Human Relations Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2023-02-27

Human Relations Commission
 Monday, February 27, 2023
 6:30pm

Location: Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street – Conference Room D&E (2nd Floor)



 AGENDA
I. Call to Order

II. Approval of Agenda

III. Approval of Minutes of November 28, 2023

IV. Chair’s Report, Maria Monastero Bueno
 A. Village Native Seal Discussion Updates

V. Block Party of the Year Applicant Review

VI. Committee Reports
 A. Housing Committee: Block Party of the Year Awards
 B. Housing Committee: Block Party Forum
 C. Equity and Diversity Committee: Stand Against Racism Event/ “Until Justice
 Just Is”

VII. Old Items of Business

VIII. Adjourn




Next Meeting: March 27, 2023, 6:30pm at VILLAGE HALL 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie IL. 60077




Document Number: 608903 Version: 1

Human Relations Commission Minutes
 Monday, February 27, 2023
 6:30pm

Location: Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street – Conference Room D&E (2 nd Floor)

In attendance: Commissioners: Alexander Chaparro, Sheila Crumrine, Krishna Goyal, Jonathan Levin,
Maria Monastero Bueno (chair), John Muszynski, Marcos Levy, Swarupa Pahan, Ralph Ruebner, James
Specker, Mayha Syed; Trustee Khem Khoeun; Skokie Staff Liaison: Mike Charley

Not in attendance: Daphnee Camilien, David Donegan, Jaili Fajardo, Anwar Haq, Michelle Reitman, Pearl
Rubenzik, Jeremy Segall, Karen Sherman

I. Call to Order @ 6:35 pm


II. Approval of Agenda: Agenda approved.


III. Introduction of New Members & Existing Members: Two new members have joined the
 commission, John Muszynki & Mayha Syed. They both introduced themselves and the existing
 members/participants in attendance also introduced themselves.


IV. Approval of Minutes of November 28, 2023: Approval of November’s minutes tabled and
 moved to March 27, 2023 meeting. There was no “official” meeting in January, so there are no
 minutes to approve for January. Alex Chaparro communicated that since the January 2023
 meeting, he hasn’t yet reached out to the Park District regarding the Human Relations
 Commission participating in the Festival of Cultures, but he will. Maria recommended that Mike
 Charley share the last three meetings’ minutes with the new members. Mike Charley responded
 that he would email both new members the minutes. Mike Charley showed on the projector
 screen how members can access the Human Relations meeting agenda and approved minutes
 on the Village’s website.


V. Chair’s Report, Maria Monastero Bueno
 A. Village Native Seal Discussion Updates: Maria Monastero Bueno communicated that
 over the last couple of years the commission has been discussing the Village seal, which
 is a profile of a Native American man with a headdress and an arrow head. After several
 meetings and discussions with the Native American community it became apparent that
 the seal needed to be addressed and studied. A listening session was held on December
 8, 2022 and members of the Native American communities invited. The leaders
 provided input and insight into the seal. Along with Ann Tennes and several other



Document Number: 609077 Version: 1
 Human Relations Commissioners that attended the listening session, a report has been
 drafted and submitted to Village Manager John Lockerby for his review. The report
 summarizes the outcome of the listening session, including ceasing use of the existing
 seal and creating a new seal. The idea was to use Native American artists to draft a new
 seal that incorporated specific themes. It was agreed the seal not be a human image,
 that it represented nature specific to Skokie and the seal incorporates the theme of our
 community in the past, present and future.


VI. Block Party of the Year Applicant Review: Mike Charley presented the top 7 block party of the
 year applicants via a Power Point presentation. The presentation included a summary of each
 block party and block party pictures submitted by the applicants. At the end of the
 presentation, the members voted on their top three block parties. The outcome was the
 following winners for the 2022 Block Party of the Year Awards: 8300 Block of Kolmar Ave (most
 votes), George and Park Avenues, 8000-8100 Blocks of Lowell Ave. The three block party
 winners will be recognized at a future Village Board meeting, receive an award certificate and
 have block party of the year plaques posted on their blocks. A letter congratulating each block
 party will be sent soon that will include an invite to a future board meeting to receive their
 award. Maria Monastero Bueno encouraged commission members to participate in the Village
 Board awards presentation when it’s scheduled.


VII. Committee Reports
 A. Housing Committee: Block Party of the Year Awards: See #VI above.
 B. Housing Committee: Block Party Forum: Alex Chaparro shared that the Skokie Police
 Department has confirmed that they will join the Human Relations Commission at the
 block party forum. Maria Monastero Bueno communicated that the block party forum
 provides individuals information on how to run a successful block party. Maria
 Monastero Bueno communicated that in the past Human Relations members are
 encouraged to participate in each block party by visiting them and making an
 appearance. At the forum, the three winners from the previous year are invited to
 present their block parties and answer questions. The Village’s block captain program is
 also promoted at this event. The idea is to hold this event on May 20 or 21, 2023 at the
 Festival of Cultures at Oakton Park. The event times for the Festival of Cultures are
 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Another option, is offering a separate event at the Police
 Station, like in the past. Maria recommended producing a one-page flyer on the block
 party forum.

 Maria Monastero Bueno communicated there are three sub-committees:

  The Housing Committee: Block Party of the Year, Block Party Forum, Fair
 Housing and Know your Neighbor. Members: Daphnee, Alex, Sheila, Marcos,
 Michelle, Ralph and Karen.




Document Number: 609077 Version: 1
  Equity and Diversity Committee: SEED program, Stand Against Racism, Skokie
 United, Skokie Pride. Members: James, Sheila, David Donegan, Karen, Jonathan,
 Daphnee.
  Festival of Cultures Committee: Members: James, Anwar, Deborah, Swarupa,
 Krishna, Karen

 Maria will reach out to two new commissioners to ask them which sub-committees they
 are interested in.

 C. Equity and Diversity Committee: Stand Against Racism Event/ “Until Justice Just Is”:
 Maria Monastero Bueno provided a little history/background on the event: YWCA,
 Nationwide program, held over a series of dates. Skokie will celebrate/participate on
 Tuesday April 25, 2023. Maria Monastero Bueno communicated that if commission
 members are available, we typically meet outside Village Hall at 10:00 a.m. that date
 and take the pledge.

 Sheila Crumrine mentioned that she had reached out to Ella Whitehead from Oakton
 Community College to see if they would like to participate and/or if there anything
 Oakton is doing already. Sheila will be meeting with Ella next week.

 Sheila also mentioned that she touched base with Cassie Schaeffer at the Park District to
 discuss the Skokie Pride event to start discussion on the Human Relations Commission
 setting up a table at the Skokie Pride event. This event is scheduled for Sunday June 18,
 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Oakton Park. Last year the commission hosted a table at
 the event and gave our rainbow flags.

 Sheila communicated that Juneteenth is a relatively new federal holiday. Sheila
 mentioned she would speak to Ella Whitehead at Oakton College to see what they are
 doing with this. She’d also look to see what other Skokie institutions are doing for this
 event.

 Sheila recommended/encouraged that the commission’s subgroups are more active
 between meetings to ensure that progress is made on planning for the different events.
 Maria reinforced that it is very helpful when commission members do follow-up
 between meetings to ensure objectives are accomplished. *Later in the meeting Ralph
 Ruebner recommended the meetings be held via Zoom.

 Jonathan Levin communicated that he is the current President of the local Rotary Club.
 Tomorrow’s meeting speaker is Kristen Drake, Economic Advancement Program
 Coordinator with the Evanston YWCA speaking tomorrow at the Giordano’s in Morton
 Grove. She may speak on “Until Justice Just Is”. Human Relations commissioners are
 invited to attend this meeting. He also invited commissioners to join the Rotary.



Document Number: 609077 Version: 1
 Sheila Crumrine motioned for the commission to approve its participation in the Skokie
 Pride event and budget for similar costs as last year’s event. The commission voted to
 approve this.

 Swarupa Pahan recommended that the Human Relations Commission get a booth at the
 Festival of Cultures and hand out information on the Block Party of the Year Awards.
 Maria Monastero Bueno communicated that this is an option, but a commissioner
 would have to coordinate this and commissioners would have to be willing to
 attend/participate in the event itself.

 Alex Chaparro communicated that he will meet with the sub-committee to coordinate
 the Festival of Cultures event.


VIII. Old/New Items of Business:
 A. Onboarding Process: Sheila Crumrine recommended creating an onboarding process for
 new commission members, including creating a sub-committee and a training program
 for new commissioners.
 B. Sheila Crumrine communicated in the past there was discussion as to the fact that most
 commissioners are from the North side of Skokie. She recommended the Village have
 two meetings, one in the spring and one in the fall to provide Skokie residents with
 information on Skokie Boards and Commissions. Maria Monastero Bueno responded
 that in the past she recollects the Mayor’s Office coordinating something like this as a
 welcome to new residents. Trustee Khem Khoeun communicated that she will follow-
 up with the Mayor’s office on this.
 C. Maria Monastero Bueno communicated that Mike Charley and she will not be in
 attendance at the next meeting on March 27. Alex Chaparro and Sheila Crumrine will
 co-chair the next meeting and Melissa Versch, Village Social Worker will be the staff
 liaison.
 D. Ralph Ruebner shared with the commission that on February 25 white supremacists had
 planned to promote anti-Semitism as part of their ‘day of hate’. He noted that the
 Jewish faith-based community was notified and aware of this and so were the Skokie
 Police. Fortunately, there were no instances of hate in Skokie on February 25.


IX. Adjourn @ 7:57 p.m.




Document Number: 609077 Version: 1