Enfield set to fill diversity committee

Susan Danseyar, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Dec. 19—DIVERSITY COMMITTEE

WHAT: The Town Council will vote on appointing seven residents to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee during its meeting tonight at 7 in Town Hall.

APPOINTEES: John Malinoski, Yanired Tolodo-DeMicheli, Brandon Jewell, Rosalind Swift, James Hoyne, Monica Ogums, and Chad Woodyard.

ENFIELD — The Town Council is scheduled tonight to appoint seven members to the newly established Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which was created in response to racial incidents in town.

According to tonight's agenda, the appointees are Republican John Malinoski, Democrats Yanired Tolodo-DeMicheli, Brandon Jewell, Rosalind Swift, and James Hoyne, and unaffiliated voters Monica Ogums and Chad Woodyard.

Their terms will be determined by a resolution.

The council voted in early October to establish the committee after an August incident when a student athlete was subjected to racist comments and threats while participating in an annual fundraiser for the high school football team.

The committee's charge will be to foster an environment of respect and equal treatment for the community's diverse population.

A dozen residents applied for consideration. The Town Council originally planned to appoint members at its Dec. 5 meeting but decided to postpone the decision and meet with the candidates for interviews in an effort to find the right members who could work well as a group.

Each appointee filled out applications explaining how they could be helpful on such a committee.

Malinoski, an executive recruiter, trained as a facilitator for community conversations on race at Phoenix Mutual. He has traveled extensively across the country for his work and said he's aware of many cultures and differences among individuals; and was very active in diversity activities while employed at Travelers.

Toledo-DeMitcheli, a freelance proofreader, grew up in Puerto Rico and is bilingual and bicultural.

Jewell, a teacher, is the president of PFLAG Enfield and said knowing about the LGBTQ+ community would be helpful for the diversity committee.

Ogums, who works for Enfield schools, said she is a bilingual, first-generation Nigerian with dual citizenship. She attended John F. Kennedy Middle School, graduated from Enfield High School, and has two children who attend school and daycare in town. She said she has a strong passion to serve the town's youth and will work hard to help create new opportunities for them.

Swift has a master's degree in Christian education and over 40 years of community service in advocating, mentoring, and counseling. She has been a consultant to the town as a community outreach worker and currently serves on Ujima African American Alliance, Enfield People for People, Enfield Safe Harbor Warming Center, the town's Juvenile Review Board, and the town's Crisis Prevention Committee.

Woodyard, who works as a trader, serves as chairman of the board of Ujima African American Alliance and has ministered to prisoners and tutored adults in halfway houses in Washington, D.C., for their GED diplomas.

Hoyne said he has been a longtime advocate for those with disabilities. He received a certificate from the University of Pittsburgh on disability awareness and support in 2015.

For more coverage of Somers and Enfield, follow Susan Danseyar on Twitter: @susandanseyar, Facebook: Susan Danseyar, reporter.