HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRCMinutes_2024_08_08Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Thursday,August 8,2024,5:30pm
Brookings City/County Government Center and Zoom
Attendance:
Commissioners Liaisons
Attendees Dianne Nagy, Chair
Carla Gatzke, Recorder
Behnoosh Amandi, County, Vice Chair
Lee Mallak, LGBTQ Liason
Nieema Thasing
Ari Limoges, SDSU student representative
Casey Bell, Staff
Lawrence Novotny, CLEAR Partners
Marjoanne Collins, SDSU
Absent Pastor Mark Johnsen Michele Vande Weerd, School District
Chloe Wisser, SA Diversity
Michael Drake, Police Chief
Approved new
members
Denia Warne
Rhiannon Nedlund
Quorum was met. Chair Dianne Nagy opened the meeting at 5:30pm.
Motion was duly made and seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried.
Motion was duly made and seconded to approve the minutes of the July discussion. Motion carried.
Minutes of the June meeting will need to be approved at the September meeting.
Public Comment:
Sioux Falls Multicultural Center is offering a 40-hour online training for medical interpretation, 21-
25 October 8-5pm. The fee is $600 per person.
Brookings Chamber of Commerce has requested an HRC member to serve on their New Resident
Committee.
Nieema and Dianne have received community thank-yous for HRC’s support for Juneteenth and
Pride celebrations.
New Business
Officer Elections:
o In discussion, members encouraged Dianne to continue as chair. Dianne expressed a
willingness to serve as Chair or on Working Groups, but not both simultaneously. In
addition, Behnoosh offered to continue to serve as Vice Chair, but not to advance to Chair.
o Commission members discussed re-evaluating the Working Groups to ensure they reflect the
Commission’s current priorities and engage all members.
o Nieema nominated Dianne to continue as Chair for the upcoming year; Behnoosh seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
o Carla nominated Behnoosh as Vice Chair; Nieema seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
o Nieema will continue to serve as past-Chair.
LGBTQ Liaison: Position is vacant. Lee expressed willingness to serve. Carla nominated Lee as the
LGBTQ Liaison; Behnoosh seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Casey described the process
for continuing the City’s renewal for the MEI score.
Meeting schedule: The Commission discussed changing the Commission’s regular meeting schedule
to the 2nd Wednesday of the month to enable more Commission members to attend more regularly.
Behnoosh will ask for schedule input from the members not in attendance.
HRC has been invited to provide a table at the Multicultural Center’s Ice Cream Social and
Community Fair, Wednesday 21 August, 7-9pm. Lee, Behnoosh and Lawrence volunteered to
represent HRC and collaborate to represent HRC and setup and tear down.
Old Business
Dr. Erica Moore is available to provide training for the Commission on the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights | United Nations. Dianne will schedule a meeting with her.
Awards: No nominations to be considered. Deadline extended to 28 August, with HRC scheduled
to vote via email prior to 1 September.
Vacancies: Casey reported on extended deadlines for candidates to our open positions.
Reports from Liaisons, Task Forces and Working Groups:
SDSU – Marj reported on upcoming activities
LGBTQ+ – no report
PEAK – no report
DEI committee – Student volunteer Grace Enz has completed research on DEI activities at other
communities. The scopes of some of their activities are extensive. The task force will meet to
consider how to develop a recommendation for the City of Brookings.
Social Media – no report. Lee is working to gain access to post for HRC, along with Behnoosh.
Community Outreach – no report. Lawrence will connect with Pastor Mark on ideas for the next
Listening Session.
Complaint Process – meeting with City Attorney tomorrow.
Multicultural Awareness – no report.
Nieema will serve for HRC on the Chamber’s new resident committee. We consider this an activity in
support of DEI in Brookings.
HRC discussed an openness to consider providing partial financial support to one or more individuals
from Brookings to attend the medical interpretation training program, assuming they would provide this
service for the Brookings area community. Casey and Behnoosh will lead recruiting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.