Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males

M I N U T E S MICHIGAN CITY COMMISSION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES Wednesday, February 12, 2014 Commissioners Present: Commissioners Absent: Marty Corley Albertine Allen Joan Ganschow Geri Jones Pastor David Ashley Willie Milsap Faye Moore Richard Murphy-Council Liaison Lester Norvell Rodney Washington Arthur Payne, Jr. James “Jim” Stemmler Nila Williams Also Present: Andy Steel- Cameraman MISSION STATEMENT: To identify and recommend public remedies to increase, broaden and improve the economic, educational, social and professional status of the African-American male locally. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at approximately 12:00 pm by Commissioner Arthur Payne, Jr. ROLL CALL: Commissioner Faye Moore called the roll – Attendance and absences are reflected above. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Payne asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Motion made by Commissioner Joan Ganschow; seconded Commissioner Marty Corley. Motion carried. No: Nays TREASURER'S REPORT: None – No funds at this time. GUEST SPEAKER: None ELECTION OF OFFICERS: Commissioner Payne stepped down and turned the meeting over to Joan Ganschow, vice-chair for the election of officers. It was decided at January meeting that we would receive nominations from the floor. Nominations for President are open- Commissioner Lester Norvell made a motion to retain the current officers, seconded by Jim Stemmler. Call for vote- All in favor of retaining officers say, “Aye” – Eight present voted Aye, no “Nay” vote. Discussion- There was no discussion needed. Motion carried. Officers will remain the same, Commissioner Arthur Payne, Jr.-Chairman/ Joan Ganschow- Vice- Chair/ Faye Moore-Secretary and Marty Corley-Treasurer. Commissioner A. Payne, Jr.: Passed out packet that had been downloaded from the following website: www.in./gov/fssa/dfr/3306.htm this information is Page 1 of 2 ICSSBM Mission Statement (Indiana Commission Social Status of Black Males) and pages 1 and 2 of ICSSBM Community Action, which are suggested programs that can and are being done in the Community. Commissioner Payne suggested we review them and see if we might be able to do one or two of them. Pastor Damon Carnes will be replacing Rev. Ashley on this Commission and hopefully we will get to meet him next month. 1 Secretary Report: The Annual Report has been completed, an electronic copy has been sent to each Commissioner for your final review. Please respond by email if there are any corrections, additions, etc. (A copy was passed around for quick review.) Commissioner Marty Corley stated that his section needs to be changed to, “Neighborhood and Social Factors.” Commissioner Payne asked the Vice-chair to do the presentation to the City Council members and she passed it back to Faye, who is more familiar with what has been put together. COMMITTEE REPORTS: Commissioner Marty Corley: The Barbershop Health Initiative has been scheduled for April 5, 2014 (Saturday) 9:00 a.m.-3:00 pm at (2) Barbershops- Marvelous Cuts -2703 Franklin Street and Sharper’s Image Barber Shop -5150 Franklin St. (Meijer’s). Flyers and more information will be distributed throughout the Community prior to this even with more detailed information. Nila Williams and Health Linc are assisting in this program. If you want to assist in getting putting this together, the next meeting is Tuesday at 5:00 pm- Michigan Township Trustee Office or you can contact: Marty Corley at mcorley20@hotmail.com or Nila Williams at her office (219) 872-6200 ext. 3730 Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 pm Social Factors- I am still trying to get in touch with Pastor Wolford at Southwind Emmanuel Church. Hope to have a budget prepared for the March meeting. The five (5) Community Resource Centers will run from 5:00 pm-9:00 pm or 5:00 -10:00 pm. At Pastor Ashley- Redeemed Fellowship/Pentecostal on Karwick-Pastor Lane/Damon Carnes- 222 Mc Clelland, HOPE Bldg. / Michigan Township Trustee-2601 E. Michigan Blvd. /Pastor Kevin Wolford-South Wind Emmanuel-Southwind Drive. Each location will be one day a week and we are all working together to try and have the same programs. Christine Patterson of Grace Leaning Center is also working with us in getting things going. Commissioner Lester Norvell: Would like to thank the Mayor for the contribution to this Commission, looking forward to us moving forward. Commissioner Joan Ganschow: The Youth Leadership Summit was held October 2014 and perhaps out of Marty’s Social Factor Group, we will have more youth leaders. ICJA- Northern Region Conference will be held in Plymouth on May 8, 2014 at Swan Lake Resort- Cost: Members $35.00, Non-members $45.00 and Students $15.00. For more information contact her (219) 898-5626 Mr. Garrett, Executive Director lost his brother and we sent a fruit basket and sympathy card on behalf of the Commission. His brother was young around fifty years old and it was sudden, please call or write. LaPorte County Drug Partnership –meeting and in LaPorte County over 8-% of the crimes that are committee, drugs or alcohol is involved in some way. If you want to be on the Criminal Justice Committee, please contact me at (219) 898-5626. (Commissioner Payne interjected, that you DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION) Commissioner Jim Stemmler: Amoco got 4 billion dollar program working, which will decrease apprentice programs.  Need Job Fairs to be more affective  Need to start in elementary school and middle schools teaching metric system  Bldg. Trades meet 2nd. & 4th Monday of each month-need more participation  Because of “Second Chance Law” more businesses are hiring ex-felons – they are beginning to recognize that ex-felons do want to work; have to stay clean and sober and are good workers.  Bldg. Trade representatives do go to Kessling Middle School in LaPorte- need to be in more schools Action Step: Mr. Payne and Jim will meet with the Superintendent of Michigan City Area Schools and present to her the program that is being presented at Kessling. Commissioner Payne will meet with SSCBM of Gary and see when their next Expungement session is and perhaps we can collaborate on something. 2  Commissioner Payne: Earlier in the meeting – Would like to thank Mr. James Garrett, Executive Director for attending the Mayors Ball. It took him four hours to travel on such a bad snowy day, but he made it all the way to show his support of the Commission. Thank you. Commissioner Ashley: I have enjoyed serving on the commission, I have learned a lot and I will continue to be present. My goal was to bring the Church and Community together. We held a Candidate Forum at Redeemed Fellowship on Saturday, February 1, 2014 and intend on holding another on March 1, 2014. Commissioner Nila Williams: Human Rights Department has hired their Executive Director, Jeff Dieutech – we welcomed him and he has been hitting the ground running. We held elections as follows: Chair – Joan Engquist Vice-Chair – De Shawn Gordon Treasurer – Nila Williams Two new Commissioners: Sharon Wright- Horizon Bank and Kia Bergerson- Both Mayor Appointments and we retained Larry Arnes as our Attorney. Black History Contest – Vicky Long, Chair. Theme: “Let Us Have Peace” – Students are requested to write a 500 page essay comparing Martin Luther King, Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Awards are due to be presented February 26 at 10:00 a.m. –City Council Chambers by Mayor Ron Meer. Give Kids a Smile Day – 12pm-8pm – Free Cleaning – At Health Linc- Questions call: (219) 877-3714. Affordable Health Care deadline to sign up is March 31, 2014. Commissioner Faye Moore: NAACP – Voter Registration meeting- February 13, 2014 at 5:30 pm at Pentecostal Temple COGIC – 2722 Wabash. This meeting is for volunteers to help with Voter Registration. Please come out and support this effort. OLD BUSINESS: - none NEW BUSINESS - none Motion made to adjourn by Commissioner Ganschow, seconded by Commissioner Williams at approximately 1:15 pm we adjourned. Respectfully Submitted: W. Faye Moore, Secretary The next Michigan City Commission on the Social Status of the African American Males is scheduled for March 12, 2014 at Noon. 3