City-County Council Proposes Indianapolis Commission
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2020
INDIANAPOLIS CITY-COUNTY COUNCIL INTRODUCES PROPOSAL TO SUPPORT INDIANA COMMISSION ON THE SOCIAL STATUS OF BLACK MALES
Proposal will re-establish Indianapolis study and create opportunities for city-wide programming and engagement
INDIANAPOLIS – In 1993, the Indiana General Assembly established the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males (ICSSBM). The role of the Commission was to develop a strategic course of action to address negative circumstances which have contributed to the plight of Black males in Indiana. Today, Majority Leader Maggie A. Lewis has introduced a bi-partisan proposal to re-establish an Indianapolis commission to address the challenges impacting Black males in Indianapolis. Councillor LaKeisha Jackson, Councillor Keith Graves and Minority Leader Brian Mowery will serve as co-sponsors of the Proposal. Additional councillors have agreed to join as the Proposal makes its way to the full council meeting on July 13.
The Indianapolis commission will be tasked with identifying specific societal factors, education and employment disparities, health matters, and criminal justice barriers that negatively impact the success of Black males. Members of the commission will work alongside the city county council, governmental agencies, public and private organizations, and private citizens to offer recommendations and identify resources and solutions for addressing key findings.
“At this critical moment, I fully support the reestablishment of the Indianapolis Commission on the Social Status of Black Males as part of our city’s holistic effort to address racial disparities,” said Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Over the last four years, we have worked with the City-County Council to invest in anti-poverty initiatives and criminal justice reform. This commission will give community members the opportunity to influence those efforts and identify new pathways for our Black residents who continue to be most impacted by these challenges. Thank you to Leader Lewis, and the bipartisan coalition of councilors, for helping to lead this effort – I look forward to further collaboration as we work to create a city that is more just and equitable for all.”
In making the announcement, ICSSBM chairman Kenneth Allen stated, “We applaud and appreciate the City-County Council leadership and we believe that today they are making a great step towards progress.” “We are thrilled that Indianapolis has joined the ranks of cities like Gary, Michigan City, Fort Wayne, Bloomington, and Evansville in re-establishing a local commission,” he added.
“Indianapolis has the largest percentage of African American residents than any other city in our state, yet a disproportionate percentage of Black men are being impacted by the negative effects of unemployment, homelessness, homicides,” said Majority Leader Maggie Lewis. “There is a crisis in our community and the time has come for all of us to work together and identify viable solutions that will save our families,” added Councillor LaKeisha Jackson
To follow the progress of this and all proposals scheduled for the July full council meeting visit https://www.indy.gov/activity/city-county-council-proposals. For more information about the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males visit https://www.in.gov/icssbm/.
Media Contact: Denise Herd
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