Town and Gown Committee

TOWN AND GOWN COMMITTEE MEETING 12:00pm TUESDAY – APRIL 12, 2022 HAMPTON COUNCIL CHAMBERS MINUTES Call to Order Chairman McKenna welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m. Roll Call Chairman McKenna asked the Clerk to call the roll: Members Present: Ann Bane, Tracy Ashley, Shay Claxton, Dominque DeBose, Novelle Dickenson, Andrew Green, Robin McCormick, Bob McKenna, Raymond Tripp, Donnie Tuck Staff Present: Annette Oakley, Trace Hall Guest: Carolene Goodwyn-Harris & Angela Haywood (Bryant & Stratton), Latiesha Handie & Star Muhammad (Office of Youth & Young Adult Opportunity) Approve March 8, 2022 Meeting Minutes Chairman McKenna stated the draft minutes from the March 8, 2022 meeting were distributed for review, and if there are no changes called for a motion to approve. ACTION: Robin McCormick made the motion to accept the minutes, and Raymond Tripp seconded. All in favor, minutes were approved. Summer Youth Employment Program: Chairman McKenna welcomed Latiesha Handie and Star Muhammad, who gave a brief presentation regarding the Hampton Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), highlighting the following:  2022 SYEP Initiatives  240 applications received and interviews are being conducted  Over 60 applicants from each high school  Over 49 difference host sites, with an interest of 140 sites  Asking the Town & Gown Committee for mentors/job coaches There was an opportunity for the committee to ask questions: Q. Are there more job requests than jobs to fill? A. They have internal & external; asking for atleast 140 participants, but only have 125 positions to allocate. 1 Ms. Handie added they want to strengthen the program by adding a mentoring component (for example, with members of the Town & Gown Committee). They want it to be aspirational experiences for the students. Q. What does the mentorship entail? A. One hour per week to just check in; making sure they are showing up to work and/or to show support. Ms. Handie added, an expectation would be to follow up, formally or informally; giving words of aspiration and engage with the employee. She mentioned they hold update meetings with staff/youth, as conversations are important. Q. Does the mentor and career coach work together? A. It would be ideal that they all work together. Ms. Handie confirmed that they hold a formal orientation with each employee and with mentor/employee and they also hold ‘quarterly’ (every two weeks) check-ins meetings. Carolene Goodwyn-Harris stated Bryant & Stratton have workshops that can assist the employee and extended the college’s services to the SYEP. She also wanted to know about the career coach piece? Ms. Handie stated it is a five- hour commitment to be sure employees are on their work site. Each coach has three to four young people. She is checking to see if the armed forces has folks available as well, as they do need more support. The ‘call to action’ today is to recruit mentors and career coaches and Ms. Handie can provide a job description for both. Q. Where are mentors/career coaches from? A. Some are from school teachers, college interns, etc. Chairman McKenna asked Ms. Handie and Ms. Muhammad to send to him, or Ms. Oakley, information and we can get it out to the committee. He thanked both for providing their presentation. Chairman McKenna stated we all have busy day jobs, but working in the arena of this committee, one of the best things we can do is bring in guest like Ms. Handie/Ms. Muhammad, and Maegan Barnes. He asked if members have guest they would like to invite, to please let him know. Bylaws: Chairman McKenna stated we need to vote on the amendments made to the bylaws and called for a motion to accept the bylaw changes. ACTION: Raymond Tripp made the motion to accept the bylaw changes as written. Robin McCormick seconded. Trace Hall brought up the point that due to the increase in members, the total for a quorum should be nine (9). A vote was taken and motion passed. Key Updates/Other Business: o Marketing, INC – Robin McCormick gave the following updates:  State of the City is scheduled for December 1, 2022.  The City Manager recommended budget is due on April 15, 2022. 2 o Phoebus Partnership – Dominque Debose provided the following updates:  Markerspace officially opened on April 1st at Fort Monroe where people come to do craftsmanship, woodworking, etc. (There is a Norfolk location as well). Bo Turner is the Director.  Spring Fling & Beer Fest will be held April 23rd and includes vendors, a car show, crafts, etc. o Bryant & Stratton – Carolene Goodwyn-Harris reported on the following updates:  Today - Blood Drive until 3:00pm at the campus (to help a child with cancer)  April 30th – Rapid registration kick-off from 9:00am-1:00pm.  May 4th – Summer session begins o Hampton City Schools – Ann Bane reported on the following:  Currently holding registration for Pre-K  Just finished Spring break last week  Standardized and AP testing starts soon and graduation will be in June She mentioned Makerspace is great and she was proud of the collaboration. She met the director and thanked him for the comments he made regarding the City and Hampton City Schools. o Virginia Peninsula Community College – Tracy Ashley reported they are now holding summer and fall enrollments. o Hampton University (HU) – Novelle Dickenson reported on the following:  HU is expanding the football stadium  President Harvey is retiring and there will be a gala on June 15th. HU has not publicly announced a new President yet.  Commencement will be May 8th  150th Anniversary of the HU Choir is coming up; they are historically a legacy for both HU and the City. o Hampton Roads Workforce Council – Shay Claxton reported on the following:  In-person orientation on Tuesdays/Thursdays, which is first-come, first- serve, with a twelve-person limit.  Training process - with a grant of up to $8,000 available. Mayor Tuck mentioned, in regards to the HU Choir 150th Anniversary, HU should be a cultural draw, and feels the information for various activities (choir performances, dances, speakers, etc.) is sometimes too internal. He suggested sharing school information with Robin McCormick, as well as other avenues to share more information that happens at the campus. He stated the 150th Anniversary is very significant and Hampton citizens want to support, and have a great appreciation for, the University. Chairman McKenna also mentioned the VPCC newsletter can be available for getting the information out as well. Chairman McKenna mentioned VPCC Spotlight on the Peninsula, which is a monthly networking program on Friday evenings. They will probably spotlight the Makerspace in the future. Some other upcoming spotlights are:  Technical Innovation Center  VA Tech Seafood Agricultural Research Center  State of the Fort at Fort Monroe Theatre He shared some upcoming events as well:  Woman’s Leadership Forum (Thursday at 7:30) 3   Peninsula Economic Leadership Forum (Alexis Swan is guest speaker) Mayor Tuck mentioned upcoming commencements and inquired if they will be in in-person, and the location, which are as follows:  HU - 5/8/22 – Football Stadium  VPCC (TNCC) – 5/16/22 - Liberty Baptist Church  Bryant & Stratton – 6/20/22 – Virginia Beach Convention Center Robin mentioned we may be able to light up City Hall with the school colors. Next Meeting: May 10, 2022 – City Council Chambers Adjourn: Chairman McKenna thanked everyone for attending. There being no further business, he adjourned the meeting. 4