HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC Agenda 12 15 2022Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Agenda
Thursday, December 15, 2022, 7 PM
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.
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.ROLL CALL
3.READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
4.APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 1, 2022
5.PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS)
6.ICCSD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PERFORMANCE INCIDENT FOLLOW-UP
7.PROPOSAL FOR FACILITATOR SERVICES
8.ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH ONE ANOTHER CONCERNING SAID ANNOUNCEMENTS)
9.ADJOURNMENT
MEETING PACKET CONTENTS:
1.AGENDA: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022
2.DRAFT MEETING MINUTES: DECEMBER 1, 2022
3.NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
4.IOWA CITY INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TESTIMONY LETTER
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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.
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December 1, 2022
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Commissioners present: Mohamed Traore (via Zoom), Chastity Dillard, Clif Johnson, Marie Krebs,
Kevo Rivera, Lauren Merritt, Wangui Gathua, Eric Harris, Sikowis (Christine Nobiss) (Via Zoom).
Commissioners absent: None.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Community members who spoke at the meeting: V Fixmer-Oraiz.
Recommendation to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 7:04.
Reading of Native American Land Acknowledgement: Dillard read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of Minutes from October 20, 2022: Rivera moved, and Merritt seconded.
Motion passed 9-0.
Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: None.
ICCSD Elementary School Performance Incident: Shimek Elementary recently hosted Juana
Martinez-Neal, author and illustrator of the children’s book “Fry Bread”. Subsequent to this
program, students at the school performed a culturally inappropriate and racist event that was
intended to imitate a Pow wow. School officials, including the principal and teacher, were spoken
to about the incident. The teacher reported having gotten the idea from a book.
The concerns are that one, this performance is comparable to the students wearing blackface, it
is also alarming in that youth will grow up thinking that this is ok. Teachers in the district should
receive training on Indigenous history and culture. One resource is “Rethinking Columbus:
Rethinking Columbus Expanded”.
Members of the TRC will draft a letter for the ICCSD School Board and maybe have a sit down
with them in the future. This item will be placed on the next agenda for the TRC. It is important
for both the ICCSD and the City Council to have backing for the stated commitments they have
made.
Vote to Change Meetings to Once a Month: The overall opinion was that moving to once a
month will stall or slow down the work of the TRC and so the TRC will continue to meet the first
and third Thursdays of each month.
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Books and Materials Sent by Divided Communities: The TRC will use this time between now and
when and if the proposal is approved by the City Council to learn more about the restorative
justice process by reading and having conversations on resources that have been provided to
them.
Draft Proposal: Staff provided that they received the final version of the proposal on November
21st. Staff will meet the week of December 12 to further discuss. Staff should know more about
the timeframe for the proposal going to City Council for their consideration after this meeting and
will so inform the TRC.
Commission Announcements: Dillard invited fellow commissioners to attend the Johnson County
Neighborhood Association’s Cocoa and Cookies being held on Friday, December 9 from 4:30-6:30
PM. Rivera spoke on recent action at the state level to shift millions from public schools. Gathua
has been invited to participate in the Christian Faith Academy’s Anniversary Celebration being
held on Saturday, December 3.
Adjourned: 8:48 PM.
City Board and Commission meetings are recorded and can be viewed in their entirety by
visiting this link.
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AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2022
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
5/5 5/19 6/2 6/16 7/7 7/21 8/4 9/1 9/15 10/6 10/20 12/1
Dillard 6/22 P P P P - P P P - P P P
Gathua 6/22 P P P A - P P P - P P P
Harris 6/22 P P P P - P P P - P A P
Johnson 6/22 P P P P - P P P - P P P
Krebs 6/22 - - - - - - - - - P P P
Merritt 6/22 - - - - - - - - - P P P
Nobiss 6/22 A P P P - P P P - P A P
Rivera 6/22 A A P P - P P P - P P P
Traore 6/22 P P P P - P P P - P P P
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent
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