Okay. Well, I'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. Uh, this is the meeting of the city of Bloomington
city council's interview committee. Uh, quick, uh, go around the room with instructor role.
I'm Matt Flaherty. I'm an at-large city council member. I'm Andy Ruff. I'm at-large council member also.
Hi, I'm Courtney Daly. I'm city council member for district five. And, uh, welcome, uh, Lissandra and
We appreciate your interest in serving on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission.
So thank you for applying and yeah, for joining us today for an interview. I'll explain just a little
bit about the process and then we'll probably have some questions for you and also have time for you
to ask questions of us about the process.
The city council divides appointments to boards and commissions across 3 interview committees to interview
and make recommendations. So that's this committee's job. This is 1 of our commissions and.
We will make, I think we're considering 2 applicants for a vacancy currently and we'll make our final
recommendation to the city council at our next coming regular session, which is, I think in a couple of weeks.
So as far as our timeline and process, that's what our role is today and kind of a timeline to anticipate
action and follow up communication from Deputy Clerk Crossley. With that, maybe we could just get started
with you introducing yourself and sharing a bit more about why you're interested in serving on this
commission. Hey, my name is LaSonda McCoy. I'm interested in serving on this commission. I was a former
Bloomington Police Department social worker and now
They somewhat saw me doing that job because I told them that I wanted to continue to work in the schools.
I was a former preschool teacher for almost 30 years. So then someone saw me that being a police department
social worker and and I told him I still want to volunteer at the Black Culture Club at South High School.
So he saw me working with over 70 kids. So they basically created this job for me now. So I'm a social
worker for the school resource officers and I love my job. I love working with kids. So what reason
why I wanted to
applied for this because one time, so last year I was one of the 60 women on the movement. I got, I
was one of those women that the commission put me in as an award. And then also as a faith-based person,
I spoke at this Martin Luther King celebration like before that, the year before that. So I've been
a resident of this city for 40 years and I come and go between IU and a school corporation and the city.
So I wanna be that person to help bridge the gap. So that's why I'm interested in being a part of that
commission.
because I feel like I love the city of Bloomington, I love the school corporation, and I just want to
be that person that's that liaison between all three things, IU, and city of Bloomington, and the Martin
Luther King school corporation. So I think being a part of the Martin Luther King commission will help
me to be able to do that, to bring more children out, bring more youth, get more youth involved in that.
Amazing, thank you.
The other committee members have questions for Sandra. Yeah, hi. So again, thank you so much for being
here today. What experience or skills would you say that you would bring to the commission to be an
effective team member? First of all, being a social worker, I'm an active listener. And I'm used to
dealing with conflict. I'm used to dealing with conflict. And I feel like bringing people together,
sometimes you're not going to agree on everything, right? So with my job as a social worker, I find
myself bringing
people together, like other grownups together, like administrators together, kids with administrators.
I've been an advocate between when parents come in, sometimes the administrator might call me in to
be that person that bridge that gap too. So I feel like I could bring active listening. I could think
I could help conflict resolution. I'm part of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and I hold many offices in
that sorority. So I feel like I'm an organizer.
I just I think I bring a lot of skill sets to things like that. First, I like people. I love people.
So I feel like I like to speak and talk to people and communicate with people. So I feel like I could
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
more people in the city to this program. You know, like to be more involved because I am a people person.
I'm a former pastor's wife and I'm ordained minister too, so I just love talking to people. I don't
know a stranger. I can go in the grocery store, I can go anywhere, and I talk to everyone. So I just
feel like I wanna get more people in the city of Bloomington more involved in things, more in the community.
And I feel like everybody should be treated equal, and I feel like that no matter who they are, we can
get them involved. Like in a month or so, I'm gonna go out there on seminary and talk to some of the
homeless people.
with the ministry group that's going out there. So I just feel like I just want the bridge that gap
to bring everybody and let everyone feel a part of being involved in whatever the city is doing.
I love that. Thank you. Yeah, no, no, no questions. I'm just super impressed with your background, your
experience, your positions and your enthusiasm for doing this kind of work. I can see it coming right
oozing through you right now even
Yeah. Yeah. And I agree. Uh, and maybe just an additional question or two for me. Um, so, uh, the commission,
uh, just to confirm how logistics, they meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month, uh, from six to seven
PM here at city hall. Um, occasional remote attendance is okay, but most meetings should be in person.
Like there's rules around the commission being able to have quorum and therefore be able to meet. Uh,
sometimes we are challenged by that with different commissions at times. And so just wanted to check.
your availability and ability to commit for the, you know, the term of the appointment to regularly
attend meetings, participate in the commission's duties, all that. Does that time and availability work
for you? Yeah, I can. I helped with the gala. I helped plan one of the people playing the gala this
year. Yeah, I understand. I understand. Great. Additional questions or? Yeah, I mean, just to follow
up a little bit more on what you were saying earlier. I mean, first of all,
One of the questions I usually ask is about, you know, working with people when there's conflict,
you know, difference of opinion. I don't think I need to ask that of you. That's pretty clear as a social
worker. That's one of your strengths that you've got a lot of tools. But I love your enthusiasm for
bringing more of our community into the event. Do you have any ideas or thoughts on how we might be
able to do that or how you would
personally be involved in encouraging greater attendance. Okay. So for instance, like being in the schools.
So like right now we had the youth summit, the black youth summit coming up, right? So on that person,
like there's people in the city reaches out to, so I could make sure all, I go to all the high schools,
even though they send an email, I literally go to all the high schools and I go to all the middle schools
to make sure I get those minority males there. Cause I think it's a good program. When I believe in
something, I will support it. So,
I am that person hands-on, like, I can make phone calls, I'll knock on your door. I'm like, you need
to come be a part of this. You know, like, whatever it takes to get people involved, that's who I am,
to make sure they get there. And let them know, be aware, because sometimes people are just not aware
of what's going on, you know? So we have to, like, maybe email, send up flyers, or just knock on our
doors, or give them phone calls to invite them, let them know what's happening. Great. OK, wonderful.
Thank you for that follow-up. Appreciate it. I did just have one question.
based on conversations so far. Can you hear me all right, Alessandro? I can hear you. So it seems to
me there's so much potential in all your roles to have this synergistic interaction in all that you
do. Do you foresee it being just wide open, everything, the way you can interact, the way you can bring
that this is commission and your I you work in your us your school, your blooms and minor community
school system work. Or do you see boundaries anywhere? Is there any need for boundaries? Or can you
just take this and just do whatever you can come up with? I don't think there's some boundaries. No,
because I said that's what Dr. Martin Luther King stood for equality for all right.
everybody should be included. So no, I don't feel like there should be boundaries. We put those boundaries
there because we judge people without really getting to know who they are. So I feel like you get to
talk to people and get to know who they are. There shouldn't be any boundaries for anybody feeling welcome
to be a part of any of this that we're doing. Thank you. Do you have questions for us, Lysandre, either
about the council's role, how we interact with commissions, the commission itself, the process
of appointments, any of that?
Not really. I was shocked that it was, I was shocked that it involved all this. But I'm okay with it
because like I said, I'm okay with it because like I said, I help with the GALA and with the, you know,
every year when the Black Male Commission, they get together at Fairview, I'm a part of that.
I make sure, because like when I started working for the Bloomington Police Department, I started asking
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
first day of school at Fairview.
So I would go to that. And so then I got the police department start coming. I'm kind of disappointed
to see them this year, but I got them to start coming to those things. And then when I started working
for Cute Modern Kind of School Corporation again, I told the powers that be, we need to be there for
that too. So I believe that person, like I said, a lot of times people just don't know things are happening
and things are going on. So I'm that person. I'll try to make people aware, you might want to be a part
of this. This is a good thing. This is a good cause.
and make it more work. So I've gone to that for years, the Martin Luther King celebration, and I've
gotten other people of diversity that come, they didn't know existed, so they come and they like it.
So my daughter, she's older now, I remember one year when Coretta Scott King came to the city of Bloomington,
and my daughter was actually able to take a picture with her. So I'm gonna, yeah, I'm gonna probably
go up there for years. So I'm like, why not help with it?
Well, thank you again for your interest in serving on the Commission and your volunteer efforts supporting
the GALA and other things as well in the community. We are I think at the end of the interview. And
so just again, three or eight next steps. This committee's job is to make a recommendation. I think
we are considering two folks for appointment to the Commission and only one vacancy. You should hear
one way or the other from Deputy Clerk Crossley within the next
two to three weeks, I think. And even if you're not appointed at this time, A, appreciate again your
interest and B, would encourage you to keep an eye on vacancies because they do come up with some regularity
and we always need people who are enthusiastic and willing to serve in these capacities for the city.
So thank you again and have a great evening. Okay, thank you. Thank you for having me. Thank you so
much. Take care.
You also spoke to our other candidate, is that right? Yes, I spoke with Jettna this afternoon. So she
is going into her junior year at IU, so enthusiastic. A lot of energy, a lot of great enthusiasm,
really warm. I loved her for the spot, for two reasons. Because of her youth, getting that college experience
on the commission.
She's heavily involved in the Neal Marshall Center, Black Student Union, and in both of those roles,
she's taken on leadership roles where she's done a lot of organizing of events and has a lot of hands-on
experience of actually putting together large events. So she sounded really experienced for her age
and very capable. Okay.
was my perception. Did you check in about time commitments and availability and all that as well? Yeah,
I did. I didn't remember the exact day and time that I told her it would be once a month, probably about
an hour to two for each meeting, set time. Her only question about that was, are they in person? I said,
ideally, yes. I explained to her quorum issues, or not issues, but the need for quorum.
And I, you know, I said, when she asked about being in person, I said, however, if from time to time,
you know, once in a while, maybe you're traveling or something else has come up, if they have quorum
for in-person, you can once in a while. So she all sounded all good with that. Well, it seems like we
have two great candidates then. Yeah, exactly. And one vacancy, I believe. Let's see.
the current membership as well. Well, there's a real vacancy that, no, there's not, sorry. There's just
one vacancy. I know. There are a couple of things that are up next year. This is where it lays and also
said they look great. I pulled up the email and she said that Dr. Glow recommended the student that
was, and so,
She said the students she always recommends are always excellent. Lysandra is engaged to respect the
community members whose work and connections would be beneficial to our commission. I think her work
with the youth, which I am with, well, with the commission's goals, she's involved in a lot of organizations.
So my only hesitation would be to question if she has time for another commitment, which she clearly
mentioned she could handle. And she said, I ultimately lean towards
Well, Sandra, for this one, however, I would be happy to have either person join as a luxury to choose
between two great candidates. Yes, she did say it because I asked her why she was interested in the
role. She said she is from Indianapolis, but she's here. She doesn't want to just be involved in IU.
She wants to be involved in the Bloomington community. So she started looking into how she could get
involved and
Dr. Globe recommended this commission. That was the other part of our conversation. Well, Andy,
this is our. They're both great and I don't think the commission will.
Jennifer, do you have any thoughts? It's really hard. The only thing I can think of is if one of the
appointments whose terms are up next year, obviously, or if somebody resigns ahead of any time this
year, either one of them. This is like the second meet I've had today where everybody's been like, this
has been a really good pool of applicants. It's just really hard. I do know I've been trying to go,
There's an emoji day that's happening at the end of this month on campus where I plan on going in my
capacity to talk to students about getting involved in boards and commissions. And I do know that also
Dr. Glow, when she talks to students, they end up applying. There are a couple of students that she
had talked to and I had talked to when I had went and they ended up applying for some boards and commissions
and they actually got appointed.
So I won, actually won an award for the Black History Month Gala this year. So it's just really hard
because when you see LaSondra, you see her everywhere. But yeah, it's hard. I maybe lean towards,
I'm sorry, the student's name. In that direction, for the sake of more student involvement,
your recommendations and
Kind of like I think Lissandra is going to be there and going to be participating in volunteering. And
there probably will come a time when she can serve on the commission. And students' time is limited
also. And so I'm comfortable in that direction again, knowing that there's no bad choice here and that
we can't pick both. And if we could just also really communicate to Lissandra that we think she's great
and hope that she considers serving in the future.
Yeah, I was gonna ask when you make the calls, do you ever like convey a message like that? Oh, I do.
Okay. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I definitely do. Great. Andy, what are your thoughts? Well, I did a little defer,
especially since you talked about, but I like what Matt said that, I mean, there's a potential.
we could, this could be the start, or not the start, because she's obviously engaged to the student,
but of creating another Lysandra in the form of the student, get her involved in stuff like this, right?
That's, yeah, that's why I love the idea of getting college students involved. So I really like that.
If there is another opening that happens in June, could we just plug Lysandra in right away without
even having to win? We'd have to meet and make the recommendation, but we could do that sort of thing
without interviews, if we wanted to.
I moved to. See, see what. Yes, but I need to. Jennifer, thanks for including the little quick screenshot.
Well, thank you. Applications weren't showing up for us in on board. And so we don't have. We need to fix that.
Um, I moved to a point to see, see to John Ayala Ruiz or the Dr. Martin Luther King birthday. 61,
but yes. Yes. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. Okay. And so I will put that together for the packet for the September
six meeting. Sounds right. Um, and then.
That's it. Thank you. Yeah. Yes, thank you. Yeah. Thank you, too, for making this work. Yeah, no,
thank you. Thank you. Adjourned. Adjourned. OK.