January 18, 2024 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Human Rights Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, January 18, 2024.
The Human Rights Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Carolyn Becraft, Cheryl Schaefle, Cody Severson, Zoe Absy, Kristen Nelson, Tambah Saah
Absent: Nancy Boyle, Xavier Welty, Ritchell Aboah, Aaron Kawreh and Sekou Sirleaf
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Severson welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Order of Agenda
Chair Severson moved the Order of Agenda be approved. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Approve Order of Minutes
With Ahmed Schill out on paternity leave, there were no minutes to approve. Chair Severson moved the approval of minutes wait until Ahmed returns. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 4. Recap of MLK Jr. Celebration
The MLK celebration went well, there was a large attendance and three awards were presented.
Item 5. The Arbors Community Discussion
Katrina Robinson is the executive director of Life Care United Foundation, an organization that is a service provider to those experiencing hardships from the pandemic and homelessness. They offer free essential needs, pop-ups, hot meals and events. Some of the tenants wanted to speak on the condition of The Arbors. They introduced themselves as Courtney, Katie, Natasha and Ashley and they spoke on more community involvement with the people who live there. More activities for the children are needed; however, they do not feel safe at The Arbors with all the drug paraphernalia in the building and people coming from the outside.
Item 6. Public Comments
Christie Right is a volunteer with the Moorhead Human Rights Commission and a volunteer on outreach and education. She spoke on gender in FM media and suggested Moorhead and Fargo HRCs collaborate on advancing gender inclusivity in FM media, using correct names and pronouns, not only as a basic standard of civility but in terms of news coverage. She suggested it is about making sure information is accurate and working on a journalistic guide that will outline ways to use gender-inclusive language, pronouns and instructions including the singular they and names specifically regarding the trans community. The First Amendment is absolutely sacran but it is not right for the media to get information wrong and language violence like misgendering or using a person's dead name leads to physical violence in the real world for many trans individuals. She went on to suggest that for people who are gender diverse, it leads to a society that is collectively dehumanized by allowing dehumanization of a group in that way.
Item 7. Announcements_
No announcements.
Item 8. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 1:00 p.m.