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Human Rights Commission Minutes October 16, 2013 — Draft Minutes Page 6 of 10 227 Grefenberg continued that now he was viewing the Human Rights Commission's involvement 228 with the Karen Community no longer as a one -shot program or an event, but as an Initiative 229 which focuses on developing a collaborative relationship with this most recent immigrant 230 community to arrive in Roseville. In effect, he added, the HRC was finding this relationship was 231 more of a mentoring and learning experience for itself, and hope that relationship would be of 232 some value to the Karen's leadership, the Karen Organization of Minnesota. The HRC did not 233 want to tell you what to do or form your opinion, but to give you advice on how to be effective at 234 City Hall. The Commission would like to hear some of the problems your community may be 235 facing, he concluded. 236 237 Discussion: Chair Grefenberg welcomed Chong Vang, Executive Director of the Karen 238 Organization of Minnesota (KOM' � ° 7 and asked him to introduce his 239 staff present to the Commission 240 241 Chong Vang introduced himself, Eh Tha Khu and MuLa, a high school student at the Fairview 242 Alternative School. Mr. Vang- thanked the Commission for their time this evening. He 243 explained the Karen Initiative was working to invite refugees into the community of Roseville. 244 245 Grefenberg also referred the Commission's attention to the October 10th document entitled Next 246 Steps of Karen Initiative which he indicated he had reviewed with Mr. Vang and secured his 247 agreement with. He suggested this could serve as an outline for future discussions with KOM, 248 but first asked Mr. Vang provide the Commission with further 249 information on the concerns of the Karen community. 250 251 Mr. Vang explained the rental license process and implementation was a concern (Item #1 on the 252 referenced Next Steps). There was worry that families would be evicted and forced to live 253 elsewhere without knowing where to go; he referenced a recent situation in St. Paul where two 254 weeks before eviction four families of Karen renters found they had nowhere to move. He 255 indicated his biggest concern was possible unintentional consequences of the Rental Licensing 256 proposal. 257 258 Vang said collaboration with the HRC would allow his community to have a better connection 259 and build that relationship where his community would know where to go and get some help if 260 such events were to occur. If you do not know where to go or who to turn to the result often is 261 that you feel yourself a victim. An alliance with the Roseville Human Rights Commission In 262 addition, the poor maintenance of rental properties was an issue. 263 264 14e Vang added that his organization was available to the Karen community offering 265 support and advocacy on their behalf. As such, his role was to find access for the Karen 266 Community. He commented there was a level of fear between the Karen community and the 267 Government, given the history of the Karen people. He was working to educate the Karen 268 community that the United States was different, and people had the right to ask 269 questions and seek answers from the government. 270