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, JANUARY 9, 2019 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 -Sick Arthur Payne, Jr. –Mayor Appt. Nila Williams- Council Appt. Lester Norvell –Mayor Appt. Minority Health – Open Rev. Dennis Carroll-Human Rights Dept. Sean Fritzpatrick-Term Ended Rev. Edward Carnes, Sr. – Ministerial Alliance Gene Simmons –Common Council Liaison Also Present: Andy Steel – Cameraman 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 minutes reflect attendance. .We had our quorum of seven. Felicia Kelley -- H.O.P.E. (arrived after roll call) APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Payne, Jr. asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Motion made by Commissioner Willie Milsap. Motion seconded by Commissioner Gene Simmons. Motion passed with no corrections. TREASURER’S REPORT: Treasurer absent, however, he sent an email with the following: Starting balance: $6,824.03 Pending: Edgewood School $200 (Chess Club) and $500, toward the Black History Committee Events. Ending balance of $$6,524.03 NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Willie Milsap; Gene Simmons and Lester Norvell OLD BUSINESS: It is time for the following to renew with the City Clerk’s Office by noon Thursday (January 10): 1 Human Rights Department- Commissioner Rev. Dennis Carroll Minority Health/Healthy Partners – Open –Albertine Allen NAACP – Ms. LaTonya Troutman will be replacing Mrs. W. Faye Moore Ministerial Alliance – Pastor Damon Carnes, Sr. Swanson Center – Commissioner Willie Milsap And Council Appointment – Commissioner Nila Williams Mayoral Appointment for Sean Fritzpatrick – Labor Next year: 2020 Renewals – Commissioners Marty Corley; Joan Ganschow; Arthur Payne, Jr. (2) When our balance gets down to $5,000 we will freeze all donations to leave money in the account for the B. J. Ashley Scholarship. According to the Ordinance we have to present at least one scholarship per year. This year 2019 we will only do one scholarship. Commissioner Milsap made a motion that we do one scholarship based on our financial situation. If we raise more money through fund raisers, the Commission will continue to do two. Motion seconded by Commissioner Rev. Dennis Carroll. Motion passed. Mrs. Felecia Kelley will be representing the H.O.P.E. Program. She arrived after roll call (12:45). Fund Raising Committee met and Commissioner sent minutes via Mr. Ridle cell phone. Some fund raising suggestions: (1) Mother’s Day fund raiser at HealthLinc (2) Give Back Days at several different places (Buffalo Wild Wings; Hacienda, etc.) (3) Go Fund Me account. There was a five to ten minute discussion. Question:”Are we Committed to the African Garden?” Answer: “Yes.” “We have paid $2,000 down payment to get the African Garden started and we are on a payment plan for the other $2,000. ($4,000 was the requested down payment by Beachside and $17,000 for the entire project).” Commissioner Payne has stated before and again today that we want the entire community to get involved in the African Garden at Friendship Garden, not just the Commission on Social Status. Everyone on this Commission represent other organizations and I would hope that you all are presenting this to your organizations and gaining their support in helping us raise this money and making the entire Community aware. Commissioner Marty Corley also included the next meeting for the Fund Raising Committee meeting Thursday at 2:45 pm at Health Linc. Commissioner wants someone to make a motion to support the Black History Month programs in the amount of $500 on behalf of the Social Status Commission. NEW BUSINESS: Commissioner Milsap made a motion to support Black History Month in the amount of $500. Motion seconded by Commissioner Rev. D. Carroll. Discussion-none. Motion passed by all present. COMMITTEE REPORTS/ROUNDTABLE: Commissioner Felecia Kelley –H.O.P.E. Their Board meet the 4th Tuesday of the month and they are in the process of becoming a 501 © 3 in the area of non-for-profit. Currently there are (4) ministries in the building. Commissioner Rev. Damon Carnes- Ministerial Alliance – (1) We are working on getting the Community involved in the voting process. (2) Last year before the November elections we got involved in getting residents out to early voting and the courthouse could barely keep up with the 2 number of persons in line for early voting. (3) Last election it was very encouraging to us that there was an increase in Wards one and three during the election because of our efforts. Comment was made that Michigan City now have three African Americans on the City Council. Commissioner Gene Simmons – City Council Liaison: Election of Council Officers took place and Don Przybylinski-President and Bryant Dabney Vice-President. (2) Committees will be assigned by the President by January 15th City Council Meeting. I am asking that residents come to a City Council meeting and watch your City Council at work. City Council meetings are held at City Hall at 6:30 pm downstairs in Council Chambers on First and Third Tuesdays of each month. Commissioner Lester Norvell- Mayor’s Appointment I am back on the Housing Authority board. (2) I would like to personally welcome Felecia to our Commission. She worked with my wife at the Housing Authority and she was a great asset. Commissioner Willie Milsap – Swanson Center/Committee Employment and Economic: (1) There is a new store coming to the Lighthouse Mall- H & M and they will be in five buildings. They are hiring now, check with the Mall Office (2) Work One –Next Level Training –Please utilize this program- free training in the trades. (3) There are factories behind Bass Pro (you see off HWY 94) -they starting salaries are $15 and up. –Check at Work One Commissioner Rev. Dennis Carroll – Human Rights Commission – New officers for the Human Rights Commission – Chair/President- Mr. Gardner/ Vice-Chairman – Annie Mae/ Secretary-Diana Gore and Mary Ellen Quinn. January 26, 2019 –Sean Fritzpatrick – Ward 4 will be hosting a Town Hall meeting at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Church. This meeting is open to ALL. (3) St. John’s Church is open to the public if you want to hold a meeting and there is no other service or church club meeting at that time, free of charge. Commissioner W. Faye Moore – LaPorte County NAACP –Unit 3061 – Our next meeting is Thursday, January 24, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at IVTECH Community College-Franklin Street. I have a sponsorship letter for the Commission asking for your Commission and others to become sponsors for our Second Annual Trailblazers –Paving a New Pipeline”. Platinum $5,000 and above/Gold ($3,500-$4,999)/ Silver ($1,500-$3,499) Bronze Donor ($500-$1,499) all of the aforementioned get ads in the ad book; free tickets and recognition in the newspaper. We also have Donor in any amount ($100-499). TICKETS: $50.00 PER PERSON. DATE: March 23, 2019 -PLACE: Blue Chip and KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Judge Shequitta Kelly Joubert of Dallas County Criminal Court #11. All information can be found on NAACP LaPorte County Branch 3061 Facebnook page. Or www.naaacplaportecounty3061.com/ Carl Riddle –Director – Human Rights Department – April 2019 is Fair Housing Month. Norma Thomas and Kathy Wilson are working with Carl to have either a Town Hall Meeting or some type of Workshop addressing Homeless and other housing issues that affect Michigan City. If anyone has ideas contact him at: 873-1429. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Milsap and Rev. Carroll at approximately 1:15 pm 3