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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 09/13/2018 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 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, Katherine Lucht, Ann Martinka, Shahram Missaghi, Leslie Philmon, Rehmatbai Sumra STUDENT MEMBERS: Shreya Anand, Meghana Chimata, Nikhita Dhar, Nicole Mayer, Branden Ross COMMISSION STAFF: Megan Yerks, Staff Liaison Julie Krull, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Elassar called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Commission Members Howe- Pullis and Sumra were absent. II. INTRODUCTION OF STUDENT COMMISSIONERS & GUESTS The student commissioners introduced themselves. Nikhita Dhar(new), Meghana Chimata (2nd year), Shreya Anand (new), Nicole Mayer(new), Branden Ross (new). The guest speaker for the evening was Jeff Jiang, Vice Chair of the Eden Prairie Chinese Association (EPCA). III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Lucht moved, seconded by Martinka, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. IV. APPROVAL OF THE MAY 10, 2018 MEETING MINUTES MOTION: Leeper moved, seconded by Philmon, to approve the May loth, 2018 minutes. Motion carried 6-0. V. LOCAL NON-PROFIT PRESENTATION—JEFF JIANG, EDEN PRAIRIE CHINESE ASSOCIATION Jeff Jiang stated he is here tonight to speak about the Chinese community connecting in Eden Prairie. He stated he is the Vice Chair of the Eden Prairie Chinese Association HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES September 13, 2018 Page 2 (EPCA). This organization was established summer 2017 to promote the Chinese culture. He pointed out there is a Chinese school in Eden Prairie that is on Saturdays at Central Middle School; currently there are 200 individuals enrolled. Some of the cultural events the EPCA facilitates are the following: Community Fall Party which is held over Labor Day weekend, the Chinese New Year celebration, and the Eden Prairie People Fest. They also participate in community service and charity activities. Mr. Jiang pointed out a priority concern in the Chinese communities. It is called the Ethnic Data Desegregation. This is the act of collecting detailed ethnic information from only minority students at public schools. This became a MN law in 2017 in the school districts. The concerns with this law are the following: 1. This creates more divisions and discriminating against minority students. 2. It has the potential to bring more risk of bullying. 3. Exposing minority children to higher privacy risks. 4. Wasting tax payers' money without helping students in need. The EPCA has taken action against this new law by voicing their concerns at a peaceful rally, meeting with the school board and Department of Education,reaching out to legislators in Eden Prairie and voicing concerns at Council on Asian Pacific Citizens. Martinka asked Mr. Jiang if he is working with other groups. Mr. Jiang said they have reached out to other groups and those groups were unaware of this law in Minnesota. Missaghi said he was never heard of this law and asked why it was established. Mr. Jiang said it was mainly from the Hmong population to show they are not receiving resources at school. Leeper asked how the meeting went with the Department of Education. Mr. Jiang said they pointed out that this form is optional to fill out and should not have to be filled out but that is still goes out to all students. Martinka asked if this was a national law or just a state law. Mr. Jiang pointed out it was just a state law and there were 5 others states that have adopted this law. Chair Elassar asked how the form gets to the families. Mr. Jiang stated it is in the enrollment forms; either on-line or in the mail. Mr. Jiang said their group promotes people to check the decline box. Leeper asked how the HRDC can help support the EPCA. Mr. Jiang said to come to their events and learn more of who we are. Anand suggested having events advertised at the schools and to connect with the Diversity Group at the high school. VI. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES September 13, 2018 Page 3 VII. NEW BUSINESS A. PEOPLEFEST!, HUMAN LIBRARY, & THEY CALL ME Q DEBRIEF Leeper said the debriefing meeting for Peoplefest! will be next week. He stated there were 300 people in attendance and that exceeded expectations. Leeper said if anyone has suggestions for improvements to email them to him and he will bring it to the debriefing meeting. Chair Elassar said the Peoplefest was a week-long event and that one slot had opened for the HRDC so they hosted a Human Library. She explained that a person selects a book based on the title and the commissioners serve as books, so you talk to the people instead of reading a book. Martinka said she was a book and enjoyed doing it and found readers were very interesting too with their own stories. Chair Elassar said the play, They Call Me Q is a partnership with Hennepin Technical College. It is a one person play where the actor plays 10-11 different roles. Chair Elassar said after the play she facilitated a table discussion. B. EDEN PRAIRIE OPEN HOUSE (OCTOBER 6) Yerks stated this is a City wide event that will take place at the City Center from 11 am—2 pm. They are looking for Commissioners or Student Commissioners to attend and be at the table. Chimata and Anand said they would attend and be at the table; Leeper said he may be there and Chair Elassar said she will be attending. Chair Elassar said they will have a spin wheel at the table. Yerks said she will supply food and candy and will bring the photo board. C. OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS 1. Coffee with a Cop. Yerks said this was postponed from April 14. Philmon said this event was established so people would have a better relationship with law enforcement. Yerks said they postponed it to fall and asked if the Commissioners still wanted to have this event. Chair Elassar said yes and to get the dates from the police department. Yerks asked who would be interested in participating. All of the student commissioners said they would, along with Leeper, Philmon and Martinka. Yerks suggested in a few weeks a sub-committee should be put together. She will send out and email to all interested. 2. Chair Elassar said Jean from Hennepin Technical College is scheduled to show a documentary called, "Out North". This event will take place in HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY MINUTES September 13, 2018 Page 4 October. The date, time and place are still to be determined. Jean will be at the October meeting to discuss what she does. 3. On November 27t" at 11:00 am at the Hennepin Technical Collage there will be a female judge talking about her journey; the HRDC will partner with HTC on this. The event is called, "Unconventional Jobs, Unstoppable Women." There will be a panel discussion afterwards. Yerks asked if the HRDC wanted to do an event in November for Native American Awareness month. Chair Elassar said we would need to have a sub- committee for that and suggested tabling it to the next meeting. Chair Elassar also suggested that at the next event the Commission has planned to have an elected official attend. Lucht said she would be willing to call officials and invite them. Chair Elassar said MSF Doctors without Borders will be going on until Sunday, September 16cn Chair Elassar said the exhibit; "We Are All Criminals" is at the Hennepin County Library. D. UPCOMING SPEAKERS OCTOBER—Jean NOV. OR DEC. —Mark Weber or Shelly from EP Community Foundation. IX. UPCOMING MEETING A. October 11, 2018 Chair Elassar would like the Student Commissions to bring back to this meeting information on, "We Are All Criminals", "Up North", EP Manifesto and Play it Forward. X. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Lucht moved, seconded by Martinka, to adjourn the Human Rights & Diversity Commission meeting. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm