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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 08/14/2025 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2025 7:00 P.M., EDEN PRAIRIE CITY CENTER Heritage Rooms 3 & 4 COMMISSION MEMBERS: Greg Leeper (Chair), Asad Aliweyd, Shana Bates, Shalanda Berry, Zaheer Khan, Jody Knight, Jessica Oaxaca, Brenda Pfahnl, Wendi Russo, John Urbanski, Susan Weaver COMMISSION STAFF: Paja Xiong, Community Services Manager & Staff Liaison Julie Krull, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Vice Chair Khan called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Commission Members Leeper and Berry were absent. II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS There were no quests this evening. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Weaver moved, seconded by Russo, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 9-0. IV. APPROVAL OF THE JULY 10, 2025 MEETING MINUTES MOTION: Urbanski moved, seconded by Pfahnl, to approve the July 10, 2025 Meeting Minutes. Motion carried 9-0. V. COMMUNITY PRESENTATION There was not a Community Presentation this evening. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. PEOPLEFEST PARTY DEBRIEF Xiong commented to the Commission this was a successful event for both the party and community conversation. She asked for a debrief of the party from the Commissioners who tabled the event. Bates said the event was moved inside due to the weather but felt the new venue worked. Pfahnl suggested next year doing an activity that is tied to the HRDC. Weaver responded she does not think the making of the bracelets related to the HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES August 14, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Commission and felt it was hard to talk with the adults when there were so many kids around the table and felt it was a dis-service to the HRDC. She felt the wheel and trivia were okay, but that they could do a better job of displaying the HRDC; the games should focus on the Commission and diversity. She stated the Commission members should do a better job of representing the City and the HRDC. Vice Chair Khan agreed with Weaver and felt a survey to individuals as to their wants and needs would be beneficial. Aliweyd commented there needs to be more visibility of who the HRDC is and what they do. Bates suggested, in regards to making bracelets, to have different colors associated with the HRDC. Xiong suggested having jars filled with beads that correlate to answers to the questions asked and when they get the questions correct, they can place the bead in a jar. This would be a way to connect with individuals while also educating them. In regards to the trivia wheel, she suggested that should be just for fun and no prizes given out. Russo suggested having the Mission Statement posted at the table and to also have a suggestion box and information available for individuals who need assistance. Oaxaca said educating individuals is fine but commented this event is mostly families that attend so it would be beneficial to have activities for the kids so the Commissioners can engage with the parents. She also said the Race Equity report is important to the HRDC and copies of it should be on the table available to anyone who would like one. She also said the trivia questions should be about the HRDC. Xiong suggested at the October meeting the Commission should craft an elevator speech for the HRDC. Oaxaca responded that would be good but also focusing on what our role actually is while bringing importance to the Race Equity report. She also asked if there was any feedback from PeopleFest! Xiong responded the event did get five stars and most comments were favorable about how people were connecting with each other. The HRDC table received 5 stars and people were appreciative in regards to the gift cards. The PeopleFest Committee praised the HRDC for the work that was done this year and stated how much they appreciated it. Vice Chair Khan commented most people attending were people of color and he feels a survey to these people of their needs and perspectives are important. Weaver responded all the people on stage were people of color and hence they come to watch their own so it is important to have white people on stage too. Vice Chair Khan commented that people do come out to see other cultures. Xiong said there were about 1,200 attending on the day of the party. Bates asked how that compares to years in the past. Xiong responded she was not sure but would follow up with the PeopleFest Committee. Russo commented the Commissioners could do a better job of sharing information of the HRDC and explaining who they are and also stated the Senior Center could be promoted. B. COMMUNITY CONVERSATION DISCUSSION Xiong said she would like comments as to how the Community Conversation event went. Pfahnl commented she would like to see something similar to this event involving students during the school year and engaging teachers. Weaver felt this event should be 15 minutes longer. Oaxaca responded that she felt it was an appropriate amount of time. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES August 14, 2025 Page 3 of 4 Xiong commented that PFLAG is coming to speak to the Commission in the future. Oaxaca responded it would be helpful to have pre-thought questions when they do come. Urbanski suggested having a quarterly conversation for individuals. Pfahnl felt the location was remote and suggested in the future to use the Eden Prairie Community Center. Xiong thanked everyone for their suggestions and will look at having this as a semi-annual event engaging teachers and having it at the Community Center. Bates commented she liked the idea of a suggestion box as it may give the HRDC more input on what people are interested in. Russo suggested a texting chain to ask individuals questions. Pfahnl said at these types of events one of the last questions asked should be what would you like to see in the future. Vice Chair Khan asked how many people attended this event. Xiong responded 13 people had signed up and there were a few more from the PeopleFest Committee that attended. IX. NEW BUSINESS A. CITY WIDE OPEN HOUSE Xiong said she would like to have 3 to 4 volunteers for this event. The time will be from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and includes setup and teardown. If anyone is interested send her an email. She explained this event is for residents to come and see the different City Departments and Commissions. Next month the Commission will discuss the structured events that will the HRDC will host. She suggested including trivia questions and also pointed out the students will be starting on the Commission. There should be approximately 10 student representatives. B. PREPARATION FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION The Eden Prairie Fire Department will be presenting at the October meeting. Xiong would like to prepare a list of questions this evening to give to the Department in preparation for the meeting. Urbanski said he would like to see the numbers on the recruiting process. He would also like more information on the new fire trucks. Vice Chair Khan commented he went to Fire Station #4 and said he did not see that much diversity. He would like to have them address the following questions: 1. How does the Fire Department plan to increase diversity in their workforce. 2. What education do the recruits need. 3. How many people apply for open positions. 4. How does the Fire Department make more people feel their homes are safe, what information are they communicating with them, how are they doing it, and what language is it in. Weaver asked how it works when emergency calls come into the Fire Department and how does dispatch work. Xiong responded she will have them discuss that next month, along with recruiting and retention. Bates would like them to address when they are out in the community and what are they seeing as needs. Urbanski asked if they do outreach to HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES August 14, 2025 Page 4 of 4 communities of color in regards to water safety. Oaxaca asked, in regards to bias training, how does this training impact their connection to individuals when they are going to calls, particularly language barriers. Urbanski said he would like an update on the numbers on the dashboard. Xiong said she will share all of this information with the Fire Department to address at next month’s meeting. Russo suggested for the next PeopleFest that the Commission get inclusive puppets that will cater to kids with disabilities. XI. UPCOMING MEETINGS A. September 11, 2025 XI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Weaver moved, seconded by Bates, to adjourn the Human Rights & Diversity Commission meeting. Motion carried 9-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.