HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-15-2019 Human Rights CommissionAGENDA
Human Rights Commission (HRC)
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
5:30 P.M.
City Hall, Emma J. Harvat
410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City
1. Call Meeting to Order and Roll Call.
2. Public Comment on the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant. (Commentators shall
address the Commission for no more than 5 minutes).
3. Items to be discussed:
a. Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant FY2020 Process.
4. Adjournment.
If you will need disability -related accommodations to participate in this meeting please contact
the Equity Director, Stefanie Bowers, at 319-356-5022 or at stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org.
Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
SJRE Grant Allocations FY 17
CITY OF IOWA CITNr
COUNCIL ACTION REPORI�
March 21, 2017
Resolution adopting the recommendation of the Human Rights
Commission for the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant
Allocations for fiscal year 2017.
Prepared By: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director/Human Rights Coordinator
Reviewed By: Geoff Fruin, City Manager
Fiscal Impact: The total cost of the funding recommendation is $24,450
Recommendations: Staff: Approval
Commission: Human Rights Commission - Approval
Attachments: Exhibit A, Resolution
Executive Summary:
This resolution approves the recommendation by the Human Rights Commission to provide full
funding for five out of the eight organizations that applied for the Social Justice and Racial
Equity Grant for fiscal year 2017. The original budget amount for the Social Justice and Racial
Equity Grant was $25,000.
Background / Analysis:
One of the City Council's Strategic Planning priorities for 2016 and 2017 is to foster a more
inclusive, just and sustainable Iowa City. To further this vision, the City Council approved
funding in the fiscal year 2017 budget for Social Justice and Racial Equity ("SJRE") grants to
community -based organizations to build capacity to address social justice and racial equity. City
Council approved a total of $25,000.
The purpose of the SJRE Grant is to encourage, empower and engage social justice and racial
equity initiatives in this community. The SJRE Grant funding is available to for -profit and non-
profit Iowa City based organizations (including City of Iowa City departments) to fund programs,
activities, or services that help to eliminate inequities in the community.
The SJRE Grant lists six priority service areas: Education, Building Community, Housing,
Criminal Justice, Health, and Employment. Organizations whose programs, services or activities
address one or more of these priorities are considered first for funding. Funding request for
operational costs such as rent, salaries or utilities of an organization are not covered by the
SJRE Grant.
Applications to apply for the SJRE Grant for fiscal year 2017 were available from December 1,
2016 — January 5, 2017.
The Human Rights Commission met on January 17 (minutes in City Council Packet of February
21) to review the eight funding requests received. The list below provides the organization, the
amount requested and a brief description of the service, program or activity for the funding
request.
CITY OF IOWA CITY
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
1) Sankofa Outreach Connection ($13,500)
To provide a program entitled Sisters at the Center. The goal of the program is to
address barriers to health and wellness for women of color. Sisters at the Center will
consist of a series of programs intended to educate, while simultaneously creating a
sense of connectedness for women of color. The funding will be used for professional
service fees including classes, consultants, dietitians, bus passes, and guest speakers.
2) Inside Out Reentry, Inc. ($3,000)
To provide services to persons returning from incarceration. Individualized re-entry plans
include one-to-one and small group tutoring on computer skills, job readiness tests, and
assistance with job and housing applications. The funding would be used to purchase
two new computers and one printer for the Resource Center.
3) United Action for Youth ($7,456)
Forum Theater (also known as Theater of the Oppressed) is a style of interactive
provisional theater that works directly on social issues. The theater troupe would be
comprised of twelve people, six youth and six adults who would provide social justice
and racial equity forum theater presentations to the community. The funding request is
for one week intensive training for staff, salary for the troupe leader and AmeriCorps
members, travel, and marketing of performances.
4) Successful Living ($25,000)
To provide housing to the mentally ill who are homeless or are otherwise profoundly
struggling. The funding would be used to assist in the cost to purchase an additional
transitional house. The $25,000 (or any part thereof awarded) would be applied to offset
the cash down payment.
5) City of Iowa City, World of Bikes, and Iowa City Bike Library ($3,250)
The project will provide refurbished bicycles to youth in junior high that are low-income to
improve their access to public amenities via bicycle, and enhance their physical and
mental health through "active" transportation. The funding would be used to refurbish
fifteen bicycles from the police impound and to contract with a local instructor certified by
the League of American Bicyclists.
6) Iowa Legal Aid ($2,200)
To provide at least two community legal education events, preferably at the Iowa City
Public Library. At least one event will deal with the use of criminal history, and at least
one event will deal with court debt. All events will deal with expungement of criminal
records, both juvenile and adult. Funding would be used to pay the costs associated with
preparation and delivery of community legal education events, and follow up with clients
served as a result of the presentations.
7) Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition ($2,500)
To launch a multi -media YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) campaign that provides upbeat
images of affordable housing residents and structures, and a narrative that makes the
social and economic benefits of affordable housing clear. The funding would be used to
work with a nonprofit media advisor to increase positive housing stories, and the
production and marketing of three high quality Public Service Announcements.
8) Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa ($17,400)
To launch a new Unity in the Community initiative that would respond to current priorities
and concerns of members of the Center for Worker Justice. The funding would be
utilized for expenses related to planning, publicizing, delivering town hall forums,
CITY OF IOWA CITY
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
education events, training workshops, community events, and attendance of members at
leadership development conferences.
The Human Rights Commission met again on January 25 (minutes in City Council Packet of
March 21) to discuss the SJRE Grant applications. Similar to its meeting held on January 17,
Commissioners poised questions to those organizations that had representative(s) present.
After the application review ended, each Commissioner provided staff with their numerical
ranking for each applicant with 1 being the highest and 8 the lowest. The numerical score
received by each applicant were averaged and ranked from highest to lowest. The resulting
ranking is listed below:
1. Inside Out Reentry, Inc.
2. Iowa Legal Aid
3. Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition
4. City of Iowa City, World of Bikes, and Iowa City Bike Library
5. Sankofa Outreach Connection
6. United Action for Youth
7. Successful Living
8. Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa
The Human Rights Commission next went over budgetary considerations including whether
funding organizations at an amount less than what was requested would be sustainable for
those organizations. It was decided by majority vote to recommend to the City Council that the
five highest scorers be funded at their requested amount. The Human Rights Commission
declined to provide funding for the other three organizations with only $550 remaining.
Per the SJRE Grant review process, staff to the Commission shared the recommendation with
an ex-officio of the University of Iowa's Chief Diversity Office who concurred with the
recommendation of the Human Rights Commission (ex-officio's comments on the
recommendation are attached to the minutes of the Human Rights Commission in the City
Council Packet of March 21).
Funding will be allocated no later than June 1, 2017. To view all SJRE Grant applications
submitted for fiscal year 2017 visit the City Council's Social Justice and Racial Equity Initiative
webpage under the link City of Iowa Citv's Social Justice & Racial Equity Grant: Applications
submitted for FY17.
Prepared by: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director/Human Rights Coordinator, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240
(319)356-5220
RESOLUTION NO. 17-89
RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE SOCIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL EQUITY GRANT
ALLOCATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017.
WHEREAS, the City Council's Strategic Planning priorities for 2016 and 2017 includes fostering
a more inclusive, just and sustainable Iowa City; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved funding in the fiscal year 2017 budget for Social Justice
and Racial Equity ("SJRE°) grants to community -based organizations to build capacity to
address social justice and racial equity; and
WHEREAS, the City has disseminated SJRE Grant applications to Iowa City organizations; and
WHEREAS, the City received eight applications for SJRE Grant; and
WHEREAS, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission has held a series of meetings reviewing
the applications regarding the allocation of funds for the SJRE Grant for fiscal year 2017; and
WHEREAS, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission has recommended that Exhibit A be
approved; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the public interest will be served by the adoption of the
fiscal year 2017 SJRE Grant allocations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA
CITY, IOWA, THAT:
1. The allocation of fiscal year 2017 SJRE Grant funds attached hereto as Exhibit A is
hereby approved and adopted.
2. The City Manager or designee is hereby authorized to execute, terminate, or amend
SJRE Grant Agreements executed in connection with the allocation of public funds.
Passed and approved this 21 st day of March, 2017. /
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK City Attorney's Office
Resolution No. 17-89
Page 2
It was moved by Botchway and seconded by
Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were:
AYES
NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
Dickens the
Botchway
Cole
Dickens
Mims
Taylor
Thomas
Throgmorton
Exhibit A
Organization
FY 17 Requests
HRC
Recommendation
Inside Out Reentry, Inc.
$3000.00
$3000.00
Iowa Legal Aid
$2200.00
$2200.00
Johnson County Affordable
Housing Coalition
$2500.00
$2500.00
City of Iowa City, World of
Bikes, and Iowa City Bike
Library
$3250.00
$3250.00
Sankofa Outreach Connection
$13,500.00
$13,500.00
Total Request:
$24,450.00
$24,450.00
SJRE Grant Allocations for FYI
r' CITY OF 1 O WA C I T 04.02-18
COUNCIL ACTION REPO 11
April 2, 2018
Resolution Adopting the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant
Allocations for Fiscal Year 2018.
Prepared By: Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator/Equity Director
Reviewed By: Geoff Fruin, City Manager
Sue Dulek, Assistant City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: $26,000.00
Recommendations: Staff: Approval
Commission: Approval
Attachments: Resolution
Executive Summary:
This resolution approves the recommendation by the Human Rights Commission to provide full
funding for four out of the twenty-eight organizations that applied for the Social Justice and
Racial Equity Grant for fiscal year 2018. The budget amount for the Social Justice and Racial
Equity Grant is $25,000.00.
Background / Analysis:
Background / Analysis: In 2017, the City Council approved funding in the amount of $25,000.00
in the fiscal year 2017 budget for Social Justice and Racial Equity ("SJRE") Grants to community
based organizations to build capacity to address social justice and racial equity. For fiscal year
2018, the City Council approved a duplicate amount of money for the grant.
The purpose of the grant is to encourage, empower, and engage social justice and racial equity
initiatives in this community. The grant is available to for -profit and non-profit Iowa City based
organizations (including City departments) to fund programs, activities, or services that help
eliminate inequities in the community.
The grant lists six priority service areas: education, building community, housing, criminal justice,
health, and employment. Organizations whose programs, services, or activities address one or
more of these priorities are considered first for funding. Funding request for operational costs
such as rent, salaries or utilities of an organization are not covered by the grant.
Applications to apply for the grant for fiscal year 2018 were available from December 1, 2017 —
January 2, 2018.
CITY OF IOWA CITY
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
The Human Rights Commission met on January 23 (minutes in City Council Packet of March 6)
to review the twenty-eight funding requests. By a vote of 8-0 the Commission recommended to
the City Council the following allocations for the grant for fiscal year 2018. The Commission also
requested for the Council to consider allocating $3800 more for the grant for fiscal year 2018 so
that all selected recipients are funded at their requested amount.
Organization
FY18 Reg uest
HRC Recommendation
Shelter House
$5000.00
$5000.00
Neighborhood &
Development Services
$600.00
$600.00
Healthy Kids School Based
Health
$12,300.00
$12,300.00
Center for Worker Justice
$10,900.00
$7100.00
$28,800.00
$25,000.00
Brief descriptions of the service, program, or activity are listed below.
Shelter House ($5000)
The Shelter House Fairweather Lodge program is a permanent supportive housing intervention
for adults who are experiencing homelessness, have a chronic mental illness (diagnoses primarily
of schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and/or bi-polar disorder) and are committed to a life
of mental health recovery. Many participants have more than one mental health concern and may
have combinations of illnesses such as a psychotic disorder combined with PTSD, anxiety,
personality disorder, or substance abuse disorder. When faced alone, these challenges present
severe barriers to maintaining both employment and housing. Through the Fairweather Lodge,
members live and work in community and collectively overcome their challenges.
Each Lodge is home to as many as six members. The model is peer -driven with members sharing
responsibility for daily chores, establishing and enforcing their own house rules and ensuring daily
med compliance as a group. Employment is requisite and a supported placement is available
through Shelter House Fresh Starts janitorial services. From time -to -time a member may choose
outside employment in the greater community.
If awarded SJRE grant funding, Shelter House intends to develop a Social Engagement and
Healthy Living Initiative for Lodge trainees and members as an additional component to the
Fairweather Lodge supportive programming. The offerings will include everything from group
activities and workshops such as art, writing, and outdoor recreation; individual training
(particularly Peer Support Specialist Training); to attending cultural and community events and
museums.
Neighborhood & Development Services ($600)
"Walk and Roll Wednesdays" is a pilot program to encourage walking and biking as a tool for
building community. The goal of the program is to get people out walking and biking in their
neighborhood as a way to reduce social isolation and foster of sense of place. Iowa City's South
Planning District was chosen as an ideal area in which to try out the program due to its diverse
population and the abundance of parks and trails. The district includes all neighborhoods south
of Highway 6 and east of the Iowa River.
r CITY OF IOWA CITY
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
The concept for the program was drawn from the Neighborhood Quality chapter of the South
District Plan (adopted 2015), which focuses on fostering an inclusive sense of community that
embraces the diversity of its population and the many environmental and recreational assets that
serve the area. The plan identified a number of opportunities intended to help foster a sense of
belonging, especially for residents who may be new to the area or have limited English language
skills. Several of these opportunities were centered around outdoor facilities and recreation,
including the following:
"Support Blue Zones efforts to get people active by hosting regular walking and biking events on
the South District Trails. Encourage the establishment of festivals or other special events that
celebrate the unique qualities of South Iowa City, including its cultural diversity. For example:
commercial areas encourage social activity by hosting special events —farmers markets, food
truck night, live music, dance, roller derby, etc."
The proposed program will encourage people to be active in their neighborhoods —walking or
biking —at least one day per week. A series of events located in and around parks, along trails,
or walkable areas will focus on making senior citizens, families, immigrants, and women feel
comfortable and more familiar with the trail system and on -street facilities, such as the bike lanes
and wide sidewalk on Sycamore Street. The program will run through the month of May (5
Wednesdays) with the hope of encouraging regular walking and biking among residents.
Healthy Kids School Based Health ($12,300)
Healthy Kids School -Based Health Clinics (HKSBHC) is seeking to fund a new project; the
Families of Immigrants and Refugees Mental Health Project (FIRM) to enhance the mental health
services it already offers so they include mental health services for notjust children/youth but their
families as well. Currently, the clinic works with Johnson County Focus on Youth (FOY) funding,
ICCSD school funding and School Children's Aid to pay for school -based and private therapy and
psychiatry services for its uninsured patients who are between the ages of 0-18 or graduation age
(through one's 21st year).
The FIRM Project would focus on meeting the needs of clinic patients who are noncitizens living
in Johnson County with emphasis on individuals whose family members have been negatively -
affected by anti-immigrant/refugee policies such as the recent rescission of Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and others. The project would consist of funding support for individual
and family therapy sessions as well as quarterly "Know Your Rights" workshops, which would be
open to all interested community members. These workshops would pertain to two focus areas:
1) For general immigrant rights for those lawfully and unlawfully present in the U.S.; including
DACA recipients and 2) For immigrant rights related to victims and survivors of domestic violence.
Within the last year, clinic staff have witnessed the toll these decisions have had on individuals
and as a result, households. A particular case that comes to mind is of a 16-year-old girl who
witnessed the nightly stress and fear within her parents who are undocumented and the
uncertainty of their future living in a government that is becoming more vigilant towards
populations from which they come. The stress/fear her parents festered within took shape the
form of stricter rules for her and her siblings, shorter fuses, etc. All of these symptoms triggered
increased anxiety within the young girl who eventually developed depression and experienced
suicidal ideation, leading to temporary hospitalization. Much of the fear this girl's parents were
experiencing stemmed from uncertainty or lack of knowledge as undocumented individuals living
in the United States.
I CITY OF IOWA CITY
-^� COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
The FIRM project aims to help individuals receive accurate information, from trusted resources,
in safe environments as well as the opportunity to receive funds to pay for counseling to improve
family dynamics and well-being due to these and other conflicts.
Center for Worker Justice ($7100)
The Work Skills Initiative proposes four ten -week classes for hands-on work skills training for two
groups, low-income youth and adults. The program will be carried out in conjunction with the
STEAM Fab Lab, a collaborative workspace that provides materials and services to support
invention, innovation and entrepreneurship. Eligible youth and adults will have immigrant and/or
low-income backgrounds.
Low-income youth or adults enrolled in the ten -week program would spend the first five weeks
experiencing a variety of skill opportunities to include trade skills, wiring, fabrication processes,
and woodworking. The last five weeks of the class would involve developing and creating a
project with a mentor that involves the skills learned in the first weeks of the class.
Per the grant review process, staff to the Commission shared the recommendation with the
University of Iowa's Chief Diversity Office. To view all grant applications submitted for fiscal year
2018 visit the City Council's Social Justice and Racial Equity Initiative webpage under the link
https://www8. iowa-city.org/weblink/O/edoc/1768152/Submissions%20FY%20SJ RE%2OGrant.pdf.
Prepared by: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director/ Human Rights Coordinator, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 356-5022
Resolution No. 18-99
Resolution Adopting the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant
Allocations for Fiscal Year 2018.
Whereas, the City Council approved funding in the fiscal year 2018 budget for Social Justice
and Racial Equity ("SJRE") Grants to community -based organizations to build capacity to address
social justice and racial equity; and
Whereas, the City has disseminated SJRE Grant applications to Iowa City organizations; and
Whereas, the City received twenty-eight applications for SJRE Grant for fiscal year 2018; and
Whereas, the Human Rights Commission held a meeting to discuss and review applications
regarding the allocation of funds for the SJRE Grant for fiscal year 2018; and
Whereas, the Human Rights Commission has recommended that Exhibit A be approved; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that the public interest will be served by the adoption of the
fiscal year 2018 SJRE Grant allocations.
Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa that:
1. The allocation of fiscal year 2018 SJRE Grant funds attached hereto as Exhibit A is hereby
approved and adopted.
2. The City Manager or designee is hereby authorized to execute, terminate, or amend SJRE
Grant agreements executed in connection with the allocation of public funds.
Passed and approved this 2nd day of April 2018.
M OR
ATTEST . Cc.e
CITY CLERK
Approved by:
City Attorney's Office
Resolution No.
Page 2
M-M
It was moved by Thomas and seconded by
Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were:
AYES: NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Mims
Botchway
Cole
Mims
Salih
Taylor
Thomas
Throgmorton
the
Exhibit A
Organization
FYI Request
HRC Recommendation
Shelter House
$5000.00
$5000.00
Neighborhood &
Development Services
$600.00
$600.00
Healthy Kids School Based
Health
$12,300.00
$12,300.00
Center for Worker Justice
$10,900.00
$7100.00
$28,800.00
$25,000.00
Memorandum on SJRE Grant FY19
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�m�1tllr �
CITY OF IOWA CITY
MEMORANDUM
Date: August 2, 2018
To: City Council
From: Simon Andrew, Assistant to the City Manager
Re: Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant purpose statement
Introduction:
OS��Tg-
IP6
City Council recently provided staff and the Human Rights Commission guidance on the
process for the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant (SJRE) program. A copy of the May 31,
2018 memo from the Human Rights Coordinator and Equity Director is attached. When
discussing the program, Council indicated the desire for a brief discussion to review the purpose
statement included on the grant application. The purpose statement provides direction to
prospective applicants, as well as guidance to Commission members evaluating applications.
History/Background:
The text of the purpose statement as currently worded on the SJRE grant application is as
follows, "The purpose of this funding is to encourage, empower, and engage social justice and
racial equity initiatives. Iowa City for -profit and Iowa City non-profit organizations can apply for
the grant to fund programs, activities, initiatives, or educational outreach that helps to eliminate
inequities in the community. The SJRE grant has six priority service areas: education, building
community, housing, criminal justice, health, and employment."
Discussion of Solutions:
Once Council is comfortable with the purpose statement language, staff and the Human Rights
Commission will begin to develop the program materials for this fall's application period.
r
CiTY OF IOWA CITY IP7
MEMORANDUM
Date: May 31. 2018
To: Geoff Fruin, City Manager
Simon Andrew, Assistant to the City Manager
From: Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator and Equity Director
Re: Social Justice and Racial Equity
Introduction:
Council, at its Tuesday, March 20 Work Session, requested that staff provide guidelines for the
Human Rights Commission to follow in reviewing and making funding recommendations for
Council consideration on the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grants for fiscal year 2019.
Specifically, Council wants to make sure the Commission is recommending funding for new
projects and projects that assist those individuals or groups that have been marginalized;
examples given were persons who are low-income, persons of color, veterans, veterans with a
disability, and LGBTQ persons. Fiscal year 2019 marks a significant increase in grant funding,
from $25,000 to $75,000.
Background:
In 2016, the Council approved funding for the creation of a grant program to assist Iowa City
organizations in advancing social justice and racial equity (SJRE Grant).
The purpose of the funding is to encourage, empower, and engage social justice and racial
equity initiatives in the community. Iowa City for profit and non-profit organizations can apply for
the grant to fund programs, activities, initiatives, or educational outreach that helps to eliminate
inequities in the community. The SJRE Grant has six priority service areas: education, building
community, housing, criminal justice, health, and employment. To be eligible for funding, the
organization must be principally and physically located in Iowa City. Funding cannot be used for
operational costs.
As part of the application process, organizations must provide: their mission statement, years of
operation, annual budget, past projects, how the proposal addresses a need in the community,
how many people will be served through the proposal, the demographics of those who will be
served, whether there is a charge to participants for the service, whether it is part of a
collaborative effort, a timeline for completion, and expected outcomes with indicators or markers
to evaluate the effectiveness. A copy of the full application is attached to this memo.
Applications are accepted December 1 — January 2. The Human Rights Commission holds
several meetings after grant submissions are received. The first is an orientation for all
Commission members that covers the history of the grant, the purpose of the grant, and the
requirements of the grant. The Commission Chair also goes over the scoring rubric. It is at this
meeting that any potential conflicts of interest are reported to staff to relay to the City Attorney
for review.' At the close of this session, Commissioners are given copies of the grant
submissions to review and score. Also, it is at this meeting when Commissioners decide
whether to seek comment from applicants.
I Orientation is held with each Commissioner on appointment and at this time, staff notifies of the
potential for conflicts with the SJRE grants.
May 24, 2018
Page 2
By the second meeting, individual Commissioners are expected to have read each submission
and given it a score. This score is then calculated into a ranking by the Commission member
based upon the number of applications received. For example, if 28 submissions are received, a
Commission member would assign it a rank of 1-28, with 1 being the highest. This 'ranking is
then divided by the, number of Commissioners participating in the process. This in turn. produces
an overall rank for each application. Commissioners at this meeting have the ability to change
their rankings. If there are no changes, Commissioners fully fund the most organizations they
can based upon the rankings. Per the Council's direction at the time the program was first
created, the Commission's recommendation is shared with the University of Iowa's Chief
Diversity Office for any input prior to being sent to Council for consideration.
Recommendations:
1. Council should review the stated purpose of the grant and the grant application.
The SJRE Grant's purpose and vision guides the members of the Human Rights Commission in
its review of applications and in its recommendation to the Council for funding. A review by
Council of the grant's purpose and the application used for the grant provides Council with the
opportunity to make changes in the purpose or the application or both for further guidance to the
Human Rights Commission.
2. No City departments can apply for the grant as a primary applicant.
If a City department has a program they would like to initiate they should submit it as part of the
annual budget process. This avoids City departments competing with local non -profits for City
funding. This would not restrict a City department from being a non -primary applicant to a grant.
For example, the library could partner with "Agency A" that applies for grant funding to help non-
native speakers of English improve their verbal and written skills professionally, personally, and
academically. The library, as a part of this program, could hold a session(s) with the participants
to provide information on resources the library offers that assist English language learners.
3. A non -mandatory informational meeting will be held for organizations interested in applying
for the grant.
Groups or organizations interested in applying for the grant will be notified that they can attend
an informational meeting, held in early November, to learn more on the history, purpose,
process, and timeline for the grant. At this meeting, staff can also provide grant writing tips to
those that may not have previous experience. There would also be time set aside at this
meeting for questions and answers. Staff believes that this meeting will help produce stronger
applications that better align with the City's desires for the program.
4. No set maximum or minimum amount of grant funding shall be required of applicants.
Programs that require minimal funding could impact a wide range of persons in this community.
Think of 'Agency A applying to fund a program designed to help non-native speakers of English
improve their verbal and written skills professionally, personally, and academically: A local
business has agreed to provide meeting space for the bi-weekly class at no cost to "Agency A,"
and all instructors of the program are volunteers. The funding request is for $650.00, the total
cost to provide the grammar rules and writing composition workbook to all 75 participants. This
workbook is a little less than $9 per student and the 10-week course 'is at no charge to
participants. To be able to assist 75 persons who are English language learners improve their
English comprehension has benefits for them and their families, as well as this community. It
can further advance career opportunities, allow persons to become more engaged in the
community, allow persons to better know and understand their rights, propel educational
attainment, and create more bilingual speakers.
May 24, 2018
Page 3
In contrast, a program that would require maximum funding ($75,000) would need to be
phenomenal and impact populations across all areas to be funded. Because the potential exists
for such an occurrence, there should not be a ceiling placed on the amount that can be
requested. Applicants would be Informed on the application itself and at the informational
meeting that requesting the maximum funding, or even very large funding amounts is not
encouraged, as it is unlikely for the members of the Human Rights Commission to recommend
to the Council that all the funding be placed solely with one or just a few organizations.
5. Applicants that are funded will be limited to three consecutive years for funding for the same
program.
The intent of the grant has been to spur new, innovative programming in the community., The
grant is not intended to serve as a permanent funding source for a program. Thus, while an
organization could receive funding for more than three consecutive years, staff recommends
that programs have a three-year cap. This will help ensure that goal to spur innovation in
applications will continue to be met.
For example, "Agency A" would only be allowed to receive funding for its English learner course
for three consecutive years assuming it .applied and Council approved the allocation. This
restriction limits funding to "Agency K by program, but not by organization. So "Agency A" could
still apply for funding after the third consecutive year, but it would need to be a new and different
program.
6. Each funding round should include organizations that support multiple goals and benerd a
diverse group of participants.
In making recommendations on funding, the Human Rights Commission should emphasize a
diverse perspective so that funding is not all designated as assisting the same target
populations or same priority areas. Funding recommendations should consider. Income, color,
creed, disability, gender Identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual
orientation.
For example, If the Human Rights Commission receives 28 applications that aim to benefit a wide
array of populations and cover multiple stated priority areas (education, building community,
housing, criminal justice, health, and employment), then their recommendations should ensure
that all funding is not unduly concentrated to a small number of targeted groups or priority
areas. Having this requirement may, at times, require the Commission to recommend an
organization for funding that did not rank at the highest level but overall that organization's
application supports a population or area that is not represented in higher ranking applications.
Powerpoint Presentation Used for Informational
Session on the SJRE Grant
2019
Social Justice &
Racial Eqity Grants
Informational Session
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 13
PRESENTED BY STEFANIE BOWERS
EQUITY DIRECTOR & HUMAN RIGHTS COORDINATOR
Agenda
►Welcome
►History, Purpose, Process
►Tips
►Q & A with Human Rights
Commission members
Social Justice & Racial Equity Grant 3
i
r:
z-
PURPOSE
Encourage, Empower, and Engage Social Justice and Racial Equity Initiatives to Eliminate Inequities
6 Priority Service Areas 04
Employment
Health
Education
Criminal
Justice
Proposal should address one or more of these
Building
Community
Housing
FYI 7 $25,000 Total
FYI $25,000 Total
FYI $75,000 Total
Requirement of the SJRE Grants
1. Organization must be principally and physically located in Iowa City.
2. Proposal should seek to eliminate an inequity in the community
(individual, institutional, or structural).
a. New project, that assists individuals or groups that have been
marginalized.
Restrictions
1. Funds cannot be used for operational costs . The cost to keep the
business running (payroll, rent, office supplies, utilities, insurance, and
taxes).
2. Not considered a permanent funding source but if you are awarded
funding you can reapply twice for that project to be funded again.
s. City Departments cannot be a primary applicant.
There are no restrictions on
► The amount you request $ (Phenomenal and Impactful).
► Whether you are for profit or not for profit.
Nine residents of Iowa City who are
appointed by the City Council to
serve 3 year terms.
Purpose:
Outreach and Education
on Human Rights
Authority:
To recommend to Council any further
legislation that is needed to further
advance human rights.
Process
December 3 at noon through January 2 at noon
www.icgov.org/SJREgrantapplication
Human Rights Commission reviews and ranks and by March 31
make a recommendation to the Council for review and approval
Council makes its decision by April 30
Funding allocated by June 1
5/8/2019
10
5
®Goals of the organization align with
Social Justice or Racial Equity?
VMission statement of the organization
align with Social Justice or Racial
Equity?
Learn more about the Organization?
Does it advance social justice or racial equity?
Is there a community need?
Will it have a significant impact on community
members?
Is it sustainable?
Are there specific outcomes and performance
measures?
The Proposal?
Amount requested
Amount requested covers the service,
project, or activity?
Would it need to be supplemented to cover
the service, project or activity?
Timeline for project?
What to do between now and
December 3
i. Look at the past applications whether funded or not? Duplication?
2. Priorities of your organization? Indicators, needs, gaps in service or
problems? That your organization can address.
3. Think of ways you can provide proof or evidence of the inequity.
Community trends? Data? What does it show or demonstrate.
a. Develop an action plan:
1. How can you address the inequity?
2. What supports are needed?
3. What funding is needed?
a. Can you do it without full funding?
5. How will success be measured?
13
Suggestions
► Start early. Late applications are not reviewed.
► Cut and paste the application into a Word or similar document and
then cut and paste back when ready to submit.
► Follow the application instructions.
► Adapt the wording of the grant. Make sure you are continually
showing how this encourages, empowers, one or more of the priority
areas.
P. Your narrative should match where you are spending funds.
► Get actual costs/prices when able.
► Process Goals and Outcome Goals are very important.
► Prior to submitting have others review the application. Is it clear?
Expectations if awarded
Written Agreement
Required to submit 2 program reports on
progress towards the stated goals (November 1,
2019 and April 1, 2020).
2. An annual accounting report describing, at
minimum, the uses of funds received during the
prior year (July 31, 2020).
Conditional Status
► The Equi Director, with the approval of the City Manager, mayy place the Recipient
on condi tonal status when one or more serious problems are identified that puts the
Recipient's agreement with the City of Iowa City in'eopardy. Problems may be in
service delivery, board activity, agency adminish3on, fiscal management,
cooperation with other agencies, compliance with this agreement, or any other
failure to further the stated goals of the grant request.
► Following
will meet
made.
Director
dems,specific
will provide
ensure that
► If the Recipient fails to meet the requirements of this agreement and/or the action
step memo within the appropriate time frame as specified, the Equity Director may
recommend to the CiN Manager that recipient be barred from recelyinany future
funding from the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant for a minimum o 2 years.
Questions?
5/8/2019
19
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SJRE Grant Application FY19
FYI Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City Page 1 of 11
CITY GOVERNMENT SERVICES PAYMENT NEWS & MEDIA CALENDAR
&SUBSCRIPTIONS REPORT A CONCERN IOWA CITY FLOOD RESOURCES
Cityof IOWA CITY
A UNESCO CITY OF LITERATURE
Q Search this site Search
Home
FY19 Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application
View Edit Webform Results Revisions
Background, Vision and Principles
In 2016, the Iowa City City Council created a grant program to assist Iowa City
organizations in addressing social justice and racial equity (SJRE Grant).
Purpose
The purpose of this funding is to encourage, empower and engage social justice and racial
equity initiatives. Iowa City for -profit and non-profit organizations can apply for the grant to
fund programs, activities, initiatives or educational outreach that helps to eliminate
inequities in the community. The SJRE grant has six priority service areas: education,
building community, housing, criminal justice, health, and employment.
Available Funding
This year, $75,000 has been allocated by the City Council for this program. Both proposals
and budgets will be subject to review.
Select Language
https://www.icgov.org/form/fyl9-social justice -and -racial -equity -grant -application 5/2/2019
FYI Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City Page 2 of 11
Requirements
To be eligible for funding, the organization must be principally and physically located in
Iowa City.
Proposal should seek to eliminate an inequity in the community (individual, institutional, or
structural), and be a new project, that assists individuals or groups that have been
marginalized.
Restrictions
Funds cannot be used for operational costs .
This grant is not considered a permanent funding source, but if you are awarded funding,
you can reapply twice for that project to be funded again.
City Departments cannot be a primary applicant.
Applicants are asked to include a clear and well organized project budget for 2019 and
2020, in spreadsheet form. There is a section in this application to upload the file as a PDF
or XLS.
The project budget must follow the template below.
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FYI Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City Page 3 of 11
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An image of the budget template.
Process
Applications can be submitted beginning at noon on December 3, 2018 through noon on
January 2, 2019. The Iowa City Human Rights Commission will review each complete
application submitted and make recommendations to the City Council on how funding
should be allocated no later than March 31, 2019. The City Council will make the final
decision on allocations no later than April 30, 2019. Funding will be awarded by June 3,
2019.
Deadline
Applications must be submitted by noon on January 2, 2019.
Questions about the application form or review process should be directed to Equity Director
Stefanie Bowers at stefonie-bowers@iowa-city.org or 319-356-5022.
(.Organizational Information -------- -
Name of organization
Mailing address
i
Telephone number
i
Email address *
https://www.icgov.org/formlfyl9-social-justice-and-racial-equity-grant-application 5/2/2019
FY19 Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City
Page 4 of 11
Name and title of contact person for purposes of this application
Contact person's telephone number and email address *
How many years has the organization been in operation? *
Provide an example of a project initiated by the organization in the last three years that had a wide
community reach and impact, if a newly established organization, provide an experience with a
prior project that inspired this proposal.
IN
1
What is the program, service or activity?
How does the program, service or activity advance social justice and racia[Eq—
https://vAvw.icgov.org/fonn/fy I 9-social-justice-and-racial-equity-grant-applicition 5/2/2019
FY19 Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City
Page 5 of 11
How does the program, service or activity address one or more of the six priority areas?
What community need does this program, service or activity fulfill? Response should include
information or data that demonstrates the need.
Does the program, service or activity include partnerships or collaborations with other organization
(s)? If so, what organization(s)? Provide a detailed description of the partnership/collaboration.
Provide the projected demographics of community members that will be served by the program,
service or activity (response should include age, race, gender and income). *
Select Language
littps://www.icgov.org/form/fyl9-social-justice-and-racial-equity-grant-application 5/2/2019
FYI Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City Page 6 of 11
How many community members are estimated to be served by this program, service or activity and
over what period of time?
Is there a charge to participate in the program, service or activity? If so, what Is the cost per
person? Why is the charge needed?
I
Ii
l
What are the outcomes and performance measures for the program, service or activity?
What indicators or metrics have been identified to measure outcomes and performance?
_ Select Language
https://www.iegov.org/form/fyI9-social justice -and -racial -equity -grant -application 5/2/2019
FY19 Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City
Page 7 of 11
How will these outcomes be shared beyond your organization with the community?
What processes or tools will be created as a part of the program, service or activity that can be
shared with others in the community to eliminate racial and social inequities?
Will the program, service or activity be continued or expanded after the SJRE Grant funding ends?
If so, how?
If the proposal includes fees for professional services, please explain how this advances the
program, service or activity and its goals.
III. Funding Amount Reques
Amount of funding requested
https://www.icgov.org/form/fy19-social justice -and -racial -equity -grant -application 5/2/2019
FYI Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City Page 8 of 1 I
What is the organization's annual budget? ** Social Justice and Racial Equity grantfunds cannot
be used for operational costs such as rent, salaries or utilities.
Upload the project budget for 2019 and 2020. The project budget must be on a spreadsheet
and consistent with the template. *
[jr-wse... Upload
Files must be less than 2 MB,
Allowed file types: pdf As.
Provide a timeline for the program, service or activity. *
Provide a timeline for how grant money would be spent over the next year. *
Within the last five years, has the organization received any funding from the City of Iowa
City? If so, for what purpose and how much?
Within the last five years, has the organization received funding for this program, service or
activity from a non -City of Iowa City source? If so, how much was received and what is the
duration of the funding?
Select _anguag
https://www.icgov.org/form/fy19-social_ justice -and -racial -equity -grant -application 5/2/2019
FYI Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application I City of Iowa City Page 9 of 11
Does the organization plan to apply for additional funding for this program, service or activity
in fiscal year 2018 or fiscal year 2019? *
If so, how much is needed? Is the program, service, or activity dependent on receiving both the
SJRE and additional funding?
Authorization *
❑ I agree that the following electronic signature is an electronic representation of my signature for
all purposes; just the same as traditional pen -and -paper signature.
Authorization date *
Month Day v Year v
Submit
in A+
Quick links
City Code
City Council
Commodities, services, consulting bids
Construction project bids
Fire
Iowa City Public Library 1.:.. ,....,,.,.,.,.::.:.........g. .9......�...,......1
Select Lan ua e ♦ I
https://www.icgov.org/form/fyl9-social-justice-and-racial-equity-grant-application 5/2/2019
Rubric Used for FYI SJRE Applications
SJRE Application #
The rubric has three sections: part 1, Organizational Information, worth 10 points: part
two, Proposal, worth 60 points; part three, Funding Amount, worth 30 points. The
highest score achievable on an application is 100 points.
1. First, please rate the organizational information (Up to 10 points).
Organizational
Points
A. Goals of the organization for 2019 align with social justice or racial equity:
B. Mission statement of the organization aligns with social justice or racial equity:
C. Does the organization have a history of accomplishment:
D. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
E. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
F. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
Comments regarding the organizational information:
Total Points this section:
2. Second, please rate the proposal (Up to 60 points).
Proposal
Points
A. Program, service, or activity advances social justice or racial equity:
B. There is a need in the community for this program, service, or activity:
C. Program, service or activity will have a significant impact on community
members:
D. Program, service or activity has tools that will be shared with others and are
beneficial to community:
E. Program, service or activity has specific outcomes and performance
measures:
F. Program, service or activity is sustainable in the community after SJRC grant
funding would end (Applicant includes a plan for continuing the program,
service or activity beyond the grant period):
G. Timeline for service, project or activity provides for specific time frame for
actions:
H. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
I. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
J. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
Comments regarding the proposal:
Total Points this section:
3. Third, please rate the funding amount requested (Up to 30 points).
Funding Requested
Points
A. Amount requested would cover the service, project or activity:
B. Proposal includes a budget that clearly outlines how the funding would be spent:
C. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
D. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
E. Evaluator's Own Criteria:
Comments regarding the proposal's funding request (please include as much information as
you can to facilitate the funding decision process):
Total Points this section:
OVERALL SCORE: out of 100
SJRE Grant Allocations for FY19
Item Number: 14.
r CITY OF IOWA CITY
�'7N COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
February 19, 2019
Resolution Adopting the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Allocations
for Fiscal Year 2019.
Prepared By: Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator and Equity Director
Reviewed By: Simon Andrew, Assistant to the City Manager
Susan Dulek, Assistant City Attorney
Fiscal Impact: $74,421.00
Recommendations: Staff: No Recommendation
Commission: By a vote of 7-0 the Human Rights Commission recommends
to City Council funding eight organizations at their requested amount for the
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant as shown below for FY19. Iowa Harm
Reduction$10,577.00; Refugee and Immigrant Association
$12,000.00; University of Iowa Labor Center$15,200.00; Inside Out Reentry
$7,000.00; University of Iowa Mood Disorders Center$11,460.00; Shelter
House $10,600.00; Access 2 Independence $5,260.00; Neighborhood
Centers of JC & South District Neighborhood Association $2,324.00. The
total allocation is $74,421.00.
Attachments: Draft minutes HRC 1 24 19
Resolution for SJRE Allocations
Executive Summary:
In 2017, the City Council created a Social Justice and Racial Equity ("SJRE") Grant to
assist community -based organizations to build capacity to address social justice and racial equity.
Background /Analysis:
In 2017, the City Council created Social Justice and Racial Equity ("SJRE") Grants to assist
community -based organizations in building capacity to address social justice and racial equity
needs. Seventy-five thousand dollars was allocated for the SJRE Grants for fiscal year 2019. The
grant is available to for -profit and non-profit Iowa City based organizations to fund programs,
activities, or services that help eliminate inequities in the community. The grant lists six priority
service areas: education, building community, housing, criminal justice, health, and employment.
Organizations whose programs, services, or activities address one or more of these priorities are
considered first for funding. Funding requests for operational costs such as rent, salaries or
utilities of an organization are not covered by the grant. Applications to apply for the grant for fiscal
year 2019 were available from December 3, 2018 — January 2, 2019. The Human Rights
Commission met on January 24 (minutes attached) to review the twenty-six funding requests. By a
vote of 7-0 the Commission recommends to City Council to fund the below organizations at their
requested amount for FY19. The total allocation is $74,421.00 Iowa Harm Reduction
$10,577.00; Refugee and Immigrant Association $12,000.00; University of Iowa Labor Center
$15,200.00; Inside Out Reentry $7,000.00; University of Iowa Mood Disorders Center
$11,460.00; Shelter House $10,600.00; Access 2 Independence $5,260.00; Neighborhood
Centers of JC & South District Neighborhood Association $2,324.00. Per the grant review
process, the recommendation was shared with the University of Iowa's Chief Diversity Office
(CDO) for input. Staff plans on discontinuing this review by the CDO in future grant cycles due to
the increase in workload it places them, but will continue to forward grant allocations for
informational purposes. Summaries of the organizations proposals are attached to the minutes
from January 24. To view all submissions for fiscal year 2019 visit the City's Social Justice and
Racial Equity Initiative webpage at this link https://www.iowa-
city.org/webIink/0/edoc/l 843621 /SJ RE%20Grant%20Submission%20FY19.pdf.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Draft Minutes HRC 1 24 19
Resolution for SJ RE Allocations
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
January 24, 2019
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
Members Present: Jeff Falk, Cathy McGinnis, Bijou Maliabo, Jessica Ferdig, Barbara
Kutzko, Tahuanty Pena, Adil Adams, Jonathon Munoz.
Members Absent: Noemi Ford.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to Council: Yes
By a vote of 7-0 the Commission recommends to City Council funding the below
organizations for the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant as shown below for FY19.
Agency
Request
Recommendation
Iowa Harm Reduction
$10,577.00
$10,577.00
Refugee and Immigrant
Association
$12,000.00
$12,000.00
University of Iowa Labor
Center
$15,200.00
$15,200.00
Inside Out Reentry
$7,000.00
$7,000.00
University of Iowa Mood
Disorders Center
$11,460.00
$11,460.00
Shelter House
$10,600.00
$10,600.00
Access 2Independence
$5,260.00
$5,260.00
Neighborhood Centers of JC
& South District
Neighborhood Association
$2,324.00
$2,324.00
Total
$74,421.00
$74,421.00
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:47 PM.
Approval of January 8, 2019 Meeting Minutes: Munoz moved to approve the
minutes; the motion was seconded by Falk. A vote was taken, and the motion passed 7-
0. (Maliabo not present).
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant: (McGinnis steps away from the dais and
does not participate due to a conflict of interest with one of the grant applicants).
Falk gave an overview of the rubric used and the ranking sheet used to evaluate each
grant. Grants were scored based on a total 100 point scale, the organizational
information is worth 10 points, the proposal itself is worth up to 60 points and the
funding amount requested is worth up to 30 points. The rubric serves as a guideline.
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
January 24, 2019
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
The Excel spreadsheet used for this process calculated each Commissioner's point
totals for each applicant so that the application with the highest points ranked as
number 1 and the lowest point ranked 26. For the overall ranking it went the opposite
way. The grant application with the lowest average amongst Commissioners got ranked
26 and the highest average got ranked 1 (last in line to get funding request
recommended).
There are six top ranked applications that if fully funded fell under the $75,000.
Iowa Harm Reduction 26
$10,577.00
Refugee and Immigrant Association 25
$12,000.00
University of Iowa Labor Center 24
$15,200.00
Inside Out Reentry 23
$7,000.00
University of Iowa Mood Disorder Center
22
$11,460.00
Shelter House 21
$10,600.00
Total
$66,837.00
Munoz asked who had received funding in the past two grant cycles.
FY17
Organization
Amount
Inside Out Reentry
$3000.00
Iowa Legal Aid
$2200.00
JC Affordable Housing Coalition
$2500.00
World of Bikes, IC Bike Library, City of Iowa
City
$3250.00
Sankofa Outreach Connection
$13,500.00
Total
$24,450.00
FY18
Organization
Amount
Healthy Kids School Based Health
$12,300.00
Shelter House
$5000.00
Center for Worker Justice
$10,900.00
Total
$28,200.00
Ferdig asked if Shelter House had received funding for this specific program in FY18, to
which staff replied no.
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
January 24, 2019
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
The current FY19 rankings leave $8163.00 remaining to be allocated. The sixth ranked
lowest average, Successful Living, requested $16,320.00, which if recommended would
go over the $75,000 allocated.
Munoz thinks the Commission should spread the wealth, instead of continuously
funding Shelter House. Ferdig commented on this as well.
To encourage diversity of applications and in a year when the funding has been
increased to $75,000, Munoz believes the Commission should not allocate to the
Shelter House who would under the current rankings receive funding for FY19 while still
receiving funding for FY 20. Kutzko pointed out that the FY19 proposal from Shelter
House is a different program than was funded in FY18.
Adams suggested asking the City Council to increase the funding from $75,000 this
year to allow for Successful Living to be fully funded.
Munoz pointed out that the Shelter House is ranked at #21 and so it would be the last of
the top six to push out of the top rankings and reiterated that Shelter House had
received funding in FY18 even if it was for a different program. Munoz asked
Commissioners to think about consecutive funding for a well -endowed organization.
Falk asked him to further explain his concern.
Munoz pointed out that his problem is not with the Shelter House application but that
there is an increase in money from $25,000 to $75,000 for FY19 and funding the same
organization did not seem prudent. It would be better to provide funding to organizations
with more diverse representations.
Kutzko agreed with Munoz's comment to be a little more diverse in selection and the
Commission may want to consider spreading the wealth a little more by not giving the
full asking amount to applicants who have received funding in the past.
Falk looks upon it differently, he sees it as giving the money for an activity and not to an
organization. If the activity is new, then in his mind that is worthwhile or a consideration.
This is what he tried to pay attention to, whether the proposal was something new or
not.
Munoz thinks that the Commission keeps recommending funding to well -endowed
organization and does not pay attention to newer organizations that were established in
Iowa City that have more diverse board members. He believes that if the Commission
does not give them a chance, who will, and that concerns him.
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
January 24, 2019
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
Falk noted that Munoz's concern might be a good concern but that as Commission
members they have no idea of the diversity of an applicant's board.
Munoz concurred but pointed out that the application does ask for the year the
organization was established, its annual budget, and whether it has received funding
from the City in the past.
Pena asked if the Commission wanted to move Shelter House further down on the list.
Pena, like Falk, looked at the idea and the execution of the idea, not the organization.
But he noted Munoz made a valid point, in that resources should not be focused on the
same organizations.
Falk is not in favor of changing the current rankings but thinks the Commission should
take into consideration in communicating with the City Council that they need to be
more explicit in terms of what they are looking for because the message he got is that it
should be a new program and not a new organization.
Munoz finds Falk's comment to be an unfair shifting of responsibility, to say that the City
Council needs to direct the Commission to decide what to do. It is the Commission's call
on what to recommend. Further it is the Commission's responsibility to make decisions
that promote social justice, race and equity concerns. Munoz does not think that
$10,600.00 should be going to an organization that got funding in FY18. Munoz moved
that Shelter House should not be funded and that the Commission should go to the next
highest ranked applicant. (Motion lacked a second).
Falk inquired as to whether there are any other applicants that, based on Munoz's
concern, should be singled out
Munoz said he singled Shelter House out because it was sixth ranked (#21) and the
only organization out of that six that got funding in FY18 and would get it for FY19 too.
In terms of the diversity of board members, and all those considerations, he was
pointing out his thought processes as far as rankings and does not know the actual
racial demographics of the Shelter House board. The major concern for him was that
Shelter House was funded last year.
Pena asked if Shelter House should be taken out in an informal poll. Munoz in the
negative, remarking that if the Commission doesn't start emphasizing lesser known
organizations, the Commission will never progress in terms of the goals of this City
Council.
Ferdig mentioned that because the rules at this time do not prohibit an organization
from being funded for two consecutive years that it would seem harsh to deny Shelter
House's request, Ferdig will vote in favor of Shelter House being recommended funding
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
January 24, 2019
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
but would ask in the future for a restriction to be added that an organization cannot be
funded in consecutive years even if for a new or different proposal.
(Maliabo present)
Falk pointed out the disparity in the rankings and that it is the average that winds up
being used. He thought perhaps next time he should include the average and the
standard deviation.
Ferdig asked fellow Commission members whether they felt the population that will be
served by these programs reflects diverse populations, specifically do the funding
recommendations represent a diversity of populations of persons served. Pena felt most
the applications were targeting the same groups.
Adams wanted to know whether the Commission is interested in changing the policy so
that organizations only get funding once every five years, because the community has
new organizations and we need all the organizations involved to serve a diverse
community. Adams also would like to make a recommendation to the City Council to
get more funding for the grants because $75,000 is not enough.
Falk finds that questions with procedures come up when you are involved in doing the
procedure instead of thinking about it before hand. Falk suggested that Commissioners
keep in mind what some of their challenges were in this process and that a meeting be
held in the future to go over things and make a list and shift to the City Council to
improve the process. If there are things they think the Commission needs to make a
good decision, they need to be placed in the rubric as additions or observations.
Munoz responded that there is a difference between a rubric and discretion. Judgments
are based on the Commission's discretion and the Commission does not need a rubric
to tell them what is right from wrong. Munoz does not need City Council to tell him that
he should emphasis diversity of an applicant's board as far as making
recommendations on allocating funding.
Pena agrees that if there are restrictions moving forward on consecutive funding it
would create more opportunities to new organizations.
Munoz moves to recommend the top six ranked applicants for funding for FY19,
Maliabo seconded, motion passed 7-0.
This leaves $8100.63 left for funding recommendations. The seventh ranked applicant
(Successful Living #20) is over that amount by $8084.31.
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
January 24, 2019
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
Pena mentioned that these are good proposals and would like to recommend for all to
be funded but ultimately, he believes the Commission should stick to the amount
allocated by the City Council and to stay within that budget.
Munoz proposed to skip over Successful Living and to fully recommend funding for
Access 2 Independence #17 and Johnson County Neighborhood Centers and South
District Neighborhood Association #16. Murioz's reasoning is that it would fund two
different projects for two different organizations and would create diversity of
populations being served. Any organizations ranked higher than these two could not be
fully funded because there is only $8100.63 remaining.
Ferdig pointed out that Successful Living's proposal only included expenses for the
entry fees for their clients to events without any other overhead costs to consider.
Because of this it would only cut the scope of the project but still make it possible and
proving a worthwhile endeavor for the organization that ranked next in line. Falk
concurred with Ferdig.
Falk spoke on finding it difficult to look at organizational budgets and comparing that to
what they want funding for and whether it is an appropriate amount. Falk has little idea
on how to evaluate any of that and if he had a better idea, he would want a lot more
information than the organizations have been asked to supply. Falk also does not want
to decide whether an amount lesser is appropriate for an organization. Falk recalled last
year that the Commission decided it wasn't going to fiddle with amounts and just
recommend funding an organization for what they ask. Falk did not mention this as an
argument against doing things but just noting how he operated in this process.
Munoz asked if Falk is proposing for Successful Living's funding request to be slashed
in half. Falk responded he was not slashing it in half, he is recommending giving it half
as opposed to giving it zero.
Ferdig said she was proposing this reduction in allocation to Successful Living because
its proposal is only for entry fees for their clients and that is something that could be cut
in half.
Staff mentioned that some of the discussion could be assisted by looking at the
applications. As part of the process those applying must answer questions on whether
they have received City funds, and whether the proposal could succeed if partially
funded. Staff reported that those questions are intentionally asked because of past
challenges in evaluating how funding should be allocated.
Munoz, regarding his proposal for recommending funding for Johnson County
Neighborhood Centers and the South District Neighborhood Association and Access 2
Independence, mentioned that Ferdig had asked about the diversity of the populations
0
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
January 24, 2019
Emma J. Harvat, City Hall
being served and that in his opinion not many applicants adequately addressed
disability and that is why he liked Access 2 Independence and that it would be more
prudent to fully fund two organizations than to fund only one at half.
Ferdig pointed out that the Commission could opt not to use the remaining $8100.63.
Pena feels that cutting the budget for Successful Living, acknowledging the valid
rationale, would be based upon assumptions. The Commission did not create its budget
and do not know all the operation behind it. Pena feels more comfortable following
Munoz and likes the idea of recommending the funding for more projects.
Ferdig replied that she did not assume anything. It is stated in grant proposal by
Successful Living --the funding will go towards entry fees. Ferdig followed this up by
adding that she had ranked Access 2 Independence two in her overall rankings.
Munoz moves to totally fund Access 2 Independence and the Neighborhood Centers of
Johnson County with the South District Neighborhood Association, Adams seconded,
the motion passed 5-2. Falk and Ferdig in the negative. Falk noted that he had ranked
Access 2 Independence as his number one in overall rankings.
Staff will set up a Commission work session to discuss opportunities for improving the
grant process in the future.
(McGinnis returns to dais to participate).
Black History Proclamation: Munoz will accept the proclamation from the City Council
at its February 5 meeting date.
Reports of Commissioners: Maliabo participated in two classrooms at Liberty High
School for its Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. One of the classrooms provided Black history
to students who were immigrants and not as familiar with King and his legacy.
Falk also participated in the Liberty High School event and mentioned he learned a lot
more on King's anti -war stance than he knew before.
Kutkzo attended the City's Martin Luther King, Jr., Celebration. She and her husband
also participated at the West High School Martin Luther King, Jr., Day. They discussed
their personal experiences living through the civil rights movement.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 6:48 PM.
Member Attendance Sheet
Member
Term
Exp.
1/8
1124
2119
3l19
4116
5l21
6l18
7116
8120
9117
10115
11119
12110
Maliabo
112021
Present
Present
McGinnis
112021
Present
Present
MUIIOZ
112021
Excused
Present
Kutzko
112020
Present
Present
Falk
112020
Present
Present
Pena
112020
Present
Present
Adams
112022
Excused
Present
Ferdi
112022
Present
Present
Ford
112022
Present
Excused
KEY: X =
Present
O
= Absent
O/E =
Absent/Excused
NM=
No meeting
--- =
Not a Member
Requested Amount
Organization
434
Successful Living
$16,320.00
tt35
Iowa Harm Reduction
$10,577.00
H36
Humanize My Hoodie DBA Born Leaders United
$37,045.00
tt37
Center for WorkerJustice
$12,951.60
H38
Access 2 Independence of the Eastern Iowa Corridor
$5,260.00
439
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County
$15,000.00
fY40
South District Neighborhood Association
$10,000.00
441
Sankofa Outreach Connection
$10,000.00
tP 2
University of Iowa Labor Center
$15,200.00
H43
Refugee and Immigrant Association
$12,000.00
444
NAACP Iowa City Adult Branch
$15,000.00
tt45
Shelter House Community Shelter and Transistion Services
$10,600.00
446
Inside Out Reentry Community
$7,000.00
tt47
Sankofa Outreach Connection
$14,000.00
H48
IC Compassion
$10,000.00
449
United Action for Youth
$24,800.00
H50
University of Iowa Mood Disorders Center
$11,460.00
451
Dream Center, Center for Disability& Development, IC Parks and Recreation
$15,365.00
tt52
Sudanese Community Center
$40,550.00
H53
Houses into Homes
$25,000.00
tt54
Rape Victim Advocacy Program
$27,600.00
H55
Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, South District Neighborhood Association
$2,324.00
456
Fifth Ward Saints North
$4,500.00
tt57
Boys and Girls Club Cedar Rapids, Iowa City Unit
$17,000.00
458
Emma Goldman Clinic
$9,980.00
tt59
Domestic Violence Intervention Program
$8,080.00
Total $387,612.60
434
935
436
93]
438
439
440
441
942
443
944
445
946
44]
448
949
450
951
452
953
454
455
456
45]
958
459
Rankings for Social Justice and Radial Equip, Grant Submissions Fy19
Requested Amount
Aaerage Rank
Organization
Successful Living
516,320.00
11 14286
Iowa Harm Reduction
$10,5]].00
4857143
Humanize My Heroic DBA Born Leaders United
537,045.00
1928571
Center for L'orkerlukire
$12,951.60
1371429 _
Access 2 Independence of the Eastern I. —Corridor
$5,260.00
1242857c _
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County
515,000.00
1557143
South District Neighborhood Association
$10,000.00
1842857
Sanlmfa Outreach Connection
510,000.00
12,71429
Unlverslry of Iowa lab or Carter
$15,200.00
9.428571
Refugee and Immigrant Association
512,000.00
8714286
NAACP Iowa City Adult Branch
$15,000.00
1429571
Shelter House Community Shaker and Transaction services
$10,600.00
11
Ins ltle Out Reentry Community
$7,000.00
9857143
Sankofa Outreach Connection
$14,000.00
2042857
IC Compassion
510,000.00
1157143
m ithed Action for Youth
$24,800.00
1429571
University of Iowa Mmtl Disorders Center
511,460.00
1057143
Dream Center. Center for Disability & Development, IC Parks and Recreation
$15,365.00
1137143
Sudanese Community Center
$40,550.00
19.14286
Houses iota Homes
$25,000.00
13
Rape Victim Advocacy Program
$27,600.00
16
Neighborhood Centers of Johnson CountySouth District Neighborhood Association
52,324.00
1257143I
Fifth Ward saints North
$4,500.00
1485714
Boys and Girls Club Cedar Rapids, Iowa City U nit
517,000.00
17,14286
Emma Goldman Clinic
$9,980.00
1437143
Domestic Violence Intervention Program
AAHSH.00
1385714
Total
$397,612.60
Hands Available
5]5,000.00
Adams
Falk
Ferdig
Kutzko
Maliabo Munoz
send
J
1
2
] 26
1]
21 4
s
9
4
3 1
9
1 ]
2
1]
19
19 14
21
24 21
3
21
3
20 23
4
20 5
J
12
1
2 25
19
11 17
7
22
22
11 11
16
15 12
4
8
15
13 24
20
26 23
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant
Iowa Harm Reduction
Iowa Harm Reduction Coalition (IHRC) addresses health inequities with a program that focuses on
vulnerable and minoritized communities that are disproportionaIly affected by HIV and hepatitis C
(HCV). The program improves accessibility to prevention services for HIV and HCV, increases testing
services for individuals at the highest risk for infection, and improves treatment engagement. IHRC will
purchase 200 rapid test kits for HIV and HCV and provide confirmatory testing, counseling, and
treatment referral for any individual with a reactive result. IHRC provides peer -led services that are
offered from 5 P.M. — 5 A.M. in a community setting to help lower some of the barriers to accessing
health care that exist for individuals who are at higher risk for contracting HIV/HCV.
The goals of the program are to expand community -based HIV/HCV testing and risk reduction education
by providing test services and risk reduction to 200 Iowa City residents and engage 100% of identified
individuals with HIV/HCV into treatment using patient navigator. The program will administer 50 HIV
and HCV tests each quarter. These goals will be measured through data that will be collected at every
mobile outreach event, risk questionnaires filled out by each program participant, data that will be
collected to determine each participant's progress through the program, and a post -engagement survey
Access 2 Independence of the Eastern Iowa Corridor
Access 2 Independence (A2I) will use a program called Vis-Ability where participants take photographs
that illustrate their disability experience in Iowa City. It creates information sessions and a photography
class that give individuals the skills necessary to participate in the project. They will use the photographs
to create a traveling exhibit that will facilitate discussions on the project. Using the discussions, A2I will
create policy recommendations that concern health equity in Iowa City. This project empowers
individuals with disabilities to develop and use advocacy skills and bring awareness to local disability
issues. The program provides education on advocacy and photography skills to participants, education
and community building during discussion sessions, and facilitates discussions on accessible housing,
healthcare, and employment for individuals with disabilities.
A2I will provide a program that could assist the 4.7%of Johnson County residents that have disabilities.
The program will measure community interest through attendance numbers. They will use surveys at
the end of the program, after the first meeting, and at all the exhibits to measure awareness and
determine ways to improve the program.
University of Iowa Labor Center
The University of Iowa Labor Center will create a program called The Corridor Apprenticeship
Opportunity Network that will link unemployed or underemployed Iowa City residents from
underrepresented groups to assist them in enrollment in Iowa's Registered Apprentice Programs. They
will achieve this by organizing outreach events and workshops to recruit participants, create a well -
publicized kick-off, provide free skills -based pre -apprentice education for participants, connect
participants to training coordinators, and provide a leadership development programming to support
the women and people of color in the registered apprentice programs. The program advances social
justice by supporting the entry of women and people of color into high -quality apprenticeship
opportunities where they have been traditionally underrepresented.
The goal of the program is to reach 120 local workers through outreach efforts, enroll 20 participants in
the pre -apprentice program, and include at least 28 participants in leadership development
programming. To measure their goals, they set benchmarks based on an initial survey. They will partner
with local non-profit, labor, and faith -based organizations and with the lowaWORKS office to achieve
their goals.
Refugee and Immigrant Association
The Refugee and Immigrant Association will establish a program called The Awareness and Prevention of
Social Conflict Initiative to address cultural challenges facing refugees and immigrants living in Iowa City.
They will achieve this by establishing Together We Groups, Learning and Growing Presentations, and
Community Collaborators. Together We Groups include the Parenting Group, Women's Group, Men's
Group and a Youth Group. These are groups of individuals experiencing unique challenges that will be
addressed through mentorships and training and education. Learning and Growing Presentations will be
given by experts in their field on topics that are critical for refugees and immigrants. Lastly, Community
Collaborations will be established to facilitate discussions between immigrants and refugees and
members of the Iowa City Community to help program participants understand community institutions
and expectations. The program will serve an essential role in assisting immigrants and refugees and will
help facilitate integration.
The program will reach over 1,000 refugee and immigrant community members. The program aims to
hold monthly group meetings with attendance increasing over the grant year, hold monthly
presentations with attendance increasing over the grant year, and show an increase in collaborative
partners. They will measure the success of the program by recording attendance at meetings and
presentations, provide pre- and post -surveys to participants at presentations, create a list of
collaborative partners, and work with law enforcement to track calls for refugees and immigrants.
Shelter House Community Shelter and Transition Services
Shelter House wants to update the clinic space located at the 429 Southgate emergency shelter which
serves individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. The clinic is an on -site
nurse -managed health clinic that provides general health care to residents and drop -ins. The funds will
be used to revitalize the clinic and replenish needed supplies. The program addresses education by
educating participants on a range of health topics. The program builds community by fostering
partnerships with strategic health providers. It also addresses housing and employment because poor
health can often be a barrier to securing housing or employment.
Last year, Shelter House served 887 individuals by providing emergency shelter and assisted 385
individuals through the drop -in center. Any individuals staying at the shelter or using the drop -in center
are eligible to receive care at the clinic. To help serve these individuals, Shelter House partners with
University of Iowa nursing students, volunteers from Johnson County Public Health, and professors from
the University of Iowa College of Nursing and University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. To measure
the success of the program, Shelter House records the number of clinic visits.
Inside Out Reentry Community
Inside Out (10) will create a 2-day summit and quarterly forum series about reentry and cultivating a
supportive community for returning citizens. The project will include a keynote speaker, a panel of
returning citizens, a workshop to organize around voting rights for formerly incarcerated people, a
parole/reentry simulation and discussion, a workshop for landlords and employers to combat
discrimination in housing and employment, a discussion on mental health needs and special needs of
people of color and women returning, and a workshop for returning citizens focused on leadership and
empowerment. The program fosters community building by creating a supportive community through
education and criminal justice. The program also brings attention to the barriers faced by returning
citizens when looking for housing or employment.
Inside Out hopes to serve at least 300 people across 5 days of events but it could indirectly serve and
influence the 52,000 Iowans who are disenfranchised returning citizens. They will measure the success
of their programs by the number of attendees and by getting feedback from a survey taken by
attendees. They also hope to gain 10 new volunteers because of the program.
University of Iowa Mood Disorders Center
The Mood Disorders Center proposes an initiative that provides psychoeducation to individuals with
mental illness and develops a standardized curriculum that can be disseminated to Iowa's Judicial
Districts. The psychoeducation program would be for parolees and probationers in Iowa's Sixth Judicial
District who live with a mental illness. The program will either be a 6-week intervention with 90-minute
sessions or a 1 day, 8-hour intervention. The intervention would utilize Acceptance and Commitment
Therapy. The standardized curriculum would include scripted talking experiences, instructions for group
activities and individual assignments, videos that demonstrate concepts, and necessary handouts. The
curriculum would be developed with the help of six focus groups. The program addresses areas of
criminal justice and health.
The proposed outcomes of the program include a decrease in mood disorder symptoms and increase in
psychological flexibility in parolees and probationers in Iowa's 6`h Judicial District. Performance of the
facilitators and satisfaction of the with content of the curriculum will be measured using the Group
Satisfaction Scale (GSS). They will measure the success of the program with quantitative data analysis
obtained from the Groups Satisfaction Survey that will be reviewed after each of the 4 delivered
programs.
Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County, South District Neighborhood Association
The Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (NCJC) and the South District Neighborhood Association
(SDNA) will coordinate three large events: National Night Out, Thanksgiving Feast, and Taste of
Broadway. National Night Out aims to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and
communities. Attendees will also be encouraged to participate in a school supply drive at this event.
Thanksgiving Feast is an opportunity for South District residents and other community members to
come together. This event also establishes a "Giving Tree' where attendees can choose to "Adopt a
Leaf' which has a specific need or desire of South District members. Taste of Broadway helps link local
resident chefs with groceries and restaurants to prepare dishes that reflect cultural diversity in the
district. The program advances social justice and racial equity by making the South District a destination
for Iowa City residents live, work, and play. They strive to increase the social capital of the South District
and build relationships to increase employment opportunities, improve health outcomes, and decrease
involvement in the criminal justice system.
The program hopes to reach approximately 300 community members in the first year with the goal of
nurturing relationships with the South District, residents, local businesses, South District service
agencies, and local government and law enforcement. To measure the success of their program, they
will collect attendance at events, collect information of South District businesses' direct and indirect
participation in the events, South District service agencies' direct and indirect participation in the
events, and attendees' volunteer commitments as a result of the events.
14.
Prepared by: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director/ Human Rights Coordinator, 410 E. Washington St., Iowa City, IA 52240
(319)356-5022
RESOLUTION NO. 19-56
Resolution Adopting the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant
Allocations for Fiscal Year 2019.
Whereas, the City Council approved funding in the fiscal year 2019 budget for Social Justice
and Racial Equity ("SJRE") Grants to community -based organizations to build capacity to address
social justice and racial equity; and
Whereas, the City has disseminated SJRE Grant applications to Iowa City organizations; and
Whereas, the City received twenty-six applications for SJRE Grant for fiscal year 2019; and
Whereas, the Human Rights Commission held a meeting to discuss and review applications
regarding the allocation of funds for the SJRE Grant for fiscal year 2019; and
Whereas, the Human Rights Commission has recommended that Exhibit A be approved; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that the public interest will be served by the adoption of the
fiscal year 2019 SJRE Grant allocations.
Now, therefore, be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, Iowa that:
1. The allocation of fiscal year 2019 SJRE Grant funds attached hereto as Exhibit A is hereby
approved and adopted.
2. The City Manager or designee is hereby authorized to execute, terminate, or amend SJRE
Grant agreements executed in connection with the allocation of public funds.
Passed and approved this 19th day of February 2019.
8PEW
cil im
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
Approved by:
City Attorney's Office
Resolution No. 19-56
Page 2
It was moved by Thomas- o. and seconded by
Resolution be adopted, and upon roll call there were:
AYES:
x
x
NAYS: ABSENT: ABSTAIN:
x
Cole
Cole
Mons
Salih
Taylor
Teague
Thomas
Throgmorton
the
Exhibit A
Agency
Request
Recommendation
Iowa Harm Reduction
$10,577.00
$10,577.00
Refugee and Immigrant
Association
$12,000.00
$12,000.00
University of Iowa Labor
Center
$15,200.00
$15,200.00
Inside Out Reentry
$7,000.00
$7,000.00
University of Iowa Mood
Disorders Center
$11,460.00
$11,460.00
Shelter House
$10,600.00
$10,600.00
Access 2 Independence
$5,260.00
$5,260.00
Neighborhood Centers of JC
& South District
Neighborhood Association
$2,324.00
$2,324.00
Total
$74,421.00
$74,421.00
Commission Survey Results on SJRE Grant Process
Application Reviewer Experience Survey
SurveyMonkey
Q1 How would you rate your overall experience with the review process?
Answered:5 Skipped:0
Very positive
Positive
Neutral
Negative
Very negative
ANSWER CHOICES
Very positive
Positive
Neutral
Negative
Very negative
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
RESPONSES
0.00%
100.00%
0.00%
0.00%
0.00%
G
C
C
MR-1
Application Reviewer Experience Survey
SurveyMonkey
Q2 Do you believe the training meeting on the grant process was
effective and contained enough information regarding the grant?
Answered:5 Skipped:0
Yes, the
training...
Some aspects 71
of the train...
No, the
training was...
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES
RESPONSES
Yes, the training meeting was effective and informative.
60.00% 3
Some aspects of the training could be improved.
40.00% 2
No, the training was ineffective and did not contain enough information.
0.00% 0
TOTAL
MR.]
Application Reviewer Experience Survey
SurveyMonkey
Q3 The application rubric's point system was useful for deciding my
rankings.
Answered:5 Skipped:0
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
ANSWER CHOICES
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
RESPONSES
0.00% —
80.00%
20.00%
0.00%
0.00%
G
I
MR-1
Application Reviewer Experience Survey
SurveyMonkey
Q4 The ranking and averaging of overall scores is fair and accurate.
Answered:5 Skipped:0
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Strongly agree 20.00% 1
Agree 80.00% 4
Neither agree nor disagree 0.00% 0
Disagree 0.00% 0
Strongly disagree
TOTAL
0.00%
EAR.]
Application Reviewer Experience Survey
SurveyMonkey
Q5 The information provided by applicants made it easy for me to
complete my review.
Answered:5 Skipped:0
Strongly agree L
Agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
ANSWER CHOICES
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
RESPONSES
20.00% 1
40.00% 2
40.00% 2
0.00% 0
0.00%
I
RIM
Application Reviewer Experience Survey
SurveyMonkey
Q6 Would it be helpful to ask questions of the applicants during the
review process?
Answered:5 Skipped:0
Yes
No
Other (please
specify)
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes
No
Other (please specify)
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
RESPONSES
0.00%
80.00%
20.00%
1
5
G7R.]
Application Reviewer Experience Survey
SurveyMonkey
Q7 Are you happy with the diversity of the applications and the
populations they serve?
Answered:5 Skipped:0
Yes
No
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes
No
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
RESPONSES
80.00%
20.00%
2
1
5
IAM
Application Reviewer Experience Survey
SurveyMonkey
Q8 Do you have any other comments, questions, or concerns?
Answered:5 Skipped:0
WFM
Applicants Survey Results on SJRE Grant Application and Process
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q1 Has your organization ever applied for the SJRE grant before?
Answered: 10 Skipped:0
Yes, it has
and we did n...
Yes, it has
and we did...
No, it has not
Not sure
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes, it has and we did not receive the grant
Yes, it has and we did receive the grant
No, it has not
Not sure
TOTAL
RESPONSES
60.00%
0.00%
40.00%
0.00%
IW1W
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q2 Did you attend an informational session on the grant?
Answered: 10 Skipped:0
Yes
No
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes
No
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
RESPONSES
60.00%
40.00%
G
4
10
MIL01
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q3 If you attended an informational session, did you find the information
helpful?
Answered:9 Skipped:1
Yes, Ifound
it very...
0% 10%
ANSWER CHOICES
Yes, I found it very helpful.
The informational session could be improved.
20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 % 70 % 80 % 90 % 100 %
RESPONSES
55.56% 5
11.11%
1
No, it was not helpful. 0.00% 0
I did not attend an informational session.
TOTAL
33.33%
3
9
0141
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q4 The application questions were relevant and were necessary to
understand the proposed program.
Answered: 10 Skipped:0
Strongly agree L -
Agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
ANSWER CHOICES
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
RESPONSES
40.00% 4
50.00% 5
10.00% 1
0.00% 0
0.00%
I
EAIF1W
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q5 The grant application was publicized well.
Answered: 10 Skipped:0
Strongly agree
Agree I
Neither agree
nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Strongly agree 40.00% 4
Agree 30.00% 3
Neither agree nor disagree 30.00% 3
Disagree 0.00% 0
Strongly Disagree
TOTAL
0.00%
0
10
1,7141
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q6 The application process was easy to follow.
Answered: 10 Skipped:0
Strongly agree ■
Agree
Neither agree
nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly
disagree
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Strongly agree 30.00% 3
Agree 70.00% 7
Neither agree nor disagree 0.00% 0
Disagree 0.00% 0
Strongly disagree
TOTAL
0.00%
0
10
1007141
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q7 How would you rate your overall experience with the SJRE
Application?
Answered: 10 Skipped:0
Very positive I
Positive
Neutral
Negative
Very negative
ANSWER CHOICES
Very positive
Positive
Neutral
Negative
Very negative
TOTAL
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%
RESPONS
30.00% 3
50.00% 5
20.00% 2
0.00%
0.00%
G
I
IRIN
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q8 How likely is it that you would recommend this grant to a friend or
colleague?
DETRACTORS (0-6)
10%
1
-50
PASSIVES (7-8)
40%
4
Answered: 10 Skipped:0
M
-100 100
PROMOTERS (9-10)
50%
5
NET PROMOTERO SCORE
40
F-IFIN
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Application Experience
SurveyMonkey
Q9 Do you have any suggestions on how to improve the application
process for the future?
Answered:5 Skipped:5
101ILI]
Staff Recommendation on SJRE Grant Process for FY 2020
� r
CITY OF IOWA CITY
CITY OF 1OWA CITY
MEMORANDUM
Date: May 8, 2019
To: Human Rights Commission
From: Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator and Equity Director
Re: Social Justice Racial Equity Grant Process FY2020
History/Background:
The Human Rights Commission is holding a special work session on Wednesday, May 15 to
discuss the Social Justice and Racial Grant (Grant) process for fiscal year 2020. The work
session is being held to allow Commission members the opportunity to receive feedback from
the public on the process and to allow Commission members the opportunity to discuss
amongst themselves the process used to select projects to recommend to the City Council for
funding.
The Grant was established in FY17 and to date has given over $125,000 to local organizations
to advance social justice and racial equity work. List of recipients is included in the agenda
packet for the work session.
This memorandum represents staff recommendations based on over 3 years of managing the
Grant submissions, working with Grant recipients and working with the Human Rights
Commission on the Grant.
Recommendations:
1) Racial equity and social justice should be defined.
Defining the terms will assist in better illustrating what types of projects would or would not fall
under either or both. City Council in previous discussions on the grant has stated that it wants to
make sure the Commission is recommending funding for new projects and projects that assist
those individuals or groups that have been marginalized; examples given were persons who are
low-income, persons of color, veterans, veterans with disability, and LGBTQ persons.' However,
this requirement never removed the qualifier of the new project needing to fall under racial
equity, social justice or both. Defining both will assist applicants and Commissioners and
remove any ambiguity or confusion the terms previously may have caused.
Racial Equity: projects or activities that close the gaps or attempt to close the gap so
that race does not predict one's success in life by changing policies, institutions, and
structures in one of the six priority areas, employment, education, housing, building
community, health, and criminal justice.
Social Justice: projects or initiatives that provide or enhance equal rights, equal
opportunity and equal treatment. Examples include voters' rights, criminal justice,
juvenile justice, immigration, and economic justice.
' See City Council Work Session of March 20, 2018.
May 8, 2019
Page 2
2) Operational costs should be defined.
Defining and providing examples of operational cost should assist both applicants and
Commissioners with what should and should not be included in a project's proposal.
Operational Costs: expenses which are related to the operation of a business, or to the
operation of a device, component, piece of equipment or facility. They are the cost of
resources used by an organization just to maintain its existence.
Examples Include but are not limited to: salaries or wages of personnel, advertising, raw
materials, license or equivalent fees (such as Corporation yearly registration fees)
imposed by a government, real estate expenses (like rent or lease payments), furniture
and equipment, utilities (such as telephone service, internet connectivity, etc.),
maintenance of equipment, office supplies and consumables, and insurance premiums.
3) Projects should only be eligible for funding for one year and not consecutive years.
When the grant was created by the City Council in fiscal year 2017 it was to provide
foundational funding for local organizations to build capacity in racial equity and social justice
work. This funding was not intended to be a continued source of funding for a project.
Restricting a project to only one year of funding will not prohibit an organization from applying
for funding for other new projects just not the same project that has previously been funded.
Prohibiting consecutive funding for a project should create diversity in projects that are funded
to benefit the community.
4) Recipient of City Funding in the Past 5 Years:
Currently the application for the Grant asks the applicant the following questions:
Within the last five years, has the organization received any funding from the City of Iowa
City? If so, for what purpose and how much? Within the last five years, has the
organization received funding for this program, service or activity from a non -City of
Iowa City source? If so, how much was received and what is the duration of the funding?
Does the organization plan to apply for additional funding for this program, service or
activity in fiscal year 2018 or fiscal year 2019?
If so, how much is needed? Is the program, service, or activity dependent on receiving
both the SJRE and additional funding? *
Commissioners should be required to factor into its evaluation of a project whether an
organization has received City funding within the past five years for any project or program.
Even if an organization is proposing a new or different project. The Commission should also
factor into its evaluation of a project whether a non -City source is providing funding for the
project and if so, how much. In past grant cycles some organizations that have been funded
have received and continue to receive City funding from several different sources to the
disadvantage or more grass root organizations that don't have routine and/or continuous
funding sources.
5) The Human Rights Commission should host a "Grant" Open House.
In the past, staff has conducted grant writing training that included informational sessions on the
Grant. Moving forward, applicants may be better served by having a Q&A on the Grant with
members of the Human Rights Commission who rank and decide what projects are
recommended to City Council for funding consideration. Hosting an open house prior to the
May 8, 2019
Page 3
Grant submission start date will increase awareness of the Grant, build relationships with
community -based organizations, and allow for inquiries about the application process.
6) The ranking document used by the Human Rights Commissioner should state on it when
published that "a high ranking does not guarantee a project will be recommended to City
Council for funding".
Making this explicitly clear on the published document may avoid expectations that a project will
be recommended or the appearance that Commissioners have failed to follow their own
process.
7) Public schools, colleges and universities should not be a primary applicant
Like City departments, public colleges, universities and public schools receive money from
federal, state and local tax collections. Such institutions should not compete with local non-
profits for limited City funding. If a City department, public school, college or university have a
project that they would like to initiate it should be submitted as a part of their annual budget
process. This would not restrict a City department, public school, college or university from
being a non- primary applicant to a grant. This also would not prevent an organization
associated or affiliated with a public school, college or university from applying as a primary
applicant. For example, a student association or a parent teacher organization.
8) The Commission should continue to hold a grant orientation work session for its members
prior to reviewing any submissions.
The orientation should cover the history of the Grant, the purpose, and the requirements. At this
meeting Commissioners would, like now, disclose any potential conflicts of interest of applicants
that staff can then relay to the City Attorney for review.
9) To continue to have no set maximum or minimum amount of grant funding required for
projects.
Projects that require minimal funding could impact a wide range of persons in this community.
Think of "Agency A" applying to fund a project designed to help non- native speakers of English
improve their verbal and written skills professionally, personally, and academically: A local
business has agreed to provide meeting space for the bi-weekly class at no cost to "Agency A",
and all instructors of the project are volunteers. The funding request is for $650, the total cost to
provide the grammar rules and writing composition workbook to all 75 participants. This
workbook is a little less than $9 per student and the 10-week course is at no charge to
participants. To be able to assist 75 persons who are English language learners improve their
English comprehension has benefits for them and their families, as well as this community. It
can further advance career opportunities, allow persons to become more engaged in the
community, allow persons to better know and understand their rights, propel educational
attainment, and create more bilingual speakers.
In contrast, a project that would require maximum funding ($75,000) should be phenomenal and
impact populations across all priority areas to be funded. Because the potential exists for such
an occurrence, there should not be a ceiling placed on the amount that can be requested.
Applicants would be informed on the application itself and at the 'open house" that requesting
the maximum funding, or even very large funding amounts is not encouraged, as it is unlikely for
the members of the Human Rights Commission to recommend to the City Council that all the
funding be placed solely with one or just a few organizations.
May 8, 2019
Page 4
10) To continue to make sure each funding round includes projects that support multiple priority
areas and benefit a diverse group of community members.
In making recommendations on funding, the Human Rights Commission should emphasize a
diverse perspective so that funding is not all designated as assisting the same target
populations or same priority areas. Funding recommendations should consider income, color,
creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual
orientation. For example, if the Human Rights Commission receives 28 applications that aim to
benefit a wide array of populations and cover multiple stated priority areas (education, building
community, housing, criminal justice, health, and employment), then their recommendations
should ensure that all funding is not unduly concentrated to a small number of targeted groups
or priority areas. Having this requirement may, at times, require the Commission to
recommend an organization for funding that did not rank at the highest level but overall that
organization's application supports a population or area that is not represented in higher ranking
applications
11) Funding for projects to an organization should be distributed out on a quarterly basis over
the course of the grant cycle. It also should only be sent after a quarterly report has been
submitted that demonstrates that the recipient is making progress towards the stated goals on
the project.
Currently full funding is provided at the start of the grant cycle and reports are required at 6-
month intervals. In at least one project from FY19 the organization has not been able to meet
the project goals. Creating a quarterly structure should allow for Commission members to better
evaluate and monitor the progress on projects.
The following documents were handed
out during the meeting.
Stefanie Sauer,
From:
Tahuanty Pena <tahuanty_pena@hotmail.com>
Sent:
Tuesday, May 14, 2019 9:33 PM
To:
Stefanie Bowers
Subject:
Re: Wednesday
Yes,
I wanted to mention a couple of things before staring the discussion:
1) Our goal is to continuously improve a process which is fair and inclusive.
2) The current process reflects a ranking based on aggregate information from all commissioners.
3) We would greatly appreciate that if you think a part of the process didn't work well, please tell us about
different approaches that would improve it.
Thanks,
Tahuanty
From: Stefanie Bowers <Stefanie-Bowers@iowa-city.org>
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2019 9:40 PM
To:'Tahuanty Pena'
Subject: RE: Wednesday
Do you have any comments/input that you would like to submit in an email for the meeting?
From: Tahuanty Pena <Tahuanty_Pena@hotmail.com>
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2019 3:41 PM
To: Stefanie Bowers <Stefanie-Bowers@iowa-city.org>
Subject: Wednesday
Hi Stephanie,
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the meeting on Wednesday, I have to work that night.
Tahuanty
Disclaimer
The information contained in this communication from the sender Is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and
others authorized to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or
taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful_
49
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The following documents were handed
out during the meeting.
SwNIy BoNvrs
From:
Crissy Canganelli <cdssy@shelterhouseiowa.org>
Sent:
Tuesday, July 02, 2019 8:56 AM
To:
Simon Andrew; Stefanie Bowers; Tracy Hightshoe
Subject:
correction to Human Rights Commission May 15th Minutes
Good Morning Simon, Stefanie, and Tracy:
I am writing to provide a correction to information provided to the Human Rights Commission during its May 15, 2019
meeting. The draft Meeting Minutes which are available to the public indicate that County Supervisor Porter reported
to the Commission that, "Johnson Countyjust gave Shelter House $630,000."
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors allocated a total of $630,000 to the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County
which was made available for affordable housing initiatives over the past fiscal year. Of the funds awarded to Shelter
House by the HTFJC, $250,000 came from Johnson County. Funds were awarded as a loan, are repayable to the HTFJC,
and were restricted for a new construction project at 820 Cross Park Avenue.
The Human Rights Commission minutes were included in the June Housing and Community Development Committee
Meeting packet, as such, I request this correction in fact be provided to both the Commission and relevant Iowa City
staff.
I am deeply grateful for the partnership and support of the City of Iowa City in all aspects of Shelter House programming
and would be happy to provide any additional information that would be helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact me
by phone (319-338-5416 x200) or email (crissy@shelterhouseiowa.org).
Crissy Canganelli
Executive Director I Shelter House
Shelter
Huse
Address 429 Southgate Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240
Phone (319) 338-5416 ext. 200 1 Mobile (319) 530-8706
Email crissy@shelterhouseiowa.ort3
Website www.sheiterhouseiowa.org
a®a®
More than a roof and a bed; our mission is to provide safe shelter and help people improve the quality of their lives as
they move beyond homelessness.