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REGULAR MEETING March 26, 2018
<br /> Fred Teague, 704 Roland Court, South Bend, IN, stated, I live right around the corner from the
<br /> JJC. I actually applied there but it ended up conflicting with my internship. I was really impressed
<br /> with the people interviewing me. I was one (1) of these men growing up. My mother died when I
<br /> was seven(7),my dad was addicted to drugs, so at the age of ten(10)or eleven(11),1 was stealing
<br /> food just to eat and getting locked up. Our Country has been about retributive justice for so long.
<br /> If you look at the state of the Nation right now, it is about retribution. We need restoration. If I
<br /> would have had an organization like this to invest in me, I might not have had to go through so
<br /> many obstacles just to get to this point today. I came here and wasn't anticipating to speak on this
<br /> but I believe that although no system is one hundred percent (100%) fail-proof, if you make a
<br /> difference in one (1) of these men's life, you can potentially change the world. One (1) way or
<br /> another, these young men will influence us. They are going to be our neighbors and if we don't
<br /> influence them in a positive way, then nine (9) times out of ten (10) they will influence us
<br /> negatively. We need to do all we can to help these young men.
<br /> Mary Bruinsma, 3116 Weist Lane, South Bend, IN, stated, I've been a resident of South Bend for
<br /> almost twenty(20)years now and I've worked in South Bend for almost that same amount of time.
<br /> I've had the opportunity to meet quite a few of the young men from DePaul Academy at our church
<br /> which is Christ Chapel. They have always treated me with respect and I have never seen them
<br /> disrespectful. I really believe in the mission of ROP. Being married to Bill, I know what ROP is
<br /> all about very intimately and I know the values that they stand for. I know the values that DePaul
<br /> stands for like integrity,respect and honesty. These young men will be in a safe and secure facility
<br /> where they can advance themselves successfully in the ways that we all want them to. I believe
<br /> you can trust what ROP is doing. I hope that all of you and South Bend in general will embrace
<br /> this opportunity to give these young men a chance they would not otherwise have. They need this
<br /> opportunity and I hope and pray you consider this.
<br /> Andrew Nemeth, 1201 S. Sheridan Street, South Bend, IN, stated, I have lived here in South Bend
<br /> for over forty (40) years and I have operated a commercial real estate business for twenty (20)
<br /> years. I could never articulate on my best day, the stories that have been shared with you this
<br /> evening by these folks. I just recently got over surgery so I wasn't certain I would be able to make
<br /> it here tong. But, their mission is so important to me that I made it here toni ht. If this passes
<br /> tonight, and Woordford Home and DePaul Academy are both going to be operational, you are
<br /> talking about over seventy (70) full-time employees here in the City of South Bend. ROP has
<br /> received many accolades and is considered the gold-standard of child care throughout the United
<br /> States of America. I look forward to maybe even employing some of these young men and getting
<br /> them started with vocational welding. Thank you for time.
<br /> Lisa Shaw, 704 S. 24th Street, South Bend, IN, stated, I am a current resident of River Park and I
<br /> am a business owner in South Bend. I am a new resident. I purchased my home on 24th Street last
<br /> July and, while I'm a new resident I have been connected to River Park since I was a child. My
<br /> father grew up in River Park and went to Nuner School. Both my grandmothers lived in River
<br /> Park. The home I purchased is actually one (1) of my grandmothers home. So, even as a new
<br /> resident, my husband and I began to attend the neighborhood association meetings and we started
<br /> getting reacquainted with the neighborhood. I've been working with the Board of Directors of our
<br /> association to reestablish communication in our community through a newsletter and social media.
<br /> We are hoping by communicating,we will all have an idea of what is going on in our community.
<br /> I am looking forward to working with Dr. Bruinsma to continue informing our area residents of
<br /> what is going on in the community, including Woodford Home. I've been walking in our
<br /> neighborhood and pass this building quite a bit.We have an empty building in our community that
<br /> needs a use. I see it having an extremely bright future. These young men are exceptional. They
<br /> want to be here and want to be a part of the community. River Park is resource rich and has so
<br /> much to offer these young men. I embrace this program and hope it is approved.
<br /> Lenny Shaw, 704 S. 24th Street, South Bend, IN, stated,Prior to coming here, I was in support and
<br /> I still am. It is so great to hear so much support for young men that want to be helped. This is a
<br /> great opportunity for our community.
<br /> Shaw Alexander, 1000 S. Michigan Street, South Bend,IN, stated,I am currently a student-athlete
<br /> attending DePaul Academy. I would just like to shed light on what really goes on at DePaul
<br /> Academy and what the transition looks like from a student-athlete point of view. When you enter
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