Hey, it is 5:00 on November 19th and we will start the human rights commission meeting. Uh, can I get a roll call, please? Eva Ellis, an Anna Rajesh
>> here. S Hammedi, Jennifer Cannon >> here, >> Jennifer Randa, Trenton Garretts, and Sebastian McDougall. >> And we have one more.
Oh, here. Okay, I'll mark her present. >> All right, thank you. Uh, I will go ahead now and read the land acknowledgement. We, the Morhead Human Rights Commission, collectively and with gratitude, acknowledge the sacred land the city of Morehead is
built upon. We acknowledge the people who have resided here for generations and recognize that the spirit of the Dakota, Ojiway, Matei, and all indigenous communities permeates this land. The contribution of the indigenous people shall not be forgotten, nor will
the success that is achieved by the people of the land. We will continue to educate, advocate, and honor or honor and unite for indigenous people of this land. In your packet are the meeting minutes
from October 15th. If I could get a motion to approve. >> I'll make the motion to approve the meeting minutes from October 15th. >> Second. I'll second.
>> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Same sign. Okay. Uh and I don't believe we have a guest speaker on the agenda tonight. Is that correct? That is correct. Okay. Um
how about community partners or citizens to be heard? Okay. Moving right along then. Um, I will hand it over to our police liaison for a law enforcement update. >> Uh, good evening. Uh, yeah, I'm filling
in for Assistant Chief Offel tonight. He couldn't be here due to a training he's attending. Uh, we don't really have any any major updates to pass along. Uh, just kind of an update on some of our staffing. Uh, we're currently have five in training and, uh, we have five more that'll be starting December 1st. So,
uh, dramatic improvement in our staffing from where it was about a year ago. So, we're hopeful that trend is going to continue uh moving forward. Uh but other than that, uh it's been business as usual, busy day for me. So, I'm sure you've all heard, but everything turned out all all right with that. So,
>> uh pending any questions questions from anyone? Okay. Um I just want to say I do appreciate the updates that are that are released from the police department. Um because if you're driving down the road and you notice this huge police presence, I mean, it's kind of scary.
So, um definitely appreciate the the notice that you give the community so we kind of have an idea of what's going on. So, >> yep, we're trying to do better at that. We acknowledge there maybe was a little miscommunication with some of the the language in the message that we sent out today, but uh we don't always do better.
So, we're just taking those lessons learned to learn to improve for the next time. So, thanks. Uh just a reminder, how um how are the notifications going out to the community if you could just let the community know.
>> So uh the one today was used uh completed using a system called Everbridge and then we geoence it. So uh I can't remember I think it was about a fourb block range from where we were at uh because that was really close enough that might affect somebody inside of
that zone. Uh but as uh uh Jennifer mentioned, if you drive through that zone, uh then your phone will alert to that. So, uh some of the language needed to be clarified that you really only needed to lock down if you were inside of that area. Um and that's caused a little bit of confusion, but uh for the
most part, it was better to be safe than sorry and make sure everybody knew about it. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I think there was some confusion, too. Just a side note, um some people thought the schools were locked down and they were not. It was just in in a very specific area. So,
okay, moving right along. Um, regular business. I do not have anything to report there. Seam, >> I think we wanted to continue the discussion of last month's discussion of the roles and um goals of the human
rights commission. Uh if anybody would like to continue that discussion, have additional thoughts, we were certain we're going to think about it last month and bring back any ideas or suggestions or plan of action um we you
know that that we after having the event uh cookies with the commissioner which thank you to our city um leaison Tanya for organizing and bringing that and thank you to the commissioners that attended just wanted to bring that back up.
>> I was just going to add that um I believe the community actually we had a really good um report out from the community that it was really good to kind of see folks there. We were coexisting with another
event that was actually going on at the same time. And I think just by way of us being there, we were able to like talk to a lot of the community and just kind of listen to what some of their issues and concerns were as it relates to like
um the human rights commission and how we can be more supportive to them. Um, we did have a discussion about uh possibly hosting some future panels where we can kind of engage different
community partners to just kind of talk about uh their sections and how they can kind of support uh community in those different areas. And so we'll be reaching out to those community partners to see if we could uh possibly look at
doing something with that. Uh believe Jennifer maybe you want to add a little bit more to that if No, I I agree, Commissioner Ellis. I think that especially with family resource center there at the library that night and there was free food
available um a a meal to take home that we were really able to have some intersections with that. Um, and I think that just shows the importance of allowing ourselves to truly serve our
community and be where our community members are. I think that that was a message that was given to us and I did make notes for the first panel that we had discussed. Um, and we might want to
table that until we review the it was new business last month, so it would be regular business this month. Um, about the date and time of our meetings if that is actually conducive and applicable to
folks schedules anymore because our community section is practically non-existent. and I'd like to see that change. So I >> great points. I mean certainly this
month a lot has happened um that has affecting a majority of our population. There was the food and the food insecurity came up and a lot of the you know community worked around that and the FRC had a planned meal. There are
going to be other challenges such as energy costs. you know those energy costs aren't being those the the available funding that usually comes in to cover that through the winter months is delayed. So you know as a commission we can have
discussions about that about a lot of places are having discussions there is emergency assistance available through the county but it can only go so far. So these are yes rights issues. Um you know we do have a co a cold weather rule in
place where heat will not be shut off but water can still be shut off. So that does not you know that is not affecting the water. The water still can be shut off and it's just just be aware of that. There's a lot of things that are
trickling down into our um communities in terms of transportation, housing, food insecurity. Um unfortunately, there's been a lot of incidents that have happened here too where we don't want things to escalate and we can be a platform for education and outreach and
obviously having the police liaison here every month is a huge bridge in that communication as well. So again, I mean, if anybody has ideas, these are certainly some things we can, you know, talk about, suggest, and I I really
truly feel that this could be a platform to be able to give community that space to talk about these issues that are happening through through the lens of the city. >> I I was not I was absent last month. So,
I'm just wondering, did it come up again um about I know you mentioned the time of our meetings, but what about the location? Did we ever discuss or figure out if we were able or allowed to hold these meetings elsewhere? >> Um, no. the meetings itself
>> need to be held here due to being able to be um live streamed, but having the panels and those different like listening sessions >> um are perfectly fine and that's another um avenue to be able to reach the
community. And I just wanted to note um I had gotten an email at the end of the day today from Barb at the library just thanking you guys for coming and having that cookie with the commissioner. She heard what great um outreach it was and she just wanted to send her thanks to
you guys. So just wanted to share that. And in terms of the panels, you know, that could be um arranged through the education and outreach committee using spaces that are available publicly and accessible. That certainly can be a project that we do um you know monthly
you know or bimonthly quarterly whatever thoughts come up and whatever uh pertinent topics you think are important to discuss with the public. >> Just as a reminder who all is on the education outreach
>> myself commissioner Rajes and Commissioner Ellis. >> Okay. Okay. So, is that maybe something you want to look into as part of your subcommittee and then bring back? >> What do the Commissioner Ellis and
Commissioner Rajes, what do you think? I think I think reaching or looking into that um like more in depth would be helpful and uh what not but uh
scheduling might be a little difficult on my end. You are a very busy person commissioner Rajas but we can always work around your schedule certainly happens. I barely made the me meeting today too because I was traveling. So, it's a close one, but we can certainly
work around um maybe sometimes when you're not so busy. What do you think, Commissioner Ellis? >> Hello. Okay. Yeah, sorry. Um I'm open to that. Uh technology is always fun when we're trying to figure out how to talk with the mic. Um but yeah, no, whatever
works. Um I'm open. My schedule's my schedule's not all the way open, but I can make myself available. So, >> we will work on doing some pertinent topics of discussion throughout the community, whether it's with partnerships or it's um just something
that we think would be good to discuss. >> And and I don't um just to make it super clear like the the panel, it wouldn't necessarily have to just be the people on the um education outreach committee. I just meant like to maybe start having some of those conversations. It could be
any of us really. >> Absolutely. So the just to get this into the minutes too, the panel that we had discussed uh and some of our community partners had suggested were the new police chief uh
folks from the housing committee, legal aid, someone from the schools, and someone from city government. Maybe maybe next next month we can uh put that as an agenda item to follow
back up on. Okay. >> Commissioner Cannon, can we go through again the subcommittee members? >> Great idea. Um so the I can speak to the awards uh subcommittee that is myself and
Commissioner Trenton. Um, and then education outreach, um, was just listed. And who's on the events? >> Must be. >> I must be. >> Do we have a record of that, Tanya?
>> Yes, I can look that up for you. >> I'll be honest, the last couple meetings when we were doing this, I wrote down, but that's on my last meeting notes. So, it is recorded somewhere. So we'll get that and remind ourselves. >> Um I have for the events committee
Jennifer Randa and Sebastian McDougall awards Jennifer Cannon Trenton Garretts and education C Hamai Evitt Ellis and Anna Rashes. >> Thank you Tanya. >> Yes thank you for reminding us.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who forgets a lot of things. Um, okay. So, moving on or any other regular business anyone wanted to bring up? Okay. In which case, moving on to subcommittee reports. Um, I'm not sure
if you have more if we have more from the education outreach. >> What do you think, Commissioner Ellison Rajes? I know both of you were at um the cush cookies with the commissioner. That was an outreach event um organized by
the whole commission. But certainly um I was pulling double duty that night. I will not lie. But um you know you are I think you know ch scheduling has been challenging but I think going into next
month especially looking at the calendar will be important having had the one community event. So, but just planning going forward. Okay. Um, and the um the awards um announcement I'm going to
bring up in the new business um as was sent out previously, the nomination. So, I'll hold that. Um I want to ask if anyone has any reports, announcements, or upcoming events that they want to share with the commission before we move into that.
The Spuds boys football team is going to state uh this Friday. So if we want to if anybody like wants to like go out and support the Spuds this Friday, that would be great. Um congratulations. Go Spuds.
Just want to thank everybody that came to Pangia. I know we had a discussion well you know are we just promoting cultural events and you you know pangia it just seems to grow every year in the historical society does it out of a the labor of love really um and it's just
the opportunity for cross-cultural education education about the museum education about your neighbors and learning more and having that discussion is it's absolutely phenomenal and I thank the commissioners for volunteering
their time in the hospitality room. That's always important. Um, and we there was a family I talked to that came from Alexandria just for the event with their kids and then they didn't want to go home. It was beautiful and it was right
in this room actually like right here where all a lot of the fun was happening. So, it's just phenomenal and an opportunity again for outreach education and I hope it remains to be accessible and free. They're always
looking for feedback. So, if the commissioners have feedback, I know we have some some more planning to do if we do the the hospitality room next year. Uh, also, you know, I just want to say right now there's a lot going around
with food insecurity and there's a call for volunteers in many spaces. Um, all the pantries, a place for hope. Um, there's many places the great the food the great place food bank. Yes. Also had
a cow call out for volunteers today because they were just seeing an increase especially when they have their popups in Morehead. you know, just a lot happening in those discussions. And um on Saturday, the UCCC church has a free meal that's open
to the public that they'll do throughout November. Saturday 3:00 to 5:00, I believe. Um and just a lot happening in terms of making sure people are fed and stay warm this year and resources um
being shared. So, those were my thoughts. Um I just wanted to add um I believe tomorrow is a give and that's just an opportunity for different uh individuals who maybe are not able to
physically volunteer to provide some form of uh support and services through monetary contributions. uh we with a lot of different things that are going on, there's a lot of nonprofits that are looking for
additional support and services. So, uh maybe some of the pages that uh you're linked up with, you could like or share or pass it along to offer some support. There's a lot of different organizations that are in the Morehead area that
could, you know, utilize those resources. So, you can go on to that givemen.org and search up some of your local uh nonprofits and support. >> Okay, moving on to new
>> Commissioner Canon. Sorry. >> Oh, that's okay. Sorry. Uh, I would wanted to bring up something that we had talked about at Cookies with Commissioner. Someone brought up they didn't know where it was. They had seen it, but then
they couldn't remember where it was. And so, they had looked on the city page to check the calendar. And so that was something I was thinking about as we were talking because things happened, you know, between last month and this month that I would love to get
the word out for. Do we have a calendar? I believe we just use the city calendar. So the cookies with the commissioner was not on it. Is that what you're saying? >> Or you're not sure?
That was secondhand that she said she looked. So, >> do you know, Tanya, was it on the city calendar? >> I thought it was. We had the different posts go out on our Facebook page and um I'll have to double check now that you
brought that up. Um but supposed to be on the calendar. Yeah, >> we have where on the, you know, when you go on the city of Morehead website page, there's the events and meetings and that's what I'm assuming they were referring to because you can click on the events tab and there should be the
different events that are going on and then the meetings. That's the only calendar on our website that I'm aware of that has the different things set up or it's events and meetings. >> Yeah, that's the only place I'm aware of. >> Okay. >> Yeah, maybe just double check, make sure
it went out. Um, uh, to be honest with you, I typically just depend on like the the posts that get sent out from the city of Morehead. Um, so I don't I don't know that I've ever even looked at the it like a Facebook posts, that kind of thing.
Yeah. Yeah. But definitely need to have it in multiple places. So definitely you're fine. Anyone have anything else for new business or upcoming events? >> Commissioner Ken, I just got a text.
>> Oh, yeah. Of course. >> Thank you. >> I'm glad I made it in. Yeah, >> I do want to say while while they're letting Sebastian in, um there are so many popup food meals and things like
that happening in the community. It's absolutely amazing. I know, uh my oldest son and I went to one um two weeks ago. Um and it was it was the amount of food that we had. Our community is really stepping up. I was really impressed. And then I'm just
seeing like all these different places doing food popups and things like that. So awesome. >> Um, there are great resources on the United Ways page. They have a portal and the Great Plains Food Bank as well to
direct people. So great point. But >> welcome. >> Oh, sorry. You were locked out. All right. So, moving on to new business. And one item that we do have on the agenda is the 2025 Human Rights Awards, which everybody should have
received these nominations redacted via email yesterday or the day before. Um, so I'm hoping that we've had a chance to review them. And we we have a couple questions to to kind of vote on and
answer for. Um, so Trenton and I were, you know, looking through the awards. There's two in the education space and two in the nonprofit space. So historically we've done we've done we have done four awards and I believe we
have a total of eight awards for this year and next year. So we we have a couple of options. we can since we only have four nominations, we can make everybody chosen for the award and still have four awards, physical awards,
sorry, for next year. Um, and then there's really no voting that we need to do. Um, the se the second option is since there's two categories, we could just choose one of each category and only hand out two awards. Um, but
Commissioner Trenton and I thought that it would be better to bring this decision to everybody to see what everyone thought and what everyone felt. >> Yes. >> Okay. Well, what I would just suggest because I had an opportunity to review
all of the nominations. I think they're all phenomenal and I feel that if we have the four awards and I understand it's just the two categories then I feel like it's really important to highlight those individuals for the work that they've done and then for the following
year we could we would have our four awards. Again, that's my input. And there was one um nomination that said if they can include multiple people because it was a team effort to do that. Um but we discussed it and part of the
criteria is that they're Morehead based so we could not take that part. Um but the one person in the nomination was Morehead based. So wanted to mention that too. Um but I'm in full support of handing out. My initial reaction was the same as yours. if we have eight awards
to give out and we have four nominations, it it makes the most sense. And and I honestly feel like getting a human rights award um is great. Um it also serves another purpose. It keeps people motivated to stay active. Um and
so I'm I'm in agreement with you. Does anyone else have any thoughts or anything different? That's a good plan especially now when people need to be uplifted and the work they do with vulnerable populations especially it gives a boost and we have
the awards and it's a wonderful um way of uplifting community members or um people that work within different systems as they do their work. So I'm in favor of all four nominations this year.
Okay. I'm not sure. Do we need to put this for a vote then like an official vote >> formality sake? I would say >> I think so. >> Okay. Can I get a motion then to get all
four nominations approved for the 2025 Human Rights Awards? >> I'll motion >> in a second. >> I'll second. Okay. All of those in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> All those opposed, same sign.
Okay. Awesome. Uh, that wraps up then the um human rights awards new business, but I will open it up to the floor for any other new business that anyone might have. Just off of that, so there will be presented in December and sorry, um,
just wanted to see which commissioners would be available for the city council meeting in December. our first city council meeting in December, Tanya. Correct. >> It's December 8th. >> December 8th. Yeah. The first. >> And then we usually have a social before
the meeting, too. >> Um, yeah. So, I don't know. I know you all have to check your calendars and life gets busy, but I hope all everyone in the commission can make it, but certainly understand if they're not able to. Um, and if someone has a strong
affinity to want to present an award, let Tanya know. >> I definitely have a strong affinity, but I don't want to say names cuz I know all of them. >> Even the redacted. >> I know. I was like, "Oh my gosh, yes.
Yes." So, yes, I would love to. >> Perfect. And then tip, in the past, we've had, I think, two people awards. So, is there I I like that, you know, you kind of came forward and we're excited about it. Um, I've done it. Seam's done it. Is there anyone else
that also has a strong affinity? I want to give everyone else a chance. >> Um, I I just want to say that I've done it before. >> Um, I I believe I should be free on the 8th of December. >> Okay. >> So, yeah. >> You'd like to as well? >> Yes, please.
>> Okay, that solves for that then. December 8th at the socials at 5:00 and the meetings at 5:30. Correct. >> Correct. Okay. Perfect. And Oh, go ahead. >> I'll just >> Oh, and I mean if if I mean if you would
like to, Commissioner Ellis be are you available and want to come and experience it with your first year? You certainly are. I'm sure we could. >> There's four. There's plenty to go around. >> Plenty to go around. >> That's the whole thing. >> Yeah. >> I want one. >> Sure. Can I come? Well, you're invited.
>> You don't need to ask permission. Of course. >> Well, uh, this commissioner is available for that time. And if you can just add me to the calendar to offer my support. >> That's wonderful. And for those of you that haven't done it, um, typically will
read out their nomination. Um, and that's always fun. Um, one word of caution. Um, one time I was reading a nomination and it was a very personal nomination. So, if you're reading the nomination and you have any questions about would this person be okay with me
sharing it, please get with Tanya and have her just make sure that everything is okay to be shared just to be respectful. >> Great point. And we are going to notify the not the recipients. So therefore, um they'll be called. So if anybody
wants to volunteer and call them and just want to make sure run through the this is what I'll say about you, are you okay with that? Would you like any edits to that? Um, probably a good idea to do that as well. Um, just to again not to
have anything that a person doesn't want to share publicly. Um, so yeah. So I don't know if the people that are going to present the honores would like to call. >> That's the fun part too is calling them.
Um, so it could be could be you or it could be, you know, Trenton and I. I mean, >> if that's something that also is exciting to you, you can do that as well >> or we >> I mean, okay, so question
because y'all are on the that committee. Would it be I think it might be good for y'all to give them a call. Yeah. >> But then we could follow up with the language. with individuals or it's like maybe
y'all talk to them about the language. Yeah. >> Just just so that way we're not like >> Yeah. And that's what we've done typically in the past. Okay. >> Um I know Seham and I have have called um previously. But no, that's totally
fine. Trenton, there's four. So you take two, I'll take two. And then we'll just let them know that someone else will be following up. Sounds great. We probably would do that. Yeah. >> The more congratulations the better.
>> Yes. True. >> Okay. >> If there isn't any other new business, then we will adjourn for tonight. Thank you everyone.