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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 02/13/2014MEETING NOTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2013 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: PG Narayanan (Chair), Zina Nourkadi, Jenny Buckland, Sana Elassar, Sandra Filardo, Connie Iacovelli STAFF: Patricia Fenrick, Staff Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Kristina Busch, Karena Lin, Chase Carlson, Emily Higgins I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Narayanan called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. Commissioners Filardo, Buckland, and Nourkadi and Student Representative Higgins were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA No quorum. III. MINUTES No quorum. IV. STUDENT CLUB REPORT Tabled. V. REPORTS FROM STUDENT COMMISSIONERS Busch said a co-president for Face Aids plans to submit a nomination for the Human Rights Awards. She also spoke with the teacher advisor for Amnesty International. Fenrick said the deadline is February 28. Anyone can nominate. Three nominations have been received to date, but none are in the youth category. Narayanan suggested contact information for teachers at the high school be retained for correspondence about future awards years. Carlson stated he was looking for a specific assignment to work on for HRDC. After reviewing available options, he volunteered for the 5K, Warmth of Other Suns book discussion, One Voice adult conversation, and the International Town Hall. Lin also expressed interest in the town hall meeting. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MEETING NOTES February 13, 2014 Page 2 Lin said she talked to student leaders of clubs about the Human Rights Awards. She still needs to approach teachers and the National Honor Society. Elassar expressed hesitancy in contacting teachers, even though their email information is available on the school website. Discussion followed about the best method for getting the message out. Fenrick said it makes the most sense to make contact in person first and then follow up via email. Narayanan also suggested advertising the awards in the school paper and also having an article about the youth category winner. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. COMMISSION APPLICATIONS - Fenrick The application deadline has been extended to Monday, February 17. There are two open positions and one application so far. Each commissioner should personally invite three people to apply. Elassar recommended asking outgoing commissioners for suggestions. B. YOUTH ONE VOICE - Fenrick This event is scheduled for March 12 at 3:00 p.m. in the Old Commons at Eden Prairie High School (EPHS). Volunteers are needed to help facilitate. Carlson and Iacovelli said they could help. Lin said she could maybe help. Narayanan said he would help if needed. Fenrick said she will find out how many volunteers are needed and an exact time they should be available on March 10 for training. Lin pointed out Filardo’s report noted Higgins would be putting up clipboards in the volunteer office at school and talking to the paper about getting event coverage. C. 5K UPDATE - Elassar After meeting with Christine at Grace Church, there are no identifiable conflicts or concerns about moving forward with this June 14 event. It is Grace Church’s race; HRDC will partner. The main purpose is to increase/spread awareness about human and sex trafficking in Minnesota. They anticipate 300-400 registrants and the route is already set. Next steps include working on taglines for shirts to promote the event, gathering current statistics in Minnesota, and researching relevant Eden Prairie organizations to which the money can be donated. One idea to consider is donating the money to Grace Church since it is a non-profit, and then allowing them to determine percentage-wise to which programs to give the funds. Another meeting is scheduled next week to discuss whether or not there will be an entry fee. Iacovelli said a non-chipped event would result in a better turnout. Narayanan asked about publicity for HRDC. Iacovelli said the Commission may get publicity on flyers. Elassar said HRDC could end up on the t-shirt, too. Iacovelli requested confirmation HRDC’s role will be to provide volunteers and to get the word out. Narayanan asked what percentage goes to non-profits. Elassar explained HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MEETING NOTES February 13, 2014 Page 3 that has yet to be determined. Fenrick said if charging for the event, 100 percent of the proceeds must go to non-profits. VII. REPORTS OF STAFF (reference report) - Fenrick A. HUMAN SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE (HSRC) No report. B. BIAS CRIME ACTIVITY STATUS None. C. OTHER REPORTS FROM STAFF - Fenrick 1. Youth Career Fair This event is scheduled for March 5, 2:45-6 p.m. at EPHS. Elassar asked if non- profits would be included. Fenrick said anyone who is hiring can participate. Elassar noted 30-40 percent of the work force for government jobs will be retiring soon which will leave huge openings for candidates. She will contact Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and invite them to the career fair. Narayanan offered to contact employers on Fenrick’s list to promote the event. He also suggested getting the word out to parents. Fenrick said she is more concerned about getting enough businesses than kids. Even if companies don’t have job openings, they can come to the event and give talks. 2. Best Buy Grant $5.10 remaining. VIII. NEW BUSINESS Elassar mentioned Choice Inc. and Opportunities as potential resources for disability awareness. Fenrick said Busch may need help with the Human Rights Awareness Month when disability is the focus. One option is to make it youth-focused in terms of raising awareness, acceptance, and bullying. It can be discussed in more detail next month. Elassar brought up the idea of holding a cultural dance at the community center bi- monthly. Another option is to offer six-minute socials in which there are speed diversity tables. Attendees would rotate similar to the speed dating model. Fenrick said that would be a good ice-breaker for the One Voice Conversation and could be inserted into multiple other events of which HRDC is a part. We would want to put it in the Community Ed catalog. She will add this to a list of future ideas. Narayanan said he would like to see multiple cultures represented at a dance with different types of music. Fenrick asked everyone to continue advertising the Human Rights Awards and to make a push for commissioner candidates. The award recipients will be decided next month. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MEETING NOTES February 13, 2014 Page 4 Elassar asked if HRDC would be interested in putting together a team for the breast cancer Race for the Cure in May. She will send a follow-up email with details. Elassar asked if any consideration had been given to partnering with the Heritage Preservation Commission. She sees heritage as diversity. Fenrick said there has been some discussion about it, but nothing has progressed yet. It is something to consider for the future. IX. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, March 13, 2014, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. X. ADJOURNMENT Chair Narayanan adjourned the meeting at 8:17 p.m.