2/7/2023 - Meeting Minutes Human Rights Commission Minutes
Human Rights Commission
Salt Lake City, Utah
Regular Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
5:30 P.M.
The Human Rights Commission met in an electronic meeting pursuant to the Salt Lake City
Emergency Proclamation and determination of the Chair.Minutes are provided in conjunction
with the video/audio file.
You may also watch a recording of the meeting on the SLCHRC Meeting YouTube Channel.
CONDUCTED BY: Chair Jason Wessel
Commission Members in Attendance: Commissioner Jason Wessel, Commissioner
Esther Stowell, Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo, Commissioner David Leta, Commissioner
Shauna Doumbia, Commissioner Everette Bacon
Commission Members Absent: None
City Staff in Attendance: Mayor's Office Staff in Attendance:
Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager
Maria Romero, Executive Assistant to Chief Equity Officer
Damian Choi, Chief Equity Officer
Roxana Orellana, Policy Advisor for Refugees and New Americans
Kristen Hansen, Know Your Neighbor Program Coordinator
Guests in Attendance: None
The meeting was called to order at 5:35 PM
Agenda Items
1. Welcome
• Roll Call
2. Approve and Adopt Minutes
• January 2023
o Commissioner David Leta has made a motion to accept and adopt the
minutes. The motion has been seconded by Commissioner Olivia
Jaramillo. All commissioners in favor. Motion has passed.
3. Public Comment(5 minutes)
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• No public comment occurred during this time as no guests from the public
attended this meeting.
4. Chief Equity Officer Introduction(— 15-20 minutes)
• Equity Manager will introduce the new Chief Equity Officer
o Chief Equity Officer, Damian Choi introduced himself sharing his
experience in the City,which consists of being the former Director of
Compliance and working within Youth & Family Services.
o Damian Choi has updated the Commissioners on the City-Wide Equity
Plan completed by Keen Independent Research consultants, currently
under review.
• Commissioner David Leta has requested Damian Choi to share
highlights of the initiatives on the City-Wide Equity Plan.
5. Update on Refugees and New Americans (—30 minutes)
• Roxana Orellana, Policy Advisor for Refugees and New Americans
o Roxana Orellana outlined her partnership with the State Office of
Refugees and New Americans. She shared that her role consists of
reviewing existing city policy.
• Commissioner Shauna Doumbia would like to see the expansion of
the KYN Program as she was unaware that program is still being
funded. She highlighted her past involvement with the program.
• Kristen Hansen, Know Your Neighbor(KYN) Program Coordinator
o Kris Hansen shared a brief presentation on the KYN Program. This
presentation contained volunteer and refugee statistics, information
about the program, and the responsibilities of the job role she serves in.
6. Equity Manager Updates Chair/Vice Chair(— 15 minutes)
• Chair and Vice Chair
o Commissioner Jason Wessel will serve as the Chair, and Commissioner
Esther Stowell will serve as Vice Chair.
o Commissioner Jason Wessel brought forth the option to all for a 2nd Vice
Chair to have continuity throughout the Commission.
• Commissioner Olivia Jaramillo has volunteered herself for the
position of moderated debate.
o Commissioner Everette Bacon has made a motion to approve Chair and
Vice Chair(s)positions. Commissioner Davis Leta has seconded the
motion. The motion has passed.
• REP Commission Member Status
o Michelle Mooney, Equity Manager has shared that Commissioner Olivia
Jaramillo has a conflict-of-interest serving as the Commissioner for the
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REP Commission as she is a trainer for Equality Utah. Equality Utah
was selected to work with SLCPD for future trainings.
o Commissioner Chair Jason Wessel expressed interested to serve on the
REP Commission. Commissioner Everette Bacon made a motion to
approve this interest. Commissioner Davis Leta seconded the motion.
The motion has passed.
7. Review Subcommittee Goals &Priorities (— 10 minutes)
• CEDAW
o An application process will open soon for individuals interested in
joining the CEDAW taskforce.
• Homelessness
o No updates were given at this time.
• Gentrification
o Subcommittee is tabled until we are running as a full commission.
• Refugees &New Americans
o Roxana Orellana, Policy Advisor for Refugees and New Americans will
be part of these monthly meetings to occur on 2nd Tuesdays at 4 PM.
• Children/Youth Advocacy
o Commissioner Vice Chair Esther Stowell has set the meeting monthly
on 2nd Fridays at 2 PM.
8. Discussion/Dialogue about Human Rights Around the World (5-10 minutes)
Commissioner Chair Jason Wessel provided an update on Israel's current state of Human
Rights Violations.
9. Review Human Rights Commission Meetings for 2023:
• Tuesday, january 03 2023
• Tuesday, February 07 2023
• Tuesday, March 07, 2023
• Tuesday, April 04, 2023
• Tuesday, May 02, 2023
• Tuesday, June 06, 2023
• Tuesday, July 04, 2023 Recess
• Tuesday, August 01, 2023
• Tuesday, September 05, 2023
• Tuesday, October 03, 2023
• Tuesday,November 14, 2023 —Final Regular Meeting of 2023
• Sunday, December 10, 2023 —Human Rights Day Celebration
• https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights htg s-day
The meeting adjourned at 6:42 PM
Minutes approved through consensus: March 7,202,3
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MICHELLE MOONEY
SALT LAKE CITY MAYOR'S OFFICE
This document is not intended to serve as a full transcript as additional discussion may have
been held; please refer to the audio or video for entire content pursuant to Utah Code 52-4-
203(2)(b). This document along with the digital recording constitute the official minutes of the
Human Rights Commission Regular Meeting on February 7, 2023.
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