City of Bloomington, Indiana Human Rights Commission, 27 Apr 2020

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From YouTube: Bloomington Human Rights Commission, April 27, 2020

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meeting agenda: https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/meetingFiles/download?meetingFile_id=5739

A

I will bring the monday april 27.

A

Meeting of the bloomington human rights commission to order.

A

And uh welcome each and every one of you uh to this.

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New way of of meeting you all, I wish we were in person, of course, but.

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Here we are, and uh that is all right- we're.

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We're getting our business done um and we're taking care of that.

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In in this way, and I'm glad that you all are able to attend.

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um We need to go ahead and approve the minutes for.

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uh February 24th, which was the last time that we did meet.

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And uh for that uh does anybody have any objection to.

A

uh The meetings being or the minutes being approved.

A

Any corrections, no objection, okay, nicole, will need to call the role to.

A

Approve the minute so nicole, please call the role.

B

All right um right, yes, jacob! Yes,.

C

D

A

Meetings have minutes not meetings. Our meeting minutes have been approved.

A

And uh we will carry on now to unfinished business.

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And we will now talk about the essay and arts contest.

A

B

The winners of um contest and we sent out letters.

C

Yes, your voice is not coming in as clearly as it are. It might be on my.

C

End but could you speak a little louder, barbara.

B

A quick slideshow to show the winners briefly, yeah.

E

um So it started with the essays. They were a little bit easier and then.

B

um Jacob or carolyn want to say something about the ones that.

B

They selected that might be helpful as well.

F

C

Jacob were you going to speak uh yeah do? Should we read a short excerpt of.

F

Each or um yes, and may I just say that this.

C

Is probably the fifth or sixth time that I've.

C

Had an opportunity to read essays that are written by these students, and I just.

C

Want the word to go forth that I found those.

C

Essays to be really really insightful, and I was so.

C

Impressed to learn that one of the students, perhaps not one of.

C

The winners, but one of the students had quoted john.

C

Rawls theory of justice that I thought wow, that's really powerful for students that young to be thinking.

C

Of a theory of justice and reading about about that gentleman.

C

Because a theory of justice is really thickly textured.

C

And so I was very impressed by that yeah. I echo carolyn's comments and so.

F

For joanna, um this is an excerpt we liked about her.

F

Essay I admire catherine switzer because she has made.

F

Women and men more equal in 1967, she was the first woman to officially run the.

F

Boston marathon back then women weren't allowed to run.

F

The race she didn't want to prove anything. She just wanted to run a.

F

Marathon, she made a change in women's equality and I like that it makes us all more equal.

F

I personally enjoy running in races. I ran two 5k races in 2019.

F

If it wasn't for katherine switzer, I might have not been able to.

C

Yes, I would also like to read from aurora.

C

Darling's essay.

C

She begins by saying, I believe that, in a place where we are free and equal.

C

We would all have good food and clean water.

C

Women would be equal to men and would make the same amount of money.

C

As them, no matter what kind of job they work at.

C

Would all have jobs and money? Everyone would have the right to go to good.

C

Schools and have a safe place to live. We would all.

C

Have an equal chance to get the jobs to earn.

C

Money to buy food, I like the fact that she was.

C

Very concrete and specific.

B

And the winning art you can see in the slideshow.

B

And ham done shows.

B

What you're seeing now is the third place.

B

uh Winner for the younger students.

C

For some reason, I'm missing portions of the audio.

B

We'll try to speak up. Thank you.

B

And when I was updating the um press release.

B

uh Phoebe actually won last year yeah, so I recognized her name. You know we.

G

Have your peter.

B

As well as a handprint, drawing accompanied it.

B

And then for the older students, we had a group project that took.

E

Third place.

E

And then this was the project that took second place.

B

And he was the first place, one.

B

Many students for watching congratulate you and we hope to hear from you.

B

Real contact with you for too long excellent. Thank you all for all your.

A

Work uh in judging and grading the essays and.

A

The art projects- I know it's a time every time- carolyn and I get.

A

Together to grade the essays, so uh thank you all for all. You do and.

A

Congratulations to all the winners. I I really sincerely hope that we are.

A

Able to um get together with you all in the fall.

A

And actually uh reward you in in a public manner uh that you all.

A

Deserve to be rewarded, and so thanks for thanks for submitting and.

A

To our commissioners, thank you for doing all the grading.

A

We complete on that for now.

A

Anybody have any other additional comments to make.

A

About the essay or art contest, I would also.

C

Like to add that the essays were more creative, they did not have the.

C

Cookie cutter approach that they've had in the past.

C

And so my hats go off to to to students who really did a a beautiful.

C

Job of writing creatively.

A

A

Okay, hearing none, we will move on to our um the human rights award update.

A

We, uh as you all know, cindy stone did win that award and we.

A

Will hopefully get to a point where we're able to award her her her.

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Trophy and give her some public accolades.

A

At a city council meeting in the future, um obviously we have not gotten to do.

A

That yet so we will hopefully get to do that here.

A

uh In the near future,.

A

Great okay um is michael joining us. He said he might be a little.

B

Late, so he might want to jump to the next thing yet.

A

Okay, we will move on to the first quarter director's report.

B

Just a lot of inquiries about human rights issues right now, I think.

B

It's not the top priorities of.

G

Respect, okay, does anybody have.

A

Any questions or any concern about the.

A

The first quarter report- I don't have any questions. I did notice that.

H

A lot of people who have called in don't fit our criteria in terms of.

H

Jurisdiction and some of them have very mistaken.

H

Notions of notions about what a human rights commission is, but.

H

They're just a lot of folks who probably are not getting a lot of satisfaction.

H

Because they're calling the wrong place or they don't or there is no place for them. Okay, I don't know what to do about that.

H

um Are other people having the same yeah problems? Yeah? Yes,.

A

You do keep cutting in and out a little bit byron, but I've heard everything that.

A

You've said: okay, uh just a comment: that's wrong!.

B

Were you saying that a lot of people in college are not talking about hrc.

B

Matters- I couldn't quite hear you that time, barbara.

B

Were you saying that a lot of the calls we get are not really being to.

B

See issues but they're other things, apparently yeah. That's the way it seems.

H

That that we just don't have jurisdiction or.

H

And some people misunderstand what our role is.

H

Or they have what they think is a human rights issue, but it's really some other.

A

Issue carolyn: were you mentioning anything.

C

No, I was just listening. Okay and I was really thinking whether there is.

C

Anything we might be able to do in addition to the the marvelous things.

C

We've done in the past in terms of letting people know.

C

uh Jurisdictional issues and range- I don't know what else we might do.

C

To people find the right place at the right moment, I think it's really.

B

A one-on-one thing people call us because they don't have.

B

Any idea where to call a lot of times- and I usually can make them a referral.

B

Because sometimes there's no referral possible, but most of.

B

The time I've been doing.

B

At least some of the time, but people don't understand.

B

What the term human rights means, and it's.

B

I think you have to educate people, and I understand that and I don't think.

C

Any harm is coming from the pursuit of a remedy for a problem.

C

That these individuals may have.

B

F

Question for you, um what has the evolution.

F

Of the website been over time.

F

Like has it, has there been more information on it at.

F

Some points less information. Has there been a city-wide update at.

F

Certain points like what's a couple three years ago, the city.

B

Updated the web page ken um didn't consult us with that.

B

And some things went missing from the city webpage.

B

And, as we've noticed, what's missing that back on.

B

I think it's pretty much what I've always been at this point.

B

Approval for to the web page, I wonder I wonder if we could.

F

Kind of look at the website and think of ways to.

F

I know there's a list of um you know relevant information, but I.

F

Wonder if even just some of the language is very.

F

um It's not layperson language necessarily.

F

um And I wonder if we as a commission could work together to kind of.

F

Pull together, information that had very plain, accessible language, like some faqs.

F

Or you know things like that.

F

Does anybody on the commission have thoughts about that or.

F

Other ideas or.

D

Yeah, I think it um it'd be worth the project to take up for the commission.

D

I know at our last meeting we also talked about.

D

um Just doing a regular, um I guess recalibration to what the.

D

Purpose of the commission is and doing more publicity um around what.

D

The commission does and does not do um and so.

D

That might be something we talk about for uh future business is.

D

Putting together a subgroup of folks, a part of the commission.

D

To revise um some of the wording on the website.

D

um To speak clearly to um the purposes of the commission, the jurisdiction of.

D

The commission and then also think about ways we can do.

D

Further outreach um in terms of notifying the public of.

D

The work that the commission does, um I know that we do have the newsletter that.

D

Goes out monthly, um that's a part of the the.

D

Report um that barbara has prepared.

D

But to to also update the website um as a hub of information that folks.

D

Might go to before they call or stop by that. I do think would be.

D

Would be helpful, I agree latasha.

F

Barbara or nicole, I was wondering also is there data from the city.

F

On website traffic, that's available to my cs.

B

um It's been a while, since I asked him about that and I was curious how many.

B

People looked at our height incident before and the numbers were really really low. It would be useful to have that data so.

F

We know how much time we should invest in a.

F

Particular communication, medium.

A

Thank you yeah. um I think we could uh all uh have just a little bit of.

A

Take a little bit of time and make sure that we are.

A

um Making sure that our our city, literature uh is up to date and and.

A

People know how to read it and know how to contact us uh when needed. Anybody else have any other further.

A

A

Of the report, I would move acceptance of the report.

A

It has been moved that we accept the report. Do I have a second.

C

I second calloway thomas carolyn seconds. uh It has been moved in second.

A

With nicole, please read the role uh yes, uh ryan.

E

Yes, jacob, yes,.

C

A

And the first quarter report has passed and we will now move on. I believe.

A

Michael is here to join us at this point is: is he not perfect, michael.

A

Hello, I'm moving on to let michael go ahead and discuss.

A

um What he is planning on discussing today.

I

uh uh Well, does barbara want to team me up.

B

Well, at the last meeting in february, the commissioners talked about wanting to.

B

Know more about what other commissions in the city were doing and see how they could network better with maybe the cca or the.

B

King commission or probably other commissions at cfrd, so if.

B

You can just tell us what kind.

I

Okay um sure so uh I have uh the.

I

Mlk, commission and the uh council for community accessibility as the two.

I

Primary ones that you all might be interested in um in terms of the martin luther king, commission,.

I

It is pretty much exactly what it is with the full titles. Dr martin luther.

I

King jr birthday celebration commission and it's all about the birthday celebration. That is really the big focus of it.

I

um And we are currently uh just working on getting the speaker for the 2021.

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Event right now, uh so looking at various names and going.

I

Through that, uh the council for community accessibility is, uh can, I just say, extremely active.

I

There are three very active committees, the events.

I

And activities committee is usually has three events this year, the.

I

Latest was canceled because it was a kind of a thank you for.

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The businesses in bloomington.

I

For being accessible and that got cancelled because you can't get out to.

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Those places and thank them if you can't go and they're not open.

I

uh Then, with the uh accessibility I mean the yeah, the accessibility.

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Committee does the surveys themselves and uh that's on hold currently, but we.

I

Are working on a.

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Digital uh accessibility program to look at websites accessibilities of the.

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Places that we survey, because a lot of people need use that.

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Before they go out to actual places, so people are blind.

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Want to know what's on the menu and people who are deaf.

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Might want to be, you know or want to hear it, and people definitely want to.

I

See it, but they may have other vision issues, and so we have to.

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Consider some of that and finally, the.

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Transportation and mobility committee is looking into.

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Funding for a wheelchair, accessible vehicle.

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Waves they're called um uh to uh bring it for a taxi service in.

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Town, so that people have true accessibility, because.

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uh There is no wheelchair, accessible taxis currently.

I

And that's uh disappointing for people wanting to get around on a whim or things like that, and uh we are also.

I

Finishing up a ride, hailing grant where we trained.

I

Trainers to train people on how to use uh uber and then become more independent.

I

um And that's been going well uh currently a couple of things that we're.

I

Looking into are uh taking the implicit bias, training.

I

From cjam, the council as a whole would do that.

I

That's probably going to happen this summer. We just.

I

Had a presentation by c jam and I think they're going to end up doing that.

I

And we're also working one of the events that we're doing.

I

Working on getting an indiana humanities grant and bringing in a nationally.

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Recognized uh speaker uh to be part of that, a real.

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Successful event, um probably somebody like uh judy.

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Heumann, who is uh wrote a book and was recently.

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In the movie called crip camp um and she's uh pretty much the.

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Major figure in starting the accessibility and disability rights.

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Movement in the 70s and 80s, and even now she was.

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Very involved and active, so the council's really active in doing.

I

A lot some of that may be relevant to all of you um in terms of some of the other commissions, I'm not quite as.

I

Up on all that they're doing, I may hear about it fairly regularly, but to.

I

Focus on more of your own events, um there are several, though,.

I

There's the commission on the status of black males.

I

And commissioned on children and youth, which are both done by shatoya moss.

I

She's, the staff that- and they are.

I

Stuck uh right now because of their events, that they were planning.

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And those events having to be reconfigured or.

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Reorganized and things like that, so they're they're in a whole.

I

Pattern right now: uh the commission, on aging.

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uh Is pretty much most of them are on on hold patterns because of their event, but.

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The commission on aging and the commission, the status of women.

I

Are done by uh uh sue, owens and she's a staff lesson.

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For them and uh and they're they're also on hold, they.

I

Haven't held the last couple meetings and.

I

uh Finally, there's the commission on hispanic and latino affairs: it's run by.

I

Joseph and she is.

I

uh They're again, no events and so they're kind of.

I

Stuck at the moment, so that's the problem is right now.

I

Without events, a lot of people are just in the in the kind of a whole uh holding pattern.

I

um Other things that we're doing in the department that might be relevant.

I

We are going to start uh a a kind of a forum.

I

For uh anybody who wants to come, but we're calling it.

I

People helping people- um it's probably going to be a weekly thing.

I

For now, while kobe's dealing with it and maybe going to a monthly.

I

Where we hold a zoom session and allow people.

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We're going to market it to non-profits, but.

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It's for anybody who wants services that the government can offer or non-profits.

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Can offer so businesses may have things to donate.

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And other people may want to ask: how do you.

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Apply for cdbg funding, or how does that rapid response.

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Response funding, work or issues like that.

I

So we're going to be doing something like that as well.

I

Real soon- and we also do the non-profit board training which we're going to be.

I

Reconfiguring for the zoom volunteer network is going.

I

That's in our department as well and they're working on that I should.

I

Probably just stop there and breathe and ask if there's any questions.

D

um Yes, michael, thank you so much for that kind of detailed synopsis of.

D

What's going on with the commissions, I do have a question related to the.

D

The information that might be collected by commissions.

D

And so our commission, the human rights commission in our last.

D

Meeting talked about um potentially working with other commissions to get.

D

More information on the experiences of individuals from protected classes, so.

D

I know you mentioned the cca survey. If there's information about.

D

um The experiences of people that live with.

D

Disabilities um that we could use to help inform kind of our work.

D

And then also, um I know the the commission for the status of black males.

D

Had been some like health disparities, um studies.

D

And then I'm not sure if the commission for hispanic and latino.

D

Communities, if there's any data collection there, but I'm curious if you.

D

Can give a snapshot if you know of any of these.

D

Kind of surveys and data and where we might be able to start to.

D

Share that information, so that we can get a better a better.

D

Idea of the experience of, um I guess, protected classes.

D

um In bloomington and that's one question and then my second question is.

D

As we talk about the protected classes,.

D

And as bloomington has done, its own kind of work of cleanup.

D

um For homelessness, is there any plan in the future.

D

To do any work to support homeless, shelters or individuals.

D

um That that might be bad battling with with homelessness or.

D

Just kind of shelter and secure insecurity for the.

D

For the city of bloomington, well, let me answer your second one. First, uh just.

I

Because uh uh wow are we doing a lot for that, but.

I

It's all in terms of uh of the of um so.

I

uh The mayor started, uh which probably most of you, are familiar with a couple.

I

Task force and those uh task force are looking.

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At uh essentially uh making sure that the safety net is.

I

uh In a good space for post covid, like gee, you know this is.

I

What are we gonna do when this ends, because people are gonna be in pretty, you know dire straits in some cases, especially.

I

The homeless population and so they've started some task force.

I

And uh there are four task force, one that deals specifically with shelter. I'm.

I

Not on that, when I'm on the health and uh public safety, one which has a.

I

Little bit more to do with disabilities um and mental health and issues like.

I

That, um but they also do one on food and food sheltering.

I

And I'm blanking on the other one suddenly um and.

I

Those uh those task force are up and going.

I

There are people at them that are discussing in great length.

I

A lot of the uh issues uh that are happening and the people.

I

That are attending those are invited, so they represent a large. I.

I

Mean these are we're talking 30 to 40 people coming to these.

I

um And they represent a large uh swath of our community who come in and.

I

Tell what's going on right now and where they're seeing.

I

Issues and problems for the future, so those those may be a really good source.

I

For you, there are reports being written and and uh meaning notes being taken. Every every.

I

Week that they're meeting so those may be accessible.

I

Members of that are it's being shepherded by gina peterson.

I

From community foundation, john barida from the bloomington health.

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Foundation, diane buzzel from the iu health.

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Foundation and the city. And which is.

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Beverly county anderson for some of it um and united way.

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um A fraud peppermint, so you absolutely can.

I

Get materials from them about what's going on and what's currently happening.

I

What's going to be happening to address uh sheltering issues, um I did.

I

Ask a fraud in an assad conversation. They might be interested in.

I

About what were the uh non-profits that were in the highest.

I

Need category right now and the answer she gave me was kind of.

I

Interesting, a little unexpected is that, even though.

I

You would think that sheltering and food is in the highest need, and they definitely have very big needs they're in much better shape than many.

I

Of the smaller nonprofits, like a girls inc or a pals or big.

I

Brothers, big sisters, which, frankly she has you, know, there's a.

I

Chance that some of those may not even survive this if this goes on very long, whereas the sheltering and food organizations.

I

Are actually doing much better because they are having such a great influx of.

I

Federal money and uh that's a lot of what, when the.

I

Codewood relief fund that united way is doing. They also got that.

I

So that's what I can give you on on the sheltering stuff, um the data stuff.

I

Not uh not a lot from the council.

I

The people in the public, health and public safety group asked me.

I

What do we do to get more information, and so.

I

This session that I was just at right before this, the council's.

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uh Meeting um they uh went around and everybody uh was.

I

Telling of their situations um in terms of.

I

Dealing with the isolation and the problems with coveting what it, what it.

I

Meant to them and I'm going to be compiling that into.

I

A small report and okay with sharing that.

I

Because I'm not going to name names um and send that to the health and.

I

Public safety group um I'd have to check in with.

I

Chatoya and josefa for the uh stats of blackmail.

I

And uh the hispanic and latino affairs one and.

I

uh Let you know on those.

C

I think that I wonder whether I've been concerned about.

C

The number of homeless people who do not appear to have.

C

Access to face coverings and I'm wondering whether.

C

You have any information on that. I think that's.

C

The absences of public health risk yeah. I know that the the fabic drive.

I

Which is uh the face? Fabric face, mask drive, which is.

I

uh Has been uh nurtured by the community canada resources department.

I

Is still going strong in terms of distribution.

I

They recently passed them out of the city, every.

I

Department got a certain amount of them. um I don't know uh specifically.

I

uh If they're trying to distribute them to that.

I

Population but at staff meeting tomorrow I can bring that question up and let.

I

Barbara know what the answer is to that. Thank you, because I've noticed abundant.

C

Gatherings in the park and there's no social distancing going.

C

On, as far as I can determine, yeah no masks being worn as.

C

Far as I can determine so yeah, we we have seen that.

I

Too, and just discuss that happening as well, I mean it's uh pretty.

I

Hard to prevent once shalom has been pushed out. That's where they're moving.

I

To is the park and that's where they congregate and.

I

That's definitely a situation well. Thank you.

I

Yeah, michael I'd be curious. um You mentioned what agencies might be.

H

In greatest need at this point, it's not necessarily those providing.

H

Food, for example, I'm planning to use my twelve hundred.

H

Dollars from the government, if, when it comes.

H

To give it away- and it's not something that I need at this point in my life.

H

And the question is: where would it do the most good.

I

You know um I too, uh I've already been writing my checks for my 1200.

I

Is like you know, that's great that I get it, but it. I know that.

I

The agencies need it way more and um I've. uh Personally, I I I.

I

uh Immediately, you know, I've been splitting it up and I gave.

I

Mine to the uh big chunk of it to the united way.

I

Cobit relief fund, my logic on that is having been a.

I

Little bias I've been a past united way board member, although it was clear back.

I

In the 90s, but um my bias towards united way is.

I

That they are the organization in bloomington.

I

That has their pulse on the needs of this community. More than any other.

I

And they are, from my perspective and numerous others that I've talked to are.

I

Doing a fantastic job in addressing that in terms of.

I

Distribution and dissemination of the funds that they're getting and even the community foundation, although.

I

It's offering grants itself they're turning around and have moved much of their money over to the united way relief fund as well.

I

But of course, individual organizations are.

I

uh Sure appreciate any money that they can get as well.

I

um I I I named some of the ones that are small underneath. I know that.

I

uh The ones that are large and really in need and having some struggles or both.

I

Life designs in area 10. um I mean all of them- are having.

I

Problems with staffing issues and other stuff, but uh uh life designs in area 10 are large agencies, the small one where big.

I

Brothers, big sisters, girls, incompatible and um a couple that are all doing: okay,.

I

In terms of money, but are just really challenged by being hit so hard and not.

I

Ever being remotely prepared for this or mother.

I

Harvard's cupboard and pantry 279.

I

I also know that many of the arts organizations are.

I

Really struggling right now and a lot of them are going to have a.

I

Big challenge in getting up and going after covet uh ends because.

I

They so if they have any kind of social distancing, it's going to make it really difficult for them so right, but yeah. The number one is united way. Thanks for your perspective,.

I

Yeah, michael, um following up on the tasha's question, I.

F

Just want to make sure I um understood what you were saying about.

F

The data uh data stuff. So if we're looking for.

F

Say like a report or a couple reports that would.

F

Show what inequities might exist for different protected classes in.

F

Bloomington there's not necessarily like a particular staff member. We would go to it. It's more spread among.

F

Multiple um and so we'd have to like take.

F

That approach is that what you're, what you were saying yeah I mean.

I

I

Well, you might actually start with beverly calendar anderson, because she's.

I

The city person who is most connected into the social.

I

Services groups that are dealing with the food.

I

Shelter, uh health issues and one other I'm just.

I

Blank one um she's, the one who's from the city is.

I

Most closely connected to all those there are other people from the city.

I

That involved in those um in various.

I

Groups and of course the you know like I said.

I

The the foundations and united way are all there. So if you had some.

I

Great contact you could go to them, but if, from the city perspective.

I

She'd be the person to be able to get any reports or anything like that from.

I

You she goes to most of us meeting and I know she receives all the notes and all that kind of stuff.

F

Okay, thanks yeah, and if you want I'm happy to.

I

Con you know let her know if that's what you're looking for and and see what she.

I

Wants to do and hook her back up with barbara, too yeah.

F

um And then my final question, so you were talking about the um the.

F

Community council, on accessibility, um so how.

F

You the it sounds like you all, go after grants and such.

F

um Are the commission members um assisting with that work.

F

What's that more, you yeah so sort of so the council for community.

I

Accessibility uh is not actually a commission, it's a.

I

Little bit of an odd word, just a history, it was started right.

I

After 30 years ago, actually it was started a month or two.

I

Before the ada passed because uh the mayor at that time, tommy.

I

Allison said I want to get out in front of this, and so she started it back.

I

Then, before it was even going, but they never have made it into a.

I

Commission it's a little bit of an odd bird.

I

Regardless the way it works at this city is any grants that are done.

I

Are done by me, I work with usually a council member or two on a specific.

I

Grant, um it's probably only an average of one a year, but sometimes it's a couple year a year depending on what we get. So we.

I

Get sometimes get a grant from the.

I

Indiana ada and then indiana humanity is pretty easy to get grants from too so.

I

Those are uh possibilities, but yeah, I do the work for it.

I

It's uh joint in terms of the idea and the.

I

You know thing, but it has to be submitted by me. Okay,.

F

Thank you other questions. No thank you.

I

Hope that was useful thanks, michael excellent thanks for tuning in thank you.

I

So I'll uh I will say goodbye to all, and I hope you have a great rest of the.

I

Meeting and good evening, thank you too bye.

A

Okay, uh we are on hrc inventory and uh jacob has asked the table that.

A

For now so we are moving on to the petition for iu's world war ii. Treatment of japanese american students.

A

Barbara, would you like to give us a synopsis? Please.

B

Certainly in your packet, there is a draft petition.

B

Where a number of people are petitioning iu to do.

B

Something about um the fact that in world war.

B

Iii, world war ii- I think eleven or twelve japanese.

B

um People applying to these students at iu and I knew rejected them on.

B

Pretty racist grounds, if japanese will never be part of our society.

B

And people organizing this petition think like we should do something to.

B

Make amends for that and they're asking people throughout the.

B

Community to sign it, I don't know any details other than that I received it.

B

From someone months ago I don't know, but I.

B

Thought it might be something you guys want to consider.

A

Anybody have any comments um about this at all.

C

I would just like more specific information regarding.

C

What we're supposed to do could do might do.

C

So if we could get more information, I'd be pleased.

H

I'd agree that um it's important to know how the response would.

H

Play out in terms of actual in terms of action.

H

But the position iu took was certainly an egregious one.

H

I've read what was stated at the time I mean it was.

H

It was very racist and bigoted kind of statement.

H

So I would support and I'm just reading the petition against.

B

Japanese american students, by admitting that the decision, the ban.

B

Japanese american students was wrong, providing funding for research, creative.

B

Activities, teaching and public facing programming related to japanese american, impersonal preparation and issuing retroactive.

B

Diplomas to japanese americans who died in mission iu during world war ii, and that comes from what group of.

C

Barbara, I'm sorry.

C

Who is, who is it? I don't know.

B

F

I thought it was a professor as well. Okay,.

F

um My I, of course like think I you should state its.

F

Position was wrong and I'm supportive of the intention of the petition. But I the thing that I struggle with for.

F

Petitions is that, if you don't agree with.

F

um The specific items on it, then you can't.

F

Sign it, and I would I mean I think these are great.

F

And like there's even more, we could do or go beyond just providing funding for.

F

Research or maybe that's not the most impactful way to.

F

Change, you know human rights for uh this group of people.

F

And so I'm wondering if there are ways we could be supportive of the cause, but.

F

Not necessarily put our name on these specified solutions, especially if we.

F

Don't know who like came up with these solutions, so.

C

Could we table that in interest of time, so we'll have more.

C

Time to talk about it because it's seems like it might be something very.

C

Very important for us to discuss in a.

H

Could I interject um carolyn? I think I would agree more with what jacob had.

H

To say than with the idea of tabling, I think we.

H

Probably would have a consensus that we might not want to agree to all.

H

The particulars of the petition- I mean I, I would agree with number one. I.

H

Might agree with number two, I'm not sure about retroactive diplomas, that's one! I.

H

Would have significant reservations about.

H

um I don't know what the ramifications of all that are and I'm not sure what.

H

The point of that would necessarily be.

H

So it's not that I need more information. It's that I don't.

H

Agree with the whole package, okay, I suppose I need more information. I.

C

Simply can't vote without having more information.

C

To guide my decision meeting I'll, find out who put this.

B

Together see if there's been any action taken at.

G

All and certainly if you don't want to sign this petition.

B

You, but you want to do something you want to make a statement.

B

You can send a letter to the to lauren bell, who used to be the chair of the vh.

B

Received many years ago and to the board and say we support.

B

In general, the idea is petition and we encourage.

B

Something supporting it.

A

We will see what happens between now and the may meeting and.

A

Move on from there, so we will go on to our.

A

Facebook discussion at this point and nicole.

A

Put in our packets a little memo, if you have yet to see what that memo.

A

Entails feel free to read it over. She talks.

A

About what what we can post on our uh in terms of.

A

Content uh flyers, for example,.

A

Flyers, um content from other human rights pages.

A

uh And so forth and so on, but I'm gonna let nicole.

A

Really uh touch on this right now so nicole. Take that over.

E

um Yeah, so I put a big list uh together and some of them I took.

B

From the former memo from jessica um as well, because there were a couple.

B

Ideas that I didn't have, um but.

E

So I included um some social media guidelines as well, based on the.

B

Algorithms, that facebook uses um facebook overall rewards.

B

Popularity and so any time that someone is clicking.

B

Or engaging with the post.

E

It may seem more popular, um so whether that's.

B

A long post that you have to click to finish reading.

B

Or um sharing it reacting commenting.

E

And then, of course, whatever um the city requires for social media.

B

Accounts um because being new, I don't really.

B

Quite know that.

B

That rewards popularity is to post at least once a day.

E

I did take a look at the facebook for the.

E

Cca and they um post at least once per day monday through.

B

Friday, um it's kind of what I've seen for april.

B

Social media is not the end-all be-all to successful marketing.

B

Public relations um and what is also really important.

B

Is um kind of some of the beyond social media section.

E

Setting and measuring those goals- um poison yourself, as an industry expert.

B

And I gave some ideas on that and you don't have to necessarily do.

B

E

B

From various human rights commissions across the country.

B

So they're sharing things like census, information.

E

um Little quotes or something for you know international women's day.

G

um They're sharing um what to do if you.

B

Think that um you have been harassed or discriminated.

B

Against, based on um your race for coping.

B

um Kind of the same history of things.

E

And then, on the last page that I included.

B

um Was just the kind of information page that might be.

B

A disclaimer that you.

B

A

Nicole, thank you for pulling out the really good um examples of how we.

A

Can really utilize our social media, whether.

A

That's through facebook instagram, however, we may do it.

A

And facebook has made it easier now for us to also share through.

A

Instagram, so I'm seeing a lot of these posts that are.

A

Just single photos and that's perfect for sharing both to.

A

Instagram and to facebook- and I think that's probably going to be.

A

The way of the future, especially heading towards instagram.

A

Because that's the way the kids are going now, so uh we.

A

Will we will see how that works out? um Does anybody have any questions for.

A

Nicole on what we need to do to go ahead and get.

A

Our account up and going and running at this point.

D

Yeah, I do um nicole you, there was a portion when you were talking about.

D

I believe the city's pages- and maybe I misheard what you were saying there.

D

um But did you um get the opportunity to speak with anyone from the city in terms.

D

Of what parameters we might need to have.

D

In order to go ahead and initiate the starting of these pages.

D

I know the office of a mayor has a page. Several of the commissions have pages.

D

And so I'm curious if there's any other kind of last hoops, we need to jump.

D

Through to just go ahead and initiate creating a page.

E

um I have not pursued anything with um the process from the city, um the.

B

Focus was to kind of present some ideas and options.

B

And what I guess I should add is um I started right before all of this.

B

Stuff and so as I've known my position, I have plenty of time.

B

To plan ahead and create posts, but um I don't.

B

Entirely know what all would be entailed um when we're in normal.

B

Times and that's assuming that after the virus, it goes to a previous.

B

D

Sure, thanks and I do want to say thanks again nicole for.

D

Preparing kind of this proposal, um I think it's a really good example.

D

At least the screenshots that I've seen of how.

D

Commissions in other areas engage their followers in the social media.

D

And I think it's a good model for for us to to try to to follow. After.

D

In terms of good content to post, I think you've already listed some good.

D

Examples um um in terms of flyers of upcoming events.

D

um I know that we do the monthly newsletter.

D

And if we had social media, maybe we could.

D

Share an electronic version of that on social media.

D

And then in other organizations that I'm a part of the members of the.

D

Organization have a shared folder, where they just.

D

Drop content, that's relevant to the work that the organization is doing into that shared folder and then the.

D

Social media coordinator just shares that content.

D

um On an as needed basis, so I know you mentioned.

D

Some of these organizations are posting every day, but if we want to say.

D

um Brh bhrc just wants to do one post a week, um then each of the.

D

Commissioners, can you know, share content in the shared.

D

Folder and then nicole, you can pick um the.

D

Content that you think we can share and how it should be shared.

D

Whether it's a link to an article or whether it's as as ryan, mentioned an.

D

Image with a quote that has to do with human rights issues,.

D

um But we can kind of as a commission work together to make sure that we get.

D

Good content for you to to post and then in social media.

D

A lot of people also post what other commission, what other people.

D

Are posting so if one commission post an article if we.

D

Follow that commission we can reshare that content once we've.

D

Reviewed it and um see that it's relevant to the.

D

Work that that we do as well, um so I'm.

D

Happy to help and support nicole in whatever way,.

D

You might need support um if and when we're prepared to.

D

To go ahead and get started um in terms of having a presence.

D

um In social media- and I think it's going to really help us.

D

Gain some more visibility for, for and from.

D

The community members in bloomington barbara. What do we need to do at this.

A

Point to formally get the ball rolling on uh on our social.

A

Media channels.

B

Kind of contact we um to initially start posting and then talk.

B

To whoever in the mayor's office is dealing with this, you say I'm not sure.

B

Who that is, one person might be amber.

B

A

That's fine: um if we can go ahead and is, is there the ability for.

A

Us to go ahead and have the pages created at this point and that way we can move forward.

A

And you can copy me in the emails or the entire commission and we can go.

B

B

B

Sometimes used to say you know, you don't want to jump in and have.

B

Five different accounts and not be active. One of them.

B

It's better to not have them to be inactive.

E

But that's just kind of what is said and.

B

As to determining who shares and what um you know.

A

Well, let's, let's try to get to the bottom of those issues and.

A

Have our social media accounts accounts.

A

Up and running, hopefully by the next meeting.

A

And if we just need to do this via email thread,.

A

And figure it out that that that will be perfectly fine.

A

um You can do that perfect. Thank you guys for all your work.

A

Nicole yeah, exactly thank you, nicole, for for.

A

Getting this uh up and running- and I know this.

A

Is a task, but we've been speaking about it and.

A

Talking about it for almost a year now- and it's probably time for us to to get moving on it so.

A

Let's try to do our best in in that realm.

A

uh Moving on to the fourth of july parade is that even.

A

Going to happen, barbara, um I put that on the agenda being optimistic.

B

If it does happen, I have no inside information.

B

Or you're all interested to participate, I just want to get a nose counter make.

B

Sure we want to do it. If so, I will be there. I will be there.

C

I will plan to be there we'll figure that out.

A

uh Tabling opportunities, farmers, market justice, fair and other events.

A

B

C

Yes, awesome, yes,.

B

And if you see opportunities that I missed please let me know.

A

Excellent thanks again barbara okay uh assignment with new cases. We have one.

B

New case to sign it's a racist foundation, employment case.

B

The answer is due today and I was told that you would come to me.

B

And email before midnight tonight.

B

I have not, I have not had any cases since I joined in february, so I'm happy.

D

To assist in whatever way possible, okay, now is the time latasha.

B

I get to get carolyn active, throw latasha under the bus.

C

I'm just singing it's a maiden voyage.

D

I gotta be brave and get out there, so I'm happy to I'm happy to help barbara.

D

You said it's with a nursing home.

D

D

Okay gotcha: do we have any other business.

A

We had one member of the public that tuned in and then left.

A

uh So I see and hear no public one.

F

I'm just curious um in general how the human rights commission.

F

um I I think kovid 19. Obviously everybody knows this.

F

Has demonstrated the inequities that already existed before it.

F

And I'm curious how the human rights commission in the long term can turn an.

F

Eye toward those inequities by looking at data or.

F

Or other things to make sure when pandemics or natural disasters.

F

Or you know, other things happen that they don't impact people um in the.

F

Same way, so hopefully we can keep looking at data.

F

And come up with goals, and I really think.

F

Nicole's section in the memo about it's great to.

F

Have social media and other things, but we need to look.

F

Also beyond that and think about, you know what our quarterly goals.

F

Or other time periods, so we can start making change and we can sit down and.

A

Speak up and talk about that a little bit further, I think that's a great idea, something that we probably should be.

A

Doing and we can get on uh with as soon as as soon as we can.

D

um And I I do want to say that there's always lots of thought provoking.

D

Well, I'm always. This is my second meeting but each meeting I think there has been some really.

D

Thought-Provoking questions that can really help us center and calibrate our.

D

Work and I'm wondering if there's ever been a model where we've just had kind of like a commission retreat or planning strategic planning.

D

Session, um where we can really get to um dig into these topics, because I am.

D

Noting that, because of our time constraints, we don't always have the ability um to really dive into some of these deeper.

D

Discussions about um as jacob mentioned, inequities.

D

And ways that um the br hrc can.

D

Can assist, um and so I would like to at least.

D

Note for the minutes um that at some point.

D

um If it, it might be worth it to consider kind of a strategic planning.

D

um Or some type of retreat meeting where we really get to.

D

To set out those goals that jacob mentioned, whether they be annually.

D

Or quarterly, um in addition to the work that we're already trying to.

D

um Continue in terms of the newsletters uh responding to complaints as they come.

D

In and getting more um updates to our website and.

D

F

It's a presence, good idea, latasha. I think.

B

We did have one retreat, probably 30 years ago.

B

And frankly, I can't remember one day, so maybe it's a good idea to do that.

A

Probably time for another yeah- and I think I.

D

I remember byron in our first meeting talked about, was it bylaws or the.

D

Constitution um so bringing those documents back to.

D

Life and um kind of figuring out what the what it.

D

Means for us now might be um a good, a good thing to think.

D

About, as we plan things.

C

Absolutely I call for adjournment please.

A

uh Does anybody have any other um issues or comments.

A

Hearing none, we are adjourned. Thank you all for attending.

A

Thanks, thank you.

G