2007_Human Rights Comm Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

.~ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 .23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 .45 46 Roseville Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes - April 11, 2007 Page 4 of7 Ms. Eager suggested one such program entitled, "Race Matters," funded by the St. Paul Foundation, currently being used in the St. Paul School District and highly effective and recommended. Ms. Eager encouraged the HRC and offered contact information for the Foundation to interest citizens or the HRC in training to open dialogue around race and racism. Ms. Eager noted that the school district could educate and train students and staff, but they couldn't educate the community-at-1arge and sought assistance in doing so from the HRC. Discussion included other opportunities and contacts regarding race matters, housing equity and fostering positive police-community relations (Le., Chaska Police Department's "Time to Talk" program) and ways to build trust in a changing community. Commissioners expressed enthusiasm in partnering with the School District in effecting change in the community; encouraging under-represented families in getting involved in their children's schools, as well as their community; building trust; involving the business community; the possibility of having senior citizens going into classrooms to read to students, rather than specific issues of race or bullying-related problems; and possible mini-HRC's among students. Chair Delmore questioned if a community-wide forum would be more effective, given the territorial nature of teachers, speaking from her personal perspective as a teacher. Mr. Allen and Dr. Thein both noted that programs needed to be offered during the day as well as evening, with many under-represented parents working the third shift; poverty issues; trust issues; emotional and economic stresses of families holding more than one job and lacking a support system for those families. Mr. Allen opined that a collaborative program (with Ramsey County, YMCA, or other agencies) in providing tutoring programs and interactive activities at multi-unit apartment buildings and locations where a program could be brought to the families needing support would be a fantastic idea. Commissioners expressed interest in finding Roseville residents who could alleviate some of that stress from families through tutoring or otherwise finding ways to build that trust. Dr. Thein noted the number of multi-unit apartment complexes in Roseville; mobility rates and finances of under-represented families and the inability of students to achieve success when they may move from 1 to 3 times and into different apartments within one school year due to job locations, family finances, or emotional and/or economic family stresses. Additional discussion included student attendance rates and the need to encourage good attendance for students to achieve their potential; and programs and one-on-one assistance provided by district staff currently to students needing their encouragement via a support network. Discussion included several peer student and staff groups already in the district addressing the school's equity vision and their service as advisory councils to students, teachers and student leadership teams to provide a safety net for all. Commissioners encouraged the district to seek out students interested in serving on the City's HRC as youth representatives; with Ms. Eager volunteering to seek out interested students and provide information to the HRC or City staff.