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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-03-24 Ad Hoc Truth & Reconciliation CommissionAd Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Thursday, October 3, 2024 Regular Meeting 7 PM — Emma Harvat Hall, City Hall 410 E. Washington Street AGENDA: 1. CALL TO ORDER. 2. READING OF NATIVE AMERICAN LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. 3. 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, maybe mad in -person or remotely. 4. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM SEPTEMBER 19, 2024. 5. PRESENTATION BY IOWA CITY CATHOLIC WORKER ON THE OPEN SHELTER. 6. ACTIONS FOR PHASES THREE AND FOUR A. MEET AND GREETS B. FINAL REPORT C. PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL D. DOCUMENTARY E. OTHER 7. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF STAFF 9. ADJOURNMENT In order to encourage input from the public, the Commission intends to offer the opportunity to participate in the meeting remotely. However, this meetingis in -person, and those wishing to ensure their ability to participate should attend the meeting in -person. If you instead wish to participate remotely, youmay attempt to do so by joining the below link. First Thursday Meetings I D: 867 2424 8095 Third Thursday Meetings I D: 895 3695 0485 If you have no computer or smartphone, or a computer without a microphone, you can call in by phone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting ID when prompted. 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 inorder to participate in these events, please contact the Office of Equity and Human Rights at 319-356-5022 or human riahtsa.iowa-citv.ora. Native American land Acknowledgement Prepared for the City of Iowa City's Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Human Rights Commission PURPOSE Iowa City owes its existence to the many Indigenous Peoples who were the original stewards of this land and who were subjected to manipulation and violence by non-native settlers, invaders, and governments in order to make this moment possible. Acknowledgement of this truth is central to our work toward reconciliation across all barriers of difference and injustice. Starting with a Native American Land Acknowledgement, this Commission will bear witness to the legacies of violent displacement, migration, and settlement that have marginalized those who were the first inhabitants of this land. We must also address the mistreatment and exclusion that Native Americans continue to face today. The Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Human Rights Commission encourage the community and City of Iowa City to join us in these efforts through the use of a Native American Land Acknowledgement. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT To be read at all public meetings and events: "We meet today in the community of Iowa City, which now occupies the homelands of Native American Nations to whom we owe our commitment and dedication. The area of Iowa City was within the homelands of the Iowa, Meskwaki, and Sauk, and because history is complex and time goes far back beyond memory, we also acknowledge the ancient connections of many other Indigenous Peoples here. The history of broken treaties and forced removal that dispossessed Indigenous Peoples of their homelands was and is an act of colonization and genocide that we can not erase. We implore the Iowa City community to commit to understanding and addressing these injustices as we work toward equity, restoration, and reparations." LEARN MORE Native Governance Center Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement US Department of Arts and Culture: Honor Native Land Virtual Resources and Guide Meskwaki Nation - History Special thanks to the University of Iowa Native American Council for their work and guidance, as well as members of the public, for their input. September 19, 2024 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes Emma Harvat Hall Commissioners present: Amos Kiche, Wangui Gathua, Chastity Dillard, Louis Tassinary, Commissioners on Zoom: Chad Simmons, Lubna Mohamed. Commissioners not present: Cliff Johnson, Lauren Merritt, Kayla Rossi. Staff present: Stefanie Bowers. Recommendation to City Council: No. Meeting called to order: Approximately: 7:05 PM. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Dillard read the Land Acknowledgement. Public Comment of items not on the Agenda: No. Approval of the Minutes from September 5, 2024: Gathua moved, and Tassinary seconded. Motion passed 5-0. Presentation by Resilient Sustainable Future Iowa City (RSFIC): Sarah Haroun, Project Manager, at RSFTC spoke about the work the organization does for the community, including working with all neighborhoods around Iowa City. The overall goal is to bring neighbors together to work together and to empower people to be positive and independent. RSFIC currently has a project with Film Scene called Stories of Community that is a series of short films that amplify stories of community members building a sustainable and resilient future. Haroun spoke about her work with the community focusing on women and immigrants. To aid community members RSFIC provides citizenship classes and English classes. They are currently working on providing a package of activities to offer immigrants to introduce and integrate them into the community. Haroun is currently working with women in the community to provide them work that allows them their own income. Haroun has acted as a caregiver for ten years and uses this knowledge to work with community members. Haroun hopes to grow her Compassion Care LLC to continue helping women and provide more jobs for more women in the community. Gathua thanked Haroun for her time and efforts. Gathua shared she felt the work RSFIC has done aligns with the goals of the TRC in terms of empowerment and racial justice in the community. Gathua also touched on the idea of reconciliation through these efforts and through neighborhoods in the community coming together. Gathua acknowledged Haroun's work as an employer and the need for Iowa City to continue growing in that area to help empower others. As an employee at Nissa African Family Services, Gathua has seen the direct affects of those who benefit from RSFIC services. Kiche spoke to Haroun thanking her for her time and services to the community. Kiche asked if Haroun has directly faced any challenges that affect her work in the community. Haroun answered yes, but continued to reflect on the positive aspect of her role and the outcomes she has seen. Haroun mentioned the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County and the support they provide to both her and her community. The mission of RSFIC is to shift the culture of Iowa City by demonstrating sustainable examples for a resilient culture. Kiche also asked if there was anything Haroun has come across that could help the commission with their own work. Haroun answered that the Neighbors to Neighborhood grant has given her the most resources to be able to help others. Gathua added to the conversation encouraging the commissioners to visit the RSFIC building noting it is a healing space. Dillard thanked Haroun for her time and mentioned the TRC's approaching deadline and how the commission could live on alongside RSFIC and their efforts. Action items for Phases Three and Four: Dillard brought up the Meet and Greets that were discussed at the September 5 meeting. Staff reported the popular times were Sunday after 4:OOPM and Saturday from 11 AM-]2PM. Dillard suggested dividing the responsibilities of meeting both days between commissioners. Saturday, October 5 Tassinary, Gathua, Kiche, and Mohamed will be present. For Sunday, October 20, it will be Dillard, Gathua, Kiche, and Mohamed. Mohamed suggested the Coralville Library as a meeting place. Staff suggested Mercer Aquatic Center and the Robert A. Lee Recreational Centers as potential meeting places with good parking at no charge. Dillard suggested spreading the two meeting spots out to reach different areas of the Iowa City community. Gathua suggested a shelter at City Park as an option for meeting location. It was agreed Mercer Aquatic Center would be the meeting location for the October 5" meeting. Tassinary asked how the commission would like to document what they learn/ hear at these meetings. It was suggested for cormissioners to gather after the event and recollect what they experienced and take notes that way rather than during the event. Dillard suggested keeping the meetings between one and two hours long depending on how much participants have to say and share. Kiche suggested collecting demographics of attendees for use in the commissions final report. Dillard suggested providing an anonymous post -meeting survey. Dillard also mentioned encouraging anyone who speaks passionately during these private meetings to speak publicly later in partnership with the commission to help the commission move forward. Gathua suggested having resources from the Mobile Crisis for those who share in case their stories trigger negative emotions. The commission spoke about possible advertisement efforts to encourage participation, including a flyer, online posts, and word of mouth. Kiche and Gathua spoke about possible guest speakers to speak with the commission similarly to the presentation given to the commission at this meeting. Gathua will be presenting on behalf of the Catholic Worker House at the commission's October Yd meeting. Kiche is still waiting to hear back on a set date and time for the Shelter House to meet with the commission. Gathua encouraged commissioners to attend a zoom staff meet and greet with the Nissa African Family Services a limit of four commissioners attending. Tassinary reported that his work on the Commission's outline of the final report is still in a draft state with additional revisions needed before sharing it as a completed outline. Gathua asked Tassinary if the work was overwhelming and if additional city staff help would be necessary. Tassinary shared that the work was not overwhelming at this time, however depending how the outline is received and where the commission would like to go with the report would then 2 determine if additional help would be needed. Simmons suggested going to City Council and asking to provide the presentation of the report to the City Council at its second January meeting to have a little more time to finalize the report. Dillard questioned whether the commission presenting to City Council after the TRC Dec. 3 1 " end date would pose a problem. Gathua asked what it would look like for staff to help with the report, however without additional information and contents of the report staff is unsure of their capacity to help the commission. Dillard reminded the commission of the possibility of hiring someone to write up the final report. Simmons shared he is not recommending asking for additional time for the TRC to do its work but simply just to make the presentation. Staff will look into whether it is necessary for the TRC to ask for an extension or if the TRC can just plan on making the presentation after its expiration. Announcements of Commissioners: Kiche brought attention to the commission on the University of Towa returning artifacts to the Kingdom of Benin. Gathua shared that her 24-year-old daughter received her American Citizenship. Dillard shared that it is Hispanic/ Latinx heritage month. Dillard also shared that her organization will be hosting an event "Rock the Block" from 2 to 5pm Saturday Sept. 21 in the Towncrest area. Announcements of Staff: None. The meeting adjourned at 8:12 PM. The full meeting video can be viewed at this link. 3 AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION ATTENDANCE RECORD YEAR 2024 (Meeting Date) NAME TERM EXP. 3/14 3/18 3/20 3/21 4A 5/2 5/16 6/20 7/18 8/1 8/15 9/5 9/19 Dillard 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P A P P Gathua 12/31/24 P P P P P A A Z Z Z A Z P Kiehe 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P P P Johnson 12/31/24 P P P P P P P P P P P P A Merritt 12/31/24 P P P P P P A P P P P Z A Mohamed 12/31/24 Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Simmons 12/31/24 P P A P Z P P A P A A A Z Tassinary 12/31/24 P P P P A P P P A P P A P Rossi 12/31/24 - - - - - - - A Z A A A A P = Present in person A = Absent Z = Zoom