Human Rights Commission

❖ HRC Meeting Minutes- May 2022 - Taken by Zoey V. o May 19, 2022. 6:33 P.M. call to order o Going over agenda o Introductions o Public Session ▪ No one o Need to update April minutes and will vote on both April & May minutes at June meeting. o Priority Items ▪ MEI sections ● Non-discrimination laws o All-gender single occupancy facility in City Hall- Maxed out ● City as Employer o NO transgender-inclusive health care benefits o Inclusive Work Place? ● Municipal Services o Services to LGBTQIA+ Community ▪ Youth ▪ HIV/Aids ▪ Elders ▪ Houseless o Need to check with people at service organizations and track any changes from last term. ● State Law o Wording in this year’s MEI o Anything in there that has since changed from last year’s score card. o We want to meet the standard for hate crimes, engagement, LGBTQIA+ Liaison, and hate crime statistics. Need to track these changes. ▪ FBI #’s to track statistics regarding hate crimes that were reported ▪ MEI Meeting on May 25, 2022. ● Sections: o Section 3: Ash, Keenen. o Section 4: Danny, Zoey. o Section 5: Ash o Bonnie & Jena have offered to do edits and an overall review. ● All information shared on google drive: including last year’s full submission. FBI statistic information will also be shared for that section.  ▪ Starting in June �� bi-weekly meetings until July submission o Task/Project List Update ▪ Ordinance DEI �� checking but does not look good. ▪ Bonnie went over summary of meeting. Notes will be uploaded to google Doc. ● May 9th meeting ● Spoke of public consciousness �� Indigenous People’s Day will help with that. Spoke of modern day resilience and education thereof. ● Education: what Indigenous People’s Day will accomplish for this community o Understanding and listening to their stories and experiences o Historical markers o Invisibility o Role of HRC is to education and prevent, and education is a human right. o Important to teach the TRUTH and transparency. ● When shall we ask City Council to add as holiday? ● Brian �� spoke of his job with “Indigenous Employee Resource Group.” They are interested in what we are doing, especially Bonnie. Looking to speak with Bonnie so that they may help the cause. ● WVU’s efforts o Art Museum is sponsoring a Native Seneca Artist o Libraries also kicking off exhibit called Indigenous Appalachia o Anthropology: putting together an exhibit of indigenous land acknowledgment at Evansdale. Evans, who the campus is named after, took Native land. Will include cultural stories of indigenous West Virginians and their migration to WV. o In sum: All of this programming is in perfect timing for the Ordinance. ● Next Meeting: Monday, June 13, 2022, at 6:30 P.M. ▪ Police Advisory Review Board ● City settled ● Fraternal Order of the Police removed investigative powers and amended definition of “misconduct” (possibly removed the definition) ● Included: recommendations, review policies, and collecting data. ● Reasoning: what was removed is a duplication with the Civil Service Commission  ▪ (a long discussion about the workings of complaints) Including how we will respond to complaints that we do not have power over in the future. Likely need to speak to City Attorney about this. ▪ Preservation of HRC ● Low right now but will heighten in importance when the bill is resurrected. ● Our response: work with other HRC’s in the state ▪ Orientation Packet �� Zoey & Danny will do orientation but likely all will for refresher. ▪ Relocation of Human Rights MAC �� may try the Hotel Morgan ▪ Morgantown Pride �� We need attendees to participate in August block party ▪ Maximization of social media presence ▪ Reappointments ▪ Need editing of website ▪ Refugee Services ● Working to make a welcome packet for Immigrants/refugees on website with different social services. Want to be more inclusive and helpful. ● Will be having a meeting TBA ▪ Digitization of files ▪ Gun Storage Resolution ● Drafted but formant. Around next session in Charleston we may bring it out. In late summer/early fall, edits. ▪ Danny & Ixya meeting to speak about a Digital event about Latina Resources ▪ Secretary Assistant Position ● Don needs to be here to talk further about this. Things like filing/agenda. We spoke of issues with funding �� current stipend much too low. Possible that we could partner with WVU for one. ● Calling it “Administrative Assistant” ● Ash �� Motion to create working group for HRC Administrative Assistant. o Danny second Motion o Created ● Brian suggested to get someone from the City on board so we do not do all this work for nothing o Conversation regarding current issues of houselessness: compile document to present to council