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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK barriers between us here in this City, that the funds are put there so that Ms. Brooks would have the opportunity to make a change. Having the information without having the funds to make the change was a waste of time paying $250,000 to bring a person in here to tell him something and then she doesn't have the funds or the money to implement that. I see a lot and I get around in this community, and I see that people are doing things without having the funds to do them and they're doing a good job. The City is not trying to put any money towards helping them, especially the Business Center. They need more money. People are there every day, all day, half of the night, so they're doing stuff free. Volunteering their time to try to help reduce some of the barriers here in South Bend, Indiana. The weakest link in our City of South Bend are the barriers between the communities, the neighborhoods especially. And so, I support her, and I hope that the City will consider trying to break down some of those barriers that divide us here in this City. That's our weakest link and that's where we need to be able to stand up and take on that challenge and reduce mof theespecially in economic development and in business. Igrew upin the 60s and some barriers, p y p I ain't trying to go back there and we're not trying to go back there. And that's what the City of South Bend needs to understand that we're not going back to the 60s. It's 2019, almost 2020, and we need to get aboard and do the right thing for the City of South Bend if we intend to be a model city. Thank you. Andrea Crawford, 920 West Washington Street, stated, I am here to show support for Christina Brooks and her Office and to ask for her to be supported in a much more robust way. I am part of a neighborhood organization that is in partnership with two (2) other neighborhoods on the west side and for the last two(2)years we've been doing diversity and inclusion workshops. Apart from a $1,000 grant from the NRC, we've been doing this completely as volunteers. We have been delighted to have Christina participate in some of our workshops and offer us some guidance.What we need now is much more financial support for community training in these initiatives. We need professional facilitation and guidance, and we need an official partnership with the City in this way.These workshops are critical for communities to learn how to work together. They are critical for economic and social progress and they also go to the very heart of the democratic project. So, I would ask you to give Christina your most robust support. Thank you. Pastor Hardie Blake, 144 North Summit Drive, stated, I'm the pastor of Ardmore Church and am also the founder of Project Impact South Bend. Also, I'm one (1) of the directors for the CUC, which is Common Unity Community, West Side Small Business Resource and Development Center.And I stood at a podium just like this thirty-two(32)years ago talking about the affirmative action and the disparity and at this same spot, talked about how we needed to do something about participation for minority businesses within the City of South Bend and St. Joseph County. And now when I look at this, the disparity study, which we're still waiting on, I'm going to read something that was written. Okay, I just want to read this right quick. The breakdown of South Bend disparity, Diversity Purchasing Report. In total, $1,895,572. About one-point-eight percent (1.8%) of the City's purchasing spending went to women and minority businesses last year. In 2018, 2017, and 2016 the percentage that went to minority and women owned business was less than one percent (1%). I got the numbers here. But what I'm saying is that if the City can't do any better than that, and if it's only doing less than two or one percent (2% - 1%) this year already in 2018, what was it doing thirty-two (32) years ago? Zero (0), probably or less. And now since Christina has become the Diversity Inclusion Officer, James Summers and I are both directors of the CUC and the Small Business West Side Development Center. I'm a director, I'm an instructor, I'm a trainer and I'm a janitor because I don't get paid and neither does James Summers for that center and we've been there for almost one (1) year. I'm going to say this. I support Christina EXCELLENCE ; ACCOUNTABILITY ; INNOVATION INCLUSION ! EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I I D574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 27