Hello Everyone,
Evelyn here
with more "From the Loft to the Streets". Below is a news release from our Attorney General, Bill McCollum. On February 27, 2007, the General hosted the first meeting of the Council on the Status of Black Men and Boys. At that meeting, the General praised the Council for their positive dialogue and discussion. The focus of the meeting was to bring into the light many of the problems that blacks men and black youth face in education, employment and the of black crime as well as the high rate the males is Florida prison system. The meeting also focused on opening the doors to possible solution to preventing and saving black male by means that would turn their lives around for the better. For more details see the article below.
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Bill McCollum
Attorney General
News Release
February 27, 2007
McCollum Presides Over First Council Meeting on Status of Black Men and Boys
Attorney General, Bill McCollum, applauds Council for proactive dialogue
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today hosted the first meeting of the Council on the Status of Black Men and Boys. At the meeting’s conclusion, McCollum praised the Council for their positive dialogue and discussion.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with this distinguished group of individuals and will continue to provide them the support needed to continue their quest,” said Attorney General McCollum. “One of my top priorities is to bring together both the people and the resources needed to help today's youth make the choices that will send their lives in a positive direction. I am confident this dedicated group will recommend sound strategies to achieve that goal and others.”
The Attorney General presided over the meeting, during which members selected a chairman and a vice chairman. Levi Williams was elected to serve as the Chairman of the Council. Williams is currently a partner in the law firm Fertig & Gramling and has extensive professional experience in the areas of civil rights litigation, organizational management and promoting community change and outreach. He serves on the Broward Community College Board of Trustees and is a former member of the Urban League of Broward County and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of Broward County. Christopher Norwood, a public affairs consultant from South Florida, was elected Vice Chairman. He works in the areas of Public Policy, Community Relations & Youth Development. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Charlee Homes For Children, the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America and the Miami-Dade Public Schools Student Services Advisory Committee (Chair).
Created by the Legislature during the 2006 Legislative Session, the Council is charged with making a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys including homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rate, poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate annual income levels, health issues and school performance.
The goal of the Council is to propose measures to alleviate and correct the underlying causes of the conditions described above. These measures may consist of changes to the law or systematic changes that can be implemented without legislative action. The Attorney General’s Office called the first meeting and will provide administrative support to the Council.
A complete list of the members of the Council on the Status of Black Men and Boys is available here.
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Evelyn out!
