Community Engagement Committee

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE AGENDA COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM 4243 REMEMBRANCE RD. NW. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2024 5:30 PM Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance 1. Committee members: Erin Nowak, Nick Erickson, Jena Wilmers, Bethany Stover, Roxanne Deschaine, Carla Hendon, Leigh Ann Gray, Erin Gregones, Mary Wieber, Nicole DiDonato Discussion Items 1. Approval of Previous Minutes 2. Check in re: Block Parties participants 3. Brainstorm activities for Block Parties - What do we want it to look/feel like? 4. Follow up on Mayor's 3rd Grade Reading Initiative 5. Solidify plans for Back Pack Drive 6. Create survey for community feedback Adjournment Next meeting is Thursday, March 7 at 5:30 pm Page 1 of 3  COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2024 5:30 PM Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance - Present: Erin Nowak, Erin Gregones, Nick Erickson, Jena Wilmers, Stephanie Scott Kolokowski, Bethany Stover, Roxanne Deschaine, Carla Hendon, Leigh Ann Gray, Discussion Items Introduce Commissioner Roxanne Deschaine Approval of Previous Minutes: Motion to approve minutes by J Wilmers, Seconded by E Gregones Neighborhood Updates: Park parties are tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 13 in all 3 wards. Runs from 5:30-7:30 at Alpine Estates Park, City Central Park, and Community Park L Gray will contact Senior Center for volunteers Park Parties will inform residents of what resources the City offers (i.e. Senior Center, Walker Ice and Fitness) C Hendon will reach out to food trucks N DiDonato will reserve pavilions S Kolawoski will look into Meals on Wheels reps Invite local businesses to be part of the event - charge $50 per table to help offset costs School Updates: B Stover suggests attending school board meetings for Kenowa Hills J Wilmers explained 3 scholarship programs offered through the American Legion - however, J Wilmers said it's been difficult to get school officials to allow the Legion in to let students know about the programs S Kolakowski introduced the Youth Build program through her work at the Grand Rapids Center of Transformation Business Updates: N Erickson gave updates on Walker Chamber Community Engagement Committee Minutes 1-4-24 Page 1 2 of 2 3  Walker Before Work networking event first Tuesday of every month Breakfast before Business Meeting is January 18 Mayor's 3rd grade reading initiative updates: No updates Other Business: R Deschaine suggests a way to get more people involved through a passport program (QR code) to get people to visit local businesses, parks S Kolakowski will work with R Deschaine on this engagement J Wilmers proposed the idea of Safety Towns: This is a program for children that teaches safety lessons about fire, pedestrians/traffic, water, guns, and poisons/drugs. It is also the name given to a replica town created to instruct children about safety measures. E Nowak tasked the committee to come back in February with a few projects they are most passionate about. The Committee also elected officers for 2024: J Wilmers nominated E Nowak for Chair Seconded by C Hendon Approved E Gregones motioned to approve J Wilmers to be vice chair N Erickson seconded Approved N DiDonato remains secretary February 1 meeting will be 5:30 - 7 pm Adjournment - Next meeting is Thursday, February 1 Community Engagement Committee Minutes 1-4-24 Page 2 3 of 2 3