Zions Bank’s Post

Excerpt: “In a city like Evanston, racism comes with a smile and a nod, masked behind progressive facades. But scratch the surface, and you'll find a small group pulling strings, dictating who falls in line and who faces consequences for questioning the status quo. My journey in advocating for direct cash payments as reparations has revealed uncomfortable truths about power dynamics and the lengths some will go to maintain control. Join me in uncovering the complexities of our city and why community engagement is more crucial than ever.” Excerpt: "I recall a particularly revealing encounter over coffee, where a Caucasian individual chastised me for challenging the status quo on reparations. She invited me to coffee under the guise of a different topic and then she blindsided me! This person, like many others, couldn't fathom why I refused to accept crumbs when my community deserved more than a housing program. She felt I was wrong to push for direct cash payments to be added as an option. She said, “You should just accept whatever you get.” Does anyone know how that felt for me, sitting across the table from THAT? A Caucasian person chastised me that my people should just take whatever they get for their reparations in Evanston. This woman is close friends with a few Black leaders in Evanston and she runs in that 1% of wealth crowd that, many believe, controls our local government. She wasn’t the first to come at me with this scolding. There have been several. They said if it’s good enough for their Black friends who are in leadership then it should be good enough for the rest of Black Evanston. These women didn’t see these conversations as hurtful, racist, and devaluing because these Black leaders are their close friends, so they have been made to feel safe to say and think these things. That’s Evanston racism. It's not people wearing white sheets, burning crosses, and riding around in pick-up trucks in 2024. It comes with a smile, a coffee, and a photo op sometimes." Uncover the full story and dive deep into the heart of the matter with an exclusive post on https://lnkd.in/gWncMSWH. Discover the unfiltered truth about Evanston's reparations lawsuit, racial equity, and the battle for justice. Subscribe now to gain access to the complete article and join us in exploring the critical issues shaping our community. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post are solely those of the author, Meleika Gardner, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my co-hosts, Where The People Meet TV, or any affiliated organizations. Each individual associated with our platform may have their own perspectives, and we encourage diverse opinions and discussions on important issues.

Excellent conversation with Melanie Frazer, ACE and the Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce! Thanks for giving me a platform to share information about the Project SEARCH program. #networking #schooltoworkprogram

“In a city like Evanston, racism comes with a smile and a nod, masked behind progressive facades. But scratch the surface, and you'll find a small group pulling strings, dictating who falls in line and who faces consequences for questioning the status quo. My journey in advocating for direct cash payments as reparations has revealed uncomfortable truths about power dynamics and the lengths some will go to maintain control. Join me in uncovering the complexities of our city and why community engagement is more crucial than ever.” Uncover the full story and dive deep into the heart of the matter with our exclusive blog post on https://lnkd.in/gWncMSWH. Discover the unfiltered truth about Evanston's reparations lawsuit, racial equity, and the battle for justice. Subscribe now to gain access to the complete article and join us in exploring the critical issues shaping our community. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author, Meleika Gardner, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my co-hosts, Where The People Meet TV, or any affiliated organizations. Each individual associated with our platform may have their own perspectives, and we encourage diverse opinions and discussions on important issues.

This MLK Day, let's reflect on our own legacy. How will you be remembered for helping others and serving your community? #estateplanninglawyernewportbeach #specialneeds #specialneedsplanning

Let's celebrate Tyler and Kristina, two of our exceptional Community Association Program team members! Get to know Tyler Grauberger and Kristina LeGrand in this spotlight video below 👇 #communityassociations #hoainsurance #insuranceteam

In our research, Chapin Hall found that African American youth in the United State have an 83% greater risk of reporting homelessness than other racial groups. Whether they live in cities, suburbs or rural areas, Black youth are disproportionately affected by housing instability. This November, during #YouthHomelessnessAwarenessMonth, let’s commit to centering Black youth in creating new programs, services, and strategies for preventing and addressing housing instability. Let’s move upstream of this problem by supporting youth and their families at times of trauma that can lead to housing instability. And let’s support evidence-based coordinated homeless prevention models like adaptations of the Australian Geelong Project, which provides for universal screening in schools followed by tailored case management and support. Let’s commit to being there for Black youth today, so that they, and their enormous potential, can be there, whole and healthy, for all of us in the future.  

Hi Morgan No we are not Proud of Mayor Lucas. Repealing NEW ORDINANCE TO CODE BOOKS ORDINANCE NO. 230401 Amending Chapter 3, Code of Ordinances, by repealing Section 3-431, “Setting Goals for Individual Contracts” and enacting in lieu thereof a new section of like number and subject matter regulating the application of numeric MBE/WBE goals on certain projects leased for development or receiving economic development incentives or tax abatement. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY: 2. Ignoring the letter from The Kcmo Fairness Board Chairman & Fairness Committee regarding Civil Rights violations ? Harrasment of minority contractors ? inadequate reporting from Kcmo CREO department ? No Disparity report for 9 years and more ? 2016 Disparity Report below: Department of I think 1.2 minority [participation] and 2.5 WBE [participation], when there was adequate availability of minority and women contractors to meet the City’s standard kind of goal of 15 [percent] and 7 [percent]. They’re diluting the opportunity for minority and women contractors when it comes through the statutory business development organizations, all of whom have different sets of rules..… There ought to be a uniform code that is incorporated in all the development agreements which people in our community never see.… There’s a disconnect. And I realize they’re trying to change some of that now but the insulting part of it was there was more money spent through statutory agencies last year for contracting activities than there were through City departments.… It’s obviously developer driven. By the time we see it the development agreement has already been executed. Caused lack of capital for Jackson County schools and libraries. Mayor Lucas and Insult to African Americans everywhere?

A critical task for the Mecklenburg CJAG's Community Engagement Task Group is acknowledging and mitigating President Obama's 21st Century Policing report called the "legitimacy deficit." A deficit created by the previous reform efforts' failures has eroded community trust over the decades. We can reverse this by authentically listening and then working as trusted messengers for the community. If we fail, then in historically marginalized communities, people will start to question the reason for our presence in the community: "Why are you here? What do you want? Are you in it for the long haul to make fundamental changes, or not? Among our goals is to change this narrative. This is one of the driving forces in our desire to develop a strategic plan that focuses on supporting neighborhoods, identifying gaps, and the resources to build a viable, sustainable, and equitable greater Mecklenburg County community through engagement, education, and empowerment. #InstituteforAmericanPolicingReform #NationalOrganizationofBlackLawEnforcementExecutives #CommunitiesUnitedForPoliceReform #TheNationalOrganizationofBlackWomeninLawEnforcement #InternationalAssociationofChiefsofPolice #NationalLatinoPeaceOfficersAssociation # NationalBlackWomen'sJusticeInstitute #https://lnkd.in/g4DnNcSG #AmINext #HispanicFederation #spotlightonclt #dogoodclt #sharecharlotte

#CityofAuburn Reevaluate outreach: Consolidate efforts and align missions. Bring outreach work into the city government and pay people livable wages. Less turnover means better outcomes. Strengthen shelters: Channel resources into shelters, improve conditions, and increase staff compensation to curtail turnover. Make shelters spaces of growth and transition. Stop the flow: Implement programs that intervene before eviction occurs, offering support in exchange for participation. Lessen the inflow of new homelessness cases. Essential services: Integrate essential services within shelters. Empower individuals to access health care, employment resources, and social services without stepping outside. It’s time we recognize our own role in shaping the outcome of homelessness and redouble our efforts to provide opportunities for change. We need to acknowledge our shared responsibility in perpetuating homelessness. We need to diagnose the true issue. We need policy made in the name of compassion to meet the reality of accountability. If not, how much longer can we pretend we’re talking about supportive housing? Kent Hay is the director of anti-homelessness for the city of Auburn.

I think Daniel's philosophy perfectly aligns with the transformative work of Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Indeed, the passion and dedication of this organization meets deeply with Daniel's values. Both share a commitment to changing lives, empowering youth, and building stronger communities. Thanks to Daniel and the entire team at Big Brothers Big Sisters for making a meaningful impact! #Bigbrothersbigsisters #SharedValues #CommunityImpact #Empowerment"