Agenda

Return

C. 39

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Alison McKee, County Librarian
Date:	February 1, 2022

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Approve and Authorize the Librarian, or Designee, to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of $500 from the Delta Blues Festival.

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 02/01/2022

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Walt Beveridge 925-608-7730

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: February 1, 2022
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Librarian, or designee, to apply for and accept a grant in the amount of $500 from the Delta Blues Festival to provide funding for a speaker event at the Antioch Library for the period March 1, 2022 through July 1 2023.

FISCAL IMPACT:

No Library Fund match.

BACKGROUND:

The Antioch library will utilize the funding to celebrate Black Music Appreciation Month in June of 2022 (decreed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979). The intended audience for the proposed program will be youth ages 5-18 and will be presented by Dr. Terence Elliott, Ed.D, Professor of Music, Hip Hop and Popular Studies at Diablo Valley College. His presentation, entitled the Healing Power of Music, will be interactive and allow the youth attendees to join a Drum Circle and participate in the power of rhythms in a transformational change toward empowerment. Should the Library not be able to provide in-person programming in June, Dr. Elliott will present the History of Black Music in song and lecture with his band--Nymani Music. This alternate presentation would be provided via Zoom.

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Dr. Elliott (“Doc”) has worked as an educator for forty years. “Doc” is an accomplished pianist, composer, and producer, and he has performed and recorded on numerous projects throughout the Bay Area and all over the world. He is uniquely qualified to present a high caliber and educational program for the youth of Antioch.

Not only will this program celebrate the influence of Black and African American influences on current music, it will also be a step towards understanding and the appreciation of our diverse community and society. In a June 2020 statement our County Librarian said: “Contra Costa County Library stands against all forms of racism and hatred. Our mission is to bring people and ideas together. We do this by providing equal access to information and opportunities. As our country works to overcome systemic racism, violence toward Black Americans and inequity, we believe and affirm that libraries are essential partners in that effort.” A program of the nature we have proposed will be a positive step in creating a more equitable environment.