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 Wednesday, September 11th, 2019 12:00 noon Meeting Minutes Roll Call All Commissioners Present. Quorum of 14. Some late as shown in All in Favor numbers Approval of mInutes Motion made by Walter Cox to accept minutes Motion seconded by Dennis Carroll All in Favor I’s 8 Nay’s 0 Treasurers Report Same as last month no additions or subtractions Last Reported Balance $2,364.76 Motion made to accept treasurers report by Willie Milsap Motion seconded by Walter Cox All In Favor I’s 9 Nay’s 0 Old Business African Garden Finishing a proposal to submit to First Source as a response to a letter received from First Source Bank, Gathering more information from Laura for proposal, will get with Secretary to assist with completing proposal. The proposal must be submitted by September 25th. Once the proposal is completed it will be submitted to all Banks. At the last meeting, the request was made for green thumb volunteers. Ms. Hudson said the garden will become dormant during the winter and won't need much attention but by Summer a committee should be established. The Committee will begin in January. Don't have to be on the commission to be involved in a committee. You have to be on the Commission to run the committee. If people have a gift that is needed for the committee lets encourage them to get involved. The project started as a community effort and will continue as a community effort. Ms. Hudson has developed positive relations with the Garden Staff as it relates to the Commission. New Business  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 Diversify School Staff Walter Cox states that Lack of Diversity with school teachers needs addressing. Posing the question, Is there an option for more African American Substitute Teachers to increase African American presence in Staff and Faculty? Author Payne stated the school used to have a teacher's aid program deferring to Marty Corley about testing and/ or certification. Marty stated in house test is required for pairing for interpretation. For an aid. As for substitute teachers must have 60 credit hours and go through Kelly Services. Marty also discussed barriers in hiring minority teachers stating when you don't home grow teachers they have to have something that attracts them to the area. When Lake County has a better economy] offering an additional $10,000, what would be the incentive to come to Michigan City? tThe social life within the city limits is unattractive to Teachers of Color. Walter Cox stated maybe there are retired people who qualify that have 60 hours. The mission for the Michigan City Area School Board is to begin home growing minority teachers. Marty said he has spoken to 4 or 5 homegrown teachers and the truth is unless we home grow them we can't expect them to stay. Cox stated with the salary difference it would be hard to keep the homegrown teachers as well. Commented [1]: could the school board ask for intern Gene Simmions said there has to be a force to engage with the community to identify with minority teachers with the hopes to vet them to stay? Also called retired teachers who return work with the residents who could possibly be a substitute teacher. As a retiree he said after the first month intern student to help gear them in the field and assist he volunteered at Safe Harbor, Club Discovery, Now Monday through Thursday 130 to 530 he in the class with the options of lesser hours the 60? is with his kids every week, there are others in the community that could be involved. Commented [2]: What did the Michigan City Police At Krueger Middle School there are no other African American faces except for Gene Simmons station do to get more african american officers? and Coach Phil Boyd. Walter Cox said the youth see him when they come to the Juvenile Detention Center when youth are expelled middle school kids from 7-2 pm for about 45 days and hear the same concerns from the youth. Arthur Payne refered to Marty Corley, stating his appreciation for wanting to have homegrown minority teachers. He held a discussion with Assistant Superintendent about the issue. Past presence plays a part in current happenings. We have had quite a few teachers from Gary with the school system as teachers and principals. Those teachers did not relocate to Michigan City. Assistant Superintendent said his effort was to get people to teach was to try to get them to move to Michigan City. When talking about qualified teachers. Gary has cut down to about one high school leaving many teachers unemployed that are highly qualified less than 20 miles away. Let’s not ask them to move here. Although Gary is worse than Michigan city socially, but let them commute. Marketing them to move here is the problem. Some people need a social life to work, especially young people. Can we go to Gary, where there is a crisis in terms of  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 teachers, to recruit teachers without asking them to relocate but to commute? We need them to be apart of the school system for a lot of reasons. Marty Corey stated a lot of teachers from Gary arent from Gary themselves. Making them commute from another commute. Author Payne said that was misleading, based on personal knowledge, most of the teachers in Gary are from Gary and they know each other, which is part of the problem. Gary used to send teachers to HBCU and the all came back to Gary. Executive Director James Garret Conferenced into the meeting. The 19th Annual Balck Male Conference is coming up on October 29th. We’re are attempting to do a better job to get the word out to the local commissions and really attracting the statewide body. We are really excited that on October 29th, The last Tuesday in October, from 8 to 4:30 we will have our conference here at the Indiana state Jullian Government Center. Keynote Speaker Reverend Joesph Run Simmions of Run-DMC. Known to many as an entrepreneur, music icon, spiritual leader, and Star of the former reality tv show, Run’s House. This year's conference will have a youth and adult track. The hope is that the commission and other community adults and youth will. The State is requesting a number of potential adults and youth attendees. I spoke with Gary about a week ago as well as ft. Wayne, and will be speaking with Bloomington commission at 4:30 pm. We are going to have a youth and adult track. And a legislative panel. The legislative panel was a big hit last year but did not allocate enough time for q&A. Last year the legislative panel was 60 minutes this year it will be least at 90 minutes to allow the time for Q&A. The conference will also include breakout sessions for a Criminal justice reform segment, education, and employment and Health and healing. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is available through Eventbrite under Black Male Conference Indiana. The cost for registration is 10 for youth 15 for adults in early-bird cost before. Sept 30. After adults will be 25 youth will be 15. Excited to have Rev Run as our keynote speaker to enlighten us on his life being a music icon to now being a spiritual leader and looking at 2019 going into 2020 what black males need to do to improve the quality of life and to have a more to have more substance in all of our communities. Need a handle on how many adults and youth will attend from LaPorte County to be cost-conscience as the cost for Rev Run is pretty substainail we need to convey to our caters how many people will be in attendance for breakfast and lunch by Friday, September 27, 2019. Meeting with cater will be October 3rd. The time for the conference is 7 to 330 for Michigan City. Appreciation sent for Michigan City Commission for work being done. Continuation of Diversifying School Staff  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 Joan Ganschow requests our scholarship reflect and target those who want to become teachers to encourage more African American Males to become teachers and push counselors to encourage those students to apply. Although historically many students do not apply we can still encourage Arthur Payne stated we can get public information to encourage people but this definitely needs addressing. Some would say it doesn’t make a difference but it does not in quality of education but in dynamics of the psychological impact it has on African American students. A Mentee address Payne about the need to see more African American Teachers around the school. Roundtable. Author Payne congratulates Tracie Tillman on the Barbershop Talks lead by Tracie Tillman addressing child support, an important issue facing African American Males and encourages her to keep up the good work. Felice Kelly - H.O.P.E The Rebecca Williams Building is still in existence Jerry Jones just retired, although she resides as an honorary board member to ensure all qualifications for reports are still followed. She officially resigned from the HOPE Center effective September 1st. Anyone looking to be on the board can contact. Felice Kelly or Damon Carnes. Still in existence and still moving forward Saturday, September 28th New Hope Missionary Baptist Church will host a prayer breakfast as part of the Men’s day celebration promoting fellowship 12 for adults and 6 for youth. Walter Cox Yield the floor. Pastor Dennis Carroll Post-Polio support group starting at Church for those who had Polio in the late ’40s and ’50s. The Rotary Club has been gracious enough to support this effort. Joan Ganschow LaPorte County Drug-Free Partnership Opioid Addiction is effecting every county so a collaborative with Indiana Department of Mental Health and the National Council of Behavior Health for LaPorte County and Porter County and Starke County with 2-day training on Trauma-informed recovery systems. We are having a follow up on September 12th at the Neff Building everyone is welcome because it takes a village, business, social service, law enforcement and more to look at how we can address this  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 issue in our community. We have been invited to apply for a national grant it looks good. We have national trainers in the Indiana Department of Health. Tech Serv, who serves with us with barbershop iniative as a background technology group, to help find funding for the needs of each community. Next big meeting the 23rd at Neff at 8 am. Tracie Tillman LaPorte County 4d Child Support Division Thanked La’Tonya Troutman for her support in Barbershop Talk. Hoping to have another forum on a bigger scale to be put together with the help of La’Tonya, Nila, and Marty hoping to meet and get some things established for the next event. Laws are changing for Child Support. For the noncustodial parent that is covering their child on insurance, whereas the child has reached the age of Emancipation which is 19 years old. Their employer is now going to receive a letter that states their child has reached that age and will ask do they want to continue to have that child carried or their insurance and that is because the once current child support obligation ceases the non-custodial parent is not obligated to keep that child on their insurance. So when those letters go out and they have some concerns once they get it from their employer and then they can contact our office but it is their discretion if they want to keep the child on their insurance. As for the custodial parent, unfortunately, we have no control over the non-custodial parent keeping the child on insurance once the current support ceases, they are no longer obligated to carry that child. Letters are going out to the custodial parent and noncustodial parent if a child is still in school at the age of 19 they can petition the court by notice of hearing to request for the child support to continue until the child completes high school because if not child support stops at 19. If nothing is filed prior to their 19th birthday, child support will cease but if that child is still in high school the parties will need to file something themselves with the courts in order for it to continue on. Joan Ganschow asked does it have to be filed with court And also questioned about special needs children who can go on to school until they're 27? Tracy responded stating it has to be in a court order and has to be implemented in the court order. The child support office will need to see that court order then will proceed to put it in the system so that it will continue to charge. Joan asked if a custodial parent is listening and have a special needs child and that individual is going to be in school until they're 22 do they need to petition the courts then to say this is the plan? Tracy responded Yes La’Tonya Troutman -NAACP  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 As stated in the last meeting please ensure all Commissioners have updated contact information for our records I need to make sure I can email you at the right or proper to ensure that we are emailing and have a correct number on file just in case we need to reach you or our events or Community efforts the social status attendance sheet is a live document. the play in and the emails with minutes Joan attempted to do it but the document sent to everyone was view-only but it has been changed now so it can be edited by anyone. NAACP general membership meeting is on Thursday, September 26th 2019 at 6:30 p.m. and Ivy Tech Community College 3714 Franklin Street Michigan City Indiana. We will be discussing the third annual Trailblazers event And possiblity of a Kids Choice Awards for the Trailblazers event. Also scholarships will be opening up soon in October after a few adjustments will be made but if you know a kid just like with the social status scholarship it is really hard to get people to apply please tell a kid the scholarship is available and sit down with them and help them to apply so that a diverse pool may be available for scholarship recipients. Pretty much every day this week has been a shooting whether it was a killing or just a shooting the point issues throughout the community of Michigan City. Some would say we don't want to see have your police officers some would say we what more lights the point is the issue needs addressing because there is a lot of one unsolved murders here into a lot of people who do know stuff or that don't have or are not willing to share with the Michigan City Police Department something has got to give. We're living in a city where we have a high dropout rate they're not even graduating and youth are going straight into the streets and things are getting Reckless. It is a big problem! As a parent scared for all youth. As the social status for African-American males we should address this issue because it is serious in our community and something has got to get. Spoke to city council about issues on holiday Street including the lack of light nothing can be seen in the area after 7 p.m. and last night there was a shooting on case Street and if the police were to come and ask what happened genuinely no one will know when you can't see we can't see what cars go up and down the street the office come to me there are several different problems some of the communities some government officials some of them are students in youth in others but we all got to play a part in improving Michigan City. October 12th NAACP is hosting a Stretch towards health and wellness fair in partnership with Minority health. Dr. Melvin Richardson will speak on the bladder, kidney, and prostate. Dr. Carey Ransone will speak about Opioid addiction, and Attorney Sarah Everrett will speak on Public Charge changes.  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 Gene Simmons said there has got to be better lighting throughout the city. I'm going to be more like throughout the city even in my area we only have lights in the corner Elston Grove complains about four lights/block while the rest of the city is waiting for lighting Arthur Payne stated one thing to do is to go to the board of works and bring up the issue and the more people will get involved but the biggest thing this commission can do is talk about it and let the community know it's an issue. this is a nationwide issue and in Michigan City, we are blessed to not have to deal with it to the extent that some counties have it what's the deal with it at all. Gene Simmons City council took the landlord registry off the agenda next year we plan on revisiting that very important piece of information Article 15 is valid but it still needs some work after listening to the public discussing amongst ourselves we were not pleased with it so next year we will address it. Arthur Payne asked is addressing fair and equitable Gene Simmons responded saying yes for everyone those that are renting an apartment and having accountability and enforcement have to improve you can't keep giving chances if you don't enforce it's you encourage it. Millsap asked if a tenant has an issue with a landlord what is it procedure do you call City Hall planning department? Gene Simmons stated yes or the code enforcement department we have to for enforcement. Nila Williams Accepted a new position with Head Start of LaPorte County. been there now for a little over a month current position is Community partner coordinator liaison a brand new position with Head Start that they've never had before since Paladin got the grant they Incorporated this position any partner that works with Head Start. Nila will be that go-to person to coordinate different things and other Partnerships, such as possibly talking to the parents about child support things of that nature. Hairstyle begins on September 23rd we look forward to this year and working with our kiddos. Joan asked is Head start at Neiman and at Imagination Station? responded Yes as well as Knapp and a location in Laporte at a church Lester Norvell Would like to second with Miss Troutman stated about the lack of light in the area she referred to every night it is shots fired out there All that is heard on the shots but nothing can be seen in the holiday Street area. as for the complaint of the police presence, Miss Annabel has made it  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 clear that he encourages more police presence within his neighborhood and would be willing to have 10 and his friends but there are other segments of the African-American community that doesn't want to see more of a police presence because they feel harassed. spoke with both the mayor's apartment as well as in Michigan City Police Department So there is a catch-22 because you can't satisfy everybody complaints from both segments of the black community where's I may want police presence another segment May question more of a police present Walker Street Garden is a nice Garden with a family of deer so they raise the fence from 6 feet to 9 feet. The black presence is needed in the high school for African American kids who need more African American teachers to look up to. Arthur Payne chimed in stating that as far as the crime rate it is not about satisfying people, it's about doing what you have to do to take care of the situation and keeping the people safe. If you're doing all you can to keep them safe, let them complain. Pastor Damon Carnes- The Ministerial Alliance The Ministerial Alliance has an event coming up called Down Through the Years with Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church celebrating 100 year Church anniversary on Friday, September 27th the guest speaker will be Pastor Jakari Williams from New Hope Baptist Church will be speaking at 6 p.m. Saturday, September 28th will be the celebration banquet at Blue Chip Casino tickets are $50 for adults and you telling others will be $15, guest speaker, there will be Dr. Alvin Love pastor of Lindale First Baptist Church in Chicago Illinois. Sunday, September 29th morning worship service will be at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church and the keynote speaker there will be Reverend James Lange senior Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. The celebration will continue at 4 p.m. at Mount Zion Guest speaker will be dr. William H Foster Jr Providence Missionary Baptist Church For more information on these events please call 219- 210-8504 or 219-872-5275. To add to what was being said about all the various things going on within the city You can never change anything Without leadership It starts with leadership you can't start with the bottom and work your way up to the top It doesn't start with the lights and start with leadership because lack of leadership breeds all being discussed. After speaking with several members of the community the realization is that the city has had such bad leadership for so long they are not cognizant of what real leadership is a lot of people don't understand if you hear a leader talking do you recognize it on a daily basis while we're here coming out of our city government is not leadership the tone the language is not leadership our department head is not leadership so people have become normalized to bad leadership this is why all these problems are  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 happening one can pinpoint different areas but it all starts at the top. If the top is wrong everything is going to be wrong so you have to start with leadership and we got an election coming up and we have to put good leadership in place is the bottom line if we don't do that we going to keep getting the same thing and that's the Baseline of insanity doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. I was just walking around continued to complain. Continue to one thing and nothing getting done. Marty Corley Based on what Mr. Garrett was talking about 29th. Emails were sent to school counselors turn Mission and also school principal if we want to again take students like we did last year the annual conference last year we took approximately 28 kids, so the email said 20 to 40 students Not sure if we want to make motion about finances at this point because there won't be another meeting before the deadline. 40 kids at $10 is $400 pre-registration the hope for transportation is to if we can't do the charter bus again do some type of Grant or some type of collaboration with Gary. Transportation has again been cc'd in there we can't get a charter then maybe we can get a school bus although it is an uncomfortable ride. Also we've talked about many of the issues that went around the table today giving kids exposure to Opportunities like this would help with the problem. personal mission is to take kids down to events like this to give them those exposures. Author Payne explained that the motion for finances is not necessary at this time because of all Mr. Garrett ask for is a headcount number and we can convene at the next meeting to discuss finances Mr. Payne also requested seeking out to other organizations to help gather those kids and headcount numbers. Marty Conley explained he wasn't sure if finances for early bird special end date of September 29th. (refer to Mr Garrett section above)Michigan City Police Department is having their Police Academy application is available the deadline for application is September 16th the class will start September 26th the application is available at the Michigan City Police Department in for 7 weeks two and a half hours one day a week must be 18 and older to apply the academy is free of charge and will come with t-shirts and other class stuff to the course provides you an opportunity to get a chance to see what officers do. what's the name of that training Michigan City Police Department police training academy Posted on her Facebook page is a scholarship from Teachers Scott the next Generation on Hoosier Educators scholarship $7,500 a year for college for students who are looking to go into education it is located on our Facebook page if you are interested please check out the information so they can apply for that Grant.  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 Nila Williams chimed in suggesting as far as the trip to Indy could the commission be a little more creative with our funds to sponsor two kids money in our account needs to grow for other projects. secondly maybe we can look at Thanks this year we need to bring in some kids who may not be doing the greatest in school because we reward the Vons already aspiring or achieving and sports or other areas of life so they get the referral because they're doing good in these areas but the ones that really need to be reached are often overlooked because they are not doing so well and if we get those kids down there to see people like Rev Run maybe we can change their mindset on what they're doing in school. most often we see the good kids are the ones getting to go on these trips about the one or have a little trouble it's nice to reward those who are doing good but give them some incentive to want to do better get down there and have in a moment and often is the same kids going on these trips and it is heartbreaking to see those who don't have the opportunity to be exposed to such events never received that opportunity Marty Corley responded saying kids that are recruited come from all walks of life is not just good but a land of students that say they want to go. that's where the commission comes in as a key element to see if there are other kids in the community that want to go. There is no age limit so anyone can attend we as a commission often seek High Schol. Willie Milsap It appears that the employment status is improving everywhere you ride around you see help wanted signs. Fo the record Work one has a program that people need to contact them to find out how to get involved the number is 219-809-0575. Thanks to Carl Ridle for passing out employment opportunities. Carl Ridle chimed in stating the climate has changed but a lot of people say I don't qualify. Milsap stated this is the importance of the work one to find out what you are qualified for. Minority Health Partners is having a Breast cancer walk September 28th that will begin that Saturday morning at HealthLink Kay Hill, our executive director is in charge of that. Breast Cancer ball on October 5th for those who have insurance but don't have full coverage and can not get a mammogram for men and women at 5:30 at Orak with a live band and a cash bar with a treat for the ladies in the audience in the form of male models. You can visit us at 2601 e Michigan blvd to purchase a ticket. 2 new lead workers to determine homes that have lead problems in paint and house help find financial resources that are necessary.  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 Carl Ridle when citizens come in to complain about renter issues and code inspectors go to property the tenants fear being evicted. Right now there is no protection in the state of Indiana. There is no tenant bill of rights. Senator Eddie Melton is going to try to present that to the legislation next year. The most vocal people were the landlords. No one is advocating or the tenant and the majority of those tenants are black. Hoping the Commission will advocate for the tenants MAny of our residents are just taking whatever they can get. There are options available after the negative impacts or eviction from retaliatory events and damage has been done. Adjournment Motion to adjourn made by Milsap seconded by cox. Meeting adjourned at approximately 1:14 pm