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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 12/14/2006FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting — December 14, 2006 5:30 p.m. 11Council Liaison: David Roy IlStaff Liaison: Rebecca O'Donnell II Chairperson: Maryanne Ingratta A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, December 14, 2006 in the Council Information Office at 300 Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Elaine Boni Paige Backlund Jarquin Joann Ginal Maryanne Ingratta Cristina Matsushima, Lisa Poppaw-Schinnerer Moin Sidiqqui Karen Wong -Brown BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Rebecca O'Donnell, Staff Liaison Angelina Sanchez -Sprague, Recorder 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Maryanne Ingratta at 5:30 p.m. PUBLIC INPUT None. 2. GUEST SPEAKER None. 3. AGENDA REVIEW No changes were made to the agenda as proposed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Elaine Boni made a motion to approve the November 9, 2006 minutes as corrected. Moin Siddiqui seconded the motion. The motion passed. BUDGET REPORT/APPROVED EXPENDITURES Staff Liaison Rebecca O'Donnell reported a balance of the 2006 budget of $307.85 with $200 dedicated to Downtown Bucks for honorariums for facilitators of future HRC Training. Additionally, Maryanne has offered to do the graphics work related to getting nametags and business cards for members —needing funds for materials/copy services. Joann made a motion to rescind a portion of the motion made at the November 9'h meeting whereby budget of $100 was dedicated to the creation of name -tags. With HRC December 14, 2006 — Page 2 Maryanne providing in -kind design services, the funds can be used for both name tags and business cards. Karen seconded the motion. The motion passed. 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Commission would like to adopt the situation/response model (reviewed with Alma Vigo -Morales at their last retreat) as their way of doing business. Maryanne asks that work assigned to committees be handled at the committee level. Then at monthly meetings, the committee chair would report conclusions/make recommendations. • Executive/Maryanne. New member Maya Jairam is expected to start at the January meeting. Maryanne asked committee chairs to draft a report of the work performed by their respective committees and submit them electronically to her by Tuesday, January 5. She'll compile and share a draft prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Come prepared to discuss/approve a report as its due to the City Clerk's office by January 31. • Government Relations/Elaine. Lisa shared information on conversations she's had with a Police Services Neighborhood Watch officer and neighbors (members of the homeowners association) relative to the discriminatory incident at Jewelstone Court. The Commission supports continued collaborative interaction with interested parties. Elaine will take lead in scheduling a meeting with Chief Harrison, Lisa Poppaw-Schinnerer and herself. Their objectives are to gain the Chief's perspective and to ask how the HRC can help in resolving the issue to the satisfaction of concerned neighbors and community members. • Educational Outreach/Joann. At their meeting on December 1, the committee decided they'd like to create a list of the full commission's areas of interest, what goals might they have in those areas, and how should they set upon accomplishing them. Joann asked members to continue to consider the questions and to email her their ideas. At their next meeting, they'd like to discuss: o Planning future community chats o Considering possible educational forums o Creating a 15-20 minute presentation on a topic of interest to Poudre School District students o Updating the HRC PowerPoint presentation o Learning how the Commission might collaborate with the community's Cities of Character initiative o Planning a collaboration with Colorado Civil Rights Lawyers Committee -mock civil rights trials training modules for students (suggestion made at a meeting Becky, Lester, Caroline & Moin attended in Greeley, June 8, 2006.) The committee has been in conversation with Karen Schwartz relative to a public display of the menorah. Karen Wong -Brown met with a number of downtown business owners and asked them if they'd welcome a menorah display and whether they'd post stickers supporting a menorah display. She also asked what practices they used in meeting the needs of their minority customers. She'll share her findings electronically. Maryanne asked that those notes be attached to the minutes for the meeting. Maryanne also invited members to attend the menorah lighting ceremony set for Thursday, December 21 at 6 p.m. in old town. • Public Relations Media & Community Recognition/ Breakfast & Web/Paige. Paige reported the date of the awards breakfast has been set —it's May 1, 2007. The event has been added to the Mayor's calendar and the room has been reserved at the Lincoln Center. She'll email committee members potential dates for the next planning meeting —hoping to schedule a time the week of December 18. Paige has been speaking to her contacts at United Way/First Call about honoring 2006 HRC December 14, 2006 — Page 3 HRA recipients at the Martin Luther King event January 15, 2007. Paige presented a community recognition certificate to Moin Siddiqui (this is his last HRC meeting) for his service to the Commission and the community. The certificate expresses appreciation for his work and contained the signatures of Mayor Hutchinson, Council Liaison David Roy, and Chairperson Maryanne Ingratta. 5. OLD BUSINESS • Deliberative Dialogue Training (DDT) Maryanne invited member feedback from the six members who recently attended the first of two training modules on deliberative dialogue. Everyone agreed it was a great opportunity for learning and interacting with members of the Northern Colorado Multicultural Corp. Elaine appreciated the information on listening and how it is a good communications tool to use when supporting an issue or when trying to persuade someone on a particular issue. The second training module is set for Thursday, January 11 at Front Range Community College Student Center West Conference Room. • Martin Luther King March. The community MILK March is set for January 15 2007. At noon in old town, the keynote speaker will be Norberto Valdez. All are encouraged to attend. 6. NEW BUSINESS • Communications Skills Activities. Paige created small groups of three for a multicultural role playing exercise. • Proclamation on behalf of the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado. Maryanne & Elaine will be attending the proclamation portion of City Council's December 1g`h meeting at which they accept a proclamation on behalf of the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado. Nominations for Chair. Vice -Chair & Committee Chairs. The group began the process of creating a slate of officers to be voted on at the January meeting. With agreement from those currently serving in the role of Chair, Vice -Chair and Committee Chairs, a slate of officers will move forward with the current chairs' names. Prior to a vote, other nominations will be solicited. Maryanne asked members to consider in a February timeframe, on which committees they would like to be become members. • ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) Raid on Swift & Co. The Commission discussed the recent ICE raid on several Swift & Company plants including the plant in Greeley. They considered what responsibility they might have as the community digests what's transpired. Lisa volunteered to write an op/ed for the Coloradoan. She suggested the Commission take a little different approach and address a number of issues --including the raid --in an essay that encourages the citizens of our community to make New Year's resolutions to be more compassionate, thoughtful, understanding, inclusive, supportive, etc. of one another. It's not a "stance" piece, per say, but it would definitely convey the importance of being mindful of the issues that impact our fellow community members. She asked that members share their thoughts and feedback. 7. UPCOMING EVENTS December 7, Thursday NCMC Deliberative Dialogue Training 4:30 — 6:30 p.m. Front Range Com College,. Student Ctr West Conf Rm December 14, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. HOLIDAY CELEBRATION (everyone brings treat) HRC December 14, 2006 — Page 4 December 19 City Council Meeting HRC accept Proclamation on behalf of the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado 5:30 p.m. 2007 January 2 January 11 Sunday, January 14 City Council Meeting NCMC Deliberative Dialogue Training 4:30 — 6:30 p.m. Regular HRC BOARD MEETING DIFFERENT TIME AND PLACE 6:30 p.m. Front Range Corn College, Student Ctr West Conf Rut City Clerk Report setting forth the activities of the Commission for the previous year. 6 p.m. - International MLK Potluck Dinner From Dr. King to YOU: Taking Action in Our Community University Village Center, 1600 W. Plum Building 34 6 -7 p.m. - KRFC 88.9FM Winning MLK essay and poetry readings by local students 9:30 a.m. - CSU Bookstore, Lory Student Center Monday, January 15 Reading of winning MLK essays and poems by local students 11 a.m. - Community March from CSU Oval to Linden Street Guest speaker: Dr. Norberto Valdez, Anthropology & Ethnic Studies/ Music by George Jackson III January 16 January 30 February 6 February 8 February 20 March 6 March 8 March 20 April 3 April 12 April 17 May 10 June 14 July 12 August 9 September 13 October 11 noon - Gathering on Linden Street Keynote speaker: Dr Norberto Valdez, Anthropology & Ethnic Studies /Music by Fort Collins High School Jazz Band City Council Meeting Sate of the City Address City Council Meeting _. _.. Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. City Council Meeting City Council Meeting Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. City Council Meeting Election Day Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. City Council Meeting Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. _----------- - _ ..---- _ Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. HRC December 14, 2006 — Page 5 November S Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. Work Plan must be finalized. December 13 Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. 8. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m. n j e \11A� Ci ti wv 4 Q� 2 Maryann In ratta, C irp son R becca O'Donnell, Staff Liaison HRC December 14, 2006 — Page 6 Attachment 1 Menorah Issues How do you support your minority customers' needs and wants? Do you support the menorah? If so, next year can we ask you to put a sticker of a menorab? If not, why are you opposed to the menorah? Do you mind having your opinion voice in a form of media? Vendors: a. Nature's Own — manager Aaron Schneider "I try to do cross cultural inventory." He would be glad to put the sticker up but no media. b. Curiosities — manager Howard Wasserman I also try to provide items that are interesting for people such as books in Spanish. "I am supportive of all religious affiliation. I believe we should have a collage by putting different culture's holidays. It should be put in one location." He would be glad to put the sticker and does not mind using his opinion. C. Nepal's Tibet and Tamal — owner Pranesh Maskey "I provide good service in return I hope people will return." He would be glad to put a menorah sticker and use his name in media. d. Trimble Court — manager Jill Benedict "I am supportive of local art works especially done by Colorado artists." She also mentioned that they have items for the Jewish community like Star of David and Menorah. There was a customer who was disappointed in not finding anything for the Jewish community until she came to the store. Customer was so thrilled and the manager asked the artist to continue his work. "We should celebrate all holidays by embracing them and not to try to hide from them." She would be glad to put a menorah sticker and use her name in media. C. Bravo Boutique — owner Kate Wegrzyn A worker of Bravo, Theresa, told me that the owner is totally supportive of the menorah issues. Theresa also told me that the owner if challenge the rabbi to have women light up menorah. Kate is a wonderful storyteller about holidays. She would love to support the menorah issues and many more. f. Children's Mercantile and Open Pony — manager Joanne Bailey "We treat everyone the same. If customer wants a special order, we will bring it in such as dolls." Joanne would love to have the menorah and could use her name as any form of media. g. Special Assets — owner Jason Dahstrom "Treat people the way you would like to be treated." He makes special jewelry items like Star of David and Crucifix. He told me that he would not like to put a sticker of menorah to show his opinions. He even mentioned that he does not put any posters during election time.