MARSHALL — An office that has helped a refugee group transition to living in the Marshall area is closing today.

Karen Organization of Minnesota office has been set up in the Twin Cities to assist the Karen population in Minnesota (about 17,000). In addition, many have moved to rural communities — such as Marshall, Worthington, Willmar, Austin and Albert Lea — for employment, affordable housing, and safety, according to the website, mnkaren.org. A satellite office opened in Marshall in 2014 to serve the refugees from Burma who now number 700 in the area.

Unfortunately, because of lack of funding, the Marshall office is closing effective today. According to a news release, “At the end of 2018, we determined that we would not be able to financially sustain this office moving forward. KOM’s office in Marshall will close as of Jan. 31, 2019.”

Nancy Straw, executive director for United Community Action Partnership, said UCAP has let the staff use an office on Saratoga Street rent-free for a number of years now. When a Karen client with limited English proficiency came to UCAP for assistance, it was convenient to send them to the KOM office for interpretation.

Now, with the office closing, UCAP staff will hand Karen clients a letter telling them the Karen office is closed and a list of referrals.

“We can make arrangements for an interpreter by phone,” Straw said.

In a news release, KOM thanks Ron Skjong, Marshall program manager, and Muhser Hser, case manager, “for their dedication to KOM and the Karen community in Marshall for the past four years. Their passion for connecting people and promoting diversity has benefited not only Karen refugees, but the city and the region as a whole.”

Skjong expressed regret for the office closing.

“I feel badly for the Karen people and for the part-time worker,” he said.

“We had a good run and helped a lot of people,” Skjong said. “We raised awareness and educated people.”

Skjong said he is encouraged by the conversations that have been started between people in all sectors who share a commitment to welcoming immigrants and refugees.

“We are confident that they will continue to carry out that vision in partnership with the local Karen community,” he said. “I think the resilience of the Karen, along with the willingness of the Marshall community, can solve a lot of challenges.”

The Karen (pronounced Ka-REN) are an ethnic group from the mountainous border regions of Burma and Thailand, according to mnkaren.org. For years, they have been subject to persecution and ethnic cleansing by the Burmese government, and many have been living in refugee camps in Thailand for years before being resettled to Minnesota.

Many Karen adults have found jobs at Turkey Valley Farms, Schwan Food Company, and Christensen Farms.

KOM staff, Eh Tah Khu and Alexis Walstad visited the Marshall office in early January and were “impressed with how much the community has changed in the past four years as a result of partnerships between our staff, Karen residents and numerous local agencies.”

They said awareness of the Karen community has increased as a result of the Marshall office’s efforts.

“Whereas few people in Marshall had previous knowledge of the Karen, we now find eager supporters in every sector of government, business and nonprofits who are excited to have Karen people in their city and want to know how they can work with them.”

The news release goes on to say the metro office will continue to support the Marshall area community however it can.

“We were glad to be able to meet with many of these partners during our visit, and we know that they will uphold our mission to ensure that refugees from Burma can participate fully in all areas of society. We are also inspired by Karen individuals in Marshall who have stepped into leadership roles in schools, the workforce, and community organizing.”

KOM staff thanks the Otto Bremer Trust which has been the primary supporter of the Marshall office for the past four years, as well as the Southwest Initiative Foundation, United Way of Southwest Minnesota, Marshall Community Foundation and Headwaters Foundation.