Citizen SHE United hosts anti-hair discrimination event at Shreveport studio
CROWN Act legislation to be introduced during City Council meeting May 25
Citizen SHE United held an event Monday, May 24, 2021 at Artipsy Studio in Shreveport, La. to showcase Black women talking about their experiences with natural hair in the workplace.(KSLA)
SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — Hair discrimination is a common occurrence for African Americans in the workplace. To give Black women a platform to discuss their experiences with this issue, Citizen SHE United hosted an event Monday, May 24 at Artipsy Studio in Shreveport.
Attendees were able to detail their experiences with natural hair in corporate settings.
Discrimination against natural hair and protective styles for African Americans is more than a cosmetic issue. Thousands of jobs require Eurocentric beauty standards to maintain a job or go to school, which impacts the way Black women and men are able to make money.
“Most of it is just the quick side stare, or the almost, kind of unsettled look,” Artipsy Studio owner Kalandra Jones said. “It happens but it shouldn’t be normal.”
Nia Weeks, co-director of Citizen SHE United, says it’s important to speak up against discriminatory policies in the workplace.
“Most jobs, schools do not allow women and girls and boys to wear their hair in a way that they know that they need to. And so we’re pushing back on that discrimination,” she said.
“And, hopefully, we’ll get an ordinance passed here in Shreveport that says that you just can’t discriminate against natural hairstyles and natural protective hairstyles.”
Below is the agenda packet for the meeting May 25:
Agenda - 05/25/2021
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
Notice Posted: 5/21/2021 12:30 PM
Public Notice: Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Shreveport shall hold its Administrative Conference and Regular Meeting on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 3:00 P.M. The combined meeting will be held in the Government Chamber at Government Plaza (505 Travis Street).
_______________________________________________________________________________ ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
May 25, 2021
1.
Call to order
2.
Invocation
3.
Roll call
4.
Approval of Minutes: Administrative Conference and City Council Meeting
Adding Items to the Agenda, Public Comments, Confirmations and Appointments
A.
Adding legislation to the agenda (regular meeting only) and public comments on motions to add items to the agenda
B.
Public Comments (In accordance with Section 1.11 of the Rules of Procedure) (Public Comments on any matter of public concern regardless of whether the item is on the agenda)
C.
Confirmation and Appointments
Metropolitan Planning Commission - Bill Robertson and Rachel Jackson
Assistant City Attorney – Jasmine Cooper
8.
Consent Agenda Legislation
A.
To Introduce Routine Ordinances and Resolutions
Resolutions: None
Ordinances: None
B.
To Adopt Ordinances and Resolutions
Resolutions: None
Ordinances: None
9.
Regular Agenda Legislation
A.
Resolutions on Second Reading and Final Passage or Which will require Only One Reading
RES 39
Authorizing a request to be made to the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, Louisiana State Mineral and Energy Board, to seek public bids for an oil, gas and mineral lease involving the property located in Districts A and G and described herein and to execute the lease for certain mineral interests owned by the City of Shreveport; and to authorize the mayor to execute any and all documents related to the intent of this Resolution; and to otherwise provide with respect thereto. (A/Taylor, G/Bowman)
Selecting the Inquisitor as the Official Journal for the City of Shreveport for the period commencing July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and otherwise providing with respect thereto.
Selecting the Times as the Official Journal for the City of Shreveport for the period commencing July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 and otherwise providing with respect thereto.
Approving the budget for the Caddo-Shreveport Sales and Use Tax Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021; and otherwise providing with respect thereto.
Authorizing the Mayor to execute a surface and subsurface servitude and easement agreement affecting a 457.82 acre tract of city owned property with Aethon Energy Operating LLC, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Authorizing the Mayor to execute a surface and subsurface servitude and easement agreement affecting a 113.8 acre tract of city owned property with Aethon Energy Operating LLC, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Authorizing the Mayor of the City of Shreveport to sign a consent of the assignment by GEP Haynesville, LLC of an oil and gas lease to Pine Wave Energy Partners Operating, LLC, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Authorizing the Mayor to execute certain documents and instruments relative to the subordination, amendment and assumption of the loan and mortgage relating to the United Jewelers/Lee Hardware project and to otherwise provide with respect thereto
Authorizing the Mayor of the City of Shreveport to execute certain documents and instruments relative to a Consent to Assignment of Lease by Shreveport Renewal Limited Partnership to New Shreveport Renewal, LLC and to otherwise provide with respect thereto
Accepting the public dedication of Nelson Street right-of-way in Map Showing Resubdivision Survey of the SHV-1 Subdivision and otherwise providing with respect thereto. (A/Taylor)
Introduction of Resolutions (Not to be adopted prior to June 8, 2021)
RES 74
Authorizing the submission of the 2021 Annual Action Plan to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Introduction of Ordinances (Not to be adopted prior to June 8, 2021)
ORD 61A
To repeal Ordinance No. 61 of 2021 and to readopt an ordinance levying and authorizing the collection of a tax of 8.8180 mills per dollar on all property subject to ad valorem taxation within the City of Shreveport, Louisiana for the year 2021, for the purpose of paying principal and interest on the outstanding obligation bonds of the City of Shreveport, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
To repeal Ordinance No. 62 of 2021 and to readopt an ordinance levying and authorizing the collection of various taxes totaling 17.770 mills per dollar on all property subject to ad valorem taxation within the City of Shreveport, Louisiana, for the year 2021, in the amounts and for the purposes described herein, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Authorizing the Mayor to execute a Lease Agreement with Healing Pharma, USA, LLC to use a space located at 7401 Jewella Avenue and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Amending Section 39-1 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Shreveport relative to human relations and otherwise providing with respect thereto (B/Fuller)
Zoning Case No. 21-35-C: An Ordinance to amend the official zoning map of the City Of Shreveport Unified Development Code, by rezoning property located on the north side of Buncombe Road, approximately one hundred fifty feet northeast of Bert Kouns Industrial Loop Expressway, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, from C-2, Corridor Commercial District to R-3, Multi-Family Residential District and to otherwise provide with respect thereto (G/Bowman)
Zoning Case No. 21-37-C: An Ordinance to amend the official zoning map of the City Of Shreveport Unified Development Code, by rezoning property located on the northeast corner of Norris Ferry Road and Southern Loop, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, from R-E, Residential Estate District to C-2 (PUD), Corridor Commercial Planned Unit Development District and to otherwise provide with respect thereto (D/Boucher)
Ordinances on Second Reading and Final Passage (Numbers are assigned Ordinance Numbers)
ORD 65
To amend certain sections of Chapter 105 of the City of Shreveport, Code of Ordinances relative to wireless telecommunications facilities and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Amending the City of Shreveport, Louisiana 2021 General Fund Budget, appropriating the funds authorized herein, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Amending the 2021 Metropolitan Planning Commission Special Revenue Fund Budget, appropriating the funds authorized therein, and otherwise providing with respect thereto
To amend certain portions of Chapter 26 of the City of Shreveport Code of Ordinances relative to the architectural and engineering selection process, and otherwise providing with respect thereto. (B/Fuller)
Amending Section 38-31 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Shreveport relative to inoperable vehicles and otherwise providing with respect thereto. (G/Bowman)
To revise Chapter 78 Article IV “Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places – Construction, Excavations” of the City of Shreveport, Louisiana, Code of Ordinances, relative to construction, excavations, and bores in the city public right-of-way, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto.
Amending Chapter 78, Article II, Division 3 of the City of Shreveport, Louisiana, Code of Ordinances relative to poles and wires and to otherwise provide with respect thereto (C/Nickelson) (Tabled on October 27, 2020)
To terminate the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the City of Shreveport and the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto. (B/Fuller) (Tabled April 27, 2021)
Amending Section 2-31 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Shreveport to provide for an increase in the salary of the Mayor, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto. (C/Nickelson, G/Bowman) (Tabled on April 27, 2021)
Amending Section 2-32 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Shreveport to provide for an increase in the salaries of members of the City Council, and to otherwise provide with respect thereto. (C/Nickelson, G/Bowman) (Tabled April 27, 2021)
ALCOHOL PERMIT APPEAL - CIRCLE K – JEWELLA INVESTMENTS
Denial of application of Emam Hajali for alcohol permit for Circle K – Jewella Investments, 6976 Jewella Ave, Shreveport, LA (F/Green) (Postponed May 11, 2021)
C.
Metropolitan Planning Commission and ZBA Appeals: NONE
D.
Other Appeals
SOB Appeals: None
Taxi Appeals: None
12.
Reports from officers, boards, and committees
13.
Clerk's Report
The following letter of appointments was received from the Mayor’s office on May 14, 2021 and May 21, 2021 and is subject for confirmation on June 8, 2021)
Metropolitan Planning Commission - Harold Sater
Caddo-Bossier Port Commission - Roy Griggs Deputy Chief of Litigation - Danielle Brown
14.
Additional Communications
A.
Additional Communications from the Mayor
B.
Additional Communications from Council Members
15.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: NONE
16.
Adjournment
_________________________________ James Flurry, Chairman
________________________________________
Danielle A. Farr-Ewing, Clerk of Council