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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-28-2021 Human Rights CommissionHuman Rights Commission September 28, 2021 Formal Meeting — 5:30PM Emma J. Harvat Hall, Iowa City City Hall Agenda: 1. Call the meeting to order and roll call 2. Reading & Discussion of Land Acknowledgment 3. Approval of the August 24, 2021 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) S. American Rescue Plan & The Excluded Workers Fund Discussion/Updates 6. United Nations International Day of Older Persons: Housing Insecurity and Human Rights in Johnson County (October 1 at 3PM) 7. Celebrating Differences: Getting Comfortable Through Disability Awareness (October 12 at 9AM) 8. Subcommittees: Housing, Anti -Racism, Health Equity 9. National Indigenous People's Day Proclamation for the City Council formal meeting date of October 5. 10. Human Rights Award Presentations (October 27 at 7:30AM) 11. Staff/Commission Announcements. (Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with one another concerning said announcements). 12. Adjournment If you will need disability -related accommodations to participate in this meeting please contact Human Rights Coordinator, Stefanie Bowers, at 319-356-5022 or at stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.ore. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. it t - .-4 CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City. Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 3 56-5 000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www.icgov.org HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION SEPTEMBER 28, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS AGENDA ITEM #2 • LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT uTeTail, i _ u m,I • DRAFT MINUTES FROM AUGUST 24, 2021 AGENDA ITEM #7 • CELEBRATING DIFFERENCES: GETTING COMFORTABLE THROUGH DISABILITY AWARENESS Native American land Acknowledgement Prepared for the City of Iowa City's Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human Rights Commission PURPOSE Iowa City owes its existence to the many Indigenous Peoples who were the original stewards of this land and who were subjected to manipulation and violence by non-native settlers, invaders, and governments in order to make this moment possible. Acknowledgement of this truth is central to our work toward reconciliation across all barriers of difference and injustice. Starting with a Native American Land Acknowledgement, this Commission will bear witness to the legacies of violent displacement, migration, and settlement that have marginalized those who were the first inhabitants of this land. We must also address the mistreatment and exclusion that Native Americans continue to face today. The Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Human Rights Commission encourage the community and City of Iowa City to join us in these efforts through the use of a Native American Land Acknowledgement. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT To be read at all public meetings and events: "We meet today in the community of Iowa City, which now occupies the homelands of Native American Nations to whom we owe our commitment and dedication. The area of Iowa City was within the homelands of the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk, and because history is complex and time goes far back beyond memory, we also acknowledge the ancient connections of many other Indigenous Peoples here. The history of broken treaties and forced removal that dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their homelands was and is an act of colonization and genocide that we can not erase. We implore the Iowa City community to commit to understanding and addressing these injustices as we work toward equity, restoration, and reparations." LEARN MORE Native Governance Center Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement US Department of Arts and Culture: Honor Native Land Virtual Resources and Guide Meskwaki Nation - History Special thanks to the University of Iowa Native American Council for their work and guidance, as well as members of the public, for their input. Draft Minutes Human Rights Commission August 24, 2021 Emma J. Harvat Hall Commissioners present: Mark Pries, Siri Bruhn, Jessica Andino, Jason Glass, Bijou Maliabo, Roger Lusala, Tony Sivanthaphanith. Commissioners not present: Adil Adams, Ashley Lindley. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Daisy Torres. Others present who spoke: Jason Genck, Danielle Wilson, Juan Manuel Galvez Ibarra, Dr. Kathy Lee -Son, Ninoska Campos, Jacquelin (last name unknown), Rosa Brito Pastor, Emily Sinnwell, David Goodner, Barb Stanerson, Ann Houlahan. Recommendation to City Council: Yes, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission recognizes the hardships to Iowa City residents caused by the COVID pandemic. Some of the most impacted have been ineligible or otherwise unable to access federal benefits, relief programs and stimulus payments available to others. We would urge the Iowa City Council to consider allocating American Rescue Act funds as direct payments and other assistance to these residents, such as the $8M pilot program promoted by the Excluded Worker Fund coalition, in conjunction with Johnson County. Further, given the urgency of the situation many of these residents are in, we would support the City Council directing some portion of the funds to this cause immediately while input is gathered and considered on the use of the funds in total. This would not prohibit further use of the funds for the same purposes once all other options are considered Motion passed 5-0. (Lusala and Bruhn were not present for the vote) Meeting called to order: 5:31 PM. Land Acknowledgement: Andino read the land acknowledgement Approval of the minutes from the July 27, 2021 meeting: Pries moved; the motion was seconded by Lusala. Motion passed 6-0. (Maliabo not present for the vote). Public comment of items not on the agenda: None. Iowa City Comprehensive Recreation Facilities and Program Master Plan: Jason Genck and Danielle Wilson, Consultants with Berry Dunn had a conversation with the Commission on how to successfully engage the community specifically as it relates to recreational facilities. To date, Genck and Daniel have spoken with City staff in Human Rights, Police Outreach, and Neighborhood and Development Services. Their preliminary plan is to get out and engage with the community on the master plan. Suggestions from Commissioners included reaching out to: local non -profits, service providers for persons who are homeless, youth service organizations, South District Neighborhood Association, and the Great Plains Action Society. Staff will follow-up this conversation by forwarding Genck's contact information out to Commissioners. American Rescue Plan & The Excluded Workers Fund: Representatives from the Excluded Worker's Fund asked the Commission to recommend to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors and the Iowa City Council to immediately create an $8 million pilot project now, with no restrictions, in order to meet needs of excluded workers. An $8 million Excluded Workers Fund pilot program would deliver $3,200 in stimulus to the 2,500 most vulnerable and excluded workers. The city and the county should split the cost of the pilot fund 50/50, $4 million each, and work with the Excluded Worker's Coalition to iron out the other details. Comments made under this agenda item from supporters of the Excluded Workers Fund included: • Excluded workers and their families cannot continue to wait for the money. • The withholding of these funds is a human rights issue. • The funds are the needed foundation of equity for all residents who need assistance and help. • The funds should be distributed to those most invisible. • Many of the excluded workers do not qualify for unemployment or medical benefits/insurance. • Latinos experienced the worst parts of the pandemic. • During this pandemic excluded workers either lost their jobs, had their hours cut, and/or both extremes. • Excluded workers cannot wait for the comprehensive plan but need the financial support immediately. Glass moved to recommend to the City Council a prepared statement he wrote, Pries seconded. After discussion, it was decided to add the 8-million-dollar request to the recommendation. Motion passed 5-0. (Lusala and Bruhn not present for the vote). HRC Subcommittees: Housing: No update. Anti -Racism: No report. Health Equity: the group is working on getting college student support for some of its initiatives. Commission Statement in Support of Black Lives Matter: Commissioners were encouraged to review the City's Preliminary Plan to Restructure the Police Department that was sent out by staff back in July Social Justice and Racial Equity Grants: There is still one organization that has not submitted their final report for the fiscal year 2020. National Hispanic American Heritage Month Proclamation: Andino will accept the proclamation at the September 7, 2021 City Council meeting. Human Rights Awards: The awards will be presented on Wednesday, October 27 at 7:30AM at City Hall. Nominations are being solicited through September 30. There will be no breakfast this year due to the ongoing pandemic. Reports of Commissioners: Maliabo is enjoying her work at a local funeral home. Andino has been selected as a board member of the Housing Trust Fund of Johnson County and has her first meeting this Friday, August 20. Staff Reports: Torres provided an update on the success of the B.U.L.B. (Building Unity Linking Businesses for Safety) program event. It was held at Riverfront Crossings and over 25 vouchers were distributed on August 10th. Bowers encouraged Commissioners to participate in several upcoming events including Part 2 of the School to Prison Pipeline (Sept. 8) and the in -person discussion with Civil Rights Activist Joan Trumpauer Mulholland and her Filmmaker son Loki on her life and times as a Freedom Rider. Adjourned: 7:41 PM. (To view this meeting video please visit https://www.icgov.org/city-government/boards/human-rights- commission.) Iowa August 23, 2021 Memo regarding $8 Million Excluded Workers Fund pilot project Iowa City Human Rights Commission: Low -wage excluded workers of color living in crisis in Johnson County cannot wait until November before American Rescue Plan money is released to them in the form of direct aid and cash assistance. This is an urgent human rights issue. The local general assistance programs are structurally biased against racial minorities and their urgent needs and are not an adequate solution. Our full plan for a $54 Million Excluded Workers Fund is the only comprehensive plan to deliver pandemic relief to excluded workers left behind; while also making transformational investments in wages, housing, transportation, farming, and climate change. While we continue to work together to pass a fully -funded $54 million Excluded Workers Fund, we ask for your support to direct Johnson County and Iowa City to immediately create an $8 million pilot project now, with no restrictions, in order to meet the need. An $8 million Excluded Workers Fund pilot program would deliver $3,200 in stimulus to the 2,500 most vulnerable and excluded workers. The city and the county should split the cost of the pilot fund 50/50, $4 million each, and work with our coalition to iron out the other details. Washington's Excluded Workers Fund is one potential model that could be replicated here with a few tweaks. Their program was established between state and local governments and the leading immigrant workers coalition, with a third -party data group administering applications. The only requirements were proof of identity, proof of residency, and a self -certification by the applicant; for example that they did not receive a stimulus check or unemployment insurance. We ask that you recommend the immediate creation of an $8 million Excluded Workers Fund pilot project, without restrictions, to meet the urgent need now. $54 Million Fund Excluded Workers Coalition Plan: $20 million in direct cash assistance for up to 6,000 excluded workers, undocumented immigrants, previously incarcerated people, cash economy workers, and their families. $20 million in hazard pay bonuses of $1,600 each for up to 12,000 low -wage, public -sector, and essential workers in Johnson County who make less than $15 an hour. $5 million to purchase 54 new units of affordable and cooperative housing for immigrants, refugees, and previously incarcerated people. $3 million to expand public transit to late -nights and Sundays. $3 million for agrarian reform, to return stolen land back to Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color. $3 million to grassroots, BIPOC-led nonprofits and faith institutions, with annual budgets less than $250,000 and demonstrable bases of community support, who do not primarily rely on government funding. The 16-group Fund Excluded Workers coalition includes Iowa City Catholic Worker, Iowa City Ad -Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Iowa Freedom Riders, LULAC 308, LULAC Statewide Council, Great Plains Action Society, Ex -Incarcerated People Organizing (EXPO) Iowa, Iowa Student Action, SEIU Local 199, AFSCME 12, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Corridor Community Action Network, Iowa City Mutual Aid Collective, Iowa City Democratic Socialists of America, Community Transportation Committee, and Veterans for Peace Iowa City. N N rl M N ti rl b N O ti N O r N W iG DC �' DC DC iC >C N YC YC c DC YE YE c iE N DC iC iC DC iC iC k k YC YC DC DC iC iC YC' i! v M N k k iE DC is k k N b y� RH N N N N N O O N O W y W � d u w a y p m "c�+ IA C Celebrating Getting Comfortable Di*fferences Through Disability Awareness October 12, 9-10AM, Via, Zoom I This webinar will focus on best practices for disability inclusion & awareness. Learn about: • Disability Statistics • Sharpen your skills on disability awareness & etiquette • Tips for Recruitment/ Hiring Managers Speaker Darla Wilkerson, CEO of the Center for Disability Inclusion Darla has over 34 years of experience connecting businesses to people with disabilities for employment. Darla is the CEO for the Center for Disability Inclusion, this business led organization works with companies to help them advance their disability inclusion efforts in the workplace and marketplace. Darla self identifies as a person with a disability since acquiring a brain injury in 2006 and understands the challenges that many face when obtaining and maintaining employment. She holds a master's degree in public administration with a non-profit emphasis from University of Missouri -Kansas City and has served on many national and statewide boards focusing on increased employment for people with disabilities. wq ^ 4'_- S This program is sponsored by the City of Iowa City Office of Equity and Human Rights If you will need a disability -related accommodation to participate in this meeting please contact 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 accessibility needs. @ichumanrights