HomeMy WebLinkAbout08 20 19 AGENDA
Human Rights Commission (HRC)
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
5:30 P.M.
City Hall, Helling Conference Room
410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City
1. Call Meeting to Order and Roll Call.
2. Approval of the June 18, 2019 meeting minutes.
3. Approval of the July 16, 2019 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. Items to be discussed:
a. Latino Festival 2019 (August 24).
b. Human Rights Breakfast (October 23).
c. Committees: Public Safety; Education; Community Outreach; Housing.
d. Proclamation: National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15).
e. Correspondence.
6. Updates/Reports:
a. Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant.
b. ADA Celebration.
7. Staff/Commission Announcements. (Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with
one another concerning said announcements).
8. Comments of Staff.
9. Adjournment.
If you will need disability-related accommodations 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 access needs.
Page 1 of 3
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
City Hall, Helling Conference Room
June 18, 2019
Members Present: Jeff Falk, Cathy McGinnis, Bijou Maliabo, Jessica
Ferdig, Tahuanty Peña, Adil Adams, Noemi Ford,
Jonathon Muñoz.
Members Absent: Barbara Kutzko.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to Council: No.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:33 PM.
Approval of Minutes from the May 15 and May 21: Adams moved to approve the
minutes from May 15, the motion was seconded by Muñoz. Motion passed 5-0.
(Maliabo, Peña and Ford not present).
Adams moved to approve the minutes from May 21, the motion was seconded by
Ferdig. Motion passed 5-0. (Maliabo, Peña and Ford not present).
Juneteenth: Kutzko and Adams will represent the Commission at the annual event.
Falk will accept the proclamation at the City Council meeting this evening on behalf of
Kutzko who is unable to accept it.
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant: Staff provided an update on the grant
allocation to the Iowa City Community School District’s Healthy Kids School Based
Health Clinic. The project, which was a pilot, had some unforeseen barriers in providing
mental health support to immigrant populations. An extension request was submitted for
the project that would extend it to June of 2020. The current agreement ends June of
2019. The general consensus of the Commission was for the funding to be returned
with the hope that in the future they could reapply for the funding when the project had a
greater likelihood of being successful.
Staff went over a memo prepared by the City Attorney’s Office that discussed conflict of
interests. When a Commission member has a conflict of interest, the member should
state on the record that there is a conflict of interest and is therefore recusing
him/herself from the item. If the conflicted Commission member chooses not to leave
the room, the member should not sit at the table during the discussion. The member
may address the Commission as a member of the public, but again not while sitting at
the table with the other Commission members. The minutes will need to reflect that the
person is speaking as a member of the public, and not as a member of the Commission.
Ford and Muñoz have conflicts and will not be participating in the grant cycle for fiscal
year 2020.
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Breakfast Speaker: The Commission voted to have Dr. Melissa Shivers, Vice
President for Student Life at the University of Iowa, deliver the Keynote Address at the
event being held on Wednesday, October 23.
Inclusive High School Teacher Award: Ferdig will present the honorees at this event
with their award. The program is being held in recognition of the 65th Anniversary of
Brown v. Board of Education. Cheryl Brown-Henderson, daughter of named plaintiff in
the court case will deliver keynote remarks. Four area high school teachers will be
recognized at the program.
Iowa City Pride: Ferdig, Ford, and McGinnis represented the Commission at this year’s
Pride Fest. Commissioners think that in the future it will be beneficial to have
information to hand out about the Commission and to be prepared to give an elevator
pitch when community members ask what they do. A water trough would also be useful
if it is as hot outside as it was on June 15. They would also like to have Pride flags on
display at the next Pride event.
Committee Updates: There are four committees that assist in advancing the strategic
plan. The four committees are Housing (*Falk, Adams, Peña); Public Safety (*McGinnis,
Maliabo, Muñoz); Education (*Ferdig, Falk, Kutzko, Peña); and Community Outreach
(*Adams, Falk, Muñoz). Asterisks designates chairs of the committees.
Public Safety: Reports that they are still working on finalizing a brochure on biased
based incidents.
Education: At its last meeting the Committee selected the recipients for the Inclusive
Teacher Award. The program will be held on June 28.
Housing: No report.
Community Outreach: No report.
Announcement of Commissioners: Peña recently received his United States
citizenship. At the swearing in ceremony he learned about James Cunningham Jordan,
who Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines is named after, and his work with the
underground railroad. Falk attended an Equity Comprehension Planning meeting for the
Iowa City Community School District.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 7:20 PM.
Page 3 of 3
Member Attendance Sheet
KEY: X = Present
O = Absent
O/E = Absent/Excused
NM = No meeting
--- = Not a Member
Member Term
Exp.
1/8 1/24 2/19 3/19 4/16 5/21 6/18 7/03 7/16 8/20 9/17 10/15 11/19 12/10
Maliabo 1/2021 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
McGinnis 1/2021 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Muñoz 1/2021 Excused Present Present Present Present Present Present
Kutzko 1/2020 Present Present Present Present Present Excused Excused
Falk 1/2020 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Peña 1/2020 Present Present Excused Present Present Present Present
Adams 1/2022 Excused Present Present Present Present Absent Present
Ferdig 1/2022 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Ford 1/2022 Present Excused Present Excused Present Present Present
Page 1 of 4
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
City Hall, Helling Conference Room
July 16, 2019
Members Present: Jeff Falk, Adil Adams, Noemi Ford, Cathy McGinnis,
Jessica Ferdig, Barbara Kutzko.
Members Absent: Jonathon Muñoz, Bijou Maliabo, Tahuanty Peña.
Staff Present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to Council: No.
Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:33 PM.
Approval of the June 18, 2019 meeting minutes: Item will be placed on next meeting
agenda when a majority number of Commissioners are present to vote (five or more) on
it. Kutzko abstained from voting because she was not at the meeting and Ford was not
present at the time a motion was made.
Approval of the July 3, 2019 meeting minutes: McGinnis made a motion, it was
seconded by Kutzko. Motion passed 5-0. (Ford not present).
Restorative Community Partners and Ed Collaborators Funding Request: The
Captivate Conference will have course offerings on race relations, equity and inclusion.
The requested amount is $4000.00. Commissioners declined the request due to the
amount asked for, the lack of information provided, and the late date of the request from
the event date. Commissioners suggested that the Social Justice Racial Equity Grant
may be a better fit for such a project.
Johnson County Americans with Disabilities Act Celebration: Commissioners
present will not be available on the date the Celebration is being held. Staff will send an
email out to those Commission members not present at this meeting to inquire on their
availability to participate.
Latino Festival: This event will be held on August 24 from noon to nine on the Ped Mall.
Ferdig will request more detailed information from planners of the event. Ferdig is
available to host a table on behalf of the Commission at the event. This item will be on
the next meeting agenda.
Committee Updates: There are four committees that assist in advancing the strategic
plan. The four committees are Housing (*Falk, Adams, Peña); Public Safety (*McGinnis,
Maliabo, Muñoz); Education (*Ferdig, Falk, Kutzko, Peña); and Community Outreach
(*Adams, Falk, Muñoz). Asterisks designates chairs of the committees.
Page 2 of 4
Housing: Falk encouraged other Commissioners to fill out the City Steps survey currently
available on line.
Public Safety: No report.
Education: Has reached out to former Commission member Kim Hanrahan. Kim
currently serves on the Equity Committee for the Iowa City Community School District. It
is believed that there will be opportunities to work together on topics of joint interest. The
committee is also learning more about the Head Start program.
Community Outreach: No report.
Human Rights Breakfast: This annual award ceremony is scheduled for October 23.
Dr. Melissa Shivers, University of Iowa’s Vice President for Student Life will be the
keynote speaker. Nominations are currently being accepted for honorees.
Commission Announcements:
McGinnis attended a presentation at the African American Museum of Iowa by
Professor Simon Balto (University of Iowa) who spoke on his book that looks at policing
and race in Chicago, between 1919 and the early 1970s.
Kutzko represented the Commission at the annual Juneteenth event.
Adams attended the Juneteenth event on behalf of the Commission. He also went to a
presentation at the Sudanese Community Center that discussed the current political
deadlock in Sudan.
Falk attended a rally in Cedar Rapids outside the US District Court protesting the
detention of immigrants and asylum-seekers at the southern US borders.
Ford participated in a professional development workshop on Refugee Mental Health.
The workshop focused on refugees from Latin America, Asia, and African Countries.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 6:38 PM.
Member Attendance Sheet
Member Term
Exp.
1/8 1/24 2/19 3/19 4/16 5/21 6/18 7/03 7/16 8/20 9/17
Maliabo 1/2021 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Excused
McGinnis 1/2021 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Muñoz 1/2021 Excused Present Present Present Present Present Present Excused Excused Kutzko 1/2020 Present Present Present Present Present Excused Excused Present Present
Falk 1/2020 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Peña 1/2020 Present Present Excused Present Present Present Present Present Excused
Adams 1/2022 Excused Present Present Present Present Absent Present Excused Present
Ferdig 1/2022 Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present Present
Ford 1/2022 Present Excused Present Excused Present Present Present Excused Present
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City of Iowa City
PROCLAMATION
Whereas, National Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to recognize the
contributions of Hispanic Americans and to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture; and
Whereas, each year, the federal government and local governments observe National
Hispanic Heritage Month as the period from September 15 to October 15, by recognizing
and celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose
ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America; and
Whereas, September 15th is significant as a starting date for Hispanic Heritage Month
because it is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa
Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile
celebrate their independence on September 16th and September 18th respectively; and
Whereas, Latinxs have made innumerable contributions to the Iowa City community and
it is important the City recognize and celebrate the diverse histories and cultures of the
Latinx population; and
Whereas, the Latinx community is integral to our City, with business owners and
residents alike who are proud to be a part of the Latinx community, but hope for greater
visibility, recognition and representation; and
WHEREAS, the City of Iowa City continually strives to foster mutual understanding and
respect among all our people;
WHEREAS, this observance affords special opportunities to become more
knowledgeable about Hispanic heritage and to honor the many Hispanics who have
contributed to the progress of Iowa City, the state, and the nation; and
Now, therefore, I, James A. Throgmorton, do hereby recognize the period of September
15, 2019 – October 15, 2019 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.
_________________________
Mayor, James A. Throgmorton
Signed in Iowa City, Iowa,
this 17th day of September 2019
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SJRE Grant Report 2019
Over the course of the past 12 months, Shelter House has achieved each goal identified in
the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant application. With the grant, Shelter House developed
a Social Engagement and Healthy Living Initiative for all Fairweather Lodge participants to
partake in. The Social Engagement and Healthy Living Initiative enabled participants to engage
in groups and activities that would have otherwise been impossible, spanning from art therapy, to
learning about other cultures, outdoor recreational activities and peer support specialist training.
In order to bolster creativity and encourage healthy coping mechanisms, the Fairweather
Lodge has maintained relationships with Brush & Barrel, The Iowa Ceramic Center and Glass
Studio, Renee’s Ceramic Café, and Beadology. Each one of these businesses focuses on a
different medium of art that teaches the participants skills to better cope with the symptoms of
their mental health. These activities have enabled one member to open an Etsy shop and another
member has attended craft fairs selling jewelry and dream catchers. As mentioned in one of the
previous reports, two members of the Fairweather Lodge also had the opportunity to showcase
their artwork at Film Scene. Having the artwork displayed allowed these individuals to foster
new relationships and connections with the arts community in Johnson County. This is further
bolstered by offering a weekly art group at the Fairweather Lodge. With funding from the grant,
Shelter House has been able to purchase a variety of art supplies for members to use during this
group. Weekly groups and activities such as this have been greatly enhanced by the Social
Justice and Racial Equity grant which has permitted the Fairweather Lodge to expand into other
areas as well such as health and education.
To promote healthy living, the Fairweather Lodge has used funds to explore different
state and local parks for activities like fishing, hiking and canoeing. Lake MacBride, the
Coralville Reservoir and Terry Trueblood have been identified as favorite locations to escape
some of the chaos that goes on in life by taking a few hours to enjoy nature. The Iowa Farm
Sanctuary and Hercules’ Haven were also two activities that allowed members to be outdoors,
while engaging in animal therapy. Transportation costs and activity fees were covered by this
grant which reduced the barrier that would otherwise prevent engagement. The Fairweather
Lodge also attends weekly classes at Friendship Yoga. Throughout this grant cycle, 96
individuals associated with the Fairweather Lodge have attended a yoga class and addressed
issues such as chronic pain. Using this grant funding, the Fairweather Lodge has also purchased
yoga mats for members to continue their yoga studies outside of class.
Not only have activities that promote physical exercise addressed healthier lifestyles, but
the Fairweather Lodge has also used funds to purchase ingredients for making healthy meals.
Nursing students from the University of Iowa have offered multiple sessions providing lessons
on how to read food labels and ingredient education. Healthy eating habits have also been
encouraged by hosting a gardening group for 8 weeks at a time, twice a year. This gardening
group provides seeds for members of the Fairweather Lodge to plant various veggies and herbs
that they can take from their backyard, to the kitchen table. This provides easier access to healthy
food which is vital for the members of the Fairweather Lodge. The education gained through
participation in groups with the students from the College of Nursing and Gardening Group’s has
empowered the Lodge members by implementing what they learned while they are at the grocery
store or local food pantries.
The Fairweather Lodge supports diversity and inclusion of all communities by engaging
in a variety of cultural activities. For instance, over the last year, the Fairweather Lodge has
made multiple visits to the Iowa Museum of Natural History, the Cedar Rapids Czech and
Slovak Museum, the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, the National Motorcycle Museum, the
Antique Car Museum of Iowa and the Johnson County Historical Society. More than 18
individuals have been able to visit these museums and learn about cultures in our community.
Furthermore, the Fairweather Lodge has continued to visit FilmScene where members are able to
see a wide array of independent films and documentaries outside of the mainstream media.
A survey distributed to members of the program found that 100% reported they were
satisfied with the social outings provided by the Fairweather Lodge, have made stronger social
connections with peers, and have learned different skills to better cope with the challenges they
face. Throughout the term of the grant, the program has averaged 6 activities per month
sponsored by the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant. It is important to note that the
Fairweather Lodge is stretching the funds beyond what was expected by surpassing the goal of
three activities per month as stated in the application. Furthermore, data has found that prior to
receiving the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant, the average length of stay for members was
84.9 days. Since being awarded the grant, the average length of stay has increased to 97.3 days,
while also receiving an increase in the number of applicants accepted. Recognizing this
information, it is clear the Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant has profoundly impacted the
Fairweather Lodge’s Social Engagement and Healthy Living Initiative in ways that would not
have been possible without it. As a result, the Fairweather Lodge is able to adhere to Shelter
House’s mission of improving the overall quality of people’s lives as they move beyond
homelessness.
Type Date Num Name Memo Amount
62800 · Utilities & Facility
62870 · Program supplies
Bill 04/24/2018 Shea Velez-Westph... 28.00
Credit Card Charge 04/30/2018 10.00
Credit Card Charge 04/30/2018 60.00
Credit Card Charge 04/30/2018 49.00
Credit Card Charge 04/30/2018 50.00
Bill 05/30/2018 Mary Lou Mayfield 31.79
Credit Card Charge 05/31/2018 20.00
Credit Card Charge 05/31/2018 50.00
Credit Card Charge 05/31/2018 60.00
Credit Card Charge 07/16/2018 20.00
Credit Card Charge 07/16/2018 60.00
Credit Card Charge 07/16/2018 25.00
Credit Card Charge 07/16/2018 9.00
Credit Card Charge 07/31/2018 Visa Group Activity Supplies 6.42
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 Worms 2.92
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 Activities Supplies 56.73
Credit Card Charge 09/24/2018 Erin S.Activitiy- Iowa Farm Sanctyart 100.00
Credit Card Charge 10/02/2018 Erin S.Activity - Sycamore cinema 25.00
Credit Card Charge 10/08/2018 Erin S.Activity - Colonial lanes 56.00
Credit Card Charge 10/16/2018 Erin S.Activity - Wilsons Apple Orchard 5.75
Credit Card Charge 10/16/2018 Erin S.Activity - Wilsons Apple Orchard 24.75
Credit Card Charge 10/18/2018 Erin S. Walmart - Returned keys 26.05
Credit Card Charge 10/22/2018 Erin S.Activity - Renees Ceramic café 40.00
Credit Card Charge 10/23/2018 Erin S.Activity - Film Scene 26.00
Credit Card Charge 10/30/2018 Erin S. Sycamore Cinema 15.00
Credit Card Charge 11/06/2018 Erin S.PayPal - Johnson County Historical Center 30.00
Credit Card Charge 11/20/2018 Erin S.Iowa Ceramics Center 50.00
Credit Card Charge 11/30/2018 Erin S. Brush and Barrel - Activity 50.00
Credit Card Charge 12/03/2018 Erin S. Colonial Lanes - Activity 24.00
Credit Card Charge 12/04/2018 Erin S. Marcus Sycamore Cine - Activity 20.00
Credit Card Charge 12/11/2018 Erin S. Brush and Barrel - Activity 60.00
Credit Card Charge 12/12/2018 Erin S. Filmscene - Activity 19.50
Credit Card Charge 12/17/2018 Erin S. Renees Ceramic - Activity 50.00
Credit Card Charge 12/18/2018 Erin S. Marcus Sycamore Cine - Activity 25.00
Credit Card Charge 12/19/2018 Erin S. Cedar Rapids Museum - Activity 35.00
Credit Card Charge 01/08/2019 Erin S. Marcus Sycamore - Activity 20.00
Credit Card Charge 01/09/2019 Erin S. National Motorcycle museum 10.00
Credit Card Charge 01/15/2019 Erin S. Marcus Sycamore - Activity 25.00
Credit Card Charge 02/15/2019 Erin S. Walmart 40.73
Credit Card Charge 02/28/2019 Erin S. Renees Ceramic - Activity 40.00
Credit Card Charge 03/05/2019 Erin S. Film Scene - Activity 32.50
Credit Card Charge 03/18/2019 Erin S. Colonial Lanes 56.00
Credit Card Charge 03/19/2019 Erin S. Marcus Sycamore 30.00
Credit Card Charge 03/21/2019 Erin S.Iowa Ceramics Center 60.00
Credit Card Charge 03/21/2019 Erin S. Cedar Rapids Museum 34.00
Credit Card Charge 03/26/2019 Erin S. Brush & Barrel - Activity 50.00
Credit Card Charge 04/11/2019 Erin S. Paypal Johnson County 32.00
2:55 PM Shelter House
07/31/19 Fairweather Lodge Activities Grant
Accrual Basis April 2018 through July 2019
Page 1
Type Date Num Name Memo Amount
Credit Card Charge 05/07/2019 Erin S. Marcus Sycamore - Activity 31.80
Credit Card Charge 05/14/2019 Erin S. SQ Colonial Lanes - Activity 56.00
Credit Card Charge 05/23/2019 Erin S. Marcus Sycamore - Activity 42.40
Total 62870 · Program supplies 1,781.34
Total 62800 · Utilities & Facility 1,781.34
63000 · Direct resident services
63020 · Client outreach expense
Credit Card Charge 07/31/2018 Visa FWL Activity for Training - Bush & Barrel 60.00
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 Iowa Ceramic Center 60.00
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 CR Parks & Rec 24.00
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 Colonial lanes 32.00
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 Cinema 25.00
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 Beadology 45.00
Total 63020 · Client outreach expense 246.00
63060 · Client transportation
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 IC Parking 1.00
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 IC Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 11/07/2018 Erin S. Casey Store 2781 - Gas 46.00
Credit Card Charge 11/14/2018 Erin S. Casey Store 2781 - Gas 36.50
Credit Card Charge 12/07/2018 Erin S. Casey Store #2781 - Gas 39.34
Total 63060 · Client transportation 124.34
Total 63000 · Direct resident services 370.34
65000 · HR, Fundraising, Office & Admin
65025 · Dues, fees & subscriptions
Credit Card Charge 12/17/2018 Erin S. IA City Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 12/20/2018 Erin S. IA City Parking 0.75
Total 65025 · Dues, fees & subscriptions 2.25
65030 · Events & fundraising expense
Credit Card Charge 08/30/2018 Erin S. Client Activity - Renees Ceramic 50.00
Credit Card Charge 09/04/2018 Erin S.Activitiy- Filmscene 32.50
Total 65030 · Events & fundraising expense 82.50
65080 · Travel/Fuel/Parking
Bill 04/24/2018 Jason Brown 80.95
Credit Card Charge 04/30/2018 2.00
Credit Card Charge 04/30/2018 447.95
Credit Card Charge 08/26/2018 IC Parking 0.75
Credit Card Charge 08/29/2018 Erin S. Parking - IA City 0.75
Credit Card Charge 10/02/2018 Erin S. Parking - IA City onstreet 0.75
Credit Card Charge 10/10/2018 Erin S. Parking- IA City onstreet 0.75
2:55 PM Shelter House
07/31/19 Fairweather Lodge Activities Grant
Accrual Basis April 2018 through July 2019
Page 2
Type Date Num Name Memo Amount
Credit Card Charge 10/17/2018 Erin S. Parking - IA City onstreet 0.75
Credit Card Charge 10/23/2018 Erin S. Parking - IA City onstreet 0.75
Credit Card Charge 10/30/2018 Erin S. UI Parking 1.80
Credit Card Charge 11/07/2018 Erin S. IA City Parking 0.75
Credit Card Charge 11/13/2018 Erin S. IA City Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 12/06/2018 Erin S. IA City Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 12/07/2018 Erin S. UI Parking 1.80
Credit Card Charge 12/11/2018 Erin S. IA City Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 12/12/2018 Erin S. IA City Parking 2.00
Credit Card Charge 01/07/2019 Erin S. IA City Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 01/17/2019 Erin S. IA City Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 01/24/2019 Erin S. IA City Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 01/31/2019 Erin S. IA City parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 03/05/2019 Erin S. IA City Onstreet -Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 03/05/2019 Erin S. IA City Onstreet -Parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 03/21/2019 Erin S. Cedar Rapids Onstreet - Parking 1.00
Credit Card Charge 04/11/2019 Erin S. IA City Onstreet parking 1.50
Credit Card Charge 05/23/2019 Erin S. UI Parking Parcs 1.80
Total 65080 · Travel/Fuel/Parking 559.55
Total 65000 · HR, Fundraising, Office & Admin 644.30
TOTAL 2,795.98
2:55 PM Shelter House
07/31/19 Fairweather Lodge Activities Grant
Accrual Basis April 2018 through July 2019
Page 3
Final Report, July 31, 2019
Social Justice and Racial Equity Grant: Work Skills Initiative
Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa
The Work Skills Initiative funded in the spring of 2018 proposed four ten-week classes for hands-on work skills training for
two groups, low income youths and adults, to be carried out in conjunction with the STEAM Fab Lab, a collaborative
workspace that provides materials and services to support invention, innovation and entrepreneurship. One youth and
one adult class were to be conducted during the summer with an additional youth class beginning in late summer and an
adult class beginning in the fall.
Activities described in detail in the November 1, 2018 interim report included:
• Summer camps conducted by the STEAM Fab Lab
o Fourteen low-income youths from the immigrant community attended at no cost
o Urban foraging camp teaching techniques for survival during an emergency
o Tricks and Traps – a session geared toward creating a safe space for oneself and loved ones during an
event where modern conveniences are taken away.
o The main take home message from both camps was that people work best in groups, and to trust and
support your community so that everyone can benefit.
• Sewing classes conducted in response to a survey of the CWJ membership administered in the spring of 2018.
o Classes were organized to provide instruction in basic sewing techniques and developing skills with the
potential to provide a source of income for immigrant families. Classes began September 2018 at the
Center for Worker Justice.
o Sewing machines were purchased in bulk and two-hour classes were held over the course of 10 Saturdays.
o Fourteen women enrolled in the first class, and translators were made available for the Spanish-speaking
students who constituted half the class. All sewing supplies, machines and fabrics were provided by the
program.
o The course culminated with the construction of a final project using all the skills learned from smaller
projects.
o Upon satisfactory completion of the course, each student was provided with the sewing machine used
during the class to take home with them for their own use.
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Activities described in detail in the April 1, 2019 interim report included:
• A second sewing class was organized and initiated in the winter of 2018-19. Unfortunately class activities had to
be temporarily suspended because of health issues experienced by the instructor.
• During the Iowa City Community School District winter break, jewelry making classes for young people from the
CWJ membership were conducted at Beadology under the direction of Karen Kubby. Twelve students were
enrolled and attended three-hour class sessions on December 27 and 28, 2018. Instructors were supplied for
these sessions, which included a structured class with a beading or jewelry making project, discussion on running a
business, a tour, a glass bead making demonstration, and feedback from the students.
During the period since the last interim report, sewing classes have resumed under the direction of a new instructor who
reports as follows:
The classes are going well with attendance ranging from four to eight students. Participants have been improving their
basic sewing machine skills including how to thread the machines, fill the bobbin, change the presser feet, adjust the
stitch length for different purposes, properly rotate the hand wheel, and fix problems with tangling thread. They have also
become familiar with using tools such as a seam ripper to correct mistakes.
Students are learning to cut pieces from cloth through tracing newspaper patterns with chalk as well as using a measuring tape in
inches and centimeters. They are beginning to figure out how to set their eyes and hands, adjusting to seam allowances of
different widths and maintaining even lines of stitching. So far, the projects have been geared toward perfecting the sewing of
straight lines, including forward and backstitching with consistency improving overall.
Students are starting to think about how to combine fabrics to create unique designs and how to construct things in ways so that
the seams are not visible and the topstitching and finishing details are clean, including the importance of ironing and are
learning some of the important vocabulary pertaining to sewing.
They continue to help each other with hearing and interpreting instructions and further guiding and demonstrating for each
other. Their children have also shown interest in learning, resulting in one or two of the young girls receiving help in cutting
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pieces that their mothers will help them sew at home. This will further reinforce what participants are learning as repetition is a
critical part of being able to think through, problem solve, and eventually innovate in sewing practice.
Expenses for the overall project break down as follows:
Project Budget 1-Nov-19 1-Apr-20 31-Jul-20
Revenue
Fees1 265.00 265.00 - -
Other revenue
Total Revenue $265.00 $265.00 $0.00 $0.00
Expenses
Professional Services2,3 2,229.00 1,249.00 980.00 -
Educational Materials
Marketing/Advertising
Equipment/Hardware4,5 3,351.00 3,351.00 - -
Rentals
Supplies6,7 3,018.00 1,518.00 750.00 750.00
Outside Printing
Miscellaneous Supplies6 500.00
Total Expenses $9,098.00 $6,118.00 $1,730.00 $750.00
1 Registration fees from participants: $19 ea x 14 participants
2 Sewing instructor $549; beading class instruction $380; STEAM Lab $700
3 Translation: $600
4 Brother XM3700 sewing machines: 20 for participants, 6 at CWJ for practice
5 Copy machine $350; ink full color $500
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6 Sewing supplies & fabrics
7 Extension cords & power; copies