HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune HRC Packet 2023Human Rights Commission
June 27, 2023
Regular Meeting – 5:30 PM
Emma J. Harvat Hall
410 E. Washington Street
AGENDA:
1.Call to Order
2.Reading of Native American Land Acknowledgment
3.Approval of May 23, 2023, 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 or one another
concerning said items.)
5.Updates on Outreach and Engagement from the Police Department
6.Follow up on a request to change the Native American Land Acknowledgment to
the First Nations Land Acknowledgement
7.Statement on Sudan
8.2023 Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit - Iowa City/Coralville August 8th
9.Partnership with the Parks and Recreation
a.Hispanic Heritage Day – September 29th, RAL social Hall
b.Mental Health Celebration- October 14th, RAL social Hall
c.Indigenous Peoples Day- October 9th, RAL social Hall
d.All Around the World- November 18th, RAL social Hall
10.Commission Committees
a.Building Bridges
b.Reciprocal Relationships
c.Breaking Bread
11.Correspondence
12.One Community One Book – The Farm: A Novel by Joanne Ramos
13.Racial Equity & Social Justice Grant 2022 & 2023
14. Commissioner Spotlights due June 21st
15. Staff Announcements
16. Commissioner Announcements
(This item includes an opportunity for brief updates from staff and
Commissioners. Commissioners shall not engage in discussion on updates.)
17. Adjournment
If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate in this meeting, please call 319-356-
5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient
time to meet your access needs.
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 oflowa Native American Council for their work and guidance, as well as
members of the public, for their input.
Agenda Item #2
1
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
May 23, 2023
Helling Conference Room
Commissioners present: Bijou Maliabo, Jahnavi Pandya, Roger Lusala, Ahmed Ismail, Doug Kollasch, Kelsey
Paul Shantz, Sylvia Jons (via Zoom).
Commissioners absent: Suyun Channon.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 5:35 PM.
Native American Land Acknowledgement: Maliabo read the Land Acknowledgement.
Public comment of items not on the agenda: Mark Pries commented on an article in a recent edition of
The Lens newsletter.
Approval of meeting minutes of April 25, 2023: Paul Shantz moved, and Maliabo seconded. Motion
passed 6-0.
Outreach and Engagement Update from Police Department: This item was deferred until the June
meeting date.
Request to change the name of the Native American Land Acknowledgement to the First Nations Land
Acknowledgement: Pries asked for the commission to work with members of the Ad Hoc Truth and
Reconciliation Commission to change the name to First Nations, which Pries considers to be more
accessible whereas Indigenous, in his opinion, is more professional. The commission will reach out to Great
Plains Action Society and other local groups concerning this request. The commission will include Pries in
any upcoming conversations regarding this matter.
Commission Committees:
Breaking Bread – Kollasch reported that the committee has not met but will be planning to meet by the
next commission meeting.
Reciprocal Relationships – Lusala mentioned that even though the committee has not met they did co-
sponsor the first Asian American and Pacific Islander Awareness Festival and attended the Coralville Asian
Festival. Both events were earlier in the month.
Building Bridges – Paul Shantz reported that although the committee has been unable to meet up, they do
have some initiatives planned that will be discussed at the June meeting date.
Iowa City Pride and Correspondence: The Commission will participate in this year’s Pride event being held
on June 18. Lusala and Pandya are available and Maliabo and Ismail are tentative. Kollasch will be at the
Agenda Item #3
2
event representing Hawkeye Pride Alumni Network. The Commission will also participate in the Juneteenth
expo on June 17. Ismail, Lusala, and Pandya will represent the Commission. Lusala will provide the table.
Staff will prepare the giveaways and provide two chairs.
Announcements of commissioners: Ismail mentioned the Sudan conflict. Kollasch will draft a statement
for the commission’s approval at the June meeting concerning the conflict. Kollasch mentioned the
importance of showing support for this year’s Pride event considering all the recent legislation against the
LGBTQ+ community particularly against Trans persons. Maliabo spoke on the war in the Congo and a
recent death in the Congolese community. Lusala spoke on the success of the Youth Human Rights Awards
and the two Asian Festivals and on his coaching of boys soccer at South East Junior High. Paul Shantz spoke
in support of a recently held event called the Repair Café. The event provides tools and materials for
people interested in fixing things versus just throwing things away. Paul Shantz also mentioned the
presentations at the last commission meeting by Better Together 2030 and Council member Harmsen and
asked fellow commissioners to think about ways they can assist in putting plans into action. Paul Shantz
ended by mentioning participation in the first Cities Summit of the Americas held in April in Colorado.
Pandya spoke on the barriers refugees face in navigating social services including resources for the
homeless here in the community
Announcements of staff: Staff thanked the commission for a job well done at the annual Youth Human
Rights Awards ceremony.
Adjourned: 6:18 PM.
The meeting can be viewed at https://citychannel4.com/video.html?series=Local%20Government.
Human Rights Commission
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2023
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
1/24 2/28 3/28 4/25 5/23 6/27 7/25 8/22 9/26 10/24 11/28
Roger Lusala 2023 P P P P P
Bijou Maliabo 2023 P P P P P
Kelsey Paul Shantz 2023 P P A P P
Jahnavi Pandya 2024 P P A P P
Sylvia Jons 2024 P A P P P
Doug Kollasch 2024 P P P P P
Suyun Channon 2025 P P P P A
Ahmed Ismail 2025 P P P P P
Vacant 2025 - - - -
KEY: P = Present
A = Absent
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2023 IES Exhibitor Registration Form
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Event information:
2023 IES Iowa City -Coralville Mini
Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Time: 8:30 am -12:00 pm
Location: The Kirkwood Regional Center, 2301 Oakdale Blvd, Coralville, IA 52241
Exhibitor Rate: $150.00
Registration Information (listed in the program unless otherwise noted)
Organization or Business Name: ________________________ _
Lead Representative Name: __________________________ _
Lead Email:---------------------------------
Organization/Lead Phone number: ________________________ _
Organization website: ____________________________ _
*Lead Cell Number (only for event day communication): ________________ _
Other attendees
Full Name Email Phone
Note: Tax Exempt EIN#: 20-5347868 Please return no later than 8/1/23 and make checks payable to:
Immigrant Entrepreneurs Summit
3816 Ingersoll Ave
Des Moines IA 50312
. Questions? Contact Catherine at catherine@iesusa.org or 515-732-8433 (call or text).
Decade of Growth, Bright Future Nationwide Agenda Item #8