HomeMy WebLinkAbout1 28 2025 HRCHuman Rights Commission
January 28, 2025
Regular Meeting – 5:30 PM
Emma J. Harvat Hall, City Hall
Agenda:
1.Call the Meeting to Order and Roll Call
2.Reading of the Native American Land Acknowledgement
3.Farewell to outgoing Commissioner Jahnavi Pandya
4.Introduction of incoming Commissioner Lubna Mohamed
5.Approval of the November 26, 2024, meeting minutes
6.Public comment of Items not on the agenda
Commentators shall address the commission for no more than five minutes.
Commissioners shall not engage in discussion with the public concerning said
items.
7.Update on Outreach and Engagement by the Police Department
8.Correspondence
9.Funding Request: Iowa City Foreign Relations Council
10.Discussion on changing the time of year when election of officers are held for the
commission
Currently per the by-laws officer elections are held in January of every year.
11.Approval of 2024 Strategic Plan
12.Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant FY25
13.Save the dates:
•Night of a 1000 Dinners (March 6)
•Youth Awards (May 21)
•Iowa City Juneteenth (June 20)
•Iowa City Pride (June 21)
1
•Human Rights Awards Breakfast (October 22)
14.Staff & Commission Updates
This item includes an opportunity for brief updates from staff and commissioners.
Commissioners shall not engage in discussion on updates.
15.Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2025
16.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 this meeting, please contact the Office
of Equity and Human Rights at 319-356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-
city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet
your access needs.
2
Agenda Item #2
3
1
Draft Minutes
Human Rights Commission
November 26, 2024
Emma J. Harvat Hall
Commissioners present: Roger Lusala, Doug Kollasch, Mark Pries, Vianna Qadoura, Kelsey Paul Shantz, Idriss
Abdullahi, Emily Harkin.
Commissioners present via Zoom: None.
Commissioners absent: Jahnavi Pandya, Elizabeth Mendez Shannon.
Staff present: Stefanie Bowers.
Recommendation to City Council: None.
Meeting called to order: 5:34 PM.
Native American Land Acknowledgement: Kollasch read the Land Acknowledgement.
Public comment of items not on the agenda: None.
Approval of meeting minutes of October 22, 2024 & November 4, 2024: Pries moved; the motion was
seconded by Lusala. Motion passed 7-0.
Updates on Outreach and Engagement by the Police Department: Staff provided a handout from the new
Community Outreach Sergeant Eric Nieland.
Funding request: Pries moved and Lusala seconded, to provide funding to the Johnson County United
Nations Association for its program, Human Rights: Engagement into Action being held on Tuesday,
December 10 at 6PM in Meeting Room A at the Iowa City Public Library. The event will engage seven of the
former “Night of 1000 Dinners” honorary NGOs in a set of roundtable discussions about the state of human
rights in Johnson County, specifically in the areas that they work in.
Strategic Plan: Commissioners spoke about meeting in December in order to go into the New Year with a
clear plan. Paul Shantz asked if there will be new commission members joining at the start of the new year.
Staff answered there will be one new commissioner. Lusala asked when the new member would start with
the commission and staff answered their term starts the first of January.
It was agreed that commissioners would read the Strategic Plan document on their own time and come
prepared to discuss it at their next meeting. A motion was announced to put the strategic plan on the
agenda for a special December meeting date. Paul Shantz suggested to use the December meeting to
discuss the material but wait until January to vote to approve the plan. It was agreed this matter could be
included in next meeting’s discussion.
Agenda Item #5
4
2
Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant (RESJ): Kollasch started the discussion by asking commissioners if
they had any questions on the reports submitted to the commission. Lusala shared the idea of possibly
inviting members who submit reports to the meetings in order to ask questions and discuss their work.
Kollasch shared that he would like to add into the criteria of the grant that the recipients would present a
progress report to the commission. Paul Shantz brought up a previous idea of assigning a commissioner to
each grant recipient in order to maintain communication and a positive relationship with the commission.
Kollasch brought up the fact that City Council had concerns about grants and the process that boards and
commission use to recommend awardees. Kollasch asked staff if there were any directives that came from
the discussion that would be important for the commission to know. Staff answered that the focus wasn’t
necessarily on the racial equity and social justice grant. The main concern seems to come from who has
received funding previously. Staff also mentioned making sure those applying for the grant are applying to
the right grant or if they should be directed to other city funding opportunities.
Pries asked staff if all grants are approved City Council regardless of the board or commission. Staff
answered that all grants that come from a city board or commission go to City Council for approval. The
commission discussed whether the City Council reviews who has or hasn’t received a grant previously from
the city.
RESJ Grant Review
The commission reviewed the updated RESJ Grant application and rubric with staff.
•Staff read the updated Purpose section of the grant and prefaced that the language used comes from
the Human Rights Ordinance along with the City Council’s strategic plan. Staff also explained that the
grant period would likely start sometime in February and questioned if the commission would like to
give less time than the four weeks currently allocated for applications to be submitted.
•Commissioners discussed the timeline and clarified that with a potential release date of February 1st
submissions would be ready for review by March 1st which would keep the commission on a similar
timeline they have previously operated on. Lusala suggested allowing three weeks for submissions due
to the fact the starting date for applications is later than usual and would allow the commission to
review applications sooner. Paul Shantz confirmed with staff the timeline and staff noted the
commission is about one month behind their usual release date on the grant. However, if the
applications are opened by February 1st and reviewed in March it would be pretty much the same
timeline. Paul Shantz suggested keeping submissions open for a full four weeks to allow all applicants
ample time. Kollasch agreed the four weeks may be best for applicants. Staff noted a decision could be
made later.
•Project Requirements were discussed next with staff noting the language of this section comes from the
Human Rights Ordinance and/or the City Council’s strategic plan. Points 1, 2, 5 and 6 of this section
come from the City Council’s strategic plan, 3 and 4 come from the Human Rights Ordinance.
5
3
•Project Eligibility Criteria was reviewed, and staff confirmed the project duration dates are not at all
flexible. Lusala asked for clarification that it can be a repeat organization as long as their project is new.
Staff confirmed, yes. Kollasch asked if there is a way to define a “new” project. Lusala offered that
although the mission may be the same for an organization the commission should look at the target of
the project being proposed to consider if it is “new” compared to their last grant submission. Staff
confirmed the main purpose of this statement is to avoid giving the same organizations money for the
same project(s) year after year. Paul Shantz suggested defining what the commission’s definition of a
“project” is and using that as a chance to disclaim they would like the project to be a new effort that
contributes something beneficial to the community. Staff suggested linking people to previously funded
projects to use as an example. Qadoura asked staff if there is a list of previous recipients of the grant.
Staff confirmed, yes. Lusala clarified that the commissioners will receive the list in a later email when it is
time to review applications. Lusala also clarified that the commission will be responsible for reviewing
each application and accepting or denying applicants, which is when previous recipients come into
consideration. Staff confirmed that the city is requiring staff to provide a list of previous recipients to
board and commissions offering grant opportunities.
•Ineligible Expenses, Paul Shantz asked Staff if it may be necessary to provide an explanation for
“operational costs” listed under ineligible expenses due to confusion in the past. Staff confirmed a
previous description can be included. Paul Shantz also requested clarification for “consultant fees” listed
under ineligible expenses. Staff agreed to provide clarification. Kollasch requested including specifics in the
clarification on the application.
•P2. Next, Applicant Eligibility was reviewed. Staff noted a new ineligibility requirement “Applicants cannot
be for profit businesses…” Kollasch brought up that some organizations have concerns regarding budget
restrictions. Kollasch read from an email from CommUnity that noted while they have a large annual
budget a lot of the money is restricted to specific services and does not properly reflect their operating
budget for new projects. Lusala shared his experiences working with non-profits and the reality that a
majority of annual budgets are restricted to one particular service or resource. Qadoura agreed it is hard
to draw a line and recommended considering the organization itself. Paul Shantz proposed removing the
limit and writing “The annual budget of requesting organizations will be reviewed.” Pries clarified that they
will still be asking for the annual budget total in the application. Staff confirmed, yes. Paul Shantz
suggested requiring that question to be answered. Staff confirmed it is required. Lusala suggested
requesting an organization’s 990 in order to get a better picture of the organization’s entire budget.
Paul Shantz questioned the wording of the first bullet point “The organization must be physically located
in Iowa City.” Paul Shantz suggested an alternative requirement that would read “The project must
serve Iowa City residents primarily.” Staff was unsure of the City’s stance on the matter but shared that
there is a strong preference for the organizations to be Iowa City based. Staff also noted that there
would need to be a way to quantify the amount of people being helped within Iowa City. Qadoura
shared her concerns for organizations operating out of Coralville but benefiting Iowa City residents as
well. The alternative would be to change the wording that allows the commissioners to decide if Iowa
City residents benefit from the organization enough to be considered. Harkin suggested changing the
wording to “The project must only serve Iowa City residents.” Lusala brought up the fact that this would
be hard to track and may discriminate to those living outside of Iowa City. Staff clarified this rule comes
6
4
more for the selection process rather than the applicants themselves. With all things considered it was
agreed to leave the rule as is for the time being.
•Funding Restrictions was discussed with staff explaining that the $10,000 suggested maximum would
allow for more organizations to be funded, however the decision will ultimately be up to the
commission. Kollasch and Pries stated they agree with the $10,000. Paul Shantz shared her reservations
on the limit stating organizations may then be limited to what they can accomplish. Kollasch recognized
Paul Shantz concerns and offered a possible limit of fifteen to twenty thousand dollars. Kollasch also
explained that a new goal is to spread the funding out more across the city to more groups. Paul Shantz
responded that her understanding was a focus on diversification rather than reach. Lusala shared that
he was in favor of reaching more people/ organizations rather than allocating a majority of funds
between fewer organizations. Kollasch confirmed with staff that this can be changed in later years if the
commission feels they would like to change the maximum amount to be allocated to each organization.
Lusala offered the idea of $12,500 as a maximum amount.
Qadoura asked about including a clause that states if the organization has previously received this grant,
they cannot receive more than X amount this time around. Qadoura’s question will be addressed in the
next bullet point. Staff informed the commission that some organizations do not use the full amount of
the grant they receive and have to return the remaining balance to the city, therefore limiting the
maximum amount to be received may help with this concern. Staff suggested settling on $20,000 as the
maximum amount to be received. Commissioners agreed. Paul Shantz requested to include in the
presentation given to new applicants an average amount typically granted so there is an understanding
that receiving the full amount ($20,000) is exceptional.
The next point regarding previous recipients of the grant receiving a lesser amount was discussed.
Kollasch shared he fully supports this point. The commission decided the maximum to be received by
previous grant recipients (in the last two years) is no more than $5,000.
•Reviews and Funding Allocation. All were in agreement and understanding for this section.
•Grant Responsibilities were discussed. Pries clarified that the grant would operate on a reimbursement
basis. Staff reiterated this will be a new approach to allocating grant funds. Paul Shantz and
commissioners agreed the new reimbursement approach is favored. Staff explained the next point
would require grant recipients to submit three quarterly reports to the commission along with a final
report. Pries asked if the report would be solely up to the recipient or if there is a form/ template that
can be provided. Staff confirmed a template can be created and provided if need be. Commissioners
agreed that a quarterly report could include video and photos.
•Application: Staff read through the application. Commissioners had no changes.
•Rubric: Lusala asked if applicants will have access to the rubric. Staff confirmed, yes. Paul Shantz asked
about reworking the section of project outcome expectations to make it more accessible and to create
meaningful feedback. Staff will reword this part of the rubric.
7
5
Qadoura asked how commissioners are to know if applicants have a history of implementing projects
well (Scoring Criteria #6). Lusala answered they will receive a list of previous recipients. Pries agreed
that is not enough information for commissioners to understand and score organizations off. Paul
Shantz suggested encouraging applicants to include as much detail as possible when it comes to
touching on topics the commission is clearly looking for. Lusala commented it may be the commissions
responsibility to check the history of applicants.
Staff suggested changing the wording of the criteria and adding a question that addresses their ability to
follow through with the project. Commissioners agreed to staff’s suggestion. Abdullahi touched on the
third point of the criteria regarding the project’s benefit to the community. Abdullahi suggested adding
into the application how they will measure the success/ impact of their project. Staff stated a similar
question was used in a previous application and can be included in the new one as well. Commissioners
agreed to the change. Kollasch stated question 5 on the application may help commissioners measure the
impact and goal for each project.
Paul Shantz asked staff if there could be character limits for each text section to keep answers on topic and
meaningful. Staff offered to check with other departments about lowest and highest character counts for
other grants to come up with a suggested limit.
A motion to approve the Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant for fiscal year 2025 as discussed and edited
was moved by Lusala and seconded by Qadooura. Motion carried 7-0.
December Meeting Date: Kollasch suggested Thursday, December 12th for a special meeting on the strategic
plan. Commissioners agreed this time would work to meet.
Announcements of Commissioners:
Lusala: Wished all a happy time with family.
Abdullahi: Wished those celebrating a Happy Thanksgiving and all commissioner to enjoy the holiday.
Paul Shantz: Shared news that a member of the Peace in Our Cities network she works with has
successfully launched an office of violence prevention in Bristol, UK.
Kollasch: Shared he has been reappointed for a full term and also accepted the proclamation for
Transgender Day of Remembrance at last week’s City Council meeting. Kollasch wished all a happy holiday
and to enjoy the time with family.
Harkin: Thanked the commissioners for welcoming her to her first commission meeting.
Pries: Encouraged commissioners to visit the Cedar Rapids Art Museum to view an exhibit titled A More
Perfect Union: Political Art from the Collection. Pries also spoke on his work with Interfaith Alliance and the
film on Christian Nationalism.
8
6
Qadoura: Shared that the Iowa City Mosque has welcomed a Christian Homeschooling Co-Op group. Also,
the Coralville Food Pantry will host a community meal on December 6th at 5:00pm. She ended with asking
commissioners to keep those suffering due to war in mind.
Announcements of staff: Staff announced there will be a third-floor remodel so the Equity and Human Rights
Office will be relocating to the Robert A. Lee Recreational Center Meeting Room A.
Adjourned: 7:32 pm.
9
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 11/26 12/12
Jahnavi Pandya 2024 X X X X X X X X A A
Emily Harkin 2024 - - - - - - - - - P
Doug Kollasch 2024 X X X X X X Z X X P
Viana Qadoura 2025 X X X X X X X X X P
Idriss Abdullahi 2025 - - - - X Z X Z A P
Mark Pries 2025 X A X X X X X X X P
Roger Lusala 2026 X X X A X X X X X P
Kelsey Paul Shantz 2026 X X X X Z X X A X P
Liz Mendez-Shannon 2026 X X X A Z X X A X A
KEY: X = Present
A = Absent
Z = Present via Zoom
10
Correspondence
Agenda Item #6
11
Anna Julia Cooper and the “Courageous Revolt” against Jim Crow
Education in the Nation’s Capital
Presented by Dr. Shirley Moody-Turner Thursday, February 20 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Scan the QR Code to Register!
In this live webinar, Shirley Moody-Turner will discuss her biography-in-
progress on trailblazing Black educator, Anna Julia Cooper, and her
recent Washington Post article, “Punished for Leading: How the Black
Female Head of a DC School was Punished for Leading.” Most
importantly, she’ll explore Anna Julia Cooper’s “Courageous Revolt”
against Jim Crow education and show how Cooper was punished for
carrying out the work she was hired to do.
Dr. Shirley Moody-Turner is an associate professor and award-winning
teacher of English and African American Studies at Penn State. She is
the author and editor of several books—most recently the Penguin
Portable Anna Julia Cooper.
12
Tough Conversations About Our Racial Divide…and How We Can Begin to Heal
Saturday, February 1, 2025. 1-3pm Iowa City Public Library
A Presentation and Panel Discussion based on Three Books of Positive Change
Dave Markward Daniel Henderson Steve Berry
Ra
BOOKINGS CONTACT: Daniel Henderson. Danleehen55@gmail.com or 319-461-1055
From Dubuque to Selma and Beyond: My Journey to Understand Racism in America
by Dave Markward
This remarkable Memoir intertwines Dave’s personal growth with significant historical events
and figures as he delves into the heart of America’s racial divides. The work is a testament to
his unwavering belief inhumanity and the power of educaꢀon to effect change.
About the Author - Dave Markward has dedicated his professional life to public education,
serving as a trusted source of knowledge for five decades. He started his career as a junior
high school science teacher, then served as a coach, principal, school district superintendent,
college instructor, and educational consultant. Dave earned higher degrees from Augustana
College and Western Illinois University, and a doctorate from Illinois State University. He
lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Spiritual Journey to Antiracism: A Travel Guide for White People by Daniel Henderson
This book will challenge every white person to consider taking a very specific voyage. But the
trek isn’t always easy and is filled with detours and side roads. Henderson will be your guide
through this metaphorical journey, where you will discover the white supremacist script that
you’ve been given without your knowledge or approval.
About the Author - Daniel Henderson lives in Washington, Iowa. He is director of
“Washington for Justice” which is a grassroots advocacy group that works to make that
community an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming place for all people. He attended Dana
College, studied Educational Administration at University of Nebraska Omaha, and continues
to teach American History at a local community college.
T.E.A.R.S. (Teach Everyone All Racism Sucks) A Novel by Steven Torriano Berry
Racism and hatred are learned behaviors with many destructive thoughts, feelings, and beliefs
indoctrinated into us at an early age. As we live and grow, these rotten seeds fester to become
ugly attitudes that can lead to mistrust, conflict, and life-threatening situations. Two little boys
come innocently into the world blessed with good faith and high hopes for their futures. They
could have been the best of friends, but life, their parents, and society’s rules set them on a
collision course of hate and destruction.
About the Author - Steven Torriano Berry is an award-winning independent filmmaker. His
self-published novel “T.E.A.R.S.” is based on his feature length screenplay confronting the
roots of racism in America. He received his BA in Art/Photography from Arizona State
University and earned his MFA in Motion Picture Production from the University of California,
Los Angeles. He is Professor Emeritus at Howard University’s Department of Media,
Journalism, and Film. He lives in Coralville, Iowa
13
DR
A
F
T
14
DR
A
F
T
15
DR
A
F
T
16
DR
A
F
T
17
DR
A
F
T
18
DR
A
F
T
19
DR
A
F
T
20
DR
A
F
T
21
DR
A
F
T
22
DR
A
F
T
23
DR
A
F
T
24
DR
A
F
T
25
DR
A
F
T
26
DR
A
F
T
27
DR
A
F
T
28
DR
A
F
T
29
Human Rights Sponsorship Request Form
Cover Letter (required reading)
The Iowa City Human Rights Commission is allocated $2000 annually to provide financial assistance to community events designed to eliminate
racial, religious, cultural, or other intergroup tensions, including but not limited to, sex, color, creed, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation,
marital status, age, or national origin.
Rules and Requirements for Sponsorship:
The organization must be physically located in Iowa City.
The program must take place in Iowa City.
The program must have a date and location.
The event date must be prior to the request for financial assistance.
Applicants cannot be governments, public schools, or colleges/universities.
Applicants request cannot exceed $250.00.
Request must include a budget.
Request must include other sponsors.
Request cannot be for reimbursement or honorariums to speakers or guests.
Request cannot be for rental deposits for the venue.
Request cannot be for fundraising purposes.
Requests will be denied if another city department/division has financially contributed funding or will be contributing funds for the
program.
Funding will not be disbursed without the submission of a W9.
If the request is approved for financial assistance an organization cannot request any further assistance in the same fiscal year.
Signature*
Sign here that you have read and understand the rules and requirements.
Date Time
2025-01-22 12:28:26 PM
Application
Organization
Name *
Iowa City Foreign Relations Council
Address*
Street Address
308 E. Burlington Street #282
Address Line 2
City
Iowa City
State/Province/Region
IA
Postal/Zip Code
5240
Country
USA
Agenda Item #8
30
Contact person
Name *
Peter Gerlach
Preferred pronouns
he/him
Phone number *
319.244.8886
Email address *
peter@icfrc.org
Program details
Date of Program*
4/4/2025
Program Title *
Fostering Climate Resilience Together
Location name*
Iowa City Public Library
Location Address *
Street Address
123 S Linn Street
Address Line 2
City
Iowa City
State/Province/Region
IA
Postal/Zip Code
52240
Country
USA
Describe how the program eliminates racial, religious, cultural, or other intergroup tensions, related, but not limited to: sex,
color, creed, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, or national origin.*
ICFRC is an independent, non-partisan organization that hosts speaker programs, community forums, and educational experiences to help
Iowans better understand international issues and foster global engagement. We welcome, include, and support people of all
backgrounds and beliefs and are enriched by learning from and with each other. We embrace the responsibility of creating spaces in which
people feel welcome to learn from and engage with others across all lines of difference.
Is there a financial cost to participate in the project?*
Yes No
Describe how socioeconomic barriers to attendance will be addressed.
All ICFRC programs are free and open to the public, with in-person, livestream, and recordings for late viewing options. This program is
hosted at the ICPL, a community-oriented space in the heart of downtown.31
Previous Next
Budget
Amount Requested (Maximum request $250.00)*
$250.00
Has any City of Iowa City department or division provided any support for this event?*
(Include in-kind and financial support)
Yes
No
Will any City of Iowa City department or division provide any support for this event?*
(Include in-kind and financial support)
Yes
No
Please list all funding sources or in-kind support for this event including the amount *
We are currently reaching out to partners and other organizations in the community for funding support.
Attache Itemized Budget
ICFRC - Itemized Budget - City of Iowa City Human Rights Sponsorship Request Form.docx 16.09KB
32
Itemized Budget
City of Iowa City Human Rights Sponsorship Request Form
Fostering Climate Resilience Together
Friday, April 4, 12-1pm, ICPL
Speakers: Dr. William Gutowski, Jr., Dr. Martha Durr, Dr. Brandi Janssen, and Dr. Linda Shenk
Description: A panel of UI and ISU researchers, sovereign tribal communities, and women
farmland-owners will discuss how they are collaborating to foster climate resilience through a
recently funded NOAA Climate Adaptations program that supports the Central Midwest states of
Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.
• More information about the NOAA Climate Adaptations Program here.
As a small nonprofit, we are primarily requesting support for significant personnel time and effort.
This includes staff time for:
• producing and disseminating marketing materials
• day-of hosting
• support from two interns to create a welcoming and smooth experience for attendees.
Thank you in advance for considering this request,
Peter
Peter Gerlach
Executive Director
ICFRC
33
Iowa City Human Rights Commission
Strategic Plan
2024
Agenda Item #7
34
Report prepared by:
Jennifer Horn-Frasier
Bluebird Sky, LLC
Jennifer@BluebirdSkySolutions.com
35
CONTENTS
Executive Summary ………………………………….. 1
Context …………………………….………………….. 2
Process …………………………………………………….. 2
Strategic Plan ……………………..……………………. 3
Recommended Next Steps ..………………...…… 6
Strategic Action Plan …………………………….…… 6
Conclusion ………………………………………………… 7
Appendix:
Key Insights from Commissioner Survey ……..9
Notes from Strategy Retreat 2 …………………..12
36
Blank for 2-sided printing
37
p. 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the fall of 2024, the Iowa City Human Rights Commission (ICHRC) engaged in a series of strategic
planning activities and retreats that resulted in a new strategic plan. The main elements of the plan are
listed here, with details following in the body of the report and the appendices.
PURPOSE OF THE IOWA CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
The Iowa City Human Rights Commission exists to raise awareness of and advocate for the protection of
fundamental rights and to celebrate the diversity and shared humanity of all community members.
DESIRED OUTCOMES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS
Internally: Consistency and stability within the commission
Externally: High community engagement in which there is meaningful two-way interaction between the
commission and the community
GOALS
1) INTERNAL—Commissioner training: New commissioners receive thorough training, and knowledge
from outgoing commissioners is transferred to the rest of the ICHRC.
2) INTERNAL—Shared leadership: Commissioners share responsibility for activities in which the ICHRC
engages.
3) EXTERNAL—Community engagement: The commission develops deep understanding of the human
rights needs and concerns of the community to inform its recommendations to City Council and to
strengthen the support it provides for community members and organizations working on human
rights.
KEY ACTIVITIES
Goal 2a: Shared Leadership—December Planning Session
The commission would meet in December each year, once the new commissioners are selected and the
outgoing commissioners are still in place. This meeting would be used to provide the desired continuity
from year to year and set goals and plans for the coming year.
Goal 2b: Shared Leadership—Rotating Quarterly Programming
Each quarter, a different group of two to four commissioners would volunteer to organize community
engagement programming, in collaboration with city staff members.
38
p.7
STRATEGIC PLAN
CONTEXT
The Iowa City Human Rights Commission (ICHRC) created a strategic plan in the first half of 2022, at the
tail end of the challenging pandemic period. The ICHRC made progress on the programs and goals it had
set in that plan but, by 2024, commissioners felt they could be doing more. Thus, they decided to
engage in another strategic planning process with a goal of increasing the engagement and impact of
the ICHRC in the post-pandemic era. Specifically, the commission wished to explore ways it could more
actively support the community it represents.
PROCESS
The 2024 strategic planning process followed by the ICHRC was organized into four phases:
Phase 1: Where are we now? Understanding the current state through a survey and preliminary
conversations
Phase 2: Where are we going? Clarifying the future direction and desired outcomes through a
facilitated retreat
Phase 3: How will we get there? Designing projects and specifying actions to help the ICHRC achieve
the desired outcomes through a second facilitated retreat
Phase 4: Turning plans into action: Determining how to organize commissioners’ efforts to carry out
prioritized projects
In Phase 1, the online survey comprised 13 items, the results of which were used to design the planning
retreats. Key insights of the survey are included in the appendix.
In Phase 2, the objectives for the retreat included these:
•Create a shared understanding of the current state of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission
and human rights in our community.
•Provide input to city staff on key topics to guide their work in support of the ICHRC.
•Create a first draft of a framing question to guide the development of the new strategic plan.
The retreat in Phase 3 was designed around the following objectives:
•Create a clear shared vision of the future of how the commission will function in the next three
years.
•Set goals for the next three years.
•Identify metrics to track that will allow the ICHRC to evaluate progress toward its goals.
This report summarizes the output of the first three phases. Phase 4 is planned for early 2025.
39
p.9
THE PLAN
The strategic plan that emerged through the first three phases of the process is focused on helping the
ICHRC collectively and as individual commissioners to be more active and engaged in the community.
The group evaluated what had worked and not worked well in the previous two years, learned more
about the activities of the commission prior to when the pandemic halted much of that activity, and
developed a new shared vision of the commission they want to be for the future.
All the work of the commission must be grounded in its duties that are stipulated in its charter. These
duties are as follows:
1)Make recommendations to the City Council for legislation on discrimination.
2)Cooperate with other agencies and organizations to plan and conduct programs designed to
eliminate racial, religious, cultural, and other intergroup tensions.
3)Educate the public on human rights and unlawful discrimination, such as organizing and
facilitating educational public forums that address one or more of the broad range of topics
included within the rubric of human rights.
While these duties are clear, the commissioners wished to explore ways to see them in action. To that
end, they distilled the duties into a single statement of purpose:
The Iowa City Human Rights Commission exists to raise awareness of and advocate for
the protection of fundamental rights and to celebrate the diversity and shared
humanity of all community members.
The Future State: Where are we going?
In discussing the future it would like build, the commission identified key outcomes in two main
categories: how the ICHRC functions internally, and how the ICHRC engages with the community.
Internally, the commission would like to build toward greater consistency and stability. The commission
has nine members, three of whom are replaced each year. Regularly adding new commissioners keeps
perspectives fresh and ensures that the ICHRC can reflect changes taking place in the community. The
challenge with this structure, however, is ensuring that outgoing commissioners’ knowledge,
perspectives, and activities are passed along to new commissioners. Continuity and stability are
important to ensuring the commission operates efficiently and effectively, and the commissioners
identified this as an important outcome to plan for.
Externally, the commission would like to achieve a state of high community engagement in which there
is meaningful two-way interaction with the community. The ICHRC would like to be seen by the
community as a supportive resource that listens with curiosity and empathy to all. This deep
engagement will enhance the ICHRC’s ability to be responsive to what it learns from the community. The
commissioners are aware that its current level of engagement activity in the community is lower than it
was in the years prior to the pandemic. Thus, their focus is on how to strengthen engagement.
40
p.11
The Plan: How will we get there?
Commissioners identified several goals, each with supporting actions.
Internal Goals Supporting Actions
1)Commissioner training: New
commissioners receive thorough
training, and knowledge from
outgoing commissioners is transferred
to the rest of the ICHRC.
a)Every new commissioner participates in a
standardized onboarding process by the end of their
first month of service.
b)Experienced commissioners serve as mentors for new
commissioners during their first year on the ICHRC.
c)Departing commissioners share an overview of their
critical activities and vital community relationships
with the staff and commission prior to their last day of
service.
2)Shared leadership: Commissioners
share responsibility for activities in
which the ICHRC engages.
a)Each December, the commission holds a planning
session to set goals for the coming year and to make
plans for meeting those goals.
b)Each quarter, a rotating group of commissioners is
responsible for leading the planning and executing of
community engagement activities.
External Goals Supporting Actions
3)Community engagement: The
commission develops deep
understanding of the human rights
needs and concerns of the community
to inform its recommendations to City
Council and to strengthen the support
it provides for community members
and organizations working on human
rights.
a)Commissioners, as representatives of the ICHRC,
attend, participate in, and/or present at public events
with residents from all areas of the community.
Engage frequently in community conversations.
b)Commissioners regularly share with the full ICHRC
what they are hearing and learning in the community.
c)Commissioners regularly receive updates about the
issues being addressed by the Office of Equity.
d)Commissioners use these community interactions to
identify areas of local human rights concerns and
explore what advocacy might be needed.
41
p. 12
The Plan: Some details
While detailed plans are needed for each of the Supporting Actions included in the previous two tables,
the commissioners have developed initial plans for two items.
Goal 2a: Shared Leadership—December Planning Session
The commission would like to meet in December each year, once the new commissioners are selected
and the outgoing commissioners are still officially in place. This would help provide the desired
continuity from year to year through the following activities:
• Celebrating the work of the year
• Reviewing progress made on the goals set at the beginning of the year
• Setting commission-level goals for the coming year
• Setting individual goals for the commissioners who will be serving in the coming year
• Recognizing and thanking outgoing commissioners
• Welcoming incoming commissioners
• Establishing mentor relationships
• Allowing opportunity for all to become better acquainted in preparation for voting on new
leaders at the January meeting
Goal 2b: Shared Leadership—Rotating Quarterly Programming
Each quarter, a different group of two to four commissioners would volunteer to organize community
engagement programming, in collaboration with city staff members. Some ideas for programming
include these:
• Programming related to the various awards given by the commission
• Education topics related to award recipients, to current events, or to other issues and concerns
the commission is aware of through its community engagement efforts and the regular updates
from the city staff
• Programming developed in collaboration with other community organizations, such as Great
Iowa City or the United Way of Johnson & Washington Counties
Setting the Commission Up for Success
In the previous strategic plan, the ICHRC had organized subcommittees to address each of the three
priorities it had identified. These subcommittees were designed to meet monthly to plan and carry out
their respective plans. While each subcommittee made some degree of progress on its goals, the
commission found that it was difficult to accomplish the goals in that structure. Each subcommittee
included only three people, and it was difficult to establish and maintain a regular cadence for the work
outside of the regular ICHRC meetings. Thus, during the current strategic planning process, the
commission explored other ways to organize the work of the new strategic plan in order to better set
itself up for success.
42
p.13
As the commission carries out the activity of this strategic plan, it will incorporate the following
practices:
•Annually set and track goals for the commission as a whole.
•Each commissioner should also set and track personal goals in support of the ICHRC’s annual
goals.
•Each quarter, rotate teams to lead programming efforts. Also rotate the responsibility for
leading and capturing notes for subcommittees or teams.
•When there is a need for a subcommittee to meet, consider holding the meeting the same day
as the ICHRC monthly meeting.
•Identify and record clear action items for each meeting.
•Follow up on action items from previous meetings.
•Regularly evaluate progress being made toward strategic goals by tracking measurable metrics.
RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS
Given the rate of change in the world today, a strategic plan needs to be a living document that evolves
as the organization makes progress and responds to changing external conditions. For this plan, the
overall purpose of the commission and the umbrella outcomes should be constant guides, while the
details of the actions the commission takes from year to year are adjusted to account for progress and
change.
Thus, the framework for annual plans and activities should be these three elements taken together:
Purpose: The Iowa City Human Rights Commission exists to raise awareness of and
advocate for the protection of fundamental rights and to celebrate the diversity and
shared humanity of all community members.
Internal Outcomes: Consistency and stability within the commission
External Outcomes: High community engagement in which there is meaningful two-
way interaction between the commission and the community
Starting with the December 2024 planning session, it is recommended that the commission take the
following action each December:
1)Set a small number of specific, measurable goals for the coming year for the commission as a
whole
2)Identify one or two metrics to track for each goal
3)Define activities that can be implemented to achieve the goals
4)Set timelines for these activities
5)Identify who will be responsible for the activities
6)Invite each commissioner to set personal goals in support of the commission’s goals, along with
a metric or two for each
43
p.14
Following this planning session, each monthly commission meeting could include an agenda item to
review progress on the strategic plan, celebrate progress, and troubleshoot obstacles.
Additionally, the commission may want to consider including at each monthly meeting the opportunity
for each commissioner to make a micro commitment. This is a commitment each individual offers in
accordance with their time, interests, and resources to engage in some activity that helps further the
goals of the commission. A micro commitment typically requires up to an hour of time to complete.
Then commissioners could also report each month on the outcomes and learning from their micro
commitment to help educate and inform colleagues and to seek assistance for activities where needed.
The combination of annual commission goal setting and planning, individual goal setting, sharing the
leadership for new activities, monthly progress monitoring, and monthly micro commitments can create
a powerful result of progress.
CONCLUSION
The commission has created a framework for its work that provides clear guidance and also allows for
flexibility to adapt to the evolving issues and needs of the community it serves. Additionally, the
approach it has chosen is one that lends itself to starting relatively small and building on actions over
time. This type of approach helps ensure the commission will not be overwhelmed by the new work but
instead will be organized to make steady progress over time, increasing its positive impact—a
tremendous benefit to the entire community.
44
Hosted by the Johnson County United Nations Association
Enjoy an international buffet dinner, entertainment, and
recognition of women-led organizations advancing UN Sustainable
Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being.
NIGHT OF
1000 DINNERS
CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY
Benefitting:
The Free Medical and Dental Clinic
Prairielands Freedom Fund
Healthy Start for Refugee Children
Tickets:
Community Members: Suggested Registration $50
Students/Limited Income: Suggested Registration $20
Thursday, March 6 | 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Unitarian Universalist Society
2355 Oakdale Road, Coralville, IA
Ticket sales end
on March 1, 2025
Scan QR for more
information and to
purchase tickets.
Agenda Item #13
45