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Home My WebLink About04-01-2025 Human Rights CommissionHuman Rights Commission April 1, 2025 Special Meeting — 5:30 PM Helling Conference Room, City Hall Agenda: 1. Call the Meeting to Order and Roll Call. 2. Reading of the Native American Land Acknowledgement. 3. Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda. Commentators shall address the commission for no more than five minutes. Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with the public concerning said items. 4. Approval of the February 25, 2025, meeting minutes. 5. Update on Outreach and Engagement by the Police Department. 6. Correspondence. 7. Know Your Rights Event. s. Discussion on Creating a Second Quarter Project. 9. Elections. 10. Human Rights Grant Updates. 11. Reports of Commissioners and Staff. This item includes an opportunity for very brief updates from staff and commissioners. Commissioners cannot engage in discussion on any reports. 12. Next Meeting: April 22, 2025 13. Adjournment 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 in order to participate in this meeting, please contact the Office of Equity and Human Rights at 319-356-5022 or email humanrights(a-)-iowa- city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. Agenda Item #2 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. 3 Agenda Item #4 Draft Minutes Human Rights Commission February 25, 2025 Emma J. Harvat Hall Commissioners present: Doug Kollasch, Emily Harkin, Roger Lusala, Elizabeth Shannon, Mark Pries. Commissioners on Zoom: None. Commissioners absent: Kelsey Paul Shantz, Lubna Mohamed, Viana Qadoura, Idriss Abdullahi. Staff present: Tre Hall, Stefanie Bowers. Recommendation to City Council: Yes. Meeting called to order: 5:30 PM. Native American Land Acknowledgement: Pries read the Land Acknowledgement. Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: None. Approval of meeting minutes of January 28, 2025: Pries moved, and Lusala seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Updates on Outreach and Engagement by the Police Department: Community Outreach Assistant, Tre Hall updated the commission on the police department's work with Joshua Dabusu who works with persons who are immigrants and refugees on police relations. Dabusu hosted a presentation at the public library on the purpose and functions of the police department and when 911 should be utilized. He will also be presenting on domestic violence at the Broadway Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County in the near future. On Feb. 2& Sergeant Nieland and Dabusu held a meeting with the Center for Worker Justice where they explained the difference between ICE and the police department. They also discussed how the police departments can partner on educational programs with organizations. On November 21s', Nieland and Captain Brotherton met with Global Ties Iowa who brought foreign exchange students and faculty from different nations to discuss their role in the judicial system. Hall reported on his own attendance at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids Sake where the department raised $754 which will be put back into the community through department outreach efforts. Correspondence: The Commission received correspondence from Whit Martinez Community Outreach of The Englert Theatre. The Theatre is interested in partnering with the Commission to support any event that would help the Iowa City immigrant community. Shannon spoke with Martinez and expressed to him the commission would need more details regarding how they would like to approach the engagement request. With more details, the commission is interested in the collaboration and would be curious to know what kind of visibility it would give the commission with the community. Kollasch expressed there may be a broad interest in allyship through this event, asking how those who are not immigrants could help. Shannon plans to meet with Martinez to obtain more details for a possible future event. Funding Request: Iowa City Foreign Relations Council requested funding for a program in April entitled "Climate Resilience Together." The group is requesting $250. Pries moved to approve the request. Lusala seconded. Motion passed 5-0. FlimScene requested funding for a series entitled Iowa Disability Film Festival. The request is for $250. Pries moved to approve. Lusala seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Resolution All Are Welcome: This is a recommendation to the City Council. Pries would like the Human Rights Commission to refer the resolution to the City Council for adoption. Pries worked with the County Attorney and Board of Supervisors who subsequently adopted the resolution. Pries provided background on the resolution and stated it is related to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which protects people's rights and does not allow people to be discriminated against based on religion. Pries is asking the commission for support in asking the City Council to add the resolution to their agenda. Pries moved, and Harkin seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Human Rights Grant: The grant will go live on March 15Y and be available through April 15t. It will be an online submission and an online review. Save the dates: Night of 1000 Dinners: This event will be held on March 6t" She Speaks: This event will be held on March 8t" at the Robert A Lee Recreation Center from 1-3pm. Youth Awards: This event will take place on May 22nd Juneteenth & Pride: Will take place back-to-back with Juneteenth on June 20t" and Pride on June 21st. Human RightsAwards Breakfast: Will take place on October 22nd Pries asked if commissioners should sign up for events. Lusala mentioned it may be too early with Kollasch agreeing. It was agreed staffing would be discussed closer to the event dates. Vote on Civil and Human Rights Commissioner's Letter in Opposition to HSB242: It was unanimously agreed, to sign onto the letter. It will be signed as a joint group with each commissioner listed under the Commission signature. Pries moved, Kollasch seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Staff & Commission Updates: Staff: There is a Ramadan celebration dinner on the next scheduled commission meeting date, so the meeting may be rescheduled. Staff also shared that the vote for Chair and Vice Chair of the commission will be on the March agenda. Pries: Shared that he spoke a eulogy for Mai Yang, a Laotian refugee who served as a pastor in Pella, Iowa. Pries also attended an event at Hancher where they referenced a bible verse that he repeated at the meeting. Pries was present at the ICE office in Cedar Rapids on February 5" where he said he had a very powerful and meaningful experience. Pries attended a webinar on Anna Julia Cooper where he was told the takeaway is how important it is to show up for education and recognize women and Black people in education. Pries recently toured Dream City and encourages all to support it. Pries also shared he tries to keep his Bishop current and knowledgeable on things occurring within the state. Mendez Shannon: Shared her experiences with changing legislation regarding illegal DEI. Shannon shared her emotions on the impact of those working on DEI and their fight to be heard. She also attended a workshop that focused on women and their right to feel empowered and seen. Mendez Shannon was happy to see there is a will to fight during unprecedented times. Kollasch: Shared he has recently been in New York City where he saw the news of Iowa and was disappointed. On Sunday he attended Cabaret which showcases Berlin in the 1930's and the downfall of nightlife during a fascist regime. Kollasch was able to visit the Stonewall Inn where he reflected on recent Iowa legislation and how the LGBTQ+ rights movement started, noting it was trans women of color who started the movement. Harkin: shared she attended the Lunar New Year on behalf of the Human Rights Commissioner. Harkin reported it was a cheerful event that she enjoyed attending. Adjourned: 6:11 PM. The meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@citychannel4/videos. 3 Human Rights Commission ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2025 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 1/28 2/25 3/24 4/22 5/27 6/24 7/22 8/26 9/23 10/21 11/25 Viana Qadoura 2025 A A Idriss Abdullahi 2025 P A Mark Pries 2025 A P Roger Lusala 2026 P P Kelsey Paul Shantz 2026 P A Liz Mendez -Shannon 2026 P P Emily Harkin 2027 P P Doug Kollasch 2027 P P Lubna Mohamed 2027 Z A KEY: X = Present A = Absent Z = Present via Zoom CORRESPONDENCE 1 st Mg Scan QR code for nomination forii4 or visit ourwebsite at icgov.org/humanrights EAu @ichumanrights