A big breakfast at Farview Park on Saturday morning will serve as the victory celebration for a group of neighbors who campaigned for a day shift Hmong police officer on the North Side, home to many of the city's Hmong residents. Officer Kou Vang was named Hmong outreach officer for north Minneapolis last August, but his position nearly melted away when the new budget was announced. A second round of campaigning saved his brand new job and neighborhood activists learned in December they had secured Vang for the Fourth Precinct.
The Fourth Precinct already had two Hmong officers, but they work the night shift, according to Jay Clark, program director for the Minnesota Center for Neighborhood Organizing. Vang's job will help connect the Hmong community with the police department.
Some 100 people are expected at the gathering, according to InsideNorthside Facebook page. Hmong egg rolls and purple sticky rice will be served. The park's gymnasium will be open for soccer, volleyball and other games.
Farview Park is at Lyndale and 29th Avs. N.
The gathering begins at 9:30 a.m.
