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<br />'mss RESOLUTION NO.
<br />A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,
<br />SUPPORTING THE RENAMING OF THE FORMER MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD. TO
<br />CHARLES MARTIN, SR. BLVD.
<br />(W, in every community, there are individuals who prove to be agents of change, uniquely gifted
<br />with the ability to motivate others in heroic ways. Charles E. Martin, Sr. was such an individual, remarkable not
<br />only in the number of lives he influenced, but also in the ways he influenced them; and
<br />6A)", Charles Martin was born August 3, 1943 in Jackson, Tennessee. He and five brothers and sisters
<br />were raised in South Bend by his parents, James and Luvinia Martin. Charles Martin graduated from Central High
<br />School in 1963, from Ball State University in 1967, and was a teacher and coach at LaSalle High School from
<br />1967 to 1970. He joined the Michiana YMCA in 1970 and became Director of the Urban Youth Services program
<br />in 1972; and
<br />0", for the next 22 years, Charles Martin operated an extensive educational network to motivate
<br />minority young people to achieve academic excellence. His work with the YMCA and South Bend Community
<br />Schools provided him daily contact with thousands of youth who benefited from his programs, including the
<br />Academic Contract and Outstanding Minority Student Award; and
<br />6�, Charles Martin's motto was "Touch a life every day," and he practiced it through personal
<br />contact and local community organizations including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation, Leaders & Positive
<br />Role Models, Ladies of Distinction, Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, the South Bend School Boosters, Big
<br />Brothers /Big Sisters, the Kiwanis Club, and many other organizations. He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash
<br />by Gov. Orr in 1987 and Gov. Bayh in 1990, and was inducted into the South Bend Hall of Fame in 1990. The
<br />Charles Martin "Touch a Life" Scholarship was established to provide academically motivated African - American
<br />students from St. Joseph County with tuition assistance and an opportunity to give back to their community while
<br />gaining meaningful work experience in the process; and
<br />6}f)" Charles Martin passed away June 2, 1994. Several months earlier, he learned that the building
<br />endowed by the South Bend Heritage Foundation, would be named in his honor as the Charles Martin Youth
<br />Center. The Center was dedicated August 2, 1995, and has become the embodiment of Charles Martin's
<br />dedication to youth.
<br />Section 1. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana is pleased to support the street
<br />renaming of the former Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd to Charles Martin Blvd.
<br />Section II. Charles Martin's legacy of advocating for youth and community, lives on in the lives he
<br />touched. Mr. Martin recognized the connection between education and a better life and strived to reach out to
<br />children and teach them the importance of academic schooling.
<br />Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Council
<br />and approval by the Mayor.
<br />Tim Scott, 1St District Oliver J. Davis, 6`° District
<br />Regina Williams Preston, 2 °a District
<br />Randy Kelly, 3" District
<br />Jo M. Broden, 4`° District
<br />Dr. David Varner, 5th District
<br />Kareemah, Fowler, City Clerk
<br />John Voorde, At Large
<br />Gavin Ferlic, At Large
<br />Karen L. White, At Large
<br />Council Attorney
<br />Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend
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