2011_10_11_HRC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Carolyn Curti distributed evaluations received from forum participants. Commissioner Grefenberg said the HRC gave Project 515 a check for $150 for presenting at the forum. This was taken from the up to $300 for the meeting allocated at a previous HRC meeting. Commissioner Brisbois noted that the Shoreview HRC donated $100 for the forum. Commissioner Grefenberg suggested that the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions about consider sponsoring a regional forum on organizing and conducting programs dealing with controversial issues such as Project 515. Commissioner Thelma McKenzie said the LMHRC is working on this and would discuss at an upcoming meeting. Commissioner Brisbois said some had asked whether the HRC would host a community meeting with speakers supporting the constitutional amendment banning same sex marriages. She commented that she could not work on such a program, adding that such a program would not be appropriate for a human rights commission. Commissioners then discussed the HRC's responsibility to educate people about discrimination. Commissioner Brisbois agreed to respond to two emails which about this issue. Commissioner Kaying Thao said she planned to attend the meeting on Thursday, October 13, with the Roseville Area Schools and the Roseville Police to talk about sponsoring a showing of the movie "Not in Our Town," a PBS documentary about a community's response to a hate crime murder. Commissioner Thao said it was a timely topic, considering what is going on with new immigrants moving into the community. Commissioner Grefenberg moved Program Planning Committee recommendation the HRC to cosponsor a program with the Police Department at the Roseville High School on the film "Not in Our Town." He suggested that this program be one of programs envisioned in the Community Dialogue Plan adopted by the Commission at its August meeting. Motion prevailed unanimously. Commissioner Thao told commissioners about her work on the Comcast film called "Open Season" the story of Chai Vang and the murders in Wisconsin. Commissioner Thao provided translation for the participants in the film. She said Comcast is allowing subscribers to watch it free on demand, and Channel 2 will have a free public showing on November 29. Commissioner Doneen described seeing the film and praised it for explaining the complex issues around the shootings. Operations Committee Chair Singleton stated in October 2008 he had first been elected chair of the Human Rights Commission and then reelected twice. He advised the commission that he was not seeking reelection to the chair and expressed the fact that he had been honored to serve as its human rights chair. Chair Singleton explained the process for electing a chair and vice chair.