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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> in the City? So where we are, where we would like to go and what we need to do in between. I do <br /> know that one (1) of your components that you had talked about was job and skill development. I <br /> know that one (1) of the design elements that I had heard was the bike place that is going to be in <br /> the Center. That is supposed to be an apprenticeship program and it is actually not focusing as <br /> much on the bikes as it is the soft skills like coming to work on time. There is more information <br /> on that and if this is the first(1 St)time you've heard of it,then that is a problem. That is supposed <br /> to have a tutoring and a tiered apprenticeship program. They are using the bike to get to the soft <br /> skills that we have with our workforce and our teenage workforce, specifically. That is one (1) <br /> component I've heard of but if we are opening in September or October and the neighborhood <br /> hasn't heard of the actual program line-up,that is a big problem.I would encourage you to schedule <br /> a meeting with the Parks Department and get someone from the Park Board to come and speak <br /> with you all. <br /> Mr. Davis Jr. replied, We have done that and that is why you are here. Again we started this back <br /> in December 2017. Aaron has been here about two (2) or three (3) times. Each time he has come <br /> before us,he doesn't have any idea of what is going on. That is me being as direct as I can be. That <br /> is why we are pushing the envelope in a different way to get more of a discussion from our City <br /> leaders. If the Park's Department head doesn't know, someone has got to know something. That <br /> is why we are asking for what we are asking for. <br /> Committeemember Broden followed up, We've hired a Program Director, specifically, and that is <br /> their charge. We have to get some responsibility there. <br /> Committeemember Regina Williams-Preston stated, Everything that you are requesting, <br /> particularly focusing on youth, is absolutely something that, as a public school teacher, I am <br /> interested in. As a Council and the City, we are looking at that as well and it is right in line with <br /> what we are doing. I've had conversations with the Program Director and the programs have <br /> moved since the Center was shut down for renovation. I spent some time talking to people over <br /> there and it has been a great connection over there. There will be more connection with the schools <br /> now with the after school programs. In the past those connections have not been the best. That <br /> programming for after school programs is going to be more reinforcing. Another big component <br /> is the leadership development in youth. One (1) idea that came up was working with the One <br /> Hundred (100) Black Men. They are putting in an office at the Charles Martin Youth Center and <br /> are interested in the Charles Black Center, as well. One (1) of the things the One Hundred (100) <br /> Black Men have been doing for the past ten (10) to twelve (12) years is the Minority Leadership <br /> Development Initiative. That is where they take the twenty (20) to thirty (30) year olds in the <br /> community and connect them with businesses to become entrepreneurs and acquire the necessary <br /> skills to be successful. What was discussed was adding a youth component to that and not waiting <br /> until they get out of high school. There was a discussion about youth and adults learning together <br /> and that will create intergenerational relationships. Also, restorative practices are something we <br /> are looking at in this upcoming budget. Basically, how can we bring people together in an <br /> intentional way so that we can build relationships with one another? Whatever gaps may exist, <br /> how can we bridge that gap so when conflict comes up there is a relationship already there? A big <br /> part of that is reducing violence. Is everyone familiar with S.A.V.E.? It stands for stand against <br /> violence every day. The City and the Police Department are partnering with Goodwill on that and <br /> you may have seen people doing outreach. We need to connect all those people. Kids need those <br /> life skills. <br /> EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson BvldI South Bend,Indiana 466011p574.235.9221 f574.235.9173ITTD574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 3 <br />