HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC Packet 2 15 24
Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Meeting
Thursday, February 15, 2024
7:00 Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall
410 E. Washington Street
AGENDA:
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM JANUARY 25 AND FEBRUARY 1
4. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (COMMISSIONERS
SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING
SAID ITEMS.) 5 MINUTE MAXIMUM FOR EACH SPEAKER.
Only in-person comments will be allowed for Public Comment. Public comment for
specific agenda items, which must be directly related to that agenda item, may be made
in-person or remotely.
5. CORRESPONDENCE
6. DISCUSSION ON RACIAL PREFERENCES WITH CITY ATTORNEY
7. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE BY DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
8. UPDATE ON NATIVE PARTNERS HEALING CIRCLES
9. UPDATE ON FACT-FINDING
10. CONCEPT NOTE
11. UPDATES ON TRUTH-TELLING
12. OTHER UPDATES FOR PHASE 2
13. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS
14. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF STAFF
15. ADJOURNMENT
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 is different than the meeting link and ID for
the third Thursday.
First Thursday Meetings
ID: 867 2424 8095
Third Thursday Meetings
ID: 895 3695 0485
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all City of Iowa City-sponsored
events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in
order to participate in these events, please contact the Office of Equity and Human
Rights at 319-356-5022 or humanrights@iowa-city.org.
Agenda Item #2
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January 25, 2024
Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Commissioners present: Marie Krebs, Clif Johnson, Chad Simmons, Wangui Gathua, Chastity
Dillard.
Commissioners on Zoom: Sikowis Nobiss, Lauren Merritt.
Commissioners not present: Louis Tassinary.
Staff present: Redmond Jones, Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 7:13 PM.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Dillard read the Land Acknowledgement.
Approval of minutes from the January 4 meeting: Dillard moved, and Krebs seconded. The
motion passed 7-0.
Public comment of items not on the agenda: No.
Conflict in Gaza:
Resolution 2411 passed by Iowa City City Council on Jan. 3 was reviewed and a vote was taken
for the commission to endorse the resolution it. Nobiss moved, the motion was seconded by
Gathua. Motion passed 6-0-1. Simmons abstained.
Native Partners Healing Circle Training and Events:
The event will be referred to as an experience rather than a training, and no participants’ faces will
be photographed during the event unless a media release form is signed. It is agreed, updates from
the event will be discussed at the next commission meeting following the event.
Next Steps for Phase 2:
The commission was presented with community agreements from Think Peace that they could use
for truth telling events, at meetings, and at community events. The agreements centered around
listening, speaking, learning, language, trust and care, and confidentiality.
Road-Map Agenda
The layout of the roadmap is broken down with an explanation of how to navigate the agenda and
the formatting used. Scheduling was discussed with a focus on culminating events. Tentative dates
for upcoming TRC events for 2024 was discussed along with the itineraries.
Agenda Item #3
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Protocol on traumatic inform treatment for truth tellers was established, as well as protocol on
public hearings and public activities of the commission.
The commission will move its February 1 meeting time to 5:30 pm and the meet at the Iowa City
Senior Center. The meeting will focus on fact finding and be presented by Kearns and West.
The commission then spent time discussing its future including seeking additional funding that will
assist them in action and planning.
The meeting ended at 9:42 due to lack of quorum.
To view the recording or listen to the audio of this meeting, visit this link.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2024
(Meeting Date)
NAME TERM EXP. 1/4 1/25 2/1 2/15 3/7 3/21 4/4 4/18 5/2 5/16 6/6 6/20 7/18
Dillard 12/31/24 Z P
Gathua 12/31/24 P P
Vacant 12/31/24 - -
Johnson 12/31/24 A P
Krebs 12/31/24 P P
Merritt 12/31/24 P Z
Nobiss 12/31/24 Z Z
Simmons 12/31/24 P P
Tassinary 12/31/24 P A
P = Present in person
A = Absent Z = Zoom
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February 1, 2024 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes
Assembly Center, Iowa City Senior Center, City Hall
Commissioners present: Lauren Merritt, Marie Krebs, Louis Tassinary, Chad Simmons, Wangui Gathua, Cliff Johnson, Chastity Dillard.
Commissioners on Zoom: Sikowis Nobiss.
Staff present: Redmond Jones, Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 6:03 PM.
Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Gathua read the Land Acknowledgement.
Public comment of items not on the agenda:
Kevin Perez, owner of Short’s Burgers requests the support of the commission to help preserve the building his business operates out of at 1820 S Clinton St. Iowa City. Focusing on the building’s history of ownership and qualifications for historical preservation under the City’s standards.
Reports on Native Partners Healing Circle held on January 26, 27, and 28:
The event had 8 people in attendance both Friday and Saturday and 9 people in attendance on Sunday. A presentation recapped the events including a survey pertaining to the event recapping
the participants’ experience, age, ethnicity, and gender identity.
Included in the presentation was an announcement of upcoming talking circles. It is encouraged for members to share the event and attend themselves. Feedback from participants present in the meeting shared their experience and critiques on budget and intention of the event with
recommendations for future events.
Legislative Update by Deputy City Manager:
To be mindful of the time this item will be placed on a future agenda.
Updates for Phase 2:
First Round Fact-Finding Outcomes and Trajectory:
Larry Schooler of Kearns and West presented the fact-finding’s preliminary findings. The
presentation started with important things to consider when reviewing the findings and reviews the key questions to establish when beginning the work of fact-finding. Possible topics have been revisited and the focus will be on public safety.
Agenda Item #3
2
The data presented went over the statistics of Iowa City police department.
•Police Department Size
•Police Department Funding
•Arrests By Race
•Police Accountability
•Approach To Law Enforcement
•Stops & Outcomes
•Police Violence
Questions were taken from the commission to clarify the data and then the discussion broadened to include what additional data will be needed-including personal accounts. This leads into additional
discussions about upcoming events, other organizations the TRC could work with to conduct
investigations including the NAACP, funding needs, marketing efforts, and future fact findings.
Announcement of Staff: None.
Announcement of Commissioners: Johnson apologized for having to leave the last meeting early
and noted he stayed as long as he could. Johnson also reported that he will be fighting in Vegas later this month representing Iowa City. Gathua will be attending the inaugural Black History Ball this coming Saturday.
The meeting adjourned at 9:04 PM. To view the recording or listen to the audio of this meeting,
visit this link.
AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2024
(Meeting Date)
NAME TERM EXP. 1/4 1/25 2/1 2/15 3/7 3/21 4/4 4/18 5/2 5/16 6/6 6/20 7/18
Dillard 12/31/24 Z P P
Gathua 12/31/24 P P P
Vacant 12/31/24 - - -
Johnson 12/31/24 A P P
Krebs 12/31/24 P P P
Merritt 12/31/24 P Z P
Nobiss 12/31/24 Z Z Z
Simmons 12/31/24 P P P
Tassinary 12/31/24 P A P
P = Present in person
A = Absent Z = Zoom
Dear Commissioners and community members,
This is my notice of resignation from the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission due to my
diminished capacity to devote the time necessary to complete these tasks that have been set forth.
I have recently started the master’s program for social work at the University of Iowa. That has
proven to be more work than I imagined. I also find it difficult to focus on truth and reconciliation as
our leaders in Iowa grow more fascist by the day. Quite literally. They are currently churning out
legislation in the industrialized style of mass production and I cannot get fully into one fight before
there are 3 more. It has been a valuable learning experience working amongst you all. I think this
commission is made up of amazing and powerful people. I hope to work with you as a community
member and look forward to watching you all make history.
Sincerely,
Marie Krebs
Agenda Item #5
Agenda Item #9
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Community Encounters for Truth and Reconciliation
Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
1.Definition and linkage to the legal mandate
The TRC will organize three Community Encounters for Truth and Reconciliation during 2024.
The Encounters are opportunities for a necessary and transformational dialogue on racial
injustice in our midst: their impact will be a direct reflection on accurate information, a
willingness to share experiences and the creation of a healing environment.
Each Community Encounter will be a set of sessions of the TRC covering each of the
components of its TRC work in an integrated manner (Resolution 20-228 art 11):
(a)Fact-finding, focused on the evidence we have about the multiple manifestations of
racial injustice in our community;
(b)Truth-seeking, to initiate constructive dialogue about community stories and
experiences about racial injustice;
(c)Reconciliation, to co-create a healing environment that honors personal and collective
experiences, addresses pain and trauma, and facilitates next steps of reparative systems
change and transformation.
From a thematic perspective, we have prioritized three aspects in which we believe racial
injustice manifests itself in our community: law enforcement and safety, economic development,
and education (Res 20-228, art 11C). We acknowledge that many other facets of historical and
structural injustice exist, including, for example, in the areas of housing and health care. To
build a strong foundation for future work, we will start with the three aspects mentioned.
This document is primarily focused on the first of these Encounters, to be held in several
sessions, from March 14 to 21, 2024.
The fact-finding component of this exercise will include a presentation by Kearns and West
(currently scheduled for Thursday, March 14th) of the complete data set collected on public
safety and criminal justice. It will be followed by a facilitated exercise for the TRC on Monday,
March 18th, at which time TRC Commissioners will work with facilitators on consensus
(preliminary) conclusions regarding the data presented. Specifically, the TRC will be asked to
consider the extent to which the data reveal racial injustice in the Iowa City community and how
to verify those hypotheses at truth-telling sessions.
The truth-telling and dialogue component, facilitated by Think Peace, will consist of testimonial
and dialogical sessions on March 20th and 21st (tbc1) between members of the community
sharing their experiences, positive and negative, regarding public safety and criminal justice.
Specifically, participants will have an opportunity to indicate how racial injustice impacts
concrete communities and individuals, and to reflect on what is needed to transform these
conditions.
1 to be confirmed
Agenda Item #10
2
The Native Partners and Healing Partners are responsible for processes related to reconciliation.
Reconciliation is addressed in the third charge of the TRC in City Council Resolution 20-228,
article 11. In addition to those charges, the TRC (and Native Partners/Healing Partners) are
responsible for providing spaces and processes which create healing environments that honor
the personal and collective experiences, and addresses the pain and trauma of the original
experience, as well as any additional trauma that may emerge from sharing stories. The Native
Partners will facilitate a healing circle to be conducted after each of the truth-telling sessions.
2.Some Key Definitions on Reconciliation
Reconciliation is probably the most important concept in the work of the TRC. It figures prominently in its legal mandate and is the underlying motivation for the entire exercise. At the same time, it is an extremely ambitious objective, so we need to be constantly reminded of how it is defined in the founding Resolution and in our ongoing work.
The following are a few key reflections:
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. (From City Council Resolutions 20-228, Article 11.)
Reconciliation involves a coming to agreement about truth. Consequently, engaging
in TRC-likened truth-telling processes in the U.S. supports opportunities for the oppressed and
the oppressors to come to agreement about the “original sins” and the perpetual harms of those
sins, i.e., theft of life, liberty and land, Jim Crow, redlining, gentrification, police violence and
other forms of structural racism. Along those same lines, truth-telling processes involve a
coming to agreement about ways to support healing and repair related to the consequences of
those harms. (From “Ten Lessons We Learned About Truth and Reconciliation” by The Truth
Telling Project, [David Ragland, Melinda Salazar, Imani Michelle Scott, Eduardo Gonzalez and
Arthur Romano], July 30, 2020.)
Healing Circles: The Native Partners will be offering Healing Circles as the reconciliation
process/space to the commission and community. Healing Circles provide a process and create
a space where harm can be shared, heard by others, and the community can move toward
coming to agreement about truth. Healing Circles also provide an opportunity to deal with, and
heal from, trauma and pain for those harmed and those hearing/Witnessing the expression of
harm. Healing or talking circles can also provide a process for coming to agreement about ways
to support healing and repair related to the consequences of those harms. Circles can also be a
process for learning and for generating recommendations for the City Council. Circles are a
replicable model for all of these conversations.
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Circles and Trauma and Pain: Speaking truth or hearing it can trigger trauma and pain in
the speakers and listeners. The Native Partners provide Healing Circles to provide a safer space
for people to speak their truths and/or to sit in circles as a healing and restorative process.
People exiting community Healing Circles held in Iowa City reported they felt calmer and more
connected to themselves and others, and not judged.
Circles can intervene on effects of trauma. Circles, and the use of a talking piece, can
intervene on two possible outcomes of trauma. One possible outcome of trauma is
disempowerment: a person feels disempowered because they were not able to prevent the trauma. In a healing circle or talking circle using a talking stick, the talking stick is passed
around the circle and when it reaches each person, they have the choice of speaking – saying
whatever they decide to share or not share – or passing, not speaking at all. In that moment, a
person has full choice, they are empowered to do what they choose. This intervenes on their
(potential) disempowerment due to trauma.
Another possible outcome of trauma is feeling disconnected: from the person/people that
harmed you, potentially somewhat disconnected from life in general, and potentially
disconnected from parts of yourself. In a circle, when the talking piece is passed, and others
speak, it is possible to feel connected to a speaker, whether you know them or not. In this way, a
talking piece in a circle can intervene on trauma-induced disconnection.
Native Partner T Medina has shared the following to convey more specifically how Healing
Circles work:
When I was last in Iowa City, and I conducted a Talking Circle on "Fatherhood/Motherhood Is
Sacred", that was the "topic" of The Circle. As the "Facilitator" I talked about how
fatherhood/motherhood is sacred. A “way of life” means walking that way of life.
There were many who shed tears, the start of healing their spirit and heart. Many relatives carry
feelings and emotions inside that come out in a good way, where the Circle is a place of equality
and safety. All about Respect and Compassion for the relatives. When we ended the Circle,
instead of hand shakes there were big hugs all around. Powerful.
During any "Circle," in order to learn something and become Teachable, you have to Listen, not
just with your ears, but with your eyes, your heart, and your spirit, observing the body language
of those in the Circle. The tears that come out are cleansing their Spirit and Soul of the person.
Conflict in Circle: If the TRC calls for a Circle, there will be a "reason why" they would want a
Circle, there could be conflict, disagreements, lack of communication or lack of respect, talking
behind someone's back ("backstabbing").
The facilitator would Speak first and express themselves, then the relatives in the Circle would
have time to express themselves. I feel it is important to have a Talking Stick, only one is
needed. One of the ground rules of the Circle is whoever has the Talking Stick has the floor. No
one speaks until after they have listened, and if there is a response or a clarification, that person
would ask for the Talking Stick.
When you end the Circle, the Talking Stick would go around one more time so that everyone in
the Circle would have the opportunity to Express themselves and/or give thanks. You could end
it with everyone going around and shaking hands, hugging, etc.
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3.Objectives
The Encounters seek to “...stimulate difficult conversations, reach and engage a full cross-
section of the community including those in the community not inclined or resistant to
engagement” (Resolution 20-228, 7). To do so, they will combine different forms of knowledge
and wisdom, namely evidence, testimony, and ritual.
Specifically, the Encounters will (see Resolution 20-228, article 11):
(a)Present evidence related to law enforcement and safety, economic development and
education to exchange informed opinion, assess our challenges, and envision
transformation.
(b)Hear testimony from community Truth Tellers, listening to actual individual experiences
from our neighbors, and inviting an exchange of views between our communities and
decision makers.
(c)Provide a safe and healing space for the community to present their experiences and
opinions in good faith, with acceptance and recognition.
Each of the Encounters will be faithfully recorded and synthesized in order to provide materials
for the TRC report to the City Council at the end of our tenure. Also, the testimonies and
dialogues received will be carefully organized to be the first stone of a city repository of
testimony. What we will hear and reflect on during these sessions will help the Commissioners
to formulate recommendations to the City on how to take effective, transformational action
against injustice (Resolution 20-228, art 14). Also, the truth-telling events will have all the
guarantees necessary for persons or institutions who feel adversely mentioned to engage in
constructive dialogue.
The goal of the first fact-finding portion of the culminating event on March 14th will be to
present data in full to allow for Commissioners to understand it fully, ask clarifying questions,
and perhaps offer some thoughts about how the data should be presented in a final report. For
the facilitated session on the 18th, the goal will be to reach consensus on what the data reveal
related to racial injustice in Iowa City, as well as to agree on prompts to offer to attendees at
truth-telling events as they offer testimony on this topic.
The Native Partners/Healing Partners will provide Healing Circles for Truth Tellers and their
support people after the truth-telling. It will be a space for hearing them, and an opportunity for
them to continue their healing from the traumas of their experiences and from any potential
retraumatization in telling about them.
4.Components - What will the event look like? How will its activities relate
to the different parts of the mandate? How will those parts be integratedand feed into each other?
On March 18th, Commissioners will work with facilitators to formulate preliminary conclusions
about the evidence presented to them and agree on questions to offer to participants at truth-
telling events that they can choose to use for prompts. The idea is for TRC Commissioners to use
data shared during fact-finding sessions as a hypothesis for truth related to this topic, which can
be bolstered by, and/or contradicted by, testimony during truth-telling.
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On March 20th, there will be truth-telling around the topic of law enforcement and safety.
During the truth-telling event (TT), there could be a circle of 4-6 people who have been
previously invited to share their views and experiences, followed by a discussion amongst the
group. For example, the composition of these 4-6 people could include:
●1-3 community member(s) who may have been either mistreated by police or
experienced a situation that was escalated instead of de-escalated or where there was an
absence of restorative processes in the wake of harm;●1 Councilmember who is active on the topic of law enforcement and public safety;
●1 City government official who can speak to the topic; and,
●1 retired or active law enforcement member.
These individuals would have around 10 minutes to share one experience meaningfully, gently
guided by prompting questions (e.g., “What have been any positive and/or negative experiences
with law enforcement?”). These questions can be asked by either TRC Commissioners or David
Ragland and Melinda Salazar from Think Peace, or a combination of both.
At the conclusion of individual sharing, there could be a facilitated dialogue for 30 minutes to
promote – among the group members and TRC members – discussion, clarification, or possible
solutions to mitigate harm in the future. During the dialogue, David Ragland and Melinda
Salazar will support the conversation by encouraging constructive engagement around topics
that emerge during the initial truth-telling. Some example questions could include, “What is
your perspective as a City Councilmember about how these could be improved?” or “What do
you think law enforcement would be receptive to in preventing this harm from happening
again?”. The TRC Commissioners are welcome to lead, support, or Witness this and any part of
the process as Think Peace is in attendance to guide.
As described above, a Healing Circle will be offered after the truth-telling event to those who
speak at the truth-telling event, and their support people. It will be a space where they can share
any aspect of the original experience(s) shared as well as what has been activated by the sharing
and anything else. There will be multiple rounds using a talking piece, providing opportunities
for those in the circle to continue to move toward healing. It is possible that the Native Partners
will invite others to the Circle.
5.Participants - Who will participate (TRC, City officials, general public,
Truth Tellers and experts, other guests, etc)? What role will each participanthave? How will meeting rules apply?
The fact-finding portion of the event is designed for TRC Commissioners.
Regarding the Truth Telling event, the participants will include TRC Commissioners, “Truth
Tellers,” and “Witnesses.” Details which outline how Truth Tellers and Witnesses are defined
can be found in the “Trauma-informed Truth-Telling & Witnessing Protocol” delivered during
the January 4, 2024 TRC meeting as part of Think Peace’s contract. The document is attached to
this Concept Note as an Addendum.
●TRC Commissioners: The role of TRC Commissioners is found on page 6 in the
“Trauma-informed Truth-Telling & Witnessing Protocol” presented at the January 4,
2024 TRC Meeting.
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●Truth Tellers (e.g., those selected to share their truth and will likely comprise of the
general public, City officials, and law enforcement): The background of Truth Tellers is
found on page 5, selection of Truth Tellers is covered on page 6, discussion around
preparing Truth Tellers is found on page 7, along with notes on conducting testimony
and sample questions for preparatory meetings are found on page 8.
●Witnesses: The role of Witnesses and global and US-specific samples, found on pages
8-11, are provided to demonstrate visually how various Truth Telling events have been
structured in the past. It’s important to note that TRC Commissioners will also serve as
Witnesses.
David Ragland and Melinda Salazar have extensive experiences with Truth Telling and will be in
person to provide facilitated guidance to the degree desired by the Commission. Their role could
be asking all of the supportive questions during the individual sharing component AND guiding
all of the facilitated dialogue for the group discussion. Or, it could mean they play a smaller,
supportive role whereby the Commissioners lead with questions during the individual sharing
and facilitated group conversation.
The Native Partners will provide the Healing Circle for the Truth Tellers and their support
people in a private space where smudging can occur. This is not a public event. It may be that
the Native Partners invite some members of the community who were at the Truth Telling event
and were moved. This may include Commissioners or City Council people. That will be up to the
Native Partners at that time.
As for the healing of the members of the public/the community, including Commissioners, who
may experience secondary trauma as listeners and Witnesses at the truth-telling event, the
Native Partners will offer invocation and support at the beginning and closing of the truth-
telling events.
6. Tasks - What are the tasks from here to the event to ensure its realization?
What is the timeline?
Regarding Fact-Finding, Facilitation Team members from Kearns & West are working to fulfill
research requests made by the TRC at their February 1st meeting and prepare a comprehensive
report and presentation for the TRC’s review prior to and at their March 14th meeting. The
Facilitation Team will also provide draft questions that the TRC could utilize, modify, or discard
for Truth-Telling events.
The preparatory work in advance of Truth Telling is vitally important to ensure the right people
are at the gathering and that those people have been adequately prepared before their truth-
telling experience. The key elements of the process include: 1) Identification of Truth Tellers; 2)
Formal Invitation of Truth Tellers; 3) Support - prior to and during the Truth Telling
experience; and 4) Follow up after the Truth Telling experience.
1)Identification needs to happen as soon as possible, as there is a significant
discernment process to determine if there is a best mixture of perspectives or
experiences to be shared during TT.
During this phase, TRC Commissioners will:
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A)Reach out to people who may have an experience they’d like to share regarding a
racial injustice connected to law enforcement, as that is the first topic for
dialogue.
B)During outreach, the TRC Commissioners share what the TT event will look like
and its purpose according to Resolution 20-228.
C)Commissioners will ask potential Truth Tellers if they want to participate at the
public event with their story, affirming their consent to be recorded.
Outreach should begin soon, in particular within the law enforcement community (e.g., former judge/prosecutor/parole officer/social worker connected to law enforcement/police -
active/retired) as these may be harder to find.
2)Formal Invitation happens in written form after outreach has identified 4-6
individuals who would provide a well-rounded perspective of various experiences.
During this stage, there should be another conversation with participants to ask about
their needs for support in advance, during, and after the TT experience.
a)Recommendations:
i)Commissioners will read the document provided by TP: Trauma-
Informed Truth-Telling and Witnessing Protocol before any initial
interviews with community members/potential Truth Tellers.
ii)When Commissioners are conveying information about the TT events,
they will also let speakers know about the Healing Circles being offered to
them: its time and location, how it works, and encourage them and their
support people to attend. Contact information for the Healing Partners
will be provided, so any questions can be addressed.
3)Support will at the very least consist of selected individuals bringing a peer to be with
them during the TT dialogue, as well as the supportive presence of Commissioners and
facilitators. Ask if there are other needs that they may have, including accessibility needs,
to be supported before and during the experience. This stage also allows their questions
to be answered by TRC members and/or facilitation team to allay fears.
4)Follow-up involves TRC members checking in one week and one month after the TT
event. During these check-ins, TRC Commissioners could ask prompting questions (e.g.,
“Do you have anything to add to what you presented?” “What feedback could improve
this in the future?” “What did you want to say but didn’t or felt you couldn’t?”). Listen for
any recommendations to incorporate in the future. Share with these individuals ways
they could stay involved with the ongoing work of the TRC (e.g., attend meetings, attend
future events, or others).
7.Recommendations:
1.Commissioners will read the document provided by TP: Trauma-Informed Truth-Telling
and Witnessing Protocol before any initial interviews with community
members/potential Truth Tellers. Any clarification or discussion can be organized with
the plenary of Commissioners or individual members.
2.When Commissioners are conveying information about the TT events, they will also let
speakers know about the Healing Circles being offered to them: its time and location,
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how it works, and encourage them and their support people to attend. Contact
information for the Healing Partners will be provided, so any questions can be
addressed.
8. Resources - What will be the resources needed? (Venue, materials, sound,light, recording, services such as transportation, medical or psychosocial
support, security, etc., as appropriate)
For the Truth Telling portion of the Community Encounters, there are various logistics needs
required:
●Quality recording
●Good lighting
●Plants or flowers in entry and/or in room
●Backdrop printed with logo of Commission and name of event (e.g., “Community
Encounters for Truth & Reconciliation: Iowa City”) to be placed behind Commission
would be beneficial, though not absolutely necessary
●Expressive therapeutic materials, such as newsprint on a wall, paper at table, colored
markers
●Transcript of the conversations (e.g., transcription software and a short-term hire to
review and edit for accuracy) to be documented and can be utilized with Fact Finding
●Mobile crisis counselors, at least two available who are representative of BIPOC
community members
●Separate quiet or private space for use if individuals or small groups utilize mobile crisis
counselor(s) before, during, or after TT
●Ambulance available
●Any street closures or parking notices, depending on if that’s required by the location
●Building space which allows for Commissioners and facilitators (e.g., David Ragland and
Melinda Salazar) to sit in a circle shape with Truth Tellers
●Communications outreach – press release, media conference, media invitations for the
TT event.
●Dinner to feed 50 people
Location
Fact-finding will take place on the 14th at City Hall and the 18th at the Senior Center.
Think Peace will hold two days of Truth Telling on March 20 and 21 (tbc), supported by Native
Partners who will offer the opening and closing of the event, as well as Healing Circles after the
TT portion has closed. Think Peace can host the TT events in a variety of locations, including:
City Hall, university campus, public library, or another community space frequented by the
general public.
The Native/HealingPartners will hold the Healing Circle as a form to process, debrief, and heal
from the discussions held during the Truth Telling.
For the Healing Circle part of the Community Encounter, there are various logistics required:
●A space large enough for the Native/Healing Partners and speakers, their support
people, and perhaps others to sit in Circle.
9
●The space needs to be one of comfort to BIPOC community members.
●The space needs to be secure and provide privacy.
●The space needs to allow smudging.
●Dinner to feed 20-30 people.
Potential Questions:
●(Opening) Thank you for your courage and commitment.●(Round 1, could go around more than once) How are you feeling now that you have
shared your truth?
●(Round 2, could go around more than once) What would be helpful for you and what do
you need to support you in your healing?
●(Round 3, could go around more than once) What intention do you have for your truth-
telling?
●(Round X) What do you think would be helpful in future TT events?
Run of Show
Chronologic script of activities detailing each part of the process, use of time, role of
participants.
Think Peace - Truth-telling draft schedule (Mar 20, 2024)
K&W - Fact-finding will occur on the 14th and 18th as described above.
Native/Healing Partners -
1.Room and food will be arranged in February.
2.Day of: Native/Healing partners will set up space so it is ready a half hour before
expected start time.
3.Native/Healing partners will be on site a half hour before expected start time, towelcome any participants who come early.
4.Native/Healing partners will restore the room to its original condition after all the
participants have left.
5.Native/Healing partners will sit together in Circle to debrief and smudge.
Trauma-informed Truth-Telling & Witnessing Protocol -
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sc3n6rCKR5i8OhJZWfqZBE-
QWz6W3Pga_tbmRcn4qpc/edit
POTENTIAL PARTNER INDIVIDUALS
●Elizabeth Bernal – cultural liaison for Iowa City schools, founding member of Prairielands Freedom Fund (see below)
●Manny Galvez – founder and organizer of Iowa City Latino Festival
●Bram Elias – immigration attorney, UI Law Professor
●Peter Gerlach – UI International Studies adjunct assistant professor, Summer Institute Coordinator at the International Writing Program
●Teresa Stecker – Executive Director of IC Compassion (see below)
●Annie Tucker – Executive Director of Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa
POTENTIAL TRC PARTNER GROUPS
Name of Organization/Website/Contact Contact info/ email Target
Population/Services
Provided
TRC
Approved
TRC
Liaison
Black Voices Project
https://www.facebook.com/icbvp/
icblackvoices@gmail.com Amplifying Black
voices and
culture in the
community.
☐ Chastity
Center for Worker Justice of Eastern
Iowa https://cwjiowa.org/
info@cwjiowa.org
(319) 594-7593
Assistance and
education to
low-wage
workers,
including
immigrants
☐ Wangui
CommUnity Crisis Services and Food
Bank https://builtbycommunity.org/
admin@builtbycommunity.org
(319)351-2726
Food bank,
clothing vouchers
for low income
individuals and
households.
Mobile crisis
services.
☐
Dream City
https://www.dreamcityia.org/
info@dreamcityia.org
(319)594-1044
Community
building,
youth
leadership
programs for
children and
families.
☐
Agenda Item #12
Great Plains Action Society
https://www.greatplainsaction.org/
contact@greatplainsaction.org Indigenous
organizers providing
programming to
educate,
empower, and
protect BIPOC
communities.
☐ Sikowis
IC Compassion
https://www.iccompassion.org/
info@iccompassion.org
(319)330-9883
ESL and citizenship
classes, food
assistance, free
legal clinic,
immigration
assistance and,
community meals,
refugee
counseling
services.
☐ Wangui
Inside Out Reentry Community
https://www.insideoutreentry.com/
hello@insideoutreentry.com
(319) 338-7996
Support for
individuals
involved in
the criminal
legal system
☐
International Women’s Club of Iowa
City
https://iwciowacity.wordpress.com/
iowa.iwc@gmail.com Social events
and English
programs for
women.
☐
Iowa City Catholic Worker
https://iowacitycatholicworker.org/
iowacitycatholicworker@gmail.com
(515)729-6482
Immigrant and
refugee led
community
providing food,
housing, rent
assistance,
accompaniment,
and deportation
defense.
☐
Iowa City Free Medical and Dental
Clinic https://freemedicalclinic.org/
officecoordinator@freemedicalclinic.org
(319)337-4459
Health care to
low income
individuals and
families.
☐
Iowa City Mutual Aid Collective
https://iowamutualaid.org/iowa-city-mutual-aid
info@iowacitymutualaid.com Kitchens project,
street medic
training
☐
Iowa Freedom Riders
https://www.facebook.com/iowafreedomrider/
iowafreedomriders@gmail.com Community
organizing and
mobilization
☐
Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduate (iJag)
https://www.iowacityschools.org/academics-
programs/ijag
info@ijag.org (statewide info email)
(515) 216-3140 (statewide #)
(319) 688-1000 (Iowa City school
district)
Mentoring,
school
retention, work
resources, skill-
building for 9-
12th grade
students.
☐
Iowa Legal Aid
https://www.iowalegalaid.org/
Free civil legal
assistance.
☐
Monsoon Asians and Pacific Islanders
in Solidarity
https://monsooniowa.org/
contact@monsooniowa.org
(319)466-9000
AAPI victims of
gender-based
violence
☐ Wangui
Multicultural Development Center of
Iowa https://www.mdciowa.org/
info@mdciowa.org
(319)333-0600
As a nonprofit, we
provide free
community services
ranging from free
STEM training to
mentoring programs
and business
incubation to
underserved
communities. Learn
☐ Chastity
more about our
programs and find a
learning location
near you.
Neighborhood Centers of Johnson
County https://ncjc.org/index.html
ncjc@ncjc.org
(319)354-2886
Before and
after school
programs for
youth and
family support
services.
☐ Chastity
NISAA African Family Services
http://nisaa-afs.org/
contact@nisaa-afs.org
(319)338-7617
Programs for
African
immigrant and
refugee
women,
particularly
victims of
violence and
sexual assault
☐ Wangui
Path of Hope
https://path-of-hope.org/about/
info@path-of-hope.org
(319) 338-5390
Refugee and
immigration services
☐
Prairielands Freedom Fund
https://www.prairielandsfreedomfund.org/
team@prairielandsfreedomfund.org
(319) 535-2209
Immigration bonds
and pretrial bail
☐
Proteus
http://www.proteusinc.net/
info@proteusinc.net
(800) 372-6031
Health care,
education
assistance, and job
training for
agricultural
workers, including
migrant workers.
☐
Shelter House Community Shelter &
Transition Services
https://shelterhouseiowa.org/
info@shelterhouseiowa.org
(319) 351-0326
Housing,
food,
healthcare,
☐ Chastity
and case
management
services for
unhoused
individuals
and families
University of Iowa
Diversity Councils
https://diversity.uiowa.edu/resources/dei
across-campus
Cultural Centers
https://multicultural.uiowa.edu/culturalcenters
Afro House:
aacc@uiowa.edu
(319)335-8296
Latino Native American Cultural
Center:
lnacc@uiowa.edu
(319) 335-8298
Asian Pacific American Cultural
Center:
kaynguyen@uiowa.edu
(319)335-2719
Pride Alliance Center:
pride-alliance-center@uiowa.edu
International Student Support and
Engagement:
shuhui-lin@uiowa.edu
(319)335-0335
African American
Council, Native
American Council,
Pan Asian Council,
Latinx Council
Afro-American
Cultural Center,
Latino Native
American
Cultural Center,
Asian Pacific
American
Cultural Center;
affiliations with
other cultural
student
groups (Black
Student Union,
Asian
American
Student Union,
South Asia
Student
Association,
African Student
Association)
☐ Wangui
*Added At 11/4/21 Meeting*
Name of Organization/Website/Contact Contact info/ email Target
Population/Services
Provided
TRC
Approved
TRC
Liaison
Forest View Tenants Association ☐
Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD)
https://www.iowacityschools.org/
degner.matt@iowacityschools.org
(Superintendent of schools)
(319) 688-1000
☐ Wangui
ICCSD Equity Advisory Committee
https://www.iowacityschools.org/Page/1124
gray.laura@iowacityschools.org
(Exec. Director of Diversity & Cultural
Responsiveness)
howard.eric@iowacityschools.org
(Director of Equity & Employee
Relations)
☐ Wangui
ICCSD Mental Health, Special Education and
Disability PTO http://autismiowacity.org/iccsd-
mental-health-special education-and-disability-pto
https://www.facebook.com/groups/126384014744976/
☐ Wangui
Johnson County Interfaith Coalition
https://organizeiowa.com/
info@becomingbelovedcommunity.org ☐
Sudanese Organizations ☐ Wangui
I Heart Black Businesses
https://www.iheartblack.biz/
☐ Clif
Humanize My Hoodie
https://www.humanizemyhoodie.com/
allies.hmh@gmail.com
(Workshops, Trainings, Appearances,
Facilitated Conversations about Race)
humanizemyhoodie@gmail.com
(General Inquiries)
☐ Sikowis
United Action for Youth
https://www.unitedactionforyouth.org/
mickey.hampton@unitedactionforyouth.org
(319)338-7518
afterschool
teen
programs,
teen
parents
programs,
☐ Chastity
Coralville Food Pantry
https://www.coralvillefoodpantry.org/
john@coralvillefoodpantry.org Food
insecurity
☐ Chastity
icblackvoices@gmail.com, info@cwjiowa.org, admin@builtbycommunity.org,
info@dreamcityia.org, contact@greatplainsaction.org, info@iccompassion.org,
hello@insideoutreentry.com, iowa.iwc@gmail.com, iowacitycatholicworker@gmail.com,
officecoordinator@freemedicalclinic.org, info@iowacitymutualaid.com,
iowafreedomriders@gmail.com, info@ijag.org, contact@monsooniowa.org,
info@mdciowa.org, ncjc@ncjc.org, contact@nisaa-afs.org, info@pathofhope.org,
team@prairielandsfreedomfund.org, info@proteusinc.net, info@shelterhouseiowa.org,
aacc@uiowa.edu, lnacc@uiowa.edu, kaynguyen@uiowa.edu, pride-alliance-
center@uiowa.edu, shuhui-lin@uiowa.edu, degner.matt@iowacityschools.org,
gray.laura@iowacityschools.org, howard.eric@iowacityschools.org,
info@becomingbelovedcommunity.org, allies.hmh@gmail.com,
mickey.hampton@unitedactionforyouth.org, john@coralvillefoodpantry.org
Agenda Item #12