HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 3-Immigrant Rights in Minnesota
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Krystal Caron, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0347 • kcaron@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City to Hold Listening Sessions Examining Edina’s Accessibility
for Immigrants and Refugees
Edina, Minn., April 3, 2014 – In conjunction with the release of a study by The Advocates for Human
Rights, the City of Edina Human Rights & Relations Commission (HRRC) has announced plans to examine the
extent to which Edina respects, protects and fulfills the human rights of refugees and immigrants in the
community.
The HRRC will hold listening sessions modeled off of a study conducted by The One Voice Minnesota
initiative of The Advocates for Human Rights entitled “Moving from Exclusion to Belonging: Immigrant Rights
in Minnesota Today.” The One Voice Minnesota initiative aims to combat bias, address immigration-related
issues and build healthy welcoming communities through a network of resources, tools and information
sharing
“[This] template is one we will be using to gather information from people who live and work in Edina. The
Edina Human Rights & Relations Commission and the City Council believe the information gathered in this
structured process will be a valuable tool for us to use to ensure that our community is a welcoming place
where all people have respect, acceptance and the opportunity to participate in all aspects of community life,”
explained Arnie Bigbee, member of the HRRC.
The HRRC listening sessions will include residents of Edina and members of the immigrant community. The
listening sessions will examine whether Edina is seen as a welcoming community and learn more about the
experiences and perceptions of refugees and immigrants in Edina.
The findings of the The Advocates for Human Rights report were released at a press conference on April 2.
According to the Director of Advocacy for The Advocates for Human Rights Michele Garnett McKenzie, the
report shows that, “Minnesota needs to move beyond ‘Minnesota Nice’ by ending policies that exclude people
from our community and deny their basic human rights and by fostering real inclusion of all Minnesotans.”
For more information, contact Project Coordinator MJ Lamon, Staff Liaison to the HRRC at 952-826-0360 or
mlamon@EdinaMN.gov.
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