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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 06/11/2015 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sandra Filardo (Chair), PG Narayanan (Vice Chair), Tonj a Bivins, Jenny Buckland, Sana Elassar, Connie Iacovelli, Greg Leeper STAFF: Patricia Fenrick, Staff Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Beth Corpuz, Tanvi Mehta I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Filardo called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Commissioners Bivins and Elassar were absent. Following introductions and Nanette Missaghi (see IV. GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT), Commissioners took time to set-up for the 5K registration (see V. A. STOP THE TRAFFICKING 5K). II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Iacovelli moved, seconded by Leeper, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Iacovelli, to approve the May 14, 2015 minutes. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Leeper abstaining. IV. GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT —Nanette Missaghi The item was addressed out of order under Item I. CALL TO ORDERIROLL CALL. Nanette Missaghi extended a personal invitation to HRDC members to attend a community picnic planned by area Baha'is for Sunday, June 14 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Burnes Park in Hopkins. There will be a program and music at the event and they want to initiate conversations on how to bring race unity to our neighborhoods. She emphasized this is not a religious-focused event but rather it is just being organized by those of the Baha'i faith. Narayanan asked her to explain the Baha'i religion for those who are not familiar with it. Missaghi explained the history and guiding principles, and she fielded additional questions. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES June 11, 2015 Page 2 V. REPORTS OF STAFF -Fenrick A. BIAS CRIME No update. B. BRIAR HILLS YOUTH PROGRAMMING Program activities began on Monday with thirty kids enrolled as of Tuesday. The program is expected to grow and will run through August. Personnel are in the process of identifying other needs, one of which is a snack supplement for participants. Many are eligible for free or reduced meals during the school year but may not be getting enough to eat in the summer. Filardo suggested the Sandwich Program. C. BEST BUY GRANT $5.10 remaining. V. OLD BUSINESS A. STOP THE TRAFFICKING 5K The item was addressed out of order under Item I. CALL TO ORDERIROLL CALL. Commissioners prepared for tomorrow's check-in and bib handout session. The run/walk takes place June 13. Over 100 people checked in today. VIL NEW BUSINESS A. TRACKS IN THE SNOW UPDATE Fenrick announced receipt of a small grant for the "Tracks in the Snow" exhibit. We are partnering with the Art Center on this. The exhibit will be split over multiple smaller spaces. Eden Prairie resident and district employee Valerie Shirley, who previously addressed the Commission about her work with deaf and hearing-impaired students, is featured in the photography exhibit. Fenrick suggested featuring her in a proposed panel to dialogue about the exhibit. The exhibit is not religious but rather focuses on the humanity of people of a particular faith about whom we tend to have misperceptions. Shirley could speak about her experience of being Muslim in Eden Prairie. Iacovelli said the emphasis should be on our commonalities. Narayanan said we should diversify the panel with a mix of females and males and people from different countries to eliminate typecasting. He also suggested including successful Muslim leaders. Fenrick said the photos do a good job of showing HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES June 11, 2015 Page 3 diversity already. The purpose of the panel is to give viewers of the exhibit face- to-face time. Filardo stated that understanding of our similarities already exists. Rather we should address the questions we are all wondering but are too afraid to ask. Buckland suggested panelists share personal stories. Shirley could talk about her experience of having gone through the Tracks in Snow exhibit process and what it was like to have her photograph taken and presented in that manner. Iacovelli recommended soliciting questions from Eden Prairie residents ahead of time. Discussion ensued about possible methods for doing so. Suggestions included running a newspaper article or having a question box available at the beginning of the event. Buckland suggested asking visitors what their impressions and thoughts were after viewing the exhibit. Fenrick pointed out it is not realistic to expect one person to answer those tough- to-ask questions on behalf of a whole group of people. Narayanan said it would be best to define the goal of the panel before settling on specific questions. Fenrick said the exhibit is about common humanity. Three is a good number of panelists. Besides Shirley, we could invite a young person to participate. Panelists can view the exhibit and devise their own presentations based on the style and format they see in the exhibit. Since Shirley is a living version of the photograph, the community could get her personal story and then share their feedback. Leeper stressed how critical it is to incorporate written word as a way of letting viewers share what they learned and how it impacted them. Iacovelli agreed saying it provides an opportunity for expression. Narayanan recommended publishing a write-up close to the time the exhibit opens from someone who has previewed the exhibit. Leeper said we could then follow-up with the reflection afterwards. Fenrick solicited question ideas and suggested one on unity and diversity, specifically how we are alike and different. Iacovelli expanded on this by adding an explanation of how are differences are complimentary and how we all benefit from them. Mehta said she liked the idea of a student panelist which would highlight different generations. Corpuz stated she was in favor of the reflection idea. Narayanan reinforced the concept of having panelists preview the exhibit and then narrate their own stories. Fenrick said the majority of the pictures are viewable online. Commissioners brainstormed the logistics of such an event including timing, location, and other possible Muslim panelists. November 21, 3-4:30 pm was selected as the event date. Fenrick said the Art Center has a budget for refreshments and food. Buckland said each location could pull in a relevant element. For example, there could be books on art and humanity available at the library. Iacovelli suggested making this a passport-type event. Leeper suggested incorporating a drawing as an incentive. Buckland suggested allowing people one week to get to all three locations. Fenrick said the week could culminate in the event with the drawing. Filardo said she plans to make this a Girl Scout event for which the youth can HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES June 11, 2015 Page 4 earn a patch. Fenrick said she will keep commissioners updated on progress over the summer. This will be our main focus in September. B. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) 25"ANNIVERSARY/ COMMUNITY CONVERSATION Fenrick reported she has spoken with Terri Johnson, the mother of the youth Human Rights Award recipient about an educational event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ADA. The idea is to have a film and panel in the fall with the purpose of creating greater visibility and awareness. Johnson is affiliated with three groups who would like to partner with us on this event. Having multiple sponsors would help pull audiences from different communities. Fenrick asked for feedback and further ideas noting it would be impactful to hear from Shirley as well as from Ken Rodgers, who previously spoke to the Commission about the history of the ADA and told his personal story of sight loss and roadblocks to accessibility. Narayanan suggested a community conversation focused around "Still Alice", a film about Alzheimer's. Buckland suggested, in addition to a film, also centering on "All the Light We Cannot See", a Pulitzer-Prize winning novel and fantastic representation of the blind. Local businesses could be invited to participate and speak on changes in the corporate world. In particular they could address website accessibility and what they are doing to keep up with the ADA. There could also be a component on Light Rail Transit. Filardo recommended sending out a survey to the community prior to the event asking those with disabilities how they feel about accommodations in Eden Prairie. Businesses and employers could be asked to respond to the results. Leeper said he liked the idea. We should include non-profits. Not only could we ask what they are doing, but they could also address the value it has to their business such as increasing their customer base. Fenrick said this sounds more appropriate for a training seminar. Buckland commented how it seems we do a lot of film/conversation pairings. Fenrick said this would be perfect for a Chamber of Commerce breakfast or luncheon and would be an opportunity to showcase businesses. This would be a priority over a community conversation so she will follow up on this idea with the Chamber of Commerce. Buckland added we have the added benefit of building our relationship with the business community. Fenrick said Elassar has asked us to think about ways to make our own events more accessible and to reach out to the disabled community ahead of time. Commissioners should be pondering that for discussion in the fall. Fenrick said Hennepin Technical College would like to partner with us again for the anti- bullying Unity Day in October. Narayanan readdressed the idea of an International Festival. Fenrick said we would need to start planning now for next year and include Park and Rec. We do not have the manpower and funds to pull off an event of this magnitude alone. Buckland suggested HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES June 11, 2015 Page 5 having all commissions band together for this event. Leeper said this came up at his table at the recent Town Hall event. Narayanan committed to take the lead on this event and suggested corporate sponsors would be a good funding source. He also announced this year's India Fest will be held August 15. VIIL FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2015, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. The Commission is not scheduled to meet in July or August. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Buckland, to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Filardo adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.