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Home My WebLink AboutHuman Relations Commission - Minutes - 10/11/2007FORT COLLINS HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting — October 11, 2007 5:30 p.m. �1Council Liaison: Lisa Poppaw 1Staff Liaison: Rebecca O'Donnell 11 IlChairperson: Maryanne Ingratta 11 11 A regular meeting of the Human Relations Commission was held on Thursday, October 11, 2007 in the CIC Room, 300 W. Laporte Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Elaine Boni Kelly Evans Joann Ginal Maryanne Ingratta Maya Jairam James Ross Karen Wong -Brown EXCUSED ABSENCES: Cristina Matsushima STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Angelina Sanchez -Sprague, Recorder 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. PUBLIC INPUT. Visitor Tom Sander, a recently relocated and retired journalist of articles on civil rights, integration and women's & gay rights, attended the meeting as an observer. 2. GUEST SPEAKER. None 3. AGENDA REVIEW Maryanne noted changes to the agenda in New Business —add Center for Public Deliberation and Current Events and on the calendar —add November 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m. NIOTA Forum, November 30'", 2008 Work Plan due to the City Clerk's office, December 10, Human Rights Day. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Elaine Boni a motion to approve the September 13`" HRC minutes. Joann seconded the motion. The minutes were approved 7:0. BUDGET REPORT/APPROVED EXPENDITURES No report. HRC October 11, 2007 — Page 2 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS Executive/Maryanne. Maryanne reported she'd attended the Community Forum that Addresses Hunger, Homelessness, and Health Care Crisis. The 2007 Paycheck Away Project has organized a series of statewide community forums aimed at identifying solutions to hunger, homelessness and the health care crisis. Nine different nonprofit and advocacy groups are sponsoring these town forums to identify causes, effects, and solutions to this growing challenge for so many Colorado families. The group is interested in a HRC representative on their panel. Karen Wong -Brown is interested. On September 1g`h, Maryanne also attended a panel discussion hosted by Fuerza Latina and Kim Medina (nee Salinas). Broken Families:/Broken System: a Personal Look at Immigration. Maryanne encouraged the Commission to educate themselves on the issues, specifically how it affects the Fort Collins community. Maryanne reported that she had been approached by a CSU President's Leadership Class student. One of their program objectives is to seek the guidance and advice of groups active in the political arena and they were interested in interacting with the HRC. As available, more information will be shared later. Elaine reported she had been thanked by Norberto Valdez for highlighting the Hispanic Heritage Month at City Council's September 18`h meeting. • Government Relations/Elaine. Elaine reported she's continuing to wait for new member to complete scheduling a one -hour Community Liaison Program training session with Russ Reed. Elaine reported she'd not heard from Chief Harrison regarding the Channel 14 program on Hate Crimes and will follow up. Education/Community Outreach/Maya & Karen. Maya reported the subcommittee met and were considering finding a new date and location for their meetings. The discussed working in conjunction with the Media Committee to create a more robust HRC website to highlight educational topics important to the community. Also working with Media (in planning publicity on radio and newspapers,) they want to work on quarterly community round table discussions on topics such as black history, hate, and the homeless as victims. Next step is to develop a list of topics for the coming year and their action plan (who, what, where, and in conjunction with what other HRC efforts.) Given the resources required for the committee's work plan, Maryanne would like to see more members on the committee. She suggested selecting a meeting day and time that can work for Joann, and to ask new member Kelly Evans to consider working with the committee. She also recommended inviting non-HRC community members to act as volunteers as needed. Elaine said she'd been contacted by Caroline Tu Farley, NIOTA, regarding getting biographies for two people for their April, 2008 Hate Crime Forum. Maryanne asked Maya to make contact with Caroline and handle specifics related to the NIOTA forum. HRC October 11, 2007 —Page 3 Public Relations & Community Recoanition/Cristina As part of his Public Relations Committee work, James reported that he is drafting an article on the topic of immigration. The draft currently has the form of an academic paper that speaks to the compatibility of human and environmental security. James has found that 77% of population growth can be attributed to immigration. That development has a direct correlation to sustainable policies and some individual's "shut the door' stance. He wants to write a balanced piece evaluating that premise. To make the publication timely, Maryanne suggested the Commission schedule a special meeting to review and approve. Visitor Sander suggested the piece be a "sit across the table" exchange on one particular aspect of the question. James reported the Committee continues to work on the Human Relations Award Breakfast. James has been talking to Steffie at MOCA's Children's Workshop about creating art pieces that will be used as centerpieces at the breakfast. James reported the Coloradoan has information on the award nominations on their community link page. Maya suggested a piece be included in the Utility billing insert in a March timeframe. Elaine suggested writing a soapbox six to eight weeks before the event asking for nominations. Elaine also suggested that members attending community events take both HRC brochures and nomination forms as handouts. James reported the Holiday Display Task Force is hard at work on finalizing their recommendation on how the City might handle multi -cultural holiday display requests. James reported that are almost to consensus on their recommendation which will be considered by City Council at their November 7'" meeting. Their recommendation will include the following suggestions: • Fort Collins Museum developed 6'xY flat screen display at Oak Street Plaza that would show images and text related to the variety of ways different cultures celebrate their holidays • poster competition sponsored by MOCA—have community artists develop posters that represent the various community traditions • the City remove the wreaths on City buildings in exchange for a white light display. 5. OLD BUSINESS • Tag Line for Business Cards The Commission selected the following tag ling for their business cards: "Promoting inclusion through dialogue and action." James will consult with his wife on how easily the tag lines could be translated and report via email. • Name tags. Kelly Evans volunteered to work on a name tag prototype for Commission members and come back with information on related costs 6. NEW BUSINESS • How to spend remaining 2007 funds The Board considered areas where an estimated $1200 in 2007 budget funds could be used. Most of the expenses for the 2008 breakfast (barring a caterer) had been covered. At this juncture, the Commission considered printing HRC brochures, ordering nametags, and expenses related to community educational efforts. HRC October 11, 2007 — Page 4 • Current Events. The system established for discussing current event topics is: email fellow Commission member on a topic of interest. Let them know if it's a for your information or requires action (is it actionable by the Commission with an article on the topic or the topic of a round table.) The board considered the following current event: Jena 6: Howard Witt of the Chicago Tribune reported September 5, 2007, "Ruling in a racially charged case that has drawn scrutiny from national civil rights leaders, a judge in the small central Louisiana town of Jena on Tuesday partially vacated the conviction of a black teenager accused in the beating of a white student while the district attorney reduced attempted murder charges against two other black co-defendants. Judge J.P. Mauffray threw out a conspiracy conviction against Mychal Bell, granting a defense motion that Bell's June trial was improperly held in adult court and should instead have been conducted as a juvenile proceeding." Center for Public Deliberation. James, who is on the Board for the Center for Public Deliberation, has met with Martin Carcasson to discuss how the HRC can contribute to this community effort. Two topics they have considered are: the November a community forum on the topic of Health Care. They've also explored study circles on the topic of immigration. Study circles are a series of four or five meetings on one topic that builds trust and identifies common values leading to understanding and willingness to work together. James will invite Martin to speak at the November 8th HRC meeting to explore further how the Commission can work in conjunction with the Center. • The 2008 HRC Work Plan is due to the City Clerk's office by November 30th Maryanne noted the Commission worked on their work plan on their last retreat. She asked members to review and to come prepared to finalize the HRC's 2008 Work Plan submittal at the November 8th meeting. 7. UPCOMING EVENTS 2007 October 2, Tuesday City Council Meeting October 4, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at the Fort Collins Oriental Market, 1119 W. Drake, Suite C20 October 7, Sunday ERACISM Film Series: Paper Clips Downtown Library ...with Ron Sladek (Har Shalom Congregation) October 11, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. October 13, Saturday District 6 Meeting — "The 2008-2009 City Budget and You" hosted by Councilmember David Roy. 10 a.m.- noon, City Council Chambers, 300 LaPorte Ave. This is an opportunity for citizens to express their views on the proposed budget directly to Councilmember Roy. October 13, Saturday Fuerza Latina MEMBERSHIP MEETING 2-4 p.m. Mennonite Church 300 East Oak St., Fort Collins _ For more information call 419-8944 or email distaso@frii.com. October 14, Sunday ERACISM Film Series: American Blackout ... with Blane Harding (Dean of Liberal Arts, CSU HRC October 11, 2007 — Page 5 October 15, Monday PR/Community Recognition 6:30 p.m. Mugs (Old Town) October 16, Tuesday City Council Meeting October 16, Tuesday NIOTA Forum, 6:30-7:30, location pending November 1, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at the Fort Collins Oriental Market, 1119 W. Drake, Suite C20 November 6, Tuesday City Council Meeting Holiday Display Task Force Recommendations November 8, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. Work Plan must be finalized. November 19, Monday PR/Community Recognition 6:30 p.m. Mugs (Old Town) November 20, Tuesday City Council Meeting November 22, Thursday THANKSGIVING November 30, Friday 2008 Work Plan due to City Clerk's Office December 6, Thursday Education Committee Meeting 5:30 at the Fort Collins Oriental Market, 1119 W. Drake, Suite C20 December 10, Monday Human Rights Day December 13, Thursday Regular HRC BOARD MEETING 5:30 p.m. December 17, Monday PR/Community Recognition 6:30 p.m. Mugs (Old Town) December 25, Tuesday CHRISTMAS 8. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. i R becca O'Donnell, taff Liaison