HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution on Navarre 7th Grade Peaceful Protest/ RESOLUTION NO. ___________ /
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, PUBLICLY COMMENDING AND HONORING THE 7TH GRADE STUDENTS
OF NAVARRRE INTERMEDIATE CENTER ON A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN TO ADVANCE EQUALITY AND PROMOTE HEALTHY FOOD OPTIONS FOR ALL STUDENTS IN
THE SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
Whereas,
the Common Council proudly recognizes the Navarre Intermediate Center 7th grade student body for a successful campaign to advance equality and ensure that school lunches provide healthy
food choices to all students throughout the South Bend Community School Corporation.
Whereas, America lives its values of “justice for all” through the ongoing struggle for equality,
“Separate but equal” was the law in the United States in which facilities and services such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation could be segregated by race
as long as these were equal. However, separate facilities provided to African Americans were rarely equal or did not exist at all; and
Whereas, last week, we celebrated the 63rd anniversary
of Brown v. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court case which declared that separate public schools for black and white students are unconstitutional, and yet we know that racism
and discrimination still exists in our schools today; our challenge is to recognize, resist, and reform the subtle and sometimes not so subtle manifestations of inequity; and
Whereas,
the demographics of schools in South Bend show de facto segregation - students of color make up 69% of the South Bend Community School Corporation, but 95% of the students at Navarre
are children of color; and
Whereas, national data indicates that schools with a student population of predominately children of color operate with fewer resources limiting the students’
access to educational opportunities including healthy food choices in school lunches; and
Whereas, Navarre Intermediate 7th grade students learned about peaceful protests in the Civil
Rights Movement and were inspired to apply what they learned by taking action to advance equality in their own lives. Recognizing good nutrition as important for physical and mental
development, they organized to get a salad bar and a fruit bar which was provided in other schools as part of their lunch options; and
Whereas, like most children attending schools
in low income neighborhoods, many Navarre students live in a “food desert” where children don’t have access to fresh produce and depend on healthy food choices being offered at the
schools; and
Whereas, progress doesn’t come without struggle, Navarre 7th grade students worked together to analyze and overcome barriers and when met with resistance of bureaucracy
and red tape with the help of some of their teachers, now the entire school enjoys the benefit of fresh produce as part of their daily meal.
Now, therefore, be it resolved, by the
Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows:
Section I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, publicly honors and congratulates the Navarre Intermediate
Center 7th grade student body for a successful campaign to advance equality and ensure that school lunches provide healthy food choices to all students throughout the South Bend Community
School Corporation. We look forward to these students being the leaders of tomorrow to ensure diversity & inclusion; model for city leaders, educators, and all adults in South Bend
Section
II. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Council and approval by the Mayor.
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Tim Scott, 1st District Oliver J. Davis, 6th District
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Regina Williams Preston, 2nd District John
Voorde, At Large
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Randy Kelly, 3rd District Gavin Ferlic, At Large
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Jo M. Broden, 4th District Karen L. White, At Large
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Dr. David Varner, 5th District Aladean DeRose, Interim Council Attorney
Attest: Approved
this ___ day of May, 2016
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Kareemah N. Fowler, City Clerk Pete Buttigieg, Mayor of South Bend