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September 18, 2013 Item 6 . b . 3 Report on meeting with Karen Leadership Attachment #2 September 5, 2013 Summary of Meeting with Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM) and Roseville Human Rights Commission (HRC) Present: Chong Bee Vang, Executive Director, Eh Tha Khu, Youth Academic Support Coordinator, and Roseville Human Rights Commissioners Gary Grefenberg and Wayne Groff, and City Staff Liaison Carolyn Curti. Gary Grefenberg, HRC chair, opened the meeting, thanking Mr. Vang for meeting with the HRC, adding that from his perspective he saw this meeting as the first step towards a collaborative and effective relationship between the HRC and the Roseville Karen community. The HRC's intent was to make sure the Karen community felt welcome in Roseville, and to make sure that it was aware of the HRC role in case there were any problems or mutual opportunities to improve the lives of this new community of immigrants. Grefenberg also noted that he had told the Karen community at the last KOM Forum in May that HRC would work with KOM if it wished in organizing another forum or meeting on issues of concern to them. Mr. Vang responded by saying that he wants to establish a good relationship between the Karen community and the rest of the community. Mr. Vang said the Karen really liked the May forum. It was good for the Karen community to hear that the government is there to support them. He related a story about illegal (squirrel) hunting in St. Paul. He wants to assure all people that the Karen community will follow the law, and if a person sees something illegal happening, he or she should call the police. At the same time, he wants us to know that members of the Karen community are not purposely breaking the law; they may not know what the law is, so they need help learning state and city laws. He mentioned the Rosetown Playhouse and the success of this summer's art show on the theme How We Got Here. It included Karen themes and youth as participants. Mr. Vang said some of the Karen's current concerns are with the School District, noting two incidents in 2012 and 2013 altercations between African American and Karen youth — bullying and fighting. Mr. Vang related these incidents, one at RAMS and one at Fairview Alternative School. The incident at RAMS was handled very poorly. Five Karen kids were expelled and only one or two African American kids. He said the teachers did not intervene when the youths were fighting, and the only response was a letter written in English sent to the parents. He asked why the school did not include the Karen translator and the Karen Liaison who were at the building when the incident occurred. 11