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Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes April 12, 2011 Commissioners Present: Chair David Singleton; Commissioners Anthony Barrett, Jill Brisbois, Gary Grefenberg, Thelma McKenzie, Marie Siliciano, Kaying Thao Commissioner Absent: Seth Josephson, Peg Kennedy, Barb Yates 1. Call to Order Chair David Singleton called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. The Clerk called the roll. 2. Swearing in of New Commissioners Chair Singleton administered the oath to Commissioner Jill Brisbois and Commissioner Kaying Thao. 3. Approve Minutes of March 8, 2011 Commissioner Gary Grefenberg moved and Commissioner Thelma McKenzie seconded approval of the minutes as corrected. Motion prevailed unanimously. 4. Staff /Committee Reports 4a. Visions of Success Subcommittee Commissioner McKenzie summarized the April 7 Regional Forum. She said presenters provided exceptional information, but with four presenters they did not have a lot of time for discussion. She noted that there was a good cross section from the region. Visitors from Cottage Grove, St. Paul, Shoreview, Plymouth and Stillwater, among others attended. Carolyn Curti distributed an email from the forum planners with a critique of the event. Commissioner McKenzie said staff from the University of Minnesota and the Department of Human Rights were easy to work with and encouraged the next regional forum to be in a neighboring city as a way to increase outreach. Other Commissioners agreed on the success of the forum, noting attendance by students from National American University. Commissioners discussed whether the discussion was too legalistic, appealing to people who work in or advocate for human rights and not the general public. Commissioners agreed that we are at the building stage. This was an effort to raise the public's conscience and a great opportunity to partner with neighboring communities. Carolyn Curti distributed a flyer from the Falcon Heights Human Rights Commission FHHRC) promoting their May 5 community meeting to welcome the Somali community to the area. FHHRC asked Roseville commissioners to attend and to promote the event to friends and neighbors.