HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2019_08_22Brookings Human Rights Commission Notes (unapproved)
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Community Room 300, Brookings City & County Government Building
Attendance: Hanna Holmquist (chair); Meagan Irvine-Miller (vice chair); Lawrence Novotny, (recorder); Kati
Hanson; Penny Hauffe; Marilyn Hildreth; Jason Meusburger; Wren Murphy (student representative); Matt
Rhodes (county representative); Erinn Thomas; Susan Rotert (city human resources director – staff liaison);
Casey Bell (city human resources technician – staff liaison)
Absent: Marci Gebers (police liaison); Jake Meshke (assistant to the city manager); Kas Williams (SDSU
liaison);
Chair Holmquist called the meeting to order at 12:02 pm.
Meusburger moved, Rhodes seconded, to adopt the agenda. Motion passed.
Hauffe moved, Hanson seconded, to approve the minutes of the July 19 meeting. Motion passed.
Liaison reports
Holmquist read the report submitted by Brookings Police liaison Gebers: She will be meeting with the Brookings
PFLAG on Sept 24. The police and sheriff’s liaisons wore rainbow nametags during Brookings Pride and they
enjoyed attending Pride. The Watertown mayor’s office contacted Gebers about her role as a liaison.
Word was received from Superintendent Willert that a school board member is interested in serving as liaison to
BHRC. An interview needs to be scheduled with the BHRC EC.
EC/Staff Reports:
The Human Rights Campaign responded back that the MEI score of a 100 was approved. They stated that
Brookings want beyond a 100 in scoring due to Pride events.
A training on the complaint process will be conducted for BHRC and staff on August 26.
Novotny attended the organizational meeting of the new Watertown Human Rights Committee on July 19. He
gave a presentation on the MEI process and what Watertown can do to raise its score.
High school PTA is seeking a presentation about what the BHRC does at its Sept 17 meeting. Hauffe and Rhodes
volunteered to speak.
The SDSU residence halls have posted signs in their lobbies with welcome messages in English, Lakota, Arabic,
Mandarin, and Spanish or Portuguese
Diversity Potluck
We do not have a scheduled speaker.
Hildreth asked “what are the goals of the potluck?” Original intent was to have the Brookings community and
the international community meet one another. Even though mingling was encouraged by BHRC members at
past events, it did not happen very well. A program featuring an international country was introduced which
attendees seemed to enjoy. However, the program stops any mingling that was occurring and people tend to
leave when the program ended.
The potluck work group and the international outreach workgroup will meet to plan an event for the fall potluck.
Workgroup Reports:
AWARDS – Things are in place for the Butler award. We will use the themes that were selected a year ago for
the MLK contest. Need to meet to discuss the logistics.
SOCIAL MEDIA – Information is occasionally shared from other sources on the BHRC facebook page.
Attempts are made to do a posting once a week. The goal is to obtain more likes to grow the page.
COMMON READ – Details are arranged for the screening of Screenagers on Sept 19. Brookings Library is
partnering with BHRC to create a resource handout and discussion questions. An events calendar listing SDSU
and BHRC events is being compiled.
INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH – September is Hispanic Heritage Month. SDSU is hosting a series of events.
INCLUSIVITY / SCHOOL OUTREACH– Novotny will check on the status of the school teachers inclusivity
group. The Brookings Economic Development Corporation’s inclusivity team is temporary on hold due to the
resignation of Stacey Aesoph.
Thomas reported that the Boys & Girls Club pre-school program will focus on diversity. The Club staff is
looking into diversity and safe zone training.
RENTERS RIGHTS – Group needs to meet hopefully before the next BHRC meeting.
COMMUNITY EVENTS – Rhodes would like to hold a town hall debate type panel / open Q&A forum to
promote discussions that people should be having.
Announcements:
Aug 22 – mayors volunteers appreciation event
Aug 26 – complaint training
Next meeting Scheduled for Thursday, September 12.
Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 12:58 pm
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder