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REGULAR MEETING August 13, 2018
<br /> okay for some to selectively determine who that word "public" gets ascribed to? Leaders in the
<br /> City,both white and of color,chose to work together and risk their livelihoods to make South Bend
<br /> a place where that word "public" is ascribed to all human beings. Today, reborn as the home of
<br /> the Indiana University South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center, an educational institution
<br /> dedicated to the study and preservation of the history of civil rights and the experiences of
<br /> marginalized and oppressed peoples in the City, we have no immediate threats of the building
<br /> being lost. Still, we believe that the former Natatorium's role in the history of the City is one (1)
<br /> that must be protected. Before IU South Bend came into the picture, in 1999 the City of South
<br /> Bend set aside funds to study the feasibility of the Natatorium's demolition. Fortunately, we had
<br /> neighbors and protectors, including some of the Historic Preservation Commission, who avoided
<br /> its destruction. Though I have zero expectation that that could or would ever happen again, I want
<br /> to add layers of protection to help ensure that it won't. The history of the Natatorium is too pivotal
<br /> and the need for its story today is too great for it to again be threatened. That is why I come here
<br /> today to wholeheartedly endorse local landmark status for the Engman Natatorium,a building that
<br /> today we can truly say is public.
<br /> Darryl Heller, 835 West Colfax Street, South Bend, IN, served as the presenter of this bill. Mr.
<br /> Heller stated, I have had the honor and pleasure of serving as the director of the IU South Bend
<br /> Civil Rights Heritage Center for the last three (3) plus years, and also have had the pleasure of
<br /> seeing many of you come to events that we have put on there. This building, which was once a
<br /> space of exclusion and segregation, is now a place that is inclusive of everyone. We can look at
<br /> the history of the former Engman Public Natatorium that was a place where African-Americans
<br /> couldn't walk through the front door at one(1)time,much less enjoy the public facility that it was.
<br /> But it now serves as a community hub to fight for and support the ongoing struggle for civil rights
<br /> and social justice. That's what we do. So, I urge you to bestow landmark status on the Civil Rights
<br /> Heritage Center as recognition that the past doesn't have to be our future.
<br /> This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and
<br /> opponents were given an opportunity to be heard.
<br /> Those from the public wishing to speak in favor of this bill:
<br /> Jason Banicki-Critchlow, 3822 West Ford Street, South Bend, IN, stated that it is important to
<br /> have symbolic landmarks of this sort to spread discussion.
<br /> Samuel Brown, 222 East Navarre Street, South Bend, IN, stated that this needs to be done and put
<br /> on record so that we can see where we came from and where we are now.
<br /> Pam Blair, 913 East Washington Street, South Bend, IN, stated that she runs the Poetry Den that
<br /> meets every fourth(4th) Sunday of the month at the Civil Rights Heritage Center and stated,I speak
<br /> on the behalf of the Poetry Den when I say we are very much in support of the Civil Rights Heritage
<br /> Center being recognized as a historical site.
<br /> There were none from the public wishing to speak in opposition to this bill.
<br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, This is a great honor for us to vote on this tonight.
<br /> Councilmember Davis thanked those involved in bring forth the petition and expressed admiration
<br /> for everyone's enthusiasm. He extended thanks to Councilmember Karen White for her role in this
<br /> effort, as well.
<br /> Councilmember Karen White thanked Councilmember Davis. Councilmember White stated,
<br /> Someone indicated to me that I am a persistent, quiet pusher. I can recall in 1999, as a member of
<br /> the South Bend Common Council,as a member of the Indiana University South Bend community,
<br /> that a group of us began to work with not only the Mayor at that time, Mayor Steve Luecke, but
<br /> with local citizens and members of the South Bend Heritage Foundation to begin to identify
<br /> resources to renovate, at that time, the Natatorium. Councilmember White stated that there was a
<br /> lot of discussion surroundeding whether those resources would be put to good use restoring the
<br /> Natatorium, but she contended that it was the right choice then and, if the choice were presented
<br /> today, it would be the right choice now.
<br /> Councilmember Tim Scott stated that he would love to be able to see the original members of the
<br /> Board themselves see what the Natatorium has become.
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