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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 10/16/2008 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008 7:00 PM, 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Cari Maguire (Chair), Pam Spera (Vice Chair), Daniel Abraira, Gerry Beckmann, Marcy Harris, Mohamed Duale, and Kelly Brandon STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison Mary Keating, Coordinator/Human Services Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Nelum Madanayake, Adam Liter, and Ummul Kathawalla I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Maguire called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. Koivumaki, Liter and Harris were excused. Abraira arrived at 7:17 pm. Brandon announced she needed to depart the meeting at 8 pm. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Beckmann requested to add approval of September meeting minutes to the agenda. Revised agenda approved by informal consent. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES June minutes were tabled until the November meeting. Chair Maguire urged commission members to jot down any changes ahead of time. Beckmann proposed the following changes to the September minutes: 1)p. 6, end of second full paragraph—continue sentence to read "Beckmann said the Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church will have a picnic on September 20, and the community has been invited to attend the picnic and the Rey de Reyes service." 2) p. 6, fourth full paragraph, last sentence—amount of$1000 should be changed to $1800 and some dollars. MOTION: Spera moved, seconded by Duale, to approve the amended minutes. Motion carried by informal consent. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes October 16, 2008 Page 2 IV. NEW BUSINESS A. Letter to State League of Human Rights Commissions Chair Maguire stated the HRDC intends to write a letter to the State League of Human Rights Commissions to register its discontent with the scheduled date of the state conference. Further discussion was tabled due to Harris' absence. V. REPORTS FROM STAFF A. Human Services Review Committee (HSRC) Keating reported Family and Children Services Counseling Program, one of the contracts the City funds, concluded they could no longer provide services in Eden Prairie due to declining numbers and program reorganization. Since the City has allocated money for that on a yearly basis, there are leftover funds. The committee decided some of the money should go to Edendale to help support a social worker staff position and the rest should go to PROP for energy assistance. B. Bias Crime Activity Status No update. C. Other Reports from Staff None VI. OLD BUSINESS None VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS A. South Hennepin Immigrant Services Group (SHISG) Beckmann gave a SHISG update. Teens Alone is an organization working with other agencies to help provide safe living spaces for teenagers who are homeless for a variety of reasons. The combined groups, which concentrate their efforts in the west metro area,have received funding to conduct a feasibility study to identify additional potential housing facilities for teens. A group from Plymouth Church is doing the study. Teens Alone also provides a free service to help reconnect teens with their families and has had a presence in the Eden Prairie area for 14 years. Staff members meet with students in and at both the high school and middle school in Eden Prairie. They have worked with a variety of races and ethnic backgrounds, but rarely Somali students. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes October 16, 2008 Page 3 Forest Hills is housing a newly developed family resource center. Areas of support will include: student well-being, childcare for families at designated times (i.e. conferences), parent/staff communications, and providing clothing and school supplies to students in need. The PTO is involved with the cultural exchange program; staff has been hired and many volunteers are already on board. Somali parents have requested an immigrant center which is being developed by volunteers and school district staff. The purpose of the center is to offer ESL classes and tutoring for both students and parents and to serve as a gathering place where people can come to be with others of their culture. Marcia Beezely, Nanette, and the superintendent are working on the Center, and a district staff person has been chosen as the liaison/facilitator. SHISG has asked for a center representative to come speak at one of its meetings to provide more information on the center. SHAPE classes for Somali students are no longer being held at Wooddale Church; therefore (at the time of the October 6"'meeting) SHAPE was searching for another place to hold classes. Somali students wanted a place for prayer and, according to the church bylaws, those of non-Christian faith are not permitted to pray anywhere on church property. Others of non-Muslim faith continue to meet at Wooddale. Beckmann later received an email announcing SHAPE has two new locations starting next week. Day classes will meet at Rasmussen College and night classes at Hennepin Technical College. SHAPE is in the process of getting a new phone number and updating their website and marketing materials. Anything with Wooddale information on it should be recycled. Anyone having a client that might be interested in the Land Trust housing program in Eden Prairie should contact Koivumaki. A Minnesota Workforce representative announced Target is currently hiring for summer employment and expects to finish by late December. Duale said although it is being called "Immigration Center", it is really serving as more of a multicultural center; very little information was given out about it at the SHISG meeting. Beckmann added the news came as a complete surprise to most in attendance, and her understanding is it is still in the planning stages. Chair Maguire inquired about how definite ESL classes were—Beckmann replied there would be ESL classes at Forest Hills. Duale clarified that the multicultural center is being run by the district outside of school hours. Beckmann said the presenters at the SHISG meeting announced the plans of the immigration center and admitted they did not know who had made the decision to develop it but stressed it would be made clear it is for everybody, all immigrants, and not just Somalis. She also relayed there was some concern about what was happening at Forest Hills and the immigration center with assumptions there might be duplication of efforts which has been a sticking point with some members of City Council. Chair Maguire said she may give Nanette a call for more information and since Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes October 16, 2008 Page 4 Marcia Beezely is expected to attend the December commission meeting, she can give HRDC an update if nothing new is learned before then. Beckmann reported there was an article in the paper stating people from Real Life Church (in the old St. Andrew Building) were going to Forest Hills and offering some type of a program to the school. She had concerns over how some families might view church members coming into a school to do volunteer work with students stating non-Christian parents might have questions as to what Christians would be teaching their children. However, she felt those concerns were well- addressed by the presenters who claimed volunteers will not be allowed to talk about their religion with the students. Chair Maguire assumed there would be some supervision by the school, as well. Duale stated the presenters reported some concerned parents had come forth and met with school staff and the principal. Beckmann reiterated she was satisfied with the presenters' responses. Spera commented further on the SHAPE classes at Wooddale. ESL classes are basically a non-religious function and the building is not acting in the capacity of a church during that time, thus it seems discriminatory to dictate class participants are not allowed to pray. Beckmann disagreed saying Jeanne Zetah reported Wooddale did not understand at the time they agreed to hold classes there that prayer time would fall into those hours when students would be there. Duale and Keating said when the students were told they couldn't pray, the students said they would go outside to pray. The church told them they couldn't do that either. Spera thought the classrooms would be separate from the sanctuary portion of the church so perhaps that should make a difference. When the issue came up, Wooddale consulted their bylaws and according to Ms. Zetah, there was a sentence clearly stating no non-Christian prayer was allowed on church property. Since the classrooms and building are all part of the property, the students were not allowed to pray there either indoors or out. Duale added the students needed to pray 5 times a day for less than 5 minutes each time. Spera asked whether the space was donated or if the church got paid for it. Beckmann replied she had the same question and did not know the answer. Spera commented her church, Pax Christi, was intentionally designed to not look like a church because of all the non-religious events that are held there and is wondering how any church renting out its space for secular purposes can put a ban on which god the attendees pray to, whether it be during a break or otherwise. Brandon suggested some churches have a lot of functions going on all at one time, and the people going to that church attend because that's what they believe. If they see other faiths being practiced there, it conflicts with the purpose of that church and that's where the problem lies. Spera said using that logic, she's worried what it could lead to. If a place of worship rents its space only to secular groups worshipping the same god, not allowing people who worship a different god could be considered discrimination. Chair Maguire offered to have Spera investigate the matter more thoroughly and report back to the HRDC, and it sounds like the community colleges will be a better fit for the students regardless. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes October 16, 2008 Page 5 Beckmann said Spera might want to check with Ms. Zetah; even though SHAPE does not fall under Community Ed, the program was in her building for a long time so she would likely be knowledgeable about the specifics. B. Events Committee Update Beckmann reported the Hispanic Heritage Month events were well-received with 112 people in attendance at the Aztec ceremonial dance and 50 Qdoba restaurant coupons given away. She spent many hours at Cub Foods; hundreds of flyers were given out containing Hispanic culture and recipes. The owner of the Eden Prairie Cub Foods store came in to look at the display and talk to the committee about it. The diversity group from Cub also came to visit; they were very impressed and possibly interested in going further with these types of events in the future. Photos from the Cub event were shared with HRDC members. Only 3 people other than Beckmann attended the Rey de Reyes service from the community at large, but it was very gracious of Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church to extend an invitation to the community for this event. Fifteen people attended the Hindu Temple Tour and all of them had positive comments. Beckmann shared a printed program from the tour. Another tour takes place tomorrow of a synagogue in Minnetonka and one next week of a mosque in Columbia Heights. Beckmann encouraged the other HRDC members to put February 7, 2009 on their calendars for an event celebrating Black History Month that is sure to be entertaining and educational. The goal is to raise $1,875.00, but Eden Prairie United Methodist Church has offered to hold the event there at no charge with the exception of costs associated with sound and light techs. The program is a one- woman musical—she plays various characters (such as Billie Holliday, Bessie Smith, and Oprah Winfrey) from early history on up through current times. An African American caterer will be providing refreshments consisting of authentic sweet potato pie, peach cobbler, and a beverage. There will be time for discussion, and copies of a wonderful resource guide will be available for attendees to take home. Beckmann thanked Tori Hill and Keating for their help on this event. Two weeks following this program, the church will hold another Black History Month event which is a gospel musical. Chair Maguire said she would call the library to see about reserving bulletin board space in January and February to publicize these two events and inquired about what is being done for additional publicity. Beckmann said Ms. Hill has been very generous with her time and has put a great deal of effort into this event; they expect the event will be well- publicized. She explained publicity has been a bit of a learning process. For the three world religion tours, the committee collaborated with the Eden Prairie Community Education Center and experienced some difficulty with advertising, so they will be taking the Black History Month advertising upon themselves. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes October 16, 2008 Page 6 Abraira asked if this particular show was part of the Mixed Blood Theater's regular season. Keating said it was not,but rather it is one of three shows offered to communities during Black History Month. Beckmann said Mixed Blood Theater is very reasonable with their prices,but this past month has not really been a good time to ask people and businesses for money because of economic factors. Chair Maguire said she didn't know the exact amount,but there was some money leftover from Melissa from the Best Buy grant and perhaps that could go towards the fundraising goal. Beckmann thought Koivumaki might have spent some of that money on the van and driver for tomorrow's tour,but said she couldn't be sure. Chair Maguire's impression was the money couldn't be spent without HRDC approval. Beckmann stated she is using her own money for some food,plates, napkins, and other supplies. The only thing the committee is trying to raise funds for is Black History Month and they were not expecting the Commission to pay for it. Chair Maguire said she would ask Koivumaki to report next month on how much money was left from the grant and talk about a possible donation for the event. Referring back to last month's discussion on how HRDC members could help, Beckmann said she has sent 6-8 Human Rights quotes to the newspaper, 2 of which have been published. She implored others to email quotes to Koivumaki who will, in turn, submit them to the paper. Chair Maguire asked if Beckmann's other quotes will be published. Beckmann said the paper will publish one per month,but that doesn't necessarily mean hers are the best—others can submit theirs and Eden Prairie News editor, Karla Wennerstrom, will decide which ones she likes. Keating said the Cub Foods pictures look great. She knows it's a lot of work,but she likes to see that type of event in Eden Prairie. Chair Maguire thanked Beckmann for all her hard work. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, November 13, 2008, 7:00 pm at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. Heading Toward Thankfulness Tours October 17 —Jewish Synagogue in Minnetonka October 24—Muslim Mosque in Columbia Heights Beckmann said due to some people driving themselves, there is still room on the bus for the October 17th tour. Bus loads at 10 am. She is unsure what bus availability is for October 24th. Chair Maguire said these tours lead up to the third annual inner-faith Thanksgiving service. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes October 16, 2008 Page 7 Black History Month February 7, 2009, 7:00 pm—Mixed Blood Theater"Daughters of Africa" production at Eden Prairie United Methodist Church. Spera asked if admission would be charged to help meet the fundraising goal. Beckmann confirmed it is a free event, and the Commission cannot make money on any events. There is still time to raise the money. A couple of ideas have been tossed around such as giving the money to the church for allowing use of their facilities or raising money for ABC houses which would be a logical choice. This will be discussed in further detail at the committee's November 10"'meeting. Chair Maguire asked for people to help Beckmann with this project. Abraira inquired as to the church's whereabouts. It is located near City Hall and the fire department. IX. ADJOURNMENT Chair Maguire adjourned the meeting at 8:00 pm.