IDEA Committee to Co-Sponsor Women's History Month Activities, Sets Juneteenth Program
At its May 7 meeting, the IDEA Advisory Committee agreed to co-sponsor and co-chair next year's Women's History Month activities, including the historic women placards — the Croton Council on the Arts is not interested in continuing the project, the minutes record, and a budget for the activities has been approved. The committee also set its Juneteenth screening and panel, discussed a Pride flag raising coinciding with SummerFest, and heard an update on the Hansberry Coalition's May 17 celebration.
●The committee will co-sponsor and co-chair next year's Women's History Month activities, including the historic women placards; the Croton Council on the Arts is not interested in continuing the project, per the minutes, and a budget for the coming year was approved
●Juneteenth plans were set: a 30-minute screening of a documentary on slavery in New York followed by a 30-to-45-minute panel discussion, plus a spoken-word open mic and a singer/songwriter booked for 8 PM
●Kyla was officially welcomed as the committee's vice chair; two seats on the committee are open, potentially more pending one member's status
●The idea of publishing a comprehensive calendar of observances will be re-evaluated by a smaller subcommittee
●A section of Cleveland Drive near Five Corners will be co-named "Lorraine Hansberry Way," according to the minutes
●A new rule requires the committee's agenda to be sent out three days in advance
The village's IDEA Advisory Committee agreed at its May 7 meeting to co-sponsor and co-chair next year's Women's History Month activities, including the placards honoring historic Croton women. The Croton Council on the Arts is not interested in continuing the placards project, the minutes record.
This article is written solely from the meeting's minutes; croton.news had no reporter present, and no video or transcript of the meeting exists.
According to the minutes, 30 placards featuring historic Croton women were displayed in local businesses, built on original research by Cornelia Cotton and extended by five other individuals. Businesses returned 29 of the 30, with only one discarded, and roughly 25 to 26 are reusable — some have minor damage or typos. Many businesses expressed interest in continuing the project next year and noted increased foot traffic from a Girl Scout scavenger hunt that used the placards. Each placard costs about $13 to print, with additional costs for adhesive foam core and self-mounting.
The committee decided to co-sponsor and co-chair next year's Women's History Month activities, and a budget for the coming year has been approved. Ideas floated for next year include a reception to gather all the placards before distribution, partnering with the Associated Businesses of Croton, and involving high school and junior high clubs; an action item calls for re-evaluating the earlier decision to exclude the six women already featured on banners on Maple Avenue. One action item calls for contacting Erica Fiorini, the high school's assistant principal and soon-to-be interim principal, about student involvement.
The committee also heard an update on the Hansberry Coalition, which planned a May 17 event at Bethel Chapel to celebrate Lorraine Hansberry's birthday and the coalition's fifth anniversary. According to the minutes, Hansberry was awarded the "Trailblazers Award" by the county, and a section of Cleveland Drive near Five Corners will be co-named "Lorraine Hansberry Way," and the May 17 event is planned to feature a ceremonial unveiling of the street sign with the mayor and Human Rights Commission Director Tejas Sanchala. The coalition is also working to include Hansberry's gravesite in the African American Heritage Trail and to establish a historic marker in front of the cemetery, and is looking ahead to a larger celebration of Hansberry's 100th birthday in three to four years.
For Juneteenth, the committee confirmed a 30-minute documentary on the hidden history of slavery in New York by Larry Epstein, to be followed by a panel discussion of 30 to 45 minutes. The minutes note that Epstein is a white man, prompting a desire for a diverse panel; Sanchala has volunteered to serve on it, and suggested additions include two historians, an NAACP youth-outreach voice, and a high school student. The minutes say the event should aim to balance educational content with celebratory elements; a spoken-word open mic is planned, and a singer/songwriter is booked for 8 PM to add a celebratory element.
The committee itself is in transition. Kyla was officially welcomed as vice chair, while one member is stepping down but willing to stay informed and help, and another is not continuing on the committee due to new rules but will remain involved with existing commitments, according to the minutes. Two seats are open — potentially more pending one member's status — and the committee discussed recruiting more broadly, particularly for underrepresented groups. A new rule requires agendas to go out three days in advance, and a proposed comprehensive calendar of observances will be re-evaluated by a smaller subcommittee amid concerns about its complexity, potential for offense, and the maintenance effort required versus the perceived benefit. Publishing committee activities on the village website and newsletter goes through a memo to Village Manager Bryan Healy and board approval, the minutes note.
Planning is also underway for SummerFest, where the committee hopes to set up in a quieter area of the park alongside SEPTA's tent, with sandwich-board signs to direct visitors, and for the Pride flag raising, which coincides with SummerFest. Pride plans under discussion include inviting the mayor to speak, student involvement from the high school's Pride Club, performances, and refreshments — last year featured rainbow bagels and coffee.
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Village of Croton-on-Hudson, NY.
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Related IDEA Advisory Committee Meetings
IDEA Committee Debriefs Pride Flag Raising, Advances Juneteenth Plans
●Next year the committee will clarify the flag-raising ceremony protocol, including prior flag placement and weather contingencies
●The committee will continue aligning the Pride event with SummerFest, which drew positive feedback and increased attendance
●For Juneteenth, the committee decided to promote the event on Facebook and in the newsletter, incorporate a traditional red drink, and collaborate with the library on related books and a booklist QR code
●The committee will explore tents or shade for future outdoor events and develop a better volunteer recruitment system
●Committee members discussed concerns about Michael Balter's reporting style; an action item asks members to be mindful of its "potential for misinformation"
Liaison and Community Updates; New Official Committee Member!; LHC Updates — plus 2 more items
●Public Comment Protocol: Established a rule allowing non-committee members three minutes to address agenda items, to be publicly posted.
●Resolutions Failed
●Applications Reviewed
●Public Comments
●No formal public comment period was held during this meeting, though the discussion was prompted by a community member (Millie) regarding a racist incident involving her children.
●Reports
●Community Incident Report: Millie reported a racist incident targeting her children at Shoprite on December 11th, which sparked significant community support and highlighted local discrimination issues.
●"Croton Loves All" Campaign Proposal: Millie proposed a campaign utilizing signs, decals, apparel, and social media to promote healing. Because the committee is a government entity, it cannot directly run or fund the campaign, but individual members can support it privately. Faith will seek a Village Board endorsement or proclamation.
●Budget Report: The committee has $200 remaining for the current fiscal year, which ends May 30th. A comprehensive budget wish list for FY 2026/2027 must be developed and submitted by the end of February.
●Event Planning Updates:
●Lunar New Year: Faith will contact the Asian Arts New York Chinese Cultural Center to inquire about booking a lion dancer, potentially requiring an off-cycle budget request.
●Black History Month: Vanessa, Romy, and Faith are collaborating with the family resource center and school district for February events, exploring speakers like Jamia Wilson, Samino Makapadai, and Felicia Villanueva.
●Ongoing Initiatives: Christina is following up on Latin American community outreach; Faith is pursuing ESL classes with School Superintendent Stephen Walker; Faith is investigating translated PDFs for the village website with Sherry; Will is looking into a "Know Your Rights" workshop with Neighbors Link; Vanessa is contacting the Lorraine Hansberry committee regarding a "classroom in a box" project.
●A village banner program was tabled by a vote of the members in attendance.
●Applications Reviewed: None.
●Public Comments: None recorded.
●Reports:
●Silverlake Signage: The committee's recommendation was rejected by the Public Works and Recreation Department due to safety concerns regarding car traffic at the lower level. Recreation will instead announce lower-level access in an upcoming newsletter.
●Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration: Finalized details for the Oct. 11 event at the Croton Library Ottinger Room (2–5 pm). Food arrangements were confirmed with nine local vendors (La Catrina, Crispin Dopamine, Franki’s, Hudson River Deli, Mex-to-Go, Mexican Deli, Rosaritos, C-Town, and Black Cow). Lotería will be hosted by Cristian Opazo and Pistu McGuire. Publicity efforts spanned Croton Caring, the library, 20 retail locations, CHUFSD Parent Square, and local Facebook groups. Committee members volunteered for the event.
●Screening of "The Arrivals": Scheduled for Nov. 8 from 5–7 pm with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation (UUCHV). A panel is confirmed featuring Andrea DeGeorge Garbarini, Gayle Raskin (Team TLC NYC), and Ted Buerger (Open Arms for Refugees), with UUCHV Rev. Daniel as MC. Tablets for attendee use were confirmed via Fourth Fridays and Neighbors Link. Committee members volunteered, but no one stepped forward to lead publicity or refreshments.
●Diversity Calendar Subcommittee: A new subcommittee is needed to curate a monthly list from the CUNY Calendar for the Village website. Proposed names include "Community Recognition" or "Community Calendar." The subcommittee is tasked with contacting Laurie Weisz.
●Student Members: A subcommittee is needed to recruit new student members, with outreach directed at CHHS Advisor Erica Fiorini.
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