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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br /> Date: August 25, 2014 <br /> Item No.: 10.a <br />Department Approval City Manager Approval <br />Item Description: Joint Meeting with Human Rights Commission <br />B <br />ACKGROUND <br />1 <br />2 <br />Each year, the Human Rights Commission meets with the City Council to review activities and <br />3 <br />accomplishments and to discuss the upcoming year’s work plan and issues that may be <br />4 <br />considered. <br />5 <br />6 <br />Activities <br />7 <br />8 <br />1. January 15 Immigrant Experience Forum <br />9 <br /> Advocates for Human Rights facilitated a discussion exploring ways Roseville can be more <br />10 <br /> welcoming and inclusive. The discussion was well attended filling up the Council <br />11 <br /> Chambers with residents, City staff, and community leaders from a variety of different <br />12 <br /> backgrounds. <br />13 <br />2. Student Essay Contest <br />14 <br /> HRC received over 100 essays and selected 9 winners. First place recipient, Elijah Sailer- <br />15 <br /> Haugland took first place in the state contest by the League of Minnesota Human Rights <br />16 <br /> Commission. <br />17 <br />3. Naturalization Ceremony <br />18 <br />The HRC worked with U.S. District Court staff to organize a naturalization ceremony for 52 <br />19 <br />new citizens in the Olympic Room at the Skating Center. This was the first time Roseville had <br />20 <br />hosted a naturalization ceremony, and it was unanimous by the commission that we host <br />21 <br />another ceremony in 2015. Byerly’s donated over 200 baked goods for the event. <br />22 <br />4. Race Dialogue <br />23 <br /> On May 22 the HRC hosted a free race dialogue entitled, White People Face Race that was <br />24 <br />being funded by a grant through the Saint Paul Foundation. 25 seats were available and they <br />25 <br />were filled with residents, community leaders, and many interested people from outside the <br />26 <br />community. The dialogue was well facilitated by Sarah Super of the YWCA and the <br />27 <br />discussion was positively received. <br />28 <br />5. Parade with KOM Dancers <br />29 <br />The HRC walked in the Rosefest Parade this year with the addition of dancers and musicians <br />30 <br />from the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM). Student essay contest winners, Elijah <br />31 <br />Sailer-Haugland and Ashley Chavez, also walked along with the Commission. <br />32 <br />33 <br />Accomplishments <br />34 <br />1. Provided public forum on concerns and issues of Roseville citizens relating to human rights <br />. <br />35 <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />