HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-22-2022 Human Rights CommissionHuman Rights Commission
February 22, 2022
Formal Meeting — 5:30PM
Emma J. Harvat Hall, Iowa City City Hall
Agenda:
1. Call the meeting to order and roll call
2. Reading of Land Acknowledgment
3. Approval of the January 25, 2022, meeting minutes
4. Public Comment of Items not on the agenda. (Commentators shall address the Commission for
no more than 5 minutes. Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with the public
concerning said items)
5. Youth Awards (May 11, 2022, New Location Hilton Garden Inn 6PM)
6. Select a month to review Current Commission Subcommittees & 2020 Strategic Plan
7. International Transgender Day of Visibility Proclamation (March 31, 2022)
8. Night of a 1000 Dinners Sponsorship (March 8, 2022, 6PM)
9. Social Justice & Racial Equity Grant Review, Rankings, & Recommendation FY22
a. Select a month to go over suggested grant changes for FY23
10. Staff/Commission Announcements (Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with one
another concerning said announcements)
11. Adjournment
If you will need disability -related accommodations to participate in this meeting please contact Human
Rights Coordinator, Stefanie Bowers, at 319-356-5022 or at stebgy�s. g. Early
:y
requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
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CITY OF IOWA CITY
410 East Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240- 1826
(3 19) 3 5 6-SOOO
(3 19) 356-5009 FAX
www. icgov,org
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 22,2022, MEETING PACKET CONTENTS
AGENDA ITEM #2
9 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
AGENDA ITEM #3
* DRAFT MINUTES FROM JANUARY 25,2022
AGENDA ITEM #9
• TENATIVE RANKINGS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE & RACIAL EQUITY
GRANTS FY22
Native American Land Acknowledgement
Prepared for the City of Iowa City's Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human
Rights Commission
PURPOSE
Iowa City owes its existence to the many Indigenous Peoples who were the original stewards of this land
and who were subjected to manipulation and violence by non-native settlers, invaders, and governments
in order to make this moment possible. Acknowledgement of this truth is central to our work toward
reconciliation across all barriers of difference and injustice. Starting with a Native American Land
Acknowledgement, this Commission will bear witness to the legacies of violent displacement, migration,
and settlement that have marginalized those who were the first inhabitants of this land. We must also
address the mistreatment and exclusion that Native Americans continue to face today. The Ad Hoc Truth
and Reconciliation Commission and the Human Rights Commission encourage the community and City of
Iowa City to join us in these efforts through the use of a Native American Land Acknowledgement.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
To be read at all public meetings and events:
"We meet today in the community of Iowa City, which now occupies the homelands of
Native American Nations to whom we owe our commitment and dedication. The area of
Iowa City was within the homelands of the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk, and because
history is complex and time goes far back beyond memory, we also acknowledge the
ancient connections of many other Indigenous Peoples here. The history of broken
treaties and forced removal that dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their homelands
was and is an act of colonization and genocide that we can not erase. We implore the
Iowa City community to commit to understanding and addressing these injustices as we
work toward equity, restoration, and reparations."
LEARN MORE
Native Governance Center Guide to Indi, e.n LJ.swLand Acl(nowlement
VJS Ue arlrr7ent of Arts ar�d Culture: Honor Native i_and virtual Resources and Guide
Mes..isto kwaki Nation- Hr
Special thanks to the Univ rsrt _o lovua Native Americon Council, for their work and guidance, as well as
members of the public, for their input.
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
January 25, 2022
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Commissioners present: Mark Pries, Siri Bruhn (via Zoom), Jason Glass, Roger Lusala, Ashley Lindley,
Bijou Maliabo (via Zoom), Sylvia Jons, Ali Ahmed.
Commissioners not present: Tony Siva nthaphanith.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers, Daisy Torres.
Recommendation to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 5:33 PM.
Land Acknowledgement: Glass read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of the minutes from the November 23, 2021 meeting: Pries moved; the motion was
seconded by Lusala. Motion passed 6-0.
Public comment of items not on the agenda: None.
Introduction of new commission members: Jons and Ahmed appointments began January 1, of this year.
They both will serve a three-year term. Ahmed previously served on the Human Rights Commission.
Elections for 2022: Pries nominated Glass to serve as Chair of the Commission for 2022, glass accepted
the nomination. Motion by Pries, seconded by Lusala motion passed 6-0. Lusala nominated Lindley to
serve as Vice Chair of the Commission for 2022, Lindley accepted the nomination. Motion by Lusala,
seconded by Pries. Motion passed 6-0.
Introductions of newly hired Iowa City Police Officers: Newly hired Police Officers Halley Brus, Todd
Gusta, Alec Fjelstul, and Justin VanEst were introduced to the Commission.
Review of Current Commission Subcommittees & Strategic Plan: The Commission will work on strategic
planning at their March or April meeting. The planning sessions will include a discussion of
subcommittees and areas of focus. Staff will work with the Commission to hire a facilitator who can assist
the Commission on their strategic plan.
Youth Awards: The Youth Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 11 at The Englert Theatre.
Mayor Teague has agreed to provide remarks at the event. Nomination forms will go out in mid -February.
Funding Request: Night of a 1000 Dinners: Night of a 1000 Dinners will be held virtually on Tuesday,
March 8. The event is a community celebration of International Women's Day and is sponsored by the
Johnson County United Nations Association. Three local women led organization (Inside Out Reentry
Community, IC Compassion, Open Heartland) will be recognized and proceeds will be donated to those
organizations plus the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Lusala moved to provide $500.00 in
reimbursement to offset the cost of Eventbrite ticket tax for the event, Lindley seconded. Motion passed
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Black History Proclamation: Lusala will accept the proclamation at the City Council meeting of February 1
on behalf of the Commission.
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grants: The Commission received 20 submissions for the grant for FY22.
Commissioners Maliabo and Ahmed are not participating in the grant recommendation this year because
they both serve on the Center for Worker Justice Board of Directors (CWJ) who submitted an application
for the grant funding. The scoring will be due by February 15.
Commissioners discussed many possible changes for the grant in FY23 including requiring that
organizations participate in a mandatory informational session, requiring that grantees participate in an
orientation session prior to receiving funding, having grantees send reports to the Commission on
progress more frequently, creating a policy as it relates to letters of recommendation, and having
grantees present a "showcase" at the end of the grant cycle.
Reports of Commissioners: Pries and Jon both participated in the Humanize My Hoodie Ally Workshop
(Virtual) sponsored by Humanize My Hoodie. Pries also is participating in the Southeastern Iowa Anti -
Racism Network for a 6-week study on the 1619 Project.
Staff Reports: Torres mentioned an upcoming challenge against Johnson County to benefit
CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank.
Adjourned: 6:50 PM.
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