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Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Brookings City/County Government Center and Zoom Meeting App
Attendance: Dianne Nagy (chair – in person); Lawrence Novotny (recorder, LGBTQ and CLEAR
Partners liaisons – in person); Amanda Fickes (online); Carla Gatzke (online); Mark Johnson (online);
Nieema Thasing (online); Emma Qurashi (behavioral health liaison – online); Joseph Ulloa (student
representative – online): Casey Bell (city human resources & staff liaison – in person);
Absent: Behnoosh Amandi (vice chair & county representative); Erica Moore; Marjoanne Collins
(SDSU liaison); Caleb Johnson (police liaison); Michele Vande Weerd (school liaison); Chloe Wisser
(SA diversity liaison)
Chair Nagy called the meeting to order at 5:32 pm.
Johnson moved, Thasing seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion approved.
Ulloa moved, Thasing seconded, to approve the minutes of the November 09 meeting. Motion passed.
Ulloa moved, Gatzke seconded, to approve the notes of the December 14 meeting/training session.
These notes will not be posted on the website but will be kept in the permanent file. Motion passed.
HRC vacancy
Two applications were received for Novotny’s position. The applicants were identified as A and B with
the names of the applicants being made available to BHRC. Extensive discussion ensued. Everyone
viewed that both applicants are well qualified and it was a tough decision to decide between the two.
Both applicants are members of the LGBTQ+ community. The BHRC voted by 5-2 (with 1 abstention)
to forward applicant A’s nomination to the mayor.
Budget
We have an uncommitted balance of $999.
Novotny moved, Johnson seconded, to give Jen Drieske an honorarium of $50 for her bystander training
presentation. Motion passed. Note: The previous two presenters were given an honorarium of $100
each since both of them traveled from Sioux Falls to do in-person presentations. Drieske gave her
presentation online.
We will ask to carryover committed but unspent funds for indigenous peoples event, DEI training, and
merchandise.
Thasing asked that a line item be put in next year’s budget for the PEAK campaign.
Johnson left at this point.
Confidentiality
Nagy recommended these guidelines regarding confidentiality for BHRC members.
➢ E-mails to the BHRC be sent via BCC
➢ E-mails are not to be shared with others
➢ BHRC members are encouraged to have open discussions during meetings
➢ Members will not be quoted in the minutes
➢ The minutes will summarize the discussion
It was recommended that these guidelines be included in new member orientation.
Listening Session on the Elderly Population
Johnson organized the listening session which was held on November 14. The session was moderated
by Dorthy Tufte (former chaplain at United Living Center) and was attended by the mayor and city
manager. Seven women and three men represented the elderly community.
Conclusions and possible action items are:
➢ The four biggest concerns are lack of communication of available resources and service,
transportation options and additional availability, affordable senior housing, and social
interaction opportunities.
➢ The new director of the Brookings Activities Center was highly praised for offering more
activities.
➢ There is a great need for expanded BATA service.
➢ Churches should consider a shared transportation system to enable the elderly and disabled to
attend services.
➢ Work with housing complexes to ensure that cell phones will work in them.
➢ There is a need for providing information and assistance on Medicare Advanced Plans,
inoculations, and other medical services.
➢ Establish a Welcome Wagon program. or resource/senior advocate position in the city.
➢ Work with United Way and the 211 phone line to compile a listing of services and figure out a
way of disseminating the information.
➢ Consider the creation of a short term housing facility in Brookin gs.
➢ Work on creating additional affordable independent senior housing units.
➢ Encourage more senior companion programs.
It was recommended that the notes from the listening session be shared with BATA, Brookings
Activities Center, 211 helpline, United Way, Boys & Girls Club, senior housing administrators, Brookings
Disabilities Awareness Committee, and administrators of assisted living facilitators. Sharing will be
done by e-mail and/or thru personal contact with board members. Johnson will be asked to initiate
the sharing.
Bystander to Upstander presentation given by Jen Drieske on December 14.
Evaluation comments:
➢ Fabulous
➢ Appreciated the interactive engagement approach
➢ Presenter is very knowledgeable
➢ Sharing of stories is a great example of learning
➢ Used concrete applications
➢ Would have been more impactful if done in-person instead of via online
➢ This presentation (plus the previous two) will count towards BHRC members self -education
The training WG needs to find out what the city wants from BHRC as far as DEIA training.
Fickes left at this point
HRC file sharing/calendar
Bell sent the link to SharePoint, a site whereby BHRC documents can be stored and shared. Members
had login issues with this site and need to contact Bell for assistance.
Diversity in Brookings Police Dept.
Tabled to a future meeting when the police chief will be present.
Bell announced the city has a position opening for a patrol officer. BHRC members are asked to share
this with the goal of seeking more diversity in the police force.
TASK FORCE REPORTS
PEAK campaign: The MLK poster contest will be used as a starting promotional point for the PEAK
campaign. It is hoped that some of the winning artwork can be used for PEAK campaign materials.
DEI initiative: Need to schedule a meeting with the deputy city manager.
WORKING GROUP REPORTS
LEGISLATIVE: Novotny reported that ACLU-SD and the LGBTQ Coalition will be introducing a bill
to repeal HB 1080 which banned trans health care last year. The bill will not pass but the idea is to
draw attention to the issue.
Rep. Deutsch will be introducing a bill to add antisemitism to the state’s hate crimes statue.
Novotny will be monitoring legislation on behalf of Equality SD and will share info with the legislative
WG and draft testimony.
The INCLUSIVITY/OUTREACH WG will be organizing a listening session with the low income
population. The WG is also discussing hosting the diversity potluck along with the Brookings Multi-
Cultural Center. Bell was asked to reserve McCrory Gardens for either Apil 14 or 21.
COMPLAINT PROCESS: Gatzke is arranging a meeting with the city manager in January.
MLK CONTEST
The essay contest is being expanded to include the immediate school (4th & 5th grades).
Each school (immediate, middle & high) were assigned different prompts to write an essay addressing
the resolution of a problem. Submission deadline is tomorrow (Dec 22). So far there are 6 submissions
from immediate school, and 2 each from middle school and high school. The judging will be on
January 08. Qurashi, Thasing and Novotny volunteered to be judges. The essay winners will be read at
the January 15 SDSU Marade and at the city council meeting on January 23.
For the poster contest, students will be asked to design a poster around a kindness theme. This will be
done with guidance from these partnering orgs: Brookings Arts Council, SD Art Museum, Greater After
School Place, Boys & Girls Club. Each partnering org will submit their top choices to BHRC which
will select the final winners. January 12 is submission deadline. Winning posters will be displayed at
the Marade and the Brookings Arts Council and maybe elsewhere.
Novotny
This is Lawrence Novotny’s last meeting as a member of the BHRC. He served on the BHRC from
1994 – 2003 and 2008-2023. Novotny plans to attend BHRC meetings as a liaison with CLEAR and
will for now be part of some of the working groups. Nagy announced that the BHRC will be
recognizing Novotny for his years of service at the January 23 city council meeting.
Adjourn:
Meeting adjourned at 6:56 pm.
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder