Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2015_09_11 Brookings Human Rights Committee Minutes Friday, September 11, 2015, at 11:30 am Suite 230, Room 241 - Brookings City & County Government Center Attendance: Penny Hauffe, Sam Jennings, Lawrence Novotny, George Hamer, Chandradhar Dwivedi, Judy Karen, Kanbi Faith Knippling and Shafiqur Rahman. Absent: Steve Bayer, Kanbi Faith Knippling. Also present: Shari Thornes (city staff), Tessa Jennings (intern with SDSU Office of Diversity and Native American Affairs), Chair Hauffe called the meeting to order at 11:30 am. Everyone introduced themselves to the new SDSU student representative on the HRC – Kanbi Faith Knippling who is a junior from Chamberlain double majoringin psychology and human development and family services. A motion was made by Dwivedi, seconded by Karen, to approve the agenda. Motion carried. A motion was made by Dwivedi, seconded by S. Jennings, to approve the minutes of August 17, 2015 meeting with minor corrections; motion carried. Schedule next meeting. The next meeting will be held Friday, October 16 at 11:30 am. A special meeting will need to be held this fall to review and adopt the commission complaint process procedures after they have been drafted. Reports/Updates: a. Fall Diversity Potluck, October 4 – Karen reported that the radio station will record public service announcements in the forenoon. These PSAs will be broadcast on multiple occasions. Hamer and Karen volunteered to record a PSA promoting the potluck. Dwivedi will attend the September 26 City Council meeting to invite the Council. It was reported that the Mayor and Councilmembers have trouble attending Sunday events and maybe we should consider holding the potluck on another night. This will be an agenda item for our quarterly discussion meeting. We agreed to conduct a food drive along with the potluck. b. Mental Illness in the Workplace and Beyond Panel, October 5 Karen reported that the advertising is in place. The planning committee will meet on Monday to draft questions for the panel. c. Meeting with SD World Affairs Council Delegation, October 9 Hauffe doubts she will be able to meet with the delegation from Ukraine. Dwivedi and Novotny will meet with them at 1 pm on Oct 9 at the Lutheran Mission Coffeehouse. The delegation will be having lunch at the coffeehouse prior to the meeting. Novotny will be joining them for lunch. d. EEOC Fall Workshop, Diversity/Bias/Respect, October 20 Outline of the workshop topics were included in this meeting’s packet. The Brookings Committee on Disabilities and the Brookings Area Human Resource Association is supporting the workshop. The 3-4 hour workshop will be held in the library’s Cooper room. e. Youth Mentoring Panel, Community Common Read Event, November 12 The panel is mostly set. Panelists and HRC members will receive tickets to Wes Moore’s talk. f. Commission Transition Training outline is in this meeting’s packet. The HRC will adopt the procedures and policies tentatively in October with the City Council tentatively approving the process in November. Thornes will conduct a doodle poll to select a date for training of the HRC on the process and procedures during the week of January 4, 2016. g. Committee Membership Hauffe and S. Jennings meet with the mayor regarding membership of the HRC. The new Human Resources Commission will not have any slots specifically earmarked for minority groups. The current human rights committee members will remain on the human rights commission and will retain their current term expiration dates. There is 1 opening on the HRC. Hauffe & S. Jennings reviewed a listing of 7-8 applicants and narrowed them down to 4-5 individuals who will be interviewed by Hauffe, S. Jennings, the mayor and Thornes. The goal is to have an appointment made at the October 27 council meeting. New Business: T. Jennings said that Charlotte Davidson (special assistant to SDSU president for diversity and Native American affairs) is planning an event for Native American Day. This will consist of a panel called Educators for Equity that will be held on October 9. There will be a forenoon and afternoon panel. Davidson is looking for financial sponsorship either for room rental and/or transportation for the speakers. Davidson was asked to submit a formal request and the HRC will decide via an e-mail vote. Announcements/Correspondence/Calendar. Oct 4 – Fall Diversity Potluck, McCrory Gardens Visitor Center, 5-7 pm Oct 5- Mental Illness in the Workplace Panel, Brookings Library, 7 pm Oct 20 – EEOC Training Workshop, Brookings Library, Oct 29 – Combined Awards Event, Performing Arts Center Oct 30/31 – Bias Awareness Workshop, Sioux Falls Nov 12 – Youth Mentoring Panel, City & County Government Center, 7 pm Dec 12 – MLK contest entries deadline Adjourn. Motion was made to adjourn and carried. Meeting adjourned at 12:20 pm. Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder.