HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember AgendaAGENDA
Human Rights Commission (HRC)
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
5:30 P.M.
City Hall, Helling Conference Room
410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City
1.Call Meeting to Order and Roll Call.
2.Approval of the August 20, 2019 meeting minutes.
3.Approval of the August 22, 2019 meeting minutes.
4.Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda. (Commentators shall address the
Commission for no more than 5 minutes. Commissioners shall not engage in discussion
with the public concerning said items).
5.Items to be discussed:
a.Official Statements by the Human Rights Commission.
b.Human Rights Commission’s Strategic Planning Report 2018.
c.Human Rights Breakfast (October 23).
i.Selection committee.
ii.Award ceremony.
d.Committees: Public Safety; Education; Community Outreach; Housing.
e.Proclamation: National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15).
f.Proclamation: Indigenous Persons Day (October 14).
g.Correspondence.
6.Updates/Reports:
a.Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant.
i.Date and Time for Open House Informational Session.
b.Latino Festival 2019.
7.Staff/Commission Announcements. (Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with
one another concerning said announcements).
8.Comments of Staff.
9.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.
Page 1 of 4
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
City Hall, Helling Conference Room
August 20, 2019
Members Present: Jeff Falk, Adil Adams, Noemi Ford, Cathy McGinnis,
Jessica Ferdig, Barbara Kutzko, Jonathon Muñoz, Bijou
Maliabo, Tahuanty Peña.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to Council: No.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:34 PM.
Approval of the June 18, 2019 meeting minutes: Falk made a motion, it was
seconded by McGinnis. Motion passed 9-0.
Approval of the July 16, 2019 meeting minutes: Muñoz made a motion, it was
seconded by Ferdig. Motion passed 8-0. (Peña abstained as he was not in attendance at
that meeting date).
Johnson County Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration: Falk represented the
Commission at the annual event. He noted that event speakers reported it was good
turnout compared to prior years.
Latino Festival: This event will be held on August 24 from noon to nine on the Ped Mall.
Ferdig and Ford will staff a vendor table on behalf of the Commission.
Committee Updates: There are four committees that assist in advancing the strategic
plan. The four committees are Housing (*Falk, Adams, Peña); Public Safety (*McGinnis,
Maliabo, Muñoz); Education (*Ferdig, Falk, Kutzko, Peña); and Community Outreach
(*Adams, Falk, Muñoz). Asterisks designates chairs of the committees.
Housing: No report.
Public Safety: No report.
Education: No large update.
Community Outreach: No report.
Climate Crisis: Staff briefly mentioned the Climate Crisis declared by the City Council
and spoke of ways the Commission could assist. Commissioners Muñoz, Peña, Ford,
Ferdig, Kutzko, and McGinnis opted out of receiving mailed hardcopy packets.
Page 2 of 4
National Hispanic Heritage Month: Ferdig will accept the proclamation on behalf of the
Commission at the City Council meeting of September 17.
Human Rights Breakfast: This annual award ceremony is scheduled for October 23.
Dr. Melissa Shivers, University of Iowa’s Vice President for Student Life will be the
keynote speaker. Nominations are currently being accepted for honorees. At the next
Commission meeting the subcommittee to select recipients will be formed as well as role
assignments for the ceremony.
Commission Announcements:
Falk reminded Commissioners of their strategic plan done in 2018 and asked for the
Commission as a group to review it in the near future.
Adams family returned from the Sudan after visiting for summer months. He is very
happy to have them back.
Ford mentioned that a mental health clinic, Iowa Refugee Counseling Center, recently
opened in the same location as Iowa City Compassion.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 6:14 PM.
Member Attendance Sheet
Member Term
Exp.
1/8 1/24 2/19 3/19 4/16 5/21 6/18 7/03 7/16 8/20 9/17
Maliabo 1/2021 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Excused Present
McGinnis 1/2021 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Muñoz 1/2021 Excused Present Present Present Present Present Present Excused Excused Present
Kutzko 1/2020 Present Present Present Present Present Excused Excused Present Present Present
Falk 1/2020 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Peña 1/2020 Present Present Excused Present Present Present Present Present Excused Present
Adams 1/2022 Excused Present Present Present Present Absent Present Excused Present Present
Ferdig 1/2022 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Ford 1/2022 Present Excused Present Excused Present Present Present Excused Present Present
Page 1 of 4
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
City Hall, Helling Conference
August 22, 2019
Members Present: Jeff Falk, Cathy McGinnis, Bijou Maliabo, Jessica
Ferdig, Barbara Kutzko, Tahuanty Peña.
Members Absent: Adil Adams, Noemi Ford, JonathonMuñoz
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to Council: Yes. The Human Rights Commission makes the
following recommendation to City Council for the
Social Justice Racial Equity Grant for fiscal year 2020.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:36 PM.
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant: The Commission followed up from its
discussion of July 3 on the recommendations for changes/updates to the Social Justice
and Racial Equity Grant (SJRE) for fiscal year 2020.
The recommendations are as follows:
1.Governments, public schools, colleges and universities should not be a primary
applicant. Like City departments, governments, public colleges, universities and
public schools receive money from federal, state and local tax collections. Such
institutions should not compete with local nonprofits for limited City funding. If a
government, 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 government, 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 government, public school, college or university from applying as a primary
applicant. For example, a student association or a parent teacher organization.
2.Ineligibility periods should be placed on organizations that have received
prior SJRE grant funding. Starting with fiscal year 2020, organizations that
receive SJRE grant funding will be ineligible to receive SJRE grant funding in the
next SJRE grant cycle. For example, if organization “A” receives funding in the
SJRE grant FY20 cycle, it would not be considered for funding prior to the FY22
grant cycle. This would be true even if it is a new or different project than had be
funded in FY20.
3. Whether an organization has received or will receive funding from the City of
Iowa City should be considered when making recommendations as to who should
be funded. Starting with fiscal year 2020, commissioners should factor into its
consideration, when making a recommendation to the City Council as to who should be
Page 2 of 4
funded, whether an organization has received funding for any project from the City of
Iowa City within the last five years, and if so, the amount of the funding, and the duration
of the funding.
4.There should be a maximum amount requested by each proposal. Starting with
fiscal year 2020, organizations will be restricted to requesting no more than $25,000 for
a project.
5.Applicants should be strongly encouraged to attend an open house
informational session on the grant that will be presented by commission
members. The informational session will be an opportunity to learn about the grant,
the process, and how commission members evaluate and rank the applications. The
event will be held in the month of November prior to the application period which
runs from December 6 – January 2.
6.The application form should state in its opening introduction that the
intent and purpose of the SJRE grant is to service and benefit Iowa Citians
as much as reasonably possible.
7.The application should provide in its opening introduction a definition of social
justice and racial equity to serve as guides for both commissioners and
applicants. The proposed definition is a merger of two definitions taken from the
Adams, Bell and Griffin (2007) book Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice and the
Greater Milwaukee Foundation.
For purposes of this grant the Commission would use the below definition to evaluate
each application based on the six identified priority areas –housing, building community,
employment, criminal justice, education, health.
Social justice and racial equity are both a process and a goal. The goal is full and equal
participation of all groups and individuals in a society that is mutually shaped to meet
their needs, allow them to reach their full potential, and limit/decrease barriers. This
definition includes a vision of society that is equitable, and where all members are
physically and psychologically safe and secure.
8.The application should ask applicants to provide a narrative about how
the proposed project came to be. The narrative could be descriptive or based
on city or statewide statistics. This would be added prior to the question that asks
What community need does this program, service or activity fulfill? Response
should include information or data that demonstrates the need (local or statewide
data).
9.The application should ask whether a sustainability plan has been
established for projects that wish to continue in the future without SJRE
grant funding. The sustainability plan must be specific on future funding and not
simply state the agency will continue to look for support. A sustainability plan is not
required for projects to be recommended for funding and is only applicable for
projects that plan on continuing after the SJRE cycle ends.
Page 3 of 4
10.The application should ask how the good or service produced as a result
of a project will be shared and/or communicated with the targeted community
and the larger community. This question would replace How will these outcomes
be shared beyond your organization with the community?
11.Recipients of the SJRE grant after completion of the grant cycle must as a part
of the agreement present to the commission and the community at a commission
sponsored forum on their project. The project presentation would include project
summary, objectives, results, and evaluation.
12.SJRE grant funding should be available for some operational expenses.
Operational costs should be defined as below and grant recipients would be
allowed to use up to 25% of its funding request on operational costs.
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.
13.After applications have been received but prior to the recommendation to
City Council, commissioners may submit questions to applicants via staff.
These questions along with the response will be shared with all commissioners and
published to the public.
14.To keep within the spirit of the grant final rankings should serve different
populations. A statement should be given at the open house informational session
and at the Human Rights Commission meeting when allocations are being
recommended so stating.
15.Partial funding may be given to the next highest ranked applicant, if it is
clearly stated that the project may continue with less funds.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 7:44 PM.
Page 4 of 4
Member Ter
m
Exp
.
1/8 1/24 2/19 3/19 4/16 5/21 6/18 7/03 7/16 8/20 8/22
Maliabo 1/202
1
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Excused Present Present
McGinnis 1/202
1
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Muñoz 1/202
1
Excused Present Present Present Present Present Present Excused Excused Present Excused
Kutzko 1/202
0
Present Present Present Present Present Excused Excused Present Present Present Present
Falk 1/202
0
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Peña 1/202
0
Present Present Excused Present Present Present Present Present Excused Present Present
Adams 1/202
2
Excused Present Present Present Present Absent Present Excused Present Present Excused
Ferdig 1/202
2
Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Ford 1/202
2
Present Excused Present Excused Present Present Present Excused Present Present Excused
Member Attendance Sheet
9
KEY: X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = No meeting
--- = Not a Member
Agenda Item 5B
UNITE! DON’T
FIGHT.
In the face of hatred, apathy will be
interpreted as acceptance by the
perpetrators, the public and - worse -
the victims.
Reach out to allies and create a diverse
coalition of churches, schools, clubs,
civic groups, police and the media.
Hate speech victims are especially
vulnerable. Silence amplifies isolation.
Support victims and help them speak
out.
Hate must be exposed and denounced.
Speak up in ways that draw attention
away from hate toward unity.
IOWA UNITED NATIONS
ASSOCIATION
20 East Market Street, Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 337-7290
We take hate speech seriously.
As individuals and as community,
the best thing you can do is:
Speak Up.
Even if you don’t think a crime has
been committed, call the police to
report the incident.
Law enforcement tracks and
investigates all reports.
Call: 319-356-6800
Let’s commit to disrupting hate and
intolerance at home, at school, in
the workplace and in our faith
communities.
UNITE! DON’T
FIGHT.
We can fight hate speech and
the hurt it causes as a
community!
IOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION
4100 E. Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa 52240
319-356-5000
The destiny of human rights is in the
hands of all our citizens in all our
communities.
- Eleanor Roosevelt -
A
g
e
n
d
a
I
t
e
m
5
d
(1) You may have a strong desire to talk with
the person(s). A powerful speaker can have a
high degree of influence over the audience.
Most experts advise you not to engage in a
discussion. Engaging allows the speaker(s) to
continue to spread their hate speech. Ignore
and keep moving, stopping the influence of
the speaker(s).
(2) Not knowing what to say and feeling
helpless. Audience grievances and fears can
be cultivated by the speaker. Report the
incident. It’s very important to share your
experience with someone you trust and with
the appropriate authorities. The more we
know the more effective we can be in
countering hate speech as a community.
(3) If you are a witness to someone being
targeted: Go to the victim and engage them in
conversation; pick a random subject. Create a
safe space for the victim. Ignore the attacker.
The person engaging in hate speech will
stop and leave.
What to do when you or others are
confronted with verbal or written
expressions of hate:
HATE SPEECH AND YOU
This brochure provides information about hate speech, what it is and isn’t, and what you can do
when you or others are confronted with verbal or written expressions of hate. The more you
know, the better equipped you are to handle hate speech, especially the emotional toll it can take.
The best remedy for hate speech is not through censorship, but rather through more speech.
WHAT IS HATE SPEECH?
Hate speech is verbal or written communication
expressing hatred for some group. It covers all forms of
expression which spread, incite, promote or justify racial
hatred, xenophobia, anti-Semitism discrimination, or other
forms of hatred based on intolerance. Speech that
demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion,
age, disability, or any other similar ground is hateful.
HATE SPEECH & THE FIRST AMENDMENT:
The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that hate
speech is legally protected free speech under the First
Amendment. Speech cannot be punished just because of
its hateful content. But when you get beyond content and
look at context, speech with a hateful message can be
hurtful. One person’s hate speech is another’s legitimate
expression of opinion.
HATE SPEECH & HATE CRIME:
Hate crime doesn’t always involve hate speech and hate
speech in and of itself is not always a hate crime. A group
may use hate speech in an attempt to discriminate but
unless the group has broken a law, it is not a hate crime.
Hate speech is an attack based on some characteristic.
While it may not be a crime, hate speech expresses
racism, discrimination and exclusion.
While not punishable by law, hate speech can be
insulting and feel threatening. You can feel
emotionally disturbed. You can feel psychic trauma,
which can have physiological manifestations. You
can feel silenced. These are all real harms that may
be suffered by people who are subject to hate
speech that is not punishable.
Returning hate for hate multiplies hate,
adding deeper darkness to a night already
devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out
darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot
drive out hate; only love can do that.
- Martin Luther King, Jr -
C
o
r
r
e
s
p
o
n
d
e
n
c
e
1566 South Gilbert Street, Iowa City, IA 52240
August, 2019
Dear Iowa City Human Right Board members,
You and a guest are cordially invited to attend the 2019 Refugee and Immigrant Recognition Dinner,
Saturday, October 19 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 4330 St. Patrick Drive, Iowa City.
This annual event recognizes refugee and immigrant leaders as well as members of the larger
community who have welcomed and supported refugees and immigrants in Eastern Iowa.
This year we honor Jim Throgmorton, Mayor of Iowa City, for his leadership and in grateful recognition
of the many services provided by Iowa City governmental agencies to those who have recently arrived in
Iowa City from around the world.
The evening will feature a dinner with many traditional African specialties as well as musical
performances by refugee and immigrant youth.
We invite you to this event to show our appreciation for the opportunity to live in Eastern Iowa.
We look forward to welcoming you on October 19. Please RSVP at refugeeiowa@gmail.com at your
earliest convenience, but no later than October 12.
Sincerely,
Jean Paul Mugemuzi
President
refugeeiowa@gmail.com refugeeimmigrant.org facebook.com/RIAssociation/