HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 27 2020Human Rights Commission
October 27, 2020
Electronic Formal Meeting- 5:30 PM
Zoom Meeting Platform
Electronic Meeting
(Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8)
An electronic meeting is being held because a meeting in person is
impossible or impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of
Commission members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19.
You can participate in the meeting and can comment on an agenda
item by going to
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvdeyrrTosGtBw8PTRVDx3O92B_8rS5qg-
via the internet to visit the Zoom meeting’s registration page
and submit the required information.
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If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a
microphone, you may call in by telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799.
When prompted, enter the meeting ID or webinar ID. The ID number for
this meeting is: 912 2533 1604.
Once connected, you may dial *9 to “raise your hand,” letting the
meeting host know you would like to speak. Providing comments in
person is not an option.
Agenda:
1.Call Meeting to Order and Roll Call.2.Approval of the September 15, 2020 meeting minutes.3.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).4.Items to be discussed:a.Correspondence;b.Daisy Torres, ICPD Community Outreach Assistant;
c.Reconsideration of Request from the Iowa Freedom Riders (IFR) to
Recommend IFR Seat on the City Council;d.Truth & Reconciliation Ad-Hoc Committee;
e.Commission Statement in Support of Black Lives Matter;
f.United Nations Convention Rights of the Child PhotoVoice;g.Social Justice Racial Equity Grants Informational Sessions (November 10 &
18);h.Commission Public Notice of Agenda and Packet Sign Up;
i.Subcommittees: Housing, Anti-Racism, Health Equity;
j.Screening of White Privilege or Cracking the Code;k.Commission Outreach Video;l.Human Rights Awards;m.Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20);
n.December Meeting Date.
5.Staff/Commission Announcements. (Commissioners shall not engage in
discussion with one another concerning said announcements).
6.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.
Correspondence
Expenses:Income:
Grant Funds 7,000.00$
Professional Services
09/09/2019 American Airlines (via Expedia)Flight: keynote Sean Pica 476.00$
09/09/2019 Expedia Travel insurance: keynote Sean Pica 34.00$
09/25/2019 American Airlines (via Expedia)Flight: Mitchell Jackson 986.50$
09/26/2019 Allianz Travel Insurance Flight insurance: Mitchell Jackson 64.12$
10/17/2019 Mitchell Shunta Jackson Keynote speaker fee 3,000.00$ 350.00$
10/18/2019 Eric Harris Returning citizen speaking honorarium 50.00$
10/18/2019 Walker, Doren 2 Returning citizen speaking honorarium 50.00$
10/18/2019 Robbie Robinson Returning citizen speaking honorarium 50.00$
10/17/2019 Sean Pica Keynote speaker fee 500.00$
Total:4,860.62$
Marketing/Advertising
08/31/2019 Facebook Facebook advertising/parole simulation 10.00$
10/31/2019 Facebook Facebook advertising/summit 20.00$
Total:30.00$
Rentals
06/03/2019 St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Venue deposit and refund of deposit 200.00$ 200.00$
03/16/2020 St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Venue rental for summit and parole simulation 520.00$
Total:520.00$
Supplies
10/18/2019 Hy-Vee Summit lunch for attendees 267.12$ 170.00$
10/19/2019 Graduate Hotel Hotel room for speaker 176.07$
10/21/2019 Rich Mathias Keynote speaker meal 30.11$
Total:303.30$
Outside Printing
02/26/2020 AlphaGraphics Flyers 27.16$
03/16/2020 AlphaGraphics Flyers 46.46$
Total:73.62$
Totals:5,787.54$
1,212.46$ remaining balance
City of Iowa City Social Justice and Racial Equity FY19 Grant
Two-day Summit and Parole/Reentry Simulation
Inside Out Reentry Community Financial Report
06/10/2020 Best Buy 2 Chromebook, 2 mice, and 2 carrying cases
688.92$
06/10/2020 Best Buy 1 Chromebook, 1 mouse, and 1 carrying case 316.93$
06/29/2020 Amazon 1 flashdrive, 8 count luggage tags, 1 box monitor
wipes 25.04$
07/24/2020 CDW 3 Google Chrome Enterprise security packages
79.50$
09/21/2020 Amazon 24 count AA batteries, 1 mouse, 2 of 5 count flash
drives, 1 box monitor wipes, 3 mouse pads 112.28$
Total:1,222.67$
Grant funds:1,212.46$
(10.21)$
City of Iowa City Social Justice and Racial Equity FY19 Grant
Modified Grant: Purchasing Chromebooks and Accessories
Inside Out Reentry Community Financial Report
Materials for Agenda Items
C L A R K G RO V E PL L C
— attorneys & counselors at law —
Aaron Marr Page, Esq.
Managing Attorney
CLARK GROVE PLLC
512 Clark Street
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 975-1474
http://clarkgrove.com
aaron@ampjustice.com
October 20, 2020
VIA EMAIL
Stefanie Bowers
Iowa City Human Rights Commission
Office of Equity and Human Rights
City of Iowa City
410 E. Washington St.
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
RE: IFR seat for certain Council deliberations
Dear Ms. Bowers and Commissioners,
I am a local attorney and citizen-supporter of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Movement, and
specifically the efforts of the Iowa Freedom Riders (IFR) here in Iowa City.
I have consulted recently with members of IFR on the issue of their request to the Iowa City
Human Rights Commission (ICHRC or Commission), namely that the Commission endorse IFR’s
being afforded a participatory “seat” during City Council discussions of issues related to the Council’s
June 17, 2020 BLM-inspired Resolution. IFR asked for my assistance in putting their requests into
writing for your consideration.
I understand that the Commission already considered endorsing IFR’s participation petition
in July and September of this year. As part of this letter, I will explain why the pending request differs
somewhat from the earlier requests.
I trust that the Commission requires little in the way of background regarding the IFR’s
powerful social mobilizations in June 2020, or the Council’s high-profile response in its June 17, 2020
Resolution. The Council committed itself to a 17-point program of BLM-inspired reform efforts,
ranging from broad institutional reform to specific action steps. The June 17 Resolution was drafted
in part by and with the assistance of IFR leaders and was designed to address the demands being made
by hundreds of IFR protestors filling the streets every night.
Since that time, IFR members have endeavored to attend every City Council meeting with any
Resolution-related issue on the agenda. Using the limited time slots available for general public
comment, the input of IFR members has been critical in keeping Councilmembers focused on the
C L A R K G R O V E PLLC
2 | 3
true nature and spirit of the demands as stated in (and leading up to) the June 17 Resolution. IFR
leaders report to me that this has been exhausting and difficult work.
Yet the biggest challenges lie ahead. From the very beginning, IFR members welcomed the
Resolution but told supporters that the real tests would come with implementation, enforcement, and
maintenance over time. We all know that words come easy, action is harder. Without denigrating
anybody, the reality of institutional and social dynamics is that communities and practices (especially
those rooted in power) will resist change and/or regress to the mean of the status quo without
constant and vocal pressure for change.
In short, the June 17 Resolution was a great development, but implementation needs a fierce
“watchdog”—especially as we get farther in time from the events and feelings that emerged in the
aftermath of George Floyd’s murder. IFR member’s ability to serve as a watchdog has been greatly
hampered by their inability to have a seat at the table. The following are merely a few specific
illustrations of the negative impact of the limitation on participation that has hampered IFR efforts:
• Generally speaking, participation by public comment allows little or no opportunity for
discussion. Indeed, Councilmembers are largely constrained from responding to the
specifics of any particular public comment.
• The lack of discussion sustains confusion about the basic substance of June 17 Resolution.
Because the Resolution was crafted to meet IFR demands and was, by nature, condensed (17
commitments laid out in less than three pages), the Council often simply doesn’t fully
understand what motivated the commitments and why they matter. For example, the
Council questioned IFR’s proposed $5 million reallocation of funds from the police to
community support, without knowing that the number was chosen for specific reasons,
with specific justifications (it still keeps the police as the highest funded department in city
government but returns the department to 2011 funding levels).
• The lack of discussion impedes mutual persuasion and compromise, leading to painful
procedural breakdowns. For example, IFR members (alone) raised the issue of the
independence and autonomy of the proposed Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC),
a legitimately important question given that the Commission is tasked with digging deep
into a painful issue that many powerful people in Iowa City would prefer to continue to
ignore. Councilmembers Bergus and Weiner responded with a hasty letter from the City
Attorney, which addressed only some of the issues raised (inadequately in IFR’s view) and
only minor changes to proposed TRC implementing resolution. IFR could do little but
continue to oppose the TRC as drafted. Based on IFR’s opposition, Councilmember Saleh
also opposed the implementing resolution. The rather tragic result was a “historic vote in
favor of a racial justice Truth & Reconciliation Commission”—opposed by the only woman
of color on the Council.
There are many more examples. Resolving such conflicts and confusions is never simple, yet it is made
far worse by not having the basic tool of discourse available, as it would be possible if IFR could
directly participate in relevant discussions. To some extent the Council has attempted to mitigate these
problems by seeking written input from IFR. But as noted below, IFR leaders are already swamped with
the demands from the civic participation alongside their work and school obligations. As the need for
undersigned’s assistance with this very letter reflects, an unfair burdens already being placed on these
young people. A participatory seat at the table—something that has been granted to University of
C L A R K G R O V E PLLC
3 | 3
Iowa student government for years—is the best and really only way to facilitate critical IFR input
across a range of complex issues in a efficient and effective manner.
Finally, I would like to address some procedural questions that were apparently raised in earlier
ICHRC consideration of the endorsement question:
• Number of seats. IFR is now seeking endorsement for only one participatory seat, not
two.
• Scope of participation. IFR would be entitled to participate in discussion on issues
related to the June 17 Resolution, which, again, was crafted specifically to meet IFR
demands.
• Permanency of seat. As Councilmember Saleh has repeatedly warned, we should be
careful of arbitrary time restrictions, because the problems of racial justice and the
fulfilment of the commitments in the June 17 Resolution could take years if not
generations. That said, IFR certainly does not see the seat as anything permanent. ICHRC
could simply endorse the granting of a seat on a year-by-year basis.
• Who from IFR would participate. The organization of IFR is a difficult issue for
reasons of both principle and practice. IFR itself wants to push the envelope of
participatory democracy and is wary of granting formal leadership status to particular
individuals, although the movement is considering that direction. And as a practical
member, IFR members have jobs or attend classes and are constantly at war with their
own schedules to find time for IFR obligations. At the same time, IFR recognizes the
importance of having the same individual attend sessions in order to build issue-familiarity
and personal rapport within the discussion process. If ICHRC thinks this would be
beneficial, IFR would be able to nominate an individual with significant and obvious
stature within the movement to commit to serve the IFR seat for at least the first 3-6
month time frame.
In conclusion, IFR sincerely hopes that ICHRC will endorse IFR’s position. IFR leaders (and
undesigned) are available to further discuss this issue and specific next steps at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Aaron Marr Page
Prepared by: Council members Janice Weiner and Laura Bergus I
Resolution No. 20-228
Resolution establishing Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Whereas, in Resolution No. 20-159 (Initial Commitments addressing the Black Lives Matter
Movement and Systemic Racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis
Police and calls for action from protesters and residents), the Iowa City City Council resolved asfollows:
By October 1, 2020, create an ad hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission to bear
witness to the truth of racial injustice in Iowa City and to carry out restorative justice,
through the collection of testimony and public hearings, with such work to include a
recommendation to the Council of a plan for dedicating and/or renaming public spaces
and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement; and,
Whereas, the City Council committed to allocate City funds of $1,000,000 during the present
Fiscal Year to support Resolution 20-159, which includes a variety of initiatives, among them theTruthandReconciliationCommission; and,
Whereas, truth and reconciliation underscores the imperative that confronting and reckoningwiththepastisnecessaryforsuccessfultransitionsfromconflict, injustice, resentment and
tension to peace, equality and connectedness; and,
Whereas, while we acknowledge that other forms of injustice and challenges have occurred
over the course of the history of the city of Iowa City, the focus of this Commission is on race;
and,
Whereas, the City Council acknowledges the existence of painful, systemic, persistent, and
varied forms of racial injustice in Iowa City, and acknowledges that such injustice persists
despite past efforts to address it, consistent with observations that systemic racism and white
privilege are deeply resistant to change; and,
Whereas, the Iowa City community must look comprehensively into its past and bear witness to
the truth of racial injustice in order to provide the best possible foundation for moving into afutureofequitybasedonhealingandhope; and,
Whereas, the City Council recognizes that, for a Truth and Reconciliation process to be
meaningful, it must include bold action to confront privilege, stimulate difficult conversations,
and reach and engage a full cross-section of the community, including those in the communitynotinclinedtoengageorresistanttoengagement; and,
Whereas, a comprehensive process will require that City of Iowa City departments and the CityCouncilitselfparticipate, including individual councilors, in good faith, in the process and to
actively encourage broad participation throughout the community, and the City Council hereby
commits to such participation and encouragement; and,
Whereas, creation of an Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission is in the best interests of
the City and its residents.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, that:
1. The Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is hereby established
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 2
2. The TRC shall have nine members who are representative of the City's BIPOC
communities and organizations, including those who have direct lived experience with
systemic racism, as well as experts who support those communities. To the extent
possible, as determined by the City Council, the TRC shall include representation from
groups such as the Iowa Freedom Riders, the Black Voices Project, the South District
Neighborhood Association, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and the
Community Police Review Board. Johnson County residency is required. Iowa City
residency is preferred but not required if an applicant offers expertise or representation
not available from applicants who reside in Iowa City. Members of other City boards and
commissions are eligible to serve on the TRC.
3. Applications for membership on the TRC shall be announced, advertised, and available in
the same manner as those for all City boards and commissions.
4. The TRC shall select the Chair, who when present will preside over all meetings, and the
Vice -Chair, who will serve as chair in the absence of the Chair.
5. Within the charges of the TRC set forth herein, the TRC is not required to seek approval
from the City Council, mayor, or city manager to set its own agenda and prioritize its
activities.
6. The TRC shall be facilitated by an independent consultant, funded by the City, with
expertise in group facilitation and human rights, and to the extent possible, experience
with diversity, implicit bias, mediation and conflict resolution, until such time as the TRC
concludes by the favorable vote of at least three-fourths of all the members of the TRC
7/9) that facilitation is no longer needed.
7. To conform with the requirements of laws pertaining to open meetings and public records
and to facilitate transparency and public education and participation, administrative/clerical
assistance and media/event assistance shall be provided by City staff as determined by
the City Manager and City Clerk. Media assistance may be supplemented by outside
expertise on a case-by-case basis if the Commission believes it will substantially expand
outreach.
8. The TRC shall determine the frequency and conduct of its meetings. The meetings will
be open to the public and conducted in accordance with Chapter 21 of the Iowa Code.
Records, documentation, and communications of the TRC will be public records under
Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code.
9. The TRC shall serve from the date of appointment of all members to June 30, 2022. The
TRC shall have an organizational meeting no later than 30 days after the appointment of
all members.
10. Within 90 days of its organizational meeting, the TRC shall recommend to City Council a
preliminary budget for funds needed to carry out the charges of the TRC beyond what
existing City staff, programs, and services can provide.
11. The charges of the TRC are as follows:
A. Fact -Finding The TRC shall collect evidence, including first-hand testimony, of
discrimination and racial injustice in multiple settings and compile a complete
record of racial injustices that will inform and support the fundamental institutional
and policy reforms necessary to address systemic racism.
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 3
B. Truth -Telling The TRC shall: 1) Provide multiple fora and creative opportunities
for persons impacted and traumatized by racial injustice to share their stories of
racial injustice and experience to be heard by: (a) fellow communities of color; (b) a
broad cross section of the entire Iowa City community; and (c) key decision -
makers in city government, the business community and the University; 2) Explore
ways to provide such opportunities through art, music, theater, workshops, rallies
and other forms of congregation, multimedia and listening designed to reveal truths
that cannot be fully expressed in traditional fora; and, 3) Create a repository for
community stories expressed in multiple media (written, video, audio, art) that can
be catalogued and used to educate and inform members of the community.
C. Reconciliation The TRC shall: 1) Provide opportunity for and facilitate direct
conversation among and between community members of color, white community
members and representatives of various sectors in which people of color
experience discrimination and injustice (e.g. police and protesters, landlords and
tenants, students and teachers, patients and health care providers, business
owners and staff); 2) Create a replicable model that provides a structure for
enabling these conversations throughout the city; 3) Make available opportunities
for a broad cross section of the community to learn about discrimination and racial
injustice in our community; and, 4) Identify and recommend to the City Council
institutional and policy reforms, new social practices, expectations, protocols,
habits, rituals, conversations and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a
shared experience of race and difference, justice and equity and community and
harmony.
12. The TRC shall strive to provide a safe and supportive space for its work, premised on
mutual respect, and shall conduct its work so as to promote healing and justice. The TRC
shall consider the possibility of adverse actions against those who participate in its work.
The TRC shall carefully consider mechanisms to protect participants, and shall work to
support those who allege harm due to their participation in the TRC process.
13. The TRC shall submit periodic updates to City Council to include, but not be limited to: its
plans for community education; recommendations for Council action; requests for
resources the TRC needs to carry out its work; and recommendations to dedicate and/or
rename public spaces and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement.
14. By May 1, 2022 the TRC shall submit to City Council:
A. A report summarizing the work of the TRC.
B. A repository of community stories expressed in multiple media (written, video,
audio, art).
C. Recommendations to the City Council for: 1) Institutional and policy reforms to end
systemic racism; 2) Opportunities to create new social practices, expectations,
protocols, habits, rituals and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a shared
experience of race and difference, justice and equity and community and
harmony; 3) Measures to enhance the autonomy/security/sovereignty of
communities of color and mitigate disparities in social and economic power; and 4)
A recommendation on whether and in what form the work of the Commission
should continue.
15. At any time in its work, and no later than June 30, 2022, the TRC shall strive to submit to
City Council a replicable model and structure for conversations between people of color
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 4
and white community members and representatives of various sectors in which people of
color experience discrimination and injustice.
16. Absent further action by the City Council, the TRC will dissolve on June 30, 2022.
Passed and approved this 15 day of September, 2020.
ted by
City Attorney's Office - 09/10/2020
NOTICE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF IOWA CITY IS CONSIDERING APPOINTMENT TO THE FOLLOWING COMMISSION:
AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
Nine Vacancies:
Term: Upon appointment – June 30, 2022
• The City Council has established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to bear witness to the
truth of racial injustice in Iowa City and to carry out restorative justice, through the collection of testimony
and public hearings, with such work to include a recommendation to the Council of a plan for dedicating
and/or renaming public spaces and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement;
The charges of the TRC are as follows:
A. Fact-Finding The TRC shall collect evidence, including first-hand testimony, of discrimination and
racial injustice in multiple settings and compile a complete record of racial injustices that will inform and
support the fundamental institutional and policy reforms necessary to address systemic racism.
B. Truth-Telling The TRC shall: 1) Provide multiple fora and creative opportunities for persons impacted
and traumatized by racial injustice to share their stories of racial injustice and experience to be heard
by: (a) fellow communities of color; (b) a broad cross section of the entire Iowa City community; and (c)
key decision-makers in city government, the business community and the University; 2) Explore ways to
provide such opportunities through art, music, theater, workshops, rallies and other forms of
congregation, multimedia and listening designed to reveal truths that cannot be fully expressed in
traditional fora; and, 3) Create a repository for community stories expressed in multiple media (written,
video, audio, art) that can be catalogued and used to educate and inform members of the community.
C. Reconciliation The TRC shall: 1) Provide opportunity for and facilitate direct conversation among and
between community members of color, white community members and representatives of various
sectors in which people of color experience discrimination and injustice (e.g. police and protesters,
landlords and tenants, students and teachers, patients and health care providers, business owners and
staff); 2) Create a replicable model that provides a structure for enabling these conversations
throughout the city; 3) Make available opportunities for a broad cross section of the community to learn
about discrimination and racial injustice in our community; and, 4) Identify and recommend to the City
Council institutional and policy reforms, new social practices, expectations, protocols, habits, rituals,
conversations and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a shared experience of race and
difference, justice and equity and community and harmony.
• The TRC shall have members who are representative of the City’s BIPOC communities and
organizations, including those who have direct lived experience with systemic racism, as well as
experts who support those communities. To the extent possible, as determined by the City Council,
the TRC shall include representation from groups such as the Iowa Freedom Riders, the Black
Voices Project, the South District Neighborhood Association, the Iowa City Human Rights
Commission, and the Community Police Review Board. Johnson County residency is required.
Iowa City residency is preferred but not required if an applicant offers expertise or representation
not available from applicants who reside in Iowa City. Members of other City boards and
commissions are eligible to serve on the TRC;
• The TRC will have an organizational meeting within 30 days of appointment of all its members by the
City Council and will determine the frequency and conduct of its meetings.
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 10, 2020. An application can be completed and
submitted on the City of Iowa City website at www.icgov.org or by contacting the City Clerk’s office. Questions
about the TRC appointment process should be directed to Kellie Fruehling at 356-5041.
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 06/22/2020
Contact: Stefanie Bowers, Equity Director
Phone: 319-356-5022
City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission issues
statement in support of Black Lives Matter
Like so many across the nation, we were outraged by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of
Minneapolis police officers. We felt it was time to make an unprecedented statement addressing this
human rights violation.
The killing of George Floyd resonates within our community, illuminating the failure to address
underlying economic and social forces perpetuating systemic racism throughout our nation.
Because of these failures, many names have become headlines: Tamir Rice, Philando Castile,
Botham Jean, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, among so many other BIPOC. Living While Black
should not be a death sentence.
Systemic racism and centuries of oppression of people of color, especially of African Americans,
represent ongoing human rights crises. This is embedded into many areas of our community,
including but not limited to law enforcement, criminal justice, housing, employment, education,
healthcare and childcare. We recognize that these interrelated factors make solutions complex.
Though the issues are systemic, solutions must be specific, focused on individual and policy-level
changes, involving broad participation to be successful.
As a commission, we pledge the following commitments to you:
• We state unequivocally Black Lives Matter.
• We will increase our efforts to highlight the work being done by the City of Iowa City Office
of Equity and Human Rights to educate and engage the community on human rights issues.
• We will spread awareness of resources and activities in the community through the Social
Justice and Racial Equity Quarterly Report found here.
• We will continue to be active representatives of this community and in working with the Iowa
City City Council, further dialogue and advocate for action for human rights issues, including
addressing the Iowa City Freedom Riders’ demands.
• We will listen to and help amplify community voices on matters of human rights. Community
residents are always encouraged to contact a member of the Human Rights Commission or
City staff if they have questions or concerns.
•We will engage in active dialogues with local officials and City staff members, including law
enforcement, that allow them to make informed decisions regarding equitable and just
policies and practices upholding human rights and holding human rights violators
accountable.
•We further offer our assistance in bridging the gap and fostering an open dialogue between
law enforcement and those participating in non-violent protests. We want to aid in
promoting trust between these groups to assure safety for all and protection of the
Constitutional Rights of free speech and freedom of assembly.
•We commit to building a more robust Human Rights Commission Strategic Plan starting in
July to assure that our priorities align with the goals above and in light of the heightened
awareness in our community to issues of race within systems and policies.
The goal of these commitments is to help us stay true to our duties and to more actively spur us to
be a part of the solution in dismantling systems of oppression by starting with small acts of our own
today.
This commission looks forward to building on our strengths and addressing critical areas that must
be improved in our community. We hope that the passion of the last few weeks is indicative of the
will to truly find solutions to these issues, which will undoubtedly take a sustained, long-term effort
involving all community members. We must assure that this is not a fleeting moment, but a pivotal
one that leads to lasting change.
To learn more about the City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission visit this link.
In solidarity,
City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission
Questions?
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