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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular Meeting -April l 7, 2009 <br />counseling, etc. <br />One of the main goals of Project Impact is <br />for the participants to begin to trust others <br />who want to help. Most of these people have <br />such low sell' esteem that they don"t think <br />anyone wants to help them. <br />Mr. Swnmers also noted that Project Impact <br />has two grant writers on its team. They are <br />pursuing additional funding. They take the <br />attitude that everyone can help. Some have <br />donated office furniture; some have <br />volunteered to teach a class on job skills. <br />Everything helps. <br />Mr. Downes asked how confident Mr. <br />Summers is that they will be able to place <br />their participants. Mr. Summers said it has <br />been challenging. They are confident that as <br />the economy improves, they will be able to <br />place most of them. Mr. Summers will offer <br />his personal recommendation for someone <br />who demonstrates to him they deserve it. <br />Ms. Spivey asked how long Project Impact <br />has been in existence and if they have been <br />able to measure recidivism. Mr. Summers <br />responded that Hardie and Perl Blake have <br />been working with Project Impact for many <br />years on their own. However, this program <br />as funded with TIF funds has only been in <br />existence since January. So far four <br />participants have dropped out or become <br />incarcerated. He believes the key to success <br />is the connection with the participants <br />families. <br />Ms. King asked if she was con-ect to say that <br />the only two job skills being taught at this <br />time are recyclingh-efurbishing/warehousing, <br />and then the apprentice academy providing <br />12 <br />