HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC 2 4 2021410 East Washington Street
Iowa City. Iowa S2240-1826
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AD HOC TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 4, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #2
•DRAFT MINUTES FROM JANUARY 21, 2021
AGENDA ITEM #5
•DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT
•DRAFT MISSION STATEMENT SUBMITTED COMMISSIONER HAMAD
AGENDA ITEM #6
•DISCUSSION/SELECTION OF A FACILITATOR MEMO BY STAFF
•SELECTED BIOS OF FACILITATORS SUBMITTED BY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM #8
•RACIAL JUSTICE VOCABULARY FOR TRC
CORRESPONDENCE
•RESOLUTION OVERVIEW
•LETTER FROM HUMAN RIGHTS WORKING GROUP
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 X
CURRIN 6/22 X X X
HARRINGTON 6/22 X X X
NAVARRE-
JACKSON
6/22 X X X
PORTER 6/22 X X X
HAMAD 6/22 X O/E X
HARRIS 6/22 X X X
RIVERA 6/22 X X X
TRAORE 6/22 X X X
KEY: X = Present
O = Absent
DRAFT Mission Statement (1)
WHO ARE WE? Our Commission represents a collection of citizen activists from diverse
backgrounds calling on the Iowa City community to account for their history of racialized oppression. We are individuals who are committed to structural change, truth telling, healing trauma and repair. We share in common a vision for an equitable and sustainable community free of violence and systemic racism. We believe the time has come to foster change.
OUR MISSION The Iowa City Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission is committed to implementing and sustaining grassroots, community-centered truth-telling processes to address past and present instances of both direct and indirect actions of violence, discrimination, and racism in Iowa City. We will collect testimony from a variety of
institutions including but not limited to schools, housing providers, government officials, health care, banking institutions, and law enforcement.
DRAFT Mission Statement (2)
WHO ARE WE? The Iowa City Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in response to an urgent message sent by youth-led protesters that the status quo on racial justice matters in Iowa City was unacceptable and that the pace of change was too slow, superficial, and
accommodating to the political and emotional needs of white privilege. The Commission was
formed with an acknowledgment by the City Council of the existence of "painful [and] systemic" racial injustice in Iowa City society and the fact that "past efforts to address" this injustice have been insufficient. The TRC was tasked by the Council with taking "bold action" to "look comprehensively into its past and bear witness to the truth of racial injustice" in Iowa City,
including by "confronting privilege" and "stimulating difficult conversations" when necessary. The
Commission consists of nine citizen activists from diverse backgrounds who are committed to fulfilling this mandate.
OUR MISSION. The Iowa City Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission is committed to
undertaking bold action to bear witness to racial injustice, look comprehensively into the past,
confront privilege, and stimulate difficult and healing conversations, using the practices of factfinding, truth-telling, and reconciliation, as outlined by the City Council. The Commission will: (a) fund and organize a robust fact-finding process to establish a factual record on racial discrimination and white privilege in the history and present operation of Iowa City society and
institutions; (b) host safe, respectful, community-centered forums for affected individuals to tell the
truth of their experiences of racial injustice in Iowa City, and (c) facilitate creative opportunities for all Iowa City residents to come together to communicate and collaborate in ways that are capable of building trust and reconciliation while respecting the truth and experiences of racial injustice.
Resolution establishing Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (City Council 9-
15-2020)
"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 recommendat ion
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;"
Date:
To:
From:
Re:
CITY OF IOWA CITY MEMORANDUM
February 1, 2021
Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Stefanie Bowers, Human Rights Coordinator
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 facilitator names was compiled by the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission at their meeting date of January 7, 2021. This list has been expanded since that time to include two additional names for consideration.
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 (See included bio ).
Eduardo Gonzalez, Research Affiliate at Mary Hoch Center for Reconciliation https://www.mhcr.gmu.edu/.
Frederick Newell, Founder and Executive Director at Dream City (See included bio ).
Hamza Omar, MA Education, AAU USSSA Certified TKO Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, and A.R.T. Instructor and Life Skills Coach (See included bio ).
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.
Mr. Newell's bio:
Frederick Newell is a native of Chicago, IL, and has lived in the Iowa City area since 2006. After
graduating with a BA in Social Work from the University of Iowa in 2010, Frederick founded the Dream
City (formerly known as The Dream Center) a nonprofit organization that began as a response to the
growing number of youth affected by absentee and non-involved fathers. Since its founding, the Dream
City has developed to providing comprehensive family-focused supports to families in the Corridor
Community.
As a youth, father, and community advocate, Frederick's goal is to strengthen families, change lives, and
restore hope through advocacy and empowerment. Frederick has proven he has the unique ability to
impact the lives of youth and fathers, communicate effectively with families, and create innovative
programs that empower family units.
Frederick is the proud father of 7 children and the husband of the most beautiful Tianna Newell. Along
with being a father and husband, he is a coach, mentor to many, counselor to some, community activist,
faithful believer in the gospel, and a servant leader.
Mr. Omar's Bio:
I was born in the Bronx, New York. After graduation from Harry S Truman, I moved to Iowa City. I grew
up in a tough but diverse neighborhood called Throggs Neck at the far end of the Bronx where the White
Stone and Throggs Neck bridge extend to Queens and Long Island. It was essentially a working, middle-
class neighborhood consisting of Italian, Black, Puerto-Rican and Asian. Coming to Iowa was more of a
culture shock than growing up in New York and taking martial arts lessons in Chinatown. Iowa was a
totally different environment than I was accustomed to.
In 1990 I received a Stanley undergraduate scholarship to study abroad and attend an intensive
language program at the Beijing College of Foreign Language. Shortly after the program I enlisted in the
United States Air Force. I was stationed at Osan Air Force Base in Sontang South Korea. While there I
also studied the Korean language in addition to my work with AeroSpace Warning and Intelligence. I had
actually visited Korea before and studied the language prior to my military service. I returned to Iowa
City in 1993 with an honorable discharge; to complete my undergraduate studies at the University of
Iowa. I later married and have raised four kids in Iowa City.
My work experiences range from serving in the U.S. Air Force as, Martial Arts Instructor to work as a
Group Home Manager for disabled adults. From 1997 to 2019 I served as the Juvenile Court school
liaison with the Iowa City Community School District and Juvenile Court office. As a liaison; I served as an
advocate for at-risk students. Much of the work I did involved removing hurdles to help students
succeed at school. This involved a lot of listening and helping students resolve issues; so they would be
more successful at school. Often this work extended after hours and weekends. In some situations I
would be called to resolve conflicts at home between students and parents. My primary responsibility
was to serve students under Juvenile Court supervision. I also sponsored the Chess club and supported a
diverse group of students over the years. The most rewarding thing I did was to have an opportunity to
Coach South East JHS Students at the annual Make Me A World In Iowa Educational Day Festival in the
Black History Competition. To the credit and hard work, enthusiasm of the students plus support from
the parents we won the Middle School Championship five years straight.
During the time I served as a liaison I received training and gained extensive experience mediating
conflicts and working to reduce delinquency. This required a lot of listening and employing what we now
call restorative justice practices. Much of what I learned was from experience gained in the field,
however over the years I received formalized training in a variety of evidence-based practices. For
example, restorative justice, motivational interviewing, non-violent crisis interventions and other
programs. Some of the other programs I received training in were diversity and implicit bias. In addition,
I served as a Life Skills Coach and A.R.T. (Aggression Replacement Training) Instructor. Other areas of
my service involved facilitating gender and culturally specific groups for students. As a Liaison, I had the
opportunity to work in the community with parents, law enforcement, human service workers, teachers,
administrators, and other community service agencies; along with the Juvenile Justice system. This
involved addressing conflicts between students, families, and even conflicts with school Staff and Police
Officers. I became a bridge in the community and worked with folks from all walks of life. I had
facilitated group mediations, student to student conflicts, student to parent, and even student to Police
officers. Over the years during my tour of duty as a JCSL (Juvenile Court School Liaison), I served
students and families from all social, economic and ethnic backgrounds. I believe it was my experiences
growing up in NYC which enabled me to cross over. I recall growing in the Bronx, I was able to cross into
different social and ethnic groups which was uncommon.
Over the years, I served and volunteered with the Johnson County DMC (Disproportionate Minority
Contact) Committee; to address racial disparities in the community. Having worked with Juvenile Court
and responsible for collecting data on student arrests and adjudications; I recognized the prison pipeline
phenomena existed in Iowa City. In fact, I was on the front lines working in the local community schools.
The DMC committee collaborated with the schools, Police Department and Juvenile Court to address
local racial disparities. The prison pipeline was something that had become an issue in the nation, so the
goal was to avert this here in Iowa City. The realization hit around 2007 when a lot of community issues
regarding racial disparities arose. I participated in many forums, meetings and brainstorming sessions.
The fruits of the labor of a lot of professionals involved in the community came to fruition around 2015;
when a diversion program for minor delinquent acts was established.
The DMC committee also hosted Ms. Jane Elliot to speak downtown Iowa City; at a conference
attended by law enforcement, social workers and educators. It was an honor to have volunteered at the
event.
After many years of working in the community with young people, especially underrepresented
students and families; the one thing I realized is that there is a need for trust and empowerment. As a
Liaison, educator and Martial Arts Instructor I learned that helping, listening to those who are powerless
goes a long way in the process of inclusion and equity.
In 2019 my contract ended with Juvenile Court. I completed my Masters in Education and I am now
pursuing my teaching license and applying to PhD programs in Education. I continue to maintain many
connections with former students and families in the community plus I continue teaching Martial Arts.
This past summer I delivered food donations from my martial arts gym to needy families on the east side
of town. I have recently started a Black Literature Book club which is open to people of all backgrounds.
Hamza Sharif Omar MA Education
AAU USSSA Certified TKD Coach
Certified Personal Trainer
A.R.T. Instructor and Life Skills Coach
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.
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/).
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)
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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/).
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.
Prepared by: Council members Janice Weiner and Laura Bergus I
Resolution No. 20-228
Resolution establishing Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Whereas, in Resolution No. 20-159 (Initial Commitments addressing the Black Lives Matter
Movement and Systemic Racism in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis
Police and calls for action from protesters and residents), the Iowa City City Council resolved asfollows:
By October 1, 2020, create an ad hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission to bear
witness to the truth of racial injustice in Iowa City and to carry out restorative justice,
through the collection of testimony and public hearings, with such work to include a
recommendation to the Council of a plan for dedicating and/or renaming public spaces
and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement; and,
Whereas, the City Council committed to allocate City funds of $1,000,000 during the present
Fiscal Year to support Resolution 20-159, which includes a variety of initiatives, among them theTruthandReconciliationCommission; and,
Whereas, truth and reconciliation underscores the imperative that confronting and reckoningwiththepastisnecessaryforsuccessfultransitionsfromconflict, injustice, resentment and
tension to peace, equality and connectedness; and,
Whereas, while we acknowledge that other forms of injustice and challenges have occurred
over the course of the history of the city of Iowa City, the focus of this Commission is on race;
and,
Whereas, the City Council acknowledges the existence of painful, systemic, persistent, and
varied forms of racial injustice in Iowa City, and acknowledges that such injustice persists
despite past efforts to address it, consistent with observations that systemic racism and white
privilege are deeply resistant to change; and,
Whereas, the Iowa City community must look comprehensively into its past and bear witness to
the truth of racial injustice in order to provide the best possible foundation for moving into afutureofequitybasedonhealingandhope; and,
Whereas, the City Council recognizes that, for a Truth and Reconciliation process to be
meaningful, it must include bold action to confront privilege, stimulate difficult conversations,
and reach and engage a full cross-section of the community, including those in the communitynotinclinedtoengageorresistanttoengagement; and,
Whereas, a comprehensive process will require that City of Iowa City departments and the CityCouncilitselfparticipate, including individual councilors, in good faith, in the process and to
actively encourage broad participation throughout the community, and the City Council hereby
commits to such participation and encouragement; and,
Whereas, creation of an Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission is in the best interests of
the City and its residents.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by the City Council of the City of Iowa City, that:
1. The Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) is hereby established
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 2
2. The TRC shall have nine members who are representative of the City's BIPOC
communities and organizations, including those who have direct lived experience with
systemic racism, as well as experts who support those communities. To the extent
possible, as determined by the City Council, the TRC shall include representation from
groups such as the Iowa Freedom Riders, the Black Voices Project, the South District
Neighborhood Association, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, and the
Community Police Review Board. Johnson County residency is required. Iowa City
residency is preferred but not required if an applicant offers expertise or representation
not available from applicants who reside in Iowa City. Members of other City boards and
commissions are eligible to serve on the TRC.
3. Applications for membership on the TRC shall be announced, advertised, and available in
the same manner as those for all City boards and commissions.
4. The TRC shall select the Chair, who when present will preside over all meetings, and the
Vice -Chair, who will serve as chair in the absence of the Chair.
5. Within the charges of the TRC set forth herein, the TRC is not required to seek approval
from the City Council, mayor, or city manager to set its own agenda and prioritize its
activities.
6. The TRC shall be facilitated by an independent consultant, funded by the City, with
expertise in group facilitation and human rights, and to the extent possible, experience
with diversity, implicit bias, mediation and conflict resolution, until such time as the TRC
concludes by the favorable vote of at least three-fourths of all the members of the TRC
7/9) that facilitation is no longer needed.
7. To conform with the requirements of laws pertaining to open meetings and public records
and to facilitate transparency and public education and participation, administrative/clerical
assistance and media/event assistance shall be provided by City staff as determined by
the City Manager and City Clerk. Media assistance may be supplemented by outside
expertise on a case-by-case basis if the Commission believes it will substantially expand
outreach.
8. The TRC shall determine the frequency and conduct of its meetings. The meetings will
be open to the public and conducted in accordance with Chapter 21 of the Iowa Code.
Records, documentation, and communications of the TRC will be public records under
Chapter 22 of the Iowa Code.
9. The TRC shall serve from the date of appointment of all members to June 30, 2022. The
TRC shall have an organizational meeting no later than 30 days after the appointment of
all members.
10. Within 90 days of its organizational meeting, the TRC shall recommend to City Council a
preliminary budget for funds needed to carry out the charges of the TRC beyond what
existing City staff, programs, and services can provide.
11. The charges of the TRC are as follows:
A. Fact -Finding The TRC shall collect evidence, including first-hand testimony, of
discrimination and racial injustice in multiple settings and compile a complete
record of racial injustices that will inform and support the fundamental institutional
and policy reforms necessary to address systemic racism.
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 3
B. Truth -Telling The TRC shall: 1) Provide multiple fora and creative opportunities
for persons impacted and traumatized by racial injustice to share their stories of
racial injustice and experience to be heard by: (a) fellow communities of color; (b) a
broad cross section of the entire Iowa City community; and (c) key decision -
makers in city government, the business community and the University; 2) Explore
ways to provide such opportunities through art, music, theater, workshops, rallies
and other forms of congregation, multimedia and listening designed to reveal truths
that cannot be fully expressed in traditional fora; and, 3) Create a repository for
community stories expressed in multiple media (written, video, audio, art) that can
be catalogued and used to educate and inform members of the community.
C. Reconciliation The TRC shall: 1) Provide opportunity for and facilitate direct
conversation among and between community members of color, white community
members and representatives of various sectors in which people of color
experience discrimination and injustice (e.g. police and protesters, landlords and
tenants, students and teachers, patients and health care providers, business
owners and staff); 2) Create a replicable model that provides a structure for
enabling these conversations throughout the city; 3) Make available opportunities
for a broad cross section of the community to learn about discrimination and racial
injustice in our community; and, 4) Identify and recommend to the City Council
institutional and policy reforms, new social practices, expectations, protocols,
habits, rituals, conversations and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a
shared experience of race and difference, justice and equity and community and
harmony.
12. The TRC shall strive to provide a safe and supportive space for its work, premised on
mutual respect, and shall conduct its work so as to promote healing and justice. The TRC
shall consider the possibility of adverse actions against those who participate in its work.
The TRC shall carefully consider mechanisms to protect participants, and shall work to
support those who allege harm due to their participation in the TRC process.
13. The TRC shall submit periodic updates to City Council to include, but not be limited to: its
plans for community education; recommendations for Council action; requests for
resources the TRC needs to carry out its work; and recommendations to dedicate and/or
rename public spaces and/or rights of way in honor of the Black Lives Matter movement.
14. By May 1, 2022 the TRC shall submit to City Council:
A. A report summarizing the work of the TRC.
B. A repository of community stories expressed in multiple media (written, video,
audio, art).
C. Recommendations to the City Council for: 1) Institutional and policy reforms to end
systemic racism; 2) Opportunities to create new social practices, expectations,
protocols, habits, rituals and celebrations that will move Iowa City toward a shared
experience of race and difference, justice and equity and community and
harmony; 3) Measures to enhance the autonomy/security/sovereignty of
communities of color and mitigate disparities in social and economic power; and 4)
A recommendation on whether and in what form the work of the Commission
should continue.
15. At any time in its work, and no later than June 30, 2022, the TRC shall strive to submit to
City Council a replicable model and structure for conversations between people of color
Resolution No. 20-228
Page 4
and white community members and representatives of various sectors in which people of
color experience discrimination and injustice.
16. Absent further action by the City Council, the TRC will dissolve on June 30, 2022.
Passed and approved this 15 day of September, 2020.
ted by
City Attorney's Office - 09/10/2020
January 29, 2021
VIA EMAIL
Honorable Commissioners
Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
AdHocTruth@iowa-city.org
RE: Introducing ourselves – informal Human Rights Working Group
Dear Honorable Commissioners,
We the undersigned are excited to address and congratulate you and the historic Ad Hoc
Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC or Commission). We are Iowa City citizens who
started meeting (by Zoom) ever since we heard about the City’s intent to establish a TRC. We
came together because we are each passionate about human rights, racial justice, and social
reconciliation. We shared a desire to see the TRC process succeed—and to share our diverse
impressions and hopes for what that process and success could and should look like.
We also each have experience with the work of human rights institutions and
organizations in Iowa City, although our collaboration and our appearance before the
Commission in this letter is entirely in our personal capacity. We want to be clear that we do not
represent any institutions with which we may presently associate or may have associated in the
past. We have sometimes referred to ourselves as a Human Rights Working Group; we are
essentially a group of allies and we continually invite any similarly-interested persons in Iowa
City to join our discussions.
We write today simply to introduce ourselves and to cordially offer you our volunteer
assistance, should you have any interest. We are not committed to any specific vision of the form
or substance that any such assistance would take. We fully understand that it would be shaped by
the needs and desires of the Commission as well as any applicable bylaws and appropriate
methods of proceeding.
We do, however, have various ideas about possible assistance that have popped up in our
informal meetings over the last few months. For example, some of us could potentially
collaborate to prepare a briefing memo on the use and experience of truth commissions in
different contexts in the U.S. and around the world, or even explore specific history or human
rights questions at the Commission’s request. Others of us would be interested in helping the
Commission imagine how to accomplish its work using “art, music, theater, workshops, rallies
and other forms of congregation, multimedia and listening,” as suggested by the Council in its
Resolution establishing the Commission.
Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
January 29, 2021
Page 2 of 2
2 | 2
Many of the undersigned will try to join your next online meeting on Feb. 4 and we
would be happy to very briefly introduce ourselves during that session – or at any later session if
you might designate.
We want to assure again that we are merely interested members of the public; we are
interested in following the lead of the Commission and hope to assist you in whatever manner
you find most helpful.
Sincerely,
______________
Shams Ghoneim
-Former President, ACLU-IA
-Former Iowa City Human Rights
Commissioner
-Advisory Board, UICHR
______________
Joe Coulter
-Professor Emeritus, UI Public Health
-UI Native American Council
-Advisory Board, UICHR
______________
Ashley Lindley
-Iowa City Human Rights Commissioner
______________
Jessica Andino
-Chair, Iowa City Human Rights
Commission
______________
Aaron Marr Page
-Lecturer, UI College of Law
-Advisory Board, UICHR
-Human rights attorney
______________
Lisa Schlesinger
-Professor, UI Theater Dept.
Advisory Board, UICHR
______________
Heather Erwin
-UI Liberal Arts Beyond Bars
-Advisory Board, UICHR
______________
Mary Cohen
-Professor, UI College of Education and
School of Music
-Advisory Board, UICHR
cc Stefanie Bowers, stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org