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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 01/09/2020APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 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 7:18 p.m. at PROP. Commission Members Missaghi, Lucht, Philmon and Aliweyd and Student Member Steidle were absent. II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS There were no guests this evening as the Commission was touring PROP and PROP Shop. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Skeie moved, seconded by Aman, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. IV. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 12, 2019 MEETING MINUTES MOTION: Elassar moved, seconded by Skeie, to approve the December 12, 2019 minutes. Motion carried 5-0. V. STAFF REPORT – MEGAN YERKS A. UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS: 1. PROP Empty Bowls – This will be held on Tuesday February 18th at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. Lunch will be from 11am – 1:30pm and dinner will be from 4-7pm. Sign up can be done on the PROP website. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES January 9, 2020 Page 2 2 2 2. 2020 Legislative Forum on Disability – This event will take place on Monday, January 13th from 1-3pm at the Minnesota Senate Building on 95 University Ave. W. in St. Paul. The event is free and open to the public. A preview of disability issues in the 2020 legislative session will be discussed. B. OHCS UPDATES 1. Census 2020 Outreach Activities – The Census Applicant Day at OHCS will be February 12th from 9am-2pm. Yerks said her department is hosting this event at the Mall office. The positions are temporary and will run over the summer. Applicants must be 18 years of age and over. The Census Education Workshop at the Community Center will be on February 20th from 10am-12pm. This workshop will discuss the census and importance of it. The Census Completion Support is yet to be determined. This will start in late March but they are still trying to figure out processes. C. HRDC UPCOMING NEWS 1. MLK Proclamation and HRA Opening - Yerks said she needs 2 volunteers to attend the January 21st City Council meeting and present the MLK Proclamation/HRA Award nomination process. Elassar and Lucht are tentative but she would like confirmed volunteers and ask that they reach her in the near future. 2. Human Rights Awards – Nominations will open on January 21st and close on February 28th. Yerks asked the Commission to be thinking of nominees or ways to encourage nominations. Nominations will be reviewed in March. 3. Workplan Presentation Reminder – The dinner will take place on Tuesday, February 4th with dinner starting at 5pm and the meeting from 5:30- 6:30pm. Chair Leeper and Bhakta will be presenting. D. SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES 1. Iftar Subcommittee Meeting – This subcommittee will meet on January 17th from 3-4pm at the City Center. 2. PeopleFest Update – Ali gave an update from the meeting. She said they discussed what type of booths they would like at this event. They also went over grants to be given to the booths. Yerks said they also talked about having a marketplace and they all thought it would be a good idea. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES January 9, 2020 Page 3 3. Student Group, Indigenous American Heritage, Census and Iftar – Yerks said she would like updates by the February meeting. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. There was no old business to discuss. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. COMMUNITY TOUR: PROP Jenny Buckland from PROP welcomed the Commission and discussed PROP. She pointed out that PROP served both Eden Prairie and Chanhassen and this group consists of 1,100 families and 600-700 individuals. There are 160 volunteers that work here every week. She stated they have been providing food to families and individuals since 1974 and pointed out 90% of the food is donated. She said PROP is open M-F from 9:30am-1 and Wednesday evenings from 4pm- 6:30pm. Ms. Buckland pointed out they can deliver to people that cannot make it in to the facility. They can also supply taxis or Ubers to get the food home. She said WCA gave PROP a grant for $10,000 for feminine hygiene products. The two most requested items are feminine hygiene products and diapers. She also stated that local grocery stores donate to PROP B. COMMUNITY TOUR: PROP SHOP Vicki from the PROP Shop gave us a tour of their facility. She did point out that PROP and PROP Shop are two separate organizations. She said most of their inventory is from donations from the community. She gave some history on the PROP Shop and said that 15-20 years ago the PROP Shop was just a closet in the City Center. Today they make it sustainable because in part of the store they sell items and in the other half they give items away. In 2007, they opened up their current location. Vicki said there are request lists for furniture and pointed out they do have a shortage on kid’s clothing, along with blankets, sheets and towels. They are open 7 days a week and take donations during that time. IX. UPCOMING MEETING A. February 13, 2020 X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Elassar moved, seconded by Skeie, to adjourn the Human Rights & Diversity Commission meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm