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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 03/16/2006 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2006 7:00 PM, 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Larry Piumbroeck(Chair), Jeff Strate (Vice Chair), Gerry Beckmann, Linda Chung, Melissa Barra, Cari Maguire and Pam Spera STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Jill Bartel, Rori Costello and Sandra Moran COMMISSION STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison Mary Zilka, Recording Secretary I. ROLL CALL Commission Chair Larry Piumbroeck called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m. Commissioner Pam Spera was absent. II APPROVAL OF AGENDA Beckmann added under OLD BUSINESS, item A. Solution Finders update. MOTION: Vice chair Jeff Strate moved, and Melissa Barra seconded to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JANUARY & FEBRUARY MEETING Barra had a clarification on the January minutes. Barra stated the Best Buy Children's Foundation recognizes Best Buy employees who meet certain criteria for their community involvement by granting a "Tag Team Award" to approved organizations that benefit from said employees' service. Approved organizations are those non-profit organizations that are IRS-certified, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. The HRDC is not a 501 (c) (3),but the Eden Prairie Foundation (the HRDC's fiscal agent) is, thus allowing Barra to apply for the award. Maguire asked if the awarding of funds is automatic. Barra responded that the award is subject to an application process, noting one has to be a Best Buy employee for a certain period of time and must meet certain requirements, but that she believes the application will be approved. MOTION: Maguire moved, seconded by Beckmann to approve the minutes from January as amended. Motion carried 5-0-1, with Linda Chung abstaining. Beckmann had one change on the February minutes. Page 4, "Kihm from Teens Alone stated after eight meetings", changed to "Kihm stated after meetings". HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION March 16, 2006 Page 2 MOTION: Chung moved, seconded by Maguire to approve February minutes as amended. Motion carried 3-0-2, with Barra and Strate abstaining. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION Piumbroeck will facilitate the selection process,but will not vote due to not being familiar enough with the applications. The HRDC used the new scholarship selection process and after a great deal of thoughtful discussion as well as objective feedback from the student representatives a consensus was reached. The commission agreed unanimously to award two Dr. Jean Harris Youth Scholarships. The first Dr. Jean Harris Youth Scholarship for$1000 was awarded to Applicant B. The second scholarship also for$1000 was awarded to Applicant D. Piumbroeck thanked the commissioners for their hard work on raising the money for these scholarships. Koivumaki reported that to-date $2,155 has been raised for the scholarship fund. The Best Buy donation has not yet been received however. Strate encouraged commissioners to continue to ask colleagues for funds because the HRDC will need to raise money this way again for another year. The scholarship selection process is a work in progress and will be revisited before next year. Some changes could include interviewing applicants and clarifications of the time span their volunteer work covers. MOTION: Maguire moved to award two scholarships, seconded by Barra. Motion carried 5-0-1, Piumbroeck abstaining. V. REPORTS OF STAFF A. HUMAN SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE (HSRC) The HSRC did meet. Koivumaki did not attend, and no action was taken. B. BIAS CRIME ACTIVITY STATUS None reported. VI. OLD BUSINESS HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION March 16, 2006 Page 3 A. SOLUTION FINDERS UPDATE Koivumaki reported on a meeting recently held with the parent of Somali youth involved in fights at the Eden Prairie High School and other locations in Eden Prairie. Sgt. Randy Thompson, Eden Prairie School District employee Michael Stefanski and Human Services staff person Khadra Duale all attended the meeting, which was held at the Office of Housing and Human Services. Sgt. Thompson reported that the meeting went very well and resulted in a group of Somali parents who want to meet regularly to get involved with issues relating to their children, such as unruly behavior at the Eden Prairie Library for example. Sgt. Thompson reported that the next youth Solution Finders meeting was very good, with the students been much more engaged, which he felt was due in part to the parents meeting, described above. Commissioners Beckmann, Strate, Spera and student commissioners Moran and Costello attended a Somali Tea party that was held at the Office of Housing and Human Services. Beckmann reported meeting a young couple who tutor a Somali family and the extra effort they give, such as going to school conferences with the students. Wooddale Church is the organizer for the Somali Tutoring program and the City of Eden Prairie is in a working partnership with the church. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS A. SOUTH HENNEPIN IMMIGRANT SERVICES GROUP (SHISG) Beckmann stated Daryl Coppoletti, Regional Planning Coordinator for the South Hennepin Services Collaborative spoke. Coppoletti shared the 2007-08 plan with the Collaborative Advisory Team(CAT). Beckmann identified herself as a citizen, not as part of the HRDC to ask the process used for determining priorities. Beckmann shared her thoughts on the process, priorities and reporting methods being used. Coppoletti thought the CAT would look further into the priority areas of 2005- 2006 which were set. Eden Prairie issues never seem to make it to the top of the list. Beckmann also asked about their reporting process. Coppoletti is hoping to have more projects completed by March 31. Beckmann shared information from Mr. Mike Schaitberger of the Minnesota Workforce Center, regarding a metal framing class offered at the Hennepin Technical Center. He reported that 18 people had just graduated from the class and 40 good paying jobs are available in this field. According to the Minnesota Workforce Center website there are 17,000 jobs listed overall. B. ANY COMMISSION MEMBER MAY REPORT HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION March 16, 2006 Page 4 Barra reported that the Annual Partnership Breakfast will be held on Thursday, April 20 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 7:30-9:00 AM. The topic for discussion will be Diversity in Eden Prairie. Nanette Missaghi, from Eden Prairie Schools will be the facilitator. Barra stated that there is a need for more moderators and the HRDC including our student representatives unanimously agreed to be a moderator at the breakfast. The HRDC would like the small group discussion questions in advance if possible. Piumbroeck just finished a training to learn how to run clarifying circles. Piumbroeck will attend the next Partnership Breakfast organization meeting to share what he has learned in that training. Sandy Moran said the Diversity Fair at the High school is April 21 from 8:00— 11:00 AM. Beckmann will try to attend. Barra reported that Meals on Wheels is sponsoring an "Adopt a Senior"program. Meals on Wheels have been experiencing funding shortages and some seniors are going without meals. Barra said that to sponsor meals for one senior for one month, the cost is $35. Moran asked the HRDC for any recommendations of speakers to come and speak at the Diversity club at the High school. Muna Mohamed was suggested as a possible speaker by Strate. Koivumaki stated the High School Scholarship Award Ceremony will be May 18"'. Maguire and Barra are planning on meeting to do some strategic planning for the upcoming year. If you have thoughts on events you would like the HRDC to participate in,please give them your ideas and they will draft up a calendar. Piumbroeck mentioned that Sunday, March 19, at 10:30 AM. Kathy Tomlin will be speaking at Pax Christi Church on Immigration Reform in the Catholic Church. Strate shared a heartfelt thank you to Commission Chair Piumbroeck for serving so well as our Commission Chair. Strate said the Human Rights and Diversity Commission have been blessed to have a man that puts action to his words. Thanks were given to Piumbroeck as well as Strate for serving the HRDC so magnificently. Maguire has been appointed as the Commission Chair with Melissa Barra as Vice-chair. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next meeting will be April 20, 2006, at 7:00 pm. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION March 16, 2006 Page 5 IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Maguire moved and Chung seconded, to adjourn the HRDC meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 9:10 am.