Human Rights Department Annual Report Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 3.
ITEM TITLE: Human Rights Department Annual Report
SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting the Fiscal Year 2016 Human
Rights Department Annual Report.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
2016 Human Rights Department Annual Report-MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Cover Memo Transmitting Annual Report Staff Memo
Human Rights Annual Report Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF Dubuque
DUB E i"
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007.2012.2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: 2016 Human Rights Department Annual Report
DATE: January 10, 2017
Human Rights Director Kelly Larson is transmitting the FY16 Human Rights Department
Annual Report.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director
THE CITY OF Dubuque
REM-Amenca MY
IIII.
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007.2012,2010
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director
DATE: January 5, 2017
RE: 2016 Human Rights Department Annual Report
Attached please find the Human Rights Department's FY2016 Annual Report. We are
proud of the accomplishments over the past year and we appreciate and thank you for
the past and continued support.
Dubuque Human Rights Department
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Annual Report - Fiscal Year 2016
July I , 2015 June 30, 2016
Human Righ6 Department Dubuque 'L EcRY OF
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Honorable Mayor and City Council:
I am pleased to present you with this year's annual report. In these pages, you will find the story
of partnerships throughout the organization and community designed to advance equity.
I want to begin by expressing my gratitude to the Council for continuing to designate Inclusive
Dubuque as a top priority over the past year and in the year to come. Your leadership in this
initiative was duly recognized in March 2016 by the National League of Cities with a first-place
City Cultural Diversity Award. The initiative earned this recognition because of its focus on:
• enhancing the quality of life in Dubuque by improving equal opportunity and greater
access to government and government services by multiracial and multicultural
populations,
• increasing citizen participation in government and community activities by all segments
of the community, and
• making cultural diversity an ongoing and recognized effort in our community.
This year also brought us a new pilot program entitled "Cultural Snapshots." This community-
based research program is designed to highlight the cultural vibrancy present in our community
and contribute towards the work of Inclusive Dubuque to advance equity in housing, education,
health, and economic wellbeing. We also continued our progress inside the organization
building up staff's capacity to weave intercultural skills, equity tools, and the use of data into
their work.
Finally, we said goodbye to Training and Workforce Development Coordinator Andre Lessears,
Human Relations Specialist Manisha Paudel and AmeriCorps VISTA member Brynn McDonnell
as they moved on to other opportunities. Meanwhile, we welcomed Equity Outreach
Coordinator Taj Suleyman and AmeriCorps VISTA member Katherine McFarlin.
As always, thank you for your support of the work we do in our department.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly Larson
Human Rights Director
DUBUQUE HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
FY16 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT
Administrative Staff
f
Kelly Larson,Director, Taj Suleyman,Equity Outreach Coordinator,'and
Card Spincec,Intake Specialist
2016 Human Rights Commissioners
Anthony Allen, Chairperson
Miquel Jackson, Vice Chair
Fred Davis Jeff Lenhart
Sarah Fisher Kathrin Parks
Jay Schiesl Adrienne Scott
Shirley Templeton Vaugh
Commission Mission Statement
The Human Rights Commission shall work to eliminate discrimination
and promote the quality of life for every resident in the city of Dubuque.
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HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
Department Mission: to support the development of a stronger civic infrastructure,
which includes partnering to ensure equitable opportunities to be engaged in the
community and to access services to meet basic needs. In all we do, we treat
compliance with current civil rights laws as the bare minimum required, not the end
goal.
Develop
StItun
People&
Institutions
SUCCESS IS ABOUT PLANNING, PARTNERSHIPS AND PEOPLE LEADING
TO OUTCOMES
PEOPLE PLANNING
Reach-in strengthens relationships We work to support Departments in
between City government andM earning about applying equity
traditionally marginalized ( ) concepts and tools to develop &
communities for the purpose of I/ implement department equity plans.
engaging individuals in governance,
ensuring access to City services,
and supporting connections to other
community institutions.
PARTNERSHIPS
INCLUSIVE We work to collectively impact
LM existing disparities with Inclusive
INCLUSIVE Dubuque, a network of people and
INCA MVPinstitutions focused on meeting the
economic and cultural needs of the
d ub u q ue community.
2
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
community ueveiopment
Overview
Community Development involves building the capacity of various groups and organizations
within our community to ensure equal opportunity, fairness, engagement, and access to
government and other services that are necessary for residents to meet their basic needs. We
support efforts to create a community filled with residents who are better informed about
government and how to access government services, and who are actively involved to positively
impact significant and identified basic needs in the community and in the institutions to which
they belong. We pay particular attention to groups that are being disproportionately excluded
from opportunities.
Highlights of the Past Year
• Partnered with Inclusive Dubuque on Inclusive Community Action Planning through
development of sector groups for the areas of the Community Equity Profile and training
those groups on the use of data as a decision-making and accountability tool.
• Worked with Inclusive Dubuque partners to develop a new pilot program called Cultural
Snapshots, beginning with an introduction to the Marshallese in our community.
• Partnered with Project Concern, Operation New View, and the Circles Initiative to
support volunteerism to impact economic opportunity.
• Presented on Inclusive Dubuque at the regional convening for the Government Alliance
on Race and Equity.
• Applied for and received a first-place award from the National League of Cities (NLC) as
part of the 2016 NLC City Cultural Diversity Awards for the City Council's support of the
Inclusive Dubuque Network.
• Developed and maintained a network of connections with the following community
groups and organizations:
dig ft.
• 3
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
The focus of the network is to support social and cultural diversity efforts in the community and
to develop partnerships to identify and being to address barriers to equitable access and
delivery of services.
Future Initiatives
• Inclusive Community Action Plan: serve on the Network Impact Council and the Peer
Learning Council, supporting peer learning and the use of equity tools across sector
groups.
• Develop Cultural Snapshot:An Introduction to Latinos in our Community.
Performance Measure
Community Development—Activity Statement
Engage residents and organizations as partners in ensuring equal opportunity, fairness,
and access to government and community services around basic human needs
Goal: Economic Prosperity �
Outcome#1: Improve economic prosperity for all through community partnerships
Project: Volunteering for economic opportunity is a collaborative project involving Iowa Campus
Compact, AmenCorps VISTA, and three non-profits receiving City funds— Project Concern,
Operation New View, Circles Initiative. These non-profits are focused on supporting residents
towards self-sufficiency by stabilizing their housing, providing education and employment skills,
and increasing household income.
• People placed in jobs
V • Number receivingjob training and other skill development
W
•Children mentored
•Average number of clients seen each month
we 1 011 • Number community volunteers hours
-4-
$489,500 = Fiscal value of volunteer service
100% = Homeless program clients to permanent housing
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
73% = Circles participants increased income
AIVG• . • Vibrancy
Outcome #11: Continuebecome an inclusive community in which all feel
welcome and included, with no one left behind.
Initiative: Inclusive Dubuque is a network of partners committed to supporting an
equitable and inclusive culture to meet the economic and cultural needs of our diverse
•Equity Profile completed •Sector Groups learn Results •Sample Toolkits developed
•Sector groups formed Based Accountability •Peer Learning plan developed
•Restorative Strategies Peer •Incident Response Plan created
Learning Session
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
Initiative: My Brother's Keeper is a network of non-profit organizations and volunteers
who are working to support youth of color and low income youth of various ages to
improve school achievement, graduate from high school, and proceed to college and/or
a career.
Local college students
tutor and mentor
younger students,
Futural Talk participants serving as role models.
learn job skills and earn
a science credit.
Dream Center's In Your
Life mentoring develops
individualized plans for
academic and
St. Mark Heroes behavioral success
Academy increased or
maintained literacy skills
for 88%of students who
participated _
1
r
Youth learning how to "dress for r
success."
Youth attending college tours.
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HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
Pilot Program: Cultural Snapshots is a community based research project designed to
highlight the cultural vibrancy present in our community and contribute toward the work
of Inclusive Dubuque. This year's pilot grew out of the Marshall Islands Health Project
. focused on the Marshallese in our community.
_ r
We Marshallese are very thankful
be here
.in Dubuque. Thankful that we are rt
of the
Marshallese Resident
M.
Health: efforts to hire and Employment:cultural
train community health liaison engaged to assist in Language Access:
workers,educate on connecting community investigating course
healthy food,and introduce members to Iowa Works opportunities with NICC
"Double Up Food Bucks" programs
Culture and Legal Status Presentations with Federal Integrated working
Government: groups seeking to impact
35 service providers learned about eligibility for services indicators of well-being
40 Marshallese community members connected to with the Marshallese
Pathways to Citizenship informatiit'on community
Research Design: on-line surveys, translated surveys, cultural broker, one-on-
onecollection methods
Outcome: 120 service provider surveys and 100 Marshallese community
member surveys completed
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
Service: Information and referral: This year, 206 people contacted us with specific
questions about discrimination complaints or questions about meeting basic needs.
INQUIRY DISPOSITION
■Education/Counseling ■Referral to Another Agency 0 Declined to File ■Filed Complaint
The most frequent areas where people were seeking assistance related to employment
and housing needs, though more than half of the contacts did not involve allegations or
concerns of discrimination.
2016 Inquiries - Breakdown by Area
35 33
30
25 22
20 —
16
15
10
5 —
1
0
%of Inquiries
■Employment ■Housing ■Public Accommodation ■Education ■Other
g_
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
2016 Inquiries - Breakdown by Basis
60% 55%
50%
40%
30%
20% 16%
12%
10%
3% 2% 2% 1% 1% 1%
0% 4N—EAKM;�n � � — — —
Category 1
■Other ■Disability ■Race ■Age
■Sex ■Gender Identity ■National Origin ■Retaliation
■Sexual Orientation■Familial Status ■Religion
The public also connects with us through the internet, where they are able to learn
about everything from legal requirements to upcoming programs and events.
Currently, we have 717 Facebook fans. This year, the most popular items on our
Facebook page included:
• Community Engagement on City Council Goals
• Press Conference in Response to Hate Incident
• Orlando Vigil
• Source of Income Dialogue Sessions
• LGBT Safe Zone Training
• Community Engagement on the Resilient Advisory Commission
• City Life
Outcome #2: Increase mutual understanding, knowledge, and acceptance of
others through community partners.
Program: Intercultural Workshops
We offer three levels of intercultural workshops for the general public: a 5.5 hour
Intercultural Basics workshop, a 10.5 hour Intercultural Foundations workshop, and a
32-hour workshop focused on application of skills and tools in an organizational context.
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HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
This year, 106 people Participant Evaluations - 7 point scale
participated in our 7
public intercultural 6 6.3 6.5 6.6 6.6
workshops. This brings s
the total participants 4
since 2009 to 476. 3
2
i
Provide a better Will use information Trainer effective in Satisfied with
understanding received making info overall quality of
understandable training
"The most helpful part was setting up a
plan and goals."
- Participant in 32-hour workshop
"1 was most surprised that there was such a diversity
in communication styles and how certain ones work
better together than others."
- Participant in Foundations workshop
Those who have participated in the 32 hour workshops are part of our Intercultural
Ambassador Network and serve as trainers and resources in their organizations and the
community. This group now consists of 122 people from the following sectors:
DepartmentsCity • 24 People from 13 Departments
Higher Education • 29 People from 6 Institutions
• 17 People from 3 Schools
Non-Profits • 28 People from 12 Institutions
Business • 3 People from 3 Institutions
Resident - , - • 11 People
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HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
lrganizational Development
Overview
Organizational Development includes building the capacity of other City Departments to ensure
equal opportunity, fairness, engagement, and access to government services. We partner in
efforts to develop and support a diverse, inclusive, and engaged workforce that is effectively
engaging and serving each other and all members of the public.
Highlights of Fiscal Year 2016
• Equity: Core Team developed framework for department equity plans, including
goal areas, indicators, and proposed performance measures, offered workshops
on Race: The Power of an Illusion and on Results Based Accountability,
introduced a Racial Equity Toolkit.
• Human Rights Department presented on internal equity plan efforts at regional
convening for the Government Alliance on Race and Equity.
• Workforce: Core Team worked on several department-specific projects.
• Community Engagement: Core team established guiding principles, surveyed
staff, and issued a three-year evaluation and progress report.
• Public CIO Special Report, first quarter 2016, highlighted the City of Dubuque's
community engagement efforts.
• Partnered with the Chief of Police, City Manager, and NAACP to re-negotiate the
Memorandum of Understanding establishing the Dubuque Community Police
Relations Committee, which hears concerns regarding police conduct, and to add
the Community City Relations Committee, which will hear concerns regarding city
staff conduct in departments beyond the Police.
Human Rights
Department
�®
11 -
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
We support departments in their efforts to recruit and retain a high quality, diverse workforce, to
ensure equitable access and delivery of City services, and to engage the community in
decision making so that services are responsive to community needs.
Future Initiatives
• Equity Core Team will begin developing department level equity plans.
Performance Measures
Organizational Development—Activity Statement
Partner with other City Departments to ensure equal opportunity, fairness, engagement, and
access to government services
Goal: Financially Responsible City Government and High
Performance Organization
Outcome #1: The City is providing services responsive to community needs
Service: Facilitate Community Engagement Core Team. We lead a core group focused on
creating a culture of community engagement with government. This year the team
established guiding principles, gathered staff feedback, issued a three-year evaluation and
report, and made a series of recommendations to the City Manager for next steps.
Projects: Facilitate development and implementation of community engagement plans. We
engaged the public in City Council budget and goal setting, development of the Resiliency
Community Advisory Commission, and an assessment of accessibility of City buildings.
650 people participated in these projects and indicated that they strongly agree with the
following statements regarding their experience:
There was sufficient opportunity for . exchangefrom • -
There was sufficient opportunity for me to develop joint views and/or
recomme indationsothers
as important
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HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
Approximately 75% of pence ants shared their command phi inonn lion.
Outconl The City is hiring and rftaining a top qualityworldome
SBNICH FBOlicate RBIXIffinant and Retention Care Team. Weleadacaregreap
focused on requiting and retaining a diverse workforce by creating a culture lhrenghout
the organization that values divereiry and inclusion. We also sapper a Cam murncadoos
team and a tremug team .
This past War the teams:
launched an I ntranet for City staff,
•
facilitated ICC refreshers In three departments and developed a sanies of day
Concepts" videos
• offered orientation workshops for new staff
• offered training on recruitment practices for Leisure Services staff
• worked on much"ant plans with Public Words
• worked on a skill development pipeline for EMTs/param cars won Nl CC
Program: Intercultural Workshops for City Staff
This year, 48 staff attended ID 5 hours of I was most supposed by bow mrmb h emyedrtand
Intercultural Foundations Workshops, learned ajrv(elmgh was mready very
the total number of staff who
have four noted a minim um of 10 5 hours rnremoltaolly comp'-renC
of workshops to 818. - Panic un stapmmrminrml workshop
Outcome p3: Ther is any access to City lnfonnnadon and sBNGes for all
SBNICH Facilitate Equity Core Team. We lead a core group focused on equitable
delivery of City services and developing partnerships across sectors to advance
equitable outcomes In the community Wenall through mutually reinforcing afLNOes.
This War we established four broad goal areas for equity plans, along with Indicators
and performance measures.
Program: Qry tate
City iprogram that connects ��
co �
mmmumurntymembers and Qry
se tal
participants can discover relevant
Intens lion about local goWnmen
structure and Participants QtyLos of racial
here come aV*I'v/ Y
and
ethnic backgrounds have rnged in age fromtheir to tear have
represented
epresenn
numprreas professions and have lived inffabanue from a IBW mortPsto their BfIfB life
.
13 -
HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT
As of the fall of 2016, 117 people have completed City Life. Alumni are serving on boards
and commissions, taking volunteer roles, showing up at public input sessions, and
participating in City programs to meet their needs.
"Being new to Dubuque, City Life informed me on things 1
didn't even know 1 needed to know. 1 am knowledgeable
on how to be an active part of my community."
Project. Support implementation of the Fair Housing Action plan and the requirement to
Affirmatively Further Fair Housing through education and facilitation.
Education: This fiscal year we arranged for training for 240 City staff members,
commissioners, and community partners designed to expand an understanding of disparate
impact law, racial disparities, and the relationship between current day disparities, historical
discrimination, and the role and responsibility of government. We used "Race: the Power of
an Illusion —The House we Live in" and also introduced a racial equity toolkit to assist staff
in decision making.
"It helped to hear about how another city looked at whether or not a
complaint based system was the most effective and the best for all
populations in a community. Look at other options in Dubuque."
-Participant in Fair Housing workshop
"Enjoyed the history that was presented and was very surprised by it. Liked being able to
discuss things with the presenters who seemed interested in what we thought though
they may not have agreed with our thoughts."
-Participant in Fair Housing workshop
"The tools for examining institutional racism were outstanding. I saw relevance in the
policing of illegal drugs example and in the housing example that were the subject of the
day."
-Participant in Fair Housing workshop
Facilitation: We designed and facilitated community dialogue sessions for the Source of
Income working group and issued a report for the working group.
Research and Reporting: We collaborated with the Source of Income Working Group to
design a Residential Rental Survey for housing providers and for tenants, collected and
analyzed the results, and issued a report for the working group.
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