HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - 2023 Ames Human Relations Commission Annual Report
• Chunhui Chen, Vice Chair
• Wayne Clinton, Chair
• Angie DeWaard (appointed April 2023)
• Khushi Patel (January May 2023)
• Marty Martinez (appointed April 2023)
• Casandra Eames, City of Ames Staff Liaison (March-December 2023)
• Deb Schildroth, City of Ames Staff Liaison (January June 2023)
• At the Martin Luther King Day Celebration at Ames City Auditorium on January 16, Vice
Chair Clinton presented the Humanitarian Award to Maria Celeste Gonzalez Chaves. He
also served on the organizing committee for the event.
• Chair Clinton attended the NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on February 16.
• Participated in the interview process for the new City of Ames Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator.
•
In Concert with an artist from the Huron-Wendat
Nation who raises awareness for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women, and residential schools.
• Welcomed Casandra Eames as the new DEI Coordinator and Staff Liaison to the
Commission.
• Began drafting the 2022 Annual Report.
• Welcomed new Commissioners Angie DeWaard and Marty Martinez and elected Wayne
Clinton as Chair and Chunhui Chen as Vice Chair.
•
Coordinator Vanessa Baker-Latimer to mark Fair Housing Month.
• A Home for Everyone Award
City Council meeting.
• Approved the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan.
• Co-sponsored the 2023 Ames Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage
Month Celebration on May 6 at Iowa State University, attended by over 400 people.
Chen participated in organizing the event, which included awards for a student essay
contest on the topic Bring AAPI Heritage into Real Life.
• At the May 9 City Council Meeting, Vice Chair Chen accepted a proclamation from Mayor
Haila recognizing AAPI Heritage Month.
• Approved the 2022 Annual Report and FY 2023-24 AHRC Budget at Commission
meeting on May 25.
• Co-sponsored the 2023 Juneteenth Celebration on June 17 at Bandshell Park. Chair
Clinton, Vice Chair Chen, and Commissioner DeWaard staffed a table featuring games,
snacks, and giveaways.
• Held Joint Meeting with Ames City Council on June 13 to present the 2022 Annual
Report.
• Bade farewell to Staff Liaison Schildroth as she left for a different job.
• No activity to report.
• Participated in National Night Out on August 1. Commissioners staffed a table featuring
games, snacks, and giveaways.
• Approved the FY 2023-24 Cooperative Agreement with the Iowa Civil Rights
Commission.
• Attended Pridefest on September 30.
• Began developing an internal community outreach guide and a calendar of celebrations
to facilitate proactive community engagement.
• Held a Meet and Greet event for the Commission and DEI Coordinator on October 7 at
RAYGUN.
• Co-sponsored the Symposium on Building Inclusive Organizations 2023 on November
Chair Clinton and
Commissioner Martinez attended the event.
• Humanitarian Award Recipient: Cari McPartland.
36
27
22 23
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2020 2021 2022 2023
Complaints by Year
• There was a 4.5% increase in total complaints.
• Employment increased from 17 to 20 complaints.
• Housing decreased to 1 complaint from 3.
• Public Accommodation decreased from 3 to 2 complaints.
2
26
1
7
2
18
5
2
0
17
3 3
0
20
1 2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Education Employment Housing Public Accomodation
Complaints by Category
2020 2021 2022 2023
11
8
4
6
24
15
9 9
1 1
4
1
3 4
6
4
0 1 0 1
10 10 9 8
6
3
1 1
14
11 11
6
13
8 7
12
2 1 1 1
0
5
10
15
20
25
2020 2021 2022 2023
Basis for Complaints
Age Disability Gender Identity National Origin Pregnancy
Race/Color Religion Retaliation Sex Sexual Orientation
8
4
4
6
8
9
4
1
3
2
1
2
2
2
2
1
0 2 4 6 8 10
Accommodation
Reduced Hours
Discipline
Constructive Discharge
Discharge
Harassment
Sexual Harassment
Demotion
Assignment
Reduced Pay
Promotion
Service
Suspension
Benefits
Training
Terms and Conditions
Cause of Action
• The number of complaints increased by one between 2022 and 2023.
• Of the 23 complaints in 2023, the majority (20) were in the category of Employment,
and the most common basis for complaints was Sex with a total of 12.
• The most frequent outcome was Administrative Closure (10). For the ICRC, the
Administrative Closure category encompasses three scenarios:
o Further investigation is not warranted.
o -to-
administratively closes the complaint and will take no further action on the
complaint.
o If conciliation fails, the complaint will be reviewed to determine whether it
should proceed to public hearing. If the complaint is not selected for public
hearing, the complaint will be administratively closed.
0
1
0 0
2
1 1
22
1
0 0
5
1
0
3
12
8
9
7
14 14
11
10
1 1 1
0000
1
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
2020 2021 2022 2023
Results of Complaints
Failure to Cooperate Satisfactory Adjustment Withdrawal Right to Sue
Open Administrative Closure No Probable Cause No Jurisdiction
Sex (Female), Sexual
Orientation (homosexual)
Reduced Hours, Discipline,
Discharge, Constructive
Discharge
Race (Black), Sex (Female),
Color, Retaliation
Demotion, Assignment,
Harassment, Reduced Pay,
Promotion
Race (Black), Sex (Male),
National Origin
Discipline, Harassment,
Sexual Harassment,
Assignment, Discharge
Race (Other), National
Origin (Hispanic), Age
(Older), Disability
Denied Accommodation,
Benefits, Discharge
Denied Accommodation,
Harassment, Sexual
Harassment, Training,
Discharge
Harassment, Sexual
Harassment, Denied
Accommodation, Reduced
Hours, Reduced Pay,
Assignment
Denied Accommodation,
Race (Black), Color,
National Origin, Retaliation
Employment Disability, Retaliation Denied Accommodation,
Sexual Harassment,
Constructive Discharge
Open (EEOC investigating)
Employment Gender Identity,
Retaliation
Harassment, Constructive
Discharge
Open (EEOC investigating)
Area Basis Cause of Action Result
Employment Race (Other), Sex
(Female), Age (Older)
Benefits, Discipline,
Constructive Discharge
Open
Employment Sex (Female), Age (Older) Discharge Right to Sue
Public Accommodation Disability Service No Jurisdiction
• AHRC will work directly with the Iowa Civil Right Commission and will collaborate
annually with a representative to better understand the complaint process.
• AHRC will obtain and review reports from the Iowa Civil Rights Commission on claims
of discrimination in relation to types and probable cause.
• AHRC will obtain and review reports from the City on types of claims made locally in
writing, or on the website and report of Discriminatory Claims to the City, and any
concerns expressed through HumanRelations@cityofames.org.
• AHRC will obtain and review formal and informal reports that will be used to
determine priority areas of focus and will share with City Council and community
stakeholders annually and as needed.
OBJECTIVE 2: AHRC will partner with the City and community members to learn about
discrimination and how to decrease the risk.
• AHRC will partner with community employers and human resource specialists to
identify concerns and opportunities for non-discriminatory workplace cultures as
needed.
• AHRC will summarize and share qualitative and quantitative findings with City
Council relating to claims of discrimination.
• AHRC will work with the City to identify public reporting related to inclusion and
anti-discriminatory practices.
• AHRC will reach out to community partners or populations to identify concerns or
successes in the areas mentioned above.
• AHRC will collect and summarize findings to be used for future planning, i.e.,
Community Demographics, CyRide or City Surveys.
• AHRC will increase engagement and community interactions.
• AHRC will monitor and report contacts or participation in relation to social media and
public engagement activities.
• Provide materials for educational press releases or social media on topics related to
diversity, housing, employment, public accommodations, or services, etc.
• Co-sponsor and have commissioners attend community events with aligned
organizations and individuals throughout the City, such as but not limited to the
annual awarding of the Humanitarian award (January-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Holiday), Fair Housing Award (April at City Council), AAPI Heritage Month
Celebration event (May), Juneteenth (June).
•
and have commissioners attend the events.
• Commission Members will work with community partners who specialize in areas of
expertise.
• Commission Members will represent AHRC with respect, recognize and celebrate the
inclusion. They will be respectful of opinions, customs, and individual preferences to
help build strong relationships.
• AHRC will strive to effectively spend the budgeted monies from the Ames City
Council responsibly. Monies allocated for the Commission should only be used in
ways that advance these strategic goals.
• AHRC will describe the ways in which its monies were used and in what ways its use
advanced the goals described above in the annual report.