2018_0620_HRIEC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Human Rights, Inclusion and Engagement Commission Minutes May 16, 2018 —Draft Minutes Page 3 of 7 Commissioner Djevi suggested starting planning for next year in July. Commissioner Peterson volunteered to help with the parade planning committee for next year. b. Engagement Best Practices Discussion Chair Holub noted the Council gave broad direction to the HRIEC. Afterwards, Ms. Olson, Commissioner Peterson, and Chair Holub met to take the conversation in a different direction. Chair Holub indicated that the discussions had to-date have felt top-down rather than bottom-up. It has seemed too philosophical and theoretical. The Commission is meant to be a group of residents, not professionals in this area, and are supposed to be representing other residents. She would like to start with a bottom-up approach, starting with who is in the community and what do they need. Ms. Olson suggested a dual approach: best practices and people with the theoretical knowledge and also going out into the community to reach the people and bring their voice to the Council. Commissioner Beltmann suggested best practices should and can be utilized to reach the community. There are practical,purposeful best practices available that can help inform the Commission as well as the City going forward. She presented a draft document to help the HRIEC understand what various departments are doing in terms of engagement, specifically what is working well and what is not. It includes questions to ask City departments and also includes on different reasons to engage the community. Ms. Olson suggested including the full document in the June meeting packet. Commissioner Djevi suggested asking each Commissioner what their vision is for the HRIEC. He suggested that Commissioners should be out in the community. Talking around this table once a month for a year is not engagement. What has already been done by the City could be modified, in order to reach those who are not engaged. Secondly, as new people come in, the Commission could discuss programs to engage the community. Youth Commissioner Iverson arrived at approximately 7:09 p.m. Commissioner Subramanian noted that engagement is a two-way process. There needs to be a way for the HRIEC to reach the community and for the community to reach the HRIEC. Commissioner Ryerson suggested communicating with community leaders and bringing them in and asking open-ended questions about what is working and what needs help.