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Bismarck HRC confirms Nov. 6 community conversation on homelessness, lines up panel and partners
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Summary
The Bismarck Human Relations Committee confirmed a Nov. 6 community conversation on homelessness at the library, set a 6 p.m. start, and outlined panelists and outreach with the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People; committee members emphasized including lived-experience voices and inclusive language in materials.
The Bismarck Human Relations Committee confirmed plans on Wednesday to hold a community conversation about homelessness on Nov. 6 at the Bismarck library, with a proposed 6–8 p.m. window and a panel of service providers and individuals with lived experience.
Unidentified Speaker 1, the committee member who called the meeting to order, said the subcommittee had already confirmed most panelists and the moderator and proposed shifting the start time from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to allow people attending a concurrent Dream Center block party to participate. "I feel comfortable doing 6 to 8," Unidentified Speaker 1 said.
Sister Kathleen was named as the confirmed moderator; Michelle Erickson of the Muse Adult Resource Center was identified as a partnering co-moderator, and the committee listed panelists that include Mark Heinert (YouthWorks), Denise (Dream Center), Ashley Jonner (Sacred Pipe) and Renee (Public Health). Committee members said they aim to include one or two people with lived experience on the panel.
"When we met with Michelle Erickson, we actually did talk about the idea of Michelle co-moderating with Sister Kathleen," Unidentified Speaker 3 said, adding that the committee typically has an HRC member co-moderate but is open to partner co-moderators.
The committee discussed aligning the event with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and working with the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People to broaden outreach. Unidentified Speaker 3 said the coalition holds a 9 a.m. session that reviews events and a later meeting where organizations briefly present, and recommended the committee attend to explore formal collaboration and promotion.
Communications work is underway: Caitlin has drafted a flyer that will be distributed once time and location are finalized, and the committee plans a draft press release. Members agreed to use inclusive language on the materials; Unidentified Speaker 1 said the committee had chosen to use the term "unhoused" after consulting partners.
Committee members set a short timeline to confirm remaining panelists and issue formal invitations, and said they would distribute promotional materials through coalition channels and local partners. The subcommittee will return with a finalized communications plan in October.
The committee did not take a formal vote beyond approving meeting minutes earlier in the session; the Nov. 6 logistics (time, confirmed moderator and panel lineup) were presented as the working plan and will be finalized by the subcommittee.
