It is 5:01. Good evening. It is um Wednesday, August 20th, 2025 at 51 p.m. and we will commence um with our Human Rights Commission meeting. May I please get a roll call?
>> Present. >> Present. here. Thank you. And I am filling in with our chair and vice chair today. Next we will move on to our land acknowledgement. We
miss collectively and with gratitude acknowledge land that the is built upon. Acknowledge the people who have the spirit of the way peace and all indigenous communities
contribution of the indigenous people should not be forgotten nor will achieve by the people of the land advocate honor and unite for the indivual of next we will look at our um approval
minutes we haven't met since May Um it's busy. We have like we don't have aments on our agenda. Um just have approval of minutes. So could I get a motion to
approve minutes 1st 2025? A motion. Um do I have a second? I'll second. >> Any further?
All in favor? I um like I appro Can we any agenda amendments to this today's agenda? August Right. Um
I guess motion for the amendments. There are >> motion. There's no amendments. >> I I Any other discussion? We'll move on to our guest speakers. Um,
our first speaker is from um Carla from CASAZ is hear from them. Helloandate all of you moment to be here to present.
I'm excited to share with you and how we and collaborate. Okay. So who we are is to create a welcoming connect, learn and grow
ability and heritage. We envision community where culture is celebrated, leadership is nurtured, community needs address, and every individual has the opportunity to succeed. Um, CASA consists of four volunteered
members for the board of directors and five volunteer staff what we do. So, CASA has three main areas that we call our pillars. One of them being health and wellness. Health and wellness consists of supporting the body, mind and spirit and serving the
community means enhancing resources, education and safe spaces accessible to everyone. Um, another pillar is community engagement. Creating cultural events where we can learn from others while teaching about our own heritage. These gatherings ensure as traditions shift
with each generation, our youth are equipped to carry on the knowledge and the pride we pass down. Then we have professional development. Succeeding in employment opportunities increases employability and in turn strengthens local organizations and businesses. When people grow
professionally, the whole community gains better service services, strong leadership, and increased economic stability, what it looks like. Um so we have youth stewards that's made up of a of a collaborative of organizations and it's
a summer program teaching gardening sustainability and leadership through partner-led weeks of agriculture culture and service. Then we have the community cultural celebrations which are annual festival of Latin American traditions
such as music, food and arts that builds belonging and cross-cultural connections. We have community event partnership. ESA joins local events through tableabling, speaking and parades to share services and engaging in the community. And we will be at the
parade coming up September 5th. So hope to see you all there. Um we uh have translation services. So we offer free basic translation services to community members um to access resources in the
community in which may not be provide um Spanish translation oftentimes. So we are able to provide those services. Um we also do so we had our first u community graduation celebration hosted by the indigenous association. Um, and
that's an event honoring graduate graduating youth connected to CASA and its partners, which we hope to expand that um, partnership, mental health awareness workshops and resources that reduce stigma and encourage support,
community guidance services, one-on-one help connecting residents to housing, healthcare, and employment resources. We had community resource gathering of service providers offering information and support to families and a lot of
those organizations didn't have a Spanish speaking person but thankfully we had bilingual board members there that were able to help um translate for those for those resource fairs. Community listening sessions um is the space for residents to share needs and
priority and priorities on health, education, housing, immigration and more. And we did have some organizations come from the city as well from the cities as well to come and connect with our community to kind of understand more of the needs and how they can help leverage the support up in this area as
well. Um we have a program highlight. So uh professor alles unidos is an initiative of kasa at professor alles unidos. We aim to bring career and professional development opportunities to the Latino community in the Fargo Morehead and surrounding areas regardless of their
current position or experience in the workforce. All are welcome to our bilingual meetings hosted at the FM Area Foundation's community room. We've had nine gatherings and we've had more than 50 visits and 20 individual
members who've um been consistent with their participation. If you would like to get involved, feel free to join our board why to serve. It connects with the Fargo Morehead community, champion local needs and support cultural, social and leadership
programs of while building governance variance. Um and we have our quarterly meetings of course and um active involvement. Uh I believe as a thriving community is like having a thriving family. So if you
know we can help all LA that'd be wonderful. And as we continue to grow um we are seeking sponsorships, partnerships, collaborations and that can be in the sense of like hosting office space and community events. Um I believe that by working together we can
expand resources and continue to strengthen our community and making a difference. So again I appreciate you all for today's time and I really look forward to connecting. Any questions? Oh, thank you so much, Carla. That's um wonderful work, much
needed work in our community, and I love that you bridge the gap between um Fargo and Morehead. So, that is wonderful to hear the mission and the vision and your continued growth. And I just wanted to ask, are you do you have an established space in Morehead or Klay County?
>> Yep. So, we are currently um here in Klay County, we are host we are being hosted by the UCCC. Uh however, we are looking to be more in a um kind of on the North Dakota side as well and with
the at the UCC as well. And so we would love ourselves individually. We uh any other the commissioners could certainly ask
questions. I just wanted to clarif [Music] connect with other people Thank you. >> I have a question. Um so current so like far as how many people have you been like your organization been servicing
since the held um events and it's a you know in family and so we've had um individuals at events but we also assisted from people assisting our events also helped people uh community
at large I would say that have our events we have people what we do service about 80 families outside of and when I that can be as far as like a lot of it is translating um different
resources um we've some people access um and they're actually currently growing corn and beans and Um we've had you know the youth steward like the gardens is the
youth stewards and that's next to the UCCC church neighbor's garden and done a lot of work um community um and helping them different the res
for individual don't know many of the resources are out there. >> Thank you so much. Gracias involvement um continates to the commission. Thank you.
Next is speak about welcome. Thank you uh foring me and and a great presentation. Want to thank the head for welcome week. Want to HRC for um
inviting me speak. My name is Michael and I'm the equity and experience for the far Sanford Health. Um and so I
want to just quick start off with um why Sanford Health ising with inclusive head and then talk about and why welcome week is important. So um you know is a large organization in our
region um we uh now we states we have 60,000 uh stes um and for our Fargo region uh the region that I oversee
um we have about 11,000 employees we have a catchment area of 150 miles for Fargo market. Um, and you know, Morehead and Fargo are kind of the hub here.
Um, you know, a few years ago, we expanded to the point where we literally ran out of um domestic staff, so people born in the United States. and we needed
to uh look at expanding our resources uh in our our recruitment net. And one of the ways that we did that was we looked uh internationally um for trained nurses for uh physicians
and providers um and then just all kinds of staff. So the growth that Morehead is enjoying and Fargo is enjoying I think in in some part is due to Sanford and I know that we're not the only ones um inviting people from all over the world
to join us uh and all over the country. Um this is a part of our strategic objective uh is really to open up our hiring practices uh so that we can be successful. Um, we recognize that we,
you know, in order to serve, um, the families and the people that live in the in the Fargo Morehead area, we need to be fully staffed. Um, and so it's not just about bringing staff to uh to this area and bringing, you know,
hiring them on, but then it's about what happens when they get here. Um, and so it's it's critical that people feel welcome, that people feel uh that their culture and who they are is reflected in
what they uh see, um, in in the ways that they're taken care of. Um, and so, uh, the reason Sanford is partnering with Inclusive Morehead is to,
um, is is really, uh, using that as a vehicle to welcome the people, um, that we serve, um, but also the people that work with us. So, uh, we feel like inclusive Morehead is vital, um, and
it's a part of our strategy to, uh, make, uh, to make, um, Sanford an inclusive place, uh, so that we can care for the people that, um, are in our community. All right, let's see if I can figure this thing out. So, what is
inclusive Morehead? Um, okay, sorry. Okay. Inclusive Morehead. Uh the mission of Inclusive Morehead is to work with the community to strengthen
connections. And we do this by uh conversations, coordinating events, connecting organizations to other Morehead um and Klay County residents. Uh the report in 2022 identified opportunities to continue with
communities. Uh and the report is on the website resilient Morehead um Morehead and we collaborate with different agencies and organizations to bring uh people together around issues to celebrate with communities.
Um this is a mission of inclusive Morehead. Uh we work with communities to strengthen connections. Uh we host community conversations. We coordinate events. Um, we connect organizations to
other um to other counties. Oh, whoops. Sorry, I got to keep up. So, um, inclusive Morehead um is uh funded by
um, welcoming America and that's kind of the structure. So, it's Welcome America, which is a national movement um advancing inclusion and belonging. Um and then, uh we choose to celebrate that on September. So, uh different
communities celebrate uh welcome week um that fall under that uh uh welcome America header. And so, Morehead is a part of that. Um and so our our celebration is in September um in
conjunction with um more head days. Um so this this event creates a space to welcome neighbors, newcomers, and longtime residents to the uh to connect. Um we want to showcase cultures,
stories, and community pride. Um and we want to strengthen a more united and welcoming Morehead Okay. Um, these are some of the events that Inclusive Morehead uh sponsors
um and we hold uh quarterly events in partnership um with other agencies uh in other groups around Morehead. Um we host uh engaging uh community huddles. Um we
also partner with Klay County and um we have many partnerships uh around the region. So there's a couple examples. We partner with the Lotus Recovery Communities, Cultural Diversity Resources, uh Prairie, Spread Your
Sunshine, uh Sanford of course, and many others. And you can check out um our partnerships on our Facebook website. Um another really kind of I think innovative and interesting
um project that we do is is we highlight our residents uh through pictures. And so, um, we had a a picture campaign where we took pictures of residents, um, and then just kind of shared some
quotes, uh, and then those pictures then, um, are, uh, moved around to different parts of town um, in at different events. Um, and it's just a way to show kind of to showcase the
diversity and the um and the different uh cultures that we celebrate here. Um, many of our residents are vibrant and resilient and so it's it's exciting for us to highlight that um in a public way.
Um, so just a couple notes on the impact here. Um you can see you know in the last year uh we estimate around 3,000 residents were engaged through um through our
activities and our um our partnerships. Um, we had 12 major events, hosted 12 major events, including a national welcome week, which we'll talk about a little more. Greater Morehead Days parade, international potluck, and the
global market. uh 56 languages um represented by the families we serve uh reflecting linguistic diversity of the Morehead area. 87% of the event attendees um uh based on our survey that was given
strongly agreed that the events contributed to a more inclusive community. 22% of school district students served um identify as receiving special education
services. Inclusive Morehead ensures accountability at all events. 150 attendees at the first Morehead Global Market supporting immigrant, refugee, and indigenous entrepreneurs. Uh 200 to 300 participants as each major
cultural gathering. uh Greater Morehead Days International potluck, 10 plus organizations partnered uh across sectors and um we put together a representation report completed in 2024 analyzing civic
engagement and representation of BIPAC immigrant and LGBTQ residents uh of city boards and commissions on the inclusive Morehead website. Um, and just a quick note on that. Um, I think one of the the
goals of inclusive Morehead is just to see more um inclusive representative representation um in local leadership. We feel like that's very important uh to the vibrancy of our city. Uh and lastly, governance boards of
seven leaders representing cultural, disability, LGBTQ, and public health uh sectors. Uh just want to highlight some of the the beautiful pictures from the parade.
Um we supported many local um uh local groups in obtaining posters and resources so that they can march proudly in our parade uh and showcase uh the great work that they do.
Um of course it's it's difficult to get all the logistics together. So so we're we're a part of um uh doing that. And I should mention uh before I completely forget, Seam is um uh the leader of
inclusive Morehead um and uh wrangles all of us together and does an incredible job. Um so we're just so proud to work alongside Seham and all the great work that she does. Um again, more pictures, dancing, um
food. Uh I'll I'll share, you know, we partnered with uh many different vendors. Uh had free ice cream, which was a nice draw. Um uh Tease Tacos uh came and and gave some some food out. Um
one of the things that was kind of cool is uh Tease Tacos, Tanya Redroad is the owner there. she um partnered with Sanford Health uh to provide an indigenous uh people's day meal um and
her guidance, menu guidance um and uh mentorship to our um facilities and uh food staff um provided 3500 meals in one day at three different hospitals across
our region. So, um the impact of of some of these things uh is big and uh when we support our communities, then you know we can support uh the businesses that work with us as well. Um more photos uh you know there's
dancing uh and just people being uh their authentic selves in a safe space uh is uh in incredible feeling to be a part of. Um you can see more dancing here. Uh we did uh we will have the opportunity to
um make sure that our dancers uh have funding uh this year. And so we're excited to um offer offer our dancers the opportunity to recover some of the cost uh of of uh sharing their culture with us.
Um more parade here and um I think I said all I could say about the parade. Uh however um I think parades are a great welcoming
event. Um and and so uh you know it it's a very visible way for organizations to get out um the information about uh who they are. Um and so it's it's kind of like a commercial. So uh our community
thrives um when we have uh public celebrations like parades. Um another kind of picture of the global market. Uh and we want to invite everyone to join us at the global markets. Um they happen here at the
yamumpth. Um and uh these are for entrepreneurs to come and share their wares and tell us about all the good products that they make and sell and um again when entrepreneurs thrives um our
community thrives. So we want to welcome everyone to those um and please come. I do have a couple um flyers um that I can certainly hand out if people are interested in that. Um I may
have gone over time, but uh are there any questions? >> Thank you, Michael. Um I just want to say that my relationship with inclusive warhead is that I'm the coordinator through my position at creating community consulting. And so in that contract, we help with the coordination
through board approval. And so yeah, that is my role within that. Just wanted to throw that up there. But thank you so much for the information and I'll open it up to other commissioners that have questions. If none um I will say that although it
might seem like at times inclusive Morehead might seem like oh you're just having fun eating together it really has spurred those economic opportunities community development as well as economic development hand in hand. When you create those spaces, it also first
that economic development and blocking safety because if you're communicating with people and you know welcoming and you know not hesitation to go up to people then safe spaces as well.
I note lastly um we did uh we would be very fulful if would be interested to um to have a proclamation um for welcome.
So another thing we can do to support question. Okay. So, first of all, I just want to thank you so much for what you do just putting community together and then just partnering with all the different organizations to kind of um
what's just you know there's so many different organizations out there and it's to go and looks like there's a lot of partnership happening. So, Um what I would ask is um are you is
your like with the schools and like do like is it just specifically like other community organizations? That's an excellent question. Um the
focus has been community uh community organizations. I think um more than happy to partner with schools. Uh and we know that community organizations uh support
students and um I think what whatever the opportunity is there certainly be more than willing um continue to look for partnerships. I don't know if you have any other thoughts on that. was exactly correctly
open to uh the board to partnerships with the school there's engagement different dialogue there but we haven't necessar state also know
your primary school but institutions involved writing One more question. Um, so as far as um like outreach throughout the the city um
things like the different parts of a lot and then have things that are just kind of downtown like new up and new area. So something
that um you're open to or strategically hosting like and you know just kind of highlight the different communities across Morhead. I would say many of
kind of uh is happy to share with us. So, you know, the library has been really great partners and a lot of that. Um certainly
I think you know we partner state for welcome week. Uh that that's a wonderful partnership. I great I think we ering other certainly because you're
right more great opportunity to bring our our great um events to people around our town. See
how >> that's perfect. Um it's certainly whatever to partner that are available um opportunity like outs
we've had park a bit and central obviously space library and such trying to find and everyone on the board wants to where people come without like um you
know that they need something or part of to do that. So exactly right I think that's aim is to find that are neutral around so all right well thank for the information
and thank you Sanford and more. Appreciate it. Next. Are there any partners here? Do we have any citizens to be heard? All right. We have a citizen to be heard. You
open up the floor to you. Council says the city's um to speak. It's about minutes. cut you off if you're speaking but go ahead um we are here
to respond but we are so please >> okay I'm here Joel was killed in 2009 my family was los about one case
and equal protection of the law concealed the shooter Venos ambient level was conceive material does not advise our truth and justice.
The harm continues today and more less unconstitution and defense class with consent of her family. My niece's own niece
in class as described. She ask no child there situation story. No family should have family should have their private tragedy while justice denied.
of dehumanization failures when law enforce are paying in consent native lives as less worthy of dignity
not a legal it's aic violation So historically commission or at least using the platform to support and duty to stand have failed.
So of support this case and urging state authorities to invest in investigate school district and demand immediate uh cease
using Joe's death and family consent and calling accountability not just a lesson He son, brother and uncle. His life mattered
with us in 2009 veterans bridge down with us again and the principle that this created and I I am sorry that it's unfortunate and willly you know we're here to listen definitely if
wanting to discuss. We can certainly but thank you so much for being that is very um on to our enforcement update our
ladies and gentlemen for having this evening. Um nothing to really address the uh over the past few months. There's been a number of uence that occurred some of those
and many not but just wanted to pass on from our chief. He's put out a number of messages about our commitment to the safety and the police department for every regard.
The only other bring forward is we're very excited as Monday chief will begin Bill will be sworn in. Uh so we're very excited to bring him on board and bring him into our team. So with that questions
>> questions for thank you for being here tonight. um kind of the tragedies that have happened certainly within the land and um unfortunate reality I think I'll cross
area right now what happened that intersection with a child uh you know I just want to know if any about especially school starts and
intersections when it to surrounding elementary schools particularly. >> Yeah. We have our trafficforcement actually some specific on traffic enforcement
some very targeted areas and the issues. There is being developed and chief intends to for the first few days of school. I don't want to steal thunder as we're
still working through the plan of that we do to increase enforce and augment where we help increase safety especially across and things nature. >> Thank you. Any other commissioners?
>> I have a question. Um so um all of the different situations that kind of come up and then have the police department look potentially partnering
because lot of community resources um you know with to offset more of a less of a more type feel and have more of a community
people working alongside of each other to offer support. It's not just like surveillance more just like that engagement. I know there attending has that been some convers
>> Yeah, absolutely. We just had a meeting this morning with some other departments within the city. uh focusing on education specifically traffication for as well. Uh that's really in its infancy
starting to those programs. Um uh we've also been partnering we we can enforcement part make sure people are following the rules but there's an issue with the design uh or manage or control intersection our scope
um and then there is work with school district conversation in the schools uh during the school year or outside of the school year uh specific traffic um pedestrian and traffic, how
to safely navigate back and forth from schools, try to quell some of those issues before it becomes an issue of just strict enforcement to try to get people to uh operate in a more safe manner. >> Thank you. >> Great. Thank you so much update. Um we
will go on to our regular business. Do we have regular business? We are gearing up for our human. So that's our business any
October we have that's going to that's correct September agenda packet start looking and um getting for award
we just keep on the back of our minds that day send it to work and see where we get nomination. I know we work we'd
love to or any other business. I know we haven't met in two months. Um and we had a number of events that we weren't able to organize. So else
about we weren't able to organize around it and people didn't show up because they didn't it >> well typically for pride uh typically would have you know a float in the
parade and the resource fair and but this transition I think able to do that we didn't meet commission meet August
like that it's something to keep on of our mind next year as we plan out to see where we engage Um I think that something to discuss as
during that we are supporting as we can and during that know about the events so that can be there I know with that didn't happen I think you showed up
thankfully you showed up you help with an award Um I think that's table but that is something that we had around and myself were there and a
number of the city um as well and we can about representing HRC and we're here community and support. We have here um
reportation has met and Iber maybe some some information on um quite a bit
as from our presentation tonight. Uh September is busy with happening throughout the week. Commission is be in coordinating social.
Our community community is hosting event from 2:30 to 4:30 celebrate their 60th birthday. So want something to do
there. They do great workp on 8. It's a free community meal and it's one of those opport to share with everyone and
you know else have any or any anything for very crowded and
it was a great great commissioner. I should say um I have the tragedy that happened with 9-year-old I mean it was very
just mother I mean the commission for his with youth and that had occupied it was unexpected very tragic unfortunate and
across the region. So, thank you for being in the park. I have been supporting our community as it's a summer as we have new commissioners and
reorganized to say that chair um acclimate I think have opportunity to work different organizations that are a police
to many many different things that come that we can improve upon other than that I mean we had great we had great that were happening and Ellis were the queens one great
engagement out of be awesome to be around people just um was great too that was given out award as well.
Anything else to that? Okay. Does anybody want to discuss any new business to discuss new business? He brought it up the uh
of our young system not the first I want it to last and when we look we look at equity it's important we be able to
and just sit here listening to really We're doing work. What are we doing? Support just listening. So take them between now. Everyone is here
table discussion. I would like to know why we are we are serving truly what our is for action.
Thank you.