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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 06/08/2023 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023 7:00 P.M., EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Community Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Greg Leeper (Chair), Shahram Missaghi, (Vice Chair), Sana Elassar, Philip Skeie, Asad Aliweyd, Samuel Griffin, John Urbanski, Susan Weaver, Zaheer Khan, Christine Kleckner, Jody Knight, Brenda Pfahnl, Kuhu Singh COMMISSION STAFF: Megan Yerks, Staff Liaison Julie Krull, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Vice Chair Missaghi called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Commission Members Leeper, Aliweyd, Elassar, Kleckner and Singh were absent. II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS The following guests were in attendance for the Community Presentation; Suzanne Anderson, Ellison Smith, Meli Arboleda, Tim Thames, Linda H., Karissa and Callum. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Urbanski moved, seconded by Weaver, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 8-0. IV. APPROVAL OF THE MAY 4, 2023 MEETING MINUTES MOTION: Pfahnl moved, seconded by Khan, to approve the minutes dated May 4, 2023. Motion carried 8-0. V. COMMUNITY PRESENTATION – SUZANNE ANDERSON, COMMUNITY MEMBER AND ADVOCATE FOR FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Skeie introduced Suzanne Anderson and her daughter Karissa and said Suzanne will be talking about challenges with families with special needs individuals in their household. He also asked the Commission to not applause and that only one person speak at a time due to sensory issues. Ms. Anderson pointed out she has a 15 year old daughter, Karissa, with special needs. She read the Commission a letter describing the emotions of what her daughter is going through with her Cask Disorder. She also described some of the ways these individuals give voice to their thoughts. Ms. Anderson said she is Karissa’s gap between her internal and external world. Cask Disorder is HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES June 8, 2023 Page 2 of 7 a genetic condition just affecting girls. This disorder was first identified in 2008. The symptoms are ranging and little is still known about this. She pointed out her daughter requires constant supervision and support. The simplest activities require much needed assistance. She described the day-to-day needs of Karissa. Ms. Anderson said one important aspect of this situation is that Karissa does not have any friends to play with. She does attend the autism group in Eden Prairie known as MAC, which has been somewhat helpful. She also pointed out Karissa does not like to play with toys but rather enjoys experiences, which at times can be a challenge as much of these experiences can be limited. The journey of this disease can be lonely and exhausting, but in the same turn fills her heart with an abundance of love. Karissa’s journey is unique as is with all individuals with special needs. Urbanski asked what summers look like for Karissa. Ms. Anderson stated in the afternoon Karissa does attend MAC, but they are unsure how they will keep her busy in the mornings. She commented that Karissa does love to go swimming at the Eden Prairie Community Center. Knight commented there is a pool in the Preserve area and pointed out there are two sides to the pool; one side for kids and one side for adults and said she may be suited for the adult side. Knight said she is involved in a group that would be able to assist with the fees involved in swimming to help Karissa’s family. Knight asked if Karissa is okay with other kids in the pool. Ms. Anderson said she is okay with other kids in the pool because she stays in her own space. Skeie suggested that the Preserve has a website if she is interested further. Weaver asked if there is a support network for the family. Ms. Anderson said she does not know of any. One of the guests commented there were meetings at the Eden Prairie High School but they were more informational than support. Vice Chair Missaghi asked what Karissa enjoys outdoors. Ms. Anderson said the pool, sledding, leaves, and sitting in the middle of the basketball court when individuals are playing. Vice Chair Missaghi asked how the Commission can assist Ms. Anderson and Karissa. Ms. Anderson said it would be nice if the City had a bike where individuals can rent or use where two people can sit side by side. Knight asked if they sell those types of bikes. Ms. Anderson said yes they do and they are approximately $3,000 and pointed out you have to have a lot of storage for this. Skeie said he would love to see the City buy a bike like this for individuals to use but not charge them. Khan commented that there would be multiple individuals who could benefit from a bike like this. Yerks asked Ms. Anderson if she has accessed the inclusion service from Eden Prairie. Ms. Anderson said a few times but that it really is not at her level. She said in regards to Karissa she involves more creative activities. Ms. Anderson pointed out that the Eden Prairie AMC movie theater hosts a sensory movie theater once a month for sensory individuals and Karissa enjoys that. Knight asked if there would be anything in the City that Karissa would enjoy. Ms. Anderson said there are programs in Eden Prairie that could be adaptive, such as camps. Yerks stated Nicole Weedman is on staff at the City and she assists with sensory needs. Ms. Anderson said she has had previous conversations with her. Khan asked if there are structured programs in Eden Prairie and not just comfort care and are they promoting progress and milestones. Ms. Anderson said she believes there are but does not recall any off hand. She said the Eden Prairie High School has IEP, which is a measurement system. Ms. Anderson also passed out a letter with recommendations for the City of Eden Prairie. Yerks asked if she could share this with the Park and Recreation HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES June 8, 2023 Page 3 of 7 Department. Ms. Anderson said she could share this information. The recommendations are as follows: 1. Transportation • Provide an aid to ride the Metro Mobility so that all levels of special needs adults can utilize this service safely. 2. Accessibility • Adult changing tables in restaurants, community center malls, etc. • Clear the sidewalks and curb cuts free from snow. • Ensure paved bike paths are safe and free of holes and bumps for safety and accessibility. • Provide staff at EPCC to help move significantly disabled individuals from their wheelchairs on/off the lift in the pool. One parent cannot safely move their adult child on and off the Hoyer lift. • Changing tables in the men’s restrooms for single dads. 3. Child and Adult Care • Provide daycare options before/after school programs and extra circular activities for special needs (all levels) kids after 6th grade. • Provide daycare programs for those adults who are 21 years and older. • Provide more paid work options for all levels of special needs. • Offer two-person bikes for rent so parents can go biking with their kids/adults. • Offer Respite Care once a quarter or even once a month. 4. Events and Activities • Give special needs kids special access to events at discounted rates, with sensory-friendly options at all events (i.e. MOA offers a special riding pass for individuals with disabilities) and make it easy to attend (short wait times, ample handicap parking, etc.) • Offer more summer camp sensory-friendly programs, sports, and activities for all levels of disability. • Offer discount rates at the EPCC. • Develop more programs to help special needs make and keep friends. 5. Resources • Our families need clearer access to resources. It would be incredibly valuable to have a comprehensive list (even for those resources beyond the city limits) online. • Create a comparable program that Edina offers, called Edina Unified. • Require all EP restaurants to offer the PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) for their menu items and the ability to download them so that we can “ask” our non-verbal kids/adults what they would like to eat when out and about. • Meet & Greets (support groups) for parents monthly. • Free counselor or therapists for parents (or a hotline) – our struggle is a real and isolating and we need support too! Especially divorced parents with special needs children/kids. • Job fairs HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES June 8, 2023 Page 4 of 7 6. Technology • Provide free access to the major communication software programs/apps from grade school through high school. • Offer an assistive technology library for items to be checked out. VI. STAFF REPORT – MEGAN YERKS A. COMMUNITY NEWS There was no Community News B. CITY / OHCS NEWS Juneteenth was added as a City Holiday and the City will be closed on this date. C. EPREI UPDATES Yerks commented the June REAT meeting was cancelled. D. HRDC NEWS E. UPCOMING MEETINGS OR OPPORTUNITIES There were no upcoming meetings or opportunities discussed. F. COMMISSIONER UPDATES There were no Commissioner updates. VII. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. STOP THE TRAFFICKING 5K Yerks said the Stop the trafficking 5k Packet Pick up will be at Grace Church on June 14th. There are two official shifts, with some commissioners scheduled for shifts that work for their schedule. There is 60 minutes scheduled for setup for the first shift and 30 minutes of tear down in the second shift. The official pickup runs from 2-8pm. The current lineup is as follows: Shift 1: 1-5 pm • Urbanski (point person) HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES June 8, 2023 Page 5 of 7 • Kazama (tentative) • Kleckner • Missaghi (2:30-5pm) • NEED ONE MORE VOLUNEER – Yerks will commit if no one signs up Shift 2: 4:30-8:30 pm • Aliweyd (point person) • Knight • Pfahnl (5:30-8:30) • Weaver B. PARTY FOR PRIDE Yerks confirmed with the Park and Recreation Department that the HRDC Commission will have a table at the June 24th event. It will be held at Staring Lake from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm. Yerks said has a minimum number of volunteers needed but would like one more volunteer for Shift 1; Griffin volunteered. The shifts are as follows: Shift 1: 8-10:15 am (includes 30 minutes of setup time) • Elassar (point person) • Knight (she will stay longer if needed) • Griffin Shift 2: 10-12:15 pm (includes 15 minutes of tear down time) • Elassar (point person) • Pfahnl • Talla Yerks said she will not be attending the event so Elassar has volunteered to be the lead. Yerks stated that Knight’s company has donated $250 for supplies for the event, which would consist of spin wheel prized and materials for bracelet making. Yerks said she was also looking into pronoun pins. Weaver asked if there is every any pushback at these events. Yerks said there may be pushback and the City is aware of that and will have a police officer at the event. C. SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS Yerks said there are two posts coming up for June. That would be Juneteenth and Pride. For the Juneteenth post it will feature Joseph Graham and is currently in progress based on information from Kathie Case. For the Pride post, Yerks asked if any of the Commissioners knew Raghavan personally. He was not a resident but opened up a restaurant in Eden Prairie. Yerks said she will connect with Singh who has knowledge of him. Yerks said she will write the post as she has read many articles on him but she would also like information from someone that knew him personally. D. WELCOME WEEK HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES June 8, 2023 Page 6 of 7 Yerks said that the City of Bloomington had reached out to her with a new idea for Welcoming Week, which celebrates immigrants within the community. The starting day would be September 8th. Bloomington reached out to every city that borders them so that would include Edina, Richfield, Savage, and Eden Prairie. They would like to consider a formal launch among all the cities to kick off the event. They are also considering asking CAPI to support this effort. Between now and their next meeting they would like each city to identify who in their city would be the key staff to support or be involved in this work. They would also like each city to think about the date, time and location of where to host their event. And lastly, think about interactive activities, community involvement, tabling, arts/crafts, performances, cultural attire, speakers and organizations. Their upcoming HRC meeting would be the end of June and in early July all cities would have to agree on language, content, and visual alignment for marketing and promoting among all cities so it can be given to their Communication Department and then August for finalizing the details. Pa Dao will be sending a meeting poll shortly and schedule upcoming monthly meetings. Knight commented that it is a short time frame given the fact the Commission is planning for PeopleFest. Weaver said to do some advocacy versus creating an event. Khan suggested having Eden Prairie showcase that the City has to offer them. Yerks said in 2019 they did Culture in Motion and it was set up at the Eden Prairie High School where different tables were set up to discuss different cultures. Weaver suggested to showcase recent immigrants at the table. Khan commented that a lot of immigrants do not know a lot about Eden Prairie and what it has to offer. Knight asked Khan what he would do to assist people. Khan suggested bringing more traffic to the Community Center. Vice Chair Missaghi commented that many of the new comers do not know what is out there. He asked Yerks what the next steps would be. Yerks pointed out July is a very busy month and asked the Commissioners if the HRDC has the capacity to take on this event. She said a simpler event or workshop may be attainable. Weaver suggested a workshop for new driver’s license rules. Vice Chair Missaghi asked the Commission if they would be interested in a workshop. Khan said he would be interested in a workshop. Urbanski suggested this year the Commission should just be observers as September is a very busy month. Weaver commented the Commission should not be compelled to anyone else’s schedule. Pfahnl like the idea of putting this event in the work plan for next year. Yerks asked if the Commissioners if they want the Commission to be represented at the upcoming meeting in late June. Urbanski said he would not be able to attend the meeting and Pfahnl said once it is scheduled she would make a decision. E. PEOPLEFEST: GUIDE REVIEW Yerks said Communications has not completed the draft directory but once she receives it she will send it out to the Commissioners. E. PEOPLEFEST: HUMAN LIBRARY HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES June 8, 2023 Page 7 of 7 Yerks said the hours were extended during the last meeting; they are now 4-6:30 pm. She commented the books will need a title and description. Weaver asked if people could be brought back from last year and Yerks said they could return. Yerks also said she will send out the spreadsheet next week for participants and it can be reviewed at the July meeting. Vice Chair Missaghi asked what are the next steps for the presentation they had earlier this evening. Skeie said he would like to present something to the City Council and this can be discussed at the July meeting. IX. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS A. EPREI: EMERGENCY RESPONSE/COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE B. EP REI: RECRUITING, HIRING AND RETENTION/DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS C. FACILITY AND PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY AND CULTURE/CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY D. ONE EP X. UPCOMING MEETINGS A. JULY 13, 2023 XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Weaver moved, seconded by Khan, to adjourn the Human Rights & Diversity Commission meeting. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:01 p.m.