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Human Rights Commission Minutes <br />September 18, 2013 <br />Page 6 of 9 <br />a. Collaborate with the Karen Community on issues or projects of mutual <br />relevance to the Commission and the Karen Organization of Minnesota.) <br />Chair Grefenberg advised Commission members that these issues regarding the Karen <br />community would be discussed at future HRC meetings. <br />Commissioner Groff encouraged the youth commissioners to also address this issue at school. <br />Chair Grefenberg agreed with this suggestion, referring the Commission to <br />Youth Commissioner Thomas, referring to recommendation # 5, explained how a recent theater <br />project had addressed race and stated she would be willing to continue this conversation at <br />school. <br />Chair Grefenberg asked who was willing to serve on the Karen Initiative. He anticipated that <br />Commissioners Becker and Groff would be involved, as would Commissioner Thao regarding <br />conversations with the School District, Collaboration Item #3 (see above). <br />Commissioner Becker enquired about the Open Meeting Law issue since four commissioners <br />would constitute a quorum. Grefenberg said this was an initiative, not a committee. <br />Ms. Curti discussed the implications of the Open Meeting Law. Following some discussion it <br />was agreed that the Karen Initiative leadership team be reduced to three commissioners to assure <br />no open meeting laws would be violated. The alternative would be to post a meeting notice three <br />days prior to a meeting. <br />Chair Grefenberg moved and Commissioner Groff seconded a motion to revise the Human Right <br />Commission's Work Plan, Goal 7A to assure that the Commission was collaborating with the <br />Karen community on issues or projects of mutual relevance of the Commission and the Karen <br />Organization of Minnesota, with the leadership of this effort being Chair Grefenberg, <br />Commissioner Groff and Commissioner Becker. Motion passed unanimously. <br />Chair Grefenberg asked if the Commission was interested in hosting a naturalization ceremony <br />to recognize Karen members of the community who become US citizens, He anticipated that <br />there would be a great deal of lead time in order to plan such an event as the federal court <br />systems would have to concur. Commissioner Thao was interested in pursuing this event. <br />Commissioner Courneya suggested all minority groups be involved in the naturalization <br />ceremony and not just the Karen community. Chair Grefenberg indicated that this proposal <br />seemed reasonable. <br />Commissioner Becker questioned who would be working on the program. <br />Chair Grefenberg recommended Commissioner Courneya initiate a request of the federal court <br />system at the appropriate time. <br />