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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSJREQ4indesign2-4-21Accountability 1 Human Rights staff attended “How Redlining Has Created the Racial Wealth Divide in Iowa,” a we- binar examining how the racial makeup of Iowa neighborhoods and communities have been influenced by federal housing policy and whether judicial remedies exist to redress the resulting hous- ing wealth gap between white and Black households. Human Rights staff renewed membership in the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. The Iowa City Police Department (ICPD) was assessed by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accredita- tion. CALEA’s primary purpose is to improve law enforcement service by creating a national body of standards developed by law enforcement profession- als. CALEA recognizes professional achievements by administering an accreditation process through which a law enforcement agency can demonstrate that it meets those standards. CALEA examined aspects of the Iowa City Police Department's policy and procedures, management, operations, and ser- vices and determined ICPD did meet its standards. The City has entered into an agreement with the Iowa Economic Development Authority for additional Community Development Block Grant- CV funds for emergency housing and utility assis- tance for low-moderate income households who have been financially impacted by COVID. The City took applications for funding for nonprofit organizations providing assistance with homeless services, mental health services, child care services or food distribution.  The City offered grants of up to $15,000 to assist with operational costs for small businesses with no more than 25 employees and less than $1,000,000 in gross revenues.  Businesses affected by COVID were given priority, with consideration given to the extent of assistance received from other sources and whether the business is owned and managed by a person of color or a woman. The City’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff Group met in October, November, and December. Staff from a variety of departments attended. Human Rights staff attended the Race in the Heart- land Conference. This virtual forum considered four subjects: Education, Housing, Criminal Justice, and the Workplace. 1 2 City staff from a variety of departments including Communications, the City Clerk’s Office, ICPD, Human Rights, Public Works, the City Attorney’s Office, Parks & Recreation, Transportation, and others participated in the 21-Day Equity Challenge sponsored by United Way of Central Iowa. This challenge involved engaging with a variety of re- sources—books, podcasts, videos, webinars, Ted talks, etc, to expand staff knowledge related to a broad range equity and inclusion topics. Staff of Parks & Recreation viewed webinars for ‘Uncovering Bias in the Interview Process,’ ‘Skills for Having Courageous Conversations about Racism in the Workplace,’ and ‘Understanding Systemic Racism.’ The Resource Management Division is beginning to transition some curbside outreach to visual graphics in place of or in addition to English words. This will help customers who do not read English understand our programs better. Ellsworth Carman, Library Director, presented “(Trans)gender-Affirming Library Practices: From Patron Records to Restrooms, and Beyond” at the Iowa Library Association’s Virtual Conference. ICPD staff attended the virtual “Inclusion Summit: Rising to the Equity Challenge” and “Access to Jus- tice: Racial & Ethnic Disparities.” Local leaders, along with representatives from the City Manager’s Office and Iowa City Police Depart- ment, attended the 8th Annual Iowa Summit on Justice and Disparities. The conference addressed minority disproportionality in the criminal justice system. The City of Iowa City and Iowa City Police Department were sponsors. Human Rights staff attended “7 Things to Consider when Engaging Hard to Reach Populations on Race, Equity, and Inclusion.” presented by ELGL.org. Human Rights staff participated in the Inclusive ICR-Quarterly 2020 Coalition Meeting. For the seventh consecutive year, the City earned a score of 100 or more on the annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the only nationwide rating system of LGBTQ inclusion in municipal law, policy and services. This year’s score is 112 (scores above 100 are possible due to bonus points). The MEI is administered by the Human Rights Campaign, the educational arm of the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. Human Rights staff participated in The League of Human Rights Agencies Annual Meeting. Human Rights, City Clerk’s Office, and Commu- nications staff attended “Building Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives with Intention,” presented by OneIowa. The Public Works Department created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee “door” featuring the Committee’s Mission Statement, an Inter- faith calendar, meeting minutes, information and upcoming events as a way to keep others informed about the Committee’s work. Transportation completed a preliminary ADA assessment and field review for all transit stops. The information gathered will assist in developing a plan to improve accessibility for all users, especially those with limited mobility. 3 Communications staff attended “Engaging through an Anti-Racist Lens: a Discussion With Sophie Mc- Ginley.” This webinar focused on anti-racist public engagement. Mayor Bruce Teague, together with Human Rights staff and the Iowa City Police Department, partici- pated in a conversation with LGBTQ-rights leaders from Ukraine, in a program called "Advocacy for the LGBTI Community," hosted by the Council for International Visitors to Iowa City. The City Bookclub discussed the book Know My Name: a Memoir, by Chanel Miller. The book outlines failures in the justice system for sexual assault survivors, examined by author Miller, whose attacker received a criminally short sentence. Climate Action and Outreach is updating the con- tact names and information for Community Based Organizations (CBOs), identifying the level of susceptibility to climate change impacts for stake- holders, and identifying the level of connectedness with City resources and decision-making process- es for the stakeholders. The Division will use this information to develop an outreach plan. A group of City staff is also building a layered Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping tool to be used in planning and evaluating new climate initiatives, further integrating equity analysis into each climate action. Public Works partnered with Communications to translate the document used when carding a proper- ty into multiple languages. Parks & Recreation staff attended the “Access to Justice 2020 and Beyond Conference,” hosted by Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa. The Johnson County Auditor’s Office provided tips for voting safely in Johnson County for the Senior Center. The Senior Center participated in the Voter Virtual Education Event through AARP Iowa with support from TRAIL of Johnson County. TRAIL of Johnson County also co-presented The Electoral College and Other Issues Related to Informed Voting. The Senior Center participated in the program: When Iowans Voted No: The 1916 Referendum on Women's Suffrage, offered by Anna Tunnicliff of the Iowa Women's Archives. Conversations 10 members of the ICPD participated in 16 com- munity presentations, including the following topics: De-escalation & Crisis Intervention, Personal Safety and Crime Prevention, Neighborhood Crime Reports, Alcohol Safety, and Family Violence and Child Abuse. ICPD staff met virtually with the following commu- nity partners: NAACP, FBI, US Attorney’s Office, Johnson County Attorney’s Office, Johnson County Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee, NAMI, Johnson County Elder Abuse Team, Johnson County Drug Task Force, CommUnity, Foundation 2, Shelter House, and Prevent Child Abuse-Johnson County. The Senior Center participated in a National Coming Out Day Film Discussion: A Secret Love. The Senior Center participated in a Book Discussion: An African American & Latinx History of the United States. Accountability 3 Justice 4 Iowa City Transit offered free rides on Election Day with the goal of removing transportation as a barrier and helping people get to the polls and exercise their right to vote. Rides were free to everyone all day, with no proof of voter registration or destination required.  The City Council voted unanimously in favor of a new city ordinance that explicitly prohibits the Iowa City Police Department from engaging in biased policing and racial profiling. The Fire Department created and implemented a “Bias-free Delivery of Services” policy. Finance eliminated the utility billing carding fee. This fee was formerly added when customers’ water was shut off, increasing the financial hardship of a shut-off and leading to a domino effect. The City issued a preliminary plan to accelerate community policing, focusing on the manner in which crisis calls will be handled, a commitment to unbiased policing, and an effort to use innovative solutions for common problems. Parks and Recreation staff launched a pilot program entitled ‘Root for Trees’ that strives to grow and expand the tree canopy coverage and tree diversity throughout the Iowa City community. City funding for this project subsidizes the cost of trees for Iowa City residents by 50% and includes an option for a 90% cost reduction for those that are income eligi- ble. This program runs October 15, 2020 through May 15, 2021 while supplies last and is in partner- ship with Iowa City Landscaping and Garden Center as well as the Earl May Garden Center. Residents can find out more about the program and apply for a voucher at icgov.org/root4trees. This program is especially needed due to losses from the derecho. Parks & Recreation partnered with United Action for Youth to host Neighborhood NESTS (Nurturing Every Student Together Safely) at the Mercer Park Aquatic Center three afternoons each week while school was in session. Neighborhood NESTS serve as a safe space with trusted adults, where children and young adults can gather for academic success and emotional wellbeing during this school year. The City joined several local government amicus briefs in lawsuits challenging the Health and Hu- man Services Rule that removes the Affordable Care Act’s Section 1557 anti-discrimination protections based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and sex stereotyping. The Rule not only rolls back these discrimination prohibitions, but also allows for for Beginners with Tony Sanchez, and Use it, don't lose it! Spanish Conversation with Jessica Ortiz. The Senior Center took part in Transgender Aware- ness Week: Readings & Discussion. The Senior Center took part in the Native American Heritage program series. The Senior Center conducts several ongoing virtual Spanish language-learning and conversation oppor- tunities including Beginning Spanish Mini-Inten- sive, Spanish Conversation Practice Group, Spanish Conversations 5 Outreach Human Rights placed an ad in the GO Guide for the month of October, November, and December. Human Rights placed ads in the online student newspapers of West High, “West Side Story,” and City High, “The Little Hawk,” for the months of No- vember and December. The City Manager’s Office sponsored the BIPOC Strategic Doing workshops. The City sponsored the virtual event, “The Johnson County Americans with Dis- abilities Act (ADA) Celebration.” Iowa City Public Library Board Member Hanna Schultz presented “Fostering Public Health-Public Library Collaborations” at the Iowa Library Asso- ciation Conference. The presentation focused on building partnerships between libraries and public health organizations. City staff from various Departments attended the South District Neighborhood Mural Ribbon Cutting Event. The mural is located at the entrance of Faith Academy, 1030 Cross Park Avenue.  Human Rights hosted a virtual program presented by the African American Museum of Iowa celebrat- ing the Tuskegee Airmen, Black heroes of the sky during World War II who included some of the most decorated fliers of the war and 13 Iowans. These brave soldiers fought for freedom abroad and equality at home. Human Rights hosted two virtual sessions on how to apply for the Social Justice & Racial Equity Grant. Justice discrimination against women based on their preg- nancy status or pregnancy history, weakens access to translation/interpretation services for patients with limited English proficiency, and limits the scope of the rule so that health insurers could no longer be covered at all by Section 1557.     The City joined  an amicus brief drafted by the Pub- lic Rights Project and the City of Seattle to support the lawsuit challenging President Trump’s executive order (EO) "Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping," which strips federal contractors of federal fund- ing if the contractor holds diversity trainings that mention "divisive concepts," including unconscious bias, white privilege, etc. The vagueness of the EO also raises concerns as to whether federal funding to local governments that use such trainings may be threatened.   The City joined an amicus brief of 54 local gov- ernments and local government advocacy groups, including the US Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, International City/County Man- agement Association, and the International Munici- pal Lawyers Association opposing a direct challenge to DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) by the State of Texas.    5 6 Outreach Grant funds are awarded to organizations pursuing projects intended to have lasting social justice and racial equity impact in the local area. Human Rights staff and the City Manager's Office attended the Iowa City Foreign Relations Council’s program, “The Truth About the South African Truth & Reconciliation Commission," presented by Mark Kende, Director of the Drake University Constitu- tional Law Center. The City celebrated Transgen- der Awareness Week with a proclamation read by Mayor Teague and by flying the trans- gender flag at City Hall. Transportation staff are de- veloping an outreach plan to educate the public on recommended route, transit stop, and service changes in early 2021. The plan will reach out to underserved populations and 1-page flyers translated into multiple languages will high- light transit system changes by route. 17 members of the ICPD attended 17 events in the fourth quarter of 2020. Events included commu- nity listening posts, Trunk or Treats, assembling STEM Kits, curbside car- oling, the South District ribbon cutting for their neighborhood mural, and delivering holiday gifts to families in lieu of the annual Holiday with Heroes shopping event that was cancelled due to the pan- demic. Kate Connell, Aquatics Program Supervisor, pre- sented “Equitable Aquatics: The 3 P’s on Inclusive Aquatics – Personnel, Programming and Policies” at the National Parks & Recreation Association’s fall virtual conference. Staff of Parks & Recreation participated in commit- tee meetings for Johnson County Community Part- nership for Protecting Children, Johnson County Disproportionate Minority Contact. Green Iowa AmeriCorps in the Iowa City Public Library held a book discussion: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. Ongoing series of weekly articles written by Ju- lie Sands, a UI Master of Social Work practicum student working with The Center during the 2020 academic year, presented various topics to increase competency within various cultures, including in- vestigating the structural effects of the White-Amer- ican culture. Transportation began developing a 2021 Diversity, Equity, and inclusion quarterly training schedule for Transportation Services staff. Communications staff attended “A 2020 Vision - It's Time to SEE Us” and “COVID-19 Best Practices: A Panel Discussion,” both hosted by OneIowa. Police Department and Communications staff at- tended “Me Too” training.   Communications staff attended Neogov Diversity and Cultural Competency training, as well as a podcast on the Black Lives Matter movement, a podcast on Climate, and "13th", a documentary on mass incarceration.  ICPD staff received on-line training on Diverse Communities/Bias Prevention, De-Escalation, Implicit Bias, Procedural Justice, and Preventing Harassment and Discrimination. Two ICPD officers completed training to become Fair and Impartial Policing instructors. ICPD staff attended virtual training, “Disability Lan- guage and Etiquette.” Parks & Recreation staff viewed a “Social Justice, Anti-Bias, Inequity and Diversity” webinar that included a discussion of what these terms mean in Early Childhood Education and how they can and should have a place in the classroom. Training Human Rights staff hosted Implicit Bias training for City Board and Commission members. Communi- cations staff attended. Human Rights staff attended “Inclusive Resources for LGBTQ Older Iowans,” presented by OneIowa. Human Rights cre- ated and posted a Fair Housing train- ing video accessible on YouTube at any time. The training includes a quiz for those who wish to obtain a certificate. Human Rights present- ed “Implicit Bias 201” training for area orga- nizations and business- es. Communications and Public Works staff attended. Human Rights and Communications staff attended “LGBTQ 101 and Workplace Best Practices,” presented by One Iowa. City Clerk’s Office and Parks & Recreation staff viewed the “White Privilege 101: Getting In On the Conversation” webinar. 7