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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 01/11/2018 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY,JANUARY 11, 2018 7:00 P.M., EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Community Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sana Elassar(Chair), Greg Leeper, (Vice Chair), Joan Howe-Pullis, Harvey Humes, Katherine Lucht, Ann Martinka, Shahram Missaghi, Leslie Philmon, Rehmatbai Sumra STUDENT MEMBERS: Ashwin Senthilkumar, Carolyn Mason, Kholood Mo'allim, Mason Stoltz, Meghana Chimata, Tharun Rao COMMISSION STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison; Megan Yerks, Staff Liaison; Julie Krull, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Elassar called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commission Members Leeper, Humes, Lucht, Martinka and Student Members Senthilkumar and Mo'allim were absent. II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS The following guests were in attendance; Steve Wilson, Ben Wilson, Camila Schubring and Lauren Beh. IIII. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Howe-Pullis moved, seconded by Philmon, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. IV. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 12, 2017 MINUTES MOTION: Philmon moved, seconded by Missaghi, to approve the December 2017 minutes. Motion carried 5-0. V. LOCAL NON-PROFIT PRESENTATION No presentation this evening. VI. STAFF REPORT—Molly Koivumaki/Megan Yerks HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES January 11, 2018 Page 2 Yerks said the main priority this evening will be the work plan. She confirmed Acting Black Presentation will be at the Hennepin Technical College on February 28, 2018 from 10:00 am—noon. There may be a lunch after the presentation. Yerks said she will send out a summary email after the meeting and Hennepin Technical College will be preparing a flyer. Chair Elassar asked Yerks if the Commissioners should be there. Koivumaki asked how students could get there. Yerks said if the clubs or teachers and students would participate as a field trip that would be great. Yerks also pointed out all students are welcomed and not just Eden Prairie students. There is no cost for this event. Yerks said the Human Service Grants have been approved by the City Council. There is 10 grantees total and two of those were new. These grants are good for two years. Yerks pointed out the Human Rights Award will be Tuesday at the City Council meeting. VII. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. 2018 WORK PLAN Yerks displayed the 2018 work plan and asked the Commission for goals month by month. The presentation to the City Council is January 16th. 1. Awareness months —it was asked how should the Commission choose and what should be done and how much time should be spent on these. Howe- Pullis said it would be a lot to accelerate this at a meeting and to include a presentation. Chair Elassar suggested doing the Awareness month quarterly or twice a year. She suggested waiting on this and talk about it later and let the City Council know we will do this 2-4 times a year. She asked Koivumaki how detailed we have to be for the City Council presentation. Koivumaki said to just state 2-4 times a year and the months are yet to be determined. Philmon suggested putting the awareness for the month on the website even if the Commission is not campaigning on it. 2. Chair Elassar said Grace Church is still looking for donations for their gift bags. On January 10 and 24th they are looking for volunteers to stuff the bags. Koivumaki said that this is under the partnership tab and can stay there. Yerks said she will follow up with this information in an email to everyone. 3. Howe-Pullis pointed out for Acting Black, that it could be for Black History month. Chair Elassar also commented the Human Trafficking Awareness HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES January 11, 2018 Page 3 lines up with the Blessing bags at Grace Church. Sumra said the Commission should have Community Connections as a partnership in the month of May. Yerks commented that was a good idea and could also be done in September. 4. Yerks said the City Manager had some changes in regards to the housing subcommittee, there was a recommendation from the City Manager to rename the housing subcommittee. Yerks said with Aspire still working on the plan, the City Manager wants to maintain an equity focus. Koivumaki said there was a worry about just focusing on housing. Howe-Pullis said she does not agree with this as she feels housing is a big issue and needs more attention. She also said it does pertain to equity and feels this Commission is the place to address this. Missaghi said the City wants the Commission to focus on equity and not specifically housing. Koivumaki said that was correct. Missaghi said we should still be able to have a subcommittee on housing. Koivumaki said this issue could always be brought back to the City Manager. Howe-Pullis said housing could be a starting point to get to the equity portion. Chair Elassar asked again who was on the housing subcommittee. Yerks said it was Howe-Pullis and Humes. 5. Yerks said NAMI-MN confirmed they will be doing training with the Commission. Chimata suggested doing the training at Eden Prairie High School. 6. Koivumaki suggested doing the Human Rights Award in April. Chair Elassar said we should do the Human Rights Award in May when the celebration of the Creation of the Manifesto takes place. 7. Chair Elassar said the 5K Event is in June and felt the Commission should support this. Chair Elassar and Yerks suggested doing awareness for Pride month in June. 8. Round Lake and Lake Riley were suggested for locations for the International Festival. 9. Yerks said she will remove campaigns for October and November for the plan to be sent to City Council and will be adding Community Connections in September. Howe-Pullis suggested in November doing awareness around Thanksgiving and Native Americans. Chair Elassar said she has a Native American photographer that could set up an exhibit. There may be a $3,000 cost but that can be discussed further. Sumra suggested it be taken off the plan for City Council but the Commission can still participate in this. Chair Elassar asked what awareness was for September. Yerks said it was National Deaf Awareness Month. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES January 11, 2018 Page 4 10. Yerks went over the PowerPoint for the City Council presentation. The changes are below. a. Yerks was to make changes to "Listening to Community" and look at the guest speakers and also change the title on this page to something like, "Educating Commission". b. For 2018 Initiatives, Yerks will pull events off of the calendar and put them in for Community Collaborative events. She will take out advisory document bullet point. Sumra said for 2018 Initiatives, she feels we need feedback where people can anonymously ask the Commission questions and we can take time to answer. Koivumaki said they used to have a phone line where people could anonymously leave messages. Chair Elassar thought it was a good point that the Commission can work for. This would create visibility for the Commission. Chair Elassar suggested all Commissioners come to the next meeting with a 30 second elevator speech for HRDC. IX. UPCOMING MEETING A. Work Plan Presentation at Council Workshop January 16, 2018 at 5:30 P.M. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Philmon moved, seconded by Elassar, to adjourn the Human Rights & Diversity Commission meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 pm.