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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-23-2021 Human Rights CommissionHuman Rights Commission November 23, 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 of Land Acknowledgment 3. Approval of the October 26, 2021 meeting minutes 4. Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda. (Commentators shall address the Commission for no more than S minutes. Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with the public concerning said items) S. American Rescue Plan & The Excluded Workers Fund Discussion/Updates 6. Review of Current Commission Subcommittees & 2020 Strategic Plan 7. Report on the Human Rights Awards Ceremony 8. Report on Coralville Pride 9. Social Justice & Racial Equity Grants Updates and Reports 10. Board Commission Training on Open Meetings and Public Records (December 8 at 613M) 11. Staff/Commission Announcements (Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with one another concerning said announcements) 12. Recognition of Outgoing Commissioners Andino and Adams 13. 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.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. I r i CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 356-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www.icgov.org HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION NOVEMBER 23, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS AGENDA ITEM #2 • LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AGENDA ITEM #3 • DRAFT MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 26, 2021 AGENDA ITEM #6 • MINUTES FROM STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION OF JULY 7, 2020 AGENDA ITEM #9 • JOHNSON COUNTY AFFORDABLE HOUSING COALITION REPORT • SANKOFA OUTREACH CONNECTION REPORT • OPEN HEARTLAND REPORT • IOWA CITY BIKE LIBRARY REPORT • UNIVERSITY OF IOWA LABOR CENTER REPORT • UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOOD PANTRY 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 October 26, 2021 Emma J. Harvat Hall Commissioners present: Mark Pries, Sin Bruhn, Jessica Andino, Bijou Maliabo, Roger Lusala, Tony Sivanthaphanith, Adil Adams, Ashley Lindley. Commissioners not present: Jason Glass. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Daisy Torres Recommendation to City Council: Yes, the Human Rights Commission recommends for the City Council to increase the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant from $75,000 to $150,000 for fiscal year 2023. The motion passed 7-0 (Sivanthaphanith not present). Meeting called to order: 5:30 PM. Land Acknowledgement: Pries read the land acknowledgement. Approval of the minutes from the September 28, 2021 meeting: Pries moved; the motion was seconded by Lindley. Motion passed 7-0. (Maliabo and Adams not present). Public comment of items not on the agenda: None. American Rescue Plan & The Excluded Workers Fund: Commissioners briefly discussed the possibility of some of the ARP funds being used to increase the funding amount of the social justice and racial equity grant. The Commission could then assist in distributing the funding to organizations in need subject to Council approval. Review of Current Commission Subcommittees: Not all subcommittees have been successful in meeting. The Commission will review its last strategic plan to refresh memories on mission and purpose of each subcommittee. The last strategic plan was done in July of 2020. Because the Commission will have three new members as of January 2022, the Commission will wait to define the roles of subcommittees and try to stagger members to reflect the length of terms for each Commissioner. Human Rights Awards: The Awards will be presented on Wednesday, October 27 at 7:30AM at the Vue Rooftop. Commissioners should arrive by 7AM. There are six recipients: Sara Barron, Tracy Jon Sargeant, Kirkwood Community College Student Services, Iowa City Catholic Worker House, Jama Lidral, Brian Finley. Social Justice and Racial Equity Grants: The Commission will hold two informational sessions on the grant via Zoom on November 9 and November 16. Commissioners Lusala, Pries, Andino, and Bruhn will lead the discussion on the grants. The Commission also discussed the need to increase the funding amount for the grant due to the high demand as evidenced by the number of submissions they get each year. Lusala moved to recommend to the City Council that the amount allocated for the grant increase to $150,000 for fiscal year 2023, the motion was seconded by Bruhn. Motion passed 7-0. (Sivanthaphanith not present). Reports of Commissioners: Lindley recently got to spend quality time with her sister. Andino is expecting a baby girl in January. Bruhn is working on a Masters Degree in Legal Studies. Staff Reports: Torres mentioned the Police Department will be participating in the Halloween Carnival that is being sponsored by Parks and Recreation. Torres also mentioned that the deadline to sign up for Toys for Tots in Johnson and Washington counties is December 4. Adjourned: 6:32 PM. To view the video from this meeting visit https://youtu.be/1-mAOT6vo I N N ti M N ti b GC m X X X X X X k X T w X X X w X X k S^ r N R M M N m N k k k X k k k .0 R W Draft Minutes Human Rights Commission Electronic Formal Meeting Zoom Meeting Platform July 7, 2020 Members Present: Ashley Lindley, Jessica Andino, Cathy McGinnis, Adil Adam, Zachary Rochester, Mark Pries, Noemi Ford, Jason Glass, Bijou Maliabo. Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers. Community Members Present: Deion Broxton, Mayra Hernandez. Electronic Meeting (Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8) An electronic meeting was held because a meeting in person was impossible or impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of council members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19. Recommendation to Council: No. Strategic Plan Ongoing Commitments: Youth Awards, Awards Breakfast, Job Fair, Proclamations, Social Justice & Racial Equity Grants. Continue to support Community ID Program and that support inclusiveness in Iowa City. New Commitments Reaffirmation of Racial Justice within Policing, public statements on issues when they fall within the Commission's realm. Top priorities Cathy • Affordable/Accessible Housing (criminal background checks, credit checks, persons with disabilities). • Disproportionate number of Black persons being incarcerated in the State of Iowa. Zachary • Dismantling racism workshops. • Education and truthful depiction of history and the land that we are on. • Rights of Indigenous Peoples. • Rights of Nature Ideas: water and earth. • Workers rights, low wage workers, and human rights abuses in the Johnson county service industry. • Welcome celebration for new community members. • Unityfestival. • Film series. Adil • Hosting fi I m screening. • Inter religious dialogue and broad religious education. • Affordable Housing (Housing Choice Voucher). • Sporting Communities with emphasis on immigrant populations. Jessica • More updated on what staff is doing. • Resources within the City that highlight human rights. • Program or video resources. • Outreach and Education with specific attention on immigrants, POC, integrating into Iowa City and vice versa. • Having a little more active participation by Commission members on subcommittees. • More Commission members volunteering to help staff. Bijou • More Commission members volunteering. • Education for POC, immigrant & refugee, high school. • Human Trafficking. • Workers Rights/Discrimination. Noemi • Programming: what is needed what is being done by other organizations. • Mental Health: majority culture vs. minority culture and accessing health care, discrimination, mentally ill individuals being arrested without mental health care while in custody. • Application process for affordable housing (Housing Choice Voucher). • Low income and subsidized options in every housing unit, integrated access. Ashley • New priorities, human rights is a broad topic and many things fit under. • Education and Outreach. • More active involvement in education. A regular PSA to continue education and outreach. • Access to human rights related resources. In multiple languages. • Listening Posts. Finding a better way to get thoughts of community members. More readily available information about our meetings for community members to get their thoughts. • Human Rights Mixer. Jason • There is not a lot of interaction between the HRC and the Council. • Commissioners could serve as representatives of the City and also could be more of a resource to the Council in evaluating policies. • Commissioners should have more interaction with City Departments and staff. • Programming, civic education and voting education for underrepresented groups. • Professional and Technical Diversity Network that would hold welcoming receptions Mark • Juneteenth a priority on City's calendar. • Education related to systems within societies, white privilege, elitism, and male privilege. • Commissioners should have a voice in conversations with City Council related to the City's 1 million allocation for racial equity and social justice. • Commission should meet more regularly. • A vision for a new America. General notes: Other community members can join HRC subcommittees. Meet quarterly with City Council members and City Manager. Reports of Commissioners: Mark Pries, has a meeting with the Consultation of Religious Communities on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Ashley Lindley registered to attend the 2020 Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation Online Global Summit. Ashley will send the link to register to staff to send out to other Commissioners who are interested in registering. Staff: Will be co -sponsoring an Implicit Bias training for area restaurants and business owners. A similar program will be offered in Septemberfor area landlords and property managers. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 7:02PM. Below, please find the goals and timeline of Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition's Housing Advocacy Initiative project as initially proposed, as well as an update on our progress GOALS Household Assessment Purpose: To take inventory of specific An assessment was completed with 47 housing needs and issues from BIPOC/low- households. A draft of the assessment income residents and contribute to report is attached. advocacy at the household level. Impact: Develop understanding of housing As a result of our outreach, 10 issues to inform future policies and work, households were provided assistance and provide direct services/information to with past -due rent and utilities, and at inform participants. least 20 households received referrals to programs they were previously unaware of. For example, we worked with one household that was unaware of COVID relief rent assistance programs. They had received notice that they were going to be evicted. They took a break from packing their boxes to stop over to our event. Three days later, we worked with them to be approved for over $8,000 in back rent payments. The results of the assessment were analyzed and will be incorporated into our advocacy training. Community Advocacy Training Purpose: To increase BIPOC/low-income Our advocacy training will be held in residents' capacity to engage with housing November. Over 40 participants in our issues and advocacy. assessment indicated an interest in artici atin . I Build BIPOC/low-income community capacity so that members from this group are prepared to take leadership and advocacy roles within community non- profits/government agencies/commissions and facilitate change. TIMELINE Habitat for Humanity and Johnson County Social Services worked with us June: to create the assessment based on Project Kickoff Meetings with Johnson identified housing needs and on County and Habitat for Humanity concurrent needs and opportunities for low-income households. We discussed Begin resource Research and Creation the goals for the projects and how to use a resident -centered approach. July: Refining resource document Begin Door -to -Door Intake & Advocacy in Neighborhood August: We distributed fliers door-to-door and Complete Neighborhood intake & printed display signs. The fliers were Advocacy translated into five languages. Many residents came to the event with the Create & Translate Advocacy Training flier folded to their language. Materials September. We conducted two events in the lawn of Intake Analysis Woodlawn Apartments. Food, games, and interpreters in Spanish, French, and Host In -Person Training Event Arabic were available. October. We are now organizing the training, Create Toolkit scheduled for November. November. Although we are a month or two behind Present Project Results to City Council & schedule, we are on track to finish the Human Rights Commission project well within the grant timeline. The expenditures so far for the project have been one invoice from our partners at Astig Planning. The invoice totaled $2,700 for all services rendered through August. Affordable Housing Advocacy Initiative - South District Neighborhood - Community Survey Report Introduction As part of a Affordable Housing Initiative funded by the City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission, a community survey was launched during September 2021 among the residents of the South District neighborhood of Iowa City with joint efforts of Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition (JCAHC), Astig Planning, and Habitat for Humanity. The survey was part of the first Phase of the Advocacy Initiative, which was followed by connecting participants to housing resources available in the community. Being a targeted initiative, the target group for this survey were the residents in Census Tract 18.02. Block Group 2 in the South District of Iowa City (as seen in the figure to the right). The survey helped connect the residents to available resources in response to their immediate housing needs. Additionally, interested participants were funelled towards the second Phase of the Initiative i.e. to get an advocacy training on ways to make the voice of the underserved population be a collective one, and be heard. Planning Area According to ACS 2018 5-year estimates, the focused project area has (1) higher than average number of family renters, especially for non-White households. For example, among all black households in the project area, 96.3% of them are renters. The project area also includes (2) higher than average number of households that speak another language and do not speak English very well, and (3) although the area has lower housing cost, there is still a high percentage of cost -burden households.' In other words, the project area is a highly diverse community with higher than average family renters. Much of the population are People of Color who are disproportionately renters, and who experience a higher burden of cost for housing. Engagement efforts in this community also accounted for a wide range of languages spoken, including French and Spanish due to the high percentage of households with limited English speaking ability.Z Statistics Project Area Iowa City, IA Renter Families with Children 34.6% 13.7% Black Owner Occupied 3.7% 9.6% White Owner Occupied 71.0% 54.7% Rent 30% + of income 54.0% 58.1 % i Grant Proposal submitted for Affordable Housing Advocacy Initiative 2 ibid $800-$899 Monthly Housing Cost 46.0% 22.9% Limited English Speakers 19.2% 7.0% Black Households 24.5% 8.2% Hispanic/Latinx Households 15.2% 5.8%3 Methodology The survey questionnaire was developed with the objective of identifying the major issues/gaps in finding housing resources in the community. JCAHC Basic Intake Form and Habitat for Humanity International Community Survey forms were taken as examples to develop the questionnaire for this survey. The questionnaire was translated into French, Arabic, and Spanish because of the diverse languages spoken, and limited English-speaking residents in the area. The English questionnaire can be found at the appendix of this report. Residents in the area were informed of the event via door-to-door flyer distribution (in 4 languages i.e. English, French, Spanish, Arabic), social media outreach, and yard signages placed near the event venue (images in the appendix). With support from 4vc the SouthGate companies, the survey was held in a table booth manner at the Woodlands Apartment courtyard in a two-day event. The first event was held on a weekend (09/25/2021) from 11 am to 3pm, and the second event was held on a weekday (09/29/2021) from 4pm to 6pm. Food was provided at both the events. The door-to-door approach was limited to certain households with lower property values in the block group (households Stall e W,g,rey PmF mry111-.111, tr highlighted in green in the image to the right). A total of 47 participants filled out the survey, who were provided with housing resources by Sara Barron, JCAHC Executive Director, and Steve Nachazel, Johnson County Social Services Navigator afterwards on a one-on-one interaction basis. Results Day 1 Total number of participants - 33 Preferred languages - English (18); Spanish (1); French (12); Arabic (2) No. of participants interested in advocacy training - 20 said Yes; 2 said Maybe Day 2 3 American Community Survey 2018, 5-year estimates Total number of participants - 14 Preferred languages - English (10); French (3); Arabic (1) No. of participants interested in advocacy training - 11 said Yes; 1 said Maybe In Summary Total Number of Survey Respondents - 47 Preferred Languages of the Survey Respondents Arabic Spanish 6% 2% IEnglish French • French 32% •Arabic English .Spanish 60% Residential Areas of the Survey Respondents Homeless Coralville 4% 6I'D mob. - Others 24% South District 19% • Target Block Group Target Block . South District Group 47% • Others • Coralville • Homeless Household Issues Assessment in Categories - Survey Response Hard to pay for prescription merications Need support system Need childcare No medical insurance No doctor Want employment Want more education Commute Problem Need of Clothing Hard to pay utility bills Housing l nsecurity Eat less food 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 After English, French was found to be the most widely spoken language among the participants. About half (22) of the participants were from the targeted block group and 9 were from the South District of Iowa City. Two of the participants were in urgent need of a house because of being homeless. When asked about their basic needs, more than half (29) of the participants indicated that they have a hard time paying their utility bills, and the majority of them (25) indicated that they are worried that in the next few months they might not have safe housing. Clothing was also one of the major issues seen among the participants, with 23 of them indicating that they are in need of clothing to meet their daily needs. When asked if education or employment would be of help to the participants, the majority (32) of them indicated that they thought completing more education/training would be helpful to them, and more than half (25) participants indicated that they are seeking new/additional employment opportunities. Hence, education, utility bill, housing, employment, and clothing were seen as the top 5 issues of the survey participants. Neighborhood and Sense of Community as Responded by Participants I feel at home in this neighborhood Strongly Agree 19 Agree 12 Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree I see myself living in this neighborhood for a long time Strongly Agree 18 Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree I am aware of basic needs resources that my community has access to Strongly Agree 13 Agree L 14 Neutral 8 Disagree 6 Strongly Disagree 4 Neighborhood residents typically come togetherto work on projects and advocate for neighborhood issues Strongly Agree 4 Agree 8 Neutral 27 Disagree 4 Strongly Disagree 4 Organizations and groups of residents working together have been able to improve my neighborhood in the past Strongly Agree 4 Agree 11 Neutral 25 Disagree 3 Strongly Disagree 3 I feel like the people who run the City of Iowa City care about my neighborhood Strongly Agree BE 17 Agree Neutral 15 Disagree Strongly Disagree A large majority (67%) of the respondents said that they felt at home in their neighborhood, and more than half of them (53%) mentioned that they saw themselves living there for a long time. Likewise, a large majority (60%) of them indicated that they are aware of the basic resources their community has access to. However, when asked if the neighborhood residents typically came together to work on projects and advocate for neighborhood issues, more than half of them (57%) chose to stay neutral. Similarly, when asked if organizations and groups of residents working together have been able to improve their neighborhood in the past, most of them (54%) remained neutral. This suggests that the participants were not aware of any such activities in their neighborhood, most probably because they are not happening as frequently or the reach is not as wide. About the initiatives from the city itself, most (53%) of the respondents agreed that they felt like the people who run the City of Iowa City care about their neighborhood, however, a large number of them (32%) chose to stay neutral. This again suggests that the city needs to expand their resources and reach to more corners of the community, and make people aware of the initiatives that are being implemented in those communities. Next Steps Interest in Advocacy Training in the As per the interest shown by the Survey Respondents respondents, 34 of them will be 35 approached for the next phase 30 of the Initiative i.e. Advocacy Training. 25 20 15 10 5 0 _ Yes Maybe No or NA Appendix South District Housing Advocates Initiative: Housing Assessment Consent Questions Yes No Did someone answer the door? Are they eligible to participate in the survey? (18 years +and a member of the household) Are they willing to participate in the survey? If not, would they like us to come back later? When: Name: Address: Phone number: Email address: Preferred language: Race: Ethnicity: Occupation: Average Income (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, annual): Price of rent or monthly mortgage payment: Number of members In household: Number of children in household (0-18 years old): Number of dependent adults in household: Type of housing (circle one): Mufti -family Housing or Single-family Home Sense of Community Questions Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagre a Strongly Disagree I feel at home in this neighborhood I see myself living in this neighborhood for a long time I am aware of basic needs resources that my community has access to Neighborhood residents typically come together to work on projects and advocate for neighborhood issues Organizations and groups of residents working together have been able to improve my neighborhood in the past I feel like the people who run the City of Iowa City care about my neighborhood Category Question Response Comments Do you have a valid government issued id? Don't ID Such as driver's license, state issued photo ID or Yes No Know passport Do you eat less than you feel you should because Don't Food Yes No there's not enough food? Know Are you worried that in the next few months you may Don't Housing Yes NO not have safe housing? Know Don't Utilities Do you have a hard time paying your utility bills? Yes No Know Don't Clothing Are you in need of clothing to meet your daily needs? Yes No Know Do you have a dependable way to get to work or school Don't Transportation Yes No and your appointments? Know Do you think completing more education or training, Don't Education like finishing a GED/HiSET, going to college or learning a Yes No Know trade would be helpful to you? Don't Employment Are you seeking new or additional employment? Yes No Know Don't Medical Care Do you have a doctor you see for healthcare needs? Yes No Know Don't Insurance Do you have medical insurance? Yes No Know Is it hard for you to work, go to school or study because Don't Childcare Yes No you don't have childcare? Know Do you have people in your life that you feel supported Don't Social Support Yes No by? Know Do you sometimes have a hard time paying for your Don't Prescription Yes No prescription medications? Know Consent to Would you like to receive assistance with any of these Don't Yes No Help needs? Know Are any of your needs urgent? For example, 1 don't have Don't General Yes No food tonight or I don't have a place to sleep tonight Know Flyer Distributed for the Survey Event We will connect you to resources Venue: that can help with: Woodlands Apartments Courtyard 2010 - 2110 Broadway Street, Iowa City September 2S 2021 @ 11 am - 3 pm September 29 2021 @ 4pm - 6pm Furnishing your home All participants will receive FREE membership Emergency Shelter into the Johnson County Affordable Housing Food access Coalition pCAHCI. Interested participants will also be able to register far cmnmuniy .4_. 0 advocacy training. f �� ii�l�. r°—re� ummae�%,we�aw, Gtt of Iowa Citt �-HabX�t i � ' ■J Yard Sienaee Distributed for the Survey Event Venue: Woodlands Apartments Courtyard 2010-2110 Broadway Street, Iowa City September 2S 2021 @ 11 am - 3 pm September 29 2021 @ 4pm - 6pm (A ^C `-,Q--ervek For more information, please call us @ 319-243-3426 =�••� 3�0 Ethnic Studies Leadership Academy Social Justice & Racial Equity Grant Report For: Iowa City Human Rights Commission Lisa Covington, Ethnic Studies Leadership Prepared by: Academe Project Director__ 1. Status of the activity In collaboration with Black Lives Matter at School -Iowa and Sankofa Outreach Connection, the Ethnic Studies Leadership Academy (ESLA) has adjusted the program to reflect the current pandemics of both racial injustice and the global health crisis. The program will incorporate a hybrid in person and virtual model that will begin this winter and continue through spring of 2022. All in person events will require participants and guests to wear masks and other Personal Protective Equipment. 1.1. Activity summary In September and October 2021, the project director has met with Sankofa Outreach Connection and the Ethnic Studies Leadership Academy Board members to develop a plan for the roll out of the program including an updated budget and timeline. Major tasks The updated budget provides planned allocation of the funding provided from the City of Iowa City for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Board members were confirmed and participated in the development of the ESLA program with feedback on program structure, budget and plans for continuing the program beyond the current fiscal year. This report provides an overview of board convenings and preparations for program to begin including scheduling and staff training. 1.2. Background of Program Students demanded Ethnic Studies as a high school requirement in Iowa City Community School District (2016-2017). To date, the demand is still unmet. The ESLA is a community response to students' demand. 2. LOGISTICS The program will begin Dec 2021/January 2022 and continue through February/March 2022, as noted on the timeline below. The weekly programming will include ethnic studies and anti -oppressive curriculum to Black girls in the Iowa City area. To date, approximately 25 students have applied as participants with approximately 10 nominations of high school seniors and college students from local teachers and Ethnic Studies Leadership Academy November 2021 Report I 5ankoja Outreach Connection community leaders. As a result, the program is meeting its goal to have participants and interns and begin the program. The program will seek advisement from the Sankofa Outreach Connection, Black Lives Matter at School -Iowa, the National Black Lives Matter at School Steering Committee and the National Ethnic Studies Coalition and the ESLA Advisory Board members as noted below. Advisory Board Members include faculty members and community members from across the country who are familiar with ethnic studies, pedagogy and youth engagement. Select Board members include: Tamara Anderson, Black Lives Matter at School National Steering Committeee & Melanated Educators Derrick Brooms, PhD, University of Tennessee -Knoxville Anthony Blackshear, PhD, San Bernardino Community College Serena Wilcox, PhD, University of Kentucky Sasha Knox, San Diego State University Valerie Taylor, PhD, University of Nevada, Las Vegas The board also includes 2 youth who graduated from Iowa City Community School District while students advocated for equity in the curriculum in 2016 and after. Other youth alumni are welcome to support in the future. 3. PLANS FOR THE NEXT REPORTING QUARTER During the next phase of reporting, there will be direct feedback from youth participants regarding metrics for measuring ethnic studies knowledge and leadership skills. There may also be results from the hybrid of the program model including pictures, results from workshops and other information from parents and youth participants. In addition, youth who graduate from the program will serve as alumni and prepare for the next _pzroup of students to participate in the program. 4. METRICS & EXPECTATIONS Project overall forthcoming metrics and expectations • Report out 14-17 youth participants is anticipated with a 15-20 percent participant drop out expected • Report out from 3-5 interns will receive course credit/stipend for supporting the • All staff including interns and volunteers will be trained in approximately 30 hours of youth development training, trauma informed care, ethnic studies and mental health first aid. Ethnic Studies Leadership Academy November 2021 Report San%oja Outreach Connection • Results from 10-13 weeks of curriculum will be summarized • Participant reflections will be provided within each quarter of the program through various means including surveys, images, pictures, etc. • Project director will provide updates from the advisory board and staff S. LOGISTICS, TIMELINE & EVENTS Please find details of logistics discussed and an anticipated timeline below. LOGISTICS n-Timeline: Dec 2021 /Jan 2022 — Feb/Mar 2022 -'-Weekly programming to include content and skills building ❖ 14-17 total applicants ❖Hire 3-5 undergraduate/high school interns (for credit/stipend) ❖Guest speakers with HBCUs, Activists and creators from across the country •:•Support: BLM at School Community, ESLA Advisory Board, National Ethnic Studies Coalition and volunteers Ethnic Studies Leadership Academy November 2021 Report . RYanko ja OutreacA Connection A :*Ii0ii—all IYAiI VI I `UV LUG I- I VI L�JCL -Participants will Explore Ethnic -Hire & train interns: facilitators, Studies History Topic website management, administrative -Participate in BLM at School - Week support of Action Month 2: Dec/Jan Month 1: Nov/Dec Month 3: Jan/Feb -In-person Convocation -Weekly Virmal Programming Begins -An introduction to Ethnic Studies Month 4: Feb/Mar: -Share through peer workshops, community showcase and/or digital projects -Program Graduation Ethnic Studies Leadership Academy November 2021 Report OPEN WELCOMING • INCLUDING • STRCNGTI ICVING FY21 Social Justice Racial Equity Grant Report October 26, 2021 Open Heartland is incredibly grateful to be a recipient of a $14,749 grant awarded to fund youth and family programs for the Latinx immigrant population served by our nonprofit. The desire to gain access to enrichment programs for their children and families was expressed by the Open Heartland Leadership Team in October 2020 as the highest need of Latinx immigrant families residing in Johnson County following food and housing security. Open Heartland's Leadership Team consists of eight women who live in each of the following mobile home communities and volunteer their time to represent their neighbors: Regency, Forestview, Cole's, Lakeridge, Hilltop, Modern Manor, Bon Aire, and Breckenridge. These are also the mobile home communities we serve. To date, Open Heartland has expended $8,546.15 (58%) of the grant award to support and facilitate the youth enrichment programs listed below from June through October. A detailed accounting of expenditures and copies of all invoices/receipts are in a separate excel document. 1) La Familia: support group for Latinx teens who met regularly over the summer with University of Iowa student mentors working to improve the teens' self-esteem, interpersonal skills, mental health, and build a supportive, safe environment where the teens could voice their challenges in life. La Familia continues throughout the academic 2021-2022 school year partnering with the University of Iowa . Serves 101CCSD Latinx teens. 2) Folklorico Dance Group: a group of girls ages 4 to 18 formed a group to study Mexican Folkloric dance from an Open Heartland mom who grew up in Mexico learning the traditional dance as a young girl. The girls practiced at Open Heartland weekly throughout the summer while the Open Heartland Sewing Club designed and sewed traditional costumes for the dancers. From August through September, the Open Heartland Folkloric dancers performed at four local events including the Iowa City Latino Festival. This program launched with this grant funding will continue to be a permanent program offered at Open Heartland. Serves 24 Latinx girls and young women. 3) Youth Boxing Camp (June): a one -week experience for youth ages 6 to 16 to learn the basics of boxing at ICOR Boxing in Iowa City. One Open Heartland student has continued studying boxing at ICOR throughout the summer and school year. This experience was very valuable to the students who participated and will hopefully be available in the Summer of 2022 for our Latinx youth. 12 Students Served. 4) STEAM Club (July): a one -week camp for youth ages 5 to 12 to gain science, technology, engineering, art, and math experiences that advance their STEAM understandings and support their academic studies. The camp was facilitated by the University of Iowa Medical Students with a strong focus on germs and how germs spread. 14 Students Served. 1 21 5) Photography Camp (July): a one -week long camp for kids ages 5 to 12 to help them learn how to take great photos. The camp consisted of a daily field trip to local sites that these kids may never have visited that included Wilson's Apple Orchard, Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, Wetherby Park, Petland, and the Pepperwood Plaza Mural. Students took photos all week long and finalized their art work by creating a PowerPoint slide show that they shared with each other talking about what they liked about each photo. A family dinner is planned for late fall allowing the campers to share their creativity with their families. Each student took home a simple digital camera after the camp experience. 12 Students Served. 6) Soccer Camp (June): a one -week long camp for kids ages 5 to 14 to help them learn soccer skills and just enjoy playing their favorite sport on the Horn Elementary playground. A Latino student from West High and Latina student from City High coached the campers during this week-long summer camp. Each participant went home with their very own soccer ball to help them keep their camp experience alive throughout the summer in their mobile home communities. 21 Students Served. 7) Marimba Musical Event: On August 27, Open Heartland commissioned Heartland Marimba (http://heartiandmarimba.com) from Cedar Falls to perform a family concert at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area elevating accessibility to the classical Hispanic art form. All Open Heartland families and our community volunteers were invited to the event in an effort to offer community members an opportunity to get to know each other. Of course it involved food! Burgers and hotdogs were grilled and donated by the Iowa City Downtown Rotary Club for the event. In addition our very own Open Heartland Folkloric Dancers performed at the event! Community Members Served = 150. 8) Art Adventures: Five different art programs have been offered to youth from June through October including card making, glitter tattoos, pumpkin decorating, chalk the walk, Mexican paper flowers, and a Create Your Own Work of Art. These programs were created and run by a local Latina City High student serving 50 youth. Additional Art Adventures will continue to be offered throughout the school year. 9) Literacy Program: Partnering with Antelope Lending Library, Open Heartland created a youth literacy program that met every Saturday evening. Kids enjoyed a storytime with an Antelope Librarian, followed by an immersive hands-on activity with a community volunteer working one-on-one that brought the story to life. Following the weekly program, the adult volunteers wrote postcards to the kids to give them additional reading opportunities that were engaging and fun! 10 youth served. Plans for additional enrichment programs for Open Heartland that will spend down the remaining grant funds by June 30, 2022 include the following enrichment programs and/or events. • Ice Skating Family Event at Coral Ridge Mall • Evening of Play at The Iowa Children's Museum (private event) • Winter and Spring experiences still in the planning stages. Thank you for this tremendous opportunity to provide access to youth and family enrichment programs that have made a real difference in the lives of Latinx immigrant families. Elizabeth Bernal and Deb Dunkhase Co -Founders & Directors of Open Heartland Iowa City Bike Library Social Justice Racial Equity Progress Report for the Raise It Up Ride Project November 1, 2021 The concept for the Raise It Up Ride conceived in the Summer of 2020; the idea developed into a collaboration with students from Humanity in Action, and came to life because of the $4,000 awarded to the Iowa City Bike Library. In the Spring of 2021, we began talking with local artists, community partners, and community members; in the Summer we began construction and producing the podcast-style audio. The first ride is launched, and in addition to reporting on the goals stated in our application, we will give a snapshot of the unanticipated positive outcomes as well as some pitfalls. We worked with Hannah Givler and Tracy Jon Sargeant to design and build apparatuses that house mini computers that played the audio -guide, batteries to power them, and speakers. At the same time, we researched, conducted interviews, and compiled previously recorded interviews and talks that related to the subject matter. We worked with sound engineer Nicholas Naioti, and local musicians James Tutson and Blake Shaw, and weaved together history, art, and interviews. The audio -guide to the ride also focused on Black African Americans who are making history now (I), and what we all can do to fight against the systemic oppression and current inequities that persist here in Iowa City. The final look and design of the apparatuses was done in collaboration with Maurice Nurse of Creative Printing Plus and Devale Gates of Victory Over Odds. A list of core team members can be found here: ***********.icbikelibrary.org/raise-it-up-team.htmI On October I" the first route in the series was complete and we launched just in time for Fall biking. Although we had anticipated releasing the first route much earlier in the Summer, we are glad to have completed this first round. There was hold-up due mostly to the scope of the project: history and facts vs. storytelling and interviews; audio accessible 24/7 vs. on a smart phone; apparatuses that were weatherproof vs. weather resistant. We will be bringing in the apparatus in for the winter, and it will give us time to trouble shoot and simplify. Listed below are links to the audio narration produced for corresponding checkpoints on the first Raise It Up Ride. Iowa City Bike Library: https://www.icbil<elibrary.org/blaudio.html Tate Arms House: https://www.icbikelibrary.org/tatearms.htmi Our Children Spoke Mural: https://www.icbikelibrary.org/tatearms.htmI Neighborhood of Seasons Mosaic: https://www.icbikelibrarV.org/mosaic.html Dream City: https://www.icbikelibrary.org/dreamcity.htmi One of five apparatuses at the Iowa City Bike Library Goals as stated in the application: 1. Construct physical apparatus that will be placed at checkpoints, and that house audio equipment that educates cyclists on the history of systematic oppression in their own backyards, as well as the current inequities that unfortunately continue to oppress. 2. Honor historically significant locations, locations significant to the Black community and the Iowa City community as a whole, and highlight Black -owned businesses. 3. Develop four routes, each with three to five sites woven into an approximately 10-mile bike ride. 4. Produce audio -guided narration that is to be housed in each apparatus that can be accesses with or without a smartphone on a self -guided route 24/7, and is also accessed by volunteer -led rides. S. Create an accompanying playlist of Black artists, musicians, and poets that can be listened to while en -route via a speaker or after the ride while refueling at one of the Black -owned restaurants highlighted. The apparatuses are complete, the audio is produced, and we are just wrapping up the first self -guided bicycle tour in the series. The first route featured Tate Arms, 1101 Kirkwood, "Our Children Spoke' Mural, Neighborhood of Seasons Mosaic, and Dream City. The route was inspired by the 2020 Broadway neighborhood youth who would ride the Sycamore Greenway during the Bike Library & NCJC's Summer Bike Club. Sometimes more options aren't necessarily better. For this ride we had hoped to capture the number of people biking the ride as well as their reaction to the project —however they interacted with it. It was pointed out early on that there were too many options for how people could engage with the project, and we should have gone for simplicity over maximum function on various platforms. For the first ride we had five google forms that riders could fill out —one for checking -in, and the rest were to opt -in to answer discussion questions prompts that were on the back of each of the spoke cards. At each checkpoint riders and people passing by are encouraged to take the spoke cards. We know that folks have been going on the ride, and the batteries for the computers only die when they have been used, and we've have been replacing them on a bi-weekly basis. However, we've had little to no responses submitted on the forms. The spoke cards themselves have been taken, and it was our hope that folks would take these home, think about their responses, and discuss them with their families. All that being said, all the options for ways to engage didn't give us accurate numbers for how many people did engage. Spoke Card for Tate Arms Discussion What is your relationship to l your bike, biking community, I and the built environment? Have you experienced example of the injustices described in this 196 segment? Feel free to share your story. IN There were a lot of positive unanticipated outcomes —the major one being a deepened connection with partner organization and main collaborator on this project, the Multicultural Development Center of Iowa (MDClowa). We are thrilled to say that we now share a physical space with MCDlowa as they have moved into the same building at 1222 South Gilbert Court. They are currently in the process of building a STEM Factory, and they have invited the Bike Library to be part of the newly formed Racial Equity Collective. Without the help of MDClowa, the dream of bringing the apparatuses to life and giving people the option to learn more about each site at any time day or night, never would have happened. We were able to connect with other Black -owned business in our neighborhood that elevated the standard of the project higher than we had hoped for as well. Maurice Nurse owns Creative Printing Plus and help us figure out the best way to display the art on each of the units. Victory Over Odds designer and Black business owner Devale Gates installed the art that Maurice printed. This project has brought a lot of people together might not have otherwise met. One negative aspect of the project was that, athough we did have a team of five volunteers doing a lot of the research and backend work, we went over budget on materials and didn't do a good job budgeting for additional labor. We are looking forward to brainstorming the next phase of the project which we intent to launch in Spring 2022. We have the units built and equipped them with the tech, and we've done an initial run of the first ride. One of our lead organizers for the project is no longer working for the Bike Library, so we will be looking for other leaders and organization for which to work alongside in the development of the Raise It Up Ride 2.0. We took a workshop with The Brown Bike Girl, a NYC -based bicycle advocacy project launched by community organizer and certified cycling instructor, Courtney Williams, to help people and organizations build their capacity to make cycling more accessible to communities of color. We would like to consult with Courtney for advice on moving forward throughout the winter months. 0 TO: Iowa City Human Rights Commission FROM: Robin Clark -Bennett, Director, University of Iowa Labor Center DATE: November 1, 2021 RE: June -October, 2021 Progress Report: University of Iowa Labor Center Corridor Apprenticeship Opportunity Network The University of Iowa Labor Center's Corridor Apprenticeship Opportunity Network links unemployed or underemployed Iowa City residents from underrepresented groups with opportunities to prepare for and enroll in Iowa Registered Apprentice programs in skilled construction trades. While the resurgence of the Delta variant of COViD-19 has caused us to postpone our fall cohort and some of the other in -person orientation and leadership events we had planned, we arc pleased to report that we have continued to make significant progress and have a number of exciting events planned this fall and in the New Year. Each month in 2021, we have held an Iowa Women in Trades online meeting for the purpose of networking, learning from guest speakers, exchanging ideas, and building mentoring relationships. Participants have included women at every stage in construction employment: women contemplating a career in the trades, recent graduates of our prcapprcnticeship program, women apprentices, j ourneywomen in the construction trades, women who are local and national leaders in their trades, and women who have retired from a career in construction. Meetings have featured state and national leaders, such as Vick-i O'Leary from the Ironworkers who helped establish paid maternity leave benefits- in the craft and launched a `Be That One Guy" bystander intervention program. We were also recently joined by Tonette Harris, Civil Rights Bureau Director for the IA Department of Transportation, who presented materials on combatting harassment and promoting respectful jobsites. The network now reaches over 100 women across Iowa, including several tradeswoman leaders and co -facilitators from the Corridor. In addition to the Iowa Women in Trades meetings, we have also held monthly follow-up Zoom support sessions open to all course graduates with a focus on providing support for first -generation immigrants, women, or BIPOC graduates who are in the process of submitting apprenticeship applications to training programs or preparing for interviews with contractors or training programs. As more construction jobsites reopened this year, we have been in regular contact with Registered Apprenticeship training coordinators, contractors, union leaders, and our preapprentice course graduates. We have helped 9 additional graduates from the Corridor gain entry to Registered Apprenticeships and/or paid preapprentice classifications this year with the Laborers, Carpenters, Painters, Electricians, and Plumbers. About 10 graduates from the Corridor arc currently in the final stages of completing application materials, testing requirements, or interviews with apprenticeship training programs. We still have a significant number of graduates whose entry into construction has been postponed because they have additional childcare responsibilities due to the coronavirus or have expressed health concerns about beginning their work before the pandemic subsides. About 115 of our graduates have moved or decided to pursue other career paths, but the overwhelming majority remained interested in careers in the trades. After our experience with placements this past summer, we are now able to more precisely target our employer outreach — for example, we have identified several contractors that have been particularly inclined to hire and retain our graduates. We are in the process of planning follow-up meetings with them and the apprenticeship coordinators to discuss the best ways of building on that success in 2022. This month, we are excited about several initiatives to expand our publicity about the program to reach more service providers, school staff, and nonprofit organizations. Particularly in light of the ongoing challenges with holding large in -person meetings, we are planning to produce a short video about the program, featuring interview excerpts with some of our graduates, training coordinators, and contractors. We expect to complete the video by mid -December and share it with our network of nonprofit leaders and via social media through the spring. We are also producing new print materials that feature pictures and quotes from our graduates, rather than stock photos, to inspire confidence among potential applicants from cornmtmitics that are underrepresented in construction occupations. Our colleague Guillermo Morales will conduct a workshop about the program for the 2021 Latinx Youth Summit on November 3" on the University of Iowa campus, and an apprentice from the Iowa Women in Trades Network will co - present with leaders of the Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council at the Iowa School Counselor Association conference later this month. As of today, we are plarming to begin our next 5-week apprenticeship readiness course cohort on Tuesday, November 9'. It is possible that we may need to postpone it due to low enrollment from the limited number of in -person outreach and orientation events we have been able to conduct this fall. We may be able to move forward with a slightly smaller cohort this month, or numbers may increase this week to allow for a full cohort. Either way, we are confident that with additional digital and print outreach tools, combined with increased access to in -person events as a result of the expansion of vaccine eligibility and booster shots this month, we will meet or exceed our apprenticeship readiness class goals in the remaining months of the grant period. Revised calendar: November -December: 5-week apprenticeship readiness cohort, completion of new outreach video and print materials featuring members of our network who have entered building and construction trades careers, ongoing monthly Zoom -based Iowa Women in Trades and graduate support meetings, and meetings with contractors and apprenticeship programs that placed the largest number of our participants. December -January: Outreach and orientation events to recruit for winter apprenticeship readiness course February: Winter session of apprenticeship readiness course, launch the new Iowans of Color in Trades network with a meeting in Coralville. March -April: Placement of course graduates in registered apprenticeship training programs and follow-up support activities to ensure success of graduates in apprenticeship paining; include new graduates in monthly meetings of Iowa Women in Trades and Iowans of Color in Trades network meetings Note on finances to date: We have not yet expended SJRE fmrds from Iowa City for this year because remaining funds from other grants were available to fiord program activities through October 31 and we had to postpone several outreach events and the fall apprenticeship readiness class cohort due to the resurgence of COVID-19. We will be relying on Iowa City SIRE funding to support program activities from November I onward and will provide a summary with invoices/receipts in our next report. Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant Progress Report November 1, 2021 In the Food Pantry at Iowa's application for Social Justice and Racial Equity grant funding for FY21, we were hoping to secure funding to purchase culturally relevant and diverse foods to better support our diverse community of clients, specifically people of color in our campus community. Since the beginning of the year 2020 when pantry leadership began intentionally purchasing culturally relevant and diverse foods, we had a difficult time keeping these foods in stock and finding sufficient funding to consistently purchase them. From spring 2020 to summer 2021, we were purchasing a small selection of culturally diverse foods and every week watching them run out quickly, with no ability to repurchase or to add more to our list should clients give feedback or make requests. We were not adequately providing for clients with culturally diverse diets, many of whom are people of color and are minoritized in our campus community. Impact Since receiving the Social Justice and Racial Equity grant funding, we have been able to increase how much we buy of the most popular items, as well as respond to clients' feedback about additional culturally diverse foods they would benefit from having in the pantry. Additionally, we have been able to purchase fresh produce and perishable goods each time we shop, so in addition to shelf stable items, we've also been able to provide foods like Bok choy, jalapenos, plantains, green onions, okra, and tofu. The increased focus on and presence of culturally diverse foods in the pantry has even created a shift in our operations outside of the grocery shopping trips to Chong's Supermarket and Iowa City African and Oriental Market. We have also added more culturally diverse foods to our shopping lists for Walmart each week, putting an emphasis on providing culturally relevant foods throughout the whole week, rather than for just one day a week. Measuring Impact Our Food Pantry Client Survey, which was administered for the first time this spring, measures clients' satisfaction with their experiences in the pantry, including the availability of food that caters to their dietary and cultural needs. This survey will be administered again in the upcoming spring semester, and the data will be used to evaluate how this grant funding has impacted our ability to serve all clients, and specifically those looking for culturally diverse foods. The comparison of data from each Client Survey will help us create a plan for future purchases so we can continue to serve communities of color in our food pantry. Another way we measure how effectively we are serving our clients is by looking at the amount of food they take home with them, which we measure in pounds. By looking at this data point, we can already see that the grant has made a substantial impact. For the previous academic year (summer 2020 through spring 2021), food pantry clients were taking home about 22.5 pounds of food each time they came. So far, since the grant funding has been introduced, that average has increased to 25 pounds per visit, which is an eleven percent increase.