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•CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Committee Chair White continued, Mrs. Christina Brooks is going to complete her presentation and then we will hopefully go to public and take it from there and see. Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Christina Brooks, Diversity Inclusion Officer for the City of South Bend with offices located on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, stated, I actually was able to get through the presentation at the last budget hearing. It was my understanding that this time would be used to answer questions. Committee Chair White then opened the floor to questions from Committee and Council Members. Councilmember Dr. Davis stated,My question,well,it wasn't so much of a question. I just thought that some of the funding was on some of the parts where it's a little low. I remember one (1) was $30,000 for the minority. I know we cannot raise them, but I need to send that email so we can suggest that some parts of it be increased and so that was what I was hearing from the floor that day, it was that more money is needed to be increased and so, which is, again, out of your realm in a sense is us to send that upstairs to advocate for that. That's what I remember, more or less. Is that something where we all have a similar thought with that? Ms. Brooks replied, Yes. I'm very appreciative of a supportive Council and the Administration in reviewing the need for more funding. Committee Chair White asked,In regard to clarifying the relationship between the work that you're doing and the work that is coming out of Community Investment and the engagement piece, what does that look like? You don't have to respond now, but just having clarity. Councilmember Dr. Davis asked, What role do you foresee playing in terms of this public safety officer? In terms of diversity, what role will your office, or have there been any discussions regarding how your office and the proposed new person would come together? I think you're talking about the community organizing and all the other kinds of things and many of those groups that I hear in the back of my brain being talked about, it almost directs some things towards you. Not that it's only a diversity issue and all that or only an African American issue when it comes down to this, it's a City-wide issue,however, we recognize where we are and what is going on. In that light, what types of conversations have gone on between the Administration? If nothing has, what do you foresee in those kinds of conversations? Ms. Brooks replied, What I envision is that my position would definitely be in conversation with both the existing Administration but also the incoming Administration as to what they envision and how we would interact and clearly define the role that diversity, inclusion, equity, and access would have in those conversations and in the projects that they would take on. I agree that a lot of it,there's always a lot of overlap. Especially in positions at that level that deal with the community. I think it's going to be really important for us to clearly define the roles so that we can be effective in making sure that we accomplish everything that the community expects of us. I don't think those conversations can take place without the voice of the people in the community and gathering their input, especially the input from the last conversation with the community advisory groups and making sure that we take that into account when we specify the actual role or position description that was described earlier today from the Mayor's Office presentation. EXCELLENCE 1 ACCOUNTABILITY 1 INNOVATION I INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f 574.235.9173 I I L)574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov 27