HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda TRC 5 19 2022Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Agenda
Thursday, May 19, 2022, 7PM
Emma J. Harvat Hall
City Hall
410 E. Washington Street
In order to encourage input from the public, the Commission intends to offer the opportunity to
participate in the meeting remotely. However, this meeting is in-person, and those wishing to ensure
their ability to participate should attend the meeting in-person. If you instead wish to participate
remotely, you may attempt to do so by joining the below link. Please note that the meeting link and ID
for the first Thursday of each month is different than the link and ID for the third Thursday of each
month.
First Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cMIaaV6cTxGwOlWu2-hFHg
ID: 867 2424 8095
Third Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lcIl8llPSRq1u0xPlL-1Ew
ID: 895 3695 0485
If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you can call in by phone
by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting ID when prompted.
Meeting Agenda:
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3.APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM MAY 5, 2022
4.PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS)
5.DISCUSSION ON THE FACILITATOR’S PROPOSAL
6.ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH ONE ANOTHER CONCERNING SAID ANNOUNCEMENTS)
7.ADJOURNMENT
If you will need a disability-related accommodation 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 accessibility needs.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
MAY 19, 2022, MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #2
•LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AGENDA ITEM #3
•DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF MAY 5, 2022
AGENDA ITEM #5
•COPY OF FACILITATOR PRESENTATION
MISCELLANEOUS
•DIVERSITY MARKET FLYER 2022
May 5, 2022
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Commissioners present: Mohamed Traore, Wangui Gathua, Amel Ali, Chastity Dillard, Clif Johnson,
Eric Harris, Daphney Daniel (via Zoom).
Commissioners not present: Kevo Rivera, Sikowis (Christine Nobiss).
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendations to City Council: Yes, the motion passed 6-0 to recommend to City Council the
facilitator proposal that includes the budget for it. (Commissioner Harris was not present for the
vote).
Meeting called to order: 7:09.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Ali read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of Minutes from April 7, 2022: Ali moved, and Traore seconded. Motion passed 7-0.
Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: None.
Discussion on Facilitator Proposal: Larry Schooler presented the proposal. The proposal is a
collaboration of several different organizations including Think Peace, Mediation Services of Iowa,
Astig Planning, and Banjo Knits Empowerment. The facilitation team’s roles and responsibilities
are:
1. Help the Commission define and carry out the core TRC vision.
2. Provide process and subject matter expertise in approach designs.
3. Serve as neutral facilitators with conflict resolution and consensus-building expertise.
4. Empower the TRC to identify and elevate community voices based on best practices and
experience.
Part of the position of Kearns and West is to assist the TRC in talking to the City Council and to be
more strategic in carrying out that task. This could include working with the TRC to receive
stipends for their work as a part of their budget. Commissioner Harris noted his concern that he
as well as other Commissioners have been doing this work on a volunteer basis and have not
been paid. He gave as an example, the amount of money the Excluded Workers received versus
what is being asked in this proposal for payment. Schooler reported that the amount requested is
a ceiling, in response to an inquiry from Commissioner Johnson. Schooler also mentioned that
more organizations have been added to the facilitator group which increased the cost.
It was pointed out by Commissioner Traore that this proposal goes for a longer duration and will
lead to more work to address more people than the original proposal from last fall. Traore further
noted that this work is not just about the money that gets spent now, this is about the effect that
it has for generations to come. The money allocated has been sitting there for almost 2 years.
It was pointed out the money given to the Excluded Workers came from the American Rescue
Plan and was not apart of the funding allocated for Black Lives Matter in the fall of 2000.
Other suggestions to Kearns and West from Commission members include itemizing each section
in the budget.
Ali moved, and Johnson seconded. The motion passed 6-0 to recommend to City Council the
facilitator proposal that includes the budget for it. (Commissioner Harris not present for the vote).
Commission Announcements: Traore thanked the TRC supporters who come to the meetings or
listen to them later and acknowledged the TRC will need their support along with the media when
it comes time to trying to get the proposal passed by City Council. Ali mentioned the recent
leaked decision of the US Supreme Court on Roe v. Wade and encouraged support of clinics that
provide contraception. Gathua thanked the city for paying for a transitional justice course that
she, Ali, Rivera, and Johnson were able to attend for seven weeks. Johnson closed the comments
with a declaration to Commissioners that they need to get things done. The TRC can make a huge
difference and change the lives of a lot of people in a positive way.
Adjourn: 9:17 PM
City meetings are recorded and can be viewed in their entirety by visiting this link.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2022
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
1/20 2/3 2/17 3/3 3/17 4/7 5/5 5/19 6/2 6/16 7/7 7/21 8/4
Ali 6/22 P P P P P P P
Daniel 6/22 A P A P P P P
Dillard 6/22 P P A P P P P
Gathua 6/22 P P P P P P P
Johnson 6/22 P P P P P P P
Harris 6/22 A P P P P P P
Nobiss 6/22 A P A P A A A
Rivera 6/22 P P P P P A A
Traore 6/22 P P P A P P P
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent