OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Commission on Social Status of African American Males - June 25, 2026

City Council — Thursday, June 25, 2026
BodyEvansville, Indiana
SessionCity Council
DateThursday, June 25, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 28:52
Transcript — Verbatim
0:19

This meeting is being transcribed and summarized.

0:38

Okay, we will go ahead and call our meeting to order.

0:40

Today is May 29th, 25th, 2026.

0:45

This is the Commission on the Social Status of African American males.

0:49

We'll go ahead and start with our roll call.

0:51

Commissioner Burris.

0:59

Okay, I can't hear anything.

1:04

Are we muted?

1:10

All right, there we go.

1:12

All right, okay.

1:13

Start with our roll call.

1:15

Commissioner Burris.

1:18

Present.

1:19

Commissioner Clayton.

1:26

Here.

1:28

Commissioner Ruff.

1:31

Here.

1:34

Commissioner St.

1:35

Germain.

1:37

And Commissioner Calbert.

1:40

We do have a quorum.

1:43

So we can go ahead and move forward with adoption of our minutes from the May 28th meeting.

1:51

Has everyone had a chance to review those.

2:03

I'll entertain a motion to adopt the minutes as printed.

2:12

I'll make a motion that we accept the minutes as printed.

2:18

We got a motion by Commissioner Saint Germain.

2:31

Commissioner Burris, if you're attempting to second, we can't hear you here.

2:38

Can you hear me second?

2:39

Can you hear me now?

2:40

Yes, sir.

2:41

Thank you.

2:42

Second by Commissioner Burrs.

2:44

Those in favor, signify by saying aye.

2:47

Aye.

2:48

Those opposed.

2:50

All right.

2:54

Before we move in to item number four, uh, we do have a new commissioner joining us, and we would like to welcome Lavar St.

3:02

Germain to the Commission on the Social Status of African American males.

3:07

And I'll open the floor for you at this time to give a little bit of your background and what brought you to the commission.

3:19

Um I currently am employed for the EVSC.

3:23

Um, working at AIS, Academy for Innovative Studies.

3:27

And so working in the school system, um, seeing the needs of our students, um, brought me to brought me to this commission.

3:40

Okay.

3:41

Well, thank you for uh, you know, stepping up and joining us, and we look forward to uh thank you.

3:50

Look forward to uh working with you and seeing how you can help us uh you know to better our community and our young people in particular.

3:59

Again, welcome.

4:00

Thank you.

4:02

Uh we do not have any presentations uh today, uh but moving into item number five, uh new business.

4:12

Um I'll go ahead and open uh the floor for uh feedback on the barbershop health initiative uh that was held uh last month in conjunction with the minority health coalition.

4:32

Um, you know, here in Evansville.

4:34

Uh we had believe five different shops that participated this year.

4:40

Um I was at Dapper Man.

4:43

I'm not sure if any of the other commissioners uh you know volunteered that day, but uh, you know, is there anyone who has heard anything or has something they'd like to share on that event?

4:58

All right, well, if not, I have not gotten the numbers yet of the uh on the number of screenings that took place.

5:07

Um, you know, we're awaiting that information from uh Ms.

5:11

Sabrina Cawthorne.

4:59

I'm sure that'll be forthcoming.

5:14

Um, just from what I did see at the pictures, it seemed to be a very well uh participated event.

5:23

Um plenty of volunteers, more volunteers than we actually needed.

5:27

Um I know for the commission, we kind of took on a different role uh this year of being part of the supporting cast um because of changes that have taken place at the state level.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement████████████████████████████████████36%
Youth Programs█████████████████████████25%
Public Safety██████████████████████22%
Procedural█████████████13%
Mental Health Awareness████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Commission on the Social Status of African American Males Meeting - June 25, 2026

The Commission on the Social Status of African American Males met on June 25, 2026, with a quorum present. The meeting covered updates on the barbershop health initiative, planning for the Million Father March, progress on a strategic plan, police-community relations, and youth outreach activities. A new commissioner was welcomed, and a community survey was prepared for deployment.

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of Minutes: The minutes from the May 28, 2026 meeting were unanimously adopted (motion by Commissioner St. Germain, second by Commissioner Burris).

Discussion Items

  • Welcome of New Commissioner: Lavar St. Germain, who works at the EVSC Academy for Innovative Studies, joined the commission. He shared his background and interest in addressing student needs.
  • Barbershop Health Initiative (New Business): The commission discussed the health initiative held in May in partnership with the Minority Health Coalition. Five barbershops participated. Commissioner visited Dapper Man and reported the event had many volunteers and appeared well-attended. Commissioner shared that Sabrina Cawthorne reported approximately 65 screenings took place. The commission played a supporting role this year due to state-level changes. The initiative, which started in Evansville, has grown into a statewide event.
  • Million Father March (Old Business): Scheduled for August 14, 2026, the first full day of attendance for EVSC students. Five schools are lined up: Glenwood, AIS, and Lodge have confirmed participation; Washington and Lincoln are expected to confirm. Bread of Life may cover Lodge, and other schools need volunteer coverage. Note that Angie Oliver, former principal at Glenwood, has been promoted to central office, requiring relationship-building with the new principal.
  • Strategic Plan (Old Business): A contract is in place with a consultant. The strategic planning session will be held at a different location (to be announced), and the consultant will poll commissioners for available dates. The plan aims to align the commission with other bodies under the Human Relations Commission.
  • Police and Community Relations (Old Business): Ongoing efforts to build trust and understanding. Commissioners were encouraged to participate in police ride-alongs. An event that evening (June 25) at Central Library, hosted by NAACP and Mothers at War (Maw), is a criminal justice educational forum from 6:00–7:30 PM with representatives from EPD, sheriff’s office, prosecutor’s office, and courts. Potential future partnership with Maw was discussed.
  • Community Gun Violence (Old Business): Commissioner Culver, who usually provides a report, was absent due to an active incident earlier that hour. Gun violence remains a concern, particularly during summer. A report is expected at the July meeting.
  • Youth Outreach (Old Business): The Dust Bowl event at Garvin Park (a new venue) is ongoing and reportedly well-attended. Commissioner Ruff indicated she is developing a proposal and will send it to commissioners.
  • Community Survey Development: Commissioner Burris had circulated a draft survey to gather community input. Samantha Fleischaker, the new Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Human Relations Commission, refined the survey by adding demographic questions and creating a QR code. The survey is intended for deployment at the Dust Bowl event to reach a captive audience. Commissioners were encouraged to use the QR code or printed versions.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous adoption of May 28 meeting minutes.
  • Strategic plan consultant contract confirmed; session logistics to be finalized.
  • Million Father March: Schools confirmed and volunteer coordination underway; Bread of Life to be contacted for Lodge coverage.
  • Police-community relations: Commission to encourage attendance at the evening forum and explore partnership with Mothers at War.
  • Community survey: Ready for deployment; commissioners urged to bring QR code or paper copies to the Dust Bowl.
  • Adjournment: Motion by Commissioner Burris, second by Commissioner Ruff; meeting adjourned unanimously.

Note: The transcription date indicated May 29, 2026, but the meeting is officially recorded as June 25, 2026 per the provided timestamp.

Meeting Transcript

This meeting is being transcribed and summarized. Okay, we will go ahead and call our meeting to order. Today is May 29th, 25th, 2026. This is the Commission on the Social Status of African American males. We'll go ahead and start with our roll call. Commissioner Burris. Okay, I can't hear anything. Are we muted? All right, there we go. All right, okay. Start with our roll call. Commissioner Burris. Present. Commissioner Clayton. Here. Commissioner Ruff. Here. Commissioner St. Germain. And Commissioner Calbert. We do have a quorum. So we can go ahead and move forward with adoption of our minutes from the May 28th meeting. Has everyone had a chance to review those. I'll entertain a motion to adopt the minutes as printed. I'll make a motion that we accept the minutes as printed. We got a motion by Commissioner Saint Germain. Commissioner Burris, if you're attempting to second, we can't hear you here. Can you hear me second? Can you hear me now? Yes, sir. Thank you. Second by Commissioner Burrs. Those in favor, signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed. All right. Before we move in to item number four, uh, we do have a new commissioner joining us, and we would like to welcome Lavar St. Germain to the Commission on the Social Status of African American males. And I'll open the floor for you at this time to give a little bit of your background and what brought you to the commission. Um I currently am employed for the EVSC. Um, working at AIS, Academy for Innovative Studies. And so working in the school system, um, seeing the needs of our students, um, brought me to brought me to this commission. Okay. Well, thank you for uh, you know, stepping up and joining us, and we look forward to uh thank you. Look forward to uh working with you and seeing how you can help us uh you know to better our community and our young people in particular. Again, welcome. Thank you. Uh we do not have any presentations uh today, uh but moving into item number five, uh new business. Um I'll go ahead and open uh the floor for uh feedback on the barbershop health initiative uh that was held uh last month in conjunction with the minority health coalition. Um, you know, here in Evansville.

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