HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda TRC 1 20 2022a
Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Agenda
Thursday, January 20, 2022 7PM
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Iowa City City Hall
410 E. Washington Street
In order to encourage input from the public, the Commission intends to offer the opportunity to
participate in the meeting remotely. However, this meeting is in-person, and those wishing to ensure
their ability to participate should attend the meeting in-person. If you instead wish to participate
remotely, you may attempt to do so by joining the below link. Please note that the meeting link and ID
for the first Thursday of each month is different than the link and ID for the third Thursday of each
month.
First Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cMIaaV6cTxGwOlWu2-hFHg
ID: 867 2424 8095
Third Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lcIl8llPSRq1u0xPlL-1Ew
ID: 895 3695 0485
If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you can call in by phone
by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting ID when prompted.
Meeting Agenda:
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
3. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
4. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 16, 2021
5. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS)
6. CORRESPONDENCE
7. PRESENTATION BY RON WAKABAYASHI ON REDRESS, REPARATIONS, TRUTHS AND
RECONCILIATIONS
8. MEETING PROTOCALS FOR 2022
A. ZOOM/IN-PERSON PROCEDURE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND COMMISSION MEMBER
COMMENT
B. PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING COMMISSION UPDATES
C. PROCEDURE FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS
9. UPDATE ON FACILITATOR(S) FOR THE TRC BY VICE CHAIR ALI
10. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN
DISCUSSION WITH ONE ANOTHER CONCERNING SAID ANNOUCEMENTS)
11. ADJOURNMENT
If you will need a disability-related accommodation to participate in this meeting please contact
the Equity Director, Stefanie Bowers, at 319-356-5022 or at stefanie-bowers@iowa-city.org. Early
requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your accessibility needs.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
JANUARY 20, 2022 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #3
• TRC AND HRC LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AGENDA ITEM #4
• DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 16, 2021
AGENDA ITEM #6
• CORRESPONDENCE FROM EDUARDO GONZALEZ
December 16, 2021
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall City Hall
Commissioners present: Amel Ali, Kevo Rivera, Daphney Daniel (via Zoom), Wangui Gathua, Eric
Harris, Clifton Johnson, Sikowis (Christine Nobiss via Zoom), Mohamed Traore.
Commissioners not present: Chastity Dillard.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Community members who spoke at the meeting: Nicholas Theisen, Noah P, and Annie Tucker.
Recommendations to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 7:01.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Ali read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of Minutes from the December 2, 2021: Ali moved, and Rivera seconded. Motion
passed 7-0. (Daphney not present).
Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: Noah P reported that the City refused to provide
shelter to people who are homeless even though City officials knew a storm was coming towards
Iowa City. Tucker congratulated the TRC on being granted an extension through June 2023.
Presentation by Eduardo Gonzalez: Gonzalez is happy to see that the TRC was granted an
extension through June 2023 and he now believes the challenge is to make the best possible use
of time by planning thoughtfully.
Gonzalez suggests that it is important to go through the TRC Resolution, and highlight the key
objectives contained in it and plan those objectives around the time the TRC has left to fulfill its
terms. Think of what the TRC can do with the extension that will honor the mission. It is
important for the TRC to use its resources wisely.
Like most TRC the main function is to listen as people give their statements. TRC are not where
Commissioners go to talk but a place where Commissioners come to listen to others and so a
space needs to be created that allows for respect, empathy, and safety.
Because the TRC is going after “structure” this explains why they have had such a difficult tenure.
That is the noise of the “structure” that doesn’t want to go quietly. An human rights lawyer would
probably call this violating economic, social, and cultural rights.
The TRC should focus on 3 or more big tasks and take the time to discuss and plan on how to
conduct those functions.
Theisen thanked Gonzalez for his time and expertise.
Gonzalez provided the cons of why Commissioners should not partake in live truth-telling. The
cons are that TRC are most valuable when the community talks and commissioners listen.
Sometimes a commissioner may ask a question, but the mere presence of the commission is
where the contribution is made.
When planning hearings, the TRC should intentionally have victims and survivors from different
eras, times, and genders. Gonzalez ended with wishing the TRC a year of justice and healing.
Telling Iowa City’s Story by Daniel Posthumus: Posthumus is a sophomore at William & Mary in
Virginia and lived most of his life in Japan. Posthumus has focused most of his research on
transitional justice, specifically truth commissions. Currently, Posthumus is working on a long
form journalism article in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on the Iowa City Truth Commission.
The resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement after the murder of George Floyd led to the
proliferation of truth commissions across the country but there is still no federal truth
commission. The Iowa City Truth Commission is currently the most contentious of the
commissions in the US. Truth Commissions are political bodies, and they reflect the political
environment.
So, what happens when activism comes in? Conflict with institutions? How do we maintain the
momentum of the Black Lives Matter Movement and generally, racial progress when it stops
being the lead on prime-time news?
Posthumus will be in Iowa City from February 18 – 20 to do some in-person interviews and some
groundwork. Posthumus would like to do pre-interviews prior to coming in town in February with
Commissioners.
Commission Announcements: Gathua corrected the record from the December 2, meeting date.
What was said was that a group of community members would plan to listen.
Staff Announcements: Staff highlighted an email sent out that encouraged any board or
commission member who is considering applying for a City grant to reach out to the City Attorney
to see if their organization/proposal would be subject to a funding cap based on their current
service to the City.
Adjourn: 7:51 PM
The entire meeting can be viewed at this link https://citychannel4.com/video.html by searching
for the meeting date.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2021
(Meeting Date)
NAME
TERM
EXP.
6/10 6/24 7/8 7/22 8/5 8/19 9/2 9/16 9/30 10/7 10/21 11/4 11/18 12/2 12/16
Ali 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Daniel 6/22 X X O X O X X X X O X X X X X
Dillard 6/22 O X X X X X X X X X X X X X O
Gathua 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Johnson 6/22 X X X X X X X X X O X X X X X
Harris 6/22 X X X X X X O X X X X X X X X
Nobiss 6/22 X X X O X X X O X X X X O X X
Rivera 6/22 X X X X X O X X X O X X X X X
Traore 6/22 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
KEY: X = Present
O = Absent
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE INTENSIVE COURSE
The Transitional Justice Intensive Course will take place from March 20 2022 until April 17 2022.
It will enroll a maximum of 30 participants, of which XXXX will be selected by the Truth
Telling Project among its members and partners, and the remaining XXXX will be jointly
selected by the parties among members of truth telling initiatives across the country,
The Transitional Justice Intensive Course will be coordinated academically by the parties in direct
coordination between the Mary Hoch Foundation’s Director for Truth Seeking, Eduardo
Gonzalez, and the Truth Telling Project’s Co-Executive Director David Ragland PhD.
The Transitional Justice Intensive Course will be appropriately publicized by both parties in order
to ensure applications by members of truth telling initiatives across the country.
The costs for the Transitional Justice Course will be funded through financial support by the Truth
Telling Project and fees paid by the selected participants. The expenses of the course will
cover fees for expert presenters.
The academic contents of the course are as follows.
Objectives
Main objective:
Leaders of truth and transformation initiatives integrate in their practice the lessons learned in global
and US-based transitional justice processes.
Specific objectives:
Leaders of truth and transformation initiatives will:
A) Understand lessons learned from transitional justice processes globally.
B) Build links of trust and mutual exchange of knowledge among themselves.
C) Integrate ideas and good practices into their initiatives
As a pilot experience, the course has the additional internal goal for HOPE, to assess educational
frameworks, consolidate partnerships and improve the delivery of the course in a future, in-presence
version.
Modules
The course has ten 90-minute modules, delivered remotely in pairs on a weekly basis.
Each module has a facilitator and one or two expert presenters, all of whom have practical experience
and/or have conducted extensive research on transitional justice and similar conceptual and action
frameworks.
Discussants will engage in direct dialogue and will propose ideas and lessons learned to the
participants, using the learning devices they deem appropriate, including the dialogical examination of
a subject, the revision of written sources, the empathetic treatment of emotions and testimony, etc.
The modules include the following topics:
MARCH 20
1. Why dealing with the past? The perspectives of rights and cultural transformation. The
module examines two different motivations to treat past abuse in a society: (a) a legal
obligation to restore rights that have been violated, and (b) the societal need to restore links
of trust between communities, as well as between citizens and the state.
Proposed discussants: Eduardo González (MHF)
Proposed facilitator: Dave Ragland (TTP)
2. Key International experiences of dealing with the past. Lessons learned. What have we
learned from global experiences in transitional justice? Are there "models" that should be
replicated ot at least best practices and lessons learned? What can we say about the success or
failure of transitional justice experiences?
Proposed discussants: Graeme Simpson (Interpeace), Kelli Zvogbo (College of William and
Mary)
Proposed facilitator: Eduardo González (MHF)
MARCH 27
3. So What Are Truth commissions? Definition, types and characteristics of truth
commissions. What models or past experiences are useful? What are the key questions to
formulate when considering launching a truth commission?
Proposed discussants: Rev. Nelson and Joyce Johnson (Greensboro Beloved Community)
Proposed facilitator: Lisa Laplante (New England School of Law)
4. The legal mandates of truth commissions. The center of a truth initiative is its foundational
mandate: the goals, functions, powers and composition of the commission need to be
determined with clarity, for a TC to be effective. What are key considerations to keep in mind?
Proposed discussants: Carl Smallwood (Ohio State University)
Proposed facilitator: Pat Clarke (Fund for Nonviolence)
APRIL 3
5. Reparations processes. Definition, types and characteristics of reparations processes. Are
there models of reparation programs that can teach us what to do in the US? How can we
understand reparation for historical injustice versus reparations for relatively recent violations?
Proposed discussants: Ruben Carranza (ICTJ)
Proposed facilitator: Dave Ragland (TTP)
6. Transitional Justice and Racial Justice. How could transitional justice be relevant to deal
with the legacies of systemic and historical racism. In what way this challenge modifies the
transitional justice perspective. Examples
Proposed discussants: Kelli Zvogbo (College of William and Mary),
Proposed facilitator: Jodie Geddes (Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth-RJOY)
APRIL 10
7. The role of memorialization, the arts and culture in truth and transformation.
Transitional justice processes should go beyond activities and processes led by the state. What
examples do we have of societal intiative, particularly in the realm of culture and
communications, rebuilding of community and values?
Proposed discussants: Arnaud Kurze (New York University), Sabra Williams (Creative Acts)
Proposed facilitator: Louis Bickford (Memria)
8. The gender perspective in truth and transformation. Truth seeking and truth telling are
incomplete without the voices, the experiences and the rights of women. What have we learned
about the inclusion and leadership of women in truth commissions? What lessons are
applicable today in the US?
Proposed discussants: Kelli Muddell (ICTJ), Farah Tanis (Black Women’s Blueprint)
Proposed facilitator: Jodie Geddes (RJOY)
APRIL 17
9. Indigenous peoples in truth and transformation. Truth commissions used to be national
initiatives that may include attention to indigenous issues. Today, indigenous peoples claim
leadership about truth and reconciliation processes focused on their experiences. How are
these processes different from the classic TCs? What can we expect for future indigenous truth
processes in the US?
Proposed discussants: Christine McCleave (Native American Boarding Schools Healing
Coalition), Esther Anne (Wabanaki REACH)
Proposed facilitator: Eduardo González (MHF)
10. Integral support for trauma healing to participants in truth and transformation. Victims
and survivors need a safe environment to process their memories and tell their stories,
providing them with an opportunity to make storytelling part of a therapeutic and healing
process. How can truth commissions create such an environment?
Proposed discussants: Colette Rausch (MHCR)
Proposed facilitator: Dave Ragland (MHCR)
Proposed additional materials
The discussants will propose, as appropriate, reading materials for those participants wishing to
deepen their examination of the topics.
A general list to be provided will include:
Eduardo Gonzalez, Kelebogile Zvogbo. “As America Seeks Racial Justice, It Can Learn From
Abroad.” Foreign Policy. March, 2021
Colleen Murphy. “To Tell the Truth. How Communities Around the World Are Addressing and
Redressing Societal Wrongs”. Sojourners Magazine. September-October 2021
Eduardo Gonzalez, Howard Varney. “Truth-Seeking. Elements of Creating an Effective truth
Commission”. ICTJ. 2013
David Ragland. “Beyond Compensation for Reparations”. Yes! Magazine. December 2019
Fabian Salvioli, UN Special Rapporteur on Transitional Justice. “Report on Apologies for Gross
Human Rights Violations.” UN General Assembly, July 2019
Matthew Karp. “History as End. 1619, 1776, and the Politics of the Past”. Harper’s Magazine. July
2021.
Vasuki Nesiah. “Truth Commissions and Gender. Principles, Policies and Procedures.” ICTJ, 2006
Maine-Wabanaki Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission. “Beyond the Mandate.
Continuing the Conversation” June, 2015
Colette Rausch. “Why Peacebuilders Need the Help of Neuroscience”. Neuroscience. May 2021
In addition, and as appropriate, the course may screen films on transitional justice or encourage
individual viewing. They could be specific dates to provide space between the heavy theoretical
discussion.
The following are possible proposed screenings. If agreed on with time, we could aim at getting with
us some of the directors. Yates, Mazo and Carracedo are in principle accessible.
Lee Hirsch “Amandla! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony” 2002. On South Africa: the contribution
of the performing arts to the struggle against Apartheid
Patricio Guzmán “Nostalgia For The Light” 2010. On Chile: the search for the missing, decades after
the dictatorship: recovering the identity of relatives and ancestors as a form of symbolic healing.
Pamela Yates. “Granito. How to Nail a Dictator” 2011. On Guatemala: the genocide of the Maya
peoples, and the long struggle of women to bring dictators to justice.
Adam Mazo. “Dawnland” 2018. On Maine, USA: the cultural genocide of the Wabanaki peoples
through the child welfare system, and the struggle of survivors to restore truth and identity.
Almudena Carracedo “The Silence of Others” 2018. On Spain: the consequences of Franco’s long
Fascist dictatorship: torture, disappearances, kidnapping of babies, and the role of international justice.