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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 04/09/2009 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY,APRIL 9, 2009 7:00 PM, 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pam Spera(Chair), Marcy Harris (Vice Chair), Daniel Abraira, Peter Huck, Linda Crawford and Lauren Juergensen STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Nelum Madanayake, Adam Liter, and Ummul Kathawalla I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Spera called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Marcy Harris and Adam Liter were excused. Spera noted HRDC is lacking one commissioner and encouraged others to submit names of potential candidates. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Agenda approved by informal consent. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. Introduction of New Commissioners Spera asked new commissioners Huck, Crawford and Juergensen to introduce themselves and give a brief background explaining why they wanted to serve on the commission and what they hope to gain from it. She then asked other commissioners and staff to introduce themselves. Abraira arrived at 7:07 pm. Kathawalla arrived at 7:10 pm. B. Overview of HRDC Projects —Spera The following documents were distributed to give new commissioners a general overview of the commission: HRDC update given to City Council, and HRDC History presented last May at the annual banquet for all commissioners. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes April 9, 2009 Page 2 Spera referred to the report presented to Council mentioning other more recent events involving HRDC that were not listed such as a tour of churches, Mixed Blood Theatre productions, and Hispanic Awareness month. Koivumaki spoke briefly of a November 2007 event done in conjunction with the traveling library exhibit"Changing Faces in Minnesota" about immigration statewide. A Hennepin County Library Foundation program helped kids make a very insightful video about their experience being Somali in Eden Prairie, and this was shown at the library. It was a very well-attended event followed by a discussion group. Prior to this, there were events called "The Gatherings" which were opportunities for people to comment and relate their immigrant experiences and life in Eden Prairie. Spera stated, in general, the two main purposes of HRDC are to support victims of Bias Crime and promote diversity in the community. The International Festival is one of the biggest events involving the commission. This is a collaborative effort with the Parks and Recreation Department and the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission. Commissioners are encouraged to contribute resources and/or serve on the committee. There are also educational and professional development opportunities sponsored by the State League of Human Rights Commissions and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. Commissioners are encouraged to attend these and share their experiences with the group. HRDC submits information for inclusion in the newspaper, as well. Spera welcomed projects and ideas from the commissioners and stressed the importance of supporting one another in these ventures. Spera explained that the "Reports from Commission Members"portion of the agenda is a time for commissioners to introduce items along the lines of proposed projects, ideas, advice, recommended changes, event sharing, etc. If a commissioner wants to bring something before the commission, they must be present in order to do so. It is preferred reports are not read verbatim--reports will not be submitted in the minutes and only what is spoken will be recorded. There are time constraints, thus Spera requested commissioners let her know if they didn't get a chance to say something they wanted to. She will also try to make sure that opportunity is presented when a discussion appears to be reaching its end. Although not required to go through Spera to talk to Koivumaki, Spera asked that commissioners please copy her on all correspondence because she is accountable to the mayor and City Council. Subcommittees report to HRDC and must: a) keep the commission up-to-date on what they're doing, and b) seek approval from HRDC if needed—decisions requiring approval cannot be made by the subcommittee alone. If a commissioner chooses to voice an opinion on their own accord to City Council, for example, and they identify themselves as an HRDC commissioner, they need to make clear to the body they are addressing that they are speaking on their own behalf and not on behalf of the commission. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes April 9, 2009 Page 3 V. REPORTS FROM STAFF - Koivumaki A. Human Services Review Committee (HSRC) The City of Eden Prairie has been informed it will receive approximately $69,500 of American Recovery Reinvestment Act stimulus money. This money must be spent by September 30d'. The two projects being considered: 1) assisting PROP with renovations at their newly-acquired site at 14700 Martin Drive, and 2) prepping a piece of property owned by City Hill Fellowship so Hennepin Technical College students can build an environmentally "green" house on that site. An agreement with the church will cite this single-family home must be used for affordable housing for a certain length of time. B. Bias Crime Activity Status Generally the police department notifies Koivumaki when there is a crime of bias. She then contacts the victim and discusses what resources are available to them via HRDC and the Bias Crime Response Network. There have not been any crimes that have risen to the level of needing to activate the network. C. Other Reports from Staff All commissioners will be invited to a meeting on June 2nd regarding financial impacts facing the community. Budget planning for 2010-2011 begins this June. VI. OLD BUSINESS None III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Koivumaki distributed a slightly more abbreviated version of the March 12, 2009 minutes for approval than what the commissioners originally received. MOTION: Abraira moved, seconded by Spera, to approve the March 12, 2009 minutes. Motion carried 2- 0-3, with Huck, Crawford, and Juergensen abstaining. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS Kathawalla shared thoughts from a speech she heard at school relating humans to Superman. Crawford discussed issues of diversity at Dunwoody Institute, the school which she is currently attending. Spera reported on the planning that is taking place for the International Festival which will take place on Sunday, August 9d'. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes April 9, 2009 Page 4 Spera announced the new Immigrant Learning Center at Forest Hills recently held an open house. Eden Prairie School District has arranged for about 8 teachers to tutor ESL students there on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturdays. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, May 14, 2009, 7:00 pm at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Abraira moved, seconded by Huck, to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Spera adjourned the meeting at 8:50 pm.