City of Moline Human Rights Commission met Oct. 10.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
PRESENT: Betsy Zmuda-Swanson, Chair
Diokel Gning
Adrian Ritchie
Matt Stoefen
ABSENT: Natividad Keim, Vice Chair
Tionn Carter
Jose Castro
STAFF: Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel
Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist
OTHERS: Erica Lee, Director of Safer Foundation
One Moline Resident
Call to Order
Human Rights Commission Chair, Betsy Zmuda-Swanson, called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m., in the Gold and Silver Room at the Moline Public Library.
Approval of Minutes
Matt Stoefen made a motion to approve the September 12, 2022 Minutes; seconded by Adrian Ritchie. Motion passed unanimously.
Presentation – Safer Foundation (Erica Lee, Director)
Erica Lee, Director of the Safer Foundation, shared that the Safer Foundation is a non-profit group with its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. It serves Rock Island and Scott Counties in the Quad Cities. Ms. Lee shared the importance of the re-entry of formerly incarcerated persons into society and the barriers they face. Six hundred thousand people enter the prison system each year, and 10 million people are in and out of jail each year. This impacts many members of the community. There is a lot of stigma behind having a record. This stigma creates barriers for people to find success when re-entering the community.
The barriers are that someone’s record can show up on a background check for employment, education, Pell grants and other types of loans, and housing issues to name a few. The Safer Foundation tries to help people combat and overcome these barriers. In addition, these barriers have been exacerbated by COVID-19 with limited access to government. In some cases, incarcerated persons have been pushed out of the correctional system without resources, which left some people homeless. As a result, the Safer Foundation put together an early release program statewide to help with this transition.
Approximately 73 people in the United States are released from some form of incarceration every hour. People’s reasons for incarceration can be caused by personality traits, trauma, lack of resources, lack of community support, substance addiction, types of behavior in their family, and substance abuse. These are all things perpetuated in children as they grow up.
The Safer Foundation’s main goal is to reduce recidivism in society.
People often enter into prison with limited education. The Safer Foundation provides access to support while people are incarcerated and when they are released from incarceration.
The Safer Foundation works with over 40 area employers across the Quad Cities. There are also volunteer opportunities with the Safer Foundation.
Please see the attached handouts for more information concerning the Safer Foundation.
Public Comment
There was no public comment at this time.
Questions on the Agenda
There were no questions on the Agenda.
Agenda Items
1. 2023 Meetings Calendar. Amy Saunders shared that the HRC needs to set the 2023 meeting calendar to be posted on the City’s website by the City Clerk per State statute. There was discussion. Diokel Gning made a motion to keep the meetings on the second Monday of each month, at 5:30 p.m., in 2023, and to limit the time of each meeting to 1.5 hours starting tonight; seconded by Adrian Ritchie. Motion passed unanimously. The 2023 meeting dates are as follows:
January 9, 2023
February 13, 2023
March 13, 2023
April 10, 2023
May 8, 2023
June 12, 2023
July 10, 2023
August 14, 2023
September 11, 2023
October 9, 2023
November 13, 2023
December 11, 2023
Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist, will submit said dates to the City Clerk for approval by the Moline City Council.
2. HRC Account Balance for 2022. Amy Saunders shared that the HRC’s budget account balance is $6,142.51. She also shared that the HRC owes approximately $125 on the billboards and an unknown amount for the HRC logo rubber stamp.
4. Development of an Equity Plan. Betsy Zmuda-Swanson, upon agreement of all HRC members, skipped to Item No. 4 on the Agenda. She reminded everyone that the Mayor suggested looking into a Local and Regional Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) Membership. There is a Core Membership and a State Large Membership. The third membership is an Associate Membership based on the number of employees. Betsy thinks that the HRC could start with the $1,000 Associate Membership. Matt Stoefen made a motion to join GARE at the associate level membership for a cost of $1,000; seconded by Betsy Zmuda-Swanson. Motion passed unanimously. Betsy shared that she signed up for the GARE newsletter. Margaret Kostopulos, Corporation Counsel, said that she and Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist, would work on the application. Margaret encouraged the HRC members to go on the GARE website and look around. She also encouraged them to speak with the area director to find out if there is a new member city that is doing well. Betsy said that she will look into this and will attempt to locate someone to help the HRC get started, obtain a welcome packet, etc. She believes Gordon Goodwin may be the person to help with this. Amy will let Betsy know when the HRC has been confirmed as a member. Margaret shared that she knows that a couple of Chicago suburbs are members. She will check with someone in said suburbs. Diokel Gning, Matt Stoefen and Adrian Ritchie will go on the website and see what is interesting to them. Margaret said the equity plan appears to concern racism more than any other subject matter. She mentioned that the Mayor is interested in socio-economic levels, as well.
3. Future Presentations Follow Up. The HRC discussed presentations for future meetings. Future presentations include:
November 14, 2022 – Imam Bachir, Islamic Center of Quad Cities (Diokel Gning confirmed)
The group decided not to schedule any further speakers at this time. Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist, will record the November 14, 2022 speaker, so that those who are unable to attend this meeting will be able to hear the presentation.
5. Strategic Goals Follow Up. Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist, reviewed the HRC’s strategic goals for 2022 and 2023 and beyond with the HRC members. The HRC may make more goals for 2023.
6. Banner Follow Up. Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist, brought in the HRC banner tonight and put it on a table to model it for the HRC members. The HRC members thought it looked very nice.
7. Printer/Embroidery Companies. Adrian Ritchie shared that the HRC should continue using the company that it is currently using, since said company has the HRC logo on hand.
8. Local and Regional Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) Membership. The HRC discussed this item as part of Agenda Item No. 4 above. There was no further discussion concerning this item. See Agenda Item No. 4 above.
9. Diversity and Inclusion Training Follow Up. The HRC discussed this item as part of Agenda Item No. 4 above. The HRC members would like to see if GARE offers diversity and inclusion training. There was no further discussion concerning this item.
10. Materials and Items to Hand Out at HRC Attended Functions Follow Up. Natividad Keim was unable to attend the meeting tonight for health reasons. As such, this item was tabled for next month.
11. HRC Stamp Follow Up. Betsy Zmuda-Swanson advised she chose a Rock Island business, because it was able to create a personalized stamp with the HRC’s logo on it. Said business is working on the stamp, and Betsy will bring it to the next meeting.
12. MetroLINK Bus Wraps Follow Up. There was discussion about the various bus wraps available. Diokel Gning made a motion to purchase a King Kong Driver’s Side bus wrap with the HRC logo on it, along with a message that reads, “Brought to you by the Moline Human Rights Commission.” Betsy made an amendment to the motion that the HRC authorize up to $3,000 to spend on the bus wrap; seconded by Adrian Ritchie. The original motion with amendment passed unanimously. Diokel will advise Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist, about the production costs so that she may order the bus wrap.
13. Possible QC Wide HRC Mixer Follow Up. The HRC members have decided to pursue a GARE membership for now. This item was not tabled for future discussion.
14. Accessibility Mobility Program Follow Up. Natividad Keim was unable to attend the meeting tonight for health reasons. As such, this item was tabled to next month’s meeting. At the HRC members’ request, Amy Saunders, Legal Services Specialist, will advise Natividad Keim that her homework is to look into the Accessibility Mobility Program and share her thoughts at next month’s meeting.
15. Miscellaneous Business. There was no miscellaneous business.
Public Comment
There was no public comment.
Adjournment
On motion of Diokel Gning, seconded by Adrian Ritchie, and approved unanimously by the HRC, the HRC meeting adjourned at 7:09 p.m.
http://www.moline.il.us/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8515
Alerts Sign-up