HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRCMinutes_2024_05_09
Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 5:30pm
Brookings City/County Government Center and Zoom
Attendance:
Commissioners Liaisons
Attendees • Dianne Nagy, Chair
• Behnoosh Amandi, Vice Chair, County Rep
• Carla Gatzke, Recorder
• Lee Mallak
• Pastor Mark Johnsen
• Casey Bell, staff
• Lawrence Novotny, CLEAR Partners
• Michele Vande Weerd, school district
• Cole Sartell, LGBTQ
• Police Chief Drake
Absent • Emma Qurashi
• Nieema Thasing
• Marjoanne Collins, SDSU
• Chloe Wisser, SA Diversity
Guests • •
Chair Dianne Nagy called the meeting to order at 5:30pm.
Approval of agenda: motion was duly made and seconded, passed.
Approval of meetings with corrections: motion was duly made and seconded, passed.
Public Comment:
• Diane Nagy – Intergroup Dialogue series this fall, would HRC co-sponsor and contribute $50 toward
speaker for kickoff.
New Business
• Human Rights
o The Commission reviewed the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights |
United Nations, and identified nine Articles as priorities to learn more about: 1, 4, 7, 13,
18, 19, 2, 25. The Commission also reviewed its scope in City Code and summarized on
our site Human Rights Commission | Brookings, SD - Official Website (cityofbrookings-
sd.gov).
o The Commission members will re-read these Articles, and the Executive committee will
work with Casey to ensure that these priorities are aligned with the Code for HRC.
• Staff Working Groups –
o The Commission reviewed all the Working Groups, considering each Working Group’s
activities and membership as well as the Commission’s focus, capabilities and capacities.
o The Commission determined the following for each Working Group
▪ The Social Media/ Communications –continue
▪ Legislative Liaison – seasonal and Lawrence will continue
▪ Common Read – close. SDSU and School District Liaisons will communicate
Common Read activities to HRC, full Commission will decide if/how to engage.
▪ LGBTQ Awareness – continue
▪ International Outreach – close. HRC will engage with and support Multicultural
Center activities
▪ Inclusivity / community Outreach – continue
▪ Trainings and Complaint Process.
• Has three focus areas: Complaint Process, Complaint Investigation, and
Community Training.
• Create separate Training Working Group.
• Continue Complaint Process
• Close Complaint Investigation – instead focusing on connecting
community members to resources.
▪ Motion by Mark, seconded by Behnoosh, to combine LGBTQ+, Africans in the
Diaspora, and Indigenous Peoples into one Working Group. The Commission
discussed the purpose of Working Groups, the focus and capacities of
Commission members. Mark withdrew the motion.
o Africans in the Diaspora Culture Awareness – wait to discuss with Nieema
o Indigenous Peoples – wait to discuss with Nieema
o See this link for the updated BHRC Working Groups and Task Forces.
Old Business
• HRC Vacancies: We have a total of 3 vacancies: 2 regular and 1 student.
o 2 Regular Vacancies At the last meeting, the HRC voted to recommend two applicants to
fill these vacancies. Due to the limited number of applications, the Mayor asked for
another call for applications which closes 05/17/2024.
o 1 Student Vacancy The deadline for applications is also 05/17/2024.
o The Commission discussed the process for selecting HRC candidates to recommend to
the Board, consider its previous practices, recent practice, and practice of other city
committees. Behnoosh made a motion, seconded by Mark, that the Exec Committee and
staff liaison choose the HRC member candidates to recommend to the Council,
requesting input from current HRC members as needed. Motion passed unanimously.
The Committee will document its review approach as a basis for a future set of criteria.
• Tabling at events
o Lawrence will purchase a canopy and table with previously approved HRC funds.
o Juneteenth – Wednesday 19 June evening, Pioneer Park: needs help to line up vendors,
publicity. Cole volunteered. Behnoosh volunteered to help with marketing materials.
o Pride – Saturday 22 June, 11am-4pm, Pioneer Park:
▪ Brookings Pride is planning the event and has requested a brief presentation from
HRC about our mission and activities. Mark, Dianne and Carla volunteered.
▪ Mark suggested that any remaining funds from HRC’s financial support to Pride
perhaps be used to sponsor showing of the movie 1946, which is showing in
Watertown during June for Pride Month. The LGBTQ+ Working Group will
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discuss, and if they want to plan this even during June, they’ll send a proposal to
the Exec Committee for time-sensitive consideration. Cole suggested that if the
movie is not presented in June, then perhaps Brookings Pride could consider it for
a Fall event.
• Listening Session action items – Mark met with BATA with concerns about weekend availability
from elderly community members. BATA has discussed and experimented in past and found
weekend services to be resource intensive with limited usage.
o
Budget – no report 2024 HRC Budget.xlsx
Liaison Reports – no updates
Task Forces
• PEAK – no report.
• DEI Initiative – Casey reported the task force is continuing to work with Visit Brookings to
enable DEI event posting on https://visitbrookingssd.com/events/list/ to post DEI events.
Working Groups – no further reports
Meeting adjourned at 7pm.
Upcoming community events:
• Juneteenth Celebration – Wednesday 19 June, evening, Pioneer Park
• Pride Celebration – Saturday 22 June, 11am-4pm, Pioneer Park