The Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission expressed support during its regular meeting held virtually Thursday for a local coalition’s plan for an Excluded Workers Fund.
In a letter sent to local Johnson County municipalities, the nine-member commission asked that officials allocate funds from the American Rescue Plan Actto an Excluded Workers Fund.
The Excluded Workers Fund would provide money to populations that did not have access to stimulus funds from the federal government as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While federal, state, and local governments have previously attempted to provide relief to individuals and families who have been affected by the pandemic, several groups have been ignored as ‘Excluded Workers’ which includes undocumented immigrants, previously incarcerated people, and others,” the commission’s letter reads.
The commission asks that municipalities such as Iowa City and Johnson County Board of Supervisors work with the Fund Excluded Workers Coalition to facilitate the allocation of funds to these groups.
According to a news release from the Iowa City Catholic Worker, the coalition includes groups such as the SEIU Local 199, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Iowa Freedom Riders, Great Plains Action Society, LULAC 308, LULAC State Council, AFSCME 12, Iowa Student Action, Ex-Incarcerated People Organizing Iowa, and several others.
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During the virtual commission meeting, several people spoke from the Iowa City Catholic Worker House about how they have been impacted by the pandemic and how the funds would help their community.
In addition to approving a letter of support, the Ad Hoc Truth and Reconciliation Commission made progress on writing a land and labor acknowledgment and a request for proposal for a commission facilitator.
Commission Chair Mohamed Traore said the facilitator position may change in order to reduce the workload of that one position and the commission may possibly create two additional roles.
The commission’s prior facilitator Jesse Case, resigned in March when several commission members resigned.
