 652 00:23:05,681 --> 00:23:07,681 representation. Continuing with 653 00:23:07,850 --> 00:23:09,551 connecting residents to legal, 654 00:23:09,551 --> 00:23:11,220 health and financial 655 00:23:11,220 --> 00:23:13,550 resources, policy and 656 00:23:13,550 --> 00:23:13,856 systems advocacy is 657 00:23:13,856 --> 00:23:15,724 something that we're 658 00:23:15,724 --> 00:23:16,959 working very hard to 659 00:23:16,959 --> 00:23:18,660 integrate to, to bring the 660 00:23:18,660 --> 00:23:20,862 voice of the communities up 661 00:23:20,862 --> 00:23:22,862 to Richmond, Creciendo 662 00:23:22,865 --> 00:23:24,766 Juntos are growing together 663 00:23:24,766 --> 00:23:26,635 is our business development 664 00:23:26,635 --> 00:23:28,670 series, and we enhance 665 00:23:28,670 --> 00:23:31,700 those services with helping 666 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,400 our new entrepreneurs as 667 00:23:34,476 --> 00:23:34,943 basic systems, as helping 668 00:23:34,943 --> 00:23:36,943 them business, writing 669 00:23:37,746 --> 00:23:39,746 their business plans. 670 00:23:39,915 --> 00:23:41,683 Contratos con proposito is 671 00:23:41,683 --> 00:23:42,985 a purpose of the business 672 00:23:42,985 --> 00:23:44,920 contracts, where we teach 673 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:46,880 them how they can protect 674 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:46,488 their work and their 675 00:23:46,488 --> 00:23:48,488 services and their 676 00:23:48,557 --> 00:23:50,957 companies. Sometimes a free 677 00:23:52,194 --> 00:23:54,594 cost financial literacy is 678 00:23:54,630 --> 00:23:57,630 a program that we are 679 00:23:58,000 --> 00:23:59,968 launching in 2026, where we 680 00:23:59,968 --> 00:24:02,700 have a trusted resources for 681 00:24:02,700 --> 00:24:04,390 the community to learn to build 682 00:24:04,390 --> 00:24:06,439 wealth and services and 683 00:24:07,576 --> 00:24:10,576 financial growth for their for 684 00:24:10,913 --> 00:24:13,313 their small companies. Our 685 00:24:13,382 --> 00:24:13,882 annual Latino Business Expo 686 00:24:13,882 --> 00:24:15,985 is launching in 2026. It 687 00:24:15,985 --> 00:24:18,854 will be the first one in 688 00:24:18,854 --> 00:24:20,656 the Hampton Roads area. I'm 689 00:24:20,656 --> 00:24:22,625 sure there is one when when 690 00:24:22,625 --> 00:24:23,959 I talk about these projects, 691 00:24:23,959 --> 00:24:26,828 I want you to expand your 692 00:24:26,828 --> 00:24:29,228 vision to the similar 693 00:24:30,466 --> 00:24:32,866 amount in population of 694 00:24:33,969 --> 00:24:36,969 Latinos in Hampton Roads to 695 00:24:37,940 --> 00:24:39,940 Alexandria. We're competitive. 696 00:24:40,876 --> 00:24:44,647 We are that force. We are and 697 00:24:44,647 --> 00:24:47,490 have the same voting. I guess 698 00:24:47,490 --> 00:24:49,449 power without without using 699 00:24:50,786 --> 00:24:53,786 that word too seriously. In 700 00:24:54,256 --> 00:24:56,656 Hampton Roads. The Latino 701 00:24:58,761 --> 00:25:01,931 gdp in the country is now 702 00:25:01,931 --> 00:25:03,899 $4.1 trillion, which is 703 00:25:03,899 --> 00:25:06,669 it's so empowering to for 704 00:25:06,669 --> 00:25:08,871 you to think that if you if 705 00:25:08,871 --> 00:25:10,390 we don't care about the ice 706 00:25:10,390 --> 00:25:12,439 and the current practices 707 00:25:13,910 --> 00:25:15,711 of immigration as a human 708 00:25:15,711 --> 00:25:17,947 aspect, we added care as an 709 00:25:17,947 --> 00:25:19,715 economic engine and how 710 00:25:19,715 --> 00:25:22,715 this is going to affect 711 00:25:23,219 --> 00:25:26,122 each one of us in this room. 712 00:25:26,122 --> 00:25:27,923 Latino growth, Latino gdp 713 00:25:27,923 --> 00:25:30,323 growth 2.5 times faster than 714 00:25:31,427 --> 00:25:33,629 the us economy. So that 715 00:25:33,629 --> 00:25:34,897 economy compares us to the 716 00:25:34,897 --> 00:25:37,297 fifth largest economy in 717 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:38,768 the world. If you measure 718 00:25:38,768 --> 00:25:40,768 that independently. So 719 00:25:41,337 --> 00:25:43,372 that's the empowerment that 720 00:25:43,372 --> 00:25:45,908 you have as a part of your 721 00:25:45,908 --> 00:25:47,677 embedded communities. It's 722 00:25:47,677 --> 00:25:48,911 this power of purchasing, 723 00:25:48,911 --> 00:25:50,790 the power of creating 724 00:25:50,790 --> 00:25:53,790 businesses and the power of 725 00:25:56,652 --> 00:25:58,652 growing. Latino communities. 726 00:25:58,921 --> 00:26:01,691 Bring the power in Virginia. 727 00:26:01,691 --> 00:26:03,590 And the aspect of not a 728 00:26:03,590 --> 00:26:04,260 single we're not, we're not 729 00:26:04,260 --> 00:26:05,795 we don't believe we're 730 00:26:05,795 --> 00:26:07,930 better than anybody. We're 731 00:26:07,930 --> 00:26:09,599 just numbers don't lie. So 732 00:26:09,599 --> 00:26:11,599 we're presenting numbers. 733 00:26:13,236 --> 00:26:14,403 Latinos make up 11.2% of 734 00:26:14,403 --> 00:26:16,403 Virginia's population. 735 00:26:16,806 --> 00:26:18,207 Nearly 1 million residents. 736 00:26:18,207 --> 00:26:20,207 Hispanic owned businesses 737 00:26:20,576 --> 00:26:22,576 contribute $6.3 billion 738 00:26:22,912 --> 00:26:25,312 annually to Virginia's economy. 739 00:26:26,516 --> 00:26:29,118 Virginia is home is home to 740 00:26:29,118 --> 00:26:31,118 approximately 19,000 Latino 741 00:26:31,587 --> 00:26:32,955 owned business. And we're 742 00:26:32,955 --> 00:26:35,955 growing every day. We're trying 743 00:26:36,225 --> 00:26:38,794 to bring those what I call 744 00:26:38,794 --> 00:26:40,290 Facebook economies and small 745 00:26:40,290 --> 00:26:41,664 businesses. We're trying to 746 00:26:41,664 --> 00:26:43,399 integrate them, to bring them 747 00:26:43,399 --> 00:26:45,802 into a formal setting of a 748 00:26:45,802 --> 00:26:47,360 business. So hopefully we're 749 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:49,972 that number will increase by 750 00:26:49,972 --> 00:26:51,808 the end of this year. Latino 751 00:26:51,808 --> 00:26:54,208 owned businesses are growing 752 00:26:54,644 --> 00:26:56,644 34% faster than non-Latino 753 00:26:58,180 --> 00:27:00,180 firms. Latino households 754 00:27:01,184 --> 00:27:02,919 generate 3030 billion 755 00:27:02,919 --> 00:27:05,319 emergency powers across the 756 00:27:05,822 --> 00:27:08,222 state. That's an enormous 757 00:27:09,358 --> 00:27:12,358 amount of resources and tax 758 00:27:12,795 --> 00:27:14,764 generating. Income for the 759 00:27:14,764 --> 00:27:15,565 state. Latinos are 760 00:27:15,565 --> 00:27:16,866 essential to Virginia 761 00:27:16,866 --> 00:27:18,866 workforce and construction, 762 00:27:19,702 --> 00:27:21,637 trades, logistics, food service, 763 00:27:21,637 --> 00:27:23,637 childcare, hospitality, which 764 00:27:23,940 --> 00:27:27,540 affects a lot of our Hampton 765 00:27:28,211 --> 00:27:30,611 Roads area in healthcare 766 00:27:30,813 --> 00:27:33,449 supporting roles. And this is 767 00:27:33,449 --> 00:27:35,918 just on the on the on the labor 768 00:27:35,918 --> 00:27:38,588 and services area. I don't know 769 00:27:38,588 --> 00:27:39,722 if you guys know this, but 770 00:27:39,722 --> 00:27:41,491 Hampton Roads contains one 771 00:27:41,491 --> 00:27:42,892 of the fastest growing 772 00:27:42,892 --> 00:27:44,930 Latino populations in the 773 00:27:44,930 --> 00:27:46,930 Commonwealth, and we're 774 00:27:47,163 --> 00:27:49,563 growing. And with that, 775 00:27:49,766 --> 00:27:50,934 Newport News is our growing, 776 00:27:50,934 --> 00:27:52,735 our fastest growing 777 00:27:52,735 --> 00:27:55,735 community. So get ready for 778 00:28:00,276 --> 00:28:01,377 us. More than 3500 Latino 779 00:28:01,377 --> 00:28:03,777 owned businesses in the 780 00:28:03,913 --> 00:28:06,820 metro area are. This is 781 00:28:06,820 --> 00:28:07,851 some indicators of how the 782 00:28:07,851 --> 00:28:09,180 construction in the trades, 783 00:28:09,180 --> 00:28:10,186 in the logistics, in the 784 00:28:10,186 --> 00:28:11,955 warehouse and the child 785 00:28:11,955 --> 00:28:14,557 care and all of that 786 00:28:14,557 --> 00:28:16,192 contributes to the daily 787 00:28:16,192 --> 00:28:18,592 empowerment of the Virginia 788 00:28:20,663 --> 00:28:22,663 Economic infrastructure. We 789 00:28:22,899 --> 00:28:24,734 have a growth of Latino. And 790 00:28:24,734 --> 00:28:25,935 this is very interesting that I 791 00:28:25,935 --> 00:28:28,204 found out through a lot of my 792 00:28:28,204 --> 00:28:29,839 research, is that Latino grown 793 00:28:29,839 --> 00:28:32,839 and professional in high school 794 00:28:32,976 --> 00:28:34,811 jobs, Latinos are increasingly 795 00:28:34,811 --> 00:28:36,679 present in professional, 796 00:28:36,679 --> 00:28:39,790 technical and high skill 797 00:28:39,349 --> 00:28:41,251 occupations. Under health 798 00:28:41,251 --> 00:28:43,651 care, about 7% of the 799 00:28:43,686 --> 00:28:45,588 physicians in Virginia now 800 00:28:45,588 --> 00:28:48,391 are Latinos. And we need 801 00:28:48,391 --> 00:28:50,791 more because our population 802 00:28:51,695 --> 00:28:53,863 is growing. And nurses, 803 00:28:53,863 --> 00:28:56,263 even though our current 804 00:28:57,330 --> 00:28:59,330 administration is taking 805 00:28:59,235 --> 00:28:59,702 some of that away, 806 00:28:59,702 --> 00:29:01,702 physician assistants, 807 00:29:03,173 --> 00:29:05,173 mental health professionals, 808 00:29:05,775 --> 00:29:07,775 lawyers, Latinos represent 8% 809 00:29:08,780 --> 00:29:10,790 of all attorneys in the United 810 00:29:10,790 --> 00:29:11,814 States. We need more more 811 00:29:11,814 --> 00:29:13,814 immigration law, more 812 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:20,520 family law. I want to close 813 00:29:22,325 --> 00:29:25,462 a little bit with a. A call 814 00:29:25,462 --> 00:29:25,895 in, in a lot of the 815 00:29:25,895 --> 00:29:27,300 vulnerability of the 816 00:29:27,300 --> 00:29:29,199 community that is the my 817 00:29:29,199 --> 00:29:31,599 community is experiencing right 818 00:29:31,601 --> 00:29:33,300 now, and that is in the 819 00:29:33,300 --> 00:29:35,710 resources and in the capability 820 00:29:35,710 --> 00:29:38,341 and the networks that each one 821 00:29:38,341 --> 00:29:40,711 of you have in your respective 822 00:29:40,711 --> 00:29:42,779 areas to think about the ways 823 00:29:42,779 --> 00:29:45,179 that things are progressing 824 00:29:46,820 --> 00:29:48,170 right now for us and in not 825 00:29:48,170 --> 00:29:51,617 just in Hampton Roads and not 826 00:29:53,623 --> 00:29:55,859 just in Virginia, but I, I need 827 00:29:55,859 --> 00:29:58,461 you guys to see us as that 828 00:29:58,461 --> 00:30:00,230 engine that we are. And we're 829 00:30:00,230 --> 00:30:03,767 not longer we're not longer a 830 00:30:03,767 --> 00:30:06,690 backdrop. And it's it's why I'm 831 00:30:06,690 --> 00:30:07,704 here. And I'm so happy that 832 00:30:07,704 --> 00:30:10,974 this space has been open for me, 833 00:30:10,974 --> 00:30:13,777 because in the last three weeks 834 00:30:13,777 --> 00:30:15,946 we have had business closing in 835 00:30:15,946 --> 00:30:19,546 Virginia Beach and in and in 836 00:30:19,850 --> 00:30:21,618 Norfolk due to the Ice raids. 837 00:30:21,618 --> 00:30:23,787 And this is going to continue 838 00:30:23,787 --> 00:30:25,689 to happen in our economies that 839 00:30:25,689 --> 00:30:28,291 are going to suffer. And so we 840 00:30:28,291 --> 00:30:31,891 got to be proactive and not 841 00:30:32,129 --> 00:30:35,129 reactive. And we still have 842 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:39,800 three more years to endure 843 00:30:40,370 --> 00:30:43,400 whatever is coming our way. And 844 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:45,843 so if I'm here, I'm I'm a face 845 00:30:45,843 --> 00:30:47,110 of someone of a resource to all 846 00:30:47,110 --> 00:30:49,880 of you. And if there's 847 00:30:49,880 --> 00:30:51,781 anything that we can do to, 848 00:30:51,781 --> 00:30:54,985 you know, help me, help you 849 00:30:54,985 --> 00:30:59,560 to help me, that is that is 850 00:30:59,560 --> 00:31:01,658 how I want to make this 851 00:31:01,658 --> 00:31:04,328 conversation. So with that in 852 00:31:04,328 --> 00:31:06,196 mind, thank you for the 853 00:31:06,196 --> 00:31:08,596 opportunity to present this 854 00:31:08,766 --> 00:31:10,667 report. Chp looks forward 855 00:31:10,667 --> 00:31:12,202 to organizing and ongoing 856 00:31:12,202 --> 00:31:13,904 partnerships with all of 857 00:31:13,904 --> 00:31:15,472 you in mostly with the 858 00:31:15,472 --> 00:31:16,907 Virginia minority Business 859 00:31:16,907 --> 00:31:18,842 Commission, as we work together 860 00:31:18,842 --> 00:31:21,144 to build a stronger and more 861 00:31:21,144 --> 00:31:23,213 inclusive and more prosperous 862 00:31:23,213 --> 00:31:24,648 Commonwealth in Virginia. So if 863 00:31:24,648 --> 00:31:27,480 there's any questions, is 864 00:31:27,518 --> 00:31:29,753 anything that I can help you 865 00:31:29,753 --> 00:31:31,753 clarify? Sure. 866 00:31:32,189 --> 00:31:34,589 >> MADAM Chair. I'm sorry, 867 00:31:34,758 --> 00:31:37,127 MADAM Chair. Forgive me. Just. 868 00:31:37,127 --> 00:31:37,728 Did you say you had 19,000 869 00:31:37,728 --> 00:31:39,728 Latino businesses in 870 00:31:39,930 --> 00:31:41,930 Commonwealth? Wow. That's 871 00:31:41,966 --> 00:31:44,366 impressive. That's all. Thank 872 00:31:45,302 --> 00:31:46,804 you. That's pretty. Pretty. 873 00:31:46,804 --> 00:31:49,204 >> Thank you, MADAM Chair. 874 00:31:49,406 --> 00:31:51,808 First. Of course. I definitely 875 00:31:51,808 --> 00:31:53,910 would like to echo our chairs. 876 00:31:53,910 --> 00:31:55,712 Comments. Patricia, you have 877 00:31:55,712 --> 00:31:57,881 been a fierce advocate, not 878 00:31:57,881 --> 00:31:59,650 just in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, 879 00:31:59,650 --> 00:32:02,860 all across Hampton Roads, and 880 00:32:02,860 --> 00:32:04,321 not just in the business state. 881 00:32:04,321 --> 00:32:05,789 You have continually advocated 882 00:32:05,789 --> 00:32:07,858 for the Hispanic Latino 883 00:32:07,858 --> 00:32:08,625 community in Hampton Roads and 884 00:32:08,625 --> 00:32:10,761 across the Commonwealth. And I 885 00:32:10,761 --> 00:32:11,895 just want to say thank you for 886 00:32:11,895 --> 00:32:13,764 coming up here and providing 887 00:32:13,764 --> 00:32:16,166 this. Second, I'd like to ask 888 00:32:16,166 --> 00:32:17,568 and in terms of what have you 889 00:32:17,568 --> 00:32:20,871 seen as maybe the successes or 890 00:32:20,871 --> 00:32:23,600 what can the Commonwealth do in 891 00:32:23,600 --> 00:32:24,775 a, in a better capacity moving 892 00:32:24,775 --> 00:32:26,777 into the future from seeing 893 00:32:26,777 --> 00:32:28,946 this? The individuals that are 894 00:32:28,946 --> 00:32:30,514 within the community that start 895 00:32:30,514 --> 00:32:31,915 their business on Facebook or 896 00:32:31,915 --> 00:32:34,180 garage and or in a garage and 897 00:32:34,180 --> 00:32:35,386 have a great idea and want to 898 00:32:35,386 --> 00:32:36,787 have that turn into a 899 00:32:36,787 --> 00:32:38,956 legitimate business, that what 900 00:32:38,956 --> 00:32:40,724 have you seen that has worked 901 00:32:40,724 --> 00:32:42,226 and what what are some of the 902 00:32:42,226 --> 00:32:44,328 things that the Commonwealth 903 00:32:44,328 --> 00:32:45,763 could do better to, to help out 904 00:32:45,763 --> 00:32:46,997 those those entrepreneurs that 905 00:32:46,997 --> 00:32:49,500 are that have that spark and 906 00:32:49,500 --> 00:32:50,167 want to grow it from an idea to 907 00:32:50,167 --> 00:32:52,167 a business? 908 00:32:52,303 --> 00:32:53,370 >> Yes. So thank you for that 909 00:32:53,370 --> 00:32:55,437 question. And and the 910 00:32:58,800 --> 00:32:59,843 opportunity to address it. I'm 911 00:32:59,843 --> 00:33:01,745 going to break it out because 912 00:33:01,745 --> 00:33:04,748 there's so many needs in the 913 00:33:04,748 --> 00:33:06,830 community because it's a very 914 00:33:06,830 --> 00:33:06,850 it's a very resilient community. 915 00:33:06,850 --> 00:33:09,253 But it's also they're trying to 916 00:33:09,253 --> 00:33:11,622 do things right and opening 917 00:33:11,622 --> 00:33:14,910 spaces for them to do business 918 00:33:14,910 --> 00:33:16,527 right is very important. Okay. 919 00:33:16,527 --> 00:33:18,927 For example, some certified 920 00:33:20,631 --> 00:33:21,798 businesses, we cannot get a lot 921 00:33:21,798 --> 00:33:24,100 a high percentage of our 922 00:33:24,100 --> 00:33:26,700 businesses to be certified 923 00:33:26,700 --> 00:33:28,839 because you have to be a us 924 00:33:28,839 --> 00:33:30,674 citizen. And sometimes they're 925 00:33:30,674 --> 00:33:32,900 they're legal residents, but 926 00:33:32,900 --> 00:33:34,678 they haven't gone through the 927 00:33:34,678 --> 00:33:37,780 process of becoming citizens. 928 00:33:38,349 --> 00:33:40,151 And so if the state can come 929 00:33:40,151 --> 00:33:42,353 with a program that we can 930 00:33:42,353 --> 00:33:43,687 change that to bring those 931 00:33:43,687 --> 00:33:44,821 communities forward, and I'm 932 00:33:44,821 --> 00:33:46,857 just not speaking for the 933 00:33:46,857 --> 00:33:48,592 Latino community. It's across 934 00:33:48,592 --> 00:33:51,362 all the all the immigrant 935 00:33:51,362 --> 00:33:52,763 communities. And in Virginia, 936 00:33:52,763 --> 00:33:56,363 it's important that we we take 937 00:33:58,803 --> 00:34:02,239 a look at that again. Access to 938 00:34:02,239 --> 00:34:03,874 financial assistance and 939 00:34:03,874 --> 00:34:05,576 financial literacy for business 940 00:34:05,576 --> 00:34:07,811 and business development and 941 00:34:07,811 --> 00:34:08,979 growth is very important. And 942 00:34:08,979 --> 00:34:10,581 what's more important is 943 00:34:10,581 --> 00:34:12,581 legislation that allows 944 00:34:14,118 --> 00:34:16,518 those members that have 945 00:34:16,787 --> 00:34:19,787 Itins to become part of 946 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:23,920 that development, because 947 00:34:24,729 --> 00:34:26,897 if I did not have it was 948 00:34:26,897 --> 00:34:28,199 not a us citizen, and I 949 00:34:28,199 --> 00:34:30,167 wanted to open a business 950 00:34:30,167 --> 00:34:34,367 and I wanted to do it right, 951 00:34:34,372 --> 00:34:37,642 I can go and obtain it from 952 00:34:37,642 --> 00:34:39,844 the irs and proceed to pay 953 00:34:39,844 --> 00:34:40,911 the taxes and proceed to do 954 00:34:40,911 --> 00:34:43,311 everything. But sometimes the 955 00:34:43,714 --> 00:34:46,114 distinctions between the itins 956 00:34:47,785 --> 00:34:49,320 and the the citizenship, even 957 00:34:49,320 --> 00:34:51,720 though they're both paying 958 00:34:53,357 --> 00:34:55,726 taxes at the same rate, it's 959 00:34:55,726 --> 00:34:57,795 illogical when they don't both 960 00:34:57,795 --> 00:35:00,795 have the same access to 961 00:35:02,466 --> 00:35:04,568 business loans or do 962 00:35:04,568 --> 00:35:06,968 opportunities that the other 963 00:35:09,106 --> 00:35:10,808 ones do. So that is to there 964 00:35:10,808 --> 00:35:12,910 are very important they come to 965 00:35:12,910 --> 00:35:13,678 mind right now. And I think 966 00:35:13,678 --> 00:35:15,813 those are two that the 967 00:35:15,813 --> 00:35:18,813 Commission can really take a 968 00:35:19,750 --> 00:35:22,487 look at and work towards making 969 00:35:22,487 --> 00:35:23,321 some of those changes. 970 00:35:23,321 --> 00:35:25,321 >> Right. 971 00:35:25,957 --> 00:35:29,557 >> You know, I just want to 972 00:35:33,970 --> 00:35:35,497 say that. I really 973 00:35:37,301 --> 00:35:40,301 apologize for the way that 974 00:35:41,339 --> 00:35:43,739 the us administration is 975 00:35:45,900 --> 00:35:46,144 treating minorities and 976 00:35:46,144 --> 00:35:48,544 immigrants in, in this 977 00:35:49,681 --> 00:35:51,949 country. It breaks my heart 978 00:35:51,949 --> 00:35:53,170 whenever I see and hear about 979 00:35:53,170 --> 00:35:54,719 the different things that are 980 00:35:54,719 --> 00:35:57,719 happening with Ice raids and 981 00:35:57,989 --> 00:36:00,859 how folks are being treated for 982 00:36:00,859 --> 00:36:02,600 for no reason at all, just 983 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:04,460 because they might look 984 00:36:05,129 --> 00:36:06,965 different or sound different, 985 00:36:06,965 --> 00:36:08,833 and without taking into 986 00:36:08,833 --> 00:36:11,680 consideration any respect of 987 00:36:11,680 --> 00:36:13,972 what their legal status MAY or 988 00:36:13,972 --> 00:36:15,573 MAY not be, of what due process 989 00:36:15,573 --> 00:36:16,874 is supposed to look like in 990 00:36:16,874 --> 00:36:18,876 this country. For everyone 991 00:36:18,876 --> 00:36:21,412 who's who's on American soil. 992 00:36:21,412 --> 00:36:23,147 And that is not happening. And 993 00:36:23,147 --> 00:36:25,547 it is creating unfortunately, 994 00:36:25,650 --> 00:36:28,953 this us versus them kind of 995 00:36:28,953 --> 00:36:30,722 mentality among some folks. But 996 00:36:30,722 --> 00:36:34,158 I think that if we stick 997 00:36:34,158 --> 00:36:35,727 together as minorities, all 998 00:36:35,727 --> 00:36:38,329 minorities, and we pool our 999 00:36:38,329 --> 00:36:39,597 resources together, that we 1000 00:36:39,597 --> 00:36:41,997 will ultimately be stronger 1001 00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:44,702 together than we ever could be 1002 00:36:44,702 --> 00:36:45,937 separately. And you reminded us 1003 00:36:45,937 --> 00:36:48,606 that we got three more years of 1004 00:36:48,606 --> 00:36:50,842 this nonsense, but okay. It's 1005 00:36:50,842 --> 00:36:53,842 it's yeah, it's been nine 1006 00:36:56,147 --> 00:36:59,747 months of dog years, so yeah. 1007 00:36:59,751 --> 00:37:02,653 >> MADAM Chair, if I MAY, is 1008 00:37:02,653 --> 00:37:05,653 this very important that this 1009 00:37:06,124 --> 00:37:09,124 disruption of the economy is 1010 00:37:09,427 --> 00:37:12,427 creating is resulting in the 1011 00:37:12,764 --> 00:37:15,164 least responsible residents of 1012 00:37:15,166 --> 00:37:17,566 our Commonwealth, in their 1013 00:37:18,203 --> 00:37:20,872 children? We have parents that 1014 00:37:20,872 --> 00:37:23,208 are terrified of taking their 1015 00:37:23,208 --> 00:37:24,676 children to school, because 1016 00:37:24,676 --> 00:37:27,545 that's where parents are being 1017 00:37:27,545 --> 00:37:30,915 picked up from the school drop 1018 00:37:30,915 --> 00:37:33,985 off lane. And so now kids are 1019 00:37:33,985 --> 00:37:37,585 not going to school. The school 1020 00:37:37,622 --> 00:37:39,758 districts are coming after them 1021 00:37:39,758 --> 00:37:41,660 because they're not sending 1022 00:37:41,660 --> 00:37:42,160 their kids to school. But the 1023 00:37:42,160 --> 00:37:43,828 school districts are not 1024 00:37:43,828 --> 00:37:46,228 reacting to the needs. 1025 00:37:47,310 --> 00:37:47,832 They're not being honest 1026 00:37:47,832 --> 00:37:49,567 about what's happening. And 1027 00:37:49,567 --> 00:37:50,769 so they're not giving them 1028 00:37:50,769 --> 00:37:52,771 the opportunity to have 1029 00:37:52,771 --> 00:37:54,973 online classes. I mean, 1030 00:37:54,973 --> 00:37:58,573 this is a man created Covid 1031 00:37:59,544 --> 00:38:01,790 for us, and they're still 1032 00:38:01,790 --> 00:38:03,790 with the conceptual 1033 00:38:03,481 --> 00:38:04,582 learning that we did 1034 00:38:04,582 --> 00:38:06,851 through the health crisis. 1035 00:38:06,851 --> 00:38:08,720 This is this is a health 1036 00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:11,256 human crisis for us. And so 1037 00:38:11,256 --> 00:38:13,758 there are so many aspects 1038 00:38:13,758 --> 00:38:15,293 of these practices that are 1039 00:38:15,293 --> 00:38:17,629 creating in the economic 1040 00:38:17,629 --> 00:38:21,229 side and the human side, in 1041 00:38:21,333 --> 00:38:23,340 the legal side. So I invite 1042 00:38:23,340 --> 00:38:24,269 all of you to learn a 1043 00:38:24,269 --> 00:38:24,903 little bit more about what 1044 00:38:24,903 --> 00:38:27,303 my community is going 1045 00:38:29,140 --> 00:38:31,540 through and think outside 1046 00:38:32,110 --> 00:38:32,978 the box and stand in my 1047 00:38:32,978 --> 00:38:35,978 shoes for one minute and 1048 00:38:37,816 --> 00:38:40,685 just see the need, the need. 1049 00:38:40,685 --> 00:38:44,289 And we have a power. We we 1050 00:38:44,289 --> 00:38:46,157 have a power to vote. We 1051 00:38:46,157 --> 00:38:48,159 have a power to elect those 1052 00:38:48,159 --> 00:38:49,294 that support us. 1053 00:38:49,294 --> 00:38:51,294 >> Absolutely. 1054 00:38:53,965 --> 00:38:55,965 >> Any other comments? 1055 00:38:59,538 --> 00:39:00,872 >> Is. Okay? Is any part of 1056 00:39:00,872 --> 00:39:02,974 your presentation? Are you 1057 00:39:02,974 --> 00:39:03,909 able to send us that so we can 1058 00:39:03,909 --> 00:39:05,877 get it up? Okay, great. I'll 1059 00:39:05,877 --> 00:39:08,113 get Michael to get with you 1060 00:39:08,113 --> 00:39:09,948 after and then we can get what 1061 00:39:09,948 --> 00:39:11,750 whatever you approve. For us to 1062 00:39:11,750 --> 00:39:15,350 be able to upload publicly that 1063 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:18,720 we can share to, to. 1064 00:39:19,358 --> 00:39:21,260 >> Target on my back already. 1065 00:39:21,260 --> 00:39:22,627 >> Well, we got your back. We 1066 00:39:22,627 --> 00:39:24,730 got your back. Thank you so 1067 00:39:24,730 --> 00:39:26,980 much. Thank you for being here. 1068 00:39:26,980 --> 00:39:29,000 All right. Do we have any 1069 00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:30,702 public comment? Any public 1070 00:39:30,702 --> 00:39:32,804 comment? All right. No public 1071 00:39:32,804 --> 00:39:33,939 comment. All right. Well, that 1072 00:39:33,939 --> 00:39:35,774 being said, thank you all again 1073 00:39:35,774 --> 00:39:38,760 for being here. I hope you had 1074 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:38,677 a great Thanksgiving. I hope if 1075 00:39:38,677 --> 00:39:40,145 you're celebrating Christmas, 1076 00:39:40,145 --> 00:39:40,779 you have a great Christmas, 1077 00:39:40,779 --> 00:39:42,470 Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, whatever it 1078 00:39:42,470 --> 00:39:44,150 is that you celebrate, I hope 1079 00:39:44,150 --> 00:39:45,651 that you enjoy it to the 1080 00:39:45,651 --> 00:39:48,220 fullest and that we will see 1081 00:39:48,220 --> 00:39:49,721 you around. The Capitol session 1082 00:39:49,721 --> 00:39:51,890 starts on JANUARY the 14th, and 1083 00:39:51,890 --> 00:39:53,125 we will be going all the way 1084 00:39:53,125 --> 00:39:55,126 through MARCH the 14th or the 1085 00:39:55,126 --> 00:39:56,929 15th, whatever day that is on 1086 00:39:56,929 --> 00:39:58,330 that Saturday. And so if you 1087 00:39:58,330 --> 00:39:58,931 all have any issues, questions 1088 00:39:58,931 --> 00:40:00,866 or concerns, please feel free 1089 00:40:00,866 --> 00:40:03,302 to reach out. Thank you all for 1090 00:40:03,302 --> 00:40:03,836 your service. And on that I 1091 00:40:03,836 --> 00:40:06,405 need a motion to adjourn. 1092 00:40:06,405 --> 00:40:08,805 >> Move to adjourn. Second. 1093 00:40:09,308 --> 00:40:12,000 >> We are adjourned. Thank you.