Thank you to everyone who took the time out of their busy schedule to participate in the conversations, virtually or at the library, for our February 2023 Community Meeting. We really appreciate the involvement from all, regardless of whether you reside in Bexley or not, or are a parent of a Bexley student or not–everyone is welcome to our events, meetings, and in our Facebook group, as long as they support our mission of empowering Bexley minority students to achieve their full potential.

 

Below are the notes from our February 2023 meeting. Please let us know if you would like to help with any of the items or events in the notes. We will also send out the notes summary in our March e-newsletter, which you can sign up for on our website. We do not send additional emails aside from the once-a-month summary. The option is on the main home page beneath “Subscribe for Updates” under “Get Involved” or you can fill out the form on the right hand side to “Join Our List” to receive the monthly e-newsletter.
  • Overview and Introduction – Bryan
  • BMPA Mission Statement & Priorities – Bryan
    • Founded in 2015, we exist to empower Bexley minority students to achieve their potential by providing support, advocacy and influencing policy.
    • Priorities:
      • Form community among families with minority children
      • Support children, families, and district personnel
      • Advocate for students with district staff, board members and community leaders
      • Guide policy and training decisions in five priority areas:
        • Recognizing implicit racial bias and empowering competent and compassionate engagement to address acts of racism
        • Trauma-Competent Care provided to all students by all BCS personnel
        • Restorative justice disciplinary practices
        • Broad curricular celebration of BBIPOC cultural contributions
        • Minority teacher recruitment and retention
  • School District Updates
    • Bexley District Networking Event – Sunday, February 26
      • 30 prospective candidates along with 25-30 local stakeholders including community groups and school   personnel
  • BMPA Buddies Mentoring program – 33 pairs of students.
    • Exploring a group activity, obtained BEF funding for COSI science kits, and looking at field trip to the King Arts Complex and suggestion of a tour of Bronzeville
  • Community Updates
    • Bexley Coalition for Equitable Policing – Cecil
      • Post George Floyd, many stakeholders reaching out to the Mayor. Recommended collective voice and meeting once a month and involved with the selection of the new Chief of Police. Between coalition members, had a list of 22 priorities  in order with the first focus on a Minor Youth Interaction policy.
      • List of priorities as agreed upon by the Bexley Coalition for Equitable Policing (and the groups it represents):
        • Minor Interaction
        • Caller Bias Dispatcher Screening
        • Traffic Stop Reform
        • Police Data Transparency
        • Street Stop Reform
        • Quality Improvement Taskforce
        • Community Policing
        • Community Police Satisfaction Measurement
        • Use of Force, De-escalation Policies
        • Eliminate Multi-Unit Police Response Policy
        • Internal Police Accountability
        • No Police stationed in Bexley Schools
        • Civilian Guidance and Review Board
        • Body Cam Policies
        • No Arrest for Outstanding Misdemeanor Warrants
        • Expand Training
        • Civilian Rights Notification
        • Community Social Service Needs Assessment
        • Police Reporting Requirements
        • Police Website Upgrade
        • Ethical Policing Policy
        • LGBTQIA Training and Policy
  • City Council Meeting last Tuesday
    • Approved new rates for the pool – $50 for individuals/$40 for seniors.
    • New resident summer registration for Jeffrey Summer Camp is March 6th
    • Just passed ordinance that will allow rental of Carriage House for special events after study and audit.
    • Bexley Police Department – promoted several officers and hired a new one and fundraising for K-9 program
      • a) Bexley Police Department Swearing In Ceremony for Officer Iorio
      • b) Bexley Police Department Swearing In Ceremony for Lieutenant Holdren, Lieutenant Kenefick, and Lieutenant Overly
      • c) Bexley Police Department Swearing In Ceremony for Deputy Chief Gough
    • Sam Marcellino looking into monthly office hours in central hall for community members to ask questions. Will have Mayor Friday updates or Bexley Blast to announce it when its finalized.
    • Ban of all flavored tobacco products under consideration.

 

  • Community Dialogue Event – Thursday, February 27, 2023
    • About 55 in person and 10 online attendees
    • Not affiliated with any specific organization
    • Discussed four topics on ideas, steps to improve schools.
    • Meant to be solution-focused on the topics on Safety, Culture, Education, Communications.
    • Will go through data and see themes and reasonable asks of the school.
    • Plan to meet again and will have a Google form to collect ideas from those that couldn’t attend.
    • At the next school board meeting, the group plans to address the board to share list of actional steps.
    • Goal will be to meet with district staff to end racism happening every day in the schools.
    • Parent group meeting in mid-March to discuss next steps and determine timeline.
  • Discussed possibilities to collaborate and work together with BMPA and parent group and explore ways to connect allies with anti-racist information.
  • Board of Education meeting March 8th at 6pm: https://www.bexleyschools.org/BoardofEducation.aspx

 

  • Community Discussion, Announcements & Q/A
    • What have been BMPA’s advocacy efforts? BMPA leadership meets regularly with city leaders and school administrators to understand the policies and procedures for incidents. Working with policies and procedures with Marcelius Braxton (DEI). Pushing to continue trainings and workshops to be better prepared for incidents.
  • Armando Telles from Old Towne East community: Invites BMPA to conference on March 11 in Lorain to address civic engagement and discuss creating parent associations
    • Contact Info: Armando Telles, The Food Hunger Coalition – Info@armandotelles.com
    • 25th Annual Hispanic Leadership Conference and Gala, hosted by the Coalition for Hispanic Issues and Progress, in Lorain, OH on from March 10-12. BMPA invited to bring a group to partake in the programming to promote and encourage civic engagement, civic responsibility, and civic accountability.
  • Upcoming Events
    • Art Auction – March 5th from 2-4pm is the free reception to meet artists and final day to bid
      • Proceeds to go scholarships presented at the Circle of Excellent event
      • The Bexley Minority Parent Alliance Art Auction began last week and will continue through Sunday, to raise money for scholarships for minority students who are high school seniors
      • Please like the Facebook page, posts on the page, and share the posts and page widely! We really need community support to make the event successful.
      • You can also view the art in the Bexley Public Library and bid both virtually (on the Facebook group or anonymously via private message) or by scanning the QR code for an art piece in the library.
      • Here is the link to the Facebook page to view, like, share, and bid on art: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080249385096
    • Circle of Excellence (COE) – April 23 from 4-6 p.m.
      • The Circle of Excellence (COE) is a free, annual event that recognizes graduating 5th, 8th, and 12th graders in Bexley. The COE ceremony is open to the public and for anyone to attend. It highlights the contributions of minority students to their schools and the community.
    • Bexley Library – Kelly Muir: March 9th
      • Kelly Muir, founder of Excel Karate Systems, shares her new memoir, Lessons from Nowhere. She will be in conversation with Bryan Drewry, Executive Director of the Bexley Area Chamber of Commerce.
    • Bexley Library: Character Crafter with Victor Dandridge from U-Cre-8 Comics – March 7 4:30-5:30 p.m.
      • Take the Raconteur’s challenge with award winning, comic creator Victor Dandridge, owner of U Cre-8 Comics, and create your own comic character from start to finish. Recommended for teens in grades 6-12.
      • Register through the library’s event page (hyperlinked above)
    • Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival
      • Friday, May 5th, 2023, 6-8 PM at the Bexley Public Library parking lot.
      • Join us to celebrate Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month with food, culture, and art.
      • We are looking for volunteers to help plan the event and to help on the day of the event.
      • If you are interested please email Betty Brown or Christine Overway
  • Save the Date: June 2nd Pride Month celebration