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Human Rights and Diversity - 10/12/2004 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION TUESDAY, October 12, 2004 7:00 PM., Eden Prairie Center 125 Eden Prairie Center Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Larry Piumbroeck(Chair), Jeff Strate (Vice-Chair), Gerry Beckmann, Cari Maguire, Pam Miller, and Balu Iyer STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Hojun Lee—EPHS Junior, Tara Degn - EPHS Senior, and Jackie Beutell— EPHS Senior COMMISSION STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison Mary Zilka, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chair Strate at 7:10 PM. Members Absent: Linda Chung and Larry Piumbroeck II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Strate moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the agenda as published. Motion carried, 8-0 III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES — September 16, 2004 Beckmann stated the roll call wording in the second paragraph was confusing. Iyer agreed that it does look like he wasn't there at the meeting. Beckmann and Iyer were both at the meeting the entire time. Second complete paragraph, on page 4 should read "These are two separate issues, said Beckmann". Beckmann requested the meeting minutes and agenda should be sent out 3-hole punched. Miller requested on page 3 — second paragraph, should read "The separate teams and fields sound like a good idea but it might appear to be endorsing segregation." MOTION: Beckmann moved, seconded by Miller, to approve the September 16, 2004 minutes as amended. The motion carried, 8-0. IV. NEW BUSINESS A. Introductions of new student representatives Welcome to Eden Prairie High School Students: Hojun Lee, Junior, Tara Degn, Senior, and Jackie Beutell, Senior. We are glad you are here! Eden Prairie Human Rights & Diversity Commission October 12, 2004 Page 2 V. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Human Services Review Committee (HSRC) Koivumaki reported that the committee met on Monday, October. 4 and assignments were given to visit the sites. Members of the HSRC make site visits which started this week and will continue on for the next couple of weeks. The Human Services Funding Committee was established to develop a consistent, coordinated, cross- functioned approach to dealing with the evolving human service needs of our community. One of the things the site visit does is to see if the sites are spending the money how it was allocated. Mary Keating is attempting to find out what the trends are in services as well as the gaps. That research has opened up a whole new interesting dialogue with our service providers. It has been very exhilarating for the folks to talk about what they see. Today we visited the Somali family services — Mary reported that Randy Thompson, Janet Jeremiah and Jean Johnson met with Peter Hartwich, of Family and Children services, and saw some new opportunities for networking. The HSRC is very happy that Janet Jeremiah went to this meeting and knows she is planning on attending more. Koivumaki also welcomed any HRDC members to also go on any site visits. Koivumaki will ask Mary Keating to alert the members as well as our student members in advance when and where the next site visit will be. B. Bias Crime Activity Status Koivumaki reported that the 3 cases discussed at the last meeting are still being reviewed. They haven't been closed out yet. The Bias Crime Network is an incident that the police receive and they contact Koivumaki who then notifies the commission. This Bias Crime Network was formed primarily due to a cross burning started at a residents home a few years ago and this network is a volunteer organization that works with the Public Safety department and the HRDC to help support victims of a bias crime in the community. Koivumaki also shared news of a troubling letter recently received by a local Eden Prairie couple. This letter was very racially charged and hateful regarding The Gathering Bridge and the tribute to the late Mayor Harris. This letter was unsigned and troubling but not threatening. This incident was reported to the Police and is being investigated,but not as a hate crime. The couple who received the letter is not a protected class so will be investigated as suspicious activity. Beckmann and Iyer wondered "Who is a protected class?" Iyer made the point that if the tone of the letter is hateful for any reason it should qualify as hate crime, it doesn't make sense why it has to be a "protected people" before it is considered a hate crime. Koivumaki explained that is how the law was written, and there is still a crime committed,but it is not considered a bias crime. This is an enhancement on criminal law. Koivumaki gave the example that if she hit someone it is considered an assault, if she hit someone because they are in a protected class it is a bias crime. Miller had the following comment; "If you were not in a protected class and helped someone who was in a protected class and then as a result Eden Prairie Human Rights & Diversity Commission October 12, 2004 Page 3 of helping you are discriminated against, you would have a claim. Miller will look up this statue and see the definition/wording of what a bias crime is. Koivumaki has contacted the school district to see if we they would send representation to our next HRDC meeting to share what support services the district offers for their diverse students at the EPHS and CMS. Nanette Missaghi, the school district's diverse coordinator will not be able to make the next meeting, but will make sure someone does attend. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. "The Gathering" which is an open forum for immigrants to come and talk about how it is to live in Eden Prairie will schedule another meeting in the spring. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS A. South Hennepin Immigrant Services Group (SHISG) The SHISG did not have a meeting. B. Any commission member may report Maguire reported attending the conference for the League of MN Human Rights Commission. This organization is made up of 30 cities that pay dues to this league and help this commission do their work. Historically this commission helps the city with bias crimes. Saturday, October 9, 2004 was the conference and Maguire was the MC. Maguire said the conference was wonderful and they had excellent speakers, including Velma Korbel, Grant Abbott, and Amy Klobuchar. Maguire was happy to hear about different things they are doing at the county attorneys' office to make sure the laws are applied to all people. About 60 people attended. Beckmann thanked Maguire for the article she submitted to the Eden Prairie Newspapers, and Strate also mentioned how well the article was written. Maguire explained how she wrote the article and it appeared on the opinion page and the process for submitting a letter. The letter should be around 700-800 words and submitted first to Chair Piumbroeck and Koivumaki. Buetell has a couple ideas for a column. Beckmann commented on a book club meeting she attended to discuss the EP Reads book Neither Wolf Nor Dog. Beckmann's group had some insightful questions they discussed and she would love to be able to ask the author, Kent Nerburn his take on some of them. Beckmann is wondering about the format for the luncheon/author discussion on October 25"'. Jeanne Zetah the director of Community Education for the school district is the facilitator and Mary Zilka (recording secretary) will get these questions to Jeanne Zetah. Molly passed out a newsletter from the MN Human Rights League to the commission members that did not receive them through the mail. Maguire's picture was in the August newsletter. Koivumaki told the members that an updated roster has been sent into the league asking them to please update,but Maguire let the commission know Eden Prairie Human Rights & Diversity Commission October 12, 2004 Page 4 that the league doesn't have anyone supporting them clerically right now and it could be a while before that happens. Strate wanted to talk about an issue with the commission and motioned to be off the record. Seconded by Miller, Beckmann abstained. Motion to go back on record by Miller seconded by Iyer. Koivumaki shared that about 2 weeks ago she received a voice mail from a staff person of NAACP. She doesn't know what the allegation or complaints are because they haven't connected yet. They are playing phone tag. Koivumaki will continue to follow up with this gentleman. Procedure to get on our agenda: Contact Koivumaki, and notify the chair and they will make sure you get on the agenda. The HRDC is an open meeting for observers though. Strate reported that the commission is still looking for a home for the Jean Harris scholarship. Strate will be calling them and also sending a proposal to the Lions Club. Strate will show his letter to Koivumaki and Iyer before he sends it to the Lions Club. Iyer invited Strate to come to the next Lions Club meeting. There is enough money for two more scholarships. If the Lion's wouldn't help us with the fundraising we could go to Best Buy or Costco, Beckmann suggested. We would like to continue managing the assignment of the awards and hopefully the Lion's will be interested in being the agent for the awards. Maguire had an idea that if possible in January after the mall holiday rush is finished, it would be great if we could get permission to use the kiosks to do a display of Martin Luther King, maybe with Barnes & Noble. Beckmann said maybe the Historical Society could help with some materials for the display. Koivumaki could arrange a meeting with the General Growth managers to inquire about the kiosks, and if we could possibly use them. Maguire will draft a letter and communicate with Piumbroeck about this proposal, as well as get his signature on it. Maguire was wondering if the commission could be involved in picking the book for the next EP Reads. Maguire will approach Jeanne Zetah and inquire about how we could get a member to join that group. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS AND EVENTS Next meeting is Tuesday, November 9, 2004. We will be getting rectangular tables here at the Office of Human Services or we could hold the meetings as a different location. IX. ADJOURNMENT Motion: Beckmann moved, Maguire seconded to adjourn the meetings. The motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.