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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 12/12/2019APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 7:00 P.M., Eden Prairie Center Office of Housing and Community Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Greg Leeper (Chair), Shahram Missaghi, (Vice Chair), Katherine Lucht, Leslie Philmon, Rehmatbai Sumra; Sana Elassar, Philip Skeie, Asad Aliweyd, Tyler Aman STUDENT MEMBERS: Caprice Steidle, Najma Ali, Nicole Mayer, Stavan Bhakta, Winifred Halm De-Souza COMMISSION STAFF: Megan Yerks, Staff Liaison Julie Krull, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Leeper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission Members Lucht, Sumra and Aliweyd were absent. Missaghi arrived during the staff report. II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Greg Olson, a resident of Eden Prairie was a guest at the HRDC meeting. He stated he is interested in human rights and specifically immigration. He stated he is just at the meeting to listen. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Skeie moved, seconded by Aman, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. IV. APPROVAL OF THE NOVEMBER 14, 2019 MEETING MINUTES MOTION: Skeie moved, seconded by Philmon, to approve the November 14, 2019 minutes. Motion carried 5-0. V. STAFF REPORT – MEGAN YERKS A. COMMUNITY EVENTS AND UPDATES: 1. OHCS Human Services General Fund Grant – Yerks stated the OHCS Human Services General Fund Grant went to the City Council on HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES December 12, 2019 Page 2 December 3rd, 2019. She pointed out NAMI did not submit a request this year. She also stated that OHCS is accepting RFPs for CDBG Public Service funding for 2020. 2. PeopleFest! 2020 – Yerks stated they received a preliminary grant for $10,600 and will use it for the following: $3,000 for performers, $542 in mini grants to pay exhibitors, $3000 for interactive art, and $2100 for the kickoff event, which will take place on July 31st. The Native Pride Arts will be performing. There will be a little extra money left over and that will be used for additional things coming up. Chair Leeper asked about year 4 funding for this looks like and have there been any discussions on that. Chair Leeper said they would like to keep this a free event. The Party People Subcommittee Meeting will be on Friday December 20th at 9 am at the Art Center. The PeopleFest! Steering Committee will be on Monday January 6th at 4 pm at the Community Education Center. 3. HRC Municipality Index Released – EP Scored - Yerks said this organization does municipality indexes every year. Eden Prairie was one city selected to participate. There were 506 cities accessed across the US. Minneapolis/St. Paul scored 100, and Eden Prairie scored 49. Yerks said this index can help Eden Prairie reflect upon the ability to improve on things such as, non-discrimination laws, municipality as employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ equality. 4. Star Tribune Article about Refugee Resettlement Requirements – There was an executive order that was passed recently for approval for refugee settlement. Counties across Minnesota need to opt in to this. The article does state that Hennepin County is looking into this. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. There was no old business to discuss. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. 2020 WORKPLAN Chair Leeper said they will be finalizing this tonight. Yerks said the below subcommittees need to be added and finalized: 1. Indigenous People Committee 2. Census 2020 3. Police Community Relations 4. Iftar 5. PeopleFest! HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES December 12, 2019 Page 3 The following items were put on the calendar for 2020 and will be presented to City Council on February 4th, 2020 from 5:30-6:30. January 1. Human Rights Award (HRA) – Human Rights Award Promotion Kick-Off February 1. Work Plan – This will be presented to City Council on February 4th. 2. Human Rights Award (HRA) – Applications for this is due on Feb. 28th. March 1. Human Rights Award (HRA) – HRA recipient(s) will be selected at HRDC meeting. 2. Start subcommittee for Census 2020. April 1. Commission Organization – Student Event – Passport to Pop Culture 2. Census 2020 is due on April 1st. May 1. Commission Organization – End of term for student representatives. 2. Commission Organization – Board and Commission Awards Banquet. 3. Human Rights Award (HRA) – HRA Award Presentation at City Council Meeting. 4. Partnerships/Initiatives – Community Iftar with Eden Prairie Police Department. Subcommittee should start in January for this. 5. Partnerships/Initiatives – May 14th – Chain Reaction Theater: White Privilege. Yerks said we will have limited involvement compared to previous Chain Reaction Theatre events. This event is hosted by Immanuel Lutheran Church. June 1. Partnerships/Initiatives – Stop the Trafficking 5K with Grace Church. July 1. Police Community Relations Event – Kickin’ it with the cops. August 1. Commission Organization – Orientation for new student representatives. 2. Partnerships/Initiatives – PeopleFest! August 1st to August 16th. September 1. Commission Organization – Welcome new student representatives. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES December 12, 2019 Page 4 October 1. Partnerships/Initiatives – Tentative – Culture N Motion November 1. Work Plan – 2021 Work Plan 2. Partnerships/Initiatives – Native American Heritage Month. Start subcommittee in January and focus on Land Acknowledgement and how the City can honor the past and present. December 1. Commission Organization – Commissioner meeting Attendance Report to City Manager 2. Work Plan – 2021 Work Plan Chair Leeper wanted to discuss the student project and asked if the project would align with Culture N Motion. Steidle stated it would and that it would take place in the Eden Prairie Activity Center from 2:30-4 pm. Chair Leeper asked if this would be targeted to high school students or the general public. Steidle said they would like it open to all; students and the general public. Chair Leeper asked, in terms of clubs, would the presenters be high school students. Steidle said she would like to see a balance of students and teachers. Ali said she does not attend the high school but would like to bring the Somali community there. Chair Leeper asked what date they had in mind. Steidle said sometime between mid and late April and would like to call the event Passport to Pop Culture. Chair Leeper asked how many Kickin’ it with the Cops events the Commission would like to do with Eden Prairie Police Department. Elassar suggested the Commission does just one event so it can be done well but also said if there is help from the police department, she would not be opposed to two events. Skeie said he would be interested in this subcommittee and echoes Elassar’s suggestion that one would be good but we could do two with the help of the police department. Skeie said if two events are held they should be in different locations. Yerks suggested one big event with food and fire trucks and then a smaller event. Aman said he would like to do two events and liked the idea of one big event and one smaller event. Chair Leeper suggested the subcommittee work with the police department for dates. Yerks suggested July for the main event. Yerks wanted to discuss PeopleFest! and suggested not to host a stand-alone event but be on a subcommittee. Aman agreed with Yerks and Skeie said he agrees we should not do a stand-alone event; Missaghi and Philmon concurred. Yerks inquired about meeting in August since PeopleFest! often interferes with the August meeting. Chair Leeper said to leave the meeting scheduled as is and see how it goes as we get closer to the date. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES December 12, 2019 Page 5 Yerks said there were four tabled events; 100 Anniversary of Women’s Right to Vote; Culture N Motion; Listening Session and HTC Partnership. In regards to HTC Partnership, Chair Leeper said since the Commission has nothing planned to keep it tabled; the Commission concurred. For Women’s Right to Vote, Elassar pointed out Women’s History is in March and so they could post something on the City’s website in regards to this topic. For Listening Sessions, Chair Leeper said when he first started on this Commission there was Coffee with the Council round table where community members could ask questions. He wanted to know if there was value in this event. Missaghi said he feels more people would like to see this event. Yerks purposed that at all events they have a Message to the Mayor table or box so community members can share with the Commission and City Council. This could also be a table at PeopleFest! Aman asked if would could invite the Mayor and Council Members to events. Yerks said that would be possible. Skeie suggested putting more emphasis on the advisory level. Chair Leeper said the goals are facility connection and the Commission needs to market this as well. Yerks said we would need to fine tune this event. Chair Leeper said the box is a good idea and so is inviting elected officials to events. Elassar said in regards to the Quality of Life Surveys 2018, the sense of community among Eden Prairie residents is 68%. She said this was on the Eden Prairie website and will send it out to all Commissioners. Yerks said this could be an area where the community is encouraged to give feedback about areas for improvement. Chair Leeper asked if Culture N Motion would be valuable to do this year. Aman said the schedule does look pretty labor intensive for January through to the summer. Chair Leeper said the value would be the people we bring together and commented he would hate to see this let go. Missaghi said he thinks it is worth doing and we could possibly partner with Mark Weber on this. Philmon said she likes the idea of this. Chair Leeper suggested putting it tentatively in October and see if we can partner with Mark Weber. Chair Leeper discussed the subcommittees below and asked for volunteers. They are as follows: 1. Police Community Relations Subcommittee – Skeie, Aman and Mayer 2. Iftar Subcommittee – Chair Leeper, Aliweyd and Ali 3. Native Indigenous Peoples’ Heritage Subcommittee – Elassar, Lucht and Philmon 4. Census 2020 Subcommittee – Elassar, Philmon and Bhakta 5. PeopleFest! Subcommittee – Missaghi, Philmon (day of event), and Ali 6. Student Project Subcommittee – Ali, Mayer, Steidle, Bhakta 7. Culture N Motion Subcommittee – Chair Leeper and Missaghi 8. Student Liaison Subcommittee – Lucht HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES December 12, 2019 Page 6 Chair Leeper said the Commission could advise the City Council and Mayor on issues. Aman said that since we really have not done this we should be aware of it now and moving forward act on it. Missaghi said we should have an event debrief after events to share about conversations that commissioners had with participants. Chair Leeper concurred and also said at events to be aware of what people are saying. B. COUNCIL WORKSHOP WORK PLAN PRESENTATION Chair Leeper asked who would like to be involved with the presentation to City Council. Chair Leeper said he could do it and Bhakta said he would like to assist. The date will be February 4th from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. The presentation will consist of the top 2020 events, which are: 1. PeopleFest! 2. Kickin’ it with the cops 3. Culture N Motion 4. Native American Heritage Month – posts 5. Community Conversation Series 6. Human Rights Awards Yerks asked what the 2020 goals should be. There was a discussion and they are as follows: 1. Promoting inclusivity by creating spaces for members of the community to connect. 2. Advise the City Council of successes, needs and issues through listening avenues. 2020 Initiatives were discussed and they are as follows: 1. Student event – Passport to Culture 2. Police Community Relations 3. Iftar 4. Census 2020 C. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS IX. UPCOMING MEETING A. JANUARY 9, 2020 X. ADJOURNMENT HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES December 12, 2019 Page 7 MOTION: Aman moved, seconded by Philmon, to adjourn the Human Rights & Diversity Commission meeting. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 pm