WEBVTT 00:00:00.418 --> 00:00:07.709 - Okay. Well, I'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. Uh, this is the meeting of the city of Bloomington 00:00:07.709 --> 00:00:13.863 - city council's interview committee. Uh, quick, uh, go around the room with instructor role. 00:00:13.863 --> 00:00:20.887 - I'm Matt Flaherty. I'm an at-large city council member. I'm Andy Ruff. I'm at-large council member also. 00:00:20.887 --> 00:00:27.710 - Hi, I'm Courtney Daly. I'm city council member for district five. And, uh, welcome, uh, Lissandra and 00:00:28.578 --> 00:00:35.390 - We appreciate your interest in serving on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission. 00:00:35.390 --> 00:00:41.945 - So thank you for applying and yeah, for joining us today for an interview. I'll explain just a little 00:00:41.945 --> 00:00:48.435 - bit about the process and then we'll probably have some questions for you and also have time for you 00:00:48.435 --> 00:00:51.134 - to ask questions of us about the process. 00:00:51.298 --> 00:00:57.256 - The city council divides appointments to boards and commissions across 3 interview committees to interview 00:00:57.256 --> 00:01:02.378 - and make recommendations. So that's this committee's job. This is 1 of our commissions and. 00:01:02.378 --> 00:01:08.058 - We will make, I think we're considering 2 applicants for a vacancy currently and we'll make our final 00:01:08.058 --> 00:01:14.238 - recommendation to the city council at our next coming regular session, which is, I think in a couple of weeks. 00:01:14.370 --> 00:01:20.153 - So as far as our timeline and process, that's what our role is today and kind of a timeline to anticipate 00:01:20.153 --> 00:01:25.936 - action and follow up communication from Deputy Clerk Crossley. With that, maybe we could just get started 00:01:25.936 --> 00:01:31.391 - with you introducing yourself and sharing a bit more about why you're interested in serving on this 00:01:31.391 --> 00:01:37.065 - commission. Hey, my name is LaSonda McCoy. I'm interested in serving on this commission. I was a former 00:01:37.065 --> 00:01:39.902 - Bloomington Police Department social worker and now 00:01:40.002 --> 00:01:45.171 - They somewhat saw me doing that job because I told them that I wanted to continue to work in the schools. 00:01:45.171 --> 00:01:50.437 - I was a former preschool teacher for almost 30 years. So then someone saw me that being a police department 00:01:50.437 --> 00:01:55.655 - social worker and and I told him I still want to volunteer at the Black Culture Club at South High School. 00:01:55.655 --> 00:02:00.677 - So he saw me working with over 70 kids. So they basically created this job for me now. So I'm a social 00:02:00.677 --> 00:02:05.554 - worker for the school resource officers and I love my job. I love working with kids. So what reason 00:02:05.554 --> 00:02:06.334 - why I wanted to 00:02:06.946 --> 00:02:12.626 - applied for this because one time, so last year I was one of the 60 women on the movement. I got, I 00:02:12.626 --> 00:02:18.590 - was one of those women that the commission put me in as an award. And then also as a faith-based person, 00:02:18.590 --> 00:02:24.270 - I spoke at this Martin Luther King celebration like before that, the year before that. So I've been 00:02:24.270 --> 00:02:30.234 - a resident of this city for 40 years and I come and go between IU and a school corporation and the city. 00:02:30.234 --> 00:02:36.084 - So I wanna be that person to help bridge the gap. So that's why I'm interested in being a part of that 00:02:36.084 --> 00:02:36.766 - commission. 00:02:36.866 --> 00:02:42.778 - because I feel like I love the city of Bloomington, I love the school corporation, and I just want to 00:02:42.778 --> 00:02:48.863 - be that person that's that liaison between all three things, IU, and city of Bloomington, and the Martin 00:02:48.863 --> 00:02:54.833 - Luther King school corporation. So I think being a part of the Martin Luther King commission will help 00:02:54.833 --> 00:03:00.919 - me to be able to do that, to bring more children out, bring more youth, get more youth involved in that. 00:03:00.919 --> 00:03:02.078 - Amazing, thank you. 00:03:02.626 --> 00:03:08.436 - The other committee members have questions for Sandra. Yeah, hi. So again, thank you so much for being 00:03:08.436 --> 00:03:14.077 - here today. What experience or skills would you say that you would bring to the commission to be an 00:03:14.077 --> 00:03:19.718 - effective team member? First of all, being a social worker, I'm an active listener. And I'm used to 00:03:19.718 --> 00:03:25.359 - dealing with conflict. I'm used to dealing with conflict. And I feel like bringing people together, 00:03:25.359 --> 00:03:30.999 - sometimes you're not going to agree on everything, right? So with my job as a social worker, I find 00:03:30.999 --> 00:03:31.902 - myself bringing 00:03:32.098 --> 00:03:38.500 - people together, like other grownups together, like administrators together, kids with administrators. 00:03:38.500 --> 00:03:44.716 - I've been an advocate between when parents come in, sometimes the administrator might call me in to 00:03:44.716 --> 00:03:51.056 - be that person that bridge that gap too. So I feel like I could bring active listening. I could think 00:03:51.056 --> 00:03:57.334 - I could help conflict resolution. I'm part of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and I hold many offices in 00:03:57.334 --> 00:04:00.318 - that sorority. So I feel like I'm an organizer. 00:04:00.514 --> 00:04:05.962 - I just I think I bring a lot of skill sets to things like that. First, I like people. I love people. 00:04:05.962 --> 00:04:11.464 - So I feel like I like to speak and talk to people and communicate with people. So I feel like I could 00:04:11.464 --> 00:04:17.128 - bring that aspect to it, too. That's why I want to be a part of it. And I also feel like I want to bring 00:04:17.128 --> 00:04:22.846 - more people in the city to this program. You know, like to be more involved because I am a people person. 00:04:23.106 --> 00:04:28.607 - I'm a former pastor's wife and I'm ordained minister too, so I just love talking to people. I don't 00:04:28.607 --> 00:04:34.164 - know a stranger. I can go in the grocery store, I can go anywhere, and I talk to everyone. So I just 00:04:34.164 --> 00:04:40.160 - feel like I wanna get more people in the city of Bloomington more involved in things, more in the community. 00:04:40.160 --> 00:04:45.826 - And I feel like everybody should be treated equal, and I feel like that no matter who they are, we can 00:04:45.826 --> 00:04:51.383 - get them involved. Like in a month or so, I'm gonna go out there on seminary and talk to some of the 00:04:51.383 --> 00:04:52.318 - homeless people. 00:04:52.450 --> 00:04:58.607 - with the ministry group that's going out there. So I just feel like I just want the bridge that gap 00:04:58.607 --> 00:05:04.580 - to bring everybody and let everyone feel a part of being involved in whatever the city is doing. 00:05:04.580 --> 00:05:10.984 - I love that. Thank you. Yeah, no, no, no questions. I'm just super impressed with your background, your 00:05:10.984 --> 00:05:17.264 - experience, your positions and your enthusiasm for doing this kind of work. I can see it coming right 00:05:17.264 --> 00:05:19.358 - oozing through you right now even 00:05:20.386 --> 00:05:26.009 - Yeah. Yeah. And I agree. Uh, and maybe just an additional question or two for me. Um, so, uh, the commission, 00:05:26.009 --> 00:05:31.377 - uh, just to confirm how logistics, they meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month, uh, from six to seven 00:05:31.377 --> 00:05:36.642 - PM here at city hall. Um, occasional remote attendance is okay, but most meetings should be in person. 00:05:36.642 --> 00:05:41.856 - Like there's rules around the commission being able to have quorum and therefore be able to meet. Uh, 00:05:41.856 --> 00:05:47.070 - sometimes we are challenged by that with different commissions at times. And so just wanted to check. 00:05:47.650 --> 00:05:53.796 - your availability and ability to commit for the, you know, the term of the appointment to regularly 00:05:53.796 --> 00:06:00.189 - attend meetings, participate in the commission's duties, all that. Does that time and availability work 00:06:00.189 --> 00:06:06.335 - for you? Yeah, I can. I helped with the gala. I helped plan one of the people playing the gala this 00:06:06.335 --> 00:06:12.543 - year. Yeah, I understand. I understand. Great. Additional questions or? Yeah, I mean, just to follow 00:06:12.543 --> 00:06:17.214 - up a little bit more on what you were saying earlier. I mean, first of all, 00:06:17.314 --> 00:06:23.721 - One of the questions I usually ask is about, you know, working with people when there's conflict, 00:06:23.721 --> 00:06:30.652 - you know, difference of opinion. I don't think I need to ask that of you. That's pretty clear as a social 00:06:30.652 --> 00:06:37.190 - worker. That's one of your strengths that you've got a lot of tools. But I love your enthusiasm for 00:06:37.190 --> 00:06:43.728 - bringing more of our community into the event. Do you have any ideas or thoughts on how we might be 00:06:43.728 --> 00:06:45.886 - able to do that or how you would 00:06:46.018 --> 00:06:51.466 - personally be involved in encouraging greater attendance. Okay. So for instance, like being in the schools. 00:06:51.466 --> 00:06:56.662 - So like right now we had the youth summit, the black youth summit coming up, right? So on that person, 00:06:56.662 --> 00:07:01.908 - like there's people in the city reaches out to, so I could make sure all, I go to all the high schools, 00:07:01.908 --> 00:07:07.255 - even though they send an email, I literally go to all the high schools and I go to all the middle schools 00:07:07.255 --> 00:07:12.299 - to make sure I get those minority males there. Cause I think it's a good program. When I believe in 00:07:12.299 --> 00:07:14.014 - something, I will support it. So, 00:07:14.178 --> 00:07:19.344 - I am that person hands-on, like, I can make phone calls, I'll knock on your door. I'm like, you need 00:07:19.344 --> 00:07:24.561 - to come be a part of this. You know, like, whatever it takes to get people involved, that's who I am, 00:07:24.561 --> 00:07:29.779 - to make sure they get there. And let them know, be aware, because sometimes people are just not aware 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:34.945 - of what's going on, you know? So we have to, like, maybe email, send up flyers, or just knock on our 00:07:34.945 --> 00:07:40.162 - doors, or give them phone calls to invite them, let them know what's happening. Great. OK, wonderful. 00:07:40.162 --> 00:07:43.998 - Thank you for that follow-up. Appreciate it. I did just have one question. 00:07:44.130 --> 00:07:53.729 - based on conversations so far. Can you hear me all right, Alessandro? I can hear you. So it seems to 00:07:53.729 --> 00:08:03.234 - me there's so much potential in all your roles to have this synergistic interaction in all that you 00:08:03.234 --> 00:08:13.118 - do. Do you foresee it being just wide open, everything, the way you can interact, the way you can bring 00:08:13.410 --> 00:08:19.335 - that this is commission and your I you work in your us your school, your blooms and minor community 00:08:19.335 --> 00:08:25.260 - school system work. Or do you see boundaries anywhere? Is there any need for boundaries? Or can you 00:08:25.260 --> 00:08:31.245 - just take this and just do whatever you can come up with? I don't think there's some boundaries. No, 00:08:31.245 --> 00:08:36.222 - because I said that's what Dr. Martin Luther King stood for equality for all right. 00:08:36.514 --> 00:08:42.184 - everybody should be included. So no, I don't feel like there should be boundaries. We put those boundaries 00:08:42.184 --> 00:08:47.536 - there because we judge people without really getting to know who they are. So I feel like you get to 00:08:47.536 --> 00:08:53.207 - talk to people and get to know who they are. There shouldn't be any boundaries for anybody feeling welcome 00:08:53.207 --> 00:08:58.718 - to be a part of any of this that we're doing. Thank you. Do you have questions for us, Lysandre, either 00:08:58.718 --> 00:09:03.752 - about the council's role, how we interact with commissions, the commission itself, the process 00:09:03.752 --> 00:09:05.342 - of appointments, any of that? 00:09:06.626 --> 00:09:12.054 - Not really. I was shocked that it was, I was shocked that it involved all this. But I'm okay with it 00:09:12.054 --> 00:09:17.643 - because like I said, I'm okay with it because like I said, I help with the GALA and with the, you know, 00:09:17.643 --> 00:09:22.694 - every year when the Black Male Commission, they get together at Fairview, I'm a part of that. 00:09:22.694 --> 00:09:28.337 - I make sure, because like when I started working for the Bloomington Police Department, I started asking 00:09:28.337 --> 00:09:33.873 - the chief, I'm like, we need to be a part of that. So I was able to start going to that, you know, the 00:09:33.873 --> 00:09:35.646 - first day of school at Fairview. 00:09:36.322 --> 00:09:41.517 - So I would go to that. And so then I got the police department start coming. I'm kind of disappointed 00:09:41.517 --> 00:09:46.764 - to see them this year, but I got them to start coming to those things. And then when I started working 00:09:46.764 --> 00:09:51.908 - for Cute Modern Kind of School Corporation again, I told the powers that be, we need to be there for 00:09:51.908 --> 00:09:57.409 - that too. So I believe that person, like I said, a lot of times people just don't know things are happening 00:09:57.409 --> 00:10:02.706 - and things are going on. So I'm that person. I'll try to make people aware, you might want to be a part 00:10:02.706 --> 00:10:05.406 - of this. This is a good thing. This is a good cause. 00:10:05.666 --> 00:10:11.629 - and make it more work. So I've gone to that for years, the Martin Luther King celebration, and I've 00:10:11.629 --> 00:10:17.652 - gotten other people of diversity that come, they didn't know existed, so they come and they like it. 00:10:17.652 --> 00:10:24.212 - So my daughter, she's older now, I remember one year when Coretta Scott King came to the city of Bloomington, 00:10:24.212 --> 00:10:30.235 - and my daughter was actually able to take a picture with her. So I'm gonna, yeah, I'm gonna probably 00:10:30.235 --> 00:10:33.694 - go up there for years. So I'm like, why not help with it? 00:10:34.626 --> 00:10:40.320 - Well, thank you again for your interest in serving on the Commission and your volunteer efforts supporting 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:45.641 - the GALA and other things as well in the community. We are I think at the end of the interview. And 00:10:45.641 --> 00:10:50.962 - so just again, three or eight next steps. This committee's job is to make a recommendation. I think 00:10:50.962 --> 00:10:56.336 - we are considering two folks for appointment to the Commission and only one vacancy. You should hear 00:10:56.336 --> 00:10:59.742 - one way or the other from Deputy Clerk Crossley within the next 00:11:00.194 --> 00:11:05.941 - two to three weeks, I think. And even if you're not appointed at this time, A, appreciate again your 00:11:05.941 --> 00:11:12.144 - interest and B, would encourage you to keep an eye on vacancies because they do come up with some regularity 00:11:12.144 --> 00:11:17.948 - and we always need people who are enthusiastic and willing to serve in these capacities for the city. 00:11:17.948 --> 00:11:23.639 - So thank you again and have a great evening. Okay, thank you. Thank you for having me. Thank you so 00:11:23.639 --> 00:11:24.606 - much. Take care. 00:11:30.914 --> 00:11:39.961 - You also spoke to our other candidate, is that right? Yes, I spoke with Jettna this afternoon. So she 00:11:39.961 --> 00:11:48.653 - is going into her junior year at IU, so enthusiastic. A lot of energy, a lot of great enthusiasm, 00:11:48.653 --> 00:11:58.409 - really warm. I loved her for the spot, for two reasons. Because of her youth, getting that college experience 00:11:58.409 --> 00:12:00.094 - on the commission. 00:12:00.258 --> 00:12:07.485 - She's heavily involved in the Neal Marshall Center, Black Student Union, and in both of those roles, 00:12:07.485 --> 00:12:14.998 - she's taken on leadership roles where she's done a lot of organizing of events and has a lot of hands-on 00:12:14.998 --> 00:12:22.153 - experience of actually putting together large events. So she sounded really experienced for her age 00:12:22.153 --> 00:12:23.870 - and very capable. Okay. 00:12:24.002 --> 00:12:30.955 - was my perception. Did you check in about time commitments and availability and all that as well? Yeah, 00:12:30.955 --> 00:12:37.975 - I did. I didn't remember the exact day and time that I told her it would be once a month, probably about 00:12:37.975 --> 00:12:44.995 - an hour to two for each meeting, set time. Her only question about that was, are they in person? I said, 00:12:44.995 --> 00:12:50.878 - ideally, yes. I explained to her quorum issues, or not issues, but the need for quorum. 00:12:51.010 --> 00:12:58.372 - And I, you know, I said, when she asked about being in person, I said, however, if from time to time, 00:12:58.372 --> 00:13:05.661 - you know, once in a while, maybe you're traveling or something else has come up, if they have quorum 00:13:05.661 --> 00:13:13.023 - for in-person, you can once in a while. So she all sounded all good with that. Well, it seems like we 00:13:13.023 --> 00:13:19.230 - have two great candidates then. Yeah, exactly. And one vacancy, I believe. Let's see. 00:13:21.314 --> 00:13:30.436 - the current membership as well. Well, there's a real vacancy that, no, there's not, sorry. There's just 00:13:30.436 --> 00:13:39.558 - one vacancy. I know. There are a couple of things that are up next year. This is where it lays and also 00:13:39.558 --> 00:13:48.330 - said they look great. I pulled up the email and she said that Dr. Glow recommended the student that 00:13:48.330 --> 00:13:49.470 - was, and so, 00:13:50.466 --> 00:13:56.513 - She said the students she always recommends are always excellent. Lysandra is engaged to respect the 00:13:56.513 --> 00:14:02.559 - community members whose work and connections would be beneficial to our commission. I think her work 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:09.144 - with the youth, which I am with, well, with the commission's goals, she's involved in a lot of organizations. 00:14:09.144 --> 00:14:15.191 - So my only hesitation would be to question if she has time for another commitment, which she clearly 00:14:15.191 --> 00:14:19.262 - mentioned she could handle. And she said, I ultimately lean towards 00:14:19.394 --> 00:14:26.395 - Well, Sandra, for this one, however, I would be happy to have either person join as a luxury to choose 00:14:26.395 --> 00:14:33.192 - between two great candidates. Yes, she did say it because I asked her why she was interested in the 00:14:33.192 --> 00:14:40.057 - role. She said she is from Indianapolis, but she's here. She doesn't want to just be involved in IU. 00:14:40.057 --> 00:14:46.922 - She wants to be involved in the Bloomington community. So she started looking into how she could get 00:14:46.922 --> 00:14:47.806 - involved and 00:14:48.034 --> 00:14:59.124 - Dr. Globe recommended this commission. That was the other part of our conversation. Well, Andy, 00:14:59.124 --> 00:15:07.326 - this is our. They're both great and I don't think the commission will. 00:15:07.874 --> 00:15:15.263 - Jennifer, do you have any thoughts? It's really hard. The only thing I can think of is if one of the 00:15:15.263 --> 00:15:22.578 - appointments whose terms are up next year, obviously, or if somebody resigns ahead of any time this 00:15:22.578 --> 00:15:30.186 - year, either one of them. This is like the second meet I've had today where everybody's been like, this 00:15:30.186 --> 00:15:37.502 - has been a really good pool of applicants. It's just really hard. I do know I've been trying to go, 00:15:37.666 --> 00:15:43.839 - There's an emoji day that's happening at the end of this month on campus where I plan on going in my 00:15:43.839 --> 00:15:50.135 - capacity to talk to students about getting involved in boards and commissions. And I do know that also 00:15:50.135 --> 00:15:56.247 - Dr. Glow, when she talks to students, they end up applying. There are a couple of students that she 00:15:56.247 --> 00:16:02.909 - had talked to and I had talked to when I had went and they ended up applying for some boards and commissions 00:16:02.909 --> 00:16:04.926 - and they actually got appointed. 00:16:05.090 --> 00:16:14.140 - So I won, actually won an award for the Black History Month Gala this year. So it's just really hard 00:16:14.140 --> 00:16:22.922 - because when you see LaSondra, you see her everywhere. But yeah, it's hard. I maybe lean towards, 00:16:22.922 --> 00:16:31.166 - I'm sorry, the student's name. In that direction, for the sake of more student involvement, 00:16:31.166 --> 00:16:33.406 - your recommendations and 00:16:34.402 --> 00:16:40.822 - Kind of like I think Lissandra is going to be there and going to be participating in volunteering. And 00:16:40.822 --> 00:16:47.054 - there probably will come a time when she can serve on the commission. And students' time is limited 00:16:47.054 --> 00:16:53.474 - also. And so I'm comfortable in that direction again, knowing that there's no bad choice here and that 00:16:53.474 --> 00:16:59.955 - we can't pick both. And if we could just also really communicate to Lissandra that we think she's great 00:16:59.955 --> 00:17:03.134 - and hope that she considers serving in the future. 00:17:03.298 --> 00:17:09.533 - Yeah, I was gonna ask when you make the calls, do you ever like convey a message like that? Oh, I do. 00:17:09.533 --> 00:17:15.890 - Okay. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I definitely do. Great. Andy, what are your thoughts? Well, I did a little defer, 00:17:15.890 --> 00:17:21.758 - especially since you talked about, but I like what Matt said that, I mean, there's a potential. 00:17:22.114 --> 00:17:27.531 - we could, this could be the start, or not the start, because she's obviously engaged to the student, 00:17:27.531 --> 00:17:33.163 - but of creating another Lysandra in the form of the student, get her involved in stuff like this, right? 00:17:33.163 --> 00:17:38.635 - That's, yeah, that's why I love the idea of getting college students involved. So I really like that. 00:17:38.635 --> 00:17:43.998 - If there is another opening that happens in June, could we just plug Lysandra in right away without 00:17:43.998 --> 00:17:49.469 - even having to win? We'd have to meet and make the recommendation, but we could do that sort of thing 00:17:49.469 --> 00:17:51.454 - without interviews, if we wanted to. 00:17:52.898 --> 00:18:05.122 - I moved to. See, see what. Yes, but I need to. Jennifer, thanks for including the little quick screenshot. 00:18:05.122 --> 00:18:17.918 - Well, thank you. Applications weren't showing up for us in on board. And so we don't have. We need to fix that. 00:18:18.658 --> 00:18:30.112 - Um, I moved to a point to see, see to John Ayala Ruiz or the Dr. Martin Luther King birthday. 61, 00:18:30.112 --> 00:18:42.502 - but yes. Yes. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. And so I will put that together for the packet for the September 00:18:42.502 --> 00:18:47.294 - six meeting. Sounds right. Um, and then. 00:18:47.586 --> 00:18:55.874 - That's it. Thank you. Yeah. Yes, thank you. Yeah. Thank you, too, for making this work. Yeah, no, 00:18:55.874 --> 00:18:59.934 - thank you. Thank you. Adjourned. Adjourned. OK.