A coalition against violence, drug addiction, and teen pregnancy told of plans for community forums. 

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Brief report, August 21, 2002 NCT meeting
Bob Babione prepared this report; it is not the NCT minutes.

 
FPSE / ARCHS Coordinator
   Saundra Moss introduced Ida Roundtree as the new ARCHS coordinator for the neighborhood.
Community Forum plan
   Khatib Waheed and _____ King presented the neighborhood forums plan of the coalition against violence, drug addiction, and teen pregnancy. The Coalition has targeted eight neighborhoods for community forums in an effort to identify the risk factors for violence, drug use, and early pregnancy. The forums, which will last two to three hours, will be held on a weekend. No date for the forum has been set so far.
   The forums are designed to be a community conversation, Waheed said. A law enforcement panel will explain to the community how the criminal justice system works. Two issues are the perception by the community that the system is too lenient and a perception by the system that the community is too tolerant.
   Community members will be asked to address what the community's norms are. Subjects can be police practices, racial issues, and application of the norms across the board or selectively. Some "really complicated" issues identified by Waheed were: what should be done to prepare the hundreds of people released from prison every month for employment; the home-rule question of who controls the police; and the Hancock Amendment's limit on state taxes. Waheed sees the forums as democracy-building and suggested there would be power in a configuration of neighborhoods that could adopt a lobbying agenda.
   Waheed said that the coalition's goal was to have 200 people at each forum. The coalition would report the results of the forum discussions to the broad community, Waheed said.
Reports
   The MERS / Goodwill / FPSE employment program reported that it distributed 500 fliers in the neighborhood on August 1 and 2 and got a 15% overall response within three weeks.
   C4 member Katie Jansen reported that Bellington Realty was making quick cash offers for neighborhood property and had bought at least 14 buildings. Call Katie at 533.0552 if you have further information or interest. She also noted that C4 continues its support for tax credits.
   Sr. Leah commented about the Wellness Committee that maybe it should merge with the Ranken Health Committee.
Other matters
   Saundra asked about the best time for meetings. For the present, meetings will be continue to be on the third Wednesday at 6:30.
   A Reunion Picnic will be held on Sunday, October 13. Call Sherice Ford at 633.7900, x301, for details.

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