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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 02/14/2013 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2013 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pam Spera (Chair), PG Narayanan, Zina Nourkadi, and Laura Kaczmarek STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison Patricia Fenrick, Staff Heidi Wojahn, Recorder STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Camrie Vlasak, Kristina Busch, Jamie Bernard GUESTS: Alyssa Asblan Shelby Roberts I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Spera called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Kaczmarek and Student Representative Vlasak were absent. Two students from Eden Prairie High School attended as guests. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Nourkadi moved, seconded by Narayanan to approve the agenda. Motion carried 3-0. III. MINUTES MOTION: Spera moved, seconded by Nourkadi, to approve the January 10, 2013 minutes. Motion carried 3-0. IV. NEW BUSINESS None. V. REPORTS FROM STAFF A. HUMAN SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE (HSRC) Koivumaki reported HSRC met and made recommendations for Community Development Block Grant funds. The total amount is approximately $64,000 and is to be spent on human services programming. This will go before Council and be combined in an action plan to Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES February 14, 2013 Page 2 Narayanan asked how this relates to HRDC. Koivumaki said it is an advisory function of the Commission for the general fund and HUD money. HSRC is made up of staff who meet and review different agency applications. HRDC was formerly the body making these recommendations,but over time it shifted to employees with the stipulation it would always get brought back to the Commission. The recommendations go to the city manager and ultimately to Council for final approval. B. BIAS CRIME ACTIVITY STATUS No report. C. OTHER REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. Staff Liaison Change Koivumaki introduced Patricia Fenrick, Community Services Coordinator for the Housing and Community Services Division. She will gradually be taking over staff liaison duties for HRDC. Fenrick shared her background and experience. 2. City Government Course Fenrick mentioned questions were raised by some residents at the International Town Hall meeting last summer about how to become a commissioner and how to get involved. She has also heard things out in the community leading her to believe there is perhaps a need for educating and empowering the immigrant population on how the system works and what the process is to get into positions of influence. Research led her to Neighborhood Leadership Institute's (NHI) 8-12 week course which is a program where interested residents come and learn about a city—everything from housing, transportation, and how decisions are made to how local government is run. At end of course, they graduate and receive a certificate. This foundation helps people get more engaged in their community. Many communities have provided positive feedback about the program. Koivumaki said this could be an energizing project for HRDC to work on and present to Council. Fenrick added it will be specific to Eden Prairie and the topics are up for discussion. Speakers who are experts in their area would do the presenting on their respective topics. There is a group community service project at the end. There is a lot of latitude and room for creativity in deciding what the course will look like. Koivumaki mentioned Eden Prairie used to do a citizens police academy. Enrollment was limited. It was successful, in part, because it was more than lecturing; it was interactive. Spera asked how membership was determined. Koivumaki replied initially they asked the school district and different service clubs around town to each send them a person. Citizens academies are very common, and now advertising is generally done in the newspaper. Fenrick said most NHI programs have an application process. Students are more invested if they've been enrolled via a selection process. Narayanan asked if this is something to add to the work plan and what Fenrick would need to bring this idea HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES February 14, 2013 Page 3 to fruition. Koivumaki said it should go on the work plan and Fenrick will continue to work on it. Fenrick said she is in the initial stages of research but it is possible they could launch it this fall. She expects there to be limited costs and would need assistance making decision regarding topics. 3. Somali Unity Meeting Fenrick reported she is in the preliminary stages of planning a meeting for the entire Somali population to talk about working together as a Somali community and how to work well with non-Somalis. The City serves all Somalis and not just certain clans. That is not always the perception,however. The message the City is there for everyone needs to be reiterated. Barriers need to be identified as well as how to branch those barriers. The meeting date and presenter have not yet been determined. Koivumaki said it is helpful for commissioners and student representatives to support and attend such events. Nourkadi asked if this would be part of HRDC's regular monthly meeting. Fenrick replied it would be a separate event. Nourkadi commended Fenrick for taking on this difficult and complicated task saying it is a good idea. Somalis identify by tribe before individual. Bringing in a speaker from a different societal background to discuss how to work out their differences and reach their goals might be best. Narayanan backtracked to bias crime inquiring if statistics are trending up or down and suggesting HRDC collect stats. Koivumaki said she could get this information from the police department. Fenrick said the more telling barometer would be prejudices that don't necessarily reach the crime level. These are harder to track,but there may be a way to do so. It could be in the form of a human rights survey posted on Facebook or distributed in the community or high school. Another option is to set something up on the website so people can anonymously post their experiences. Spera said this would help give the commission more exposure, as well. Koivumaki said she spoke with Joyce Lorenz of the Communications Department who agreed to set up a demo for HRDC on how to use the website, what's available on the website, and new products available in the coming months for interacting with residents. This will be planned for a future meeting after the new commissioners begin. 4. Who Are Your Neighbors Series Koivumaki announced the next Who Are Your Neighbors workshop has been scheduled for May 2. The Somali culture will be highlighted again, but they are taking it to the next level beyond just history. Fenrick said this session will focus on the arts in Somalia. Somalia is famous as a country of poets. Poetry is strong in their culture. Young people will share classic poetry and current spoken word. Traditional folk dance may be showcased, as well. During the roundtable format, young people will share spoken word they have written to spark discussion. Koivumaki said these sessions tend to attract a diverse audience. Commissioner attendance is requested. Narayanan said to let him know if they want to highlight the Indian culture. Koivumaki said they have already done that, but Community HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES February 14, 2013 Page 4 Education may cycle through again focusing on a different aspect of the various cultures as they are doing this time with the Somalis. 5. City Council Workshop Koivumaki reported she and Spera attended a recent Council workshop to present HRDC's work plan. Council was engaged and had a lot of questions and suggestions. One piece of feedback was to have a role in the July 4th celebration at Round Lake Park. Since the International Festival no longer takes place, Council would like to see some of the cultural pieces brought back. Narayanan said it is a shame the festival has gone away. Koivumaki said interest waned after several years. Spera said it was her understanding some of the musical groups at the festival would become part of the City's concert series. The food piece was challenging as it was expensive for vendors. There were all sorts of fees and codes to contend with and the vendors weren't making any money. Narayanan talked about India Fest in St. Paul and its success in terms of food sales and attendance. They attract mostly Indians, though, and would like to see the number of Americans in attendance increase. It would be worthwhile to resurrect the International Festival. Koivumaki said it is a Park and Rec program. She can recommend it,but it is probably a financial issue and not anything they have control over. It is not drawing the people they were hoping to attract. Nourkadi said with work and advertising, they could get a good result. Koivumaki noted another way to approach it is to bring ethnicity to where the American population is (on July 4t at Round Lake) as Council recommended,rather than the other way around. Spera said when presenting to Council, she mentioned the work plan was conservative and they were working on new ideas and would like to do more outreach and plan more events but resources were lacking. She learned Council has some available funds and HRDC could ask for limited amounts if they have something specific in mind. Council was very responsive to and appreciative of all commissions. Koivumaki explained many council members have served on commissions so there is a tieback. She will check with Park and Rec to see if they are amenable to the idea of including an international portion in the July 4th celebration. 6. Best Buy Grant $5.10 remaining. VI. OLD BUSINESS Narayanan stated he is unable to participate in the four-week training course offered by Advocates for Human Rights. Fenrick said she is planning to attend and will report back. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS None. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES February 14, 2013 Page 5 VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, March 14, 2013, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Spera moved, seconded by Narayanan, to adjourn. Motion carried 3-0. Chair Spera adjourned the meeting at 7:54 p.m.