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 May 8th, 2019 Meeting Minutes Commissioners Present 1. Willie Milsap, 2. La’Tonya Troutman 3. Arthur Payne 4. Lester Norvell 5. Tracy Tillman, 6. Pastor Dennis Carroll 7. Tony Cox 8. Marty Corely 9. Joan Ganschow 10. Pastor Damon Carnes 11. Gene Simmons 12. Nila Williams (ARC) Commissioners Absent 1. Felice Kelly 2. Albertine Allen Also Present 1. Carl Ridle, Human Rights Director 2. Randy Pam, Community Resident 3. Kay Hill, Executive Director for Minority Health Partners Call to order Meeting was called to order at approximately 12:00pm. Roll Call Commissioner La’Tonya Troutman called the roll and the above minutes reflects attendance. We had o 10 present during roll call 1 after roll call, totaling 11 present and 2 absent Commissioners. Approval of Minutes. ● Tony Cox requested a correction in Commissioners present and Absent as it pertains to his name. he was in attendance for April 10th meeting. ● No other corrections were requested. ● Motion to approve minutes ○ moved by Tony Cox ○ Seconded by Gene Simmons ■ All in Favor ■ I’s 10 ■ Nay’s 0 ■ I’s Carry Guest Speaker ● None. Author Payne has possible guest Speaker Antwan Burks from Arise and Shine on Garfield, they feed the homeless, give out clothes and other items. ○ If you have any items or clothes to donate please stop by Arise and Shine. Nominating Committee ● The committee was asked to pick a Youth for the Youth Leadership Committee. ● LaTonya Troutman stated that the nomination had to be in by Thursday, April 3oth. City council will address those nomination at the city council meeting tonight, May 8th. ● Reach out to Sean Fitzpatrick to see if the Committee can still nominate someone. ○ If possible then committee should nominate a youth to that committee as it is an outstanding opportunity. ● Author Payne asked Marty Corely if there were possible youth nominees, he said yes. Treasurer's Report ● -see Treasurer's report for details. ● On April 11th,2019 a deposit was made of $411 for monies collected from Bowling for Bros fundraiser. ○ Monies still coming in for Bowling for Bros. ● $200 subtraction for Indiana Black Barbershop Initiative for supplies ● Pending transaction for deduction of $500 for Scholarship for LTJ Basketball camp. ● Total balance after 500 is deducted will be$4736.15 Actually $4796.15 with $60 receipt received today, May 8th. ● Motion made to approve Treasurer’s Report. ○ Moved by Gene Simmons ○ Seconded by Willie Milsap ○ Approval ■ I’s 10 ■ Nay’s 0 Summer Camp Opportunities ● Summer Innovation Camps ○ 3 camps designed for middle school age students in collaboration with the Michigan City Police Department and Michigan City Area Schools.  ■ Manufacturing Summer Camp June 3-7 8:30 to 3:30 contact 219-873- 2120 ○ Esteem Success Camp - STEM based camp June 10- 14th ○ Youth Leadership Academy June 24th-28th ● Future wolves Sports Camp ○ Boys Baseball Camp, Girls Basketball camp, boys and girls tennis camp, boys and girls soccer camp sign up at EducateMC.net ● There is also different sports camps through different programs within the city of Michigan City. ● Teens age 15-18 workout free from May 15 - September 1st at Planet Fitness. Must sign up with a parent or guardian. ○ Any additional information about these programs can be found on the michigan city area schools website. www.mcas.k12.in.us ● 2 giveback at Holly’s Restaurant ○ May 14th for the Human Rights Commission. Coupon is required. Gives 10 or 20% to organizations. ○ June 4th for The Social Status both events are all day events. Coupons can be found at city hall, with commissioner, or on Social Status facebook page. Givebacks helps us to receive more funds for Social Status Initiatives. African Garden ● We broke ground with the Garden.Planted the first stage. ● Author Payne spoke with Mrs. Jones she is still very interested in being involved in the management of the garden. ● Currently seeking Green Thumb volunteers to help with Garden maintenance as African Garden develops please contact Author Payne or La’Tonya Troutman. Asking the Ministerial Alliance to assist with finding volunteers. At least 4 or 5 people. ● A payment f $2,000 was made to the Gardens another $2,000 is still needed. ○ Requesting a motion from the Commission to make a $1,000 payment toward the garden. ○ Tony Cox and La’Tonya Troutman met with Laura at the Farmers market and she really excited about the idea and eager to work with the commission. ■ Tony Cox moved the motion to make a payment to Laura of $1,000 for the African Garden. ■ La’Tonya Troutman seconded the motion. ● All in Favor ● I’s 10 ● Nay’s 0 ● I’s carry ● Picture of Mr. Payne at garden to be shared on facebook page. Scholarship Committee ● Scholarship has 0 applicants as of May 8th date. Although scholarship is accessible via emichigancity, Michigan City Area School, and Michigan City Public Library no applicants have applied.  ● Awarding Scholarships is an ever present issue. Guys look at scholarships for supports others are discouraged believing the don't qualify. It has been a project to get young African American Males involved. We can extend the scholarship out in hopes to reach applicants. ● Joan Ganshow asked we are going to officially change the date . ○ La’Tonya Troutman stated the date change should be near the end of May to ensure student applicants graduation dates. Joan Ganshow suggested May 31st. ○ La’Tonya Troutman would revise scholarship and resubmit to shared links previously mentioned. ● Marquette is also aware of scholarship however there are no applicants. ○ This is also why it is important to do outreach and seek through other organizations such as the Ministerial Alliance that can reach out to church members that may be in need of scholarships. ● Tony Cox asked does the scholarship have to be for high school students or can college students also apply? ○ The scholarship criteria is set for highschool students. ● Tony Cox stated college freshman are struggling to become sophomores. ○ Author Payne stated that while the issue has been brought to the table funding has not allowed for college as of yet although the commission is working on that. ● Congrats to Trevon James who graduated from college. He attended Ivy Tech then attended Bethel were he received his degree. The commission contributed funding for him to attend a Leadership Conference in Detroit. ● La’Tonya Troutman stated she is graduating from College tomorrow for Indiana University Northwest with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications with a minor in Public Policy and Environmental Affairs. ○ She received a returning student scholarship from the Unity Foundation through a private donor. The scholarship covered the remain classes she needs to graduate. Had to leave early to pick up and drop off scholarship. ○ Contact if necessary at 219-243-4724 or email ms.ltroutman@live.com Minority Health Partners ● Minority Health Partners was previously Minority Health Coalition that joined with another coalition and slowly come back to LaPorte County making it now Minority Health Partners of LaPorte County working with health disparities in the minority population. Round Table Willie Milsap ● No report Marty Corely ● As part of the community outreach, the Michigan Police Department its Explores Post is geared toward getting high school youth involved in law enforcement and becoming a more productive and involved citizen. Police athletic League. Gene Simmons said he  hopes that gets off the ground. He wanted that when he was Chief. South Bend Police Department has started with boxing and working with Corely to give insight. Tony Cox Spoke with several people about -NIPSCO job training, including Ms. Troutman, who spoke about the NAACP’s involvement. Currently reaching out to Bob Schafer, NIPSCO consultant, as well as a man by the name of Dino who connected him with the Economic Development department there. Pursuing job training. Also Spoke with friends in Washington DC and Baltimore about a boot camp.The level of disrespect from the young men in the middle school our at the Juvenile Center is outrageous. In comparison to the deepest darkest Ghettos in this county and I found less respect in the kids here. In the past, we turned a lot of that around with a boot camp aspect. Once kids got involved in a discipline arena its contagious.The information is being shared now and is currently seeking to get invovled to help. This would be beneficial to the community. Although there is a DOC program you must be incarated to participate in the program. A program should be offered independently. Once you get in the court system it can be forced on you however if joined volunteerily you get into it alot easier. Currently working to pursue the idea in LaPorte County . Lester Norvell The Juvenile Detention Center is allowing the kids to run the Center. It’s unclear if the staff is scared of being sued or what but the job needs to be done letting the chips fall where the may. They are hesistant to force kids to do anything. In jail you do what the Jailer tells you to do. It’s that simple. Inmates are running the jail Cox added the system is structured to allow this to happen right now. Correction used to mean just that Minority Health Partners/ Kay Hill ● Breast cancer awareness ball plans for October around the 15th and Breast Cancer walk will be September 28th. ● Ball will be $50 per ticket or $400 per table and currently seeking sponsorship as well. Letter s will be out around June 1st. ● Currently Halfway through diabetes education classes held at the SMRT Center with Purdue North Central Extension Program. Also looking to work with the to bring some programs for the youth for the summer time. PNC has a summer camp that the Health Partners are working with youth there. ● Diabetes, Cancer, Obesity, and other presentations are offered. Also 5 week intervention program. Open to speak to any organization contact Kay Hill at the Minority Health Partners 219-879-1712 located 2601 E Michigan Blvd ( The Trustees Office) Joan Ganschow  ● The Drug Free Partnership will be meeting June 5th at 8 am at the Nief building. It will be a brunch and learn with CEU’s available. ● LaPorte County is blessed to have a Recovery Center at the Swanson Center. Just let them know need for Recover. ○ Transportation will be provide. ○ Site located in Merrillville covered by generous donation. ● Anyone who wants to be involved in substance abuse counseling may receive certification through the national counseling for Indiana, ICAADA. ○ the first 120 people will ICAADA will pay for. Gene Simmons Annual Report needs to be given. Troutman made arrangements with clerk to make a presentation. Needs to get in touch with Council President. Congrats to Nila on receiving the Humanitarian of the Year Award. Can be seen on Channel 97 ALCO TV St. John Vacation Bible School at St John’s United Church of Christ coming up in June about the 6th or 7th. An average of 150 kids attend. Lots of fun Recently held Boys & Girls Scots meeting that is open to any to join. Blood Mobile will be available soon as well updates will be available next month. Damon Carnes ● Congrats on Campaign Efforts to Damon Carnes. ● It was said Virginia didn’t have a chance!! But she did a great job. ● The dormant scene of African Americans is leaving. Many are waking up. ○ Social Media is a Tremendous tool. Many first time voters, including a Husband and wife. Change is not fast but it is constant. ● A message was sent to the Administration that business as usual can not be continued. ○ No one should be discouraged because we lost. This is an opportunity to continue to put the message out there and vote. But we are making strides. We are will to protest, We willing to picket, expose anyone that is not doing their job. ● To piggyback off the youth comments made earlier, the remedy is to have effective leadership. ● Experience working at the Juvenile Center for over 16 years and in corrections for nearly 28 years. ○ When the Leadership is not right everything will crumble. When your Director is not right, counselors not right, therapist is not right it doesn't work. Leadership has laws if those laws are broken there is consequences to breaking those laws. ● The Alliance is seeking to push for Good Leadership ○ When you have good leadership in a home, church, police department these places function. The focus should not be on the kids although they do have their own responsibility but the focus needs to be at the top. ○ The powers at be over the Juvenile Center decided that money was more important than the kids. It is about getting the money and warehousing kids. The  Leadership made those decisions and now we are seeing the consequences of those decisions. The Remedy is effective leadership. ○ First meeting coming up and will report back any updates including ■ The numbers from elections voter registration will be discussed at the next meeting at Redeemed Fellowship at 9 Saturday, May 11th ○ Additional Comments ■ Pastor Carroll reported signs being damaged or stolen. ■ Author Payne added most people vote and think that’s it. That’s unreal because elected officials need to be held accountable. Voting puts us in the game, then we have to perform so the people we vote for perform. It's exciting to see many African American run for office as to represent us. It’s not an easy decision to run for office. Nila Williams ● Black Barbershop Initiative ○ Was hoping to do a little better we turned out 50 screening, which is about average. IBE helped sponsor the event. Next Year will get better. Men are still hesitant to take advantage of free screenings making statements such as I just got screen at the Doctors office. ■ These test can change daily making it important take advantage of free screenings. ■ If the Barbers get tested the men are more likely to get tested. ○ $50 unused monies will be returned from $200 given for Initiative.. ○ Sponsorship listed in paper are State sponsors that do not sponsor directly to MC. ○ IBE was the only sponsor to give monies. ● Also working with Tracy to get the Child support Talk in the Barbershop as previously mentioned. ● Healthy Minds Health fair at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church 717 East 10th st May 31s 5 to 7pm for mental health month. Open to the public. Health Communities of LaPorte County, MC Black Expo and Covering Kids and Family. Dinner served and vendors present. 2 guest speakers, Swanson Center and Tyra Walker. Adjournment ● Motion made to adjourn meeting. ○ Moved by Cox. ○ Seconded by Nila Williams. ● Meeting end at approximately 1:01pm