HomeMy WebLinkAbout1 21 21AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021
Electronic Formal Meeting – 7:00 PM
ZOOM MEETING PLATFORM
AGENDA:
1.CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
2.APPROVAL OF JANUARY 7, 2021 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.AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION MISSION STATEMENT
6.SELECTION OF DEFINITIONS AND 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
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If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you may call in by
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number for this meeting is: 972 7377 9466.
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.
7.DISCUSSION/SELECTION OF A FACILITATOR FOR THE AD HOC TRUTH AND
RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
8.PROCEDURAL RULES: ATTENDANCE
9.RECENT LOCAL COURT DECISIONS AND THE IMPACT ON THE BLACK
COMMUNITY IN JOHNSON COUNTY
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 21, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #2
• DRAFT MINUTES FROM JANUARY 7, 2021
AGENDA ITEM #5
• DRAFT OF MISSION STATEMENT
AGENDA ITEM #6
• TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
AGENDA ITEM #7
• DISCUSSION/SELECTION OF A FACILITATOR
CORRESPONDENCE
• EMAIL FROM EDUARDO GONZALEZ
• RESOLUTION OVERVIEW
1
MINUTES PRELIMINARY
AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
JANUARY 7, 2021
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: Anthony Currin, Amel Ali, T’Shailyn Harrington, Eric Harris,
Layana Navarre-Jackson, Royceann Porter, Kevin John Rivera, Mohamed Traore.
MEMBERS NOT PRESENT: Raneem Hamad.
STAFF PRESENT: Stefanie Bowers.
OTHERS PRESENT WHO MADE COMMENTS: Ashley Lindley,Loxi Hopkins, Kim
Lanegran.
CALL MEETING TO ORDER:
Chair Porter called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM.
APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 21, 2020 MEETING MINUTES:
Motion by Curran, seconded by Ali. Motion passed 8-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:
My name is Ashley Lindley and I am a current sitting member on the Iowa City Human Rights
Commission. I just want to let you know what an honor it is to be here on the call tonight. I was also in
attendance for your first meeting. I'm very excited to see the TLC up and going I am not, however, here
this evening, as a representative of the Human Rights Commission, but as a representative from a
community created Human rights working group that is comprised of folks from various social service
and social justice agencies. So, I understood from your last meeting that you are interested in working
with community stakeholders to progress the mission of the CRC and we just wanted to
State publicly that we are here to support you in this endeavor, and we would like to request the time
to Either meet with that commission member or have a discussion with the larger community
commission. Excuse me. On how to promote equity in our community or invite you to potentially come
to one of our working group meetings. So I don't know how you would like to go about planning that but
I just wanted to throw that out there. And again, thank you all for serving on this Commission.
Let me introduce myself. I am Loxi Hopkins and I am on the Police Reform Committee in Scott County. I
am at this meeting tonight observing and anything that we can do. To let you know what we're doing, or
any information we can share. We're happy to do that. Thank you for inviting me. Thanks a lot.
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MEETING ETIQUETTE:
Vice Chair Harrington: Alright everyone, so I and Chair Porter and I, we thought it would be best to come
up with leading etiquette. Just a group of standard norms and have a base foundation as were forming
together the TRC is going to make some great change. And we're going to have all these aspirations to
get things done and how to do our part, but we must have hold each other accountable. With our
actions and our level of respectability with one another.
We would like to just spend some time creating group norms on this a list of expectations, however, I do
want to caveat that we're not looking to have a long list of expectations that is all random and just
things that won't be remembered are just tucked away and not continually referred to so one thing that
I'm believing in we can have further discussion on this is to come up with this a core set, maybe three to
five items that we can reference at the start of each meeting. And so when we come into the meeting
that we know like okay well as the meeting this continuing on for the evening. This is the expectations
that we hold for one another.
And yes that's about it in. Also, it would be helpful to have a sort of a guardian or someone another
Commissioner to take on the role to ensure that the group norms are being followed. So corrective
action can be had. In the moment and just address things. So I wanted to open the conversation up with
if anyone has any starting suggestions on a group norm.
Chair Royceann Porter: I'll start out by stating respect. We will respect each other and realize one of us
will have different perspectives. So everybody will come to the table with different things. So I think that
the first thing should be respect.
Commissioner Traore: I would like to add that I would like us to refer to each other, as Commissioner
followed by last name throughout the meetings to ensure that we continue to use the proper titles
throughout the meetings and ensure that we refer to each other in respectful terms and ensure that the
Community members know who is actually speaking and who was actually on the Commission and
recognizes these things.
Vice Chair Harrington: I have one norm that I think pretty much goes along with that is full participation
being present in the moment in contributing to the conversation and if you don't have anything to add
state that so that there's no silence and that everyone knows.
Commissioner Rivera: One thing that we kind of use in the world of therapies. Very baseline kind of
condition of regarding people that were talking to with unconditional positive regard. And I think that
goes along with the first item that we mentioned, but as we go forward in this Commission, we're going
to be hearing a lot of things that are going to be really challenging and our response might be to sort of
buckle down maybe find offense to some of the things that we might be hearing either from one
another or from the public. But I hope that we continue to just respond in a lot of love and respect for
this community.
Commissioner Harris: So I go next. And I will say I'm ethics. A lot of us that's on this whole Commission
we are working with other things and we see each other in other capacities. So I would say, you know,
don't go out and you know tell people, hey, this person. I don't like this person because they said this.
That's not what we're here for, you know, it has to be ethical thing, you know, this is a commission
about what we want to talk about don't evolve it in other things that you are involved.
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Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: And if I could just interrupt and I apologize, but if you could
just state your name before you speak just because there could be people calling into this meeting and so
they don't have the ability to see who's talking. And to be honest, I think from an observer’s perspective.
Sometimes it's hard to see what screen and who's talking so that I think that would just help out better.
So thank you.
Commissioner Harris: I tried to turn my video on but it won't let me do it.
Commissioner Rivera: And thank you for the reminder. Stefanie. This is Commissioner Rivera, and I also
spoke previously about unconditional positive regard
Commissioner Layana Navarre-Jackson: And this is Commissioner Navarro-Jackson here. I'm going by
what you were saying with regards to respect. I think part of that includes having an open mind and a
willingness to learn from each other as well.
Chair Royceann Porter: Stefanie. I can't see who's raising their hands. It just shows me the number they
say it says three.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: Yes okay, I can let you know.
Commissioner Traore: Thank you. This is Commissioner Traore So I would like to also add to ensure that
we treat community members with respect at all times when they're sharing anything with the general
meeting notes and guidelines for any city meetings, but I just want to make sure that we keep this in
mind, and that things may be said at certain times, we may not agree with, or may not, like, but at the
end of the day, this is a Truth and Reconciliation Committee. And everyone may have a different sense of
truth. But at the end of the day, we have to ensure that we are ready to listen before we respond.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Thank you so much, athis is Commissioner Currin speaking, and I would
like to thank you very much for recognizing me, Madam Chair. The thing that I would come into this is
earlier they spoke of I believe it was you respect for the people. I would like to add to the respectful part
can we please have respect for the work as well. Not that anybody isn't just to make a full clarification,
but our on our last actual meeting our first meeting, I believe it was Commissioner Traore sorry if I
mispronounced your name, Commissioner Traore.
Each of us to come up with three guests to appear. And I thought that was wonderful initiative and if
we're going to get anywhere we as Commissioners all have to have and we've got to think outside of the
box, we're trying to solve for 100 year old problem. And we've got less than 104 weeks to do it now. And
so when we do get work to do. And we test each other. We should almost treat it like it's survivor or the
island and really trying to reach our weekly goals because it's not for money. Here we are literally working
for our lives. So yes, let's respect the work.
I would propose on the floor, a person to maybe take a parliamentarian sergeant of arms sort of role in
the group and we vote on it. Can we get, can we put forth nominations?
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Chair Royceann Porter: I really don't think we need that. I mean, I'm just one person that's my thought if
you guys want to do it, it's okay with me but can I get some response?
Commissioner Traore: This is Commissioner Traore speaking while I do not believe we absolutely need
someone to have the role if we have a majority of Commissioners that would like to have the role, I
would vote, and I would like to vote.
Commissioner Harris: And this is Commissioner Harris, if he wants to vote on it, we can vote on it.
Vice Chair Harrington: Vice Chair hearing , yes, I do want to add that I did proposed to have like a quote
unquote guardian of group norms. Both ways of not electing Commissioner to assume the role as well
as having one do so. But I do think it would be important to state the meeting etiquette at the start of
each meeting just to go moving forward.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Commissioner Currin here, I would like to suggest that maybe you think
about calling the position guardian of process. What do you think?
Vice Chair Harrington: I'm not sold on the title.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Thank you for your candor.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore is speaking at this time. If any other Commissioners don't
have anything to add. Would we like to at least put the position to vote. Before we continue on it. Thank
you very much. Vice chair and chair.
Vice Chair Harrington: Vice Chair Harrington. I'm a vote, I think can be called to order.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: So if the group is wanting to call a vote then we just would
need a motion, then.
Commissioner Rivera: This is Commissioner Rivera. Just to clarify, are we voting to create this position or
has someone put in a nomination for themselves or for someone else for this position.
Chair Royceann Porter: I thought it was to create did anybody nominate somebody or can we create the
position and then nominate?
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: I think that's probably the best way to do it.
Commissioner Harris: If he wants to vote. You know, I'm not saying, which we will go, but I think we
should have a chance.
Chair Royceann Porter: So the motion with me by Vice Chair Harrington to create this role. You're calling
it guardian, but would it be, what would it be?
Commissioner Rivera: Etiquette officer. This is Commissioner Rivera
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Chair Royceann Porter: I like that.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Me too.
Vice Chair Harrington: I agree. I like that title. And I think that's an appropriate term.
Chair Royceann Porter: Okay, so I made the motion.
Vice Chair Harrington: Second that.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Commissioner: A motion by Chair Porter was made to create the
position of an etiquette officer, seconded by Vice Chair Harrington. Motion passed 8-0.
Chair Royceann Porter: Okay, so the next step is to nominate someone for this position.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Commissioner Currin here. I would like, to put forth Commissioner Harris
as my nominee.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore, I would like to put forth Commissioner Rivera as a
nominee. Thank you.
Commissioner Rivera: This is Commissioner Rivera. I was going to nominate you.
Commissioner Rivera: All I will decline my nomination at this point.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioners Traore here. I will accept.
Commissioner Ali: Commissioner Ali speaking, I would also like to nominate Commissioner Traore.
Vice Chair Harrington: I would like to nominate Commissioner Traore as well.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: What usually occurs in these situations is once all the
nominations have been received. Then the Commission just votes in order of the nominations, which I
have as Commissioner Harris and then Commissioner Traore. So those are the two that I have because
Commissioner Rivera declined.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: So the first vote would be for Harris. Motion fails 3 to 5.
Commissioners Ali, Harrington, Navarre-Jackson, Traore, Rivera in the negative.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: Vote for Commissioner Traore. Motion passes 5-3.
Commissioners Currin, Porter, Harris in the negative.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore here. I'd like to thank my fellow Commission
members that either nominated me or voted for me and regardless of how anyone
voted no hard feelings. Just happy that we're here doing the work. And thank you. Vice
chair and chair I yield the floor.
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COMMISSIONER INTRODUCTION AND WHY I APPLIED TO SERVE ON THIS AD HOC COMMITTEE:
RESOLUTION OVERVIEW:
Commissioner Traore: First and foremost, and I am very happy to have been one of the ones chosen to
be on the Commission, I know that there were lots of very, very accomplished and ready applicants. But
at the end of the day, I applied for this Commission because I'm someone that has lived in Iowa City
since I was three years old. So someone that has been here for such a long time now 25 turning 26 later
this year. I just think that I've just seen so much of this community as its continued to grow and met so
many different types of people whether it's been in preschool and the K through 12 going all the way
through Iowa City community schools and then going on to the University of Iowa. I had the opportunity
to meet everyone from backgrounds in terms of sports around the community for businesses
nonprofits.
And I, it's not that I believe that I have a better sense of anything that goes on in this community, but
rather is that I have at least a sense of what many different people in this community would like to see
or what they believe and I am very willing to reach out to more and more people to try to get more
input. And lastly, I also joined the Commission because I wanted to be sure that someone else didn't get
a spot that may not take it as seriously as I do or may not believe in this mission as much as I do. And it's
not that I again, think that I'm better for the position, but I know my work ethic and how much I believe
in then need to change and restructuring of how we do things in our community. And lastly, just wants
to make sure that kids coming up to this community are immigrants or anyone knew that joins our
community has great experiences, going forward, and has experiences comparable to or better than
what I experienced throughout my lifetime, and I was city. And with that, thank you for the time. And I
know you'll the floor.
Commissioner Ali: Yes. All right. I'm good. This is Commissioner Ali speaking. I have lived in Iowa City
since 2000 my family immigrated here from Sudan back then and growing up I always realized that
things were different. For me, whether it was the way that I spoke compared to other people or the way
that I was treated whether it be good or bad, and I really am passionate about this town. And I feel like
that. There's a lot that we can do to make it better. One thing in particular that I really am passionate
about and want to continue working towards is mental health, especially within the immigrant
community here in Iowa City having grown up. As an immigrant. I had a lot of struggles and stuff. And I
want to be able to help change that for all of the younger kids that are growing up here. And I also have
really good connections and relationships with people who work for the Neighborhood Centers of
Johnson County.
I volunteered there for years I have grown up in the south district my entire life. I've been involved in a
lot of things in the last year, I've gotten a lot more involved. I would say, including being a part of the
youth panel that interviewed the incoming police chief that will start next week. I'm really excited to
make change in this town. And I know a few Commissioners already. And I'm just so proud to be a part
of this first group. Of people on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission I think I'm going to learn so
much doing this, whether it be you know from other Commission members or, you know, from public
comment. And I think that's really important because I think there's probably a lot more truth and
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reconciliation that could happen. And Iowa City, then most people are probably aware of I'm going to
stop blabbing but that's my little spiel. I'm going to yield to the floor now.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Thank you, Madam Chair good evening, everyone. I am Commissioner
Currin. And as far as my background, I have to tell you I was really inspired by the two people who went
before me. The things that were said really resonate with me, especially Commissioner Ali, as she spoke
of her passion for mental health. I myself arrived in this awesome county August 25, 1989 that was all
the way back in the 20th century and I'm going to tell you when I first got to Johnson County from
Chicago, Illinois. It was like night and day. I, I had not seen the things that I saw here. It was like, I moved
to Atlantis. The school system, I was able to go in to the high school system, and I came here to study
opera theater and to perform for the kids.
They were children. They weren't. Some of them were 14-year-old freshman than high schools and I
went to City High and I also went to the West High and they were reading JD Salinger they were working
with computers. They were doing art as well as stem, they were doing incredible things and Johnson
County had mental health facilities that were able to help people with everything from depression and
attention deficit disorder to serious maladies and our guard treatments and the time since 89 drawing
closer to two. Now I have watched what that was once held as the paragon of education slip. So where
we're almost worse than Alabama school systems and I sing. I feel like you know when Commission
Traore says we got I need to be at least a placeholder to make sure that someone with a lesser ethic
doesn't have a chance to get in and drive but standards down that's what I seem to have witnessed as I
watched this beautiful thing that inspired me as a 19-year-old man. And I was like, wow, this is the place
if everyone's going to have a family and raise a family. I want to do it in this environment it's safe. It's
wholesome. It's wonderful.
Man, I'm kind of lonely. I wish there was black people around. I mean, you know, by about six years and
only other black people I knew was like it was a handful of folks. It was not anybody as the community
grew and as diversity grew opportunities to recess and you can literally see the resources be pulled back
and it is my sincere hope that we are the Renaissance that we start to plant the seeds and our public
garden. For mental health for a safe place a safe environment and we start the deconstruction of the
modern New Jim Crow that holds the things in place that are killing innocent civilians and depriving
them of due process that we disrupt the pipeline from school to prison that we actually start to gird and
support and bolster the underpinnings of equity in our society. I want to be part of this you know, with
the Little Rock Nine now by with city and you know, I'm not saying we're going to make history, but I
really hope that our work here has efficacy and that we get to the meat of some issues, even if we got
to meet have one issue. How many lives could that save and then from a factory worker to a community
activist from a community activist, I realized that we have a system of self-governance that if you get
people the right people that will do the work.
You can get change and you can get good governance and I became active in politics and from become
active in politics. I watched history be made. I was very proud when we got a black board of supervisor,
remember and I can't tell you today how many black people. I speak to and other counties Black Hawk
County and Scott County and other counties that are in all of what Johnson County is going and as the
affirmative action Sheriff this county for the Democrats. I'm thinking to myself, I was horrified to find
that we went from just two short years, three short years ago. When Jean Lloyd Jones was elected. To
the State House in the 70s, they did not have a place for women to go to the bathroom. We are living in
a moment of history. And I think we're going to see impossible things happen.
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I think we can be impossibly wonderful and I believe that thank you guys for giving me this opportunity
to serve with you. I yield the floor.
Commissioner Rivera: I've lived in Iowa City for six years. I'm very, very honored to be included in this
group, not only as a community member, but as a Filipino American second-generation immigrant I do
lament the circumstances of injustice in a more in the lives lost that necessitated that creation of this
Commission. In my work is a mental health provider. I hear stories of trauma every day historically in my
profession. Psychiatry we've defined trauma and really strict terms, but that has been changing twins
include large scale and even insidious forms of trauma, who is increasingly evident to me in the past
year that I was not best serving my patients and clients if I ignored the traumas that they were facing as
a result of interpersonal and systemic racism. So I figured that in order to do my job holistically and
comprehensively. I had to do something. At the community level, not just in my office and so serving on
this Commission was one way that I could make sure that I could do that. So by being at the epicenter of
this group in hearing and shouldering the burden of narratives of oppression in our community. I could
try and pave a way for not only for my patients, but for everyone in our community. Thank you.
Commissioner Harris: My name is Commissioner Harris, I have actually only live in the city for about two
years I've lived in Iowa for about 20 years. I'm from Chicago, Illinois. I was born and grew up in the
Cabrini Green housing projects. So that's where I think one of the things that would bring you know,
some different thoughts and ideas to this Commission also as far as the things that I do in the
community. I'm the Vice President of the South district neighborhood association which I particularly
which I participate in very actively. I'm always surprised. You can see in the south district neighborhood.
If you haven't read through here. Also, um, I am the Rick Graf human rights Award winner for 2020
because of my efforts that I did for voting rights on which you know I don't get into politics, a lot but did
actually see that that pushing and being an activist about voting rights, it really paid off this year.
I've really feel good about that. And that's the thing that I do. When you hear about my name. You hear
about me with voting rights. I'm also bring it to this commission is what I could bring is I'm a person that
has actually suffered through social injustice through racial injustice. When I was in Chicago. They send
me to prison. When I was 17 years old. I'm older than that. Now, of course, but they send me to prison.
When I was 17 years old and so they made me a felon. When I was 17 years old. And so, and when I was
in those places. I got to see firsthand with my own eyes just ingest is that happen people getting abused
people getting the rights. Not being acknowledged and I saw all type of things like that in my life. And so
that's what I think that I want to bring to this Commission. To be able to testify and talk about things
that I've seen it modeling and also I grew up in an inner city you know, but where I grew up at it was.
Nothing even close to this if something like this would even happen. Well, I grew up in Chicago. It would
have been a better place.
So now, Chicago is.... it's just as terrible place, but it wasn't no programs like this. It wasn't a thing. It
wasn't no commissions like this. To help people out to understand that, regardless of your color are
your four years you know at this like where you're from. You have a right to be able to be prosperous
and grow and progress. And with that, I will do my time.
Commissioner Layana Navarre-Jackson: I'm part of what I wanted to share. I'm not going to, you know,
take up a lot of your time because I do have a very interesting but very long story is all narrow it down.
My family and I moved here a long time ago back in 1997 actually. And we're from New Orleans.
Originally, so it was a larger of an area that we were used to and we moved to Iowa City and have lived
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here off and on for more than a decade and a half now.
Basically the some of the things that we had noticed over And these are things that were brought up
before was that there was a difference there was a change in the community members themselves and
the diversity that was there and that change also included later on. A change in the number of
opportunities or types of opportunities, especially when it comes to employment and such. So part of
what I wanted to do when I applied for this commission is I wanted to volunteer in a way that was
different from what I had previously done I previously done a lot of volunteer work for places like
hospitals this a lot was in New Orleans and a lot was here but hospitals adult day centers, places like
employment Systems Unlimited and Goodwill and working with the people there who had disabilities.
And this time in the past couple of years.
I started applying to try to work on commissions within the local community because I realized that we
were going to be here for quite a while longer. And I wanted to contribute and do want to contribute
the quality of life for members of the community who are so often overlooked and I one of the things I
believe is I believe that all of us can make contributions to the local community. Because of our
understandings. Each of us has a unique understanding of the issues that will be addressing related to
injustice and discrimination.
And as well as that, as Commissioner Rivera had mentioned the needs are also there for people who
have been discriminated against, to not only hear have someone hear them and acknowledge their pain
and their trauma, but also to address those issues and to have confidence that someone will, and I think
that these are the main reasons that I wanted to apply and did apply and I'm pretty confident that all of
us who've been gathered here will be available to actually address these issues and not, you know,
basically not have it be something that just sits as far as our suggestions, just sit there on a local leaders
desk and gather does, but I do believe that this group will be able to make sure that things get
implemented. I yield the floor. Thank you.
Chair Royceann Porter: I am wife and I literally moved here 20 I'm almost 30 years ago 1989, I can tell
you, I came here to work for IBM up down in Columbus junction at a pig factory that's I came from
Michigan. So that's how I got here. I have 20 years of professional experience, including as a family to
family partnership coordinator. A community liaison to the Iowa City Community School District and as a
financial service manager and industries, including business and personal services. Currently I now am
serving as a Johnson County Board of Supervisors. I've made. I am a history maker being the first African
American to hold a seat in the colony.
I previously worked for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters as a union organizer. I was the
program coordinator for the city of Iowa City Parks and Recreation. My professional skills and
experiences include social services crisis intervention counseling working with homeless and persons
with multiple needs slash barriers, including but not limited to mental health services substance abuse
life skills and employment. I have been deeply engaged in volunteering activities throughout Johnson
County, including providing services for the Salvation Army 15 years, such as serving on the advisory
board for five years. Meeting Human Services needs of clients helping homeless clients find shelter,
clothing and food preparing and cooking meals for the homeless.
Helping clients with bus passes and family emergency Greyhound bus passes to attend funerals
distributing vouchers for gas clothing helping with Christmas project holiday toy drive
happened with children's character building programs and providing pick up a Sunday service I
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completed my eighth at Kirkwood Community College in 2004 2015 I have effective written and verbal
communication management counseling computer and administrative skills. Currently, as a Johnson
County Supervisor I currently serve a right now as your ad hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner
chair. I am on the 6th Judicial Court board of directors I serve as the inside out on the Inside out Reentry
board of directors, I am on the Film Scene board of directors. I'm a Johnson County Medical Examiner
liaison. I am liaison to the Johnson County Conservation Board. The county, city assessor conference
board. I'm on the Johnson County D Cat board and the Johnson County Diversity and Inclusion
committee. Along with the Iowa City Area Development Group. I am on the Johnson County Food Policy
Council and weekly I am on the Project Better Together.
Previously I served on the Iowa City Nebraska in NAACP as the Secretary. Then the Iowa City community
leaders roundtable committee. The NAMI executive board the Citizen Police Review Board,
Commissioner, I served five years the Housing Fellowship Committee as an advisory board member. The
Fas Trac advisory board member, Children of Promise Advisory board member Juvenile Justice Youth
Development board member, Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee, Restorative Justice
Committee, the Coalition for Racial Justice Steering Committee, the Human Rights Building Communities
Advisory Committee and the Salvation Army Social Services.
A couple of weeks ago I received. I was the first recipient of the Think Iowa City Bravo Award. I have put
in a lot of work and I will city and I'm only telling you this this because my involvement within I was city
came when I was literally discriminated get discriminated against. The Iowa City Police Department. So,
um, I literally had a party for my 17 year old daughter I serve pizza and gave out. I don't know what
happened to my screen, but it's showing me that I'm still talking so I'll continue to talk, but, um, I had a
team party and kids got the fighting there was literally some Cedar Rapids kids. A boy danced on a girl
from Cedar Rapids, one of our city had football players dance on the girl from City High and the fight
broke out.
The fight broke out, it got kind of bad, where they was breaking stuff so I end up stopping the party at
11 o'clock and having the kids go home. I had boy still one of the young men were still wanting to fight
each other. So I did. I have to cause all these and I did what I needed to clean up and I left the club
house where I had the party. I do want to let you know that was on the Saturday night come Tuesday
morning after taking my daughter to ask elusive back to school at Indian hills. I was driving back and I
received the call that I had been on the front page of the Press Citizen newspaper and that that call
came from Henri Harper, who was the fast track CEO, Henri, let me know. He said, I was on the front
page of the newspaper. And I was like, for what now. And I'm thinking is something I didn't did within
my community, but it wasn't, it was, I will say the police department in big letters stated that CPRB
member which is the police citizen review board member was cited for a house party. I never got signed
it from the police, so I didn't know where none of this was going where I will continue to tell you is that I
end up having to go to court throughout this whole thing and it literally was thrown out on a direct
verdict meaning.
Absolutely. And that said, I'm sorry. I went blank. I was acquitted. And so after I was acquitted. I'm
throughout this whole thing. That's how we there became a group called the Coalition for racial justice,
where we decided that what happened to me would never happen to anybody else. And so we will fight
for people's right so I've been running around here, fighting for social justice and racial equity for a very
long time. So that's my spiel.
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Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: Chair Porter, it was a directed verdict.
Chair Royceann Porter: Thank you.
Vice Chair T'Shailyn Harrington: Whole City area in this community. This is my home. So K through 12
and then later on to the University of Iowa where I got a Degree in business management. I also got an
event planning certificate. And that was my true like specialty and things that I was actually passionate
about planning events and bringing groups together to do like poetry slams and things of that nature.
Just having like that, that time to have like community building. My certificate experience as like student
org involvement really pushed me into my professional career. I currently I am the Community
Engagement Manager at Shelter House. And so I use all of this, like my passions is clearly a work of
passion of planning events for a cause, and I look forward to having the time through our commission of
thinking outside the box on how, how can we celebrate the diversity within our own community and in
an engagement way that brings out everyone and things like that. I also wanted to mention Henri
Harper, he ran fast track and when I was in high school I was a part of that youth program in each
summer. The Fas Trac program would take a, take a trip down south in visit different HCBUs.
But it was truly a civil Rights tour. And so we have the opportunity to go to the historic and marks and
go to museums and truly like take part of history in and see like one thing led to another and explicit the
half has happened to African Americans in this country in it wasn't last summer, but the summer prior
Commissioner Currin and Chair Porter and I, we all went on this tour in and we chaperon group of high
school students and in my older age, I'm literally like five years removed from these group of kids, but I
was going on the tour. One more time and I think that was like a pivotal thing for me to know that.
Visiting like Martin Luther King's church or different things different landmarks in seeing the history of
civil rights within our country really putting context of the current presidential administration and how
that impacts us. And so that's we're kicking in. So when the TR see Commission sprung about I think that
my recent trip down south really made me want change within I will city.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Vice Chair Harrington: I wrote these quick little statements. On what was our, our goal and
things of that nature, that I was so and creating our commission. They have all of the points and things
like that. And I, and I thought that it would be great to quickly summarize those, those main points that
the entire document and that's also included in the meeting agenda, but I wanted to open the floor with
all the Commissioners to see if we can all come to a common understanding of our purpose and what
we hope to do to serve the community.
Commissioner Rivera: This is Commissioner Rivera. I really appreciate Vice Chair Harrington, your
comments and your preparation of these points in generally I think they are all encompassing. One thing
that I was noticing in the WHO ARE WE statement. Sometimes when I read the word community. I tend
to think more of like sort of civilians in the public and I know that maybe it can be more all-inclusive.
To include government elected officials and things of that sort. By wonder if we can be a little bit more
explicit in defining community as including both the public and government so that people know that
when we're talking about who were calling on we are calling on both and then in our mission. I didn't
have as much of a formed kind of thought on this, but I was wondering if it would be useful, and I
welcome other Commissioners comments on this. If it would be helpful to include terms such as
transitional justice, such as is commonplace and other Truth and Reconciliation commissions.
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And in and I don't know, some way that we might define our benchmarks for reconciliation and healing.
Commissioner Traore: Speaking on the people around the community that you would like to continue to
work with of you speaking about schools and other community groups.
Commissioner Ali: I don't know what this is, Commissioner, Ali, is it alright for me to speak. Yes. I don't
know what the correct verbiage for this would maybe important to include Commissioner Ali:
Healthcare and the people who are in charge of making the decisions when this happens in a workplace,
if that makes sense. Like for example, if you work at the hospital and heard someone say something
racist and then the person that you would have to report to let's say that's a middle aged white woman
or you know that I want that person to be included to if that and I don't know what the correct way to
go about accountable as well.
Commissioner Layana Navarre-Jackson: Hi this is Commissioner Navarro Jackson. I think a lot of people
who are in human resources in various departments and businesses and also would fit that description.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: And just for clarification am I in the correct portion of the
statement or do I need to move your suggestions to another area. I just want to make sure that I'm on
the same page as each of you when you're defining community.
Commissioner Ali: This is Commissioner Ali. Yeah, you're in the correct. I would like to add banking
institutions as well.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: Thank you.
Chair Royceann Porter: We have I see we have education, housing, we don't have policing and I also
want to add that this can always be edited, we can always go back on it if we if we feel as though right
now we have a very broad scope and we want to scale it down because we can focus more on
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore at this point in time, I have nothing to add other than the
edit in the WHO ARE WE section and just changing the a to an
Commissioner Layana Navarre-Jackson: Hi this is Commissioner Navarre-Jackson. Just a quick question. in
the mission statement. Did we mean to have both direct and indirect instances of violence, or do you
think that maybe the word actions can be substituted there.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner, Troy here. I also think that Commissioner Navarre-Jackson in terms
of changing the indirect direct into direct violence to something such as both direct and indirect actions
of violence.
Chair Royceann Porter: Is there anything else anybody would like to add to that?
Commissioner Anthony Currin: This is Commissioner Currin and I would like to see how this will read,
So this is our mission right so the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is committed to implementing
and sustaining grassroots community centered truth telling processes to address…..so in this section we
have past and present instances of both direct and indirect actions of violence, discrimination and racism
and Iowa City and either to attach onto that sentence or after this sentence. I would say attached onto
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that sentence because we're talking about what we're addressing explicit and implicit bias.
Commissioner Rivera: This is Commissioner Rivera. I tend to include bias in the concept of within the
concept of racism, I understand the point of making bias, sort of a point of view, you're making, but I
wonder if the sentence is getting an unwieldy.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioning Traore. I also agree with Commissioner Rivera, and would also like
to suggest that after we formalize the, who are we and mission statements we look to address this to the
community and see if there's any community input that we'd like to look into going into the future, if we
decide to revise anything in here.
Chair Royceann Porter: We have, community people from the public on the phone. Is there anyone who
would like to share anything?
Kim Lanegran: Thank you. My name is Kim Lanagran. I'm on the faculty at Coe College. I just have a
question about what the relationship would be between your mission statement and the mandate that
you are given in some ways, this mission statement seems more narrow than the tasks that you were
given in your mandate
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore here first and foremost I would like to thank Miss your
comments. I would like to suggest that we at least hold what we have for our current mission statement.
Maybe as a kind of draft and continue to go with what we've been given in our official capacity for now
and look for more community input or come back in the next meeting and think on what we have so far,
and then vote on maybe finalizing what we currently have.
Chair Royceann Porter: That sounds good to me. This is Chair Porter. Does anyone have anything else to
add to this?
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore here, I would like to motion to keep what we currently have
in our who we are and mission statements as drafts and look into the statements again in the next
meeting to look to approve them.
Commissioner Rivera: Second.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: Motion by Commissioner Traore, seconded by
Commissioner Rivera. Motion passed 8-0.
AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION PROCEDURAL POLICIES:
Chair Royceann Porter: Will go over that the Chair presides over all meanings and in their absence. The
Vice Chair shall perform this duty in the absence of the Chair. The Chair and Vice Chair shall set the
provided Commissioner suggestions are considered for placement on the agenda. Commissioners can call
or email the chair and vice chair with any suggestions.
If anybody would like to do this a little different. We can if you wish to have a conversation on who sets
the agenda for each meeting, we can start that conversation now. If you wish, if we wish to proceed
differently than just the chair and the vice chair meeting and you guys call and given us something to put
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on the agenda.
Commissioner Ali: Commissioner Ali speaking I enjoy the way that we have it now. I think that just for
starting off and for organization purposes. I think that having the chair and vice chair kind of be the
people who run things and you go to for suggestions or Stefanie. But yeah I enjoy the way that we're
doing things now. I think it's just organized in a lot easier.
Chair Royceann Porter: Okay, thank you.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore here will second what Commissioner Ali said also agree that
we should continue to uplift and raise our elected Commission. Chair and Vice Chair in order to also show
the community who really is leading us in this commission and who they should be going to or look to for
more answers that way. We have a more concrete answer to anyone that says anything. And we don't
can attend the issues with open records or anything of that nature.
Chair Royceann Porter: We had a discussion about limiting the public comments that's on the agenda if
someone is going to come and speak. We would like to say, you know, we would like to you to keep your
comments to three to five minutes, but if there is someone on the phone, who would like to add to or,
you know, give us what you think of how this is going
Commissioner Ali: Commissioner, Ali here. I think three to five minutes is adequate for public
commentary, I believe.
Commissioner Ali: I have attended the Council meetings in the past and I feel like three to five is a pretty
good.
Commissioner Harris: This is Commissioner Harris, I think that I would just say that because some people
don't want to speak for that long. What is better for them to have enough time then not enough time. So
three minutes is pretty soon.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Madam Chair, Commissioner Currin here. I was just wanting to say before
we go there you were talking about. And we're going to be pressing some hot button issues in the next
24 months. And I've seen sometimes turnout can come to where quite easily you will have more than 10
people 10 persons to show up. So you know if 10 people actually take their moments to speak, we're
looking at 30 minutes if 10 people take them over to speak, and they have five minutes, that they can go
to, we're looking at nearly an hour long so it's not that I'm trying to get out of the meetings faster, but
We want to make sure to anticipate that if we do this right, the community is going to care and they're
going to turn out when we ask them to turn out. If we if we do our jobs correctly. People are going to
care and they're going to show up. And so we want to make sure that there's enough time for people to
talk, but that we're not going to be in there to the next day I think three after three minutes, we're
probably do it.
Chair Royceann Porter: Johnson County that's what we do.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: In my experience, I mean, I think at this point you're fairly
new. And so I'm not sure you want a hard and fast rule that you may want to modify say in two months.
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It doesn't appear that it's been a problem to date at meetings so I think Chair Porter and Vice Chair
Harrington and Commissioners, I think there you know you. I think you're okay just proceeding as how
you are now. But if the chair and Commission wishes to make it more formal than that just means that at
a future date that would probably need to be modified. Okay.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: If attendance appears to be a problem at this point or a
concern, you know, maybe look at creating policy down the road. Hard and fast policies that you would
then be changing in a few months. So if that's something that you want to discuss at a future meeting.
Your procedural policies you as a group are more than welcome.
Commissioner Harris: This is Commissioner Harris. I kind of don't like how we went past the time limit
thing. Because I think people should have more than three minutes. You can't see a whole bunch in three
minutes and I'm kind of, I don't know if we should have had a vote on that or not. But, you know, three to
five minutes should be sufficient not, you know, just three-minute limit. I really don't.
Chair Royceann Porter: We didn't say three-minute limit. No, it was, it was saying, three to five minutes.
Commissioner Harris: I don't want people to come and say they didn't have enough time to talk.
Chair Royceann Porter: That's understandable, but no, it was three to five minutes. It wasn't three
minutes.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Okay, Commissioner Currin here, Commissioners, yeah, we're going to
just keep everything the way it is for right now and will probably come back to that. If it becomes a
problem that presents itself. The suggestion was made, and we all, we kind of went along with it. It
makes a lot of sense not to make a hard and fast rule right now. So we decided not to make a rule about
it.
DEFINITION OF TERMS RELATED TO RACIAL JUSTICE:
Vice Chair Harrington: Alluded to plenty of times throughout this meeting is that the nature of the
conversations that we're going to be having they're going to be tough men, but there's going to be need
to be a lot of transparency with in though, and so having conversations about race and equity and all the
things it's necessary for us to all have a common understanding of what these terms all are and I'm not
necessarily saying let's pull out a dictionary and try to define 50 or 100 words more so the words that or
the words in terms that will probably be used most often in for those terms to be defined for all
Commission all Commissioners to know what is the intent behind saying the from the police or
discrimination or things like that so what do we truly mean when we say those things. And this is a list
that can always be added on or what have you I will throw it out there.
Like a simple example of a term and this is white privilege in when I when I think of the meaning behind
that word I define it as an earned advantages that allow a white person to access different things in the
world be that healthcare, education, wealth opportunities political power like those. Those are the types
of terms that I think would be helpful for us to set a foundation on understanding. So I want to open the
conversation to the Commission on pulling terms in having us come to an understanding of what these
terms will mean for the group.
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Commissioner Ali: This is Commissioner Ali speaking. Quick question. Do you want us to discuss this now,
or was this something that you envisioned us emailing? Because I think it might be a better idea if some
of us are. If we had some to email them to you rather than kind of just all talking about it.
Vice Chair Harrington: So I like that a suggestion on the way in which that this repository of terms or is
curated and send all the emails to Stefanie. Email in a list of a minimal of five terms that they believe
should be defined.
Commissioner Rivera: This is Commissioner Rivera. I really like the idea of making sure that when we're as
a Commission like talking when we're talking about these things that we're all kind of understanding
where each other are coming from. And I really trust that you guys will educate me on how you view
terms through the process of this Commission and hopefully I can sort of lend some wisdom and
perspective as well. Where this becomes hard for me is that like we're nine people on this commission
and we are in service to the public who might also have ways in which the they understand such terms
that we need to be meeting them where they're at in terms of how they're defining and using these
terms as well. And truly, I think it's like in our in the mandate of our commission to make sure that we're
really representing the public and that everything that we're defining as truth.
Is being derived from the comment and testimony. We're, we're acquiring and collecting from the public.
And so one way to resolve that tension might be for us to go along with the suggestion of sort of different
definitions for these terms, but I would hope.
We would make sure that this is kind of a living and breathing collection of terminology and that it
wouldn't become finalized until we produced our final recommendations as a result of this Commission.
Chair Royceann Porter: I agree with what you're saying Commissioner Rivera. But one thing that I think
that we need to do is have a glossary of racial equity tools just the definition of these words because
when we are looking at the community. I deal with a lot of people in the community and white privilege
takes over a lot of things and people don't like to talk about it when we talk about race and racism, when
we talk about diversity they're not going to agree with what we're coming up with a name. These are the
discussions that we need to have a lot of things that we talked about are going to be hard issues. And so
when we talk about these definitions of words.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: This is Commission Currin here. I really respect what you do. First of all,
we can never have too much input from mental health. I just want to say thank you very much for
bringing that point out there. But truth is powerful. And sometimes the truth hurts. And that's actually
the job that we've been put here to do. And then there's another huge obstacle in our way when it
comes to crowdsourcing definitions from the public which I actually liked the idea of input. And I know
that we're going to have it. Because we're going to have a conversation, but um you know idea
facilitating math. You gotta, you have to keep in mind. Sense of group dynamic and then when a group
dynamic goes into play, where you have the salient culture or the people who are used to calling the
shots now interacting with people that don't get to call the shots you have acculturation going on. So it's
like I'm an American. You're a black American.
And so the person is thinking I just am and everybody else is pigeonholed or defined, but there's no need
to define myself. I see the world from my perspective out. And so, you know, you start to explain but if
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I'm not you and I define you as well. And so, you know, we get this dynamic. A lot of times that happens
where after people learn to think outside of the box. They see how that can be a truth but at first. They're
just shocked. I remember the first time I realized alot of the things that Europeans say about Americans. I
used to think what they saying about me because I'm an African American but then when I lived outside
of this nation for three years, I realized, oh my god, I'm just as body and I'm just as much a product of the
United States as I am a product of Inner City, Chicago, but it means to step outside of my acculturation so
I really think that our definitions are kind of grow, but I believe that we, we need to actually lay the
groundwork for some of these things that we need to address.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner here. I was like to say, I definitely agree with a lot of if not
everything that everyone is previously said and would also like to suggest that maybe we do each of us
are actually send in these terms that we believe need to be defined and what we see in the definitions.
And then on top of that as well. Once we collect this list to present them in a meeting and ask for
community members to again. Join the meeting listen in, give their suggestions on topics that we've
brought up that seem to really connect a lot between all of us and if they don't understand it, why they
don't understand it so that we can maybe find alternative definitions is when you look in a dictionary.
You don't always see just a one definition for something so just seeing if there's other ways we can try to
explain certain things to people, but also let them know that these are, again, the living definitions and
that we do understand people see things differently.
We're not trying to be arbiters of truth, but rather just to help everyone kind of be on the same playing
field in terms of understanding and you'll the floor.
Chair Royceann Porter: Just yesterday, we witnessed a horrifying stuff yesterday and you have people
who literally will, will that saw a different picture than us and I can tell you that each one of us on this
phone express how they felt when they saw the things that went on yesterday versus the people who we
saw who thought nothing was wrong with what they were doing. So I'm truly calling things as if they are
or when they are we, we literally have to call it out. No sugarcoating just saying about sugarcoating this
us, us being real. This is this is keeping it real. Let's be real. Let's not be sitting here trying to not worry
about other people's feelings. This is, this is a whole community effort of everybody trying to make things
better, because the reason this was all put together. It's because there's a problem. And we know that
there's a problem. So we want to work on that problem as a whole community.
That's just my two cents. I've been here a long time and I've seen quite a bit of racism right here in our
own community. So when those words come up. I'm used to it, even with our immigrant population, you
know, we see how in jobs where wage staff, you know, if they don't have even not only the immigrants of
the African people, but the Hispanic people I'm getting cheated out of money because, you know, they go
to work for somebody, and they don't have ID so this company might have them come work for them and
they pay them under the table, but you not really pan on what they the work that they're doing you
know these people get cheated wage stuff all the time. So we look at different types of stuff like that, we
have to look at the big picture. There are things that just have to be called out as though it is I'm the only
one on the phone.
Commissioner Traore: Thank you so much for putting that together is 100% agree and really do love the
fact that you are our chair with all the experience that you have and everything that you've done and
seen in the community. I just believe it's very, very valuable. So thank you again. Yeah, even with housing.
We have I'm wanting to put the black people on one side of town, we get that for the southeast district
all the black people go over there because why that's what they can afford.
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Chair Royceann Porter: That's where the people take in their money and literally charge overcharge them
for what they live in, in, but these are the things that we look for when we see discrimination in housing
and you know how this goes. So I've been around a long time and I've seen discrimination in schools on
how kids are treated why kids don't get kicked out of school like our black kids get kicked out of school. I
mean, there are various man I could tell you so many issues of instances of different things that go on.
That's right here. And, you know, even with the housing. You know white people will say, oh, that's
wonderful. That's wonderful. That's wonderful, what you're doing, but not in my backyard. We get
NIMBY all the time. All the time. There's NIMBY not in my backyard. As long as we're not doing it in a
backyard. Everything is fine and dandy, but this is just something I am so proud to be a part of because
It's just going to open up doors and it's just going to bring the community together to be able to have
these hard conversations and some of them are going to be hard. Not every meeting that we have
people are going to leave these meetings. Feeling okay because we're going to tell the truth, then. And
that's, that's me. Anybody that knows me know I speak my mind and I tell the truth. So, I'm proud to be a
part of this.
Chair Royceann Porter: Okay, so, Stephanie. We don't have to do anything on that. The next thing is I'm
the only thing that each Commissioner will send in to us a list of five. If you have more than five, send
them, but at least five definitions of terms related to racial justice.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: And I would just add as a friendly reminder from the
presentation from the city attorney, make sure that you just send them to the Chair, Vice Chair and me to
avoid the open meetings and then the next meeting that you have scheduled is for January 21 and I mean
I have to post the agenda with within 24 hours of the meeting, but that's always running it very close. So
we try not to do that. So ideally, if everybody could get those in no later than January 15 but we can
always do a late handout. If we have to which you know is fine but January 15 would be great. Just
because Monday is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., life and legacy celebration. So I hope that we are out in the
community celebrating that and Tuesday again maybe cutting it close for the meeting on Thursday. But
like I said, we can make it happen. But it would just be best to get those sooner than later.
Commissioner Traore: This is Commissioner Traore. So I just wanted to know for sure, in terms of how
you want to be addressed in terms of your title for the meetings going forward, you have a preference.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: You can, I mean I'm pretty laid back, but I appreciate you
asking, but you can call me staff, you can call me Stefanie, you can call me human rights coordinator I'm
not really particularly. Stefanie is more than fine. But thank you for asking.
SELECTION OF FACILITATOR:
Chair Royceann Porter: We have to have a conversation about a facilitator. If you know of a facilitator,
you can send in send it to myself or the Vice Chair Harrington and we can start taking names as to, you
know, who we know that could be a facilitator focus group.
Commissioner Ali: Sorry to interject. This is Commissioner Ali speaking. Can you define what you would
view as a facilitator? I just I'm not as familiar with the verbiage so if you can just make that clear for me,
please.
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Chair Royceann Porter: Stefanie, what would the facilitator be doing at the meetings?
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: I think the facilitator be almost like what I would call a
consultant, like they would assist you in this quest. I would still be staff in terms of posting the agenda
per whatever instructions the chair and vice chair are giving me and putting the packets together and still
making sure that we're within open meeting laws and public records law, but they would just be kind of
facilitating or guiding you are having conversations in terms of this process and what you're looking for in
terms of the Truth and Reconciliation. So I would say advisor consultants and facilitator, they kind of do
all of that. I would still serve a staff. So if you needed anything you know from me, I would certainly do
that. And I would still be at meetings, but they would be more of the you know, if you wanted to hold
hearings on x or y or z. Then they might give you suggestions or consulting on how best to do that, which
is why I think in this resolution from the city council. They're trying to make sure that whoever you select
you select somebody who kind of has these wide skill sets.
I am sure you can always request an extension from the Council, but per the resolution as it stands now
you have 90 days from your first meeting, which is on December 21 to get a recommendation to the city
council in terms of how much funding you feel you will need to fulfill your obligation. In terms of serving
as truth and reconciliation Commissioners for the city. And so when I did calculate a date that looks like
90 days from your original meeting date would be Sunday, March 21 which usually when things fall on a
weekend. It would, you know, go to the next date. So basically, Monday, March 22 to get them. What I
would say a preliminary plan and budget but there might be things that you need to change as you go
along.
Chair Royceann Porter: So this is a paid position?
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: Yes.
Chair Royceann Porter: I have some suggestions. If anyone has any please send to us.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: I also would just suggest in moving forward again. It's up to
the group's discretion. Always trying to be respectful of that but if you have somebody in mind, it may
not hurt to reach out to them to see if they would even be interested because there's no sense to
discuss a potential candidate who may not necessarily be interested in serving in that capacity in that
role. So if you do have somebody in mind that you feel comfortable approaching, like, hey, I'm going to
put your name forward as a facilitator, it may not hurt just to get a feel from them to see if that would be
something that they're, they would be interested in instead of having this great discussion coming up
with this great name. And then you reach out to them and they're like I don't really want to do that. So,
so just kind of keeping that in mind too.
Chair Royceann Porter: I did I do today. I reached out to a couple of people and they were interested
Commissioner Rivera: This is Commissioner Rivera, we need to spend a lot of time talking about my
suggestion, but I just want a little low hanging fruit is included in our package Eduardo Gonzales has
reached out and offered partnership with our commission and they seem to have plenty of experience in
facilitating these types of commissions and so I wonder if that would be some someone that we could
20
reach out to as well.
Chair Royceann Porter: I liked him too the only thing is he's not local. I liked it but I was trying to go with
somebody locally. We have Team Can and Team Can does the same type of facilitating in out in our
community, as far as a social justice or racial justice. They have a person named Jesse Case and Jesse
does this type of facilitation. So I would suggest Jesse Case I spoke with him today. I was just trying to find
somebody locally. I also am good friends with Annie Tucker and she is a mediator in Johnson County and I
think Annie will be good. We have Jennifer Sherer and Robin Bennett Clark from the Labor Center there's
quite a few people that can do this. So I was just trying to keep it local.
Chair Royceann Porter: So we need feedback from everybody.
Commissioner Ali: This is Commissioner Ali speaking. I'm going to second Jesse Case. He's incredible I just
love talking to the guy. He's such a cool guy. So that's a good suggestion.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore here. I would like to third, the great suggestion on Jesse
Case. I had the honor of meeting with him once before and he's an amazing person. And as someone that
would definitely be prepared and very good for this role as you someone that also knows a lot about
labor relations.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: This is Commissioner Currin here. Jesse Case, I'm telling you that we will
get this commission would get every cent worth of whatever we're going to pay him because he not only
does a good job. But he believes in what he does.
Chair Royceann Porter: Not only does he believe he fights. He fights for people rights. He really does. And
he's been working. He's been doing social justice work for a very long time. I literally went up under his
wing and learned a lot. And then he sent me out as an organizer for teamster so I truly think that he will
be a great fit. So that's just me but you know there's if there's anybody else out there. You guys are
welcome to you know make suggestions. I'm just one person.
Chair Royceann Porter: And if somebody else have somebody in mind like Stefanie said they can go to
that person after tonight and say, Hey, I was wondering if you'd be interested in such and such. And
come back and let us know. We will place on the agenda for the next meeting.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: In addition to a name that there is also a little more
information provided that tells each Commissioner, why you feel this person should facilitate because I'm
sure there's people that may be named that not all of you are familiar with. And that will better help. The
discussion, instead of just looking at like a name and not really knowing anything about them. So you
might as a group just want to consider that in your discussions as to whether or not you want to include
any pertinent information that you think is relevant for this group to consider and making the selection.
COMMISSION ANNOUCEMENTS:
Commissioner Traore: I'm Commissioner Traore here. I don't I think this fits into the purview of what
we're currently discussing, but just wanted to say thank you to all the Commissioners who did invite
people to join. I attempted to invite a few people but into the scheduling constraints, they couldn't make
it. But will do my best to reach out to more people once again for the next meeting and thank you once
21
again to those who did get their invites here tonight.
Commissioner Ali: And this is Commissioner Ali speaking. And I just wanted to implore or ask anyone if
you have the time. To look over the recommendations that the city manager Geoff Fruin has made to
restructure the police department. They are pretty long and so it. I would say do it when you've got a
little bit of free time email the city back with your opinions, because these suggestions that Geoff had
written out our mag to be edited and changed. And I think that as members of the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission, it probably would be important for us to know, the plans to restructure the
police.
Commissioner Traore: Commissioner Traore here. Thank you very much for saying that. I have these
documents I just downloaded them earlier and I can either send them to Miss Bowers to distribute to
everyone else, or I can send them in the meeting chat as well, whichever is preferred.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: I would probably, if you don't mind. You can send them to
me yet tonight and I'll get them sent out. So that's not a problem.
Commissioner Rivera: This is Commissioner Rivera I have three announcements, if that's okay. When is
this quick thank you to the public for joining us. During this meeting. It has been a hectic in a lot of ways,
terrifying last couple days and I appreciate you taking the time and energy to join us for this.
Meeting my second announcement it pertains to some of the points that other Commissioners have
made and I would just encourage folks if you if you didn't tune into the city council meeting on Tuesday,
to go back and watch the video and to listen to some of the public comment. It was point nine I think on
the January 5 meeting. And then my last announcement is that I just like to acknowledge that we're
meeting on the homelands of several tribal nations whose people were the original stewards of these
lands.
The collection of whom we all owe a great debt to as we continue to me. I do plan to develop and submit
for my fellow Commissioners review a formal land acknowledgement statement to honor these peoples.
By name, which I hope we can discuss at our next meeting and hopefully incorporate into each of our
meetings thereafter. I would be I would be eager to have the support of other commissioners in this
endeavor. Thanks.
Chair Royceann Porter: Awesome.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: Hello, Commissioner Currin here. I like to thank the public all the people
that I invited for showing up and I'm sitting through the meeting. And you know, it's a lot to actually sit
through as you're, you know, watching sausage being made and the initial coming together and how
we're initially putting everything together. And it's slow going, especially when you're not able to really
comment but
I want to thank you so much for your perseverance and it means so much for the support and we really
appreciate you. Thank you very much.
22
Chair Royceann Porter: I would just like to remind the committee that this is now a summit.Are there any
other announcements? Okay, then I would like to have someone make a motion to adjourn.
Commissioner Ali: Commissioner Ali's speaking. I like to make a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Commissioner Anthony Currin: I second that motion.
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator: Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Ali, seconded by
Commissioner Currin. Motion passed 8-0.
MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:37PM.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2021
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
12/21/20 1/7/21 1/21/21 2/4/21 2/18/
21
3/4/
21
3/18/21 4/1/21 4/15/
21
4/29/
21
5/13/
21
5/27/
21
6/10/
21
6/24/
21
ALI 6/22 X X
CURRIN 6/22 X X
HARRINGTON 6/22 X X
NAVARRE-
JACKSON
6/22 X X
PORTER 6/22 X X
HAMAD 6/22 X O/E
HARRIS 6/22 X X
RIVERA 6/22 X X
TRAORE 6/22 X X
KEY: X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = No meeting
--- = Not a Member
Transformative Justice: A series of practices and philosophies designed to create change in
social systems. Most regularly alternatives to criminal justice in cases of interpersonal violence
or to responses for dealing with socioeconomic issues in societies transitioning away from
conflict or repression. A process where all individuals affected by an injustice are given the
opportunity to address and repair the harm.
Restorative Justice: A system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of
offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large. Views crime as more
than “breaking the law”- it also causes harm to people, relationships and the community. A just
response must address those harms as well as the wrongdoing. Submitted by Commissioner Ali.
Restorative Justice: an approach to justice in which offenders take responsibility, reconcile
with victims, and repair the harm experienced by individual victims and the community. It is
accomplished through a cooperative process in which all willing stakeholders connect and
communicate about experiences, feelings, and consequences related to a harmful incident,
which leads to accountability and repair, thus rehabilitating the offender and restoring
relationships across the community. (Adapted
from https://mettacenter.org/definitions/restorative-justice/). Submitted by Commissioner
Rivera.
Fundamental Principles of Restorative Justice: 1) Crime causes harm and justice should focus
on repairing that harm. 2) The people most affected by the crime should be able to participate
in its resolution. 3)The responsibility of the government is to maintain order and of the
community to build peace.
Racial Justice Terms
Social Construct: A concept or perception of something based on the collective views
developed and maintained within a society or social group, as opposed to existing inherently.
(Ex: Laws, ethics, race, gender, gender roles, property ownership, language, culture).
Colonization: The action or process of settling among and establishing control over the
indigenous people of an area.
Decolonization: The process of the deconstructing colonial ideologies of the superiority and
privilege of Western thought and approaches. Involves dismantling structures that perpetuate
the status quo and addressing unbalanced power dynamics.
Discrimination: “Negative actions against a group, aimed at denying its members equal access
to societal rewards.” (Marger 2012: 490)
Prejudice: “A generalized belief, usually inflexible and unfavorable, applied to members of a
particular group.” (Marger 2012: 492)
Race: “A socially constructed category of humans, classified on the basis of certain arbitrarily
selected hereditary characteristics that differentiate them from other human groups.” (Marger
2012: 493)
Racism: “The belief that humans are subdivided into distinct hereditary groups that are
innately different in their social behavior and mental capacities and that can therefore be
ranked as superior or inferior.” (Marger 2012: 493)-Submitted by Commissioner Navarre-
Jackson.
Racism : Racism = race prejudice + social and institutional power, Racism = a system of
advantage based on race, Racism = a system of oppression based on race, Racism = a white
supremacy system, Racism is different from racial prejudice, hatred, or discrimination. Racism
involves one group having the power to carry out systematic discrimination through the
institutional policies and practices of the society and by shaping the cultural beliefs and values
that support those racist policies and practices. -Submitted by Chair Porter.
White Privilege: “White privilege means having entry to structures and institutions that mete
out important economic opportunities, having access to neighborhoods, jobs, credit, and tax
benefits that by and large are off limits or available in limited fashion to minorities, it means
being presumed competent, intelligent, and hardworking, it means not being discriminated
against daily by anyone ranging from a restaurant attendant to a car salesperson.” (Lazos
Vargas 1998: 1527) -Submitted by Commissioner Navarre-Jackson.
White Privilege : Refers to the unquestioned and unearned set of advantages, entitlements,
benefits and choices bestowed on people solely because they are white. Generally white
people who experience such privilege do so without being conscious of it. -Submitted by Chair
Porter.
Implicit Bias : Also known as unconscious or hidden bias, implicit biases are negative
associations that people unknowingly hold. They are expressed automatically, without
conscious awareness. Many studies have indicated that implicit biases affect individuals’
attitudes and actions, thus creating real-world implications, even though individuals may not
even be aware that those biases exist within themselves. -Submitted by Chair Porter.
Implicit Bias : Also known as unconscious or hidden bias, implicit biases are negative
associations that people unknowingly hold. They are expressed automatically, without
conscious awareness. Many studies have indicated that implicit biases affect individuals’
attitudes and actions, thus creating real-world implications, even though individuals may not
even be aware that those biases exist within themselves. – Submitted by Commissioner Currin.
Explicit bias: is the traditional conceptualization of bias. With explicit bias, individuals are
aware of their prejudices and attitudes toward certain groups. 8 Positive or negative
preferences for a particular group are conscious.
Racial Justice : The systematic fair treatment of people of all races, resulting in equitable
opportunities and outcomes for all. Racial justice—or racial equity—goes beyond “anti-racism.”
It is not just the absence of discrimination and inequities, but also the presence of deliberate
systems and supports to achieve and sustain racial equity through proactive and preventative
measures.
Diversity : Diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, and it encompasses all the
different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. It is all-
inclusive and recognizes everyone and every group as part of the diversity that should be
valued. A broad definition includes not only race, ethnicity, and gender—the groups that most
often come to mind when the term "diversity" is used—but also age, national origin, religion,
disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and
physical appearance. It also involves different ideas, perspectives, and values.
Systemic Vehicle: The process of enabling. Whether by word, deed or standards of operating
procedures, a group, a member of a group or a single representative of said group, the ability to
suppress, repress, undermine, delegitimize, disenfranchise or otherwise nullify, the words,
deeds, ideas or achievements of any group that the aforementioned dominant group deems
unworthy.
Monolithic: (of an organization or system) large, powerful, and intractably indivisible and
uniform. "rejecting any move toward a monolithic European superstate".
Superiority vs. Inferiority: As it appears in the context of racism, often is a platform to support
a false narrative that legitimizes a false rhetoric. That is to say that the superior only finds
meaning in their existence through the constant demeaning of any that they find inferior.
White Fragility: A state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable
[for white people], triggering a range of defensive moves. These moves include the outward
display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as argumentation,
silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate
white racial equilibrium. SOURCE: Robin DiAngelo, “White Fragility” (International Journal of
Critical Pedagogy, 2011).
Structural Racism: Public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, and societal
conventions that individually and collectively reinforce racial inequity and codify the advantage
of “whiteness.” SOURCE: Talking racial equity? Make sure you understand these 17 words -
Generocity Philly.
Emotional Tax: Refers to the unseen mental work that people from marginalized backgrounds
have to do every day to feel included, respected, and safe. SOURCE: An anti-racist's dictionary:
19 words on race, gender, and diversity you should know.
Intersectionality: The intertwining of social identities such as gender, race, ethnicity, social
class, religion, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity, which can result in unique
experiences, opportunities, and barriers. SOURCE: 12 Diversity & Inclusion Terms You Need to
Know | Catalyst.
Ally: Advocates for people from underrepresented or marginalized groups. An ally takes action
to support people outside of their own group. SOURCE: 12 Diversity & Inclusion Terms You
Need to Know | Catalyst.
Healing: - to restore health, well-being, and spiritual wholeness of individuals and communities;
to repair or set right. Healing requires that incidences of trauma and injury are no longer being
perpetuated. (Adapted from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H1wBU-
zPKmCR5UR57VG58YudaVoW08j-/view).
Racial Trauma: - the mental and emotional injury experienced by persons who have
encountered racism at the internal, interpersonal, or systemic level. Racial trauma can result
from single-episode events, repeated occurrences, or chronic forces. In the US, Black,
indigenous peoples, and people of color (BIPOC) are most vulnerable to racial trauma due to
pervasive white supremacy. Racial trauma often results in both physical and mental
experiences of distress, which impair the wellbeing of the traumatized individual. (Adapted
from https://www.mhanational.org/racial-trauma).
Reconciliation: - in the US, racial reconciliation is the bringing together of Black people,
Indigenous people, and people of color with the individuals and institutions which enact and
perpetuate racist actions and policies in order to repair their relationship and come to shared
understandings. Reconciliation work must include finding the means to overcome racial
inequalities in social and economic status, health and life expectancy, living standards, and
systemic injustice. (Adapted from https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/abed101/what-is-
reconciliation/).
Date: January 18, 2021
To: Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
From: Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator
Re: Current Facilitator List for the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The City Council in its resolution of September 15, 2020 establishing an Ad Hoc Truth
and Reconciliation Commission required for the following:
“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 out of 9 members) that facilitation is no longer needed.”
The following list of a possible facilitator was compiled by the Ad Hoc Truth and
Reconciliation Commission at their meeting date of January 7, 2021. This list is not
meant to be exhaustive and Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation commissioners can
certainly explore other options not on the list below.
Annie Tucker, Executive Director at Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa
https://mediateiowa.org/list-of-mediators/.
Jesse Case, Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer of Teamsters Local 238 in Iowa -
Iowa's largest local union
https://www.teamsterslocal238.com/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/officers.cfm&showcat
=limit&thiscat=Executive%20Board.
Eduardo Gonzalez, Research Affiliate at Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation
https://www.mhcr.gmu.edu/.
From:Eduardo Gonzalez
To:Stefanie Bowers
Cc:Laura Bergus; Janice Weiner
Subject:Re: Congratulations on the seating of the Iowa City TRC and offer of partnership.
Date:Monday, January 11, 2021 3:27:47 PM
Hi Stefanie,
thank you. Here is the information on the Speaker Series, as it stands now.
https://www.nesl.edu/practical-experiences/centers/center-for-international-law-and-
policy/news-events/transitional-justice-in-the-usa-speaker-series
The co-sponsoring institutions, including us in the Mary Hoch Center on Reconciliation, are
working on the program, but we anticipate that the first session will be in mid February on
“Comparative Lessons: What is Transitional Justice and How Has It Worked in Other
Countries?”
Best regards
Eduardo
Eduardo Gonzalez Transitional justice expert
photo Phone: +1 347 244 0106
Email: eduardo@gonzalezc.com
Skype: gonzalez.eduardo
Website: http://www.gonzalezc.com
On Mon, Jan 11, 2021 at 4:21 PM Stefanie Bowers <Stefanie-Bowers@iowa-city.org> wrote:
Hi Eduardo,
They did discuss the correspondence you sent but no firm decisions have been made. They
will have a more in depth conversation at their January 21 meeting date. Is there information
on the Speaker Series you can share with them via their email by weeks end? If so, I can
include it in their packet.
Thanks,
Stefanie
From: Eduardo Gonzalez <eduardo@gonzalezc.com>
Sent: Monday, January 11, 2021 3:16 PM
To: Stefanie Bowers <Stefanie-Bowers@iowa-city.org>
Cc: Laura Bergus <laura.bergus@gmail.com>; Janice Weiner <jgweiner@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Congratulations on the seating of the Iowa City TRC and offer of partnership.
Hi Stefanie,
I'd be very grateful for information on the Jan 7th meeting of the commission, in particular if
they showed any interest in our offer to collaboration. Do you have any tip on follow up?
The last few days, there have been a couple of interesting things happening in the field of
truth and reconciliation, including the upcoming reintroduction of a resolution on a national
Truth Racial Healing and Transformation commission, by Rep Barbara Lee and Sen Cory
Booker. Hopefully, a national process will have a positive impact on local commissions, and
viceversa. Also, as MHCR, we will be organizing a Speaker Series on truth and
reconciliation, starting February, and I'd love to give a heads up to the members of your
TRC.
Best regards
Eduardo
Eduardo Gonzalez Transitional justice expert
Phone: +1 347 244 0106
Email: eduardo@gonzalezc.com
Skype: gonzalez.eduardo
Website: 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 reckoning
with the past is necessary for successful transitions from conflict, 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 a
future of equity based on healing and hope; 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 community
not inclined to engage or resistant to engagement; and,
Whereas, a comprehensive process will require that City of Iowa City departments and the City
Council itself participate, 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
AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
JANUARY 21, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS (LATE HANDOUTS)
• EMAIL FROM COMMISSIONER TRAORE ON FACILITATOR AND TERMS AND
DEFINITIONS
• BIO OF JESSE CASE SUBMITTED BY CHAIR PORTER
From:Mohamed Traore
To:Stefanie Bowers
Subject:Proposal for Facilitator, Terms and Definitions
Date:Monday, January 18, 2021 11:56:14 PM
Proposal for Facilitator:
Jesse Case
Terms and Definitions:
◦ White Privilege - A term that is often misconstrued as anger or blame towards individuals
that may reap “unseen” or outright benefits in society simply due to their skin color. These
privileges are rather the result of systems and laws in the society or culture’s foundational past
that remain engrained within the society or culture by way of the institutions that prop up the
society. Alas, in many instances, the term is used to blame individuals from all walks of life in
the present day for things they may or may not have direct control over, or instances in which
they may or may not purposely exercise these “privileges” over others.
◦ Systemic - A long-term issue or feature that is rooted within a society, institution, or culture,
due to past laws or societal ideals that may not always exist “outright” in the present day and
age, but that may permeate parts or the whole of society due to its influence in the foundations
of that society, institution, or culture.
◦ Restructure - To redefine and reimagine a system, culture, institution, or society. The key is
that the “redefinition” and “reimagining” must truly be acted upon to facilitate the completion
of the process.
◦ Defund - can be seen as a synonym to “restructure” in specific contexts. Such as “defund the
police” being meant as “restructure the police” when uttered by proponents of police reform.
◦ Racist - Having hateful or pessimistic views associated with all members of a particular race
just because they belong to that race.
◦ Bigoted - Holding negative views towards members of a particular race, ethnicity, or
religion. In contrast to racism, bigotry is not always rooted in absolute “hate” or “disdain.”
◦ Indigenous - a term that many use in place of “Indian” or “Native American” as a sign of
respect to the original inhabitants of the country that we today call the “United States of
America”
◦ Community - An amalgamation of individuals within a city, school, or social network, that
rely upon the same social contract to live out their daily lives.
◦ Truth - A made-up word that humans use to describe things that they believe to be “correct.”
However, these “correct” ideals or statements are up for debate at any and all times as truth is
subjective. Nothing man-made can be proven to be 100% correct, as anything man-made is not
natural, but a manifestation of the imagination. Whereas natural things hold verifiable “truth”
as they are untouched by man, and subject only to the will of a higher natural or supernatural
order.
— We can only get “closer to the truth” through thorough examination of our own thoughts
and feelings on the subject, and experiencing the thoughts and feelings of others around the
very same subject, and the things that influence our respective lines of thinking.
Thank you,
Commissioner Traore
mo.traore@gmail.com
319-677-2760
Jesse Case is a union leader and community activist who
currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer
of Teamsters Local 238 in Iowa. Jesse has over 30 years of
experience leading organizing campaigns in more than 20 states
in both the public and private sectors. Jesse has negotiated
hundreds of collective bargaining agreements, has served as a
National Campaign Coordinator with the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, as Iowa Political Director for
Teamsters Local 238, and held other offices and positions within the Teamsters
Union, as well as other Labor Unions around the country. Case is cofounder of the
Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, cofounder of the Iowa Council for
Worker Safety, cofounder of the Iowa Manufactured Home Residents Network and
is a Vice-President of the Iowa Federation of Labor.
During his tenure with the Teamsters, Jesse cofounded the National Teamsters Law
Enforcement League, taught organizing trainings around the nation, and more
recently, has organized and represented workers on more presidential campaigns
than any other labor leader in history, including the national campaign staff of
President Joe Biden.
Case is also a founding member of the Teamsters Community Action Network
(TeamCAN), a non-profit organization based in Iowa that is committed to social
justice organizing. As the president of TeamCAN, Case has helped coordinate
campaigns for affordable housing and food distribution, hosts an annual Civil Rights
Tour for high school students, and provides organizing and leadership development
trainings to effect and implement change on the local level.
Jesse Case has lived in Iowa City since 1998 and is a past member of the Iowa City
Civil Service Commission, a past board member of the Teamsters Local 238 Credit
Union and past president of the Iowa City Federation of Labor.