Stakeholders Assemble at Town Hall Meeting
Ernest Sanders
Published: February 11, 2009
Leonard Langston, Executive Director for the Ark of St. Sabina facilitates an open discussion at a town hall meeting sponsored by St. Sabina.
Ernest Sanders
Coordinated by Leonard Langston, the Executive Director of The Ark of St. Sabina, this highly engaged meeting acknowledged some gems of the community as the Salvation Army, St. Leo Veterans Campus, and organized block clubs, taking many questions from audience participants regarding guns, violence, and a lack of personal involvement for community stakeholders.
Guest panelists for this event included Father Michael L. Pfleger, Pastor of Saint Sabina Church, Minister Ishmael Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, Alderman Latasha Thomas of the 17th Ward, State Senator Jacqueline Collins of the Legislative 16th District, State Representative Mary Flowers of the Legislative 31st District, Kelwin Harris, Executive Director of The Beloved Community, Commander Eddie Johnson of the 006th District Chicago Police Station, Carlos Nelson, Executive Director of The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation, and Deborah Moore, Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Auburn Gresham and Englewood.
Each panelist had an opportunity to speak on the positives of their organization and integration into the Auburn Gresham community, and address other concerns.
“The Faith Community of St. Sabina, through our Social Services arm, feed more than 6000 people in the month of December 2008 along. This is twice the amount we have provided for the hungry all across the City of Chicago,” said Father Pfleger.
Kim Nelson, a resident of the 17th Ward expresses her concerns about the neighborhood, while simultaneously lifting up the efforts of her block club to reduce violence.
Ernest Sanders
Commander Johnson said, “The 006th District Police Station has partnered with St. Sabina Church to pilot programs mimicked around the City of Chicago regarding curfew laws and worked with our Community Alternative Policing Strategies (C.A.P.S.) units and organizations as the Greater Auburn-Gresham Corporation regarding neighborhood and student safety.”
The Commander’s response solicited a question from a student in the audience who asked about more funding for education and the Police Department’s intent to prevent violence after school. He answered the student by informing her of the Chicago Police Department’s current efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for schools in the City of Chicago, especially during dismissals. “School dismissals are a critical aspect of our daily police operations. We are also providing seminars for our schools officers to help address these same issues,” said Commander Johnson.
State Senator Jacqueline Collins addressed the matter of more funding for education by sharing some of the recent obstacles she has faced as a legislator, but highlighted her continuous efforts along with the state legislator’s Black Caucus to improve the funding mechanisms and streams to provide our youth with the resources necessary for them to gain an honest education and remain competitive in the global market place.
Alderman Latasha Thomas said she is proud of the schools in the Mighty 17th Ward and spoke of her leadership as the head of the Education committee for the City of Chicago. “Education has to be the #1 issue for our community. My husband and I are literally at our kid’s school daily. Parents must have the same commitment to be a part of their child’s upbringing.”
Minister Ishmael Muhammad of the Nation of Islam speaks words of love and encouragement to the town hall participants.
Ernest Sanders
State Representative Mary Flowers spoke of her commitment to improving the education funding through taxation. “Increasing taxes will provide hundreds of thousands of dollars that could fund our education shortfalls. Parents must ask themselves, where is your insult level? How much longer will you allow injustices to occur on behalf of our children? Your child is my child. We must encourage our youth to go to school.”
In the end, each panelist was given an opportunity to provide some closing comments. Each spoke with a sense of understanding and acknowledgement and seemed to sign-up for a call of justice in the community and citywide. What seemed especially rewarding was a renowned sense of love and respect for each other.
To see panelists closing comments, click here.