City of Bismarck

The meeting commenced with the affirmation of the committee's mission regarding inclusion, equality, and accessibility. Key discussion centered on a recent event, noting that over 75 people attended, which was considered a high turnout. Feedback addressed successful collaboration with the homeless coalition and the timeliness of the event coinciding with a statewide proclamation. Planning challenges, particularly securing a location and panelists, were noted, suggesting that future events should be planned further in advance. A significant portion of the discussion focused on panel composition, emphasizing the value of including multiple individuals with lived experience alongside service providers to avoid tokenization and ensure diverse perspectives on homelessness. Concerns were raised regarding the length of the initial introductory remarks before the Q&A began, potentially limiting public comment time. Suggestions for future meetings included adding a feedback question on how attendees learned about the event and implementing time limits for public speakers. Furthermore, there was a debate on the venue, with some suggesting a more community-based location, like the library, to avoid confusion with official city commission meetings, as several attendees expected a commission meeting. Feedback on the event overall was highly positive, specifically praising the impact of the lived experience panelists.

The committee convened, affirming its mission to foster an atmosphere of inclusion, equality, and accessibility. Following the approval of previous minutes, the meeting included introductions for new and returning members. Key discussions centered on the recent MLK event, which members felt was well-organized and touching, particularly praising the speakers and acknowledgments made regarding the committee's mission. The committee also reviewed plans for upcoming community events, including a presentation to the city commission about feedback from a recent community conversations event. A significant portion of the meeting addressed the topic of honorariums, specifically exploring options for compensating individuals with lived experience who serve on panels, involving discussions on utilizing grants through the Community Integration Facilitator's position or establishing a designated donation fund for such purposes, pending commission approval.

The committee discussed the community conversations, including partnering with the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People and the possibility of hosting the event during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. They considered the Dream Center as a venue but found it unavailable on the proposed date. The committee decided to keep the event on November 6th at the library, adjusting the time to 6 PM. They also talked about the Walk for Down Syndrome, for which they are volunteering.

The committee discussed the upcoming community conversations event focused on homelessness, including finalizing the date, location, and panelists. They also reviewed communication strategies, such as creating a Facebook event and updating flyers with a QR code. The committee explored potential partnerships with media outlets to promote the event and discussed the imagery to be used in promotional materials, aiming for respectful and impactful representations of homelessness.

The meeting focused on discussing bmark events and the next steps during a transition period, aiming to improve the community. Key points included ensuring Amanda's support for booking events, exploring temporary solutions like contracting with an entertainment facilitator, and addressing issues identified during subcommittee findings. Concerns were raised about a recent event causing division and reports of retaliatory acts. The discussion also covered communication issues, particularly regarding the Event Center, and the need for better communication and clear decision-making processes.