HomeMy WebLinkAbout9 25 2024 HRCHuman Rights Commission
September 25, 2024
Regular Meeting – 5:30 PM
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Agenda:
1. Call the Meeting to Order and Roll Call
2. Reading of Native American Land Acknowledgement
3. Approval of the August 27, 2024, Meeting Minutes
4. Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda. (Commentators shall address the
Commission for No More than 5 minutes. Commissioners Shall Not Engage in
Discussion with the Commentator or One Another Concerning Remarks)
5. Correspondence
6. Updates on Outreach and Engagement by the Police Department
7. CCAN-Con 2024
8. Indigenous Peoples Day Event (October 14)
9. Human Rights Awards (October 23)
10. Retreat to Revisit the Strategic Plan (October 15 & November 4)
11. Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant & Informational Sessions
12. Commission Committees
Building Bridges (Paul Shantz, Kollasch, Pandya)
Reciprocal Relationships (Lusala, Abdullahi, Pries)
Breaking Bread (Mendez Shannon, Qaduora)
13. Brief Announcements by Staff and Commission Members (Commissioners shall
not engage in discussion with one another concerning said announcements)
14. Next Meeting Date is Tuesday, October 22, 2024
15. Adjournment
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.
1
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
August 27, 2024
Emma Harvat Hall
Commissioners present: Roger Lusala, Jahnavi Pandya, Doug Kollasch, Mark Pries, Vianna Qaduora,
Commissioners present via Zoom: Idriss Abdullahi.
Commissioners absent: Elizabeth Mendez Shannon, Kelsey Paul Shantz, Schafer-Van Houtte.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to City Council: No.
Meeting called to order: 5:32 PM.
Native American Land Acknowledgement: Lusala read the Land Acknowledgement.
Public comment of items not on the agenda: No.
Approval of meeting minutes of July 23, 2024: Pries moved; and Lusala seconded. Motion passed 6-0.
Updates on Outreach and Engagement by the Police Department: No report.
Support for a Community Transportation Commission: No update.
Human Rights Awards: Kollasch, Pandya, and Lusala will serve on the selection committee. Staff will send
the nominations to them on September 20th.
Revisiting the Commission’s Strategic Plan: The commission will hold special meetings on Tuesday,
October 15 and Monday November 5 to review and revise its current plan. Both meetings will begin at 5:30
PM and be held in Meeting Room B at the Robert A. Lee Community Recreation Center.
Welcoming America Initiative: Cady Gerlach and Evan Doyle updated the commission on this annual week
long event. This year it is being supported with funding from the Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant. The
website is welcomeicarea.org. Yard signs will be distributed by the city and other area governments. A
proclamation will be read at the City Council September 3 formal meeting and the committee is working
on getting the Iowa City area certified, which requires an assessment of programs, policies, and other
selective criteria. The criteria framework has seven points of interest: civic engagement,
government/community leadership, equitable access, connected communities, education, economic
development, and safe communities. As the committee works through each point, the commission will be
given the opportunity to assist in the endeavors.
2
Commission Committees’ Update:
Building Bridges (Paul Shantz, Kollasch, Pandya): No update.
Reciprocal Relationships (Lusala, Pries, Abdullahi): No update.
Breaking Bread (Dr. Liz, Qaduora) No update.
CCAN-Con 2024: The commission will host a vendor table at the event and will decide at its September
meeting date whether to also present a program.
National Hispanic Heritage Month: Staff will submit a proclamation and reach out to Manny Galvez and
the other persons who helped to plan Latino Fest to see if they are interested in accepting it.
Mental Health Celebration: Idriss will represent the commission at this event being held on September
22nd from 1-3 PM at Terry Trueblood Area.
Indigenous Peoples Day: Pandya and Lusala (tentative) will represent the commission.
Announcements of Commissioners: Pries recently visited the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas
City. Pries also spoke upon a program he helped plan that included a viewing of the film God and Country
followed by a discussion. There were over 90 community members in attendance. Lusala and Abdullahi
attended the Latino Festival this past weekend. Lusala also asked commissioners to save the date for the
inaugural African Festival being held on Saturday, September 21st. Abdullahi and Qaduora reflected on
their participation in the Benefit for Palestine events held at The Englert. The events raised $15,000 for
Palestinian children. Qadoura recently viewed the documentary Where Olive Trees Weep on the history of
the Palestinian struggle and resilience. In September, the Mariam Girls Club will serve the harvest
vegetables for the Coralville Food Pantry.
Announcements of staff: Reminder the September meeting will be held on the 25th and not the 24th.
Adjourned: 6:19 PM.
The meeting can be viewed at https://citychannel4.com/video.html?series=Local%20Government.
Human Rights Commission ATTENDANCE RECORD
YEAR 2024 (Meeting Date)
NAME TERM EXP. 1/23 2/27 3/4 3/26 4/23 5/28 7/23 8/27 9/24 10/22 11/26 12/24
Jahnavi Pandya 2024 X X X X X X X X
Anya Shafer-Van Houtte 2024 - - - - - - - A
Doug Kollasch 2024 X X X X X X Z X
Viana Qadoura 2025 X X X X X X X X
Idriss Abdullahi 2025 - - - - X Z X Z
Mark Pries 2025 X A X X X X X X
Roger Lusala 2026 X X X A X X X X
Kelsey Paul Shantz 2026 X X X X Z X X A
Liz Mendez-Shannon 2026 X X X A Z X X A
KEY: X = Present A = Absent
Z = Present via Zoom
Correspondence
From:Mandi Remington
To:katierose@cmc-cr.org; cvpbrcats@gmail.com; Stephanieh@bigcr.org; ayman@cwjiowa.org; bijou@cwjiowa.org;mayra@cwjiowa.org; madison@cwjiowa.org; susan@centralfurniturerescue.org; Stefanie Bowers; Megan Hill;Malory Smysor; erin@claimingdisabilityinc.org; info@cleaniowanow.org; 100granniesiowacity@gmail.com;sdbpast@hotmail.com; flannery.currin@gmail.com; nyeager.ic@gmail.com; cogs@cogs.org;dasrajorshi@gmail.com; info@commongoodiowa.org; mowen@commongoodiowa.org; caapbenefit@gmail.com;RebeccaC@cfrhelps.org; ellie@cfjc.org; Shelly@CFJC.org; communitytransportationjc@gmail.com;jendsley@gmail.com; mayasims219@gmail.com; amelali90@gmail.com; krystal.kabela@builtbycommunity.org;emma.meyer@builtbycommunity.org; sarah.nelson@builtbycommunity.org;adrianne.korbakes@builtbycommunity.org; hai@coralvillefoodpantry.org; john@coralvillefoodpantry.org;corridoroutpros@gmail.com; crushthestigma@yahoo.com; recoverycommunityoflinncounty@gmail.com;tony.wilson58@gmail.com; sherry@deafinitelydogs.org; info@driowa.org; fnewell@dreamcityia.org;kristie@dvipiowa.org; allisont@dvipiowa.org; altamp@dvipiowa.org; lacey@dvipiowa.org; info@eidiaperbank.org;easterniowaiww@protonmail.com; mail@networkforgood.com
Subject:Join Us at CCAN-Con 2024 – Let"s Amplify Our Impact Together!
Date:Monday, July 29, 2024 12:22:42 PM
** This email originated outside of the City of Iowa City email system. Please take extra care openingany links or attachments. **Hello Fellow Advocates & Organizers! Are you ready to amplify the incredible work we’re all doing in the Corridor region? We arethrilled to invite you to join us at CCAN-Con, our annual volunteer and civic engagementfestival taking place on Saturday, October 19th, from 11 AM to 6 PM at the Iowa City PedMall.Why CCAN-Con 2024 is Essential for Our Organizations: CCAN-Con is a uniqueopportunity for our local organizations to come together, share resources, and inspire thecommunity. Here’s how your organization can benefit from participating:
Showcase Your Impact: Set up a booth and engage directly with community memberswho are eager to learn about your work and how they can get involved. Expand Your Reach: Connect with other organizations, fostering collaborations thatcan enhance our work. Lead Workshops and Presentations: Host a session to share your expertise, recruitvolunteers, or highlight successful projects.
How You Can Get Involved:
Table at the Event: Share your mission and connect with attendees by setting up abooth. Organizations can participate for any portion of the day they are able.Host a Workshop/Skill-Share/Presentation: We expect to have openings forworkshops and presentations throughout the day. Please let us know if you have orknow of a space in or near downtown Iowa City where we can hold some of thesesessions. They have previously taken place in the library, but there is a schedulingconflict this year. Lead an Outdoor Activity: Help community members engage with your topic in fun,hands-on, interactive ways. Provide Entertainment: We are seeking performers and live entertainment. If youknow anyone who would be interested, please pass the word on and have them reach outto us- this is a great platform to showcase talent!
CCAN-Con 2024 is a chance for all of us to come together and amplify the positive changewe’re making in our community. Your participation will not only highlight the important work
your organization does but also inspire others to get involved. If you are interested in joining us at CCAN-Con 2024, please reply to this email and let us
know how you would like to participate. We are happy to answer any questions and provideadditional information as needed. You can find a public event listing here to help us spread the
word. Thank you for your continued dedication to making our community a better place. We look
forward to collaborating with you at CCAN-Con 2024! Thank You,
Mandi Remington (she/her) | Director, Corridor Community Action Network - Sign up foremails
Schedule a Meeting Iowa City, Iowa, USA
Cell | +1 (319) 677-1153