Human Rights Commission Working Session - March 19, 2026

A Working Session Meeting of the Human Rights Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Meadowlark Room at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, March 19, 2026.

The Human Rights Commissioners present or absent were as follows:

Present: Sekou Sirleaf, Xavier Welty, Cody Severson, Nancy Boyle, Carolyn Becraft.

Absent: Tambah Saah, Aaron Kawreh, Kristin Nelson, Ritchell Aboah.

Other attendees: Brenda Derrig, Assistant City Administrator, Nancy Morris, Assistant City Attorney, John Strand, City Commissioner, Dalton Erickson, North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, Barry Nelson, former member (virtual).

Item 1. Welcome and introductions.

Item 2. Community Based Board Structure Discussion:
o Several members expressed that the HRC is at a crossroads, either reinventing itself or dying on the vine. There is a sense that the current City Administration wants to move toward a community-led model and away from City-funded boards.
o A major concern was the lack of diversity on the City Commission. Members argued that the HRC serves as a vital bridge to marginalized communities (immigrants, LGBTQ+, Indigenous and people with disabilities) that are not represented in City leadership.
o Mr. Nelson reminded the group of the HRC’s history in addressing hate crimes and conducting a nine-month study on the positive economic impact of refugees.
o Commissioner Strand said that while he cares deeply, the current format is not working and often feels paralyzed until a crisis occurs.
o Some members suggested that since a new Mayor and Commission will be elected in a few months, the HRC should not do the City's work by disbanding itself now. They argued the new administration should be the one to decide the HRC’s fate.
o A suggestion was made to invite Zach Greenberg, Commissioner of the ND Department of Labor and Human Rights, to a meeting to build a formal link between the City and State.
o The group discussed partnering with organizations such as the Fargo Youth Initiative or other non-profits to handle specific events such as MLK Day or Juneteenth.

Item 3. Next Steps:
o Members were encouraged to identify specific non-profits and community stakeholders to potentially collaborate with if the HRC transitions to a new model.