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Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Brookings City/County Government Center and Zoom Meeting App
Attendance: Dianne Nagy (chair – in person); Behnoosh Amandi (vice chair & county representative –
online); Lawrence Novotny (recorder and CLEAR Partners liaison – in person); Amanda Fickes (in
person); Carla Gatzke (in person); Mark Johnson (online); Emma Qurashi (behavioral health liaison – in
person); Nieema Thasing (online); Joseph Ulloa (student representative – online): Michele Vande Weerd
(school liaison - online); Casey Bell (city human resources & staff liaison – in person);
Absent: Erica Moore; Asledi Castillo (SA diversity liaison); Marjoanne Collins (SDSU liaison); Caleb
Johnson (police liaison);
Guest: police chief Michael Drake
Chair Nagy called the meeting to order at 5:31 pm.
Johnson moved, Thasing seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion approved.
No action was taken on the minutes since the wrong set of updated minutes was distributed.
Public Comment
Several members have received positive comments regarding the BHRC statement made at the
September school board member regarding our opposition to book bans.
Working group attendance
Fickes will develop and bring to the next meeting a recommendation for an attendance policy specific to
working groups and task forces.
Assessment of DEI presentation
Members comments on the presentation given by Julian Beaudion of Sioux Falls at our September 26
meeting.
Impressive
This was a more approachable presentation
Beaudion looks at the issues through a system lens
Liked the use of DEIJ term (diversity, equity, inclusion and justice)
Was an interactive presentation
Was informative – this would be good for the community
Felt this presentation was tailored specifically to us and our purpose
Beaudion should be able to tailor presentations to specific groups
Beaudion has a unique perspective to be able to provide training since he is a former member of
the law enforcement community.
It was pointed out that a trainer should not target or separate out specific individuals during a
training session since the trainer will then lose their effectiveness with those individuals and
probably with other members of the group. The training needs to focus on everyone in the
group.
Would like to see how Beaudion would work with targeted individuals for specific trainings
The recommendation was that the trainer should work equally with everyone in the group and if
they encounter some problem individuals, then work with those individuals separately
Someone wanted to see more validity as to Beaudion’s training process
Would have liked to see more of Beaudion’s materials
Nagy stated that we do not have a clear expectation of our goals regarding providing DEI training. The
city is seeking recommendations for DEI training and we don’t know the city’s expectations.
Bell reported that the city has partnered with the University of Kansas Public Management Center to
provide 3.5 days of high performance training which includes DEI to city employees.
We need to ask the city for clarification on what it wants the DEI training recommendations for, and
what parameters we should bear in mind (cost, audience, etc).
BHW liaison
Quarshi wants to step down as the liaison with Brookings Behavioral Health & Wellness. She has a
replacement in mind and will ask that person to submit the liaison application.
MEI presentation
Novotny had distributed the MEI PowerPoint to BHRC members. Some of them found the background
on what goes into the MEI score to be helpful. Novotny is willing to present the PowerPoint with the
2023 scores as a speaking program to local service clubs.
Mission statement
Gatzke distributed a 2-page document listing the wording of our mission as it currently appears on our
website and in our enabling city code. The current wording is too long and cumbersome to be used in
our brochure. Gatzke purposed several different re-wording versions. Gatzke moved, Qurashi
seconded, that we adopt this wording for our brochure and also to be used on our website. Motion
passed.
The mission of the Brookings Human Rights Commission (BHRC) is to improve human relations in the
Brookings area .
The Commission seeks to protect civil rights and prevent and eliminate bias and discrimination
• against individuals or groups because of their sex, race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, disability, familial status,
national origin, age, marital status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or political affiliation,
• with respect to employment, labor union membership, housing accommodations, property rights, education, public
accommodations, or public services.
The Commission promotes educational activities to make Brookings an inclusive and welcoming
community.
Budget
So far $5949 has been spent or committed for this year. The remaining un-committed balance is $3751.
At the last meeting, we approved purchase of 200 diversity signs at a cost of $3180. When Bell went to
place the order, it was learned that the cost has increased. Ulloa moved, Fickes seconded, to approve an
additional $220 to cover increased costs and shipping for 200 diversity signs. Motion passed.
Also, at the last meeting, Novotny was asked to check into 4x6 inch window clings in addition to the
4x6 inch diversity stickers. Gatzke moved, Ulloa seconded, to purchase 500 diversity stickers and 250
window clings for a total cost of $800. Motion passed.
Educating ourselves
Can we require BHRC members to attend an annual mandatory training or X number of similar events
per year? Bell said that the commission can set expectation parameters for ourselves. Discussion
ensued on what would be the ideal situation. It would be where all members (and liaisons) are able to
attend a training presentation as a whole group and to have discussion afterwards. The problem always
has been trying to find a time everyone can get together. Even when everyone agrees on a date, last
minute events prevents one or several people from attending. Can a presentation be recorded so those
who missed it can watch it later? Most instructors/trainers would not allow recording of their
presentations because it is their intellectual property. Another question is who decides what trainings
should be conducted.
Gatzke moved, Qurashi seconded, that it will be expected that all of the BHRC members will
simultaneously participate in annual DEI training and discussion. Those that are unable to participate
will attend an alternative training recommended by BHRC. Motion passed.
HRC calendar
Bell is proposing an alternative platform (OneDrive) to Teams where all BHRC members will have
access to a shared document drive. Will this platform be able to send out meeting and announcement
notifications?
Liaison reports
SCHOOL DISTRICT (Vande Weerd): The school is continuing to work on its strategic plan. The
question was brought up as to how BHRC can more effectively partner with the school in recruiting
student participation in the MLK contest. Vande Weerd suggested BHRC having a more personal
interaction with teachers. Also, the school district announcement app can be used to share contest info
with families.
SDSU: Collins submitted a schedule of NETwork & Campus Events for October which was e-mailed to
BHRC.
CLEAR Partners (Novotny): CLEAR had meetings with the police chief and the sheriff regarding
several high profile cases.
PEAK campaign
The task force has met with the school superintendent and principals all of whom are willing to
participate. The superintendent stated that the PEAK campaign fits into what she wanted to accomplish
regarding bullying.
DEI initiative
Gatzke reported that the task force has met 3 times. It compiled a listing of 15 organizations that are
doing DEI activities in Brookings. The task force is suggesting that instead of creating a steering
committee to do DEI training, that a website be created whereby various DEI events can be posted.
Working groups
The indigenous peoples event that was being planned in November is being postponed due to a death in
the family of the organizer.
Thasing will start work on organizing the MLK contest.
Other business
Nagy suggested that working groups and liaisons submit a written report of their activities ahead of each
meeting since there has not been adequate time to cover the reports in each meeting. This suggestion
was met with opposition since some members already have too much reading to do.
It was suggested instead that members try to be concise in their comments and not repeat what has
already been said during each meeting so we can get thru the entire agenda.
Adjourn:
Meeting adjourned at 7:05 pm.
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder