HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 04/10/20141
City of Fort Collins
Human Relations Commission Regular Meeting Minutes
April 10, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
CIC Room, 300 Laporte Avenue, City Hall West
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
The Human Relations Commission promotes acceptance and respect for diversity through educational programs and
activities to discourage all forms of discrimination based on age, disability, gender, race, religion etc.
Council Liaison: Mayor Karen Weitkunat Staff Liaison: Melissa Herzog
Recorder: Michele Scalva
Commissioners Present: Colleen Conway, Myles Crane, Christy Doyon, Mary Lyons, James Owiny, Preety Sathe and
Victor Smith
Others Present/Guests: Jimena Sagas, Librarian/Assistant Professor, CSU
Excused Absent: Christine Hays
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Crane called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
PUBLIC INPUT
No public input.
GUESTS
Guest speaker Jimena Sagàs, Librarian and Assistant Professor, CSU discussed the status of multicultural library services
at CSU. Because the library’s mission is to serve its community which is increasingly becoming more culturally diverse, a
library’s services which are multicultural and multilingual ensures equality of service and access to information.
Jimena’s provides multi-cultural library services at CSU Morgan library. She highlighted the ethnic diversity among
students, staff and faculty at CSU and presented outreach efforts being conducted to further expand diversity.
The following statistics were included in her presentation:
Sixteen percent ethnic minority students are comprised of: 2,401 Latino/Latina students, 511 Black students, 528 Asian
American students, 873 multi-racial students, 96 Native American students, 22 Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students, 1,506
international students, 158 or 16% ethnic minority tenure-track faculty members, 18 international faculty members. CSU
is ranked 7th out of 13 in a peer group comparison for instructional faculty by minority status. CSU is ranked 10th out of 14
in a peer group comparison for ethnic minorities as a percent of undergraduate population.
Meeting Summary:
1. Guest speaker Jimena Sagàs discussed the status of multicultural library services at CSU. Because the library’s
mission is to serve its community which is increasingly becoming more culturally diverse, a library’s services
which are multicultural and multilingual ensures equality of service and access to information.
2. Commissioner Mary Lyons, member Educational Outreach Committee, led an after action review
of the HRC’s successful initial Mental Health Informational Forum in their 8-part bi-monthly series.
3. Consistent with the City’s Outcomes of Community and Neighborhood Livability and Safe Communities,
and HRC’s functions as assigned by City Ordinance, the Commission discussed considerations
for embracing diversity in Fort Collins.
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To support further diversity at CSU, this Fall a program is planned which will include implementation of target goals for
some CSU departments. Jimena stated that retention of diverse faculty at the University is a challenge, in part because of a
perception that the community at large does not support the needs of minority cultures.
AGENDA REVIEW
Chair Crane asked if there were changes to the Agenda. After adding the guest speaker’s name, Commissioner Lyons
motioned for approval and Vice Chair Conway seconded, it passed 7:0.
MINUTES REVIEW
Chair Crane asked for a motion to approve the March meeting minutes. Commissioner Owiny motioned and
Commissioner Lyons seconded, the motion passed 7:0.
BUDGET REPORT
Staff Liaison, Melissa Herzog provided a handout reflecting a current balance is $3,238.28. Chair Crane asked for
approval of the budget as stated. Commissioner Owiny moved for approval.
STANDING COMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS
Executive Committee - Myles Crane and Colleen Conway
CPD/CSU An email report was distributed prior to the meeting.
No additional liaison reports.
Government Relations Committee – Preety Sathe and Christy Doyon
City Council Meetings:
Chair Crane attended the public comment section of the recent Council meeting and mentioned the Mental Health forum
on April 8th.
Citizen Liaison Program:
Commissioner Sathe attended the CRB’s brief board meeting on April 9th and met with the new Assistant City Attorney
Jenny Filkins-Lopez.
Educational Outreach Committee (EOC) – Christine Hays and Mary Lyons
Mental Health Forum April 8th Discussion:
Commissioner Lyons led an after action review of the HRC’s successful initial Mental Health Informational Forum in
their 8-part bi-monthly series. Discussions focused on continuing to provide program excellence to the public for future
forums and in particular for the June 10th Forum on “The State of Mental Health in Northern Colorado: Major Issues and
Community Resources.” The scheduled speaker is Lin Wilder, Director, Larimer County Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Partnership.
Senior Advisory Board (SAB)/Partnership for Age-Friendly Communities (PfAFC):
SAB: The March meeting included a presentation on the Poudre River Downtown project. The April meeting included a
speaker on social sustainability and focused on affordable housing. SAB also discussed their concerns about the City
wanting to rename the Senior Center and re-brand it.
PfAFC: There are work groups for each of the four PfAFC sub-groups – mobility and access; affordable housing; health
and wellness; and culture of aging. Commissioner Lyons was appointed as Co-Leader of the group addressing health and
wellness which plans to recruit the help of volunteers to educate the community about what is involved in aging and how
to improve health and wellness in senior years.
Media and Community Recognition Committee – James Owiny and Victor Smith
Re. HRC Brochure:
Staff Liaison Herzog provided HRC members with additional brochure copies.
Commissioner Owiny suggested that the HRC contact a certified translator for the brochure in Spanish.
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Re. HRC Awards;
Commissioner Owiny announced that there would be an M&CR planning meeting on Thursday, April 17th, 5:30 pm at
Whole Foods to discuss the Awards presentation and recognition process on December 2nd.
Re. HRC website:
Commissioner Owiny reported on the need for some content changes to the website which would be addressed in detail at
the M&CR meeting on Thursday, April 17th..
OLD BUSINESS
Re. 2015 Mental Health forum for the Latino community:
Chair Crane proposed tabling discussion to a future meeting after which the HRC had a an opportunity
to research how most appropriately to reach out to the community.
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Lyons will invite Lauren Gustus, Executive Editor, Coloradoan to be the guest speaker for June
instead of the previously discussed speaker from that newspaper. Commissioner Sathe will invite Captain James
Szakmeister to arrange for Citizen Liaison program training for the HRC in August. Chair Crane will invite Mary
Atchison, Director, Department of Social Sustainability to be the HRC guest speaker in September.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Other Announcements:
Commissioner Owiny announced that Sexual Assault Awareness is being observed during April at CSU. Information was
circulated. There are eight events being coordinated by CSU’s Women & Gender Advocacy Center.
The 2014 Diversity Symposium is seeking proposals for participation. Commissioner Owiny suggested HRC be part of
the event. An information flyer was also circulated.
Commissioner Owiny reported that during a February 10th presentation at Morgan Library on the history of silent film, an
audience member made racist and offensive comments. Commissioner Owiny expressed concern that no one in the
audience hearing these offensive comments offered any response.
Consistent with the City’s Outcomes of Community and Neighborhood Livability and Safe Communities,
and HRC’s functions as assigned by City Ordinance, the HRC discussed contributing factors to an environment where
racism occurs and is tolerated. The HRC then further discussed considerations for embracing diversity in Fort Collins.
Chair Crane inquired if there was interest in sponsoring an HRC forum with the Center for Public Deliberation on
diversity. A second suggestion was to communicate with local media on diversity.
CLOSING
Call for Adjournment:
Commissioner Sathe motioned to adjourn and Vice Chair Conway seconded, passed 7:0. Meeting adjourned at 7:19 p.m.
The next HRC regular meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 8th at 5:30 p.m. in the CIC room.
Handouts provided and/or circulated:
Multicultural Library Services Action Plan – Jimena Sagas
HRC Budget Report – Melissa Herzog
Sexual Assault Awareness Month throughout April, Today @ Colorado State article – Commissioner Owiny
2014 Diversity Symposium flyer – Commissioner Owiny