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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-15-2024 Human Rights CommissionAGENDA Human Rights Commission Tuesday October 15, 2024 Work Session — 5:30 PM Meeting Room B at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center 220 South Gilbert Street 1. Strategic Planning. (The Commission will not seek or receive public comment.) Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all City of Iowa City —sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Stefanie Bowers in advance at 319-356-5022 or sbowersCra iowa-city.org. LATE HANDOUTS - THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WERE DISTRIBUTED AT THE MEETING mmmmre� RESULTS: Survey of Iowa City Human Rights Commissioners — Preparation for Strategic Planning October 9, 2024 OVERVIEW This survey was distributed to Iowa City Human Rights Commissioners and available online for 2.5 weeks. Six Commissioners provided responses. INTRODUCTION FOR RESPONDENTS Given the desire of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission to develop a new strategic plan for the coming three years, we are beginning the process with a survey to gather reflections on the current state of the Commission and human rights in Iowa City, as well as ideas for future work. We will use the responses to this survey to help design upcoming strategy discussions. Your input is valued, and we appreciate the time you spend providing it. We estimate this survey will take 11 minutes to complete, and responses are anonymous. Thank you very much for your time and input. COLLECTED INSIGHTS Following are the key ideas for each of the 13 survey items. Full survey responses are included later in this report. The current state of human rights in Iowa City: Commissioners' views about the state of human rights in Iowa City range across the whole spectrum, from improving to declining. Half of the comments focused on aspects of the Human Rights Commission itself that respondents view as important: diversity and inclusivity, as well as a desire to see consistent activity and continuity across cohorts of Commissioners. External factors cited by respondents in the comments include the negative impact of new legislation on civil rights, the positive impact of local developments including free bus service and more support organizations, and a perceived lack of boldness by the city council. How welcoming Iowa City is to the full diversity of its residents and visitors: • Respondents generally view Iowa City as a welcoming place. • Respondents acknowledge that some people experience microaggressions and prejudice despite the overall welcoming nature of the community. mmmmre� Public opinion of the Commission: • Respondents believe the Iowa City Human Rights Commission is generally viewed in a positive light. Members of the community may not have much knowledge about the Commission's activity. Human rights concerns of community residents: Each respondent named different human rights concerns expressed by Iowa City residents. That is, there does not seem to be a single overarching issue of concern; the concerns are many and varied. The degree to which the Commission fulfills its primary duties: • Respondents indicate that the duty the Commission best fulfills is administering the Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) Grant program. • Respondents believe the Commission fulfills the duty to coordinate programs that reduce various intergroup tensions least well of its duties. Framing question from the previous strategic planning process (Imagine that, by its 65th anniversary [2028], the Iowa City Human Rights Commission is the hub of a robust, local human rights network. What would that look like?): • The framing question used for the last round of strategic planning may be a useful jumping-off point to develop a new guiding question for the current round of planning. • It may be useful to the current planning effort to spend some time as a group clarifying what the desired future of human rights in Iowa City looks like. Breaking Bread: Bringing people together to learn from one another and practice creating community across previous lines of tension; focusing on individuals: • While the respondents, on average, felt some progress has been made in this area, it is not viewed as substantial. • Respondents rate progress in this strategic focus area second of the three. Regular Reciprocal Relationships: Developing deeper relationships with other community organizations to more effectively advance human rights in our community: While respondents indicate there has been some progress in this area, it is not very significant. It is the strategic focus area that respondents believe has seen the least progress of the three. Bridging the Gap: Developing stronger individual and collective relationships with the city council: • Respondents indicate that this strategic focus area has seen the most progress of the three. Activities or programs with the greatest positive impact: Respondents listed three activities or programs they view as having the greatest positive impact on advancing human rights in the community: • The Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) Grant program p. 2 mmmmre� Attending and tabling at human rights -related events Providing informational and training resources in various forms Ideas for future human rights -related programs, projects, or events: Some respondents prioritized continuing existing activities or programs for the future, including: • The RESJ Grant program Providing training opportunities Public Human Rights Awards. Other respondents named ideas for new activities and programs, including: • Greater participation in human rights activities by residents Awareness -creating outreach to schools and other organizations in the form of talks Development of programs that promote strong intergroup relations Current programming that should be considered for discontinuation: Respondents did not identify any current programming they believe should be considered for discontinuation. Human rights issues Iowa City should be prepared to address in the next five years: Each respondent named different human rights issues they believe will be important to address in the next five years. These might be grouped into three categories: • Residents' awareness of their own rights • A wide range of issues that impact human rights, from housing to accessing healthcare The harmful impact of legislation on human rights p. 3 mmmmre� SURVEY ITEMS 1) Which of the following best describes your perception of the state of human rights in Iowa City? I f o 14 P,,,,J,y are &�10 "',g �k�.Y.fll'IiX� ('(% i Mc 1,111 , ;TXa16, str ', 6, ("m Xlmr, AMIN ER CM�u S SNi,iMMrM. P ,p 1rs/f Reoqw7,m��r�xng .r4964a fi r„i% riiu' r 67,4, 1 T4:,u7J AIL 15 Briefly, please share the reason you chose this response. • Given the legislation becoming law and its direct impact on residents in our community- ie DEI, LGBTQ, and women rights • Seeing bus services how it makes more equitable opportunities, more refugee and immigrant support organizations etc • 1 believe when there is a turnover in membership, there is lack of ownership to document or plan developed by the outgoing members. • 1 have heard that it was dominantly consisted of commissioners who mostly were aligned with the mainstream Western narrative only. Now, we have a more diverse commission with active members who are working to humanize what previously was neglected or forgotten. • City Council unwilling to push beyond status quo • We have subcommittees but they aren't meeting consistently and seem to lack direction. KEY IDEAS —The current state of human rights in Iowa City: • Commissioners' views about the state of human rights in Iowa City range across the whole spectrum, from improving to declining. • Half of the comments focused on aspects of the Human Rights Commission itself that respondents view as important: diversity and inclusivity, as well as a desire to see consistent activity and continuity across cohorts of Commissioners. p. 4 mmmmre� • External factors cited by respondents in the comments include the negative impact of new legislation on civil rights, the positive impact of local developments including free bus service and more support organizations, and a perceived lack of boldness by the city council. 2) How welcoming do you believe the Iowa City area is to people of all origins, identities, beliefs, means, and abilities? r0,,;,n'Wfp' ri„rqF YMP1 wn1%L' 1ru.�l , wx� N1,00" ou✓ v,r. v;. "Nel dM rroing ��w�9 o�urnn rlf�, rww N�;A'6 ..1,'4tii,, 31(AM" 401k� ,rug *., 6(?K 'rYtiw>', B'1054d' 9�?"K"' "t0094 „4r af,y V0_n 1riC:uTi Vllln °I �-� . 1P1e�iu 5 T'ul1xJ(r a 5 G 7L, 14"m Very Bu. arosnrnrrr+�q N CINLO gyro- At AIIII 0. 0% 0 11 err, , r l u'nvWrowroly N N 7 rofl ,, 01 `YfO, TFAL, s Briefly, please share the reason you chose this response. • Iowa City is different than how the state of Iowa focuses on community strength, diversity and inclusion • Being a college town, it has more open-minded people; yet microaggressions and lack of cultural humility are still very common. • 1 believe Iowa city is the most welcoming and diverse area in the state of iowa. • Immigrants from various countries are living among us, and we are surrounded by people of diverse beliefs and backgrounds. Compared to other cities, Iowa City is visibly housing and funding more foreign people. • IC has a diverse population when students are here; generally the community is welcoming though many continue to experience prejudice. p. 5 mmmmre� KEY IDEAS —How welcoming Iowa City is to the full diversity of its residents and visitors: • Respondents generally view Iowa City as a welcoming place. • Respondents acknowledge that some people experience microaggressions and prejudice despite the overall welcoming nature of the community. 3) In your interactions with the public when you are representing the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, what seems to be the public opinion of the Commission? 011% 1, 2'UN, U!`� 4, 1 5,101111.11 611,71411 711'(Ml wr"(" 9i")LK, 1,P�1Ae AMENER CHOICES RESPONSES g+9f,�L"rYu�aS9Puh�I��Mr�ubeo�Pp � g � w II fIxV' kIluL"rw:. 4",R V;lM 0 TlOTAL. 6 Optional comments: • Members of the Commission are very respected and valued in the community. • Some have never heard of the Commission, and the majority of the ones who did hear of it have never seen or comprehended the impact of it on the general public. " Do they do anything..... Do you think you will be able to make a difference by being part of it?" Those were some of the common questions I get from the people especially from minorities. p. 6 mmmmre� My public interactions are not frequent as a Commissioner but when I name my being a Commissioner, I am welcomed a people want to know more. KEY IDEAS —Public opinion of the Commission: Respondents believe the Iowa City Human Rights Commission is generally viewed in a positive light. Members of the community may not have much knowledge about the Commission's activity. 4) What are the most common human rights concerns Iowa City residents have expressed to you? • Legislation impact • Healthcare; financial inequities; racism; discrimination for LGBTQ+ populations. • War in the Middle East, Election and lies about immigrants, just to name a few. • Some believe that some immigrants and minorities are playing the system by maintaining low wages to continue receiving aids and assistance which results in draining resources and in creating a financial burden on the community. Granting the rights of financial aids seems to be unfair to some who really needs, those who are hardworking with multiple jobs and yet are struggling to provide for the families and are not eligible for assistance or benefits. • Safety and protection of transgender residents • Employment and Housing KEY IDEAS —Human rights concerns of community residents: Each respondent named different human rights concerns expressed by Iowa City residents. That is, there does not seem to be a single overarching issue of concern; the concerns are many and varied. p. 7 mmmmre� 5) The primary duties of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission are listed below. Please rate the degree to which you believe the Commission fulfills each duty. Duty Weighted Average (out of 5) Make recommendations to the City Council on organizations that should 4.83 receive funding from the Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant Cooperate with other agencies and organizations in support of the Human 4.33 Rights Ordinance Educate the public on human rights and 4.17 illegal discrimination Make recommendations to City Council 3.83 for policy related to discrimination Coordinate programs designed to eliminate racial, religious, cultural, and 3.67 other intergroup tensions Optional comments: We can always do better. Commissioners are fully invested in the recommendations for SHIRE Grants. KEY IDEAS —The degree to which the Commission fulfills its primary duties: Respondents indicate that the duty the Commission best fulfills is administering the Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) Grant program. Respondents believe the Commission fulfills the duty to coordinate programs that reduce various intergroup tensions least well of its duties. p. 8 mmmmre� 6) During the last round of strategic planning, the Commissioners used a framing question to guide the discussion. A framing question is a tool of appreciative inquiry that invites a group to vividly imagine together a future they would like to co -create. Rather than focusing on perceived problems, it directs focus toward the positive future and fosters shared understanding and enthusiasm for the future. The framing question used in 2022 was this: Imagine that, by its 65`h anniversary, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission is the hub of a robust, local human rights network. What would that look like? In your view, how useful would this question be in guiding the strategic planning discussion this fall? Yl� W , u.i "kelu, ufuFi�+ ^ ;Hr/NrL USP4,df Nlu', U!R�efid, ANSWER CHORMS, RESPONSES DOTAL,16 If you think a different question would be more useful, please share it here. • What kind city, do we envision for our children when we talk humans rights? • What is needed to develop a "robust" network for Human Rights? KEY IDEAS —Framing question from the previous strategic planning process: • The framing question used for the last round of strategic planning may be a useful jumping-off point to develop a new guiding question for the current round of planning. • It may be useful to the current planning effort to spend some time as a group clarifying what the desired future of human rights in Iowa City looks like. P. 9 mmmmre� 7) The 2022 strategic plan included three primary areas of work. The first is Breaking Bread: Bringing people together to learn from one another and practice creating community across previous lines of tension; focusing on individuals. Please rate the progress you think the Commission has been able to make in this area since 2022. eras ""r,:fpe ,. r I LR,t;e gp DIM 10% 11110 AN, mVU()tArr "yP,/,'1a 1yiP'f o- .;rare, Psi res µ L ptl„,, Very Ur,,R,e Pirr.. ess 1rty 2 �,&j Pmqress �113 WN, 0 TOTAL, 6 Optional comments: • We don't seem to be learning from other groups to create communities to cross lines of tension. KEY IDEAS —Breaking Bread: Bringing people together to learn from one another and practice creating community across previous lines of tension; focusing on individuals: • While the respondents, on average, felt some progress has been made in this area, it is not viewed as substantial. • Respondents rate progress in this strategic focus area second of the three. mmmmre� 8) The second primary area of work in the 2022 strategic plan is Regular Reciprocal Relationships: Developing deeper relationships with other community organizations, including human rights nonprofits, other government commissions, and schools to more effectively advance human rights in our community. Please rate the progress you think the Commission has been able to make in this area since 2022. (ir*nr P rrow"rw ?P�ir w�ru�iyyra�sv, J,F1% 'irMlil "I.u"!411, 5(v'91 X".M' 81,yr✓, rt°O`9a, % a ry L kmle' Ir rr.way s s a :w�„r 11. I"y? V N u %rar,° 0 N"P/lv 0 °Ir O'" AL. jib Optional comments: • None provided KEY IDEAS —Regular Reciprocal Relationships: Developing deeper relationships with other community organizations to more effectively advance human rights in our community: • While respondents indicate there has been some progress in this area, it is not very significant. It is the strategic focus area that respondents believe has seen the least progress of the three. mmmmre� 9) The third primary area of work in the 2022 strategic plan is Bridging the Gap: Developing stronger individual and collective relationships with the city council. Please rate the progress you think the Commission has been able to make in this area since 2022. o.,P,of » r psv , v im'k Plrog ess y 'AA, � 0 11,V , 21[pllx Gtl."'hi;- Ki5l, r'„ 6VNI G91YP'K, !ay"Aflll 90,96 ,,,(Kft aea f ra rer 16 6 I1$4 ua uriuw 1P ri"xq r' s 66 iF r'. S� °oar'M Urn"""e,pio progress 166Troia 1. t„„("I Optional comments: • None provided KEY IDEAS —Bridging the Gap: Developing stronger individual and collective relationships with the city council: • Respondents indicate that this strategic focus area has seen the most progress of the three. p. 12 mmmmre� 10) Please name one or two activities or programs of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission that you believe has/have had the greatest positive impact on advancing human rights in the community. • The grant provides a consistent support for ideas to become a reality • Human rights awards and RESJ • Attending and tabling during events that addresses historical and current oppression that minorities and immigrants were and are subjected to. Having a Human Rights Commission in such events brings hope and dignity to those who are directly impacted. • RESJ Grant, presence at community events • The resources and webinars and trainings provided by the Office of Equity and Human Rights KEY IDEAS —Activities or programs with the greatest positive impact: Respondents listed three activities or programs they view as having the greatest positive impact on advancing human rights in the community: • The Racial Equity and Social Justice (RESJ) Grant program • Attending and tabling at human rights -related events Providing informational and training resources in various forms 11) Please share your ideas and dreams for future human rights -related programs, projects, or events in Iowa City. • Residents participate more regularly • Going to organizations, schools and giving talks/creating awareness. • Racial Equity and Social Justice Grants • Conducting human rights' education for the residents. Also, since Iowa City is more likely to experience intergroup differences due to its diverse residents, it should have initiatives and programs that promote safety, good inter -group relations, and a sense of belonging to all residents. • Larger, more public ceremony for Human Rights Awards • Continue to provide learnings, trainings and webinars KEY IDEAS —Ideas for future human rights -related programs, projects, or events: Some respondents prioritized continuing existing activities or programs for the future, including: • The RESJ Grant program • Providing training opportunities • Public Human Rights Awards. Other respondents named ideas for new activities and programs, including: • Greater participation in human rights activities by residents Awareness -creating outreach to schools and other organizations in the form of talks Development of programs that promote strong intergroup relations p. 13 mmmmre� mmmmre� 12) If there are any programs, projects, or events the Iowa City Human Rights Commission currently conducts that you believe should be considered for discontinuation, please share that here. • N/a • None. • Nothing that I know of KEY IDEAS —Current programming that should be considered for discontinuation: Respondents did not identify any current programming they believe should be considered for discontinuation. 13) Reflect on what you have experienced and observed in our community and region. What do you think will be an important human rights issue that our community should be prepared to address in the next five years? • Knowing your rights as a resident • DEI • Health Care disparities • Homelessness and shelter houses capacity. No one should live in the street. A wholesome project should be built to eradicate homelessness while integrating able ones into the work force and refer those who are not into a care unit or organization that can house them in a dignified manner. • Reproductive rights, transgender rights, immigrant rights • RFRA in Iowa is blatant legalized discrimination in Iowa KEY IDEAS —Human rights issues Iowa City should be prepared to address in the next five years: Each respondent named different human rights issues they believe will be important to address in the next five years. These might be grouped into three categories: • Residents' awareness of their own rights • A wide range of issues that impact human rights, from housing to accessing healthcare • The harmful impact of legislation on human rights p. 15