Two New Members Will Join The Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission

CEDAR FALLS — This week, the Human Rights Commission will add two new commissioners.

They are Kyle Wiebers, a school psychologist, and Jennifer Onuigbo, a community relations manager at a performing arts venue.

The commission was given the go-ahead in February by council to expand from nine to 11 members.

The desire for more members came after the commission reestablished its committees (education, outreach/communication, advocacy and policy) and felt that more people would help it achieve its goals.

At that time, there was already a vacancy.

In June, two additional seats became available when Commissioner Susan Langan, a former chair with 20 years of experience, resigned, and Commissioner Teri Lynn Jorgensen, with 10 years of experience, attended her final meeting, as his term was due to end at the end of the month.

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Wiebers’ and Onuigbo’s terms will expire on July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, respectively.

The latest additions come as the city is in the midst of hiring a diversity, equity and inclusion specialist, a new position the council included in its budget for the current year.

Commissioners had been looking for someone who identified as male to fill a vacancy. Wiebers fits that bill, according to his application.

Wiebers

Photo by Emily Kenny

The school psychologist is passionate about finding out what practices and procedures are not only best for students, but promote equity, she wrote in the application. Concerned about equity for racial/ethnic minorities and those with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.

Additionally, the nine-year resident of Cedar Falls, who has a physical disability, is familiar with special education law.

“My daily job is to advocate for students with physical, mental and emotional disabilities, and also to advocate for their families. It is part of my job to help students with disabilities receive an inclusive education, and I also work every day to make practices within the school equitable for students with disabilities and students of color, as there is a disproportionality of black and brown students. who are identified for special education services within the American school system,” he said.

The request was for Parks & Rec commissioners to “work with the group to encourage the City Council to approve the city’s spending of $8 million,” an increase from the original $5.1 million.

Wiebers said he is a “lifelong learner” who is “always trying to improve my understanding of perspectives and worldviews that are different from my own, especially those perspectives that I will never be able to experience firsthand.”

In her application, Onuigbo said she is a white, cisgender, straight woman, but has acquaintances with diverse identities.

“I have seen firsthand the impact of laws and rhetoric related to religion, immigration, race, ethnicity, ability, sexuality and gender,” she said.

The 20-year Cedar Falls resident has an extensive background in diversity, equity and inclusion, including an executive certificate in DEI from Cornell University.

native

Courtesy of Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center

Additionally, she is a member of Embrace, a Waverly diversity action group. She served on the Cedar Falls Community Schools equity committee and worked with members of the Human Rights Commission to create a joint community education initiative for Project 1619 with the Waterloo Human Rights Commission.

“While Cedar Falls offers residents many wonderful opportunities, there is still work to be done to ensure that it offers equal treatment and opportunity to people of diverse identities,” he said. “I recognize that oppression in our country is a complex tapestry of laws, regulations, power structures and attitudes. If we can all pull the strings, we can begin to unravel this tapestry.”

The council is now calling, after a 4-3 vote, for a public review of any plans to expand apartments or residentially expand existing buildings in certain areas.

The commission holds public meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m

Photos: Annual Meskwaki Powwow

Powwow 1

Members of the Meskwaki tribe perform the friendship dance during the annual Meskwaki Powwow at the Meskwaki Powwow grounds near Tama on Saturday.

CHRIS ZOELLER, Courier Staff Photographer

Powwow 2

Veterans are honored during the annual Meskwaki Powwow grand entrance at the Meskwaki Powwow grounds near Tama on Saturday.