Human Relations Commission

MINUTES CITY OF DEKALB HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION NOVEMBER 3, 2015 The Human Relations Commission held a Meeting on November 3, 2015 at City Hall Ellwood Conference Room. Chair Larry Apperson calling meeting to order called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.. A. ROLL CALL The following members of the HRC were present: Larry Apperson (Chair), Joe Gastiger, Norden Gilbert, Lisa King, Ellingsworth Webb, Cameron Zelaya. Absent was Robert Williams. Also present were: Guest Beth Campen (Beloved Community Dinners), Assistant City Manager Patty Hoppenstedt and Management Analyst Lauren Stott. B. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA – ADDITIONS / DELETIONS All agenda items were approved. C. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Guest Beth Campen of the Beloved Community Dinners was introduced. D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Assistant City Manager (ACM) Patty Hoppenstedt informed the HRC that Administrative Assistant Julie Abraham has resigned her position with the City. The position previously held by Julie will remain vacant. Jared Heyn’s current position of Public Works Intern has been reclassified to Management Analyst and will serve as the City’s primary FOIA Officer which was one of Julie’s areas of responsibilities. Other duties assigned to Julie have been reassigned to existing staff in the City Manager’s Office. ACM Hoppenstedt indicated that Management Analyst Lauren Stott would be the regular staff liaison for the HRC but that ACM Hoppenstedt will still remain involved in HRC items going forward as needed. ACM Hoppenstedt also indicated that the City is working to identify who will be taking minutes with a consideration of outsourcing the function for a cost saving. E. OLD BUSINESS 1. Promotion of Diversity Programming a. Beth Campen, Beloved Community Dinners Regular Meeting November 3, 2015 Page 2 of 3 Beth Campen provided her background as a DeKalb resident and her experience seeing involvement with NIU and the DeKalb school district. Expressed that it is important for the community to pay attention to how different cultures work. Provided the history of the Beloved Community Dinners (BCD) and the status of the dinners now. Explained transit considerations and current ride-sharing initiative. Working now to encourage more community members to be involved in the dinners. Looking for people in the community from different groups (college, high school students, etc.). Facebook page is called the Beloved Community of DeKalb County, IL. Campen said attendees have reported that the dinners have changed how they feel about themselves. Campen referenced research has shown that empathy has decreased by 40 percent. Campen also identified the following challenges of BCD: Engaging African American men, convincing people that it is important to have difficult conversations about different cultures, getting all different viewpoints around the table (conservative members of the community), dinner venue planning. Campen provided a handout: “Discussion Starters on Empathy” and explained how it is used at the Beloved Community Dinners. Chair Apperson thanked Campen for her outline of the Beloved Community Dinners. b. Dr. Cohen proposal on Diversity Training Chair Apperson presented the proposal for Cultural Competency training from Dr. James Cohen at Northern Illinois University. Chair Apperson, the Commissioners and City staff discussed the cost and potential prohibitions due to the proposed cost. Commissioner King said she would like to explore all training options before committing to Dr. Cohen’s proposal, and the Commissioners discussed different programming, participation and funding options. ACM Hoppenstedt indicated she would reach out to Vernese Edghill-Walden, NIU’s Chief Diversity Officer, to attend an HRC meeting to discuss other training options and strategies. c. Strategic Plan ACM Hoppenstedt said that although City staff was hoping to have the full draft Strategic Plan presented to the City Council on Nov. 9, an extension was needed to finalize the draft. Staff hopes to bring the draft to the City Council at the second November meeting and subsequently bring the draft to the HRC on its next scheduled meeting (Dec. 1). d. Discussion and Review of Models for Re-Entry of Ex-Offenders Commissioner Webb said he would prefer to table the discussion on ex-offender reentry in the interest of time, but that Commissioner Zelaya could provide some updates on the status of ex-offender re-entry in general.  Commissioner Zelaya provided additional information on the status of re-entry programs that he learned at a recent event. e. Community Member Recognition Commissioner Webb recommended tabling the Community Member Recognition item in the interest of time. f. Website Recommendation Updates Chair Apperson indicated that Commissioners should send recommendations for updates to the HRC Web page to Analyst Lauren Stott prior to the Dec. 1 HRC meeting. F. NEW BUSINESS 1. Diversity in Schools No discussion was held on this item. G. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Webb moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:41 p.m. __________________________________________ LAUREN STOTT, Management Analyst Minutes approved by the Human Relations Commission on December 1, 2015.