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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 03/10/2016 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: PG Narayanan (Chair), Tonja Bivins, Jenny Buckland, Sana Elassar, Sandra Filardo, Connie Iacovelli, Greg Leeper STAFF: Patricia Fenrick, Staff Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Tanvi Mehta, Tala Alfoqaha, Sarah Mason, Adrienne Retzlaff, Turner Gunderson I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Following refreshments and Commissioners reflecting on highlights from the past year, Chair Narayanan called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. Student Representative Alfoqaha was absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Buckland moved, seconded by Filardo, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 7-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Iacovelli moved, seconded by Elassar, to approve the February 11, 2016 minutes. Motion carried 6-0-1 with Leeper abstaining. IV. REPORTS OF STAFF - Fenrick A. NEW COMMISSIONERS Commissioner interviews took place earlier this week. New Commissioners will assume their roles at the April meeting. B. BIAS CRIME Fenrick reported on an incident at Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) involving the photo-shopping of a picture of two Muslim students with violence depicted towards them. There has been racial tension within the classroom setting, and a small group of HRDC members may be needed to provide a bias crime talk to support the victims and their families. She expects this will be filed as a bias HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 10, 2016 Page 2 crime and is working with the families to see if they wish to proceed with pressing charges. The student responsible for the act has been suspended. Retzlaff shared a similar incident at her school and asked if it was possible to provide a talk at school. Fenrick said HRDC could certainly offer to make a presentation. Filardo said students need to be taught what a hate crime is, the consequences, and how their futures can be affected. Police, the City Attorney, and parents should all be involved. Mason agreed saying the perpetrators probably do not think things through first. Leeper recommended taking a proactive rather than reactive approach. Buckland suggested printing an opinion piece in the paper. Fenrick said individuals can take that on,but not as a Commission representative. Discussion ensued about logistics of a student talk with Mehta suggesting scheduling during CORE time and/or having a clip on Eagle Vision news, Bivins recommending a half hour talk show on Eden prairie television, and Elassar volunteering to make attempts to set up an outreach session with FBI agents. Mehta said an FBI event could be promoted on Eagle Smarts. Retzlaff said it is worthwhile to ask the principal to make attendance at such a presentation mandatory. She and Mehta agreed to work with Fenrick on this. Fenrick said there is a counselor in the district who was a former police officer she can make contact with and she will also connect with the Minnetonka HRDC to see about doing something similar at Retzlaff s school. She will pull together some information around hate crimes in the meantime. Buckland offered to help do research. Mehta suggested perhaps this would be beneficial to present to younger students. Filardo said she may be able to find someone in the juvenile justice system outreach willing to do outreach. Bivins said it is important to keep the message positive. Elassar agreed. Their young minds are still developing. C. BEST BUY GRANT $5.10 remaining. V. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS A. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD NOMINATIONS Fenrick stated she intends to add check boxes to the forms for next year so those nominating can select the appropriate category for the nominees. After discussion of the nominees, Commissioners unanimously decided to present Human Rights Awards to Hanadi Chehabeddine in the individual category and World Auto Repair and Brunswick Zone in the business category. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 10, 2016 Page 3 B. STUDENT BAND FUNDRAISER Mehta reported Tunes for Teens will be held Friday, April 22 at Immanuel Lutheran Church (ILC) with the time yet to be determined. Fenrick noted adults are needed to help supervise. Mehta said the student representatives are in the process of recruiting student bands to perform. Retzlaff indicated she has received verbal interest from approximately ten bands. Mehta stated ILC has granted permission to use their sound system which includes speakers only. The bands will have to provide their own mics,but perhaps all bands can share the same wires. Fenrick requested bands be asked to indicate on the sign-up form what equipment they have. Mehta said a price of$10, or$5 plus donation, was discussed previously. They can also look at what similar events charge. C. 5K UPDATE Buckland said the 5K event will be held Saturday, June 11 with packet pick-up on Friday, June 10 in the Community Room adjacent the Housing and Community Services office. The resource table will be available at the event only. If Commissioners are aware of any agencies or businesses related to trafficking, they should forward her the information so she can send them an invite. Elassar asked if it was limited solely to sex trafficking. Buckland said funding will still go to Safe Harbor but they are widening the net to cover general resources so other trafficking would apply. Retzlaff asked if volunteers are needed the day of the event. Buckland said volunteers will be needed to staff the resource table as well as help with the run or packet pick-up. The sign-up indicating open shifts will be available in a few weeks. Fenrick noted the race is a chipped run this year. D. PEOPLE FEST UPDATE —Narayanan/Leeper Fenrick said she will send out the initial meeting notice to all contacts tomorrow. Bivins said given the low turnout in the past, those coordinating really need to think about putting together a team to plan, raise funds, develop a brand, and promote the event. This gives people time to get ready for it and creates a buzz and backing from the community before the event occurs. This, in turn, allows for a bigger turnout and greater likelihood for success. VII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 14, 2016, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Buckland moved, seconded by Bivins, to adjourn. Motion carried 7-0. Chair Narayanan adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.