Commission on the Social Status of African-American Males

MICHIGAN CITY COMMISSION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES --------------------------------------- Mr. Arthur Payne, Jr. Ms. Joan Ganschow Ms. LaTonya Troutman Mr. .Marty Corley Chairman Vice-Chairman Secretary Treasurer MINUTES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, 13th, 2019 Noon- City Hall West Conference Room Commissioners Present Marty Corley, Neighborhoods, appointed by Tracy Tillman, Council Appointed, LaPorte police department County 4d Child Support Division, Willie Milsap, Swanson Center Rev. Edward carnes Northwestern La’Tonya Troutman, NAACP Ministerial Alliance Arthur Payne, President Dennis Carroll, sT JOHN'S united church of Lester Norvell, cRIMINAL JUSTICE christ Commissioners Absent Sean Fitzpatrick Absent Gene Simmons, A Joan Granshaw Absent, Marty Corley Proxy Also Present :Berlinda Corley Turnipseed Carl Ridle - Human Rights Department CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to ordr at approximately 12:02 pm by Commissioner Arthur Payne, JR. ROLL CALL Commissioner La’Tonya Troutman called the roll and the above minutes reflects attendance. We had our quorum of 9. Pastor Carnes, Willie Milsap, Felice Kelly need to sign oath with clerk's office. Tiny Allen, Absent, will be back to represent Minority Health. Minority Health Back to normal structure. Sean Fitzpatrick appointed by mayor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Payne, Jr asked for a motion to accept the minutes. Commission Marty Corley motioned to approve January Minutes Commissioner Willie Milsap Seconded the motion. Felice Kelly request correct spelling of name to be changed on minutes. Approval I’s 9 Nays 0 NOMINATING COMMITTEE/OLD BUSINESS This is voting month. Nominating committee, absent of 1 member Commissioner Gene Simmons, presents slay of officers that were 2018 officers for the 2019 year. President Payne says adjustment is need with secretary. Milsap made amendment for Commissioner La’Tonya Troutman as the new Secretary. Motion made to accept officers with amendments by Commissioner Luster Norvell Motion seconded by Commissioner Dennis Carroll GUEST SPEAKER TRIO,Purdue University Northwest Education Talent Search representative , Maceo Rainey. Currently reading, Robert's Rules of Order newly revised. Reading and literacy is the number academic deficiency among our african american males Supervise operate and run TRIO Based on educational data. 82% of LaPorte County does not have a Bachelor's Degree. That has political, social, and economic implications on the workforce development. How can we get fortune 500 companies to relocate to Laporte county and employ its residents if they don't qualify for the education requirements. One could make the argument that service industry jobs are coming to a screeching halt Program Eligibility : Us Citizen, Age 12 and up , in 6th through 12 grade. 67% of students must be both first generation college students and low income students Once upon a time it was illegal to educate students of color. Only until 1954 thurgood marshall's landmark case brown vs the board of education. Throughout the sojourn in this country the has been a strategic effort to make sure that the education of AA children marginalized or absent. However still produced Frederick douglas, Elijah Mccore. An education is the means to a better life. TREASURER'S REPORT Not on agenda needs to be put on the agenda. Beginning Balance $6,824.03 Payment Made for Sponsorship of MLK Breakfast at PNW -$100 on 1/10/2019 new balance of $6,724.03 Payment received from Blue chip Casino for Sponsorship of Black History Month activities and events of +$500 on 1/18/2019 new balance of $7,224.03 Payment made to Edgewood Elementary school for Chess Club of -$200.00 on 2/4/19 $7,024.03 Pending Transaction include Essence Rare of the Michigan City Black History Month Committee of -$500.00 new balance will be $6,524.03 Motion made for pending transaction to be sent to Essence Rare $700 needed to charter bus portion of fees to transport 25 young males to Indianapolis next Thursday February 21st Commissioner Milsap motioned and Commissioner Carroll second I’s-9 Nays- 0 Sponsorship for day at movies The Hate You Give. for early college kids last year is need to reimburse the school for taking the children in the amount of $300Commissioner Payne requests sharing the responsibility of the sponsorship with organizations such as the NAACP. Milsap requested that this be brought to the attention of the Human Rights Committee. Motion made by Commissioner milsap to table until next month . NEW BUSINESS Commissioner Arthur Payne requested a motion to pay the $75 for advertising to ALCO television Commissioner Milsap made a motion to send the $75 to alco Commissioner Corley seconded I’s-9 Nays- 0 Commissioner Payne discussed commercial busing by church stating the price was high but we are trying to work something out with the church seeking a reduced price so that the commission could use the church bus commercially. President stated fundraising needs attention to build commission money back up. We want to keep money in our kitty to send young men to college to give out our scholarships for years to come as well as our African Garden. Milsap said there are some fundraising events planned. President Payne said that the fundraising committee is function. This is just a reminder that we have a priority. If you have any fundraising ideas please contact Marty. Meeting went over 1pm Commissioner Marty Corely - Michigan City Police Department- Neighboorhoods discuss bowling with bros bowlathon a project he is working 10 lanes 8 bowlers per lane. $15 per person which includes shows and 3 games. Seeking sponsorship to make money work for them. City lanes gets six dollars we get the remaining monies. Door prizes will be given out and raffles will be available. Looking to raise between $1.500 -2000 April 2nd 6-9pm Tuesday night. Dj agreed to donate his time. Black History Month Activities Black Cinema Night last thursday was the first one it will be at the Art Space. Last Thursday it was Black Panther this thursday its Selma. The movie is great Black Expo at mullen and Quiz Bowl. Jarrett Jones donated $1000 to talent show for prize monies to winners. So now the 1st place prize went from 150 to $500 , $250, and $100 . Gospel fest this Saturday. The Mardi Gras dinner dance will be on the 23rd at Traditions Event Center Marty has tickets for those that want to purchase. Damon Carnes -The Ministerial Alliance yesterday afternoon meet with Judge Bergerson discussing the predisposition probation program through this court. There were some concerns In the community about that program. Also a meeting at the police station to discuss the changing laws coming from the supreme court in 2020 with offenders the meeting will include judges, probation, public defenders. LaPorte county Prosecutor John Lake and Judge Bergerson is open to meeting with people in the community to hear the community and their concerns. The meeting will be Friday in the Laporte County Courthouse at 9 am. Also there was a meeting with young people at Pastor Langs church to discuss gun violence and solutions to the issues. Also we are working on voter registration Tracy Tillman - Mayor Appointment- LaPorte County Prosectors office and 4d Child Support hopes to utilize the information here and get it out to the community with African American Males. As a worker of the LaPorte County Prosecutor's Office and supervise the 4d child support division. Why is it that African American Males and males in general when the have a why the defray from taking on that responsibility when they have child support obligations they steer from that within the first 30 40 60 or ninety days. Im curious to find out what is the root cause of them defraying away from that responsibility. President Payne stated that is a real issues. He suggested someone from the department comes to talk about the dynamics associated child support, Paying the money what you have to go through and all that. Some people dont know what their obligation to know. Some dont know what their obligation is, legally. There are other things that play into that. We get all time to talk about the issue then we can start getting the information for. Its a real issue that didn’t just come about. However I look forward to that discussion because it is never talked about Felice- HOPE. Currently we are still available we do have space for rent. Steve Perkins with the Progressive Democrats is looking to bring the candidates in. Holding meetings on saturdays starting in April. You can contact Felice at 219-874-4606 for HOPE Luster Norvell- Mayors Appointment =appointed to the community corrections board of directors hopefully he can have input on how they are treating African American Males in there. Commissioner Denise Carroll- Human Rights Commission. Per Mr. Renold and Attorney Arnez there is a Job fair that will be held at the Blue Chip Casino in April 18th 1-4pm . Encouraging community members to attend. It's important that the disabled want jobs to. Commissioner La’Tonya Troutman- NAACP is having the 2nd Annual Trailblazers Award Banquet with the Honorable Judge Shequitta Kelly, a Michigan city native that serves as a 2 term judge in Dallas Texas, She has a program Pipeline to Possibilities in Dallas that she will be discuss how we can get or kids of the pipeline to prison and on the pipeline to possibilities . The event is scheduled for Saturday March 23rd at 6pm at Blue Chip Casino tickets are $50. Still seeking sponsorship if you would to be a sponsor contact Wesley at 2198782034 or www.naacplaportecounty3061,com . The NAACP will is opposing Nipsco Rate increase by nearly 12% while giving industrial a 19% decrease with Petitions that maybe signed and sent over to the OUCC. The NAACP, Sierra Club in a collaboration will be in attendance at the NIPSCO field hearing www.sc.org/noratehike The naacp is giving out scholarships at the Trailblazer event if you know of a student have them apply on the website the deadline is February 22nd. 2 scholarships of $1,000/ scholarship. Comissioner Arthur Payne set up a gofundme account to raise money for the commission African Gardens Projects. Reinvestment Act. Marty said the Black Barbershop initiative will be held April 20th. Carl Ridle- Director of Human Rights- the importance of each organization shares common goals of education of our youth. For this reason we should actively participate in each others events.