Lift Your Voice - Q1 2021 Newsletter
Message from Autumn Glover, President
Illustration by Marshall Shorts (@mrshortscreates)
During this month, as we honor and recognize the legacy of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I’ve reflected most on his quote that, for me, underscores self-determination:
“If you can’t fly then run; if you can’t run then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl;
but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect on what it is teaching us, I hope you are heeding public health advice and are seeking trusted sources for information on how to consider the vaccine. We’re fortunate to have local leaders and experts, such as Wexner Medical Center, in our community providing relevant information.
I encourage you to join The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for an upcoming event focusing on COVID-19 hosted by Dr. Darrell Gray, a Black physician, and leader in health equity, who will engage with cross-sector leaders on the impacts of COVID-19 as part of a critical conversation on the historical and present hesitancy around vaccination in minority communities. In addition, each leader will present an action item that will address the community needs posed by this pandemic and help us move forward in getting rid of COVID-19.
As we celebrate 10 years of PACT, we look forward to a 2021 with a focus on equity and excellence! I am so grateful for this place, the people of this community, and the strength of partnerships that have carried us this far. Thank you!
Autumn Glover,
President
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT
On December 11, 2020 PACT officially recognized 10 years of making a difference on the Near East Side. We are proud of the work we have accomplished collectively –our initial work to build a community-led plan around workforce, housing, education, safety, and health, has led to a number of programs and initiatives that build capacity in our community for sustainability and relevance in the future. While we celebrate our milestones, we acknowledge there is much more to do. Watch and listen to voices from the community and our partners in just how far we’ve come in these 10 years.
RECOGNIZING KEY PARTNERS THAT HELP US SUPPORT COMMUNITY
The partnership of so many kept our work relevant and responsive in 2020! We would like to publicly thank a few of our partners for their contributions to the Near East Side last year: Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Catalyst For Columbus, City of Columbus, Civista Bank, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Dream Center, Equity Now Coalition, Fifth Third Bank, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Growing Growth Collective, I Know I Can, Kelley Companies, Maroon Arts Group, OSU Social Change, Second Baptist Church, Shiloh Baptist Church, The Columbus Foundation, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Trinity Baptist Church.
Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to our collaboration in 2021.
Connected Communities
We continue to support our community in closing the digital divide with affordable and effective internet, relevant devices, and literacy that inspires confidence to navigate the internet for life – work, education, telehealth, and social benefit.
YOUR FAMILY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE IN-HOME INTERNET IN 2021
PACT is working with Smart Columbus, the City of Columbus, Columbus Metropolitan Library, National Center for Urban Solutions, The Columbus Foundation and Columbus City Schools to test ways we can make in-home internet access affordable and reliable in our community. We are seeking households with children or family members who are completing distance learning of any kind (K-12, college, training, GED, etc.). Visit www.cbuswifi.com to learn more and sign up!
PACT OFFERING FREE DEVICES FOR 43203 RESIDENTS
It is our hope that access to a device and internet in your home will help your family more fully participate in opportunities for work, education, telehealth and social benefit. PACT is offering free devices for residents of our planning area. Visit www.go.osu.edu/pactsupport to apply today! We will contact you directly when your device arrives for you to pick-up at the PACT Office.
COMMUNITY LEADERS SUPPORTING STUDENTS
LEARNING EXTENSION CENTERS
In August 2020, PACT convened neighborhood leaders, including area churches, to discuss how we might work together to support students as they prepared for online learning this academic year. We were fortunate to leverage the commitment and expertise of partners like the Columbus Dream Center, Catalyst for Columbus and Kelley Companies in forming a collaborative to plan for Near East Side Learning Extension Centers (LECs). One LEC site is located at Trinity Baptist Church under the leadership of youth pastor TaVaughn Toney who has shared a reflection of how LECs are helping to keep our kids safe and continue learning. Thank you, Minister Toney and all of our wonderful LEC partners!
“The Learning Extension Center at Trinity Baptist Church is a safe space for middle and high school students to access WiFi, complete their online learning assignments, and receive supervision, tutoring, and homework help from students at The Ohio State University’s Department of Social Change. The LEC is one of thirty four centers located on the Near East Side of Columbus and one of over 140 centers serving the Columbus Metropolitan area. It is sponsored by Catalyst for Columbus, Central College Presbyterian Church, and Trinity Baptist Church. One of the biggest goals of the center is to not only provide a safe space for students to learn but to also provide safe, in person, social interaction. Located in a church, the center also works to be a place where students can experience the love and acceptance of God. Social interaction, mentoring, and the ability to get out of the house during this time are invaluable when it comes to the student’s emotional, spiritual, and mental health. Every morning, students engage in “grounding” activities where they discuss what’s going on in their worlds and participate in morning prayer. In addition to tutoring and homework help, students also receive devotional lessons that are designed to teach biblical and spiritual principles in a way that relates to what the students are currently learning in their virtual classrooms. For example, students received a lesson on theological doctrine of the Trinity that coincided with their math homework on fractions.”
To learn more about the days and times for this and other LEC sites visit: www.forcolumbuskids.com/east or https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/8685
NEIGHBORS ON THE NEAR EAST SIDE
NLA ALUMNI, JERRY VALENTINE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH RENTER MENTOR
Jerry Valentine
Founder & CEO, Renter Mentor
PACT Leadership Academy, Class of 2020
https://www.rentermentor.net/
Jerry Valentine is a social entrepreneur from Cincinnati, Ohio who currently resides on the Near East Side of Columbus. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Renter Mentor, a social enterprise tech company that helps connect people to affordable housing. The company serves as a platform that provides a secure, centralized, and automated way to list, manage, and find affordable housing – while assisting landlords and tenants through housing processes and providing them access to supportive services. Jerry brings extensive affordable housing knowledge and experience to the company from his former employment with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). As an active community member and volunteer, Jerry has served on many community boards and commissions. Currently, he serves on the boards of directors of the Central Community House, William H. Thomas Art Gallery, and the Get Out Network. He has also been able to successfully compete in community hackathons and startup accelerator programs such as Give Back Hack Columbus and SEA Change where he jump-started his latest business venture, Renter Mentor. He has been honored and recognized by Ohio University by receiving a Man of Black Excellence Alumni of the Year Award; ComSpark of Central Ohio as a part of the inaugural class of 30 under 30 Power Tech Player honorees; and most recently by PACT as a Near East Side Leadership Academy graduate. Jerry is dedicated to continuing to make community impact through servant leadership and advocacy for affordable housing and digital equity & inclusion.
EQUITY NOW COALITION (ENC)
Building capacity to support the impact of COVID-19 on our community was a driving force that brought several organizations together to help address the disparities highlighted by the pandemic. It resulted in the creation of a multi-sector community leadership and advocacy group focused on improving racial equity outcomes throughout our community – the Equity Now Coalition (ENC). PACT is a participating organization in this important work. It began with a virtual meeting with several government and community organizations on March 18, 2020 with the goal of sharing information to mitigate the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black and Brown people, businesses, and communities. Since that meeting, the coalition has grown to include more than 120 non-profit, social service agencies, government, community, socially-conscious and culturally-centered organizations working together for the sole purpose of addressing social justice issues that impact Black and Brown people and the underserved in Central Ohio. Fully aware that the work of undoing 401 years of structurally racist policies, practices, and procedures to achieve racially equitable outcomes is long-term work, the Equity Now Coalition is working to develop a comprehensive framework to address key issues that have a significant impact on lifting Black and Brown communities.
SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS ON REIMAGINING POLICE REFORM
Columbus City Council continues its commitment to Reimagining Public Safety and has publicly shared its framework to create accountability, build a better Division of Police, establish alternative crisis response, and invest in violence prevention programs as part of its ongoing work. In late June, Columbus City Council passed a four-part legislative package that included limiting no-knock raids, demilitarizing the Division of Police through the purchasing code, and instituting background checks for hate-group affiliation. The legislation also included a ballot measure to establish an Inspector General and create a Civilian Police Review Board, which voters approved in November and is in the process of being seated.
This town hall series continues the ongoing deliberations of the City's Operating Budget. Any resident seeking to provide written or live testimony via WebEx during the virtual hearing must submit their intention by clicking here. Requests must be entered by 2pm on the day of the town hall. Up to ten speakers will be heard per town hall, with remarks limited to three minutes or less. There will be audience engagement activities during the town hall events. The remaining events are:
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 5:30pm
Establishing Alternative Public Safety Crisis Response, led by Councilmember Shayla Favor
Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 4pm
Investing in Violence Prevention, led by President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 5:30pm
Investing in Accountability and a Better Division of Police, hosted by Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy
Take The Survey
The town hall will be streamed on Council's Facebook page and the City of Columbus YouTube channel.
As part of Columbus City Council’s ongoing outreach to the community, members of Columbus City Council want to hear from you. Please take this survey to share your thoughts on how to reimagine public safety in our city.