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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - September 29, 2023, AHRC MinutesMinutes AMES HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Conference Room 235 City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue Thursday, September 29, 2023 Call to Order: Chair Wayne Clinton called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Commissioners Chunhui Chen, and Angie DeWaard and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator Casandra Eames were also present. Public Forum: Chair Clinton opened and closed the Public Forum as no one came to speak. Approval of Minutes: Moved by DeWaard, seconded by Chen, to approve the minutes of the July 27, 2023, meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Planning for Meet and Greet with AHRC and DEI Coordinator: The event will be held both inside and outside RAYGUN on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. to coincide with the Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market. Coordinator Eames planned to bring the banner and bookmarks to give away. Commissioner Marty Martinez entered the meeting at 5:38 p.m. The Commissioners discussed ideas for new t-shirts before tabling the topic for future discussion. Coordinator Eames planned to bring a board with sticky notes for attendees to offer feedback before leaving the meeting at 5:45 p.m. Feedback from National Night Out: Chair Clinton shared that the feedback from the event was very positive. The event had record turnout, and the Police Department is exploring partnership opportunities for expanding the event even further. It was noted that some people did not feel welcome with the event being held at a church. Chair Clinton stated that the location had great parking and encouraged everyone to think about what they might want to do differently next year. Commissioner DeWaard explained that she was still working with staff to create coloring book pages for a future handout. Symposium on Building Inclusive Organizations: Chair Clinton stated that the Symposium will be held at Gateway Hotel and Conference Center on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. The Commission has two tickets available, and the Commissioners need to decide which two will attend. Chair Clinton shared that more businesses get involved every year, which is encouraging. Postings and Social Media Content: Chair Clinton noted that Hispanic Heritage Month began on September 15 and goes through October 15. The Commissioners decided to promote a related event being held at the Ames Public Library in their circles. The event is scheduled for Sunday, October 1 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. in the Auditorium and features a presentation from Dr. Lucía Suárez titled “Latina/o/x Life Stories: Memoirs and Oral Histories.” Commissioner Chen emphasized that the Commission should be amplifying community groups rather than speaking for them, so outreach to connect with existing groups is needed. Commissioner DeWaard suggested that there might be groups affiliated with Iowa State University or Ames Public Schools. Chair Clinton expressed a desire for some type of guide or template for outreach to community groups to make the process simpler and more organized. Commissioner DeWaard noted that having a calendar to track events, celebrations, and recognition months throughout the year would be helpful. Staff planned to work on drafts of both items. Commissioner Announcements: Chair Clinton raised the idea of scheduling a strategic planning retreat in the future with a facilitator to guide the conversation. He requested that the topic be added to a future agenda for discussion. The Commissioners rescheduled the regular meetings for the rest of the year to accommodate holidays and absences. Next Meetings: October 24, 2023 (Tuesday) November 30, 2023 December 14, 2023 Adjournment: Chair Clinton adjourned the meeting at 6:32 p.m.