Human Relations Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2022-02-28

Human Relations Commission
 Monday, February 28th, 2022
 6:30pm


 Virtual via Zoom Meetings


 MINUTES
Present: Deborah Arnold, Daphnee Camilien, Alexander Chaparro, Sheila Crumrine, David
Donegan, Marcos Levy, Jim McVane, Amy Memis-Foler, Louis Mercer, Michelle Reitman,
Jeremy Segall, Karen Sherman, Chair: Maria Monastero Bueno, Trustee Khemarey Khoeun and
Staff: Iris Barrios

Not Present/Excused: Jaili Fajardo, Krishna Goyal, Anwar Haq, Jonathan Lavin, Swarupa Pahan,
Pearl Rubenzik, James Specker, and Maureen Yanes

I. Call to Order: 6:36pm live on YouTube for public meetings

II. Approval of Agenda and approval of Minutes: January 24th, 2022 Motion was made by Sheila.
Seconds was made by Maureen

III. February Presentation, Jasmine Gurneau, Native American and Indigenous Initiatives of the Office of
Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at Northwestern University and Kim Vigue, Mitchell Museum of the
American Indian

 i. Jasmine presented a short slide show on impact examples on the racial trauma on mental
 health, financial impact and the social and community impact that serotypes and erasure
 can have on Native Americans. A discussion was had on awareness of the Native
 American community, experiences students have who are Native American in the
 community and who Native Americans are now in 2022. More was spoken about data
 collection and reporting Native American data even if that is zero (0) in order for erasure
 to not happen for the Native American community. Maureen brought up the population of
 the Native American in Skokie and next year’s Coming Together event and their focus
 being the Native American focus. Trustee Khem added it was 2020 census was 0.23% in
 Skokie was Native American. Kim Vigue from the Mitchell Museum and had worked on
 a more federal level in Public Health and Education. She spoke about the impact and the
 trauma that can affect not only the Native community but especially the Native youth.
 She spoke about the media, tv, costumes and cartoons and the imagery have an impact on
 the community psychologically. She spoke about how the reflection of the youth being
 able to see themselves culturally and spiritually. Kim gave additional details about the
 population is present but somehow not being accurately presented by the census because
 of how the questions are being asked as well as tribal identity and self-identity on the
 2020 census. Both Jasmine and Kim contributed to the conversation but did speak about
 that they cannot speak for the whole community for the Native community. Chair Maria
 brought up that this is also the case for the Village of Skokie. That we are having this
 conversation as the Human Relations Commission but as a whole, the Board and the
 Village would also be having to be a part of the bigger conversation for the Skokie
 community. Jasmine brought up land acknowledgement and more action needed on top
 of acknowledgment. Chair Maria asked the question about the media shift and both Kim
 and Jasmine brought up some changes to tv due to Native Americans becoming
 producers, directors and actors who are changing the narrative and telling their story.
 Niles West was brought up as well because they changed their mascot to Niles Wolves
 from a previous Native name. Skokie is moving towards a progressive change and a
 continued conversation. Kim did invite the Human Relations to the Mitchell Museum for
 a possible future visit. More to come for that.


IV. Chair’s Report, Maria Monastero Bueno Chair

 A. Maria and Iris let the Human Relations Commissioners know that the next meeting will be March
 28th in person at Village Hall
 B. Sub Co-Chairs from Committees
 a. Block Party Forum: Alex spoke and stated that he met with Sheila. He spoke about fair
 housing about state programs and awareness on fair housing around the state and around
 the country. He talked about possibly bringing in a speaker to the meetings about
 housing. He also talked about an idea that Sheila had about first-time homeowner and
 sustainable housing for a first-time homeowner. Next was block party award. Looking at
 the award and possible looking how to vote in the future and how to distribute the award,
 how to make it more efficient when judging the award, the application process and
 working with Iris on the next steps on the this. Working on reaching out to past
 applicants for a future forum.
 b. Coming Together: Amy spoke about the Coming Together 2022 brochure that are coming
 out and how to get them. Lincolnwood library will have the books and to reach out to
 Chris R. at the Lincolnwood library or anyone there for the brochures. They can be
 distributed to friends, families, or local business. Amy also shared the Coming Together
 website for the monthly events starting in March going into April. A discussion was had
 about March 25th for the Douglas Center and volunteering as it is co-sponsored by the
 Human Relations Commission. If one cannot volunteer on the 25th, please consider
 joining any other event or stopping by the Douglas Center from 10am-6pm on the 25th.
 c. Equity and Diversity: Updated the list. Stand Against Racism was brought up as the event
 is coming up in April. Iris updated the commissioners on where the current event stands.
 The event will be on Wednesday, April 27th and the YWCA will be on Thursday, April
 28th. Iris let the commission know of the changes. Time pending from 10:30am or Noon.

V. Old/New Items of Business: Part of new business

 i. Ukraine Efforts: raise funds for Ukraine refugees and where residents can go to donate
 funds. A conversation was had about the organizations and the population of Skokie and
 the Ukraine population. Further conversation on the effort toward Afghan refugee and the
 resources there. Local resources, people being hosts for the refugees and where to go as a
 trusted resource. Some of the commissioners are more connected to organizations that are
 more engaged, and the question was more for people who might not be as connected to
 an organization already or a religious affiliated organization and they may not know
 where to go in order to donate and feel trusted that their donations are going to help
 people.



VI. Public Comments: Between the January 2022 and the February 2022 meeting, the Human Relations
liaison received no public comments to go over. Iris did mention that the January meeting did have over
100 views on YouTube.

VII. Adjournment: Motion for adjournment was made at 8:33pm by Sheila and was second by Maureen.