Full Commission
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SAN FRANCISCO IMMIGRANT RIGHTS COMMISSION
Annual Retreat –Saturday, April 27,2002
MINUTES
The Immigrant Rights Commission (IRC) retreat was held on Saturday, April 27, 2002 at San Francisco Main Public Library in the Latino/Hispanic Community Room A, at 10:40 A.M.
Members Present: Diana Lau, Chairperson, Isabel Huie, Vice Chair, Juan Berumen, Emi Gusukuma, Vera Haile, Joseph Nwadibia, Richard Ow, Marlene Tran, Houston Zheng
Members Absent: Phu Nguyen, Medea Benjamin, Joaquin Gonzalez
Others Present: Dang Pham, Executive Director
Winny Loi, Commission Secretary
Commissioner Lau, opened the retreat and welcomed the Commissioner and staff in attendance.
Purpose of the Retreat: Time away from regular meeting allow the Commission to focus on:
Examine who we are as a Commission.
Review what we have done and learned.
Consider goals and directions for the future.
Ms. Loi, secretary shared the logistics of the space. Commissioner Lau introduced the facilitator for the day-Scott W. Walton.
Mr. Walton has worked in nonprofit management and consultation for 18 years. Mr. Walton is currently the Director of Development for Episcopal Community Services of San Francisco, a nonprofit agency that provides programs and services to homeless and very low-income adults and families.
Mr. Walton shared the process for the Retreat day:
Hope all (staff and commissioner members) will participate. Share your thoughts & ideas.
All comments are valid. Please listen as well as share.
Include “frustrations” by sharing what you want to see. Address what can be changed-the future.
In making comments, immediate decisions are not the goal. Today’s efforts create shared knowledge and groundwork.
Key points will be recorded to be summarized later.
General agenda, breaks and lunch schedule were presented.
About the Commissioners (the individuals)
Individual commissioners hared how long they have been in San Francisco and what motivated them to serve on the IRC. These reasons included:
Being an immigrant.
Importance of community support and giving time.
The concerns and issues of minorities.
Personal experience drives helping others.
Awareness of the needs and access issues of SF immigrants.
Years of work dedicated to issues of and for immigrants.
Language and translation issues in personal and public lives.
Experience and awareness of discrimination, racism.
A commitment to immigrants.
What skills, knowledge and experience of the commissioner and staff make up part of the IRC resources:
Personal experience.
Work experience.
Diverse skills.
Education.
Awareness of the community and needs.
Language skills.
Community work, connections and networks.
Advocacy work.
Experience and connections in related communities.
Time given to meetings and efforts.
Mission Statement of the IRC.
The mission of the Immigrants Rights Commission is to improve, enhance and preserve the quality of life and civic participation of all immigrants in the City and County of San Francisco.
To further this goal, the Commission:
Educates and inspires immigrants to advocate for justice for themselves and their communities;
Promotes civic participation and mutual respect for all groups;
Provides information about immigration law and policy to immigrants and their advocates in an effort to raise awareness among immigrants;
Collaborates with immigrants, community organizations and city agencies to create innovative and constructive solutions to issues involving immigration policy; and
Advises and makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor concerning issues affecting the immigrant community.
The group discussed the mission statement briefly. It was generally shared that it is an effective statement. The only “additions” would be the scope of the Commission could be beyond San Francisco and that it could take a leadership role with community-based organizations that serve immigrants.
The accomplishments of the IRC especially during the past year. This listing was split into the EXTERNAL work of the Commission in the community and the success that was INTERNAL to the IRC.
EXTERNAL ACOMPLISHMENTS: listing in not in any special order.
Community visibility: meetings, staff outreach and participation in other meetings, attending related community events.
Work regarding issues with the 2000 Census, especially undercounts of immigrants.
Equal Access Ordinance passed in 7/2001. Tier One agencies total 16.
Monitoring the EASO.
Multi-lingual EASO brochure.
Meeting with SF Supervisors.
Holding neighborhood meetings and quarterly town hall meetings.
San Francisco declared a Sanctuary City.
Proclamation of September 10, 2001 as the City’s Immigrant Rights Day by the Mayor.
IRC joined with other to react to CA State cuts in services to immigrants.
Hearing the specific concerns of immigrants who come before the IRC. In particular, a deportation issue was mentioned as an example. Listening and responding when possible.
Working with SF Unified School District on related immigrant issues.
Participating in local events and a rally related to immigrant issues and communities.
Creating a tradition of participation in major parades in the City, starting with the Immigrant Day Parade and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
15 resolutions developed and passed in a year.
First-time celebration for the IRC’s fourth anniversary and to increase the Commission’s visibility in the community.
Meeting with other commissioners, such as the Human Rights Commission, Health Commission.
Creating the First San Francisco Immigrant Rights Summit- to be held 9/2002.
INTERANL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: listing is not in any special order.
The fact that the IRC exists in SF. It holds a unique place in the nation.
The work to strengthen the structure of IRC.
Creating the orientation manual and process for the new commissioners.
Formalize the agenda structure of the monthly commission meetings.
Efforts and ability to follow-up on issues.
Better communication with people who come before the IRC-regular follow-up thank-you letters for every presenting group/individual.
Creating an IRC banner for a more professional appearance and to increase visibility.
Participating in hearings, events and conferences.
Regular monthly meetings with the City Administrator.
Regular monthly Committee meetings reinstated for the 2 committees of the Commission.
The relationship of IRC with community: What are the constituencies of the IRC?
Immigrants, especially limited or non-English speaking immigrants.
Local elected officials and their staff members.
Individuals who come before the IRC.
Individuals who need the support of the IRC.
Community-based organizations that serve immigrants.
People needing referral/advocacy.
The SF Unified School District and other education systems.
The INS.
Individuals with issues dealing with vocational and job issues, housing, education, English as a second language, the health care system, law enforcement, and other “everyday” issues made more difficult by language barriers, cultural differences and/or immigrant status.
Other City Commissions and City departments
The Board of Supervisors and the Mayor of SF
Looking back at the past year,
What has worked and should continue?
Helping Individuals
Landmark legislation
Quarterly townhall meetings
Outreach efforts
Hearings
Website
Lead time and advance notice
What more is needed?
Be more effective in helping
Strengthen legislation
More access for immigrants
More outreach
Identify important issues
Identify emerging issues
Follow up with individuals
Streamline response process
When you are looking back a year from now (May 2003), what would you like to be able to list as the IRC successes of the past year?
IRC Summit of 9/2002 a success: # who turnout, expanded network, etc.
IRC has an office
IRC has increased power/leverage; IRC becomes a Chartered Commission
Full and meaningful Full and meaningful compliance with EASO
Expanded and centralized referral booklet to be printed in multiple languages for the immigrants in SF
San Francisco is a kinder, gentler city for immigrants
Improved and faster ability for IRC to respond
More resources (money, people, space and materials) to do IRC work.
IRC has its own budget
What is next for IRC? This begins the list of options – possible goals and objectives. (This list is in no particular order and was generated in sessions before and after lunch. Items were grouped together and expanded throughout the two brainstorming sessions.) This is a LONG list but later discussions and activities took steps to identify priorities.
Increase Attendance and Participation of IRC Commission Members.
Follow-up on the attendance policy.
Work to fill IRC vacancies:
Review current members’ terms.
Review by-laws related to commission membership.
Increase diversity.
Recruit candidates.
Pursue appointments through the government process. Advocate for appointments.
Expand IRC’s role in the appointment process of new commissioners.
Expand Resources: Money and Domain
Money: IRC having a defined budget from other SF funding.
Space: IRC having an office.
Power: Expand the role, influence and power of the IRC. Become a “chartered” commission.
People: Increase the IRC’s people power: all IRC seats filled, volunteers, an internship program to expand staffing, etc.
Increase IRC visibility
More IRC involvement with other commissions & community events.
Parade participation.
Website expansion and work to increase traffic to site.
Create a logo.
Better media contacts; be media proactive.
Television: City channel.
Focus on ethnic media.
Neighborhood papers.
Radio
IRC become a “feared watchdog”
IRC increase both its weight and leverage.
Create an IRC report card “grading” progress every year.
Strengthening and increasing IRC’s networks.
City departments and officials
Give certificates and recognitions
Proclamations
Request reports from city departments and programs to further IRC work.
IRC becomes a good referral source.
Follow-up with individuals who come before the commission.
Website expansion, including links.
Begin to develop the referral list at the IRC Summit for later publishing in multilingual format.
More participation in the community
Attend meetings of other groups.
Outreach to immigrant groups, especially newly emerging groups of immigrants.
Outreach to identify under-served groups.
Reports by commissioners and staff about the meetings they attend.
Reports/announcements about meetings that commissioners and staff may attend.
Promote San Francisco as a City of Immigrants
Mayor’s proclamation for IRC Summit
SF is “open” for immigrants. SF is a welcoming city.
Address Government bills and initiatives at the local, state and national level.
Awareness of issues
Investigate, discuss and take positions
Educate immigrants and groups about issues and legislation that may effect them.
Promote voter registration and access.
Translation and Language Access Issues
Hold a hearing regarding progress of EAO: Tier One departments.
Hold small group input sessions with immigrants and immigrant groups.
Increase access to IRC events. Provide transparencies in multiple languages.
Proclamation that SF is a city of English Plus.
IRC Internal communication.
Notice lead time about IRC events and other meetings that commissioners can attend.
Immigrants Rights Summit is a success
After creating the previous list of brainstormed options, the group proceeded with an exercise to begin the process of identifying the group’s sense of priorities. Each commissioner and staff member was given five colored stickers. The one red sticker was to be used to mark the most important item on the list in each person’s opinion; the other four stickers were used to identify four other important priorities. People were allowed to mark any of the headings or a specific component under the headings. This was NOT a vote but simply an exercise to identify some priorities so that they can be discussed further.
The following are the priorities that surfaced in this exercise. The number to the right gives a relative value how each item relates to the others.
More participation in the community (11)
Attend meetings of other groups.
Outreach to immigrant groups, especially newly emerging groups of immigrants.
Outreach to identify under-served groups.
Reports by commissioners and staff about the meetings they attend.
Reports/announcements about meetings that commissioners and staff may attend.
Immigrants Rights Summit is a success (9)
Translation and Language Access Issues (6)
Hold a hearing regarding progress of EASO: Tier One departments. (1)
Hold small group input sessions with immigrants and immigrant groups.
Increase access to IRC events. Provide transparencies in multiple languages.
Proclamation that SF is a city of English Plus. (1)
IRC becomes a good referral source. (6)
Follow-up with individuals who come before the commission.
Website expansion, including links.
Begin to develop the referral list at the IRC Summit.
Expand Resources: Money and Domain
Money: IRC having a defined budget from the City as well as seeking other funding sources for events and programs. (5)
Work to fill IRC vacancies: (4)
Review current members’ terms.
Review by-laws related to commission membership.
Increase diversity and representation of ethnic groups.
Recruit candidates.
Pursue appointments through the government process. Advocate for appointments.
Address Government bills and initiatives at the local, state and national level. (4)
Awareness of issues
Investigate, discuss and take positions
Educate immigrants and groups about issues and legislation that may effect them.
Promote voter registration and access.
Increase Attendance and Participation of IRC Commission Members. (3)
Follow-up on the attendance policy.
Better media contacts; be media proactive. (3)
Television: City channel.
Focus on ethnic media.
Neighborhood papers.
Ethnic radio programs
Meeting agenda to be faxed to major ethnic media a few days prior to the meeting
Strengthening and increasing IRC’s networks. (3)
City departments and officials
Give certificates and recognitions
Proclamations
Request reports from city departments and programs to further IRC work.
IRC become a “feared watchdog” (3)
IRC increase both its weight and leverage.
Create an IRC report card “grading” progress every year. (2)
Promote San Francisco as a City of Immigrants (2)
Mayor’s proclamation for IRC Summit
SF is “open” for immigrants. SF is a welcoming city.
Increase IRC visibility
More IRC involvement with other commissions & community events. (1)
After the above exercise was completed, the following items were marked by the group as goals/objectives that would not require many resources or much time to begin to address. Some of these items were also marked in the initial priority exercise as well.
Increase Attendance and Participation of IRC Commission Members.
Work to fill IRC vacancies:
Expand IRC’s role in the appointment process of new commissioners.
Increase IRC visibility
Better media contacts; be media proactive.
Strengthening and increasing IRC’s networks.
More participation in the community
IRC Internal communication.
For the final exercise of the day, the group looked at the top four prioritized items. For each of these items, the group identified some “next steps” to take. Being one of the highest priorities identified and with its pending date of 9/2002, the IR Summit was the first of the priorities discussed.
NEXT STEP IDEAS for the Top Priorities as Identified.
IMMIGRANTS RIGHTS SUMMIT IS A SUCCESS
Establish Advisory Committee to include IRC, city and community-based organizations.
Set Agenda & Contents, Goals & Objectives.
Determine logistics.
Identify Speakers, especially Keynote speaker.
Pursue funding and grants – Amount will determine scope of the summit.
Outreach for participation: flyers, mailing list, press contacts, press releases.
MORE PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY
Commissioners and Staff report on attendance at community events and meetings.
Report on planned attendance and events where IRC representation would be helpful.
Communicate events and schedule options to the IRC commissioners.
Create a feedback plan so commissioners can exchange information about community participation.
Website postings about community events.
IRC Commissioners and staff promote IRC to other groups they are personally involved in.
Identify and contact “new” and emerging groups of immigrants.
TRANSLATION AND LANGUAGE ACCESS: EASO ISSUES
Create and distribute a bilingual complaint form.
Hold a meeting with Tier 1 representatives regarding progress.
Post EASO information on IRC website, including Tier One agencies.
Hold a Hearing regarding EASO implementation.
Hold smaller group or organization-based meetings to get further feedback.
IRC discussion regarding Tier 2 organizations, as well as consideration of Tier 3 – targeting organizations beyond San Francisco’s City departments.
IRC BECOMES A GOOD REFERRAL SOURCE
Begin a referral list and publish list in multilingual format.
Continue to expand referral list as IRC members attend events and meetings.
Make the referral list one of the outcomes of the IR Summit.
Multi-lingual voicemail system.
Develop a means to review referrals.
Use website links and reciprocal linking to expand referrals.
Attempt to identify alternatives for most referral issues, giving people a choice.
Adjournment: The Commission meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.