Human Rights Commission

2020 Human Rights Commission members

Meetings

Second Thursday of each month
6 p.m.

City Hall
Second Floor Training Room
801 Washington St.
Northfield, MN 55057

Important documents

City Code Human Rights Commission

Bylaws

FAQ

Agendas and minutes

City Meeting Archives Opens in new window
The City meeting archives contain agendas, minutes, handouts and additional information.

  1. City Meeting Portal Opens in new window
    The City meeting portal allows you to view live streamed meetings and agendas with clickable links.

Members

Name Title Term expiration Phone number
Angelica Martina Dietz Chair December 31, 2020 507-301-2069
Larry Fowler Member December 31, 2020 507-645-6930
Veronica Gamino Member December 31, 2022  
Linda Larson Member December 31, 2021  
Rigoberto Lazaro Member December 31, 2020 507-321-1362
Nina Mattson Member December 31, 2022  
Mar Valdecantos Vice Chair December 31, 2021 507-645-9603
Jonathan Woodyar Member December 31, 2022  
Barb Wornson Member December 31, 2021  
Lucy Gonzalez Miron Advisory Member (non-voting) December 31, 2019 952-649-1967
Grant Bouvin Youth Representative (non-voting) 2019-2020 school year Not available
Esperanza Carrera Murga Youth Representative (non-voting) 2019-2020 school year Not available
Anna Dwyer Youth Representative (non-voting) 2019-2020 school year Not available
Chloe Thomas-Green Youth Representative (voting member) 2019-2020 school year Not available

Liaisons

Name Title Phone number
Beth Kallestad Staff liaison 507-645-3074
Tom Baraniak School Board Represtative (ex officio) Not available
Clarice Grabau Council liaison (ex officio)  

Overview

Special meetings are occasionally called.

The City of Northfield Human Rights Commission (HRC) seeks to secure for all citizens equal opportunity in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, and education. The commission works to ensure full citizen participation in this community by assisting the State Department of Human Rights in implementing the Minnesota Human Rights Act and by advising the City Council on long range programs to improve community relations in the City of Northfield. 

View Human Rights Commission bylaws

Human Rights FAQs

If you have questions and/or need help, please refer to this Frequently Asked Questions document.

2019 accomplishments

Hosted events to provide education and build community:

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration
  • 2nd Annual Najwa Community Picnic
  • International Day of Peace (United Nations Theme of Climate Action)
  • Indigenous People’s Day
  • Supported the Northfield Reads group events based on the book, A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota

Current and upcoming projects

A member of the Human Rights Commission worked on an oral history project to collect interviews from community members from Mexico and Guatemala. These stories will be complied and shared in 2020.

Several members have also been part of conversations with St. Olaf and Carleton Colleges to develop a land acknowledgment statement in recognition of the people and land here before white settlement.

Membership requirements

The commission consists of nine members appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council. Each member serves a three-year term. There is a three term limit. Members do not receive monetary compensation.

The mayor recommends applicants to the City Council based on their interest in equal rights for all citizens of Northfield, along with willingness to serve and background.

Applying

  1. Apply for a board, commission, or task force

    Applications are also available at:

    City Hall
    801 Washington Street
    Northfield, MN 55057

    Northfield Public Library
    210 Washington Street
    Northfield, MN 55057