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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 06/14/2007 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY,JUNE 14, 2007 7:00 PM, 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Cari Maguire (Chair), Melissa Barra(Vice Chair), Daniel Abraira, Larry Piumbroeck, Jeff Strate, Gerry Beckmann, and Pam Spera STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Sandra Moran, and Steven Shouts COMMISSION STAFF: Molly Koivumaki Staff Liaison Peggy Rasmussen, Recording Secretary I. ROLL CALL Commission Chair Maguire called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Commissioner Piumbroeck was excused. Commissioner Beckmann arrived at 7:30 p.m. Student representatives were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA As there were no changes to the agenda, it was approved as published. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MAY MEETING MOTION: Strate moved, seconded by Spera, to approve the minutes of the Human Rights and Diversity Commission held on May 10, 2007 as published. Motion carried 5-0. IV. NEW BUSINESS V. REPORTS OF STAFF A. HUMAN SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE (HSRC) B. BIAS CRIME ACTIVITY STATUS C. TPT 17 PROGRAM: "SUBURBAN IMMIGRANTS FIND PEACE" Koivumaki distributed a memo to the Commissioners regarding a television program to be aired Sunday, June 17, at 7:30 p.m. on Channel 17. The program is called "Suburban Immigrants Find Peace", and will focus on the secondary migration of immigrants moving from big cities to suburban areas such as Eden Prairie. Koivumaki said she doesn't know who will be speaking on behalf of the Somali Community. Martin Mohamed has done this in the past, but the Somali Community does not necessarily accept him as their spokesperson. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES June 14, 2007 Page 2 The memo states that Eden Prairie has the largest Somali Community in Minnesota. Koivumaki questioned that statement, and said Eden Prairie might not have any more Somalis than Minneapolis. Abraira offered to make a call to Refugee Immigrant Services to check on whether that statement is correct. They would have information on where the largest number of Somalis live. VI. OLD BUSINESS VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS A. SOUTH HENNEPIN IMMIGRANT SERVICES GROUP (SHISG) Commissioner Beckmann reported on the SHISG meeting. The speaker was Julia Morgan from Hennepin County's Office of Multicultural Services. She is the attorney who helps non-residents keep or adjust their status. She mainly assists people with obtaining a "green card" and does counseling of people with problems of a criminal nature. She spent a lot of time talking about dramatic changes in the fees, which will increase as much as 60 percent in some cases, beginning July 31, 2007. Beckmann said that Morgan said her job was difficult and time-consuming because immigration laws keep changing and now all information on forms must be verified. One example of this is that some immigrants have not told the truth before they entered the country. The authorities now look at what people said before entering the country and compare it with what they say now, to make sure it is the same. If a person changes his story, that is grounds for charging him with fraud. Morgan is the only person in this office working with immigrants who has a law degree or who has gone through a course in helping people with immigration laws. Many cases take months or years to complete, because some immigrants keep changing their stories and it can take a long time to have them verified. Beckmann reported that Minnesota is working very hard on multicultural issues and has many more people working on them than do the states around us. She showed Commissioners a list of other services they provide. The next meeting of the SHISG is July 9. Strate commented that there are many Web site guides for immigrants to refer to. Commissioner Abraira said there is an attorney service in St. Paul that works with Minnesota Human Rights through the State of Minnesota. B. ANY COMMISSION MEMBER MAY REPORT 1. Presentation to the City Council—Commissioner Spera Spera made the presentation to the City Council in place of Commission Chair Maguire, who could not attend, but wrote a very comprehensive report HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES June 14, 2007 Page 3 on the work of the HRDC, and Koivumaki helped with the PowerPoint. Spera said the Council seemed receptive. Spera also gave out the Human Rights awards, which she said was the highlight of the evening for her. The recipients expressed how much the award meant to them. Beckmann noted that the Eden Prairie News had only a short article about it in last week's paper. Strate said he called the public relations people at the newspaper and they offered to print a picture of the group of recipients. Maguire requested that offer be followed up. 2. 36th Annual Conference of the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions—Commissioner Maguire Maguire received an e-mail regarding the above conference to be held on Saturday, September 29, 2007 at the Grand Casino Convention Center in Mille Lacs. The theme is "Human Rights, Civil Rights and Treaty Rights: Minnesota Challenges." Information about the conference was distributed. Koivumaki asked the Commissioners to consider going to this conference. In the past the City has paid for Commissioners to attend. The price would be less if they get at least four people go. 3. Request for Assistance in Getting Visa Extension—Commissioner Strate Strate reported he has been asked to help a man from Africa who needs an extension of his visa. It appears that he is here legitimately, but says he could be imprisoned if he has to return to his home country. Strate said he is trying to connect the man to the right people, and will let the Commissioners know what happens. 4. International Festival— Sunday,August 12, 2007 Maguire said the Eden Prairie Library is willing to put up a table where the Commission can display information about the International Festival. Barra offered to put up a display. Spera reported that she went to the International Festival Committee meeting on June 13. She said a committee member from the International School would be finding people to do cultural displays at the festival. Beckmann has agreed to work at the information booth and Maguire is doing children's activities. Barra said she would like to do face painting. Spera pointed out there hasn't been anything for teenagers in past years and the committee would like to have them involved. Jasmine, who is in the Diversity Club at school, sent out a message on "Facebook" to see if some teenagers from school would set up displays. Spera said the display tables should be free for them; otherwise the rent is $10. The committee is trying to use fewer paid acts. Abraira said he has a friend who might be willing to play for nothing. HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES June 14, 2007 Page 4 Beckmann said the International Festival has grown because people have told others about it, but there needs to be more publicity. Maguire said last year the City paid to have flyers inserted in the newspapers, and also more signs were ordered, but she said they need to be put up earlier. Beckmann noted that having the International School involved will be a big boost to the festival. Koivumaki said there should be information about the festival placed on Eden Prairie's Web site. Spera said she would like to use the big bulletin board at Staring Lake to advertise the festival, and also have it announced at performances of"South Pacific" the next two weekends. Beckmann inquired if there is someone who could write a personal invitation to the Mayor and the Council Members to attend, because they seldom come to the festival. Koivumaki said she has asked Sandy Werts to invite the Council Members to attend. Koivumaki asked if a polka band had ever performed at the festival and was told there had never been a polka band. Beckmann suggested having dancing. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The HRDC will not meet in July and August. The next meeting will be on September 13. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Barra moved, seconded by Abraira, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Chair Maguire adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.