Human Rights and Diversity - 01/09/2020APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020 7:00 P.M., Eden Prairie Center
Office of Housing and Community Services
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Greg Leeper (Chair), Shahram Missaghi, (Vice
Chair), Katherine Lucht, Leslie Philmon, Rehmatbai
Sumra; Sana Elassar, Philip Skeie, Asad Aliweyd,
Tyler Aman
STUDENT MEMBERS: Caprice Steidle, Najma Ali, Nicole Mayer, Stavan
Bhakta, Winifred Halm De-Souza
COMMISSION STAFF: Megan Yerks, Staff Liaison
Julie Krull, Recording Secretary
I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chair Leeper called the meeting to order at 7:18 p.m. at PROP. Commission Members
Missaghi, Lucht, Philmon and Aliweyd and Student Member Steidle were absent.
II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
There were no guests this evening as the Commission was touring PROP and PROP
Shop.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Skeie moved, seconded by Aman, to approve the agenda. Motion carried
5-0.
IV. APPROVAL OF THE DECEMBER 12, 2019 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: Elassar moved, seconded by Skeie, to approve the December 12, 2019
minutes. Motion carried 5-0.
V. STAFF REPORT – MEGAN YERKS
A. UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS:
1. PROP Empty Bowls – This will be held on Tuesday February 18th at St.
Andrew Lutheran Church. Lunch will be from 11am – 1:30pm and dinner
will be from 4-7pm. Sign up can be done on the PROP website.
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January 9, 2020
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2. 2020 Legislative Forum on Disability – This event will take place on
Monday, January 13th from 1-3pm at the Minnesota Senate Building on 95
University Ave. W. in St. Paul. The event is free and open to the public.
A preview of disability issues in the 2020 legislative session will be
discussed.
B. OHCS UPDATES
1. Census 2020 Outreach Activities – The Census Applicant Day at OHCS
will be February 12th from 9am-2pm. Yerks said her department is hosting
this event at the Mall office. The positions are temporary and will run
over the summer. Applicants must be 18 years of age and over. The
Census Education Workshop at the Community Center will be on
February 20th from 10am-12pm. This workshop will discuss the census
and importance of it. The Census Completion Support is yet to be
determined. This will start in late March but they are still trying to figure
out processes.
C. HRDC UPCOMING NEWS
1. MLK Proclamation and HRA Opening - Yerks said she needs 2 volunteers
to attend the January 21st City Council meeting and present the MLK
Proclamation/HRA Award nomination process. Elassar and Lucht are
tentative but she would like confirmed volunteers and ask that they reach
her in the near future.
2. Human Rights Awards – Nominations will open on January 21st and close
on February 28th. Yerks asked the Commission to be thinking of
nominees or ways to encourage nominations. Nominations will be
reviewed in March.
3. Workplan Presentation Reminder – The dinner will take place on Tuesday,
February 4th with dinner starting at 5pm and the meeting from 5:30-
6:30pm. Chair Leeper and Bhakta will be presenting.
D. SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES
1. Iftar Subcommittee Meeting – This subcommittee will meet on January
17th from 3-4pm at the City Center.
2. PeopleFest Update – Ali gave an update from the meeting. She said they
discussed what type of booths they would like at this event. They also
went over grants to be given to the booths. Yerks said they also talked
about having a marketplace and they all thought it would be a good idea.
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January 9, 2020
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3. Student Group, Indigenous American Heritage, Census and Iftar – Yerks
said she would like updates by the February meeting.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. There was no old business to discuss.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. COMMUNITY TOUR: PROP
Jenny Buckland from PROP welcomed the Commission and discussed PROP.
She pointed out that PROP served both Eden Prairie and Chanhassen and this
group consists of 1,100 families and 600-700 individuals. There are 160
volunteers that work here every week. She stated they have been providing food
to families and individuals since 1974 and pointed out 90% of the food is donated.
She said PROP is open M-F from 9:30am-1 and Wednesday evenings from 4pm-
6:30pm. Ms. Buckland pointed out they can deliver to people that cannot make it
in to the facility. They can also supply taxis or Ubers to get the food home. She
said WCA gave PROP a grant for $10,000 for feminine hygiene products. The
two most requested items are feminine hygiene products and diapers. She also
stated that local grocery stores donate to PROP
B. COMMUNITY TOUR: PROP SHOP
Vicki from the PROP Shop gave us a tour of their facility. She did point out that
PROP and PROP Shop are two separate organizations. She said most of their
inventory is from donations from the community. She gave some history on the
PROP Shop and said that 15-20 years ago the PROP Shop was just a closet in the
City Center. Today they make it sustainable because in part of the store they sell
items and in the other half they give items away. In 2007, they opened up their
current location. Vicki said there are request lists for furniture and pointed out
they do have a shortage on kid’s clothing, along with blankets, sheets and towels.
They are open 7 days a week and take donations during that time.
IX. UPCOMING MEETING
A. February 13, 2020
X. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Elassar moved, seconded by Skeie, to adjourn the Human Rights &
Diversity Commission meeting. Motion carried 5-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm