08-21-18 Residential Neighborhoods

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®CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK from. Same thing you are saying here about any particular office about anyone outside of who you see here doesn't exist and it's not in the plan in any way, shape or form. Mr. Printen interjected, Put this on record. Mr. Perri replied, Now I can't stand up here in good conscious and say that without saying and underscoring that this is a community center and it's for everybody regardless of what you look like and everybody here believes that,so I just want to make that clear.There has been no particular office outside of these folks but it is also for the community. Our mission is to ignite South Bend. Rev. Langworthy, 233 North Illinois Street, South Bend, IN stated, I recently returned back to South Bend. My father died. But because of the increase in cultural/diversity in all of these neighborhoods, the language barriers, and racial barriers and how we feel and gender issues there should be a diversity officer. I know we have one(1)in the City and there should be some one that could come out and make peace in the neighborhoods. Someone that could call around and talk to everybody. Everybody doesn't speak Spanish,we could learn some words and they could learn a little bit more about the black community. Since we all live here I have learned that some areas that were once all black are not that way anymore. And I am positive that it's not going to be that way because all over the country some people are learning, and we cannot say it's just us. There should be somebody that is coming from the City such as an officer that is trained with cultural diversity knowing how to talk with different people because like he said if you are going to disrespect me, you are going to make me mad and I am knocking on your door and I can come to you cordially, and you are looking at my face judging how I look, my clothes. Committee Chair White interjected, I think it's very clear that there's not an office for a particular race.Being African American,you don't have your staff here and an office has not been identified. You hear that statement being made,I trust that you would say,that is not true,you heard this from the Director. But also what I am hearing there is a need to look at diversity and what does that mean across the board and how can we as a community begin to look at that and the need to have that type of in-service and also getting back to that sooner that you made mention that the City is not part of that Center nor did they buy that center. So again, I need to get more information about that for when I come back. But the resource center on Western Ave is not part of the landscape of the City. Now it would be helpful so that individuals would have that information and so we can deal with some of these perceptions. I promise to get back with you sooner. Rev. Langwothy replied, With your staffing, the diversity issue has come up so are we going to integrate because we live out here and they use the Center. Ms. Taylor replied, We had a staff member that spoke Spanish right before we left and we are looking for someone to fill that position. George Rogers, 3026 Langley Ave, South Bend, IN stated, I keep hearing everyone saying that the Hispanics don't like us. That's the problem right there, your speaking it into existence. I have a great relationship with all the Hispanics. It's just the fact that not all of them speak good English, they get a little defensive and the don't understand. So if you don't understand, you don't understand, that doesn't mean they don't like you. It's just they don't understand what you are saying. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building j 227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p 574.235.9221 If 574.235.9173 j TTD574.235.5567 j www.southbendin.gov 9