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October 16, 2013 Item 6 . b . c Next Steps Date: October 10, 2013 To: Roseville Human Rights Commission (HRC) Re: Next Steps for Karen Initiative Background: At the last Commission meeting Wayne Groff and I reported on our September 6t" meeting with the Karen Leadership of the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM). We and Carolyn Curti met with KOM's Executive Director, Chong Vang, to find out what are the issues and challenges currently facing the Karen, especially those living in Roseville. At that September meeting we presented a summary of this first meeting with KOM. We encouraged you to review it, especially the last section Some Possible Items which the HRC and KOM Can collaborate on, pages 2 -3. Subsequently there was a second meeting arranged by the HRC with various city officials on the Rental Licensing proposal. To facilitate our discussion next week I have reproduced those recommended steps below. I suggest we use this as a check list on our progress on this HRC initiative. On the list below I have notated in blue what progress has subsequently occurred in implementing these steps. � Check List on Implementation of Karen Initiative � 1) Participate in the September 16 City Council meeting discussion on rental registration. KOM will work on a position paper and likely have someone present their thoughts at the meeting. (This may mean looking at the bigger housing picture.) The HRC could be present to support the Karen representative and possibly raise some of the other issues raised at today's meeting. • Achieved. Second meeting held with city officials on October 2 "d to discuss proposal to license apartment buildings. (See previous Memo from Chair dated October 9t" on Karen Initiative.) 2) Youth Commissioners: a) Invite Karen youth to meet with youth commissioners to discuss ways to collaborate. b) Encourage Karen youth to apply for a commission appointment in 2014. 3) Work with Kaying Thao to facilitate a conversation between school leaders and members of the Karen community, to air concerns and look for solutions. 0 09 -18 -2013: Commissioner Kaying Thao agreed to lead this effort. 4) Culture Fest —part of Rosefest 5) Collaborate on Rosetown Playhouse events, help promote 6) Tenants' Rights —help Karen renters know their rights 7) Hosting a Naturalization Ceremony to recognize members of the Karen community who have become US citizens • 09 -18 -2013: HRC gave preliminary approval to hosting a reception and ceremony and broadened the above step to include honoring all new citizens and their respective immigrant communities in the general area of Roseville. 0 See Attachment prepared by Commissioner Courneya. 8) Translation Services 9) Forums or Community Meetings — helping each other understand other people's customs, culture, laws, rules 10) Arrange meetings with HRC, Police Chief, City council members, others, to discuss issues or concerns, possibly at