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Home My WebLink AboutHRCMinutes_2024_03_13 Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes Thursday, March 13, 2024, 5:30pm Brookings City/County Government Center and Zoom Attendance: Commissioners Liaisons Attendees • Dianne Nagy, Chair • Behnoosh Amandi, Vice Chair, County • Carla Gatzke, Recorder • Nieema Thasing • Joseph Ulloa, Student Representative • Emma Qurashi • Pastor Mark Johnson • Casey Bell, staff • Lawrence Novotny, CLEAR Partners • Police Chief Drake • Cole Sartell, LGBTQ Absent • Lee Mallak • Erica Moore • Marjoanne Collins, SDSU • Chloe Wisser, SA Diversity • Michele Vande Weerd, school district Chair Dianne Nagy called the meeting to order at 5:30pm. Approval of agenda: motion by Nieema Thasing, second by Joseph Ulloa, passed. Approval of meetings with corrections: motion by Joseph Ulloa, second by Nieema Thasing, passed. Public Comment: • Emma Qurashi– report from individual who works at a local restaurant, and felt they were being harassed by a customer in an interaction led to a “fight” resulting in their arrest. It’s not clear what assistance he was requesting from HRC, perhaps an advocate at their court date on 24 March. HRC does not provide this service. The Complaint committee will followup to ask the individual the complaint intake form questions to learn more. • Nieema Thasing – positive feedback for brochure for Black Voices Event Series, including Feb 29 Black History Month Celebration. New Business • Resignation – Erica Moore recently resigned from the Commission due to her time availability and changes in her personal life. • Filling vacancy on HRC – o There is an open position from a resignation prior to the February meeting. o There have been two candidates, Joseph Ulloa and Cole Sartell, who excused themselves from the meeting. o Due to the recent additional resignation and the current advertising for further applicants, Mark Johnson made a motion to postpone the vote for the current opening until next month, when the Commission could consider all applicants for both positions. Carla seconded. Motion passed. o Joseph and Cole re-joined the meeting. • HRC Training – Dianne Nagy shared that Erica Moore had offered to provide training to the Commission on human rights. The Commission discussed the idea of this training and concurred to ask Dianne to contact Erica and learn more. • Listening Sessions – Mark Johnson suggested a topic for the next Listening Session be childcare, focusing on input from parents with children under school age, and volunteered to help organize it. The Commission referred the idea to the Inclusivity Working Group which organizes Listening Sessions. • Working Group Attendance – Emma Qurashi shared the updated draft Working Group Attendance Policy. The Commission reviewed and amended the draft. Joseph made a motion to approve as amended. Cole seconded. Motion passed. • Budget – no update. Liaisons • Chief Drake reported on Police Department hiring activity, and engaged in discussion about hiring processes related to diversity. • Dianne Nagy reminded the Commission of the upcoming Bystander to Upstander training sessions sponsored by CommUnity, two sessions – Wednesday 20 March, 3-4:30pm or 6- 7:30pm, Student Union 262. • Joseph Ullua reported there was no updates from Disability Committee. • Lawrence Novotny reported no updates from CLEAR. Task Forces • PEAK –Dianne Nagy and Nieema Thasing met with the Brookings School District Superintendent, providing resources for survey tools for students and parents related to bullying experiences, and inviting school staff to CommUnity Bystander to Upstander training and offering to arrange for that training for the school staff. Nieema has also shared information with two individuals who are ready to help. • DEI – Casey Bell reported on the meeting with the Task Force and the City Manager, and that the City Manager approved the Commission to move forward with identifying a calendar that could be used to share all DEI-related events in Brookings area. And that Visit Brookings has a calendar that’s easy to update as a possibility. Working Groups • Legislative – Lawrence Novotny shared how legislative updates related to LGBTQ issues were communicated in the community. Also mentioned upcoming Democratic Party St. Patrick’s Day event at the VFW featuring legislative candidates. • LGBTQ Awareness – Cole Sartell shared planning so far for the Pride event on 22 June in Pioneer Park. • International outreach committee – did not meet. • Inclusivity – did not meet • Training/Complaint – did not meet, Casey Bell will schedule. Urgency was encouraged, based on reported complaint. • Africans in the Diaspora – requested help with planning Juneteenth. Emma Qurashi volunteered. Announcements • Nieema – introduced idea about education related to highly-melanated people being global majority rather than minority. Meeting adjourned at 7pm. Upcoming community DEI events: February 2024 Events Calendar • March 19: Community Read #2, 7pm, SDSU Rotunda, Livestream: https://sdstate.zoom.us/j/98431730960 • March 20, CommUNITY “Move from Bystander to Upstander”, 3-4:30pm or 6-7:30pm, Student Union 262 • International Relations Council (IRC) World Fair, 5:30-8:30pm, Student Union Volstorff • March 27: Community Read Public Screening of movie Killers of the Flower Moon, Brookings Cinema • April 2: CommUNITY “Don’t Look Back” – The Sharing of an Inspirational Journey, 6-8pm, Student Union 253 • April 5: Community Read, David Grann Public (author of Killers of the Flower Moon), Lecture and Book Signing, 7-9:30, Performing Arts Center • June 22: Pride Celebration