Human Rights Commission - October 16, 2025
The Regular Meeting of the Human Rights Commission of the City of Fargo was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, October 16, 2025.
The Human Rights Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Sekou Sirleaf, Nancy Boyle, Kristin Nelson, Aaron Kawreh, Tambah Saah(virtual)
Absent: Cody Severson, Carolyn Becraft, Ritchell Aboah, Xavier Welty
Others: Brenda Derrig, Administration;
Item 1. Welcome and introductions:
Item 2. Approve or amend agenda: (Moved to end of agenda due to no quorum)
o Ms. Nelson moved, second by Ms. Boyle to approve the agenda. All the members present voted aye and motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Approval of September 18, 2025 meeting minutes: (moved to end of agenda due to no quorum)
o Ms. Nelson moved, second by Ms. Boyle to approve the minutes of the
September 18, 2025 meeting. All the members present voted aye and
the motion was declared carried.
Item 4. Know your Rights:
o Fowzia Adde, Executive Director, Immigrant Development Center, said the IDC was founded in 2003 to foster self-sufficiency and opportunity for New Americans in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
o Entrepreneurship: Supported 75 entrepreneurs and ran the International Market Plaza (1345 Main Ave). Planning the Moorhead Cultural Mall for BIPOC businesses. Manages a microlending program with plans to become a Community Development Financial Institution lender.
o Workforce Development: Provides job readiness (resume, clothing) and trainings in collaboration with MSAT, including CNA/medical assistance and food services (58 trained this year). Also helps New Americans navigate essential paperwork (Medicaid, insurance).
o "Driving to Success:" A program that provides professional driving instruction for English Learning students and works to address the significant barrier of obtaining a driver's license, including advocating for solutions to the language barrier in the written test.
o Health and Legal: Provides Refugee Behavioral Health support (with North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services) and runs the Immigrant Legal Referral Project, a collaboration that fundraises for complex immigration issues such as asylum and also refers clients to Global Refuge.
o Community: Served 1,000 families via a food program and organizes cultural events such as Somali Heritage Day.
o Matuer Alier, Executive Director, Community Connect Center was not was unable to attend the meeting and hopes to attend a future meeting to give a presentation.
Item 5. Community Presentation
o Brandon Baity, Indigenous Association, said the association was formed in 2019 to unite, connect and strengthen the Indigenous community.
o Mission and Structure: He emphasized the importance of having a fully indigenous board and staff, and a strong connection with the City.
o Programs: The main space is at the Center for Creativity at the Plains Art Museum where programs include cultural reclamation such as quilt working, community meals and a weekly open craft night with an elder-in-residence.
o Leadership Development: Detailed successful programs in Indigenous lactation counselor and doula training, aimed at empowering Indigenous individuals with marketable skills to serve their own communities.
o Collaboration: Partnerships include Concordia College and local public-school systems to integrate cultural learning and land-based learning.
o Principle: The organization is guided by the philosophy "We all do better when we all do better." Commission members expressed interest in future collaborative meetings.
Item 6. Presentation to Past Board Member
o The HRC members thanked Zoe Absy for her service and dedication to the Commission. Mr. Sirleaf expressed gratitude for her commitment, describing her as a very integral part of the community whose energy is unmatched and whose contributions will be difficult to replace.
Item 7. Administrative update:
o None
Item 8. Announcements:
o National Disability Employment Awareness Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, Global Diversity Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
o Appreciation was extended to participants in the Peaceful March Against Violence and Substance Abuse and a No Kings Day of Peaceful Action rally was announced for Saturday.
o The death of activist Ren Wilgos, who died by suicide last year, was acknowledged.
o The Commission has two open seats that must be filled and the Chair is working with members to schedule interviews with the goal of filling the vacancies by December.
Public comment:
Barry Nelson spoke.
Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 12:58 p.m.
Next meeting: November 20, 2025 at noon.