HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRCMinutes_2017_05_08Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Monday,May 8, 2017
Room 300 Community Room, Brookings City & County Government Building
Attendance:Steve Bayer, chair;George Hamer, vice-chair;Lawrence Novotny, recorder;Laura Renee Chandler;
Chandradhar Dwivedi;Penny Hauffe; Judy Karen;Meagan Irvine-Miller;Shafiqur Rahman;Shari Thornes, city
clerk-staff.
Absent:Maggie Owens.
Guests:Benjamin (Chris)Hartzler and Liz Gallagher representing SDSU GSA (Gender & Sexuality Alliance).
Chair Bayer called the meeting to order at 12:02 pm.
Motion made by Rahman, seconded by Dwivedi,to adopt the agenda.All present voted yes;motion carried.
Motion by Karen, seconded by Rahman, to approve the minutes of the April 10 meeting. All present voted yes;
motion carried.
Brookings Inclusivity Team:
Members include Lawrence Novotny and Penny Hauffe, Human Rights Commission; Rev. Larry Ort, SD World
Affairs Council; Dianne Nagy, Brookings Interfaith Council; Lisa Plummer, ELI (English Language Coordinator),
Medary Elementary School; Larry Rogers, Brookings School Board; Chris Hartz ler, SDSU GSA; Shari Thornes, city
clerk.
The team is focusing on implementing the Teaching Tolerance curriculum from the Southern Poverty Law
Center.The group meet with Michelle Vande Weerd, curriculum director for the Brookings Schools.The idea is
to implement the curriculum with teachers who are willing and hope the concept will spread to other teachers.
A school wide teachers workshop is being considered a year from now.Separate training sessions for
transportation, food service, and maintenance staff as well as a Mix-It Up Lunch will also be considered.
Thornes is in the process of seeking permission from an Atlanta business owner to reproduce the “You Are
Welcome Here” signs.
MEI:
Hamer contacted Missoula,MT,which received a score of 100. Missoula is doing similar things we have done;
however,they have home rule charter,which made it easier for them to implement ordinances.Novotny
contacted Louisville,KY,which also received a score of 100.They were able to implement ordinances and
policies,but it was an uphill battle.
Safe Zone Training:
The following attended safe zone training on May 3 that was conducted by Chris Hartzler and Liz Gallagher: Judy
Karen, Laura Renee Chandler, Chandradhar Dwivedi, Shafiqur Rahman, Steve Bayer, Lawrence Novotny, Meagan
Irvine-Miller, Penny Hauffe, Derrick Powers (police department LGBT liaison), Charles Umberger (sheri ff’s
department LGBT liaison).HRC will ask the city & county joint jurisdiction board to designate the City -County
Government Center as the first safe zone public building.In-person safe zone training needs to be scheduled for
all city staff.Hartzler will investigate the availability of safe zone training videos.The HRC will look at
incorporating safe zone training in overall diversity training.
Involvement with SAGA:
Brookings High School has a student organization called SAGA (sexuality and gender alliance),which is a support
group for LGBTQ students started by two sophomores. Hamer will conduct a meeting with the advisor to see if
HRC can be a resource to SAGA.
Community Meet and Greet and Sybrina Fulton lecture
Around 60 people attended the meet and greet facilitated by Chandler and Kas Williams on April 26 at McCrory
Gardens.Chandler reported an open conversation was held.Councilor Bacon and Police Chief Miller attended.
Miller remained after the event to visit with a small group for about 30 minutes.
Over 500 attended Sybrina Fulton’s lecture on April 30 in the Volstorff Ballroom.Chandler reported that she still
is receiving feedback.People appreciated Fulton’s message and want to see more of this type of discussion.
Fulton reported that she had a good impression of Brookings.There was good attendance by SDSU
administrators (provost and deans).Councilors Bacon, Kidwiler,and Police Chief Miller also attended.
Ukraine Delegation:
Novotny and Rahman meet with a delegation from Ukraine on May 5.The delegation consisting of six men and
one woman in their 20’s representing non-profits spent a week in Brookings.The role of HRC was discussed,
and the delegation asked about LGBT and American Indian issues.They were aware of the Standing Rock camp
protest against Dakota Access Pipeline.LGBT is an issue in Ukraine with there being better acceptance in the
major cities then in the rural areas.
Community Common Read:
Miller reported that there is a campus event scheduled for May 8 to introduce the book How Does It Feel to Be a
Problem?by Moustafa Bayoumi.The event is to build enthusiasm and to develop campus events.Miller,
Dwivedi, Rahman and Karen volunteered to be the community common read committee to develop an event.
Butler award:
Event will be July 19 at McCrory Gardens Education & Visitors Center.
Budget
Bayer, Hamer and Thornes meet with new mayor Keith Corbett.Corbett will continue to have the city provide
$5,000 towards the community common read event.Corbett was surprised that HRC has not had a budget
increase from $4,284 for many years.Corbett stated the adoption of the inclusivity resolution was one of the
most important things the City Council has done.We need to do more in the way of actions instead of just
words.
Motion made by Dwivedi, seconded by Rahman,to request and develop a narrative for a proposed increase of
$2,500 to be used for diversity training (including safe zone training) for city and county staff and law
enforcement and to co-sponsor a national speaker with other groups.All voted yes; motion passed.
The HRC will look at seeking funding from the county.Thornes stated that payment for mediators used to
resolve complaint resolutions will come out of the city’s legal services budget.
Announcements:
Mayor Corbett wants to meet with all boards, committees and commissions.
The Mayor’s Coffee with Volunteer Leadership is May 17.
The Brookings Empowerment Group will have a forum on mental health.
There will be a training on how to handle people with disabilities in emergencies on September 28.
Calendar:
May 17 –Mayor’s Coffee
Jun 12 –HRC meeting
Jun 17 –Sioux Falls Pride
Jul 19 –Combined Awards Event
Oct 8 –Diversity Potluck
Nov 2 –Common Read Speaker
Meeting adjourned at 1:03 pm.
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder