The City of Traverse City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in, its programs or activities. Penny Hill, Assistant City Manager, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan 49684, phone 231-922-4440, TDD/TTY 231-922-4412, VRS 231-421-7008, has been designated to coordinate compliance with the non-discrimination requirements contained in Section 35.107 of the Department of Justice regulations. Information concerning the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the rights provided thereunder, are available from the ADA Coordinator.

Information and minutes are available from the Human Resources Office, Governmental Center, 400 Boardman, Traverse City, MI 49684 922-4481. TDD/TTY 231-922-4412, VRS 231-421-7008. If you are planning to attend and you have a disability requiring any special assistance at the meeting, please notify the Assistant City Manager, by noon of the above meeting date.

AGENDA

1. ROLL CALL

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 10, 2018 REGULAR MEETING

3. PUBLIC COMMENT a. Director of Public Services – Frank Dituri

4. OLD BUSINESS a. County Jail Tour: Follow-Up (Nash) b. Fall Forum: (Nash) c. Bylaw Amendments: (Bostic, Conner & Jaquish) d. Civil Discourse: (Minervini) e. Universal Access List of Improvements for Traverse City: f. Systems Practice Course with Free Consulting Support (Training) g. Sara Hardy Award: Review and selection of recipient h. Freedom Cities: (Odgers) i. MLK Day 2019 Celebrations: j. Coalition for Equality for Women: (Jaquish) k. Organizational Recognition for Humanitarian Award (Odgers)

5. NEW BUSINESS

a. Human Rights Commission Development Day

6. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

7. REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND CORRESPONDENCE a. ALPACT: Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community: (Conner) b. Proposal to compile regional data from resource organizations: (Conner) No Update c. HRC List of Resources: No Additions

Board Members: Rebecca Rogan, Chair Susan Odgers, Vice Chair Nicole Agruda Michelle Bostic Suzanne Connor Marilyn Jaquish Taylor Nash Christie Minervini Jodi Stinnet

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION January 14, 2019

5:30 P.M. 2nd Floor Committee Room

Governmental Center, Traverse City, MI 49684 Posted: January 9, 2019

The City of Traverse City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission to, access to, treatment in, or employment in, its programs or activities. Penny Hill, Assistant City Manager, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan 49684, phone 231-922-4440, TDD/TTY 231-922-4412, VRS 231-421-7008, has been designated to coordinate compliance with the non-discrimination requirements contained in Section 35.107 of the Department of Justice regulations. Information concerning the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the rights provided thereunder, are available from the ADA Coordinator.

d. International Association of Human Rights Agencies: There has been no additional communications.

e. TC’s Human Rights Commission Article: See Article

8. ADJOURNMENT

Next regular meeting date: February 11, 2019 MUST BE submitted to Ex Officio, Kristine Bosley (kbosley@traversecitymi.gov) no later than noon, Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

MINUTES

TRAVERSE CITY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2018 5:30 P.M.

2nd Floor Training Room Governmental Center, 2nd Floor

400 Boardman Avenue Traverse City, Michigan 49684

PRESENT: Commissioners Connor, Jaquish, Nash, Minervini, Odgers, and Rogan ABSENT: Agruda, Bostic, and Stinnet STAFF PRESENT: Kristine Bosley and Christina Woods

1. ROLL CALL 2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 12, 2018 REGULAR MEETING

Motion by Commissioner Rogan approve amended minutes, second by Commissioner Minervini to accept the November 12, 2018 meeting minutes. Motion CARRIED unanimously.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

Jeff Haas, Building Bridges regarding January 21, 2019 event. Commissioner Nash motioned to donate $500 to the Building Bridges for the Martin Luther King Jr Day event on January 21, 2019, second by Commissioner Conner. Motion CARRIED unanimously.

4. OLD BUSINESS

a. County Jail: Follow-Up: Commissioner Nash emailed Captain Ritter to setup a tour, waiting on response. Video approach most likely. County installing video hook-up. Board concerned about poor families not being able to afford video devices to see their incarnated family member.

b. Fall Forum: Commissioner Nash contacted Karen. There has not been any interest to speak to speak for podcast. Time to look at another direction. Commissioner Connor to come up wit some research for speakers. How to create a safe legal workplace. Commissioner Nash suggest to leave open and see what the board can come up with under sexual harassment and discrimination.

c. Bylaw Amendments: Move to January meeting. d. Civil Discourse: Commissioner Minervini provided sample budget for dinner event $1,000 -

$1,250 for approximately 60 people. $100 for facilitator, $300-$500 Venue, Food about $7 per person, $150 for promotion & advertising.

e. Universal Access List of Improvements for Traverse City: no update, working progress f. Systems Practice Course with Free Consulting Support: Commissioner Rogan provided

handouts. Will be wrapping up on the 17th. Map of behavior, guiding star statement, goal to identify leverage points.

g. TC Human Rights Commission Article: Haven’t heard response, move to reports. h. Sara Hardy Award: Recognition for March 18, 2019, Commissioner Minervini is not able to

attend. i. Freedom Cities: Move to January Meeting j. MLK Day 2019 Celebrations: See public comment k. Coalition for Equality for Women: Commissioner Jaquish working on list of movies for 3

Wednesdays in March, may be some in spring.

5. NEW BUSINESS

a. Organizational Recognition for Humanitarian Award: Commissioner Odgers, should form a committee, possibly awarded in the Fall.

b. Election of New Chair and Vice Chair: Motion by Commissioner Nash to elect Becky Rogan as Human Rights Commission Chair and Susan Odgers as Human Rights Commission Vice Chair, second by Commissioner Minervini. Motion CARRIED unanimously.

6. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Odgers Commissioner Connor 7. REPORTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND CORRESPONDENCE

a. ALPACT: Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community: (Conner) No Updates b. Proposal to compile regional data from resource organizations: (Conner) No Update c. HRC List of Resources: No Additions d. International Association of Human Rights Agencies: (Nash) Waiting on Confirmation of

Membership

8. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Odgers second by Commissioner Rogan to adjourn the meeting adjourned at 7:12 P.M.

Kristine Bosley, Secretary Date

1/11/2019 Forum: Strive to regain a shared vision for Traverse City | Opinion | record-eagle.com

https://www.record-eagle.com/opinion/forum-strive-to-regain-a-shared-vision-for-traverse-city/article_57209dd5-027f-5a7a-8f90-7a750f39f329.html 1/2

Forum: Strive to regain a shared vision for Traverse City

BY TAYLOR NASH   Dec 20, 2018  

Nash

         

It’s been a busy time for human rights. I guess it always is, but it does seem that now is no time to take our foot off

the gas.

Somehow it feels like the battles we thought were behind us are resurfacing. People are angry. And angry people do

as angry people always have. We concentrate our anger on differences. We adopt identities, encased and

hardened, and attack those who don’t fit in. This seems true of all sides on most every issue. It’s distressing and

unmooring. It’s dangerous.

It’s also an impetus to reclaim civility. To get, somehow, closer to a place where disdain doesn’t automatically follow

difference. A place we can remember our common anchors and imagine a common future.

The Traverse City Human Rights Commission (HRC) is wholly invested in this pursuit. We are here because we

care about people. All people. Fundamentally, our vision and charge are simple: that all of TC, no matter their group

or identity, should be welcome to live and participate in our community free from discrimination. That’s it. It’s a goal

everyone can share. It’s all inclusive.

We’ve been active in our charge. Where we’ve identified marginalization, we’ve been working.

We’re proud of our work, but we need help. Not because we don’t live in an active place. We do. Civic engagement

here is admirably high. And not because we don’t live in a compassionate place. We do. Northern Michigan is as full

of caring people as anywhere.

1/11/2019 Forum: Strive to regain a shared vision for Traverse City | Opinion | record-eagle.com

https://www.record-eagle.com/opinion/forum-strive-to-regain-a-shared-vision-for-traverse-city/article_57209dd5-027f-5a7a-8f90-7a750f39f329.html 2/2

We need help because northern Michigan has become fractured. Like so many regions across the country and,

indeed, the country itself, we’ve chosen to redefine community. We’ve decided that community is less geography

than ideology.

Less empathy and understanding than dogma and judgment.

We’ve let fissures spread through the foundations of civility seemingly everywhere there is disagreement — whether

it is tall buildings, immigration or anything in between. We’ve removed ourselves from discordant views and banded

into groups that reinforce what we already think. Not only is this lazy, it’s led to stagnant, myopic and dangerous

understandings of people, issues and the world. It’s upsetting the bedrock on which the Great Experiment of

American Democracy rests.

So as the HRC strives for equality for all, we recognize that we need all of us to get there. For all of us to get there

together, we have to work harder to see ourselves in others. We have to work harder to see others in ourselves.

We must break free from and stand up to those who would tell us to disdain, to fear, to hate. We’ve got to regain a

shared vision of who and what we are.

The HRC will be working on a project this spring that aims to bring people with differences together. To get people

discussing divergent views while maintaining our civility. We hope the community will join us. We hope that, maybe,

TC can help light the way forward to that more perfect union we promised ourselves.

About the author: Taylor Nash is the chairperson of the Traverse City Human Rights Commission. He lives in

Traverse City with his wife and two children.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of

expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by emailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include

biographical information and a photo.

+Acumen Training

TC Together- Our Journey

∗ Suzy Connor, Member, Traverse City Human Rights Commission

∗ Pam Evans. Consultant, NorthSky NonProfit Network

∗ Marilyn Jaquish, Member, Traverse City Human Rights Commission

∗ Susan Odgers, Member, Traverse City Human Rights Commission

∗ Rebecca Rogan, Chair, Traverse City Human Rights Commission

Our Team

System challenge

Many hands: each one alone is very simple and not particularly inspiring. Together we create a beautiful work of art that lifts and inspires us.

The Systems Challenge We Tackled Is: Identifying how people can work together effectively to achieve shared solutions to community challenges in Traverse City.

BecauseWe want to consider all perspectives and examine all facets of community challenges in meaningful ways to achieve the best outcome.

Our System Challenge

A community where everyone is valued for their contributions and diverse opinions and encouraged to participate.

Guiding Star

More meaningful community dialogue and consensus building that allows us to move forward together.

Near star

What are the forces that influence effective communication?

Framing question

A Deep, Interconnected System with Many Barriers

Community Discord

Affinity Groups

Personal insecurity

Meeting Structure

Fear

Past Experiences

Education

Sources of Information

Perception of Authority

Institutions

Need for validation

∗ We don’t always communicate effectively in our community.

∗ The underlying system that contributes to community discord is deep and interconnected.

∗ Our inability to communicate effectively may hinder our ability to arrive at the best solutions to community challenges.

∗ Many factors influence how we communicate and the level of intensity we bring to discussions: our experiences working in teams and within other affinity groups, the information we receive and how it’s communicated, authority figures and experts we admire, our peers, our fears, and perceptions of not being heard, and what we perceive as being socially acceptable forms of communication.

The Deeper Story

∗ If we can influence how groups in Traverse City work together and communicate around community challenges.

∗ By providing tools and a methodology for engaging people in discussions.

∗ It would establish a culture where everyone is heard and feels valued and could result in a better outcome.

High Leverage Point 1

∗ If the Traverse City Human Rights Commission could play a role in improving how community members discuss challenges.

∗ By modeling behavior, facilitating discussions, and providing a tool kit of approaches and techniques.

∗ It could result in healthier and more constructive discussions.

High Leverage Point 2

∗ We recommend that the Human Rights Commission holds a special study session to dig into our diagram and observations and discuss the role the HRC could play.

∗ The desired outcome from the study session is a work plan for 2019 and agreement that the Human Rights Commission should play a role in improving civil discourse.

∗ We also hope to learn more about how other communities are handling communication between divergent perspectives around challenging community topics.

Initial strategies and next steps

∗ We hope to research and test approaches, techniques and tools on a few pilot groups.

∗ We recommend positioning the HRC as a credible and constructive partner in facilitating community discussions.

Initial strategies and next steps

∗ There’s an opportunity to serve as a role model and demonstrate to groups how to participate in a debate and reach an outcome that engages and respects differing perspectives.

∗ People learn many behaviors through affinity groups and media; we need to use these to reinforce healthy approaches to problem solving.

∗ The Human Rights Commission can serve as a neutral facilitator around human rights challenges.

Insights