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CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> surprised to see so many of my team members. When they heard that programing was going to be <br /> a topic of conversation, they wanted to come and tell you all about it. It is a strong stream of <br /> programs that happen at the Center. Looking here and I was trying to do a quick summary on that. <br /> I think we have a Century worth of experience if you add up everyone's level of commitment and <br /> number of years involved with the Center. These are people that are dedicated,that believe in this <br /> neighborhood,and believe in the Center and want the best for it.And they know it's stronger when <br /> everyone works together. There's no better person that knows what this Center needs more than <br /> these folks. So I wanted to make sure they got a chance to tell a little bit about the programing they <br /> offer. I thought maybe it was going to be Cynthia and George and the whole gang showed up. <br /> That's the pride they take in it and they are not getting paid to be here so that's how much they <br /> believe in it. I wanted to turn it over to Cynthia and I am sure her team will chime in a little bit, <br /> but maybe talk about the grand opening first and then programing. <br /> Cynthia Taylor, Director of the Charles Martin Center stated, As far as the grand opening, we are <br /> in the process and put a committee together, and we are still adding to that committee. We will <br /> select one (1) representative from this neighborhood Alliance to be on that committee. We are in <br /> the process of putting together a grand opening and what's going to happen, who's going to be a <br /> part of it, and what's going to take place once we are open. When reading the notes, we learned <br /> that programing was a big concern for everyone. We are passing out a brief outline of some of the <br /> programing that is going to take place once we have re-opened. But definitely we will have some <br /> programs that we give before because those are just the sample programs that we know work for <br /> the community. But in reference to new programing,here are some of the things that will be added <br /> because of the new spaces that have been expanded. One (1) of the things you talked about were <br /> kids learning skills prior to leaving the Center,we were engaged with youth build where kids were <br /> getting GED's and on top of that they were learning a trade where they would fix a home here in <br /> South Bend. The Mayor was aware of that,it was partnership also with his office and so that's one <br /> of the things we will continue to work with WorkOne, to get those children a stipend while they <br /> are going through the GED process and learning the trade in order to build homes. This is one (1) <br /> of the things we are going to continue, and it does target from sixteen(16)-twenty-four(24)years- <br /> old. We do have a gap in the community where this age group doesn't have a lot to do so that will <br /> be one(1) of our main focuses. The other thing we do is work with JAG which is in the schools so <br /> those kids not only work in the schools but they come to us in the summer and they work with us <br /> during our summer camps and get tutoring,and they go on field trips.They earn community hours, <br /> so we will continue to do that once we get back in there and I believe kids will be able to get three- <br /> hundred (300) community hours they have to have. On the second (2"d) page we work with the <br /> Big Brothers,Big Sisters Program. We usually have anywhere from 60(sixty)to 70(seventy)kids <br /> that participate in after school programs. Each one (1) of those kids are connected to a mentor and <br /> that mentor comes through Big Brothers, Big Sisters and those mentors could be police officers, <br /> their high school students, their parents, uncles, grandmother, grandfather and will be something <br /> that we continue to do with those children. And that's a partnership with Harrison and Navarre, <br /> the local schools in the area. One (1) of the new things we are looking forward to is the computer <br /> lab that will be funded by the library and the South Bend Code School. We did a little bit of work <br /> with them during the school year while we were in the schools, so we are looking forward to them <br /> coming to the Center, setting up and doing some classes with the children. With the new music <br /> studio, we will be doing some music programs. We are looking to possibly partner with IUSB's <br /> music department. We will also continue to do the after-school program which is one (1) of our <br /> biggest programs that we do. We get children not only from the local community but all over to <br /> come to the after-school program. Because we are getting an expanded kitchen it will be a lot <br /> EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p 574.235.9221 If 574.235.9173 1 TTD 574.235.55671 www.southbendin.gov <br /> 5 <br />