HomeMy WebLinkAbout4681-18 Honoring Darryl Heller •
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HERITA IVILRIG E NTER i! `' t.,,.., ,,
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INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTH BEND
BILL NO. 18-75
RESOLUTION NO. 4681-18
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,INDIANA
THANKING DR.DARRYL M.HELLER FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY
00‘.4, Darryl Heller was born in Aiken, South Carolina, the grandson of sharecroppers, and a son in a
military family. He went to twelve(12) different schools between first(1st) and twelfth(12th) grades and his love
of education led him to become a first (1st)-generation college student at the College of Charleston where he
received a BA in Philosophy; and,
61‘..f, Darryl developed a deeply held commitment to social justice when in his last year of college he
worked on a life changing project focused on migrant farm workers where he witnessed the oppressive conditions
under which they toiled; and he spent the next several years working in non-profit, community-based settings
dealing with the homeless, hunger, and HIV/AIDS; and,
6)iftereao, organizing at the grassroots level, Darryl taught in and supervised work readiness programs,
developed trainings to confront the digital divide in inner cities, directed community development projects; he
co-founded the Amistad Institute, a non-profit with the mission to design, develop and implement replicable
programs for inner-city communities; and
4‘.4, his work in the trenches with marginalized communities awakened a long-standing interest in
United States history,especially as it relates to labor,the African American experience,and mechanisms in which
race is constructed and deployed in the interests of the dominant society and culture; and Darryl's personal
mission led him to obtain a Master's Degree in American Studies from Columbia University and his PhD in
history from the University of Chicago; and,
6)Xmid, Dr. Heller found his way to South Bend in 2015, where he became the Director of Student and
Community Engagement and the Director of the Civil Rights Heritage Center at Indiana University South Bend.
This off-campus location was designed to build collaborative relationships among students, faculty and the
broader community relating to issues of civil rights and social justice; and,
G,ff.a4 the Civil Rights Heritage Center operates out of the former Engman Public Natatorium, a once
segregated city-owned and operated swimming pool, it now hosts public lectures,programming, and exhibitions
on topics related to civil rights and social justice; and,
Off, under Dr. Heller's leadership the Civil Rights Heritage Center has set three(3)consecutive records
for the first(1st), second(2nd), and third(3rd)best attendance and renewed its reputation as a place for community
exploration into the history of marginalization and oppression, its current impacts, and its contemporary
manifestations; and,
Offomg,the center came alive with work that stirs the soul to action. Guest speakers,film screenings,poetry
jams, and historical lectures brought together an intergenerational community of activists, students, teachers, and
professors. People of faith, peace, labor, and law gathered to act on their commitment to justice. Dr. Heller
personally played crucial roles in advancing the work of many social justice organizations including Michiana
Social Justice Coalition and Community Action for Education (CAFE), and even served on the board for Imani
Unidad, and the Community Forum for Economic Justice and,
Gffemid, a unique mix of academic and activist, Dr. Heller navigated political and social communities with
ease creating an ever-expanding circle of influence. His opinion articles, lectures, and keynote speeches called
out the dynamics of institutional oppression, spoke truth to power, and challenged community leaders to make
real change; and,
,
( CIVIL RIGHTS 1`� . �'!
HERITAGE CENTER .) ,II ,
INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTH BEND
in recent years, Governing Magazine rated South Bend as a "High Performing Race Conscious
City", there is no doubt that in his short time here Darryl's work has made a significant contribution to the
momentum moving us forward towards our goal of racial and economic justice; and,
WMere/are 6e it x64ol.:ed *dle mnw (eaouincit?die ce6i i'(Vouid fiend tic/ea/net, aVoolloca6:
Section I. The South Bend Common Council publicly offers its gratitude to Dr. Heller for his role in
making South Bend a more informed and better community which recognizes its past and looks forward to its
future.
Section II. The Common Council wishes Dr. Heller continued success as an educator and organizer for
social justice in his new position.
Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Common
Council and approval by the Mayor.
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im ott, tbistnct Council Member Oh ��yr ,; .`"D'at to ' 1 em
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Re_••a illiams- -7 &-k, '`'' 444
ember John Voorde,At Large Council Member
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V - V .a .614.S' • on L.1`c t '•e, 3'h Di tri `Counci Member Gavin e 'c, At Large Co cil em
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Jo roden, 4th District Council Member Karn L. White, At Large Counci ember
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a, 5th District Council Member Robert J. Palmer, Council Attorney
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Kare mah N. Fowler,City Jerk Pete Buttigieg;'Mayor of South Bend, Indiana