Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males

MICHIGAN CITY COMMISSION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES Mr. Arthur Payne Ms. Joan Ganschow Ms. W. Faye Moore Mr. Marty Corley Chairman Vice-Chairman Secretary Treasurer MINUTES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2018 Noon- City Hall West Conference Room Commissioners Present: Commissioners Absent: Willie Milsap-Swanson Center Marty Corley-Mayor Appt. Faye Moore –NAACP Joan Ganschow –Mayor Appt Arthur Payne, Jr. –Mayor Appt. Rev. Edward Carnes-Min. Alliance Lester Norvell –Mayor Appt. Minority Health – Open Gerry Jones --Proxy H.O.P.E. Sean Fritzpatrick – Mayor Appt. Nila Williams – Council Appt. Gene Simmons –Common Council Liaison Also Present: Andy Steel – Cameraman Guest Speaker: Laura Bolton-Kalk, Beachside Gardens Carl Ridle – Human Rights Department Executive Director Terry Woodard – Shake-A-Hand-Make –A- Friend 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 12:03 p.m. by Commissioner Arthur Payne, Jr. ROLL CALL: Commissioner W. Faye Moore called the roll and the above minutes reflect attendance. We did not have a quorum. Our quorum is seven (7). APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Payne, Jr. asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Motion made by Commissioner Rev. Dennis Carroll and seconded by Commissioner Willie Milsap. Motion carried. GUEST SPEAKER: (African Garden to be located at Friendship Gardens on Highway 12) Laura Bolton-Kalk – Beachside Gardens - We broke down the project into phases. The first phase (picture of proposed garden passed around) is expected to start Friday with the newspaper present. This will be the groundbreaking and getting the soil prepared by removing some and adding soil with nutrients. We will start with planting Evergreens & larger trees. If we have snow, the project will be delayed. Plants have already been ordered from Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. If we want memorial bench, planters, they are a separate cost. For a 3 foot Urn or planter the cost can be approximately $300 –up (non- 1 concrete). A concrete planter or Urn is better. We should consult Ms. Binder, at Friendship Gardens for an engraver, because that is an additional cost. Total proposed cost was $17,955.60. We are hoping there are no surprises when the project gets started and that the Entire Community will be as excited as we are and will help cut the cost by making donations. Action Items: o Bench –Either in front of Boulder or behind o Bench long enough for two people to sit on in an area with shade o Boulder with flowers or greenery o Master Gardner’s to Assist o Community such as churches, businesses, individuals involvement o Fund Raising Events o Garden Committee with Commissioners and Community individuals, businesses, etc. o Memorial Plaque or Stone OLD BUSINESS: B. Fund Raising Committee Meeting scheduled for Thursday (11-15-18) at Nilas office. At 3:30 p.m. The Committee is Nila; Marty Corley and Faye Moore. Willie Milsap asked to be present via phone. TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer not present – Last month ending balance according to the minutes was: $8,449.03. There was a trip to Indianapolis to the State Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males. Eric Dyson was the keynote speaker. ROUNDTABLE and/or COMMITTEE REPORTS: Commissioner Arthur Payne, Jr. - We received a letter from MCAS –Edgewood Chess Club thanking us for our donation of support. Mrs. Peggy Thomas, Principal. We received a letter from Commissioner Mario Rosa resigning. The letter was dated October 25, 2018 and the letter was read by Commissioner Payne, Jr. He is no longer available to attend meetings. Commissioner Payne, Jr. also stated that in January 2018 Mrs. Albertine Allen says Minority Health will have a new director and they wish to continue on our Commission. Commissioner Willie Milsap: -Economic Chair – Please tap into Work One. Correction to last month’s minutes, Monique Thomas is the person to contact at Work One. (Monica Thomas) H.O.P.E. Gerry Jones: HOPE is still trying to get a representative and will get the person’s name to City Council soon. H.O.P.E. is active in the Community (Located at 222 Becky Williams Blvd. on the Westside of Michigan City). Commissioner Nila Williams: Black Barbershop Initiative conference call meetings have already started. Healthlinc will be at Marsh and Knapp elementary schools between 3:15pm and 7:15pm today (11-14-18). Hopefully, other schools will be on board. Commissioner Lester Norvell: October 16, 2018 we took (21) boys to the State House Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males Conference. Eric Dyson got everyone fired up. They took pictures. I feel the young men got a lot out of the trip. 2 Commissioner Nila Williams suggested he or Marty get written reports from the young men. Commissioner Jones suggested that we have one or two come to our meeting and tell up about it so the whole community will hear how important it is for our youth to attend such events. Commissioner Rev. Dennis Carroll (Human Rights Department): Mr. Hubert Morgan’s presentation was very educational. Thank him for coming to St. John’s Church. M. C. Human Rights training by Sonya A. Morris, Judge from East Chicago (11-13-18) at 8:00 a.m. was very good. This training was on, Discrimination Cases- how to interpret reports and overviews of what the Human Rights Commission responsibilities are. She made it fun by having them do test and puzzles. Camp Millhouse of South Bend reached out to Rev. Carroll, who attended this camp as a child. He is now on the Board. Please check out their website: www.campmilhouse.org Commissioner W. Faye Moore –LaPorte County NAACP: If you can attend this month’s meeting, please do so. We will be talking about the Election results and how they affect us. We also have Mr. Wayne Miller as our Legal Redress Chair and he will be talking about some issues that the LaPorte Chapter have been involved in. We meet at IVY Tech tomorrow 11-15-2018 due to Thanksgiving being next week. At 6:30 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: Terry Woodard – Shake-a-Hand-Make-A-Friend. Inc - We have been doing mentoring programs and Career ready programs in the community. We will be coming forward to ask for your financial support in the future. We want to start a program at Michigan City High School. Mr. Carl Riddle- Executive Director Human Rights Department – I would like for you all to support this young man and his programs, because they are needed in Michigan City. Commissioner Payne approves of the program and hope he will also talk to the churches concerning this program. Perhaps there are some retired men at the churches who could help him with the mentoring portion. ADJOURNMENT: Motion was made to adjourn by Rev. Carroll and seconded by Lester Norvell. Motion carried. All meetings can be seen @ www.accesslaportecounty.org Video on Demand –scroll to M. C. Social Status African American Males2018 NEXT MEETING: December 12, 2018 at noon –City Hall West Conference Room 3