Human Rights and Diversity - 11/08/2018 APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 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 7:20 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., guest speaker Mark
Weber gave his presentation. Commission Members Martinka and Sumra and Student
Member Mayer were absent. Missaghi arrived at 8:20 p.m.
II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
The guest speaker for the evening was Mark Weber, of the Eden Prairie Community
Foundation.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Lucht moved, seconded by Howe-Pullis, to approve the agenda. Motion
carried 5-0.
IV. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: Leeper moved, seconded by Lucht, to approve the September 13th, 2018
minutes. Motion carried 5-0.
V. LOCAL NON-PROFIT PRESENTATION—MARK WEBER, EDEN PRAIRIE
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Chair Elassar stated it is Native American Heritage Month. The Commission viewed a
presentation showing a video regarding pronunciations of Native American words as they
pertain to cities and sites in the metro area and surrounding communities.
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November 8, 2018
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Mr. Weber stated the Eden Prairie Community Foundation was started in 1981. The
three principles the foundation wanted to accomplish:
1. Philanthropy— a vehicle for giving back to the community.
2. Collaboration— supports Eden Prairie's non-profits.
3. Leadership—identify Eden Prairie's imminent needs and rally the resources to
meet them.
A project that utilizes all three of these principles is Onward Eden Prairie. This is the
newest non-profit project. One of the things they accomplished was purchasing a home
in Eden Prairie to house young people. They acknowledge teen homelessness is a
problem in Eden Prairie.
Mr. Weber stated an example of collaboration is the Michelle Fund. The Eden Prairie
Community Foundation gives funds to this non-profit organization. They also help fund
organizations like, Interfaith Circle, so they do not have to claim non-profit status. The
Foundation also gives funds for short term projects like the Veteran's Memorial to
provide tax deductibility. Mr. Weber said they also started the After School Initiative;
the Foundation gives $7,000 to $10,000 a year to PROP to keep a scholarship fund going.
Mr. Weber pointed out the Foundation is important because by working with the non-
profits they know the greatest need in Eden Prairie. Also by working with them, they
have a fast amount of resources, such as direct grants, donor advised funds and the
wherewithal to motivate donors. Mr. Weber said the Commission Members can help the
Foundation by attending events like Prairie Brew Fest, giving donations, starting a donor
advised fund, serving on a committee and/or volunteering, and collaborating with the
organization.
V. STAFF REPORT—MEGAN YERKS
A. COLLABORATIVE EVENTS COMPLETED:
1. Coffee with the Cops —this took place on 11/3/18 and will be discussed in
more detail in Old Business.
2. City Wide Open House—this took place on 10/6/18 and will be discussed
in more detail in Old business.
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. PeopleFest! Steering Committee has been created. —Park and Rec was at
the meeting on 11/5/18 that also included community agencies/people,
City and schools. The date for next year was set and is taking place on
8/11/19. Events will take place before and after PeopleFest! due to
prescheduled Park and Rec events. The Committee would like the
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November 8, 2018
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Commission to do the Human Library event. Planning roles: Performance
Coordination, Vendor Coordination, Food Coordination, Event Hosts and
Team Green.
2. Election Results —New Mayor: Ron Case; Returning Council Members:
Kathy Nelson and Brad Aho; New Council Member: Mark Freiberg;
Ron's seat will be filled by Council in early 2019.
C. UPCOMING EVENTS:
1. Out North—this will take place on 11/15/18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hennepin
Technical College Cafeteria.
2. Unconventional Jobs, Unstoppable Women—this will take place on
11/27/18 at the Hennepin Technical College. Howe-Pullis and Chimata
will be attending.
3. MN Department of Human Rights Symposium—this will take place on
12/4 and 12/5/18 at the Earl Brown Center in St. Paul. The cost is $125 a
day and includes lunch. Registration is online. The Symposium includes
the following topics: Sexual Harassment: Beyond Severe and Pervasive;
Keeping Kids in School and Out of Court; Navigating Systems Change;
Culturally Responsive Leadership; Advancing Equity in Workforce; The
United States & Human Rights: Moving Backwards at Home and Abroad.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. EDEN PRAIRIE OPEN HOUSE DEBRIEF
This took place in early October. The spin wheel was a success.
B. COFFEE WITH THE COPS DEBRIEF
Yerks asked the Commission what they thought of this event. Chair Elassar said
it was a great success. Chimata suggested having this at the high school. She
thought it evoked great conversation as did Lucht. Philmon said everyone asked
good questions. Howe-Pullis said she and Leeper were at the same table and there
was great information exchange.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. OUT NORTH
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This was a documentary bringing film to Hennepin Technical College. This three
part event consists of dinner, film clips and a panel discussion. It will be held on
11/15/18. Chair Elassar, Chimata, Howe-Pullis, Philmon and Dhar will be
attending.
B. 2018 WORK PLAN REVIEW
1. The things that went well were: PeopleFest!, Stop the Trafficking, Body
& Soul, Acting Black, 5K Run, End of the Silence, Human Library,
Human Rights Award.
2. What would be done different: Connecting to our communities of color by
being creative and getting involved. Community connections need
improvement at Prairie Meadows. Better engagement between
Commissioners and students. There was frustration because there was no
sub-commission on the housing plan. Howe-Pullis said the Commission
needs to be a voice in the community of what home means in regards to
housing. She stated that affordable housing means that a homeowner
spends less than 30% of their income on housing. Leeper suggested
connecting with the new City Council Member Frieberg on the housing
issue. Chimata would have liked to have more people attend End the
Silence.
3. 2018 Endeavors:
a. Monthly Awareness Campaigns —Chair Elassar suggested it was a
good idea to continue with this. She stated this has been done
internally but asked how the Commission could present this to the
public. Yerks suggested posting to the Eden Prairie Facebook page.
She would just need the content from the Commission and would send
it on to Communications to be posted. Chimata suggested this could
also be done in the Eden Prairie newspaper.
C. 2019 WORK PLAN
1. Existinz 2019 Commitments:
a. Human Rights Awards —application opens in Feb, selection in March,
awarded in May.
b. Chain Reaction Theater: What Guys Really Want—this will take place
on 2/21/19 at the City Center.
c. Stop the Trafficking 5K—This will be held in June of 2019, date to be
determined.
d. PeopleFest!/Human Library/Intercultural Communication Workshop
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2. Potential 2019 Collaborations
a. Heritage Preservation Commission: Native American Heritage Month
b. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
Yerks said that terms for Commissioners end in March. Chair Elassar, Howe-Pullis,
Missaghi and Lucht's terms will be ending.
IX. UPCOMING MEETING
A. DECEMBER 13, 2018
X. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Philmon moved, seconded by Missaghi, to adjourn the Human Rights &
Diversity Commission meeting. Motion carried 6-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 pm