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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.23.21 HRRC_Minutes_ApprovedDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 4/27/2021 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Virtual Meeting, WebEx, March 23, 2021, 7 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Epstein shared information for virtual meeting guidelines for Commissioners and those watching or listening in to the meeting. Chair Epstein called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Epstein, Commissioners Edwards, Felton, Guadarrama, Ismail, Ross, Segall, Student Commissioners Lichtenberger and Mirza. Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Coordinator; Jennifer Garske, Executive Assistant Absent: Commissioner Stringer Moore and Student Commissioner Borene Late: Commissioners Bennett (technology, joined via phone) III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Commissioner Felton to approve the March 23, 2021 meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Roll call vote. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners indicated the following changes to the draft minutes: • Change “Student Commissioner” to “Student Commissioners” on pg. 1 of meeting minutes, under Roll Call and Absent. • Change “Minnie Gabler” to “Manny Gabler” under 2021 Human Rights & Relations Commission Work Plan, Days of Remembrance section on pg. 2 of the minutes. • Change “hat” to “that” in the next point under the Days of Remembrance section, also on pg. 2 of the minutes. Motion by Commissioner Felton to approve the Feb. 23, 2021 meeting minutes with corrections, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Commissioner Bennett joined the meeting via phone. V. Special Recognitions and Presentations A. Introduction of New HRRC Commissioners • Commissioners introduced themselves to new Commissioners Bennett, Guadarrama and Segall. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 4/27/2021 o New Commissioners Guadarrama and Segall shared information about themselves with the Commission. VI. Reports/Recommendations A. Human Rights & Relations Commission 2020 Work Plan • The Commission discussed the Work Plan with the following updates: o Initiative #4 – Arts & Décor Rubric o Use of rubric has not been completed because of the pandemic o Initiative #6 – Bias Offense Review o Council Member Jackson had wording suggestions when this went before Council this month o Updates will be made and it will be resubmitted for Council approval at next meeting B. 2021 Human Rights & Relations Commission Work Plan • The Commission discussed the 2021 workplan as well as assigned Commissioners to initiatives. o Initiative #1 – Days of Remembrance - The speaker is available again - It will be a seminar-type presentation and the group is working on a date for the event - There can be up to four members on each of the initiatives - Can let Chair Epstein know if a Commissioner would like a spot on this initiative o Initiative #2 – Tom Oye Award - No update - Shared background on the award for the new Commissioners - Room for two more Commissioners on this initiative o Initiative #3 – Sharing Values Sharing Community Event - No update yet, waiting for new leadership of Commission to be in place to make plans - This initiative dovetails with Initiative #4 - Shared information about this initiative and Initiative #4 for new Commissioners, including last fall’s event about justice, race and policing in the community - Looking for more Commissioners to join this initiative o Initiative #4 – Race, Justice, and Policing Community Awareness Plan & Implementation - Mentioned in information shared for Initiative #3 o Initiative #5 – Bias Offense Review - Information shared with new Commissioners about this initiative - Commissioner Guadarrama indicated an interest in joining this initiative o Initiative #6 – Review and comment on a plan developed by P&R and R&E staff - Staff Liaison Lee shared information about this initiative, emphasizing this is a review and comment directive from Council - Chair Epstein asked Commissioners again to volunteer for one or more of the initiatives, as almost all need more members C. Speaker Presentation Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 4/27/2021 • The Commission discussed what speakers they might want to hear from in 2021, who may fall under one of their initiatives - Police Chief will be at four HRRC meetings this year - Leaves a few dates where we could add speakers to the calendar - Commissioners encouraged to send in speaker ideas to Chair Epstein or Staff Liaison Lee VII. Chair and Member Comments • Commissioner Felton took over for former Commissioner Nelson as HRRC representative at the Edina Community Council o Updated on impact on Hennepin County services in downtown Minneapolis due to the Derek Chauvin trial o Service Centers are still all closed, some libraries are now open o Tax services for low-income individuals is available through Hennepin County • Commissioner Edwards shared that she is heartbroken over the shooting in Atlanta o Would love help with some of these initiatives, especially Tom Oye Award • Commissioner Ross welcomed new Commissioners • Commissioner Segall shared that League of Women Voters (LWV) is holding a virtual screening of a documentary on voter suppression on March 25, the link can be found at https://lwvedina.org/ o April 27 there will be a community discussion of the book “Caste,” in coordination with the Edina Community Foundation. Link on LWV website. o Event June 14-16 with a speaker on ageism through the Minnesota Elder Justice Center. It is held in conjunction with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. • Commissioner Guadarrama is part of an organization that is holding an event April 2 on policing and trauma. Will send link to Staff Liaison Lee. • Commissioner Ismail is interested in Initiative #4, would like to be part of it. o Local nonprofit Somali American Women Action Center hosting an event the beginning of May to build awareness in the community about eliminating plastic bags. Women in group are making tote bags to sell for the nonprofit, and educate about not using plastic bags. Creating a website for the challenge with a link to purchase the tote bags. • Commissioner Felton welcomed the three new Commissioners as members. o LWV put on a program last month about restrictive covenants on deeds in Edina. May be able to partner on promoting their events. • Student Commissioner Lichtenberger shared about going to state with her Mock Trial team. o Gave an update on the group she founded at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, now called Red Knights for Social Justice and what they are working on. o Student Commissioner has some ideas for speakers future meetings. • Student Commissioner Mirza working with the Arts & Culture Commission to get virtual art gallery up and running. • Chair Epstein Jewish Community Relations Council shared that the Holocaust commemoration event is set for April 8. Go to their website to find out more. o Deb Haaland, Interior Secretary in the Biden administration, became the first Native American cabinet member. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 4/27/2021 o Shared about the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, and how we need to all address it. o Edina Magazine had Commissioner Ismail in this month’s issue. Check out the story on her nonprofit organization. o Edina Magazine the previous month had an article on Yancey Park. • Commissioner Bennett shared some speaker options and topics with the Commission, such as the 2020 Census results. LWV will sponsor a presentation May 13 featuring Susan Brower, State Demographer. LWV will have more presentations later in the year. o Hennepin County library working with local author on book groups, and encouraging people to form book groups. o Professor of social work at Augsburg College who does research and teaching on health disparities. o Calling out vs. calling in would be a great topic for the Commission and community to hear about. o Commissioner thanked the Commission for their work in the community, and excited to work with everyone. o LWV is sponsoring presentation by Dr. Duchess Harris, Professor of American Studies at Macalester College, on “How Black Women are Changing Politics and Influencing Elections” on April 8. Go to LWV website for link to event. VIII. Staff Comments • Hennepin Libraries have moved forward with erasing fines, and not using fines in the future • Edina Magazine will be doing a story on the Seeds of Change artwork at 50th & France in the May edition. The project co-founders won the Tom Oye Award in 2020. The magazine would like to speak to members of 2020 Tom Oye Award subcommittee. IX. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Ross to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.