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• CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> Committee Member Rachel Tomas Morgan stated her gratitude for the department heads present <br /> and their ability to answer the Council's questions. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked for <br /> the team at Venues,Parks, and Arts(VPA)to explain the role,highlights,and importance of Group <br /> Violence Intervention(GVI) since its addition to VPA. <br /> Jordan Gathers, Executive Director of Venues, Parks, and Arts (VPA) with offices at 301 South <br /> St. Louis Blvd, South Bend IN 46601, stated that since the inclusion of this intervention program <br /> there has been an influx of community leadership working together to lower gun violence and <br /> supporting South Bend's highest risk individuals. Jordan Gathers stated that VPA continues to <br /> build the mission of GVI throughout the City. Security programming has been in place for several <br /> years, specifically at Howard Park. There are also safety and engagement teams placed in park <br /> spaces, collaborating with the South Bend Police Department(SBPD)to keep parks safe. <br /> Malcolm Coates, Project Manager, with offices at 321 W Walter street, South Bend IN 46614, <br /> stated that group violence and gun-related incidents percentages are trending downward. The last <br /> report given from GVI was from Januar June_ of 2024 stating there were twenty-two (22) <br /> shootings, in comparison to January-June of 2023 there were twenty-nine(29)reported shootings. <br /> Malcolm Coates stated that there were 13 gang-member involved (GMI) included in this year's <br /> report. He stated that these statistics were collected through the SBPD. Malcolm Coates stated that <br /> he believes that the inclusion of GVI has greatly benefited the community in terms of crime rates <br /> decreasing in the span of two (2) years. Malcolm Coates explained how the GVI program is <br /> intended to work by law enforcement referring the names of known gang or group violence <br /> members to the GVI outreach team. The outreach team's role is to speak to these individuals and <br /> talk to them about their options, in an attempt to lead them away from a crime-ridden future. This <br /> strategy is paired with social service agencies, such as housing, food, transportation,job finding, <br /> licensing,child support payments,etc.,making sure these individuals have the resources to choose <br /> a better path for themselves. Malcolm Coates stated that the intention is for the individuals to <br /> continue working with social services until they are completely detached from the gang or group <br /> violence lifestyle. <br /> Councilmember Ophelia Gooden-Rodgers asked why Howard Park requires security as opposed <br /> to other parks. She also asked what is being done in regards to security for the opening of the <br /> Martin Luther King Jr. Center. <br /> Jordan Gathers stated that work is being done to create a more comprehensive visitor experience <br /> division that would consist of security, safety, maintenance, custodial oversight services. The <br /> visitor experience division would help with overseeing safety at all parks moving forward. <br /> Councilmember Gooden-Rodgers asked if there have been any safety complaints at other parks. <br /> Jordan Gathers stated that VPA has received feedback from citizens, through a visitor experience <br /> survey, regarding safety in all parks but three (3) in particular, Howard, Muessel, and Fremont <br /> parks. Jordan Gathers stated that the feedback was overwhelmingly positive in terms of citizens <br /> feeling safe in South Bend's parks. <br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Blvd. South Bend,Indiana 46601 p.574.235.9221 f.574.235.9173 www.southbendin.gov <br />