(651)788-7593
Two new staff members joined KOM recently. Every Gyi joined the KOM staff in July 2017 as a Community Educator in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources. Suzanne Olive joined the KOM staff in late July 2017 as the new Community Engagement Specialist.
Get to know Every Gyi…
Every Gyi was born in Tham Him refugee camp in Thailand. In 2006, he moved to the United States with his family and settled in Minnesota. He then attended Edgerton Elementary School where he was one of four Karen students. After a few years, Every started middle school at Roseville Area Middle School where he met Eh Tah Khu, KOM’s Co-Executive Director, in a Karen youth mentor program. He attended high school at Harding High School in St. Paul, and interned at 3M during that time. He graduated from Harding in June of 2016 and then joined the Army National Guard. For training for the National Guard, Every was placed in South Carolina for a few months and then Virginia for six months. He started working part time at KOM in July of 2017 as a Community Educator on hunting and fishing laws and regulations in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources. Every is also currently enrolled at Saint Paul College, pursuing an Automotive Technician degree. He is excited for his work at KOM because he can help his Karen people and it gets him a step closer to reaching his goal of becoming a conservation officer.
Why did you decide to you wanted to work at KOM?
I decided to work at KOM because the new job that they were hiring for fits well with my future goal of becoming a conservation officer. I also want to gain leadership skills and have the opportunity to work with my Karen people who desperately need our help. I hope to stay on as long as possible.
What have you been doing since you started at KOM?
Since I started, I have been planning for an upcoming workshop and a field trip where we will teach people in the community about hunting laws and safety. I have been working a lot with Tong Vang, a community liaison from the Department of Natural Resources. In the future, we hope to create a class for people to obtain their firearm safety certificate.
What are you most looking forward to with your job at KOM?
I am most looking forward to people coming to the workshop and grasping the opportunities we have for them. This position will help push me past my limit to become a better version of myself. This will also help me to become a community leader and, eventually, a conservation officer.
Get to know Suzanne Olive…
Suzanne Olive is from Saint Paul, MN and graduated from the University of Minnesota in May of 2017 with a B.A. in Sociology, a minor in Spanish Studies, and a second minor in Chinese. She has always been passionate about learning languages, and her studies in Sociology helped her uncover another passion: social justice. Working at a non-profit, specifically geared towards immigrant groups, stood out as an opportunity to combine both of those passions. Through her church in Saint Paul, Suzanne came to know many Karen people and is now married into a Karen family. She has known about the Karen Organization of Minnesota for some time, and was excited to see that they were a host site for a VISTA position through the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Suzanne has volunteered in youth programs, and adult and elementary ESL classes that served the Karen community in Saint Paul and is looking forward to learning more about KOM. She hopes to build KOM’s connection with the community as well as develop her professional skills for future nonprofit work.
Why did you decide to you wanted to work at KOM?
I came across KOM as a host site for an AmeriCorps VISTA position through the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits when I attended the Spring U of MN Job and Internship Fair. I was interested in working in the nonprofit sector after graduation and I love the Karen community, so when I saw this opportunity I couldn’t help but apply.
What have you been doing since you started at KOM?
I have been learning a ton about what goes on at KOM including the various programs that are offered, what the staff is working on, the volunteer needs, and how the organization is viewed by the community. I have been doing a lot of communication work with social media, the newsletter, and events. I have also begun recruiting volunteers for upcoming programs.
What are you most looking forward to with your job at KOM?
I am most looking forward to being more involved in the Karen community, participating in the events, giving back to the organization and growing professionally.
