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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 04/12/2018 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY,APRIL 12, 2018 7:00 PM, 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: City Staff Megan Yerks, Staff Liaison Kristin Harley, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Elassar called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Commission Members, Howe- Pullis and Humes along with student members Stoltz and Rao were absent. II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS Jess Johnson, Community Engagement Advocate of the General Crime Services section of Cornerstone Advocacy Services,joined the meeting. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Missaghi moved, seconded by Martinka to approve the agenda. Motion carried by consensus. IV. APPROVAL OF MARCH MEETING MINUTES MOTION: Lucht moved, seconded by Elassar to approve the minutes. Motion carried by consensus. V. LOCAL NON-PROFIT PRESENTATION Johnson displayed her PowerPoint introducing Cornerstone and its mission, philosophy and programs devoted to providing services to underserved families affected by crime and domestic violence. Yerks explained the trauma-informed Day One Crisis Center EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION April 12, 2018 Page 2 program. Discussion followed on the use of 211 to consolidate services and prevent a victim having to repeat the request. Mo'allim asked for a more in-depth description of the volunteer program. Johnson referred her to the email lauras@comerstonemn.org . Martinka asked for a received confirmation that the General Crime section was just added in 2017. Missaghi asked how Cornerstone educated the public; he had never heard of the program. Lucht agreed. Johnson replied this was her first encounter with an audience unfamiliar with Cornerstone's services; Cornerstone and the Harriet Tubman Center were both very well known in the city of Minneapolis. Discussion followed on the commission members' varying familiarity with Cornerstone. Elassar asked if Cornerstone worked with health care providers to help potential victims of crime and domestic violence. Johnson replied she did outreach to the medical centers and to social workers. She described the "no wrong door" model of service. Discussion followed on demographics of clients and numbers of clients served. Johnson described the ten-city special-contract service areas and Yerks explained Cornerstone's services reached statewide. She also summarized the Eden Prairie-based programs sponsored by Cornerstone. VI. STAFF REPORT - YERKS Yerks described the collaborative events (three NAMI classes: "Ending the Silence" (on mental illness), "Gray Matters," and "Creating Caring Communities") already in motion and stated she was reaching out to community and resident groups to determine interest to schedule four more classes. She listed possible classes for the commission members to recommend. She displayed the "Creating Accessible and Inclusive Meetings and Events" checklist and suggested it be included at the front of commission members' binders. Community Connections at Briar Hill was the last event currently scheduled. Yerks added this has been in the pilot stage for a few years and hoped to include more resident feedback and input. The event would be an ice cream social this coming Friday with a programming survey to distribute to residents. The focus was on a community conversation regarding programming since their programming space had been rebuilt and would be utilized by residents. Yerks announced the Commission Banquet would be held on May 17 at 6:00 p.m. Commission members and one guest each were invited to attend. Commission member Humes was unable to serve any longer on the commission at this time. Yerks also asked the commission members for suggestions for upcoming community presentations. Christine Erickson (Trafficking 5K), Ken Rogers, Southwest Prime, and Chain Reaction Theater were suggested. Yerks read off a list she also had of funded agencies and described each service. The commission members chose the Eden Prairie Schools, Homeline, Senior Community Center, and Treehouse. Elassar suggested the commission work with them all on a rotating basis. Yerks invited the commission members to email her with other ideas. Elassar also suggested the diversity officer for Hennepin Technical College, who had reached out to partner with the commission in October on LGBT History Month on a screening about North (history of the gay rights movement in EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION April 12, 2018 Page 3 Minnesota) available for streaming on the PBS website, and the Department of Human Rights' free training for commissions. VII. OLD BUSINESS VIII. NEW BUSINESS A. POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE: COFFEE WITH A COP Elassar announce the event would be held this Saturday 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the Community Center. She warned the commission members the weather was projected to be difficult. Coffee and writing implements would be provided. She displayed the questions and briefly described the structure of the discussion. If weather were to interfere with the event it could be postponed but this would cause other difficulties, especially with the officers' schedules. Yerks offered to contact the police department tomorrow (Friday). Discussion followed on the weather prediction. Chimata asked if the event was postponed,how this would be communicated. Elassar replied there were social media and the City's web site. She added even if not many residents were to arrive the conversation between the commission members and the police would be valuable. She suggested keeping the event on the schedule for now,pending Yerks' conversation with the police. [Leeper arrived at 8:01 p.m.] Yerks took names of commission members still planning to attend. Discussion followed on music. Missaghi asked for copies of the charter to be provided. Yerks offered to bring a copy of the manifesto and with extra copies for handouts. Discussion followed on possible conversation topics, especially opioids, sex trafficking, medical response, etc. B. NAMI/HEART MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING UPDATE Chimata updated the commission members on the NAMI/Heart Mental Health training. A NAMI/Shoe Day would be held on April 23 which was a lunchtime activity to promote mental health awareness, and a week-long series of activities would lead up to it. The actual training will be held on April 24 at 6:00 p.m. at Eden Prairie High School. C. 2018 HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS Yerks announced the 2018 Human Rights Awards would be held May 1, 2018 at the City Council meeting at 7:00 p.m. A cake reception would follow. Yerks took names of who could attend. Elassar urged the commission members in the future to look into vendors whose practices dovetail with the commission's manifesto. EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION April 12, 2018 Page 4 D. STOP THE TRAFFICKING 5K UPDATE Elassar stated the run would be held Saturday, June 9, 2018 and she urged the commission members to come the evening before for packet distribution. Yerks had already sent out the link for sign-up. Yerks also asked the commission members who had ideas for sponsors to contact her if they were struggling with asking the sponsors for funding. E. INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL PLANNING Yerks described the evolution of the project: it has had alternate names such as "Community Cultural Celebration" and "People Fest." The Community Impact Council created a subcommittee to hold this event and Yerks brought information from that meeting. She stated she would like to see the commission participate, but it would be held in August when Yerks would not be in the office, so she wanted to initiate the conversation now. Janet Jeremiah would be the acting liasion. The event was scheduled for August 3-9, 2018 as a series of events culminating with the community celebration/People Fest(the current name). Elassar noted it was the 25t" anniversary of the manifesto and encouraged commission members to think of ideas for involvement. She also wished again to highlight "Humans of Eden Prairie." Discussion followed on this. Leeper asked if the mayor could read the manifesto, as had been done 25 years ago. Lucht suggested hosting a panel event as had been successful in the past. Leeper suggested partnering with the Eden Prairie Library. Yerks offered to send out the dates and times of the upcoming meetings (June). Leeper asked for and received confirmation there would be a need for day-of event volunteers. Elassar suggested a "human library" concept, and discussion followed on whether to hold this event idea within or outside of the People Fest finale. IX. UPCOMING MEETINGS The next Human Right Commission meeting will be held May 10, 2018, at 7:00 p.m. in Eden Prairie Center. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Leeper moved, seconded by Philmon to adjourn. Motion carried by consensus. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.