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, DECEMBER 12, 2018 Noon- City Hall West Conference Room Commissioners Present: Commissioners Absent: Willie Milsap-Swanson Center Minority Health Coalition-OPEN 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. Sean Fritzpatrick – Mayor Appt. Gene Simmons –Common Council Liaison Also Present: Andy Steel – Cameraman Guest Speaker: James Garrett – Executive Director Indiana Commission of Social Status of Black Males Carl Ridle – Human Rights Department Executive Director 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 list reflects the attendance. . 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 Marty Corley. . Motion carried. GUEST SPEAKER: Mr. James Garrett, Executive Director, Indiana Commission of Social Status of Black Males 1 Thank you for being here; it is always a pleasure to come to Michigan City. 1. Commissioner Marty Corley will be on the cover of our 2018 Annual Report. The Commission had a good year. 2. South Bend Commission will be re-launched in April 2019. When South Bend Council created their Commission in 1990, it had an ending date of 2002. 3. Richmond brought 28 youth to the State Conference and they have been participating in the Black Barbershop Initiative and other events without a Chapter. Richmond will be having a Social Status Commission in 2019. 4. April 5, 2019 will be the Black Barbershop kick-off in South Bend with the Charles Williams Prostate Van. 0 Van will be in Gary the Second week of April 1 Van will be in Indianapolis-April 27, 2019 2 There will be no cost to the Commissions of City that have the Charles Williams Van and in 2019 Our primary focus will be Prostate Health. 5. The State Commission has applied for the “Healthy Healing Community Grant “- seeking $140,000 funding to assist in the Black Barbershop Initiative –feeding the volunteers and other related expenses that the Commissions have been experiencing. We realize that it has been a burden. The Barbers want to do more and we are looking for and planning more events. 6. In 2019 Terre Haute/ Kokomo/ Richmond and South Bend will give us fifteen Commissions. 7. This is the 9th year and in 2020 we will hope to do bigger and better things for our 10th year. 8. FEBRUARY 21, 2019 Young Black Males Matter Conference at the State House with emphasis on Civic Engagement; Advocacy Training and Tours of the State House. The laws that are passed and signed by the Governor impact all of us. We want the young men to be educated about this fact. Questions: How can we get more teachers of color? Answer: Try to encourage young Black males to become teachers. The Commission had looked into a scholarship similar to the 21st Century, geared toward minorities; but it did not work. We need to start encouraging our young men in middle school. Commissioner Arthur Payne, Jr. Congratulations to our new City Councilman, Sean Fritzpatrick. Commissioner Sean Fritzpatrick – Thanks to the Commission and everyone who helped out. I have already been sworn in. OLD BUSINESS: A. African Garden – The weather has changed, we will wait until the Spring to work in the garden. B. Fund Raising Committee – Met and will send our notes later. NEW BUSINESS: Commissioner Payne, Jr. – Edgewood school will continue the Chess Club. Mrs. Peggy Thomas has found a teacher and is requesting $200. Motion made by Commissioner Corley. Seconded by Commissioner Lester Norvell to donate $200 to Edgewood School for the Chess Club. Motion Passed. 2 Commissioner Payne, Jr. stated that Horizon Bank has a Reinvestment Fund for the Community and the Social Status Commission need to submit a letter to Yolanda Davis at Horizon Bank requesting funding. Commissioner Payne asked about the Re-entry program. Commissioners Ganschow and Corley, along with the Criminal Justice Committee will do something. Commissioner Corley has some questions for Mr. Muhammad. Commissioner Payne, Jr. passed out a list of companies and organizations that offer scholarships for high school seniors for us to distribute. COMMITTEE REPORTS/ROUNDTABLE: Commissioner Rev. Dennis Carroll –Human Rights Department – Based on our minutes from November, members of the Human Rights Department felt the cost of the Garden was high and they wanted to know how we were going to raise the money. Also were we aware of the Mayor’s Ball. ANSWER: We have a fund raising committee and we will all be working toward raising the funds. We are aware and have received money from the Mayor’s Ball in the past. We would like for the Human Rights and other Commissions and the Community to help us with the African Garden at The International Friendship Garden, which is open to all. Commissioner W. Faye Moore- NAACP – As secretary, Committees, please meet and start working on your Annual report, if you have not already done so. We usually have our Annual Report ready by March of the following year. The La Porte County NAACP Christmas party/get-together is December 20th at the Housing Authority at 6pm everyone is invited. The food is potluck; therefore, it will be first come, first served. Commissioner Rev. Damon Carnes – Ministerial Alliance: Excited about last election. The Ministerial Alliance had their members going door to door and getting persons out to vote and early voting was off the charts this year. Next year we will be working on education and getting folks out to vote. (Personal note: I am a new granddad –Eldest son in Tennessee) Commissioner Marty Corley – Neighborhoods: Black History Committee has started meeting, there is a meeting tonight at 6pm at the Michigan Township Trustee Office on the Blvd. Commissioner Gene Simmons – Council Liaison: No report Commissioner Joan Ganschow – Criminal Justice: Drug Free Partnership meet the lst. Wednesday of the month and Michigan City is one of six cities across the nation that received funding until 2020. If a person has a desire for recovery from drugs, you can contact the Swanson Center at 879-4621 and they will pick you up and provide transportation to a center. There use to be a long waiting period. Commissioner Lester Norvell – Mayor Appt. – He is now on the Community Corrections Board. (Personal note: He too has a new grandchild in Georgia) Commissioner Moore: 3 Is the Commission going to support the Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast at Purdue Northwest? In the past we donated $100 for the Bronze recognition. Motion was made by Commissioner Corley and seconded by Commissioner Ganschow to donate $100. Toward the MLK, Jr. Breakfast to be held January 21, 2019 at Purdue Northwest. Motion passed. Carl Ridle, Executive Director Human Rights Department: Planning Committee is planning a Job Fair in 2019. How can we market to the Black Community? If you have any suggestions, please contact Mr. Ridle at 873-1429 –Human Rights Department Adjournment: Commissioner Corley made the motion. Motion seconded by Commissioner Milsap and Ganschow NEXT MEETING: JANUARY 9, 2019 at noon –City Hall West Conference Room 4