Language Line Services Available (Over-the-phone Interpretation Service for more than 170 languages)
تتوفر خدمات خطوط اللغة (خدمة الترجمة الفورية عبر الهاتف لأكثر من 170 لغة)
提供语言专线服务(超过 170 种语言的电话口译服务)
Servicios de línea de idiomas disponibles (Servicio de interpretación por teléfono para más de 170 idiomas)
Services linguistiques disponibles (service d'interprétation par téléphone pour plus de 170 langues)
Huduma za Laini ya Lugha Zinapatikana (Huduma ya Ukalimani kwa njia ya simu kwa zaidi ya lugha 170)
Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant
Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant
This grant opportunity is available to Iowa City-based organizations, both non and for-profit, with the purpose of encouraging, empowering, and engaging racial equity and social justice initiatives through programs, activities, or services that help eliminate inequities in the Iowa City community. Programs that address one or more of the six priority service areas will receive preference: Building Communities, Criminal Justice, Education, Employment, Health, and Housing. The Human Rights Commission reviews applications and then forwards its recommendations to the City Council for review and approval. The City Council has approved $100,000 for FY2024, which will be split among the recipients.
Grant Requirements
The organization must be physically located in Iowa City.
The project must take place in Iowa City.
The project should seek to eliminate inequity in the community (individual, institutional, or structural).
The project must be a new project. Exception, organizations previously funded in the last grant cycle may reapply for the same project to be funded for one additional grant cycle.
Applicants cannot be governments, public schools, and colleges/universities.
Applicants can request no more than $25,000.
Projects cannot be for fundraising purposes.
Application Process
Please direct any questions to Stefanie Bowers at phone number 319-356-5022 or email sbowers@iowa-city.org.
View FY24 Racial Equity & Social Justice Grant submissions here.
The Human Rights Commission reviewed all applications and made its funding recommendation to the City Council, who approved it in April 2024. The FY24 grant recipients are: Better Together Community Development Corporation, CommUnity Crisis Center, Domestic Violence Intervention Program, Eastern Iowa Chapter of APAPA, Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, Houses into Homes, Indigenous Art Alliance, Inside Out Reentry Community, Open Heartland, United Action for Youth, Wright House of Fashion.
Slide Deck for Racial Equity and Social Justice Grant information sessions
It is unlawful in Iowa City to discriminate in credit, education, employment, housing, and public accommodation on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, *familial status, gender identity, marital status, national origin, *presence or absence of dependents,* public assistance source of income, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
*Denotes only in housing
It is also unlawful to retaliate against a person because such person has lawfully opposed any discriminatory practice.
Following the filing of a complaint, office staff conducts a thorough and impartial investigation of the allegations in the complaint.
To view the Iowa City Human Rights Ordinance, see Title 2 - Human Rights in the City Code.
Report a Concern of Discrimination
If you believe that what you have experienced or witnessed is wrong, but you do not want to pursue legal remedies, you may report your concern here. We encourage you to report whatever discriminatory or disrespectful behavior you have experienced or witnessed because patterns in these reports can help us determine where we should focus our prevention efforts in the community. If you prefer to speak with someone, please call the Investigator at 319-356-5015 to discuss your concerns over the phone or to schedule a time to meet in person.
It is unlawful in Iowa City to discriminate in credit, education, employment, housing, and public accommodation on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, *familial status, gender identity, marital status, national origin, *presence or absence of dependents,* public assistance source of income, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
*Denotes only in housing
It is also unlawful to retaliate against a person because such person has lawfully opposed any discriminatory practice.
To view the Iowa City Human Rights Ordinance, see Title 2 - Human Rights in the City Code.
Complaints of discrimination must be filed within 300 days after the most recent discriminatory event.
To request a hard copy complaint form to be sent by standard mail, please call 319-356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org.
Following the filing of a complaint, office staff conducts a thorough and impartial investigation of the allegations in the complaint.
Fair Housing
The City of Iowa City is committed to making our city a place where diversity and inclusion thrive, and all live free from any form of discrimination.
What is Fair Housing?
Fair Housing means the right for a person to live where they choose to, free from discrimination. In Iowa City, the law that governs fair housing is the Office of Equity and Human Rights. Iowa City’s Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination based on age, color, creed, disability, familial status, gender identity, marital status, national origin, presence or absence of dependents, public assistance source of income, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation.
Even with one of the strongest fair housing ordinances in the state, discrimination and segregation continue to limit housing opportunities for many residents.
Don't Stand for Housing Discrimination
Fair Housing Procedures
The Office of Equity and Human Rights procedures are governed by the Human Rights Ordinance. The office investigates complaints of discrimination by interviewing witnesses and reviewing documentary evidence. It uses its subpoena power, if necessary to compel testimony and the production of documents. Many cases also settle or are withdrawn during the investigative stage.
If, after an investigation, the Human Rights Coordinator finds no substantial evidence of a violation, the case is dismissed. If it finds that there is substantial evidence of a violation, the coordinator may refer the case to conciliation where an independent mediator hired by the office will attempt to help the parties reach a resolution of the dispute. If the parties do not reach an agreement, the case proceeds to a public hearing. At the hearing, both parties present their case to an administrative law judge. After a review of the transcript, the evidence, and the briefs, the administrative law judge sets forth, in writing, findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a proposed decision and order.
The proposed decision becomes the final decision of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission without further proceedings unless there is an appeal to, or review on motion of, the commission within thirty (30) days. who makes a decision based on the findings of fact, conclusions of law and appropriate relief, if any, after the hearing. The proposed decision becomes the final decision of the commission without further proceedings unless there is an appeal, or review on motion of, the commission within thirty (30) days.
Fair Housing Available Remedies
If, after a public hearing, a respondent is found to have violated the Human Rights Ordinance they may also be ordered to: cease the illegal conduct complained of; pay actual damages for injury or loss; pay the complainant the cost, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred in pursuing the complaint; pay punitive damages (when the violation was willful, wanton or in reckless disregard of the complainant's rights); and take such other action as may be necessary to make the complainant whole.
Victim of Discrimination
If you feel you have been a victim of discrimination or would like to obtain additional information about Iowa City’s fair housing laws, please contact humanrights@iowa-city.org, or call 319-356-5022.
If you believe that what you have experienced or witnessed is wrong, but you do not want to pursue legal remedies, you may report your concern. We encourage you to report whatever discriminatory or disrespectful behavior you have experienced or witnessed because patterns in these reports can help us determine where we should focus our prevention efforts in the community. If you prefer to speak with someone, please call the Human Rights Investigator at 319-356-5015 to discuss your concerns over the phone or to schedule a time to meet in person.
To request a hard copy complaint form to be sent by standard mail, please call 319-356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org.
* The alleged discrimination must have occurred in Iowa City and a complaint must be filed within 300 days of the incident.
Learn more about the history and the first members of the City's Human Rights Commission here.
Human Rights Commission
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240
319-356-5022
To contact the entire Commission, email HumanRightsCommission@iowa-city.org. All correspondence addressed to the Human Rights Commission becomes a permanent public record.
Duties
Duties of the Commission include:
Disseminating information to educate the public on illegal discrimination and civil rights, such as organizing and facilitating educational public forums that address one or more of the broad range of topics included within the rubric of human rights
Making recommendations to the City Council for such further legislation concerning discrimination as it may deem necessary and desirable
Cooperating within the limits of any appropriations made for its operation with other agencies or organizations both public and private whose purposes are not inconsistent with those of Title 2 of the City Code (Human Rights Ordinance)
Planning programs and activities designed to eliminate racial, religious, cultural and other intergroup tensions including but not limited to sex, color, creed, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age and national origin.
The City's Human Rights Awards have been honoring individuals, businesses, or organizations whose ongoing work, service, or contributions have positively impacted Human Rights either locally or abroad since 1984.
Watch the 2023 Awards Ceremony
Human Rights Youth Awards
Iowa City Human Rights Youth Awards
The Iowa City Human Rights Commission’s primary purpose is to promote a community of mutual respect and to honor the diversity of our community. We strive to promote attitudes of compassion and concern for one another. To encourage these values in Iowa City, we have initiated the Human Rights Youth Awards, an annual celebration of Iowa City area youth. This year represents the twentieth year of these awards! It is the Commission’s intent to identify and celebrate youth who have shown a special gift from the heart or an ability to love and care for one another. We are looking for youth who have demonstrated acts of kindness, usefulness, social courage, and/or community service here in Iowa City. Please help us by nominating a youth you have observed displaying one or more of these traits in the past year.
The Human Rights Commission will celebrate this year’s honorees at a special dinner award ceremony on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. We will alert nominators and award recipients prior to the event so they can make plans to celebrate. Due to space limitations, recipients are limited in the number of guest that can attend the award ceremony.
For more information, contact Human Rights Coordinator Stefanie Bowers at 319-356-5022 or email sbowers@iowa-city.org.