James Friday was elected chairman of the Bainbridge Island Race Equity Task Force at the group’s first meeting.

Susan Wilmot was appointed vice chair, and Janna Chan was named secretary.

The seven-member task force was the idea of Bainbridge Councilman Matthew Tirman, and its creation was unanimously approved by the city council late last year.

The task force has been asked to provide advice and counsel to the city council “on matters of identifying programmatic, community and legislative options to ensure that Bainbridge Island lives up to its commitment of an open and welcoming community for all.”

Other members of the task force are Brenda Fantroy-Johnson, Kian Ashabi, Savanna Rovelstad and Vyette Bronalenior.

Task force members were appointed to terms that run until June 2019; the ad hoc committee is set to disband July 1.

Three city council members will serve as liaisons to the task force; Tirman, Joe Deets and Rasham Nassar.

At its first meeting March 7, Tirman said the task force considered a proposal to create a subcommittee to look into tools on the Government Alliance on Race and Equity website and make recommendations on tools to explore and actions to take.

The task force also talked about a proposal to create a Youth Outreach Committee to look into incidents of harassment on the island as well as broader issues before determining whether or not to dedicate more focus strictly to youth. The committee members will be Rovelstad, Ashabi and Wilmot.

Upcoming meetings of the task force have been planned for April 4, May 2 and June 6.