West Des Moines, IA
Home MenuWest Des Moines Human Rights Commission
The West Des Moines Human Rights Commission is comprised of seven residents of the City of West Des Moines who are appointed by the Mayor for a three-year term. All Mayoral appointments are subject to the approval of the West Des Moines City Council. If you are interested in serving as a Human Rights Commission member, you may request an application from the City Clerk’s office located in City Hall, 4200 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines, or submit the form online.
Mission Statement
West Des Moines Human Rights Commission influences and advocates for community and government systems to ensure an inclusive, equitable and thriving community.
Current Commissioners
Tiffany Berkenes, Chair
Tiffany is a Des Moines metro native, originally from Altoona and a current resident of West Des Moines. She is a 2002 graduate of Simpson College and the 2013 Educational Opportunity Association Emerging Leaders Institute. Tiffany has committed her 20-year education career and volunteering to working with youth/students of all ages from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities in rural, suburban, and urban areas in a variety of both formal and informal education settings. She currently works for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as a 4-H Youth Program Specialist, serving Polk and Dallas Counties, as well as statewide initiatives. In addition to 4-H, her work has included being an art teacher, college access for federal TRIO and GEAR UP programs, and college admissions and residence life.
Tiffany has personal and professional passions for and experience with social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as mental health. She has received Iowa State University Staff CYtation, Access, Equity, and Belonging, Originality and Innovation in Programming, and Creativity in Service to All Iowans awards for her professional efforts. She currently serves on the following ISU Extension/4-H work teams: Diversifying and Expanding Our Reach to Youth and Adults Strategic Plan Action Squad, LGBTQ+ Champions Group, Youth Mental Health and Well-Being Champions Group, College and Career Readiness Work Team, Healthy Living Program Priority Team, & Mental Health COVID-19 Recovery Initiative Team. Within the community, she currently serves on the Polk County Children's Behavioral Health Collaborative and Iowa Department of Human Rights Task Force for Young Women.
Robert Morgan, Vice Chair
Robert Morgan is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Iowa Air National Guard. He is also a Special Emphasis Program Manager that deals with Equal Employment Opportunity, affirmative employment, and diversity and inclusion principles for the Iowa Air National Guard. He is a husband, father, exercise enthusiast, decorated veteran, and person of the world. He grew up as an Army dependent and continued to live in various places as a member of the United States Air Force. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and the University of Oklahoma with a Master’s degree in Human Relations. He volunteers at church, in the West Des Moines Community School district, and in other capacities in our community.
Jill Crosser
Jill joined Bankers Trust in 2017 as the Branch Manager in Ames and is now the Branch manager of the WDM branch. Jill’s background is primarily in disability and leadership management. Throughout her professional career, she has worked with Medicaid Waiver Case Management, Brain Injury (Neuro Resource Facilitation), Employment Services, and most recently, she was the Executive Director for the Iowa Able Foundation, a nonprofit that provided lending and financial coaching to underbanked Iowans with disabilities and their families.
As an active DEI advocate and leader, she knows that there is value in building a diverse workforce and creating cultures that value diversity and inclusion and works everyday towards DEI efforts in her day-to-day work and enjoys working with her coworkers on the DEI committee at Bankers Trust. She dreams of living in a place where everyone has access to the same treatment, opportunities, and advancement. She believes that diversity enables us to approach problems differently and propose unique solutions as it is such important work that is never done. Jill has always had a passion for equality in all aspects of life and feels the importance of acting and doing rather than watching. Jill currently serves on the Executive Leadership Team of the American Heart Association and works on committees with Junior Achievement, On With Life, Catholic Charitiesm is a WDM Chamber Ambassador and DEI member, a board member of ACPC, and Co-Chair of the Bankers Trust DEI committee.
Pierce Zanders
Pierce Zanders brings over 20 years of management experience to his role as Internal Controls Manager at Sammons Financial Group. As a leader who has always put diversity at the forefront, Pierce makes it his mission to drive the organizational and cultural change needed to achieve strategic objectives, to proactively confront difficult issues, to make courageous choices, and to take bold action in the face of opposition or fear.
Pierce is committed to continued growth both personally and professionally. He is a member of the National Black MBA Association and a Mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters. He is also active in his community and serves on the Board of Directors for the Central Iowa Chapter of the American Red Cross, and is a member of the West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce serving on its DEI Committee. In addition to his work at Sammons Financial, Pierce is also the inaugural Chairperson for their Diversity Inclusion Advisory Council as well. Pierce has also served on other nonprofits such the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Iowa Juneteenth Observance, and he continues to foster relationships across our state that unite people to help meet the needs of the community.
Dr. Erlin Kakkanad
Dr. Erlin Kakkanad's life experiences have molded her into a problem-solving individual. As an Asian Indian American, she wears multiple hats as a writer, entrepreneur, acclaimed speaker, and expert in business process transformation. Her journey commenced in India, eventually leading her to Canada. Currently residing in West Des Moines with her husband and two sons, her dedication to STEM is evident in her educational achievements. Erlin holds a BS in Computer Engineering with Computer Application, a master’s in human resources and Total Quality Management - The Deming WayÒ, and a Ph.D. in Education with a focus on organizational psychology and adult learning from Drake University. Erlin's guiding philosophy revolves around nurturing creativity, fostering connections, and shedding light on untold narratives.
When confronted with challenges in securing childcare in Iowa, Erlin didn't merely adapt; she proactively devised a solution. In 2019, she founded Kids Care Share, a startup designed to assist parents in finding high-quality childcare. In 2022, Erlin ventured into children's book authorship, producing two award-winning titles, "Happy in Your Skin" and "I Love Curry and I’m Not Sorry." Her motivation for these works arose from recognizing a dearth of children's literature addressing the curiosity of Asian Indian children about their cultural heritage. Actively involved in the community, Dr. Kakkanad holds positions on the Board of the American Red Cross of Central Iowa and the Board of Directors for the Association of Talent Development – Central Iowa, where she serves as VP of Operations and Treasurer.
Carrie Jacobs
Carrie Jacobs, is a life-long Iowan, who grew up on a small family farm outside of Lacona, Iowa. She knew very early in her life that she wanted to become a teacher. Carrie was able to fulfill that dream at Central College in Pella, Iowa. Carrie began her career in West Des Moines, teaching at Walnut Creek Campus in September of 2002 in the BD classroom, transferring to teach social studies and technology for eleven years. Later she transitioned to the teacher leader program where she started as an instructional coach at Valley High School and Valley Southwoods and is currently the Online Learning Coordinator for the district. In January of 2009, Carrie won the teacher Golden Apple Award after being nominated by three students for making a positive impact on their lives. Carrie is currently working for the city’s Youth Justice Initiative as a case monitor, supporting youth through the police department’s restorative justice program. She also works with CultureAll as an Open Book story, titled Farmgirl, sharing her experiences growing up on a farm and how that has impacted her life now living in a city. In her spare time, Carrie likes to explore the city and state on her bicycle, travel and camp with her family, and sit down with a good book and some hot tea on a rainy day.
Lakshanyaa Rajkumar Sudhakar
Lakshanyaa Rajkumar Sudhakar, is a high school senior at Waukee. She enjoys being able to share her voice and learn from so many incredible people in her leadership experiences. She is currently a youth advisor in the YMCA-USA National Youth Advisory Council.
She is also an ICYD Liaison, Committee Chair for Civic Engagement, and Representative in the Iowa Youth Congress and the Iowa Youth Governor for YMCA Youth and Government. Lakshanyaa started out in a Girls Who Code club at her school in order to support more young women pursuing computer science. Currently Lakshanyaa is an intern for NWF Strategies, a political consultancy firm. She serves as the Director of Chapter Coordination for Leveled Legislation, an international youth-led organization advocating for women's rights, where she help initiate and coordinate chapters across the U.S.
Milton Cole-Duvall
Rev. Cole-Duvall is a recipient of several distinguished awards, he has served as the moral compass for the City of West Des Moines. He served on the West Des Moines School Board, Iowa Commission of Persons with Disabilities, and serves as the Rev’d Canon of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in West Des Moines.
He has been an exemplary resident and have given back wherever possible. His participation in several historical movements that cemented our countries desires to be a more perfect union and illustrates his commitment to justice. He attended the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. He also marched in Selma across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with Amelia Boynton, John Lewis, and Dr. Martin Luther King. When he worked on the hill in Washington, he joined the NAACP and was an active supporter of key initiatives.
He is working with one of the exchange students from Ukraine, who is unable to return home, and offered his home until he can reunite with family. He is also currently involved in refurbishing a school in South Sudan. He has raised more than $30,000 dollars in donations to help rebuild a dilapidated school. He is also providing food for people starving in South Sudan. Milton not only makes a difference, his enthusiasm, and spirit is found to be contagious.
Renee Hardman, Principal Owner of Hardman Consulting, is an experienced professional with over 25 years of Executive level HR experience. Hardman Consulting provides services in the areas of employee development, diversity training, investigations, executive coaching, and leadership development. Ms. Hardman is currently a Certified Trainer, Coach & Speaker with the John Maxwell Team.
Renee Hardman’s previously served as Senior Vice President of HR at Des Moines’ largest privately held financial institution in the state of Iowa. Ms. Hardman was previously with the Iowa Department of Personnel and IPERS.
Ms. Hardman attended Drake University where she earned a BA with a major in Psychology and later obtained a Master in Business Administration (MBA). She has earned both the SPHR and SHRM-SCP HR certifications. Ms. Hardman’s community involvement includes Trustee for Des Moines University, Advisory Board for Governor and Billie D. Ray Center, Board Member of the Latina Leadership Initiative, Des Moines Chapter of The Links, Dress for Success and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is past President of the Chrysalis Foundation and longtime volunteer and past Board Member for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Des Moines.
Ms. Hardman is the recipient of many awards and honors. In 2014, she was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame. Other awards include the Distinguished Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s Alumni Volunteer Award, Connie Wimer Spirit Award, President Obama’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major of Service Award, Women of Influence Award, Best Minority Business Leader Award, and YWCA’s Women of Achievement Award.
She has chaired the Governor’s Diversity Committee and was an active member of Drake University’s Diversity and the Downtown Partnership’s Diversity Committee.
Audrey Kennis, Director of Human Services & Inclusion and Staff Liaison
Audrey Kennis is the Director of Human Services and Inclusion for the City of West Des Moines. She is an educator, practitioner, and social justice advocate.
Originally from Denver, Co, she moved to Iowa for college where she attended Clarke University in Dubuque, IA and obtained a Bachelors in Elementary Education and Philosophy. She went on to complete a Masters in Education with a certificate in Social Justice Education. She is currently finishing a second Masters in Community and Regional Planning at Iowa State University.
Previously, she worked at Iowa State University, with over a decade of experience in recruitment, retention, and multicultural programming. Kennis served as a prominent leader at Iowa State receiving several awards and accolades including the 2021 College of Human Sciences Outstanding Young Professional Award, 2019 Martin Luther King, Jr. Advancing One Community Award, 2017 University Award for Inclusive Excellence, 2015 College of Design Academic Advising Award and several others. Her seven awards and recognitions, three grants and eighteen professional-service involvements had a lasting impact on students, staff and faculty.
She is eager to work with the residents of West Des Moines to foster a welcoming, inclusive and just community that values all people and their needs equitably.
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Human Rights Commission Meetings
Meetings take place monthly beginning in January typically on the second Thursday of each month from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers. Time is allocated for the public to speak at the beginning of each meeting. If you need special accommodations or language assistance, please email Audrey Kennis. October 2024 meeting cancelled due to lack of quorum.
Minutes
Inquiries
Please call the Human Rights phone line at 515-222-3663.
History
The West Des Moines City Council passed the Human Rights Ordinance on December 14, 1998. The Human Rights Commission is an appointed body created to foster use of its programs and procedures to proclaim a public policy of non-discrimination by:
- Securing freedom from discriminatory practices
- Protecting individual dignity
- Preserving the public safety, health, and general welfare
- Promoting the interests, rights, and privileges of individual citizens within the City of West Des Moines
For More Information
The WDM Human Rights Commission advocates for members of the public relating to issues of municipal public services regarding equality and diversity based on age, color, creed, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation. For more information, email Audrey Kennis or call her at (515) 440-4835.
Additional Community Resources
Visit the Iowa Department of Human Rights website.
Visit One Iowa's website.
Visit the Iowa Civil Rights Commission website.
Learn more about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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