Commission Overview

The Iowa City Human Rights Commission consists of nine members who serve staggered two-year terms.

Meetings

The Commission holds monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month in Emma J. Harvat Hall. Special meetings are held as needed.

Meeting dates and locations may vary. To verify the schedule and meeting location, please contact staff at 319-356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org.

Duties

The duties of the Commission include:

• Educating the public on illegal discrimination and civil rights through forums and community outreach.

• Recommending anti-discrimination legislation and policy to the City Council.

• Collaborating with public and private organizations that support and align with the Human Rights Ordinance.

• Planning and supporting programs that reduce intergroup tensions related to religion, culture, disability, and other identities.

Commemorative Video 

Learn more about the history and the first members of the City's Human Rights Commission here.

Learn more about the Human Rights Commission here. 

Year in Reviews

2024

Human Rights Ordinance 

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, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. 

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.

*Denotes only in housing

In Iowa City it is unlawful 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, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. It is also unlawful to retaliate against a person because such person has lawfully opposed any discriminatory practice.
*Denotes only in housing

Complaints of discrimination must be filed within 300 days after the most recent discriminatory event.

24/7 Online submission complaint form.  

PDF complaint form

To request a hard copy complaint form to be sent by standard mail, please call 319-356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org.  

Complaints against the City of Iowa City

If you wish to file a complaint of discrimination against the City of Iowa City, including any of its departments or divisions, which would include the Police Department, contact the Iowa Office of Civil Rights at 1-888-457-4416 or file online using the following link:

File a Complaint – Iowa Office of Civil Rights

Fair Housing Training Video & Online Quiz

What is Fair Housing?

Fair Housing means the right for a person to live where they choose to, free from discrimination. Iowa City’s Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination based on age, color, creed, disability, familial status, gender identity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation.

Don't Stand for Housing Discrimination 

2023 Fair Housing Training Video 

2024 Fair Housing Online Quiz

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents. They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

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Americans with Disabilities Act & Title VI of the Civil Rights Act

The City of Iowa City is committed to operating its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. in addition, the City is committed to providing access for all of its residents, including those with disabilities, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. 

 The City Manager's Office has been designated to handle questions, concerns, complaints, requests for accommodation, or requests for additional information regarding Title VI or the ADA, or inquiries regarding accessibility:

Kirk Lehmann
ADA & Title VI Coordinator/Assistant City Manager
ADAcoordinator@iowa-city.org
319-356-5014
410 E. Washington Street
Iowa City, Iowa 52240

For more information visit the ADA & Civil Rights section of the website at this link. 

Free or Low-Cost Legal Assistance

As access to justice remains an ongoing challenge and the demand for free or low-cost legal services continues to grow, the Iowa State Bar Association (ISBA) has developed resources to help. A one-page handout, “Need Free or Low-Cost Legal Assistance?”, is available to guide individuals seeking help with legal questions. It includes a list of organizations that provide free or reduced-cost legal services and is shared with members of the public who contact or visit the ISBA. Access the document here.

In addition, "The Handbook for Older Iowans" is a valuable resource covering legal topics that commonly affect older adults, including estate planning, consumer protection, housing, and health care decision-making. Access the handbook here.

While these resources may not be exhaustive, their goal is to connect individuals with helpful legal information and services. 

The LENS Series

Disability and Fair Housing Training

The Office of Human Rights July Lens series “Disability and Fair Housing” will be presented by Kristin Watson, JD, the City’s Human Rights Investigator, from noon to 1 p.m., on Thursday, July 30, 2026.

About the program
Fair housing remains a critical issue nationwide, particularly for individuals with disabilities who often face barriers to finding suitable housing that meets their unique needs. Discriminatory practices can include inaccessible buildings, unreasonable rental policies, or a lack of reasonable accommodation, all of which can significantly impact the ability of people with disabilities to secure safe and affordable housing.

About the presenter
Kristin Watson is the Investigator with the Office of Human Rights. Her work includes investigating complaints of unlawful discrimination and educating the community about civil rights protections.
Watson has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and History from the University of Wisconsin and a Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School.

Watson is a nomad, having lived in six U.S. states and one foreign country (Denmark); studied at University of Queensland School of Law in Brisbane, Australia; and visited 39 US states and 20 countries.

How to register
Register by visiting our event webpage, calling 319-356-5022, or emailing humanrights@iowa-city.org to reserve a spot. The event will be held in Emma J. Harvat Hall at City Hall. Registration is limited to the first 35 sign-ups. Lunch will be provided for registered attendees. The program will be recorded for future viewing.

Accommodation
If you will need disability-related accommodation in order to participate in this event, please call 319-356-5022 or email humanrights@iowa-city.org. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

Submerged History and the Impact to Environmental Justice and Stewardship

The Office of Human Rights September Lens Webinar Series will be presented by Diane Jones Allen, D. Eng., PLA, FASLA , from noon to 1 p.m., on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

About the program
This presentation will discuss how unique and often hidden histories, cultures and landscape contexts can shape environmentally just and sustainable responses for climate impacted communities.  In particular, the Maroon Culture of Coastal Louisiana will be presented as an example.

About the presenter
Diane Jones Allen, MLA, D.Eng., FASLA, PLA, is Professor and Program Director of Landscape Architecture, College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs, at the University of Texas at Arlington.  She was inducted into the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) Academy of Fellows in spring 2024.  As Principal Landscape Architect with DesignJones LLC, she was elevated to Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects in 2019. Design Jones LLC also received the 2016 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Community Service Award. Diane also served on the Board of the Landscape Architecture Foundation (LAF), serving as Vice President for Education in 2021.  She was part of a cross-disciplinary team that won the 2020 SOM Foundation Research Prize for examining social justice in urban contexts. Her research and practice are guided by the intersection of environmental justice, identity, and sustainability in cultural landscapes, including “Nomadic” responses to “Transit Deserts,” as discussed in her book “Lost in the Transit Desert: Race, Transit Access, and Suburban Form,” published by Routledge Press in 2017.  Diane co-edited “Design for Democracy: Techniques for Collective Creativity”, published by Island Press in 2017.  She was a 2021- 2022 Garden and Landscape Studies fellow at Dumbarton Oaks, working on her upcoming book “The Maroon Landscape: A Cultural Approach to Climate Resiliency”. In 2022 and 2025, she served on ASLA’s Biodiversity and Climate Task Forces.

How to register
Sign up to participate, by visiting the Zoom registration webpage for this event.

Accommodation
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.

Past Programming 

The Lens Series provides intentional spaces where attendance can share insights, explore issues, and build collective knowledge.

How Does It Work? Local and State Civil Rights Enforcement in Iowa, June 8, 2026

Equal Pay in Iowa: Legal Protections, Challenges, and Pathways to Change, May 19, 2026

Click this link to watch recorded program.

 Rising to the Challenge: The interactive effect of role overload and workplace impostor thoughts on effort and subsequent job performance, May 6, 2026

Click this link to watch recorded program.

The Innovation Safeguard: Integrating AI Through Psychological Safety, April 23, 2026

Disability and Language: Very Few “Right Answers” But Lots to Think About, January 29, 2026

Click this link to watch recorded program.

Working and Homeless in America: A Talk With Brian Goldstone, October 16, 2025

Click this link to watch recorded program.

Making Our Communities Safer One Crime at a Time: Real Stories and a Vision for Justice Reform Across the US, August 27, 2025

 Jewish Concepts of Social Justice, May 12, 2025

Click this link to watch recorded program.

“Insubordination”: Anna Julia Cooper and the “Courageous Revolt” against Jim Crow Education in the Nation’s Capital, February 20, 2025

 The Address Book and What Street Addresses Reveal About Identity, Wealth, and Power, December 5, 2024

Click this link to watch recorded program.

Fostering Welcoming Environments Through Inclusive Dialogue, September 24, 2024

Disability and Fair Housing Training in celebration of the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, July 25, 2024

Resisting Colonization, Rematriating the Land and the World Around Us, and Much More, June 13, 2024

Click this link to watch recorded program.

The Indian Caste System in the U.S.: A Cross-Cultural Exploration, May 16, 2024

Click this link to watch recorded program.

Why Are They So Loud? Conflicts in Cultural Context, April, 18 2024

Reforming Property Law: Addressing Devastating Land Loss, February 22, 2024

Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years, January 25, 2024

Click this link to watch recorded program.

Celebration of the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, July 26, 2023

RoyalTea: Queens Talk about Drag, June, 28 2023

How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith, June 20, 2023

Click this link to watch recorded program.

Panache Before the Shoah: The Effect of Jewish 1930’s Refugees on Iowa City’s Progressivism, May 8, 2023

Click this link to watch recorded program.

Water Tossing Boulders: How a Family of Chinese Immigrants Led the First Fight to Desegregate Schools in the Jim Crow South, May 3, 2023

Click this link to watch recorded program.

The Native Heritage Banner Project

The Native Heritage Banner Project is a collaborative public art initiative between the 
City and Great Plains Action Society dedicated to honoring Indigenous heritage 
through visual storytelling. 

Now entering its third year in 2026, the project has successfully completed two years of 
impactful public art displays. Beginning in November for National Native American 
Heritage Month and continuing through the winter season, these banners transform 
public spaces into opportunities for education, reflection, and celebration of 
Indigenous cultures.

National Native American Heritage Month, observed each November, highlights the 
contributions and influence of Indigenous people. The month honors the culture, 
traditions and achievements of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians 
and affiliated Island communities.

Through this partnership, the City honors the real history, the truth about colonization, 
and the enduring presence of the First Peoples of Turtle Island.

2025 Banner Project

About the artist

Sikowis Nobiss, M.A., Citizen of the George Gordon First Nation, is the Executive 
Director of Great Plains Action Society and a speaker, writer, and artist. Lance Foster 
was a mentor to Sikowis for almost 10 years before he walked on. To memorialize 
Foster's passing, Nobiss took aspects of Foster's piece called, Mak’anye (mah-KAH-nyay 
- Cultivating the Earth) to create the banner design. 

Artist Statement on the banners

Lance Foster (Irogre-Finds What is Sought, 1960-2025), M.A., Citizen of the Ioway Tribe 
of Kansas and Nebraska, was a remarkable individual who left an indelible mark on 
numerous individuals and their communities. Throughout his life, Lance wore many 
different hats – sometimes all at once. He served as a trained archaeologist, the Tribal 
Historic Preservation Officer for the Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, an activist, a 
speaker, the vice-president of his tribe, a published author, and a well-known artist. 
Lance's artistic talents were a remarkable aspect of his dynamic personality. He also 
served as the Elder Advisor for almost 10 years to Great Plains Action Society. As a 
gifted artist, Lance explored various mediums and projects throughout his life, using 
his creativity to convey meaningful expressions of Indigeneity. 

As Sikowis was told in conversation with Lance, Mak’anye celebrates the contributions 
of Native American women to agriculture in Iowa and the Midwest for over 3,000 years. 
Lance also said that Mak’anye also shows that “women were in charge of the corn”. 
This poignant drawing adorns the cover of the book, Iowa's Archaeological Past. With 
Lance’s enduring approval, it has become an iconic piece used over the past seven 
years by Great Plains Action Society, in many ways, to further their mission of 
ReMatriation, which is an ideology Lance stood firmly behind.

Watch the video, Banners honor Native American Heritage Month, with Nobis 
discussing the banners and how they carry on Foster's legacy.

2024 Banner Project

About the artist

Shelley Buffalo is an enrolled member of the Meskwaki Nation and lives on the 
Meskwaki Settlement near Tama. As an artist, activist, organizer, and mother centered 
in Indigenous futurism, land justice and land back, her work converges at the human 
need to rebuild the cultural village for future generations. It is her belief that a livable 
future comes from our collective creativity to imagine humans being beyond colonial 
paradigms of extraction and exploitation. Shelley is a 2024-26 Rural Regenerator Fellow 
through the Minnesota-based organization, Springboard for the Arts.

Artist Statement on the banners

 "The banner art I created for Native American Heritage Month in Iowa City is a tribute 
to Native American ribbon work. Ribbon work applique is an intricate and 
sophisticated decorative art which arose from the Great Lakes region with the influx of 
European trade goods during the 18th century. By the early 19th century, the 
Winnebago, Potawatomi, Menominee, Fox (Meskwaki), Miami, Sauk, Shawnee, 
Delaware, Osage, and Kickapoo were beautifully advanced and refined in the craft. 
Ribbonwork quickly spread to neighboring Woodland and Prairie tribes and is 
ever-growing in popularity and in diverse themes to reflect contemporary Indigenous 
artistic expressions and experiences while maintaining the traditional attributes of the 
craft. My tribe, the Meskwaki, referred to as the “Fox” by the French, English and 
subsequently, Americans, are one of the early initiators of ribbonwork and continue the 
art form today. 

The red/pink/blue/light blue banner art leans more towards beaded applique in design. 
The red/green/black/white banner art is representational of ribbonwork style and the 
color theme includes the colors of red and green from the Meskwaki flag, and the 
black and white refers to a Meskwaki cultural practice of alternate designation at birth. 
The reflective design is an Indigenous cultural understanding of nature, in that for 
every physical manifestation, there is also a spiritual manifestation. 

I encourage Iowans and visitors to explore Meskwaki culture and history through the 
many resources in print and on the web and to visit the Meskwaki Cultural Center & 
Museum on the Meskwaki Settlement near Tama."

The LENS is the City’s bimonthly newsletter designed to expand conversations around access, belonging, and community engagement.

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Human Rights Grant

The City of Iowa City’s Human Rights Grant supports local efforts that advance equality, dignity, and fair treatment for all residents. Managed by the Office of Human Rights, the funding empowers nonprofits and community groups to combat discrimination and ensure equitable treatment. By investing in initiatives that protect and expand human rights, Iowa City reinforces its commitment to a just and welcoming community.

To be eligible for funding, a project must meet at least one of the following criteria: build capacity to organize communities around human rights, strengthen the ability to mobilize communities in support of human rights, or educate the public on human rights through public forums addressing topics within the broad rubric of human rights. Funding is not available to for-profit businesses, government entities, schools, colleges or universities, or organizations based outside Iowa City. Projects must be new, take place in Iowa City between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, and request no more than $20,000. Applications will be accepted from March 1 through April 1, 2026.

The application link will go live here on March 1, 2026.

The Iowa City Human Rights Commission will review submissions and recommend awards to the City Council by May 31, 2026.

Submissions for the Human Rights Grants for 2026 are available here. 

Youth Human Rights Awards

Each year, the City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission invites the community to nominate outstanding young people for its Youth Human Rights Awards. This annual program recognizes local youth whose efforts have advanced human rights, both locally and abroad.

Awards Criteria:

The Human Rights Commission is seeking to honor young individuals who have demonstrated creativity and initiative beyond the typical classroom or pre-organized activities. Nominations should focus on additional efforts made by youth to address human rights issues, and activities that stem from classwork or organized events are welcomed, provided they go beyond what was initially planned.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Residency: The nominee must live in Johnson County.
• Age Range: The nominee must be between 5 and 18.
• Activity Timeline: The nominated activity must have occurred after May 2025, not before.
• Personal Endeavors: The achievement must benefit others, not purely a personal goal or achievement.
• Prior Awards: The nominee should not have received this award based on the same activity or conduct in previous years.
• Nomination Form Issues: The form must be completed and submitted before the deadline.
• Nomination Context: The nominee’s achievements should not stem from graded class assignments or activities unless related to service clubs or student organizations.
• Nominee's Involvement: The nominee must have actively participated in organizing, chairing, hosting, or presenting for the event or activity.

2026 Ceremony

Celebrate the recipients by watching the full 2026 Youth Human Rights Awards ceremony, held on May 20, 2026.

Enjoy a photo slideshow capturing memorable moments from the awards ceremony, featuring pictures captured by photographer Dan Rolling.

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. Nominations for 2026 will begin in August of 2026. Learn more here. 

Watch the 2025 Awards Ceremony

Speakers, Trainings & More

We offer a variety of informational presentations and trainings that can be tailored to the audience (adults, youth, employees, etc.) or location (schools, other nonprofits, corporations, etc.). We are able to offer our presentations in person and/or virtually via webinars. You will be emailed a confirmation and a copy of the information you submit.

*As a service to the community, presentations and trainings requested by nonprofits are offered free of charge.

Request Form

Sponsorship Request

The Iowa City Human Rights Commission offers sponsorships to support local events that help reduce cultural, religious, or other intergroup tensions. Each year, $2,000 is budgeted to fund community events, with up to $250 available per event and per organizer.To apply for sponsorship from the Commission click on this link.