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Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Thursday, March 17, 2022
Brookings City & County Government Center and Go To Meeting App
Attendance: Nieema Thasing (chair -online); Dianne Nagy (vice-chair – in person); Lawrence Novotny, (recorder
– in person); Dan Berg (online); Tracy Chapman (in person): Chisimdi Iheme (student representative - online);
Erica Moore (online); Charlene ‘Charlie’ Ward (county representative – in person); Marci Gebers (sheriff’s office
liaison – online); Keith Theroux (police liaison - online); Michele Vande Weerd (school liaison - online); Casey
Bell (city human resources & staff liaison – in person); Paul Briseno (city manager – in person)
Absent: Joel Gindo; Erinn Thomas; Mikaela Neubauer (library liaison); Alex Wood (SDSU liaison - online);
Chair Thasing called the meeting to order at 5:31 pm.
Nagy moved, Moore seconded, to adopt the agenda with the addition of Common Read. Motion passed.
Nagy moved, Ward seconded, to approve the minutes of the February 17 neeting. Motion passed.
Liaison Reports:
Brookings Police Dept – Theroux conducted a security assessment on the school. Bell reported that Theroux
conducted a thorough security assessment on the city/county government building. Theroux can do home security
assessments especially in situations where domestic violence is involved.
The police department is starting its active shooter trainings.
Sheriff’s Office – The phase 2 remodeling of the old county jail is processing nicely. With the move into the new
jail, the sheriff’s office is able to start programming (such as AA, bible classes, etc.)
Brookings Schools – The school is working on their panel for the April BIC program. The upcoming survey of
students and staff will include some questions regarding inclusivity.
Sustainability Council – Bell is checking with the Council’s staff person regarding the status of a liaison.
Disabilities Awareness Committee (Ward). Their annual report has been submitted to the city council. This is
developmental disabilities awareness month. There was discussion about having welcoming information
available on the first floor of the city/county government building and the library.
Complaint Training:
City attorney Steve Britzman and the training WG still have not meet to review the updated documents due to
scheduling conflicts. Hopefully this will occur on March 25.
Diversity potluck:
Inclusivity WG recommends proceeding with the potluck. Ward moved, Moore seconded, that BHRC host the
diversity potluck on April 3 and authorized expenditure of around $500 for Aramark to do the catering. Motion
passed. Potluck will be April 3 from 5-7 pm at McCrory Gardens.
The potluck job list was reviewed. Chapman and Thomas have designed a poster that is patterned after our new
diversity signs. Thasing will be on the Brookings Radio morning program. Novotny will announce the potluck
at the March 22 city council meeting. People are to send ideas for interactive activities to Nagy. Novotny will
solicit BHRC volunteers the week before April 3.
Diversity Signs:
265 signs and 500 window stickers were ordered. Besides distributing in Brookings city, distribution will also
occur in Brookings County towns such as Elkton and Aurora.
Welcoming New Arrivals:
The BHRC was a co-sponsor of the library’s Black History Month program “More Than A Month” Community
Conversation that was held on March 01. Bell will distribute the notes of the conservation to the BHRC
members. Most of the attendees wanted the discussions to continue. One of the recommendations was to make
information (such as the renters rights brochures) more assessment to the public. The library is willing to have
the brochures placed in their lobby. The recommendation was also to have a literature rack placed on the first
floor lobby of the city/county government building.
What is the status of having the renters rights brochure translated into Spanish? What will this cost including
printing? Can the translation be a project for SDSU Spanish students? Would the SDSU International Office be
willing to work on translations into other languages? It was suggested to have a social media posting in Spanish
that directs people to a HUD website.
Statewide HRC meeting
Thasing has been in communication with Vermillion HRC which is in the process of starting their own listening
sessions. Novotny will try to find info about the mission of the State Human Relations Commission.
Business cards:
Thasing would like to have some BHRC member have a business card. The city already has a standard business
card format. Berg and Bell will work on the card design.
Briseno suggested that the BHRC have a generic e-mail in which messages automatically go to all BHRC
members.
Moore left at this point.
Annual Report
Has been posted on the city’s website.
The city council’s retreat is coming up. Thasing and Nagy will have about 7 minutes to present BHRC’s future
needs and ideas to the council with about 7 additional minutes for questions.
BHRC History
About 5 and 7 years ago, the SD World Affairs Council hosted a delegation of young Ukrainians upcoming
leaders for a week in Brookings. The delegation was here to learn about business, economic development, and
government. Two members of BHRC meet with the delegation to discuss the role and function of BHRC and to
discuss human rights in Ukraine.
Brookings Inclusive Collaborative (Bush Grant Project)
Bell will distribute the BIC’s Report on Findings “Community Conversations on Diversity and Inclusion in
Brookings” to BHRC members. A follow up conversation will occur on April 16. The BIC grant has some
funds left and is willing to work with BHRC about conducting a community survey.
The BIC group is expecting small group dialogue to continue. The BIC and the Brookings library has some funds
available to conduct trainings of small group facilitators.
First responders recognition:
It was suggested to solicit stories from the public about their positive interactions with first responders and then to
share these stories. The solicitations and sharing will occur via radio, social media and print media. First
responders will include all law enforcement (police and sheriff), fire department, and emergency medical services.
The media WG will take the lead on this. Thasing will be involved in the radio promotion. What is a good
deadline date? October 28 is national first responders day. August 02 is national night out.
Inclusivity WG report:
The listening session with the indigenous community will be held on March 24 at 5:30 pm.
Legislative WG report:
SCR 604 a resolution celebrating the LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit Community was killed in in Senate State Affairs.
HB 1337 which banned the teaching of divisive concepts in K-12 schools was killed in Senate Education.
HB 1012 which applies to universities and the technical schools passed. The impact of HB 1012 was weakened in
Senate Education committee to ALLOW expressions of academic freedom and classroom discussions on divisive
topics. The bill places restrictions on such discussions during employee trainings.
LGBTQ+ WG report:
Brookings Pride will occur on Saturday, June 11 in Pioneer Park. A dozen progress pride flags have been
ordered using funds from the pride flag account. The BHRC’s application to display pride flags from June 6-12
has been approved.
Common Read report:
April 13 is the Common Read reveal event at Briggs Library. The Common Read tagline is TEAM – Truth,
Empowerment, Attitude, and Mentorship.
Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 6:50 pm.
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder