HomeMy WebLinkAboutTRC Agenda 3 20 2024Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Special Meeting
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
5:30pm ICOR Boxing
391 Highland Avenue
AGENDA:
1.CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME
2.READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
3.TRUTH TELLING: DURING THIS EVENT, COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL
TELL THEIR TRUTHS: THEY WILL SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE OF HARM
RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY JUSTICE IN IOWA CITY.
DAVE RAGLAND AND MELINDA SALAZAR OF THINKPEACE WILL FACILITATE
THIS SESSION.
4.ADJOURN
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.
Resolution establishing Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Prepared by:Council members Janice Weiner and Laura Bergus
Resolution No.20-228
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 as follows:
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 during the present Fiscal Year to support
Resolution 20-159,which includes a variety of initiatives,among them the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission;and,
Whereas,truth and reconciliation underscores the imperative that confronting and reckoning with the past is
necessary for successful transitions from conflict,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 a future of equity based on
healing and hope;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 community not inclined to engage or resistant toengagement;and,
Whereas,a comprehensive process will require that City of Iowa City departments and the City Council itself
participate,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.
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 thefundamentalinstitutionalandpolicyreformsnecessarytoaddresssystemicracism.
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 decisionmakers
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 T RC 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 theBlackLivesMattermovement.
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/securitylsovereignty 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
20-228 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 T RC will dissolve on June 30,2022.
Passed and approved this 15 day of September,2020.
City Attorney's Office -09/10/2020
Resolution establishing Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Resolution 20-228 was passed by the Iowa City City Council September 15,2020
Duties
The charges of the TRC are as follows:
1.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.
2.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 cataloged
and used to educate and inform members of the community.
3.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.
Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Community Encounter:Truth Telling and Healing Circles
Wednesday,March 20 &Thursday,March 21,2024
Welcome!
"To heal,we must first acknowledge the truth of our collective trauma."
"Racism is not just a matter of individual prejudice;it is a systemic issue that affects
us all.To heal,we must first acknowledge the truth of our collective trauma."
-Resmaa Menakem
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Iowa City was created,in the wake of the George
Floyd protests,to facilitate difficult and sometimes painful conversations on racial injustice in our
midst.The Commission’s mandate (Resolution No.20-228)consists of researching the facts,
listening to the diverse voices of our community,and offering healing opportunities that lead to
reconciliation.We offer these guidelines to co-create an environment that supports racial justice and
healing and offers respect for the dignity and humanity of Truth Tellers and Witnesses.
Facilitators:Dr.Dave Ragland and Dr.Melinda Salazar from The Truth Telling Project and Think
Peace Learning and Support Hub partners.
Agreements:
1.Listen fully,from the heart,with respect,and allow space for silence.Bear witness,and do
not provide advice or argue with others.
2.Allow what others say to move you.Reflect upon,consider,and honor the meaning of what
others say so you can hear their truth.
3.Speak for yourself from the “I”perspective,from your own experiences and perspectives.
Avoid generalizing for others in the room like using “people think….”
4.Be courageous,honest,and open with your own stories.Speak your truth from your heart
and acknowledge your emotions.
5.Observe what comes up for you,be aware of possible triggers from past trauma.
6.Exercise self-care,and seek support from the care element the Commissioners establish.
Community Encounter: Truth Telling & Healing Circles, Day 1
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Location: ICOR Boxing (391 Highland Ave.)
Time Led By Topics/Details/Activity
5:30 pm
(60 minutes)
All, TRC Chair
Dillard, Native
Partners, Think
Peace
Welcome & Dinner
●(Chair Dillard) Formal opening, Native American
land acknowledgment, Welcome
●(Minister/Imam from Black Community)
●(Native Partners) Opening ceremony
●(David Ragland & Melinda Salazar) Community
agreements
6:30 pm -
8:10 pm
(100 minutes)
Think Peace, TRC
Commissioners
Testimony & dialogue
●(Dr. Melinda Salazar, Dr. David Ragland, TRC
Commissioners) Truth tellers share their experience
– 65 minutes
●(Dr. David Ragland & Dr. Melinda Salazar) Dialogue
– 35 minutes
8:10 pm -
8:15 pm
(5 minutes)
TRC Chair Dillard Formal Public Meeting Closing
8:15 pm-
9:30 pm
(75 minutes)
Native Partners Healing Circles - not open for the public
●(Manape LaMere, Donnielle Wanatee, Terry Medina)
Healing Circles, by invitation only – 75 minutes
9:30 pm All Departure
Community Encounter: Truth Telling & Healing Circles, Day 2
Thursday, March 21, 2024
Location: The James Theater (213 N. Gilbert St.)
Time Led By Topics/Details/Activity
5:30 pm
(60 minutes)
All, TRC Chair
Dillard, Native
Partners, Think
Peace
Welcome & Dinner
●(Chair Dillard) Formal opening, Native American
land acknowledgment, Welcome
●(Minister/Imam from Black Community)
●(Native Partners) Opening ceremony
●(Dr.David Ragland & Dr.Melinda Salazar)
Community agreements
6:30 pm -
8:10 pm
(100 minutes)
Think Peace, TRC
Commissioners
Testimony & dialogue
●(Dr.Melinda Salazar, Dr.David Ragland, TRC
Commissioners) Truth tellers share their experience
– 65 minutes
●(Dr.David Ragland & Dr.Melinda Salazar) Dialogue –
35 minutes
8:10 pm -
8:15 pm
(5 minutes)
TRC Chair Dillard Formal Public Meeting Closing
8:15 pm-
9:30 pm
(75 minutes)
Native Partners Healing Circles - not open for the public
●(Manape LaMere, Donnielle Wanatee, Terry Medina)
Healing Circles, by invitation only – 75 minutes
9:30 pm All Departure