Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 03/13/2014 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: PG Narayanan (Chair), Zina Nourkadi, Jenny Buckland, Sana Elassar, Sandra Filardo, Connie Iacovelli STAFF: Patricia Fenrick, Staff Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Kristina Busch, Karena Lin, Chase Carlson, Emily Higgins I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Narayanan called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. Commissioner Nourkadi and Student Representatives Busch, Lin, and Carlson were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Buckland moved, seconded by Iacovelli, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. III. MINUTES MOTION: Buckland moved, seconded by Filardo, to approve the January 23, 2014 minutes. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Iacovelli abstaining. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS Eleven nominations were received. Upon review and discussion, the following were selected as winners: DSO Architecture in the business category, Baro Tutoring in the nonprofit category, Lynnea West in the individual category, and Camila Merino in the youth category. Winners will receive their awards via a Council presentation at a date to be announced. Discussion followed about making this a two-part process in the future to allow for follow-up questions and clarifications prior to decision-making. Fenrick said she will pursue this further and report back. She will also contact the winners and the nominators of those who were not selected with the results. Nominees can be renominated. Commissioners can nominate and are encouraged to do so. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2014 Page 2 V. OLD BUSINESS A. YOUTH ONE VOICE UPDATE Higgins reported a lot of good discussion took place about the no-tolerance policy in particular. She is compiling notes and is planning to take pictures of all the large post- it notes to attach. Filardo commented how respectful and eloquent the participants were. Fenrick said she felt feedback was constructive and positive and this needs to be an annual event. Higgins said the turnout was not large,but there is a good basis for next year. Fenrick stated she would like to craft a commission cover letter to accompany Higgins' email to the participants that addresses why we do this and how the feedback will be used. Buckland suggested inviting them to contribute to the August One Voice event. Fenrick said two of the participants expressed interest in becoming student commissioners. She would like to see them get involved with the 5K. Elassar asked about a write-up for the school newspaper. Higgins said she was expecting coverage, but nobody from the paper showed up for the event. B. 5K UPDATE Buckland reported there is another meeting with Christine from Grace Church tomorrow. The event will be held Saturday, June 14. They have groups in mind to which proceeds can be donated. They are looking for corporate sponsors and donations to minimize costs and maximize the amount of funds they have to give away. Narayanan suggested approaching the companies which participated in the job fair. Fenrick said she sent a note to the Chamber of Commerce president asking how we might solicit businesses. Fenrick commented the web address is not yet functional,but once a draft has been approved it can be sent out. Buckland said she is planning to bring visuals next month,but they do have an idea of how the t-shirts will look. Suggestions are welcome for information to include in participant packets. This can be information about trafficking, coupons or fun items, and things from corporate sponsors. She is also working with organizations on promoting this to youth. Iacovelli inquired about the capacity. Buckland replied they are aiming for 500 but are hoping for more. If they reach their goal, $2500 can be donated to each of four charities. The cost to register is $25 in advance ($20/person if registering a group of 10 or more) and $30 the day of the event. On June 12 prior to the commission meeting, help is needed in the Community Room beginning at 3:45 pm to distribute packets to those who have pre-registered. Help is also needed on June 8 to assemble packets. Fenrick requested a list for volunteer sign- ups be brought to a future commission meeting. Higgins volunteered to address the school's cross country team. They need to run races to fulfill a summer miles requirement. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2014 Page 3 VI. REPORTS OF STAFF - Fenrick A. STUDENT COMMISSION APPLICATIONS The student commission application period is open. Applications are due in May. Fenrick said she ran out of the flyers at the job fair,but she will send a link for commissioners to share and spread the word. Additional suggestions for publicizing are needed. Filardo asked if college students are eligible. Fenrick said they can apply as adults. B. COMMISSION BANQUET The commission banquet will be held mid-May. A vegetarian entree choice has been requested. Narayanan suggested Fenrick recommend an ethnic food. C. INTERNATIONAL TOWN HALL Fenrick has spoken with the City Manager about possible location and format. Some cultures are not as comfortable as others in terms of verbalizing with authority figures. She needs help planning and brainstorming ideas to create a welcoming environment and to construct the Town Hall in a non-intimidating manner. She has suggested it be held in a neutral location. It would probably be a 6:30-8:30 pm timeframe. One idea is to have activities available for kids so it is easier for parents to attend. Buckland suggested a fall timeframe. Filardo added it should be after school starts and not too close to holidays. Narayanan suggested using the One Voice structure as the two events seem very similar. Buckland asked about the possibility of combining the event. Fenrick said she felt the City would want to retain ownership of the meeting with Council but is open to entertaining a different format. Buckland and Filardo offered to volunteer. D. YOUTH JOB FAIR Fenrick thanked Buckland and Narayanan for their help with the job fair. There were 16 responses to the evaluations, 29 companies were present, and 200 students attended. Although turnout at the school was less than last year's event at the mall, they have learned a lot and the fair is gaining strength. It will likely become an annual event. It may be opened to the wider community after the focus on youth. Location may need to be reconsidered, but March seems to be a good timeframe. There was support from the Rotary and Kowalski's in addition to HRDC. Narayanan expressed disappointment in the number of students who attended. Fenrick said they will tap into parents next year as well. Discussion ensued about ways the event is communicated to students. Buckland has photographs from the fair she will send to Fenrick. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2014 Page 4 E. JEFFERSON AWARDS At the next Council meeting, the mayor will recognize the International School of Minnesota and ACES, an educational-focused nonprofit in Minneapolis. They were both recipients last year of this youth civic engagement award. The mayor will issue a challenge to youth of Eden Prairie and other cities to propose civic engagement projects. The winner of the national award next year gets to go to the Super Bowl. F. COMMUNITY ED OFFERINGS 1. Tasty Lunch This well-received event occurs every month or two. Participants meet at an ethnic restaurant for lunch during which the owner's story is shared. 2. Community Cinema Films are also advertised on the World at Your Door page of the Community Ed catalog. 3. Bridges Out of Poverty A partnership between Fenrick's office, Hennepin Technical College (HTC), the Eden Prairie Community Foundation, and People Reaching Out to Other People is sponsoring a one-day training aimed at social workers, educators, and others to talk about the culture of poverty and explain different world views. It is only $10 and includes lunch. The seminar will be held at HTC on May 8. Continuing education units are available, and registration is being handled through Community Ed. Fenrick will send an informational link to commissioners. This is part of a whole week focusing on Eden Prairie Gives to raise awareness about philanthropy. G. NEW COMMISSIONERS New members begin their terms next meeting. Fenrick needs someone to facilitate Community Cinema and help break things down at the end so she can attend the new commissioner orientation next Thursday. Iacovelli said she would do this. Higgins offered to help set up at the beginning. Buckland will cover the April film. Elassar will help select questions for the Muhammad Ali movie. H. BEST BUY GRANT $5.10 remaining. Fenrick distributed publicity materials for upcoming Community Cinema events and the Warmth of Other Suns book club discussion as well as student commissioner applications. Higgins recommended a New York Times series of articles garnering a lot of attention called "Invisible Child". HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 13, 2014 Page 5 A brief discussion took place about the possibility of an outdoor summer screening of "Half the Sky". VII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 10, 2014, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. The next Community Cinema event will be Thursday, March 20. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Iacovelli moved, seconded by Filardo, to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Narayanan adjourned the meeting at 8:58 p.m.