Human Rights Commission — Bloomington, MN
Date: 2025-12-17

Human Rights Commission
 AGENDA


 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING
 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025
 HAEG CONFERENCE ROOM
 BLOOMINGTON CIVIC PLAZA
 1800 W. OLD SHAKOPEE RD.
 BLOOMINGTON, MN 55431
 5:30 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER - 5:30PM

 1.1 Call to Order

2. PROCEDURAL MATTERS - 5:30PM

 2.1 Adoption of Agenda - 1 min.

 2.2 Approval of Minutes - 2 min.

 2.3 Liaison Announcements - 5 min.

3. ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS - 5:40PM

 3.1 International Day of Human Rights Proclamation - 10 min.

 3.2 Disability Employment Awareness Month event recap - 5 min.

 3.3 Omar Bonderud Award - 5 min.

4. NEW BUSINESS - 6:00PM

 4.1 MLK Jr. Day & Black History Month Proclamations - 5 min.

 4.2 HRC Correspondence - 5 min.

5. PROGRAM/SPEAKER - 6:10PM

 5.1 2026 Work Plan

6. ADDITIONAL HANDOUTS

7. ADJOURNMENT

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Our mission is to cultivate an enduring and remarkable community where people want to be.

APPROVED MINUTES

 Human Rights Commission

 Tuesday, November 18, 2025
 5:30 P.M.
 Haeg Conference Room
 Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 West Old Shakopee Road

 I. CALL TO ORDER
 Present: Thomas Burns, Ammar Elmustafa, Ngawang Gonsar, Heather
 Kaminsen, Amari Musignac, Julia Perry, Anita Smithson, Jessica Thornton

 Absent: Baron Lewis

 Guest Speaker:

 Guests: 2 guests

 Staff: Eric Holthaus, Community Outreach and Engagement Manager
 Kayla Dvorak Feld, Community Outreach and Engagement Office
 Support Specialist
 Amanda Crombie, Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator
 Lauren Reynolds, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer

 Vice chairperson H. Kaminsen called the meeting to order at 5:29 p.m. A
 quorum was present.

  II. PROCEDURAL MATTERS
 2.1 Adoption of Agenda M/N. Gonsar, S/A. Elmustafa to adopt the November 18, 2025, meeting agenda
 as presented. Motion passed 6-0 (T. Burns and J. Thornton absent for vote)

 2.2 Approval of Minutes M/J. Perry, S/A. Smithson to approve the October 21, 2025, HRC meeting
 minutes as amended. Motion passed 7-0 (J. Thornton absent for vote)

 2.3 Liaison Updates E. Holthaus congratulated the commissioners on the Working with Ability event.

 The next Board and Commission Connect meeting is scheduled for December
 1, 6-8pm. The purpose is to discuss process improvement and City priorities.

 Applications are currently being accepted for board and commission seats.
 The deadline to apply is Sunday, December 21. The HRC has three seats
 open.

 Board and Commission interviews are scheduled for Wednesday, January 28.

 The International Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation will be approved in
 February. Staff requested community contacts to review the proclamation.

 Staff reminded commissioners of the opportunity to partner with Parks and Rec
 and Bloomington Public Schools to host an Indigenous Film. Dates would be
 scheduled throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 2026.

 The transition of the HRC from the Community Outreach and Engagement
 division to the Equity team is in progress. The full transition will occur in
 January.
 III. ORANIZATIONAL
 BUSINESS
 3.1 International Day of Human M/J. Perry, S/A. Musignac to approve the International Day of Human Rights
 Rights Proclamation

Page 1 of 2 December 17, 2025
CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA APPROVED MINUTES

 Proclamation as amended. Motion passed 6-0, 1 abstention (T. Burns) (J.
 Thornton absent from vote)

 3.2 Disability Employment J. Perry shared an overview on the Disability Employment Awareness Month
 Awareness Month Event event. Approximately 50-60 folks attended in person and virtually.

 3.3 Omar Bonderud Award Staff reminded commissioners of the upcoming Omar Bonderud reception and
 council presentation on December 8.
 IV. NEW BUSINESS
 4.1 MLK Jr. Day & Black History Staff reminded commissioners of the upcoming proclamations and requested
 Month Proclamations community contacts for review.

 4.2 HRC Correspondence No new correspondence was received.

 V. PROGRAM
 5.1 Work Plan Session 2 E. Holthaus facilitated a conversation regarding the 2026 work plan. Notes
 attached.

 V. ADJOURNMENT M/T. Burns, S/A. Musignac to adjourn the meeting at 7:31p.m. Motion passed
 8-0




Page 2 of 2 December 17, 2025
2026 Work
Planning
Human Rights Commission
October 21, 2025
2026 Work Plan Timeline

 October December
 First discussion, review, Refine and approve draft
 general intentions work plan


 Second discussion, specific Present to Council, formal
 goals and plan language approval of work plan
 November January/February
A positive HRC memory, 2025
• Attend Int’l Day of Peace Proclamation • Like all this, long history of involvement /
  (attending, accepting) care for rights; being picked is positive,
• Tabling at Pride (with HRC colleagues) hearing others’ input, connecting with
 others
• Tabling (generally) – convos with public,
 • Being able to be witness to
  that we exist, we want to hear from them
 stories/connections (e.g. farmers market,
  (restores faith, reenergizing)
 Pride, school connect events, working with
• Opportunity to be able to highlight good ability Oct event, proclamation)
  work people in community are doing (e.g.
  selection of Omar Bonderud awardee(s)
• Respectful dialogue commission,
  particularly among disparate voices
• Meeting people at Pride, meeting Council
  members; being selected to join HRC;
  highlighting / caring for community
Review of 2025 focus areas (see: work plan)
Annual initiatives Workgroup initiatives
• Proclamations • Understand Purpose
• Omar Bonderud Human • Connect and Engage with the
  Rights Award Community
• HRC Correspondence • Improve Outreach and
• Board & Commission Connect Communications
 • Inclusive Community and Cultural
 Events
 • Municipal Equality Index
 • Special Opportunities
  Annual What’d we do? How did it go?
initiatives
Proclamations - Intentional about acceptors - Well-organized (accepting, Mayor involvement)
 - Intentional about getting feedback from community - Several said it was first time being at a CC meeting
 on proclamation (getting better)
 - Question about how to grow impact / community of
 education
 - We have a process (new procs, process for getting
 input / speakers; some based on personal
 networks/knowledge)

Omar Bonderud - Last year Freedom to Read Club was chosen - Useful experience, came up with multiple important
 - This year, selection committee chose Unidos & recommendations (refer to those notes)
Award
 Normandale - Doubled applications this year for award
 - Selection committee met - Past nominees/winners submitted

Municipal - Assessment of Bloomington’s LGBTQ supportive - Involved less in 2024, got a score of 96
 practices/policies/equality - Minor changes/improvements remain, much less
Equality Index
 - Usually HRC involved, also City staff are involved than in the past
 Short window open in 2025 for additions

HRC - Correspondence comes to COED/HRC phone/inbox - Haven’t had much recently
 (issue, complaint); individual informed of resources - When we do have influx of emails/calls, we have clear
Correspondence
 (these are tracked); shared with chair/vice chair & process
 then with Commission
 Workgroup What’d we do? How did it go?
 initiatives
Understand - Created flyer + talking points
 - Equity - Guest speaker/facilitator on equity
 - Improved + room to grow
 - Learned a lot / know who to reach out to
Purpose (Amanda & Lauren) - Desire follow-up from guest speakers; some was
 - Demographics/community make up (Derly) lacking
 - Onboarding for new commissioners (young adult - More connection with Equity & Inclusion
 + adult)




Connect & - Revamped tabling efforts
 - Created engagement/participation
 - Events went well; having things to give away went
 well; got lots of question
Engage with the measurement tool - Juneteenth (very hot, less attended); Link Up very
Community well attended; very interested in resources
 - Every year a bit better with proclamations
 (meaningful acceptors)
 Workgroup What’d we do? How did it go?
 initiatives
Improve - Created flyer, talking points, materials,
 measurement sheet, instructions
 - Supported, useful

Outreach & - In-person valuable, potential for more Comms
Communications - Have not done much with online communications partnerships (e.g. proclamation speakers in
 Briefing)
 - ADA transition underway
 - TBD (work to do!)




Inclusive - Period poverty informational sheet/handout - Learned a lot (Nine Mile Creek); City
 increasing focus on ADA / accessibility for
Community and - Working with Ability event coming up in October parks, etc.
Cultural Events - Involvement in public participation event for Nine
 Mile Creek
 Workgroup What’d we do? How did it go?
 initiatives

Municipal Equality - Did less this year because score is pretty high - Very short time to respond

Index




Special - Early Childhood Expo - ECE (attended)
 - Welcoming Cities - WC (status unclear)
Opportunities
 Reference
 Brief Convesations Feedback
Event Date Attendees Interactions & questions  forms Emails
Learning Linkup 8/23/2025 Julia & Anita 60 15
Juneteenth 6/23/2025 Julia, Althea & Anita 19 6 0 0
Bloomington Jessica, Julia, Baron,
Pride 6/22/2025 Gracie, Heather 81 31 1 3
 160 52 1 3




Event Flyers Stickers Notebooks Questions Takeaways
Learning Linkup NA __
Juneteenth 7 NA NA
Bloomington Color books &
Pride 41 42 NA pencils were a hit
 48 42
 4min - By yourself:
 • Review: Our 2025 memories, focus areas, and how
 things went in 2025.
 • Take a few notes: What’s exciting to you? What’s
Refresh – challenging?

Where we 4-6min – With a partner:
left off from • Share: Your notes on what’s exciting, what’s
 challenging.
last meeting • Take notes: As a pair, write down 3-4 exciting
 activities, 3-4 challenges (be concise, 3-7 words for
 each)
 • Report out: Share your 3-4 exciting activities, 3-4
 challenges
 What’s the group feeling (notes)?
Exciting (individual) Challenging (individual)




Exciting (pair) Challenging (pair)
Exciting Challenging
• Annual initiatives (OB award) • Structured nature of meetings, less room for creativity
• Tabling at events, community-focused events • Wanting to know more about community resources, activities, not
 always knowledgeable
• Educational opportunities where commission & community
 • Diversity among commissioners
  can learn
 • How to make an impact in time we have (monthly meetings, some
• Opportunity for commissioners to learn about existing disconnection between)
  resources, connections with community
 • Resources for events/programming (time, money), lots of reliance
• Participating in community events on staff
• Learning more about what the HRC does and how we • Challenge of connecting resources with community as
  participate commission; how to share? How to help outreach; not just for us
 but for community
• Being part of effecting change in the community
 • How to celebrate/leverage this to build community toward a wider
 Bloomington community; experience is sometimes a little bit
 siloe’d
 • Power, toothless, feels like we’re rubber stamping what CC wants
 us to
 • Sometimes run risk of increasing/reinforcing victimhood rather
 than improve peoples’ lives; highlighting differences may not allow
 us to come together
 • Joining commission during time of change/transition
 • What happens when leaders leave? Who takes over?
 • Finding time for events
  Annual What’d we do? How did it go? Next year: Maintain, improve, remove
initiatives

Procla- - Intentional about acceptors - Well-organized (accepting, Mayor More publicity (determine how)
mations - Intentional about community feedback involvement) How to promote community members
 (getting better) - Several said it was first time being at a CC coming to us?
 - Question about how to grow impact / meeting Proclamations aligned in the past with
 community of education broader DEI and/or national events/causes
 - We have a process (new procs, process Explore criteria for accepting/denying,
 for getting input / speakers; some based adding/deleting
 on personal networks/knowledge) Provide list of HRC’s proclamations


Omar - Last year was Freedom to Read Club - Useful experience, gave recommendations Do this work early in the spring (work this into
Bonderud - This year, selection committee chose to improve (guidance on word count; if org the timeline) - Guidance on word count; if org
Award Unidos & Normandale is “doing their job” or above and beyond; is “doing their job” or above and beyond;
 - Selection committee met revisit criteria; veracity of facts; tips to revisit criteria; veracity of facts; tips to
 submitters) submitters)
 - Doubled applications this year for award
 - Past nominees/winners submitted

Municipal - Assess City’s LGBTQ practices/policies - Involved less in 2024, got a score of 96 Maintain connection, may not be lots of work
Equality - Usually HRC involved & City staff - Minor changes/improvements remain, to do, though stay informed so we can
Index Short window open in 2025 for additions much less than in the past respond to CC




HRC Corre- - Correspondence comes to COED/HRC - Haven’t had much recently Maintain process, may not need to keep on
spondence phone/inbox; individual informed of - When we do have influx of emails/calls, we work plan
 resources (these are tracked); shared have clear process
 with chair/vice chair & then with
 Commission
 Workgroup What’d we do? How did it go? Next year: Maintain, improve, remove
 initiatives


Understand - Created flyer + talking points - Improved + room to grow Desire more education, community, expert
Purpose - Equity - Guest - Learned a lot / who to reach education on what they do
 speaker/facilitator on equity out to Could be valuable to have former
(HRC (Amanda & Lauren) - Desire follow-up from guest leaders/institutional knowledge come back; bring
education) - Demographics/community speakers; some lacking in former members, presidents
 make up (Derly) - More connection with Equity & Having our own brainstorming as a group to
 - Onboarding commissioners Inclusion determine how to improve community
 (young adult + adult) Attention to onboarding & resources; e.g.
 determining work for 2026; useful to have
 openness in work plan so new members can come
 onboard (discussion for B&C staff liaison
 meetings)
Connect & - Revamped tabling efforts - Events went well; having things Past events have included Link Up, Pride,
Engage with - Created to give away went well; got lots Juneteenth, Early Childhood Expo, Disability
the engagement/participation of question Employment Awareness Month
Community measurement tool - Juneteenth (very hot, less Keep resources for tabling up to date
 attended); Helpful opportunities to help us be introduced in
(attending - Link Up very well attended; very community; useful outreach/education tool for us
community interested in resources Link Up specifically would have been good to have
events, - Every year a bit better with resources in more languages (+ Hmong, Somali, in
proclamation proclamations (meaningful addition to Spanish)
process) acceptors) More interactivity at tables (e.g. ideas on sticky
 notes)
 Workgroup What’d we do? How did it go? Next year: Maintain, improve, remove
 initiatives




Improve - Created flyer, talking points, - Supported, useful Notes: Idea on promoting
Outreach & materials, measurement sheet, - In-person valuable, potential for proclamations more broadly (multiple
Communications instructions more Comms partnerships (e.g. comms mediums)
 - Have not done much with online proclamation speakers in
(communications communications Briefing) Is there opportunity to highlight
to public) - ADA transition underway - TBD (work to do!) different commissions? E.g. in Briefing,
 FB, commission updates, highlight
 stories/successes/purpose




Inclusive - Period poverty informational - Learned a lot (Nine Mile Creek); - Indigenous Film Fest series (spring,
Community and sheet/handout City increasing focus on ADA / summer, fall idea) - yes
Cultural Events - Working with Ability event Oct 31 accessibility for parks, etc. Young Adult Commissioner project –
 - Involvement in public explore possibility
 participation event for Nine Mile DEAM 2026 – like the idea generally
 Creek State HRC connection, guest speaker?
 Alignment
 Event to bring in different community
 groups together, cross-cultural
 celebration, simple as coffee &
 conversation or other; partner with
  Workgroup What’d we do? How did it go? Next year: Maintain, improve, remove
  initiatives




Municipal - Did less this year because score - Very short time to respond
Equality Index is pretty high




Special - Early Childhood Expo - ECE (attended) Leave space for policy development if
Opportunities - Welcoming Cities - WC (status unclear) useful

 Like idea of having focus for the year;
 could have greater impact with more
 focus instead of being spread thin; going
 deeper versus wider
 After today: Info from today’s meeting will
 be synthesized, drafted into work plan

 By next meeting: 2026 work plan will be
 drafted for your review

Next steps At next meeting: 2026 work plan will be
 reviewed, edited, voted on

 Jan/Feb CC meeting: Chair will present
 2025 in-review & 2026 work plan