July 2026

The Lens is the City’s newsletter to expand conversations on engagement, access, and belonging.

Stop by Commission Table at Party in the Park – July 16

Representatives from the Human Rights Commission will be tabling at Party in the Park at Mercer starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16. Please stop by, say hello, and learn more about the Commission's work. Plus, pick up some cool swag while you’re there! To stay informed about more free community events like this one, be sure to visit the Parks and Recreation page for the latest updates.

Proclamation spotlight

This spring and summer, Mayor Teague has issued proclamations recognizing, celebrating, and commemorating the contributions of Iowa City’s diverse residents. A few examples are highlighted below.

Arab American Heritage Month, April 21, 2026

(L to R) Yaman, Sanaa Sebaaly, Soraya Saadallah, Karima Elkeurti, Vianna Qadoura, Yenaal, Mayor Bruce Teague, Neuman Abuissa, Hanna Mohamed.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May, 5, 2026

(L to R) Na Li, Jessie Li, Mayor Bruce Teague, Abby Guo, Hui Wang.

(L to R) Helen Shen, Rongchun Guo, Mayor Bruce Teague, David Kramer. 

Pride Month, June 2, 2026

(L to R) Mayor Bruce Teague, Andy Owens.

Juneteenth National Freedom Day, June 16, 2026

(L to R) Billie Townsend, Mayor Bruce Teague, Orville Townsend.

Disability and Fair Housing Training

The Office of Human Rights will host a free in-person training on “Disability and Fair Housing” from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Led by the City’s Human Rights Investigator, Kristin Watson, JD, the session will cover common issues people with disabilities face in finding housing and how to file a fair housing complaint with the office. To learn more and to register to attend, visit the Eventbrite page for this event.

Catch up on past programming

If you missed one of our past programs, you can view them on the City’s YouTube page. The most recent programs include:

• “Equal Pay in Iowa: Legal Protections, Challenges, and Pathways to Change” presented by Attorney Ann Brown.
• “Rising to the Challenge: When Imposter Thoughts Boost Performance” presented by Dr. Basima Tewfik.
• The 23rd Annual Youth Human Rights Awards presented by the Human Rights Commission.

2026 Human Rights Grant Recipients

The City Council approved the Human Rights Grant allocations for fiscal year 2026 at its May 19, 2026, formal meeting for the following organizations:

• Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Eastern Iowa Chapter
• Escucha Mi Voz Iowa
• The Englert Civic Theatre
• Great Plains Action Society
• NAMI Johnson County
• Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County
• Wright House of Fashion.

Congratulations to all the selected organizations! To learn more about the grant and the funded projects, visit the office’s website.

Volunteer to serve on the Human Rights Commission

Volunteer to serve on the Human Rights Commission. Appointments are for two years. The Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The Commission educates the community on human rights, plans programs and activities, and makes recommendations to the City Council on which organizations should be funded by the Human Rights Grant. Visit the Commission’s page to learn more. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and reside in Iowa City. To apply, visit the Boards, Commissions, and Committee Application page.

Questions or accommodations requests

If you have questions or need disability-related accommodations to participate in any of our programs, contact the office at 319-356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

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