Edana Kitzman, Minot

My apology for not knowing of a 1976 committee in Minot, ND, that its agenda was to alleviate discriminatory practices in employment. I will add that not knowing that it existed means that I did not know it had been disbanded also.

Finding out in the news articles and TV news that reorganizing such a committee is being considered was in “real time” news to me!

It is wonderful to see such interest of the proposed committee, for and against, and that it has been conducted in a civil manner, yet voicing each opinion publicly.

Open dialogue is necessary, making it important to be heard, which is part of resolving “stereotyping” and then not categorizing a person or groups of persons into “not employable.”

This process for opinions to be voiced and heard shows the willingness to resolve, or not allow, exclusion in the labor market (in Minot anyway). Just think, such ground-breaking in 2023 means the agenda of the “1976 committee” is an ongoing process. Right?

So without an official committee, maybe the employers can look within each of their organizations where improvement would be beneficial. Without naming names of individuals or businesses and also not naming certain “groups,” dialogue can continue and show improvement of certain practices that may, or may not, have gotten out of control and may, or may not, have caused deterrent of employment for certain persons or other “groups.”

Governance is already in place with the anti-discrimination laws already “on the books.” To alleviate governing action of those laws means to look within our won organizations to resolve before using the laws with lawyers and judges and judgements and ruthless embarrassment … that list goes on and on.

Anyway, thank you to everyone at the meeting who said something for or against. It seems that there is no “middle of the road” in this. But then, according to the ’70s song, that’s where the dead skunk was found.