HomeMy WebLinkAbout1 7 21 trcAD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2021
Electronic Formal Meeting – 7:00 PM
ZOOM MEETING PLATFORM
AGENDA:
1.CALL TO ORDER and ROLL CALL
2.APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 21, 2020 MEETING MINUTES
3.PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
Commentators shall address the Commission for no more than 5 minutes. The Commission
shall not engage in discussion with the public concerning said items.
4.MEETING ETIQUETTE
5.COMMISSIONER INTRODUCTION: WHY YOU APPLIED TO SERVE ON THIS AD HOC
COMMITTEE
6.CREATION OF A MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
COMMISSION
7.CREATION OF PROCEDURAL POLICIES FOR THE AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION
COMMISSION
8.DEFINITIONS OF TERMS RELATED TO RACIAL JUSTICE
Electronic Meeting
(Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8)
An electronic meeting is being held because a meeting in person is
impossible or impractical due to concerns for the health and safety of
Commission members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19.
You can participate in the meeting and can comment on an agenda
item by going to https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMrfuygrDwoE9I3qjsjiWo8fSl685uIRau8
via the internet to visit the Zoom meeting’s registration page and submit the required information.
Once approved, you will receive an email message with a link to join the meeting. If you are asked
for a meeting or webinar ID, enter the ID number found in the email. A meeting password may
also be included in the email. Enter the password when prompted.
If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you may call in by
telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799. When prompted, enter the meeting or webinar ID. The ID
number for this meeting is: 976 9582 7296.
Once connected, you may dial *9 to “raise your hand,” letting the meeting host know you would like
to speak. Providing comments in person is not an option.
If you will need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this program/event, please contact
Stefanie Bowers at 319-356-5022, stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to
allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
9.HOW TO SELECT A FACILITATOR
10.COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with one another concerning said
announcements.
11.STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS
12.ADJOURNMENT
AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
JANUARY 7, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #2
•DRAFT MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 21, 2020
AGENDA ITEM #6
•DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT FROM VICE CHAIR HARRINGTON
CORRESPONDENCE
•EMAIL FROM EDUARDO GONZALEZ
•RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
1
MINUTES PRELIMINARY
AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
DECEMBER 21, 2020
ELECTRONIC MEETING
(Electronic Meeting (Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8)
An electronic meeting was held because a meeting in person was impossible or impractical due to
concerns for the health and safety of council members, staff and the public presented by COVID-19.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Amel Ali, Anthony Currin, Raneem Hamad, T’Shailyn Harrington, Eric Harris,
Layana Navarre-Jackson, Royceann Porter, Kevin John Rivera, Mohamed Traore.
STAFF PRESENT: Stefanie Bowers.
OTHERS PRESENT WHO MADE COMMENTS: Mayor Bruce Teague, Angie Jordan.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER:
Staff called the meeting to order at 5:06 PM.
WELCOME FROM MAYOR BRUCE TEAGUE:
Good evening. Truth and Reconciliation Commissioners, on behalf of the City of Iowa City residents, city
staff and city councilors I extend to each of you our heartfelt welcome. We are pleased to have you on
this novel Commission, and I do use the word novel, because it's a new Commission to our city.
June 16 City Council passed that 17 item resolution to address the Black Lives Matter movement and
systemic racism. The fifth item was to create an ad hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission to carry
our restorative justice. On September 15th Council passed and approved the resolution or shall I say the
charge to the TRC thanks to everyone that helped create this.
It was certainly a collaborative effort between Council members and of the community which vitally
included the voices of our black indigenous and people of color. I know you all are up to the task to
achieve the charges of the TRC. So, I suggest in your meetings, you are comfortable. In closing bring
snacks and something to drink. You can even kick off your shoes. Until the meetings take place in
person, but seriously as mayor of this awesome and amazing city and as a black man, I appreciate, and I
welcome each of you to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSION MEMBERS:
Commissioner Ali: And I've been involved in a lot of various community things. I've known like a few of
the Commissioners for a very long time. And I'm really excited to do this. I really love Iowa City and I'm
really proud to be on this commission and I'm excited to get to know all of you guys and make some
really positive changes.
Commissioner Currin: Hello, my name is Tony Curran and I have been in Iowa City since 1989 I came
here to study opera at the School of Music and fell in love with it. I then got a career going in
telemarketing because I needed a job and I needed to make money. And then I got out of sales and I
started working in factories and that's when I became interconnected with the organized labor
movement and things really started to happen for me as a matter of fact, Black people had civil and
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social justice issues addressed in the workplace in America before we had actual rights on the streets
and a lot of times, a lot of things were addressed. In the workplace that never got addressed on the
streets or before way before then. I learned a lot, and I've learned a lot about asking the right sort of
questions. And I'm so excited to hear all of the ideas because I've never seen anything like this happen
on a communal setting before the community come together to actually solve community problems.
And if we do this right, they may export it and we may actually be instrumental and leading the way to
solve this problem nationally. Thank you so much for letting me be a part.
Commissioner Hamad: Hi everyone. I apologize for being a little late. I'm currently actually in Sudan right
now and internet connection is kind of not to be trusted, sometimes, but I just introduce myself a little
bit. I'm a longtime resident of Iowa City. I've lived here in our city since I guess 2010, I was, you know,
raised here basically and was able to do you know a lot of you know a lot of activism work in high school
and continue to again through you know I a far. So, I would use near and dear to my heart and I really
hope that you know we can create some positive systemic change in our community. Through this
committee through this commission. I'm excited to work with everyone.
Commissioner Harrington: Hi everyone, my name is to T’Shailyn Harrington. I actually don't live in Iowa
City. I live in North liberty. And just a little. I guess background about me. I've been in Iowa City my
entire life in this community my entire life. I know plenty of other Commissioners that are serving in just
different like from careers and parents and just different organizations. And so I'm excited to work with
each and every and build a different sense of a relationship as well as a serve the community. And see
what our brains and our thoughts and ideas can collaborate in make together.
Commissioner Harris: Yes, my name is Eric Harris, I lived in Iowa City for about two years now, but in a
short two years I've been involved in a whole bunch of things I'm involved with the South District
Neighborhood Association. I'm involved with the with the Inside Out Reentry program. I was one of the
people that kind of helped push through to get people who have felony background to be able to vote.
I'm also older person I'm 41 years old, but the reason. And what I think I can bring is that I actually suffer
social injustice and racial inequality. I've suffered those things. So, I'm hoping that I can bring those
things to the table and thank you.
Commissioner Navarre-Jackson: My family and I first moved here back in 1997 for graduate school and
it's been our home for the majority of years since. There's only been a few years that we haven't lived
here. So, this essentially is home as far as we're concerned. Now, one of my areas of expertise is in
sociology. So I think that should do well in terms of having a background that might help us along, and
thinking of some ideas and ways to bring forth some changes I'm hoping. I just want to say it's an honor
to be able to work in this capacity and contribute to the community.
Commissioner Royceann Porter: Hello, my name is Royceann Porter and I am your Johnson County
Supervisor. I am the first elected Black supervisor in Johnson County, just want to say, I've been in Iowa
for the past 33 years. I've raised two kids two girls 26 and 28 married for almost 30 years. I've been here
very long time. I've been involved in the community for a very long time. I myself know what it is to feel
the breath of racism, injustice, it hits home for me. I even had I'm a coalition for racial justice was put
together on behalf of me. That's when I really got involved in the community and started doing things in
the community. So, I just like to say I'm grateful for being a part of this. Part of this plan and I'm looking
forward to working with each and every one of you and I know everybody will bring their own
perspective, being that I am probably the oldest one on this commission.
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Commissioner Rivera: I'm Dr. Kevin Rivera. You can call me, Kevin, and I respond to any pronouns,
including they, theirs, and their. I'm super excited and thankful truly to be among an amazing group of
people. I've been in Iowa City for about six years. I'm currently Psychiatry resident through the
University of Iowa where I work in a number of clinical settings, both inpatient and outpatient and I also
work in the VA, health care system here. The Abbey Center, the Shelter House mental health outreach
clinic and the LGBTQ Counseling Clinic through the University of Iowa. In addition to the direct clinical
work that I do. I'm starting next month I'll start to coach here the departments diversity committee
where I'll be able to better address inequalities and inequities in healthcare and in mental health care,
particularly. I don't really bring a lot of my own agenda to this other than my skills and listening and
trying to take that and turn it into actionable items, but I do hope that I can bring my expertise in
providing insight into the world of healthcare and mental health care as we move forward with our
recommendations to the city.
Commissioner Traore: Hello, my name is Mohammed Traore. Nice to meet everyone and thank you so
much for giving me this opportunity. I was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1995 my family came here to
the United States before I was born from West Africa. My father and my mother then decided to come
to Iowa because I guess they love the cold, so I've been here since I was three years old. I went through
the entire K through 12 system here in Iowa City. I then went on to the University of Iowa. I now work
for Amazon in tech support for Amazon logistics and I also make websites for people. At the end of the
day for what I want to see out of this Commission is I truly want anyone and everyone in the community
that would like to come out and give up their voice or any other opinions on what they feel we need to
change. And what they feel. We're doing well in this community because I don't think we're doing
everything terribly. I do think there are some great things we can continue to push forward in this
community and to really bring light to help us get to where we want to be as a collective.
OPEN MEETINGS AND PUBLIC RECORDS:
City Attorney Dilkes did an overview of the open meetings and open records laws in Iowa.
RESOLUTION OVERVIEW:
Staff provided an overview of the resolution that established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Commissioner Hamad: I just wanted to ask about the declaration of intent for the Commission, if that's
something that we would be working on or if this like resolution is basically like that declaration of
intent for the Commission.
Bowers: I think as a city Board or Commission, you always have the ability to make recommendations to
the city council. So, if you, as a group, decide that you want to change or expand on the vision. I think
you have that opportunity to make that recommendation.
ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR:
Bowers: Okay, well, we will move on then to the election of the chair and vice chair and how we'll do
this is we will, or I will open it up for nominations you will then vote on each person in the order in which
they were nominated and the first person to get five votes, which would be a majority of the
Commission would then be elected the chair.
So, at this time, I will open it up to nominations or persons to serve as chair of the ad hoc Truth and
Reconciliation Commission.
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Commissioner Currin: I'd like to make a nomination for Commissioner Porter as chair
Bowers: Any other nominations?
Commissioner Traore: I'd like to nominate Commissioner Harris.
Bowers: Any other nominations? But first, I should ask if Commissioner Porter and Commissioner Harris
if elected would want to serve as chair.
Commissioner Harris: Yes.
Commissioner Porter: Yes.
Commissioner Hamad: I would like to nominate Commissioner Rivera.
Bowers: Okay, so I have three nominations. I have one for Commissioner Porter one for Commissioner
Harris and one for Commissioner Rivera additional nominations?
Commissioner Rivera: I'll just say that I appreciate the nomination, but I'll defer accepting that at this
point.
Commissioner Hamad: Would it be possible to nominate yourself?
Bowers: Yes, you can nominate yourself.
Commissioner Hamad: Okay, I would like to nominate myself as chair or vice chair.
Bowers: Okay, for it, but we'll just consider the vote nomination for chair. So, are there any others?
Bowers: Okay, so again, going in order of the first person who was nominated. I'm just going to go down
the list in the order of the nominations.
Commissioner Ali: You only get one vote?
Bowers: Um, well, we're voting and on each person individually. So you would either say yay or nay for
each person that's being nominated. So right now we're considering Commissioner Porter for chair.
Commissioner Ali: I'm going to go with yes
Commissioner Currin: That's a resounding yes.
Commissioner Hamad: Nay.
Commissioner Harrington: Yes.
Commissioner Harris: No.
Commissioner Navarre-Jackson: Yes.
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Commissioner, Porter: Yes.
Commissioner Rivera: Yes.
Commissioner Traore: No.
Bowers: Okay, so I have six in favor of Commissioner Porter becoming chair and so because that is more
than five, she would be the person designated to serve as chair for the ad hoc Truth and Reconciliation
Commission, so congratulations.
Bowers: And now I get to hand the meeting over to you to run the election for the vice chair.
Commissioner Royceann Porter: Okay, thank you. Um, now we will take nominations for Vice Chair. I
have a nomination. I would like to nominate Commissioner Harrington as the Vice Chair.
Commissioner Harrington: I accept the nomination.
Commissioner Royceann Porter: Are there any other nominations
Commissioner Rivera: I'd like to nominate Commissioner Hamad.
Commissioner Traore: I'd like to nominate Commissioner Harris.
Commissioner Royceann Porter: Commissioner, Harris do you accept?
Commissioner Royceann Porter: Hamad did you accept?
Commissioner Hamad: I do accept, yes.
Commissioner Royceann Porter: We'll start with, we have three people. Are there any others? We will
start with Harrington
Commissioner Rivera: No.
Commissioner Currin: Oh yes, a resounding yes.
Commission Navarre-Jackson: Yes.
Commissioner Ali: Yes.
Commissioner Harris: No.
Commissioner Harrington: Yes.
Commissioner Traore: No.
Commissioner Hamad: No.
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Commissioner Royceann Porter: Yes, so that's five for Harrington.
DETERMINATION OF MEETING FREQUENCY, DAY AND TIME:
Based on a Doodle Poll most Commissioners found 7PM to be the best time to meet. The Commission
decided on Thursdays at 7PM bimonthly for at least the first 90 days with the option to reevaluate at a
future date. January meetings will be on the 7th and 21st.
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
Angie Jordan: Yes, I just want to say. You guys are awesome. I'm so excited. And you guys are going to
be doing a lot of the hard work but make sure you put your supporters to work too.
COMMISSION ANNOUCEMENTS:
Commissioner Porter: They are working on doing Zoom's for MLK, it will be totally different than what
we're used to doing every year. We usually do a walk every year, a march, but maybe we can go in cars
this year, and just
go around town and still celebrate MLK as though we did it every year.
Commissioner Hamad: I was just raising my hand because I wanted to ask if it was possible for us to
make any statements after public comments or not.
Bowers: I don't know what you mean by statements related to what somebody would….
Commissioner Hamad: Say, yeah, just like can we like have time for speakers, should we just leave it to
the next meeting.
Eleanor Dilkes, City Attorney: I think if you consider it an announcement that probably falls into an
announcement.
Commissioner Hamad: Okay never mind that. Thank you.
Commissioner Traore: Offer challenge to the rest of my Commissioners to try to find two to three
people in other organizations across the city or that are at least interested in participating in these
meetings going forward to
join us in the next meeting.
MEETING ADJOURNED:
6:10PM
7
Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Attendance Record 2020-2022
X=Present
O=Absent
O/E=Absent/Excused
Vacant=…..
NAME TERMS EXP. 12/21
Amel Ali 6/2022 X
Anthony Currin 6/2022 X
Raneem Hamad 6/2022 X
T’Shailyn Harrington 6/2022 X
Eric Harris 6/2022 X
Layana Navarre-
Jackson
6/2022 X
Royceann Porter 6/2022 X
Kevin John Rivera 6/2022 X
Mohamed Traore 6/2022 X
From: TShailyn Harrington <tshailyn@yahoo.com>
Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2020 12:08 PM
To: Stefanie Bowers <Stefanie-Bowers@iowa-city.org>
Subject: Info for Jan 7 TRC meeting
Hi Stephanie,
Below are the statements that can be included in the upcoming TRC meeting.
• WHO ARE WE?
Our Commission represents a collection of citizen activists from diverse backgrounds calling on the Iowa
City community to account for their history of racialized oppression. We are individuals who are
committed to structural change, truth telling, healing trauma and repair. We share in common a vision for
a equitable and sustainable community free of violence and systemic racism. We believe the time has
come to foster change.
• OUR MISSION
The Iowa City Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission is committed to implementing and sustaining
grassroots, community-centered truth-telling processes to address past and present instances of both
direct and indirect instances of violence, discrimination, and racism in Iowa City. We encourage empathy
and anti-racist learning among ally communities.
Happy New Year!
Best,
T'Shailyn Harrington
From:Eduardo Gonzalez
To:AdHocTruth
Cc:Antti Y Pentikainen; Colette Rausch; Stefanie Bowers
Subject:Congratulations on the seating of the Iowa City TRC and offer of partnership.
Date:Tuesday, December 22, 2020 11:41:32 AM
Dear Commissionersof the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Iowa City
I join my colleagues at the Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation, at George Mason University,to express my solidarity and congratulations as Iowa City starts its journey towards truth andreconciliation.
You have chosen a difficult but necessary path: a narrative route revealing sad, painful, andembarrassing realities, but also one that will demonstrate resilience, empathy and hope.
At the MHCR we have adopted as a mission supporting the nationwide movement towardstruth, exemplified in dozens of truth commissions and racial equity initiatives emerging acrossthe country, and in House and Senate instruments seeking a national-level Truth, RacialHealing and Transformation Commission.
As we indicated last week during a webinar on US-based truth commissions, this movement isnot a mirage: it builds upon previous experience, it leverages international perspectives, and itseeks to respond effectively to real issues harming our communities. This is an inspirationalmoment and we stand ready to serve.
Our expertise is the result of decades working with truth commissions, peace and justiceprocesses around the world. My colleagues Antti Pentikainen and Colette Rausch (copiedhere) have wide expertise facilitating peacemaking and trauma healing, and my ownexperience includes numerous truth commissions, reparations and memory processes in allregions of the world.
We would be happy to get in touch with your commission, as you start you organizationprocess. You are surely anxious to get going and it could be useful for you to know theexperience of other cities, social movements and countries which have had truth andreconciliation processes. I am attaching here a link to a book I wrote on organizational stepsfor truth commissions, detailing several practical questions on the organization of an inquiry,involvement of the community, etc.
There are different possibilities for our engagement, and they depend on your context, needs
and vision. We would be happy for example to start with a webinar to understand the mission,as well as identifying needs and, in consequence, the types of experiences that would be usefulto share, and capacities to strengthen. I hope we can discuss these possibilities at yourconvenience.
I reiterate our congratulations on the establishment of the Truth and ReconciliationCommission,
Best regards,
Eduardo GonzalezResearch Affiliate - Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation
Eduardo Gonzalez Transitional justice expert
photo Phone: +1 347 244 0106Email: eduardo@gonzalezc.comSkype: gonzalez.eduardoWebsite: http://www.gonzalezc.com
Prepared by: Council members Janice Weiner and Laura Bergus I
Resolution No. 20-228
Resolution establishing Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Whereas, in Resolution No. 20-159 (Initial Commitments addressing the Black Lives Matter
Movement and Systemic Racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis
Police and calls for action from protesters and residents), the Iowa City City Council resolved asfollows:
By October 1, 2020, create an ad hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission to bear
witness to the truth of racial injustice in Iowa City and to carry out restorative justice,
through the collection of testimony and public hearings, with such work to include a
recommendation to the Council of a plan for dedicating and/or renaming public spaces
and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement; and,
Whereas, the City Council committed to allocate City funds of $1,000,000 during the present
Fiscal Year to support Resolution 20-159, which includes a variety of initiatives, among them theTruthandReconciliationCommission; and,
Whereas, truth and reconciliation underscores the imperative that confronting and reckoningwiththepastisnecessaryforsuccessfultransitionsfromconflict, injustice, resentment and
tension to peace, equality and connectedness; and,
Whereas, while we acknowledge that other forms of injustice and challenges have occurred
over the course of the history of the city of Iowa City, the focus of this Commission is on race;
and,
Whereas, the City Council acknowledges the existence of painful, systemic, persistent, and
varied forms of racial injustice in Iowa City, and acknowledges that such injustice persists
despite past efforts to address it, consistent with observations that systemic racism and white
privilege are deeply resistant to change; and,
Whereas, the Iowa City community must look comprehensively into its past and bear witness to
the truth of racial injustice in order to provide the best possible foundation for moving into afutureofequitybasedonhealingandhope; and,
Whereas, the City Council recognizes that, for a Truth and Reconciliation process to be
meaningful, it must include bold action to confront privilege, stimulate difficult conversations,
and reach and engage a full cross-section of the community, including those in the communitynotinclinedtoengageorresistanttoengagement; and,
Whereas, a comprehensive process will require that City of Iowa City departments and the CityCouncilitselfparticipate, including individual councilors, in good faith, in the process and to
actively encourage broad participation throughout the community, and the City Council hereby
commits to such participation and encouragement; and,
Whereas, creation of an Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission is in the best interests of
the City and its residents.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, that:
1. The Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is hereby established
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 2
2. The TRC shall have nine members who are representative of the City's BIPOC
communities and organizations, including those who have direct lived experience with
systemic racism, as well as experts who support those communities. To the extent
possible, as determined by the City Council, the TRC shall include representation from
groups such as the Iowa Freedom Riders, the Black Voices Project, the South District
Neighborhood Association, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and the
Community Police Review Board. Johnson County residency is required. Iowa City
residency is preferred but not required if an applicant offers expertise or representation
not available from applicants who reside in Iowa City. Members of other City boards and
commissions are eligible to serve on the TRC.
3. Applications for membership on the TRC shall be announced, advertised, and available in
the same manner as those for all City boards and commissions.
4. The TRC shall select the Chair, who when present will preside over all meetings, and the
Vice -Chair, who will serve as chair in the absence of the Chair.
5. Within the charges of the TRC set forth herein, the TRC is not required to seek approval
from the City Council, mayor, or city manager to set its own agenda and prioritize its
activities.
6. The TRC shall be facilitated by an independent consultant, funded by the City, with
expertise in group facilitation and human rights, and to the extent possible, experience
with diversity, implicit bias, mediation and conflict resolution, until such time as the TRC
concludes by the favorable vote of at least three-fourths of all the members of the TRC
7/9) that facilitation is no longer needed.
7. To conform with the requirements of laws pertaining to open meetings and public records
and to facilitate transparency and public education and participation, administrative/clerical
assistance and media/event assistance shall be provided by City staff as determined by
the City Manager and City Clerk. Media assistance may be supplemented by outside
expertise on a case-by-case basis if the Commission believes it will substantially expand
outreach.
8. The TRC shall determine the frequency and conduct of its meetings. The meetings will
be open to the public and conducted in accordance with Chapter 21 of the Iowa Code.
Records, documentation, and communications of the TRC will be public records under
Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code.
9. The TRC shall serve from the date of appointment of all members to June 30, 2022. The
TRC shall have an organizational meeting no later than 30 days after the appointment of
all members.
10. Within 90 days of its organizational meeting, the TRC shall recommend to City Council a
preliminary budget for funds needed to carry out the charges of the TRC beyond what
existing City staff, programs, and services can provide.
11. The charges of the TRC are as follows:
A. Fact -Finding The TRC shall collect evidence, including first-hand testimony, of
discrimination and racial injustice in multiple settings and compile a complete
record of racial injustices that will inform and support the fundamental institutional
and policy reforms necessary to address systemic racism.
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 3
B. Truth -Telling The TRC shall: 1) Provide multiple fora and creative opportunities
for persons impacted and traumatized by racial injustice to share their stories of
racial injustice and experience to be heard by: (a) fellow communities of color; (b) a
broad cross section of the entire Iowa City community; and (c) key decision -
makers in city government, the business community and the University; 2) Explore
ways to provide such opportunities through art, music, theater, workshops, rallies
and other forms of congregation, multimedia and listening designed to reveal truths
that cannot be fully expressed in traditional fora; and, 3) Create a repository for
community stories expressed in multiple media (written, video, audio, art) that can
be catalogued and used to educate and inform members of the community.
C. Reconciliation The TRC shall: 1) Provide opportunity for and facilitate direct
conversation among and between community members of color, white community
members and representatives of various sectors in which people of color
experience discrimination and injustice (e.g. police and protesters, landlords and
tenants, students and teachers, patients and health care providers, business
owners and staff); 2) Create a replicable model that provides a structure for
enabling these conversations throughout the city; 3) Make available opportunities
for a broad cross section of the community to learn about discrimination and racial
injustice in our community; and, 4) Identify and recommend to the City Council
institutional and policy reforms, new social practices, expectations, protocols,
habits, rituals, conversations and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a
shared experience of race and difference, justice and equity and community and
harmony.
12. The TRC shall strive to provide a safe and supportive space for its work, premised on
mutual respect, and shall conduct its work so as to promote healing and justice. The TRC
shall consider the possibility of adverse actions against those who participate in its work.
The TRC shall carefully consider mechanisms to protect participants, and shall work to
support those who allege harm due to their participation in the TRC process.
13. The TRC shall submit periodic updates to City Council to include, but not be limited to: its
plans for community education; recommendations for Council action; requests for
resources the TRC needs to carry out its work; and recommendations to dedicate and/or
rename public spaces and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement.
14. By May 1, 2022 the TRC shall submit to City Council:
A. A report summarizing the work of the TRC.
B. A repository of community stories expressed in multiple media (written, video,
audio, art).
C. Recommendations to the City Council for: 1) Institutional and policy reforms to end
systemic racism; 2) Opportunities to create new social practices, expectations,
protocols, habits, rituals and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a shared
experience of race and difference, justice and equity and community and
harmony; 3) Measures to enhance the autonomy/security/sovereignty of
communities of color and mitigate disparities in social and economic power; and 4)
A recommendation on whether and in what form the work of the Commission
should continue.
15. At any time in its work, and no later than June 30, 2022, the TRC shall strive to submit to
City Council a replicable model and structure for conversations between people of color
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 4
and white community members and representatives of various sectors in which people of
color experience discrimination and injustice.
16. Absent further action by the City Council, the TRC will dissolve on June 30, 2022.
Passed and approved this 15 day of September, 2020.
ted by
City Attorney's Office - 09/10/2020