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Home My WebLink About12-02-2021 Ad Hoc Trust and Reconciliation CommissionAd Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Agenda Thursday, December 2, 20217PM Emma J. Harvat Hall Iowa City City Hall 410 E. Washington Street In order to encourage input from the public, the Commission intends to offer the opportunity to participate in the meeting remotely. However, this meeting is in -person, and those wishing to ensure their ability to participate should attend the meeting in -person. If you instead wish to participate remotely, you may attempt to do so by joining the below link. Please note that the meeting link and ID for the first Thursday of each month is different than the link and ID for the third Thursday of each month. First Thursday Meetings httl)s://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN cMlaaV6cTxGwO1Wu2-hFHg ID: 867 2424 8095 Third Thursday Meetings https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN ICII811PSRo1u0XPIL-1Ew ID: 89S 3695 048S 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. Meeting Agenda: 1. CALLTOORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. READING OF LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 4. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 18, 2021 S. PUBLIC COMMENT OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH THE PUBLIC CONCERNING SAID ITEMS) 6. COMMUNITY COMMENT ON TRC'S CHARGES INCLUDING FACT-FINDING AND TRUTH -TELLING 7. DISCUSSION ON RACISM WITHIN IN IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS 8. DISCUSSION ON TRC LOCAL PARTNERS 9. DISCUSSION AND FOLLOW-UP FROM CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OF NOVEMBER 30, 2021 ON THE TRC 10. UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF THE FUND EXCLUDED WORKERS COALITION AND THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN 11. CIRCLES 12. ANNOUCEMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS/STAFF (TRC MEMBERS SHALL NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION WITH ONE ANOTHER CONCERNING SAID ANNOUCEMENTS) 13. ADJOURNMENT If you will need a disability -related accommodation 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 accessibility needs. I r i CITY OF IOWA CITY 410 East Washington Street Iowa City, Iowa 52240-1826 (319) 356-5000 (319) 356-5009 FAX www.icgov.org AD HOC TRUTH & RECONCILIATION COMMISSION DECEMBER 2, 2021 MEETING PACKET CONTENTS AGENDA ITEM #3 • LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT AGENDA ITEM #4 • DRAFT MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 18, 2021 AGENDA ITEM #8 • TRC TENATIVE LOCAL PARTNERS LIST 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. November 18, 2021 Draft Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Minutes Emma J. Harvat Hall City Hall Commissioners present: Amel Ali, Kevo Rivera, Daphney Daniel (via Zoom), Chastity Dillard (via Zoom), Wangui Gathua, Eric Harris, Clifton Johnson, Mohamed Traore. Commissioners not present: Sikowiss (Christine Nobiss). Staff present: Stefanie Bowers. Community members who spoke at the meeting: Nicholas Theisen, Nisreen Elgaali, Maria Kazembe, Dan Kauble, Noah, Taylor Kohn. Recommendations to City Council: Yes, to extend the timeline for the TRC to complete its mission through June 2023. Motion passed 8-0. Meeting called to order: 7:05. Reading of Land Acknowledgement: Ali read the Land Acknowledgement. Approval of Minutes from the November 4, 2021: Traore moved, and Ali seconded. Motion passed 8-0 Public Comment of Items not on the Agenda: Theisen delivered remarks on Michael Williams, a Black man lynched in Sigourney, Chris Kelly, a Black man beaten and tased by Iowa City Police, Black Lives Matter, and the demonstrations of last summer including the car barreling into protestors. Elgaali and Kazembe spoke on the lack of respect Black students receive within the Iowa City Community School District and on the effort of students at West High to form a Black Student Union (BSU) with the hope that other area schools will also form their own BSUs. Kauble let the Commissioners of the TRC know that if they need anything to let him know. Noah thanked the TRC for all that they do. Kohn reported on the recent retaliation against the Chair of the TRC. DISCUSS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION OF NOVEMBER 30, 2021 ON THE TRC: Members reported that there wasn't really the need for guidance at this point. To date, the meeting is not set up as a joint meeting with the City Council. Recommendation to Extend the TRC's Timeline: The Commissioners discussed recommending for the deadline to be extended through June of 2023 to allow flexibility. Testimonies could be taken through 2022 if the deadline is extended. Commissioners plan on flushing out more detail in the coming months. Motion by Rivera to extend the deadline through June 2023, the motion was seconded by Ali. Motion passed 8-0. The Fund Excluded Workers Coalition Update: The Johnson County Supervisors have approved 2 million for the Excluded Workers, but it will not be available until March 2022. The amount allocated is not enough and it has not been determined how it will be distributed. The City is proposing 1 million to 1 million or the equivalent of the budget set aside for the TRC. The payments need to be direct cash payments and the process to receive the payments should not be burdensome like they have been for seeking housing assistance during the pandemic. The payments should not require persons to have documentation. The process for distribution may also need to include translators and interpreters. List of Potential Partners for the TRC: Noah and Keaver spoke on the need to be mindful of the potential harm that may come to persons who choose to come forward and testify. Commissioners added Laura Gray and Charlie Eastham with the ICCSD to the potential partner list. Inside Out Reentry is going through transition and so they will be reconnected with this process at a later date. South District and Dream Center have been contacted along with the African American Network of Johnson County. Monsoon has not yet replied to the TRC. Pastor Smith of the Johnson County Interfaith Coalition can set up roundtables and meetings between the TRC and their leaders At the next TRC meeting, Commissioners will discuss the initial framework on how to work with partners on the truth -telling process. Circle Invitation: Rivera, Harris, Gathua, and Ali participated in a Circle that was facilitated by Angie Jordan and Annie Tucker. The experience was insightful and brought them closer together as members of the TRC. The Circles are therapeutic. Traore will request invoices from the facilitators so that they can be compensated. Commission Announcements: Rivera reminded all on the practice of gratitude and also mentioned Commissioner Sikowiss' (Great Plains Action Society) upcoming "The Truth Will Not Be Whitewashed Fashion Show" in collaboration with Humanize My Hoodie. Commissioners ended the meeting with their thoughts on the recent arrest of Chair Traore after the TRC meeting of November 4, 2021, the effects to him, his family, fellow Commissioners, and the community. Staff Announcements: No. Adjourn: 9:20PM The entire meeting can be viewed at this link https://Voutu.be/sgoaAghvJvM. x x x x x x o x x e x x x x x x x x x N a x x x x x x x x x x o x x o x x o x 0 x x x x x x x x x N a x x x x x o x x x x x x x x x x O x N DS O DS DC x i< DG DG DG O ti Yv i�v Q Yv x x �C r N N N N N N N N N N N N N N M N N N N F' C d s R A A x z � �7 h iz F POTENTIAL PARTNER INDIVIDUALS 40 Elizabeth Bernal —cultural liaison for Iowa City schools, founding member of Prairielands Freedom Fund (see below) 40 Manny Galvez — founder and organizer of Iowa City Latino Festival 40 Bram Elias — immigration attorney, UI Law Professor 0 Peter Gerlach — UI International Studies adjunct assistant professor, Summer Institute Coordinator at the International Writing Program 40 Teresa Stecker— Executive Director of IC Compassion (see below) • Annie Tucker — Executive Director of Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa POTENTIAL TRC PARTNER GROUPS Name of Organization/Website/Contact Target Population/Services Provided TRC TRC Approved Liaison Black Voices Project Amplifying Black voices and culture in the ❑ Chastity https://www.facebook.com/icbvp/ community. Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa Assistance and education to low -wage ❑ Wangui https://cwiiowa.orgZ workers, including immigrants CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank Food bank, clothing vouchers for low- ❑ Daphney https://builtbycommunity.Org/ income individuals and households. Mobile crisis services. Dream City Community building, youth leadership ❑ Eric https://www.dreamcityia.org/ programs for children and families. Great Plains Action Society Indigenous organizers providing ❑ Sikowis https://www.greatplainsaction.org/ programming to educate, empower, and protect BIPOC communities. IC Compassion ESL and citizenship classes, food ❑ Wangui https://www.iccompassion.org/ assistance, free legal clinic, immigration assistance and, community meals, refugee counseling services. Inside Out Reentry Community Support for individuals involved in the ❑ Eric htti)s://www.insideoutreentry.com/ criminal legal system International Women's Club of Iowa City Social events and English programs for ❑ UNCLAIMED https://iwciowacity.wordpress.com/ women. Iowa City Catholic Worker Immigrant and refugee led community ❑ Eric https://iowacitycatholicworker.org/ providing food, housing, rent assistance, accompaniment, and deportation defense. Iowa City Free Medical and Dental Clinic Health care to low income individuals and ❑ UNCLAIMED https://freemedicalclinic.org/ families. Iowa City Mutual Aid Collective Kitchens project, street medic training ❑ Kevo https://iowacitym utuala id.com/ Iowa Freedom Riders Community organizing and mobilization ❑ UNCLAIMED https://www.facebook.com/iowafreedomCiderZ Iowa Jobs for America's Graduate (iJag) Mentoring, school retention, work ❑ Mohamed https://www.iowacityschools.org/Page/16080 resources, skill -building for 9-12`h grade students. I .wLegal Aid C.-..e eiyiI legal assistanee. ❑ Monsoon Asians and Pacific Islanders in AAPI victims of gender -based violence ❑ Wangui Solidarity https://monsoonlowa.orgZ Multicultural Development Center of Iowa As a nonprofit, we provide free community ❑ Chastity https://www.mdclowa.org/ services ranging from free STEM training to mentoring programs and business incubation to underserved communities. Learn more about our programs and find a learning location near you. Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County Before and after school programs for ❑ Chastity https://ncic.org/index.html youth and family support services. NISAA African Family Services Programs for African immigrant and ❑ Wangui http://nisaa-afs.org/ refugee women, particularly victims of violence and sexual assault Path of Hope Refugee and immigration services ❑ UNCLAIMED https://path-of-hope.org/about/ Prairielands Freedom Fund Immigration bonds and pretrial bail ❑ Kevo https://www. Pra i rielandsfreedomfund.orgZ Proteus Health care, education assistance, and job ❑ UNCLAIMED http://www.proteusinc.net/ training for agricultural workers, including migrant workers. Shelter House Community Shelter & Transition Housing, food, healthcare, and case ❑ Chastity & Services management services for unhoused Kevo https://shelterhouseiowa.org/ individuals and families University of Iowa African American Council, Native American ❑ Wangui & Diversity Councils Council, Pan Asian Council, Latinx Council Kevo https://diversity.uiowa.edu/resources/dei- across-campu s Afro-American Cultural Center, Latino Cultural Centers Native American Cultural Center, Asian htti)s://multicultural.uiowa.edu/culturaicenters Pacific American Cultural Center; affiliations with other cultural student groups (Black Student Union, Asian American Student Union, South Asia Student Association, African Student Association) *Added At 11/4/21 Meeting* Name of Organization/Website/Contact Target TRC TRC Liaison Population/Services Approved Provided Forest View Tenants Association ❑ UNCLAIMED Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) ❑ Wangui/ https://www.iowacityschools.org/ Mohamed ICCSD Equity Advisory Committee ❑ Wangui/ https://www.iowacityschooIs.org/Page/l124 Mohamed ICCSD Mental Health, Special Education and Disability PTO ❑ Wangui/ htti)://autismiowacity.org/iccsd-mental-health-special- Mohamed education-and-disability-pto https://www.facebook.com/grouns/12EaEIQIIZI!l7 Johnson County Interfaith Coalition ❑ Mohamed https://o rga n i ze iowa. co m/ Sudanese Organizations ❑ Wangui I Heart Black Businesses ❑ Clif https://www.iheartblack.biz/ Humanize My Hoodie https://www.humanizemVhoodie.com/ ❑ Sikowis United Action for Youth afterschool teen programs, ❑ Chastity htti)s://www.unitedactionforyouth.org/ teen parents programs, Coralville Food Pantry Food insecurity ❑ Chastity https://www.coralvillefoodpantry.org/ The following documents were handed out during the meeting. Chris Olney From: Stefanie Bowers Sent: Wednesday, December 8, 2021 2:24 PM To: *City Clerk's Office Subject: FW: Request for Assistance - IC Breaks Its Word on EWF this as a late handout for their meeting of 12J2f21. Thanks! From: Iowa City Catholic Worker<iowacitvcatholicworker@smail.com> Sent: Thursday, December 2, 20218:31 AM To: AdHocTruth <AdHocTruth@iowa-city.or2> Cc: Amel Ali <amelali90@gmail.com>; Daniel Daphney <da hdaniel.trc mail.com>; Chastity Dillard <chastity.dillard.ictrc@e,mail.com>; Wangui Gathua <wan ui athua ahoo.com>; Eric Harris <estone605Cdamail.com>; Clif Johnson <clifiohnson.ua1PgmaiI.com>; Si Kowis <sikowis reat lainsaction.or >; Kevin Rivera <Kevorivera.trc(cpgmail.com>; Mohamed Traore <mo.traor3@Rmail.com> Subject: Request for Assistance - IC Breaks Its Word on EWF A December 2, 2021 Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission The city of Iowa City has broken its promise to excluded workers. Our coalition asks you for help to hold them to their word. Iowa City must honor its prior commitment to contribute an additional $1.5 million to the Excluded Workers Fund and guarantee $2,000 checks for Christmas to impacted workers. Last month, Johnson County passed a $2 million Excluded Worker Fund to give direct cash payments to essential workers left behind without pandemic relief. But Johnson County officials say the relief checks will only be $1,400 and not available until March, more than two years after the pandemic began. Last September, the city of Iowa City proposed matching Johnson County with an additional fair share contribution of $1.5 million to an Excluded Workers Fund, which would bring the total fund from only $2 million to $3.5 million. Since then however, Iowa City has taken no action on their pledged commitment to fully fund excluded workers. They are sitting on millions of dollars in public money that must be used for the common good now. Both the city and the county are underestimating the number of excluded workers in our community. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, there are 2,000 undocumented immigrant workers in Johnson County. Two million dollars divided by 2,000 excluded workers is only $1,000 per person. Three and a half million divided by 2,000 is $1,750. These amounts are not nearly large enough to guarantee racial equity in pandemic relief. Iowa City must do the right thing and immediately transfer the $1.5 million they previously committed to excluded workers but are now holding back on. We will also ask North Liberty and Coralville to each donate $250,000 as well, in order to bring the total fund up to $4 million, enough to distribute $2,000 checks to 2,000 excluded workers. However, Coralville and North Liberty have no real incentive to contribute anything as long as Iowa City sits out. The average excluded worker in our community missed out on more than $18,000 in pandemic relief, including enhanced unemployment insurance and stimulus checks, even as they risked their lives to keep our society going. Many of their children also did not receive $2,500 in relief other children got. According to a groundbreaking new report "Another Door That Doesn't Open", the New Jersey Excluded Workers Fund is facing significant setbacks because the paperwork requirements are too onerous and the size of the checks are too small. As a result, only a small fraction of eligible workers are applying for relief, and many who do are unfairly denied access. In contrast, Tier One of the highly successful New York Excluded Workers Fund gave $15,600 checks to every eligible excluded worker. Tier Two guaranteed $3,200 checks even to excluded workers who couldn't meet proof of income and financial loss requirements. Based on the New York model, there is no reason why a local system here in Iowa can't distribute $2,000 checks without any red -tape or restrictions. Iowa City and Johnson County have the opportunity to be among the first local governments in the country outside of major metropolitan areas to give government relief to excluded workers for the first time in their lives. If they complicate the process with burdensome rules and stingy payments, it will fail. It is for these reasons that dozens of excluded workers mobilized at last Tuesday's city council meeting and gave the public comment some of you heard. The city of Iowa City has previously committed $1.5 million and $2,000 checks to excluded workers - and we call on them to keep their promise and guarantee direct cash payments for Christmas. Any help the Truth and Reconciliation Commission can give in this regard is greatly appreciated. Sincerely and in Solidarity, Manny Galvez, Ninoska Campos, Alejandro Guzman, Maureen Vasile, Barb Stanerson, Ann Houlahan, Pat Bowen, Kenn Bowen, Katie Biechler, Emily Sinnwell, David Goodner Fund Excluded Workers Coalition Iowa City Catholic Worker Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement SEW Local199 AFSCME 12 Corridor Community Action Network Iowa City Mutual Aid Collective Iowa City Democratic Socialists of America Community Transportation Committee Nissa African Family Services Veterans for Peace Iowa City Iowa City Ad -Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission Iowa Freedom Riders LULAC 308 LULAC Statewide Council Great Plains Action Society Ex -Incarcerated People Organizing (EXPO) Iowa Iowa Student Action