Human Relations Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2023-10-23

Human Relations Commission
 Monday, October 23, 2023
 6:30pm

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

 AGENDA

I. Call to Order


II. Introductions & Updates


III. Approval of Agenda


IV. Approval of Minutes of September 27, 2023


V. Commission Protocol


VI. Committee Reports

 A. Neighbor Engagement Committee
 1. Block Party Forum, Awards, Promotion
 a) Block Party Forum
 (1) Proposed Date: February 27, 2024, @ 6:00 PM
 (2) Venue: Skokie Library (subject to availability)
 (3) Budget Request: Not to exceed $150.00 for food & beverages
 b) Block Party of the Year Application Deadline
 (1) Suggested Deadline: December 31st of each year
 2. Know your Neighbor
 3. 4th of July Parade

 B. Housing Committee Updates
 1. Housing Subcommittee
 2. Fair Housing Ordinance

 C. Equity and Diversity Committee Updates
 1. Early Intervention Hate/Bias Incidence
 2. Black History Month (February)
 3. Unite Against Racism w/ YWCA (April)
 4. Skokie Festival of Cultures (May)
 5. Skokie Juneteenth (June)
 6. Skokie Pride (June)
 7. SEED Training
VII. Other Items of Business
 A. Village Seal Redesign


VIII. Adjourn



Next Meeting: Nov 27, 2023, 6:30pm at Village Hall 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie IL. 60077

Human Relations Commission
 Monday, October 23, 2023
 6:30pm

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

In Attendance: Commissioners: Anthony Agee, Sheryl Bloom Basile, Alexander Chaparro, Sheila
Crumrine (vice-chair), David Donegan, Anwar Haq, Jonathan Lavin, Marcos Levy, Joseph Meyers, Maria
Monastero Bueno (chair), Swarupa Pahan, James Specker, Mayha Syed, Trustee Khem Khoeun; Skokie
Staff Liaison: Amanda Sabri

Not in Attendance: Deborah Arnold (E), Krishna Goyal (E), Ralph Ruebner (E), Jeremy Segall (E), Karen
Sherman (E).

I. Call to Order: 6:35pm


II. Introductions & Updates

 A. New commissioner, Sheryl Bloom Basile, introduced herself, her connection to Skokie
 and her connection to the work of the Human Relations Commission. Current
 commissioners, Trustee Khoeun, and Staff Liaison Amanda Sabri also introduced
 themselves.
 B. Maria Monastero Bueno informed the commission that Sheila Crumrine was appointed
 Vice Chair on October 16th, by Mayor Van Dusen.


III. Approval of Agenda:
 A. David Donegan motioned to approve the agenda, motion seconded by James Specker.


IV. Approval of Minutes of September 27, 2023

 A. James Specker motioned to approve minutes as written, motion seconded by Alex
 Chaparro.


V. Commission Protocol

 A. Staff Liaison, Amanda Sabri, reviewed the role of staff liaison and encouraged
 commissioners to reach out to her if they need help making a connection with any staff
 at Village Hall. Amanda also reminded commissioners of the importance of consistent
 attendance at meetings and encouraged everyone to RSVP to email meeting reminders
 so that it can be known ahead of time if there will be a quorum for the meeting. Lastly,
 Amanda reminded all members that it is a requirement to complete Open Meeting Act
 Training within 90 days of appointment to the commission. Additional copies of training
 instructions were made available at the meeting.
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VI. Committee Reports: Maria Monastero Bueno reminded commissioners of the new committee
 structure and requested anyone who has not already signed up for a committee, please do so and
 indicate if you are willing to lead the committee.

 A. Neighbor Engagement Committee
 1. Block Party Forum, Awards, Promotion
 a) Block Party Forum: Alex Chaparro provided an update on the Block
 Party Forum. The Neighbor Engagement Committee proposed to hold the event
 on Tuesday, February 27 at 6:30pm. The most likely location will be the Skokie
 Public Library, although Alex has also investigated other possible locations, such
 as the Skokie Heritage Museum. Alex reported that refreshments at last years
 event cost approximately $95.00. This year since it will be during a colder month
 he suggested also adding coffee and hot chocolate or hot cider. He proposed a
 refreshment budget that does not exceed $150.00. It was determined that
 Block Party of the Year Award applications will be reviewed and voted on at
 November’s commission meeting to allow the awards to be presented in
 January. By moving up this timeline, the award winners will be determined in
 time to be present as panelists at the Block Party Forum in February. Alex
 Chaparro and the Neighbor Engagement Committee will reach out to block
 party hosts who have applied for the Block Party of the Year Award to request
 that they submit necessary supporting documents and pictures.
 b) Alex Chaparro asked if there were any guidelines around when and
 where committees meet. Trustee Khoeun and Staff Liaison Amanda Sabri
 provided guidance that committee meetings are subject to the rule of the Open
 Meetings Act if a Majority of a Quorum is meeting together.
 2. Know your Neighbor: No updates.
 3. 4th of July Parade: Alex Chaparro discussed the importance of as many
 commissioners as possible attending this event. He also recommended having a
 poster with the QR code for the Block Party Application.

 B. Housing Committee Updates
 1. Housing Subcommittee: Jonathan Lavin left the commission meeting early to
 attend the first meeting of the Housing Subcommittee of the Plan Commission.
 He will report back to the Human Relations Commission at our next meeting.
 2. Fair Housing Ordinance: No updates.

 C. Equity and Diversity Committee Updates
 1. Early Intervention Hate/Bias Incidence: Maria Monastero Bueno reported that
 Corporate Counsel, Michael Lorge, is working to arrange a meeting with
 members of staff and Detective Orlando Martinez from the Los Angles Police
 Department. Trustee Khoeun explained that Detective Martinez has done
 significant work around hate incidents and hate crimes and has also testified
 before congress on this matter. He was one of the resources who was utilized

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 when the Proposal for Early Intervention in Hate Crimes was created. It is
 requested that several members of the commission be present for the meeting
 with Detective Martinez. Maria has already provided the names of James
 Specker and Sheila Crumrine as possible attendees. Maria requested that any
 other commissioners interested in attending please follow-up with her.
 2. Black History Month (February): Sheila Crumrine provided an update that she
 recently met with Nancy Kim Phillips and Amy Koester from the Skokie Public
 Library. Amy will be providing Sheila with information about the Skokie Public
 Library’s Black History Month programs to help determine how the commission
 can be involved and support these programs. Sheila also shared that the Skokie
 Public Library keeps a digital archive of materials related to the first Black family
 that moved to Skokie, fair housing practices, and the creation of the Human
 Relations Commission. These archives can be found on the library’s website:
 https://skokiehistory.omeka.net/exhibits/show/skokie-fair-housing-1961-
 1971/skokie-fair-housing. Sheila reported she also has an appointment to speak
 with Ella Whitehead at Oakton College regarding their Black History Month
 programming. Maria Monastero Bueno reports that in past years the
 commission has sponsored a musical event at the library for Black History
 Month.
 3. Unite Against Racism w/ YWCA (April): Sheila Crumrine reports she will be
 reaching out to YWCA to establish contact soon to begin planning for Unite
 Against Racism 2024.
 4. Skokie Festival of Cultures (May): No updates.
 5. Skokie Juneteenth (June): No updates.
 6. Skokie Pride (June): Sheila Crumrine will reach out to her contact at the park
 district to inform them of the commission’s desire to participate.
 7. SEED Training: David Donegan reported that the cohorts have met for their first
 meeting. He also provided an overview of the content and structure of SEED
 classes, which cover topics such as unconscious bias, power structures, racism,
 gender identity and inequity, with an emphasis on seeing how history plays out
 today. David identified that the goal of SEED training is to broaden the lens of
 those participating and change how individuals operate. There are several staff
 from the village participating in this cohort as well as Alex Chaparro from this
 commission. Alex commented on how valuable the first session was and the
 effectiveness of David Donegan as a facilitator.
VII. Other Items of Business
 A. Village Seal Redesign: Maria Monastero Bueno reported that the Village Seal Redesign
 Committee met today. She reviewed that the Requests for Qualifications deadline has
 been extended to November 17th due to the committee only having received six
 proposals at this time. Members of the committee are reaching out to their networks to
 spread the word about the RFQ. Maria has contacted multiple academic institutions to
 inform them about the project. Commissioners were also encouraged to consider any
 connections they may have in the artist and design communities that may be good
 resources. Maria explained that the committee will hopefully choose three proposals

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 and those designers/artists will then be given a stipend to develop their proposals
 further. The final proposal would then be chosen from this group.
 B. Trustee Khem Khoeun explained that she was approached by Niles Township Supervisor,
 Bonnie Kahn Ognisanti, regarding the work that Niles Township Government is doing
 around food insecurity. Niles Township is looking to set up a program that would take
 salvageable food that grocery stores plan to discard and donate this food to the Niles
 Township Food Pantry. Bonnie Kahn Ognisanti would like to come to the next
 commission meeting to discuss the work that Niles Township government is doing and
 how volunteers can play a role. Trustee Khem Khoeun will contact Bonnie Kahn
 Ognisanti to coordinate her presence at the November meeting.
 C. Maria Monastero Bueno introduced the topic of having a potluck at the November
 commission meeting. The commission voted, and a majority of members agreed to host
 a potluck at November’s meeting. Members will email Staff Liaison, Amanda Sabri,
 which item they plan to bring to the potluck. The meeting will be held in the lunch room
 at Village Hall.
VIII. Adjourn: 7:45 pm



Next Meeting: Nov 27, 2023, 6:30pm at Village Hall 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie IL. 60077




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