12-10-18 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

REGULAR MEETING December 10, 2018 I need to do is find out what the community wants and then help the community achieve those goals.' More than anything that really struck me because it shows he is really sincere and passionate. It's not about him. It's about making the community the best it can be. As these years rolled on, he was in so many different circles as was mentioned. From political circles, informal circles, social circles, all kinds of things. He had a lot of influence. I think one (1) of the things as an activist, on my activist side, that was really great was when we would go in front of really important people like the Mayor or the Superintendent of the Schools, they would always ask, 'What does Darryl think? I trust him.' It was great because he was like our little secret weapon. Any time anything needed to be said, the hard stuff, we would send Darryl in because everybody trusted him and he just has that way.He didn't shy away from the really hard issues. He challenged us as City leaders and as community members, every single one (1) of us, to really look in the mirror to see what we can do to make a change at whatever space or level that we are in. There is one(1)thing we talked about is how could we ever replace him? We just can't. One(1)word used to describe him was a unicorn. He has this amazing mix of talent and heart that we just won't find again. I want to thank the Mayor for giving him the key to the City because we will need that so he can come back and make sure that he is absolutely welcomed here. Dr. Heller stated, I've only been here for three (3) and a half years but it feels like I'm a South Bender. I learned a couple of words when I first (1St) came here. South Bender was one (1) and I'm returning to the Bend was another. I really poured out my heart and soul here and it will stay. I will be back to at least visit if nothing else. This being the time heretofore set for the Public Hearing on the above bill, proponents and opponents were given an opportunity to be heard. Mayor Pete Buttigieg, offices located on the 14th floor of the County-City Building, South Bend, IN, stated, I just wanted to echo of couple of things. First(1St)of all,his impact. It is hard to believe it has just been three (3) and a half years with the impact Dr. Heller has had. I think he is a voice of reason and moral clarity in this community. That is a spirit we need to continue going forward because I think he has expanded the vision of what civil rights mean. Secondly, I wanted to reflect on the expanded importance of the Center itself I think its relevance has never been greater in the complicated times we live in and so it is a good thing the Center has, each passing year, grown to be more of a touchstone in this community. One (1) other thing you should know about just how present he is up until the finish line, even this afternoon while Council Members were busy doing the City's business, two (2) different times I saw Dr. Heller at community events even before seeing him this evening. As far as we are concerned you are officially a South Bender and that represents your relationship with the City for your lifetime. Thank you. Aladean DeRose, offices located on the 12th floor of the County-City Building, South Bend, IN, stated, I know Darryl personally through a program that the local BAR Association put together a couple of years ago. It was a book club titled Slavery and Justice in America. When we started our books, we thought we were a group of enlightened white people. There are African Americans in our group as well but those of us who were white felt like we knew something about this subject and it turns out we knew nothing. Darryl, through his wisdom, kindness and understanding, lead us through some very difficult, poignant and heart-wrenching books that explain the African American experience in ways that words can never describe. Darryl, at all times, was understanding of our lack of knowledge and our expression of complete surprise when things were brought to our attention. He organized many of the books and chose many of them that we discussed, and we had the most extraordinary conversations. He is a man of incredible talent and is an extraordinary human being. I thank you all for making this award possible for him. Bianca Tirado, 913 East Washington Street, South Bend, IN, stated, I would like to share a little bit about how I work with Darryl. Darryl has been so gracious to me because we run an event called the Poetry Den at the Civil Rights Heritage Center and he has welcomed us with open arms and we will miss him very much. I hope you come back. Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to adopt Bill No. 18-75 by acclamation. Councilmember Karen White seconded this motion which carried by a voice vote of nine(9) ayes. 6