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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-16-2015 Human Rights CommissionAGENDA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION HELLING CONFERENCE ROOM, CITY HALL September 16, 2015 5:30 P.M. 1. Call Meeting to Order/ Roll Call 2. Approval of Minutes from August 18, 2015 meeting 3. Public Comment of Items Not on the Agenda 4. Old Business: a. Commission Action Plan 2015 i. Education Programming (Hart, Olmstead) 1. Affordable Housing Panel Discussion (October 5) ii. Education Outreach (Ghoneim, Townsend, Ahmed) 1. Local Inside Out Reentry Program iii. Community Outreach (Hanrahan, Pierce -Thomas) iv. Council Outreach (Coulter, Retish) 1. Proclamations a. National Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15) b. National Disability Awareness Month (October) c. National American Indian Heritage Month (November) 5. Upcoming Events/Programs: a. One Community, One Book —Just Mercy i. Book Discussion (September 30 at 7 ICPL) ii. Lecture (Oct. 4 IMU 2-4) b. Human Rights Awards Breakfast (October 28) i. Selection Subcommittee ii. Program Speakers 6. Reports: a. Making Iowa City a Human Rights Community (Olmstead, Coulter, Hanrahan) b. Job Fair (Retish) c. Education Subcommittee (Retish, Olmstead, Hanrahan) d. Building Communities Subcommittee (Townsend) e. University of Iowa Center for Human Rights Board (Ghoneim, Olmstead) f. Racial Equity & Diversity Initiative (Bowers) g. Commission h. Staff 7. Set Next Regular Meeting Date: October 20 at 5:30 pm 8. Adjourn The Human Rights Commission meetings follow the Iowa City Community School District closings for inclement weather except for early dismissals for heat. Minutes Human Rights Commission August 18, 2015 — 5:30 PM Helling Conference Room Preliminary Members Present: Kim Hanrahan, Orville Townsend Sr, Ali Ahmed, Harry Olmstead, Paul Retish, Shams Ghoneim, Edie Pierce -Thomas, Joe Coulter, Stella Hart. Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers. Recommendations to Council: No. Call to Order: Coulter called the meeting to order at 5:30. Consideration of the Minutes from the July 21 2015 Meeting Date: Motion Olmstead, seconded by Townsend. Motion passed 7-0. (Relish and Ghoneim not present) Meetine Business (Ghoneim present 5:31) Commission Action Plan 2015 Community Outreach Bowers reviewed the action plan with Commissioners that was approved in January of 2015, Pierce - Thomas will assist Hanrahan on the community outreach subcommittee to seek information from various community groups and social service agencies to develop a list of possible issues/concerns the Commission can take on or bring attention to as a group. (Retish present 5:52) Education Programming Hart is working on the details of the upcoming affordable housing program the Commission is sponsoring on October 5 at the Iowa City Public Library. Bowers will send the list of questions Hart has developed to the entire Commission to provide feedback. Education Outreach Ghoniem, Townsend and Ahmed will either meet in person or via email to discuss additional ways in which they can update the community on the Human Rights Commission. Reports The Johnson County Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration (July 25) Olmstead reports that this year's event has been the best one yet. Ghoneim noted some frustration with the organizational aspects of the event but other than that the event was good and the Human Rights Commission materials were well received. Construction/Trade Job Fair The Commission approved holding another job fair for the fall of 2015. Retish will work on getting the usual participants gathered to plan the job fair but encouraged Commissioners to participate also and/or encourage other community members/organizations/businesses to assist. The target population is for those under employed or unemployed. Council for International Visitors (CIVIC) (August 10) Retish and Olmstead met with a group of international visitors from the country of Georgia. The main topic of the discussion was transparency in government. Relish said it was a good discussion and the professions of the group were quite impressive. Retish would like follow up and feedback from CIVIC as to how they did (Retish & Olmstead) and how they were received by the visitors. Human Rights Awards Breakfast (October 28) At the next meeting the Commission will select a subcommittee to decide nominations and also select program roles. Bowers reminded Commissioners of the memorial service being held on August20 for the late Heather L. Shank, past Human Rights Coordinator for the City. Building communities The Black Voices Project held a reception for three incoming African -American administrators for the Iowa City Community School District on August 17. Townsend reports the reception was well attended and that those present offered their support and assistance to the new administrators. Making Iowa City a Human Rights Community Hanrahan reports there is a meeting on August 26. Bowers will confirm the meeting is still being held and let the Hanrahan, Olmstead and Coulter know of the date and time. Education Subcommittee Hanrahan spoke on the organization of the equity board and that the group is currently looking at the protocol the schools have for calling the police and also seeing that all Iowa City Community School District staff receive alternatives to violence training. Commission Hanrahan reminded Commissioners of the upcoming school board and council elections. United Action for Youth recently hired for the crisis intervention position. Retish reported on a vacation he and his wife took in July and how they had a terrific time. Retish spoke on the beauty of driving thru West Virginia. Ahmed and his wife are expecting their first children in the next month, triplets! Olmstead reminded Commissioners that on this date in history women were given the right to vote. Ghoneim is a part of the Press Citizen editorial board and they will be interviewing school board candidates in the near future. Coulter just got back from his annual summer chicken fried steak circuit and enjoyed the great meals at Southern Vittles in Lake City, Colorado. Staff ADA in Places of Public Accommodation Bowers spoke on encouraging business owners to go beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act by either starting a public awareness campaign or doing a ranking of businesses by how well they do in the area of accessibility. Adjournment: 6:53. Next Regular Meeting — September 16, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. Human Rights Commission ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2014/2015 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 10/2/ 14 10/21/ 14 11/18/ 14 12/15/ 14 1/20/ 15 2/17/ 15 3/171 15 4/l/ 15 4/21 15 5/19 15 1 6/16 15 7/21 15 8/18 15 Edie Pierce- Thomas 1/l2016 - - - - X O/E X X X O/E X X X Joe D. Coulter 1/1/2016 X X X X X X X X X X X O/E X Harry Olmstead 1/l2016 X X X X X X O/E X X X O/E X X Paul Retish 1/1/2017 X O/E O/E X X X X X X X X X X Ali Ahmed 1/1/2017 X X X X O X O/E X X X O/E X X Orville Townsend, Sr. 1/12017 X X X X X X X X X X O/E X X Kim Hanrahan l/l/2018 X X X X X X X X X X O/E X X Shams Ghoneim l/l2018 X X X X O/E X O/E X X X X X X Stella Hart I/l/2018 X X X X X X X X X O/E X X X KEY: X = Present O = Absent O/E = Absent(Excused NM = No meeting — = No longer a member R =Resignation September Agenda Packet Agenda Item 4a CITY OF IOWA CITY HUMOR RIGHTS COMMISSION Action Plan January 2015 — December 2015 Adopted January 20, 2015 A goal setting session was held on October 2, 2014, at the Eastside Recycling Environmental Education Center. The following Commissioners were in attendance and participated at this meeting: Harry Olmstead (Chair), Andrea Cohen (Vice -Chair), Shams Ghoneim, Paul Retish, Stella Hart, Ali Ahmed, Orville Townsend Sr., and Kim Hanrahan. Also in attendance was Human Rights Coordinator Stefanie Bowers. Commissioner Joe D. Coulter was unable to attend. What follows is the prioritization of initiatives identified at the goal setting session. The initiatives will be reviewed by the Commission at its monthly meetings on a quarterly basis. ON -GOING INITIATIVES Human Rights Breakfast. Youth Awards. Job Fair. Collaboration with community organizations & groups. Participation in community events. Sponsor professional development programs. ORGANIZATIONAL INITIATIVES Continue sub -committees. Initiate more educational programs and outreach programs from trends reported in the Annual Report or the Equity Report. Increase participation of all Commissioners in Commission sponsored events, programs and outreach. NEW INITIATIVES Objectiva Actio" Step Lead Other EKpected Target Start complEtion CDrmntssioner Commission Outcorne members Audience Date Date Outreach to Hold Kim Hanrahan involved Orville Foster Community Community listening Townsend Sr., Community Posts Stella Hart, Dialogue & Edie Pierce- Community THomas Engagement Outreach to Present Joe D. Coulter Paul Retish Maintain Council Council Proclamations Positive , Provide Relationship Notice of with the Upcoming Council Programs & Events Educational Events on Stella Hart Harry Community Community Events for the Affordable, Olmstead Engagement, Community Universal, & Education, & Accessible Outreach Housing Educational Presentations Shams Orville Awareness Schools, June 17, 2015 Presentations on Who the Ghoneim Townsend Sr., about the Community to the Commission Is All Ahmed Commission & Groups, Community and the Role Access to Service Clubs, the Resources Faith Commission Communities Plays in the Community September Correspondence BRYAN STEVENSON LECTURE Date: Sunday, October 4, 2015 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Location: Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy: a Story of Justice and Redemption, will give a lecture on his work. .4 "aji %MOIR( . Wr Round - Table Panel Discussion Moderated by the Human Rights Commission. Discussion will include accessible housing and universal design. it ®� • wr®` -n...._ CITY OF IOWA CITY Human Rights Commission 0 04 04 1 Die] 0 •■0; fqqwWt I 77 61A U(*AoT0BER 13 2015 Kirkwood Regional Center At The University of Iowa 2341 E Oakdale Blvd, Coralville, IA 52241 4:00p,m. to 7:00pm visit Presented by: to register a table! Iowa City Area Developmerrt Group .for I in nte�r V�W e r.' 1 1 ■ In'110 (I''M II L��'u VYv v%+ - some Shoes to fill! Volunteer to serve on the lowa City Human ifights Commission. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION INCLUDE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC REGARDING CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS, PLANNING PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES TO BUILD AWARENESS OF AND ELIMINATE VARIOUS TYPES OF DISCRIMINATION. THEREARE APPLI ANT C TY AND MUST REBSIDE IN thw YEARS I OF AGE. with terms beginning JAN. 11.2016 that run for 3 gears. Meetings are at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. The application form is available at icgov.org/humansights or by calling 356-5022 or emailing humanrights@iowra-city.org. STATE LAW REQUIRES COMMISSIONS TO BE BALANCED ACCORDING TO GENDER. THE CURRENT DEMOGRAPHICS ARE: APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY WEDNESDAY, NOVMEBER 4 AT 5 PM IN THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AT CITY HALL, 410 E. WASHINGTON STREET. visit www.icgov.org/humanrights or call 319-356-5022.