Law enforcement officials participate in a panel discussion at the Race and Law Enforcement in the Urban Community forum in Saginaw Nov. 14, 2015.
(View additional photos from the event here)
More than 100 people attended a highly successful forum in Saginaw on Race and Law Enforcement in the Urban Community.
The event, sponsored by the Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (MBC-LEO), featured national and state speakers discussing the rising concern of race relations following numerous high-profile cases of police incidents involving African-American men and women across the country.
Kicking off the event was Leon Andrews Jr., Director of Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) for the National League of Cities. Andrews came in from Washington D.C. for the event and reviewed the issue. He also showed a video and slide presentation of the many faces of young people, as well as people of all ages, who have succumbed to violence in urban communities throughout the nation.
Leon Andrews Jr. of the National League of Cities REAL program speaks at the forum in Saginaw.
“In some cities, more than half of all young adult black men are currently under correction control, either in prison or jail, or probation or parole,” Andrews said. “One in three young African American men will serve time in prison if the current trends continue.”
Event organizer Dexter Mitchell, Buena Vista Township manager, was pleased with the event and the turnout, which included coverage by area TV news stations, WNEM TV 5 and WEYI TV 25.
“This forum was not intended for attendees to have a magic bullet to resolve this problem as they left the meeting,” Mitchell said. Rather the purpose was to open a dialogue and a conversation and we accomplished that.”
Mitchell added he hopes to have future forums on similar topics take place throughout the state.
Other speakers Saturday were Angela Austin, My Brother’s Keeper, Lansing; Cal Talley, chairperson of My Brother’s Keeper, Saginaw Michigan Challenge; George Copeland, Saginaw Valley State University student; and Montel Menifee, Bay Regional Director of the Office of U.S. Senator Gary Peters.
The event concluded with a law enforcement panel discussion featuring Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton; Inkster Police Chief William Riley; Saginaw Police Chief Bob Ruth; Buena Vista Township Public Safety Director Robert Schulz; Saginaw County Prosecuting Attorney John McColgan Jr.; Saginaw County Sheriff Bill Federspiel; Michigan State Police Lt. David A. Simon, Post Commander of the Tri Cities Post; and Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman.
The forum was attended by youth and concerned citizens from the Saginaw area as well as elected officials from throughout the state, including the communities of Durand, Flint, Auburn Hills, Highland Park, Saginaw, and South Haven.
Huge crowd attends MBC-LEO forum on Race and Law Enforcement in Saginaw Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015.
There were multiple opportunities for conversation between the audience and the speakers. The topics covered included ways to help young men who have college educations get jobs that match their education, the desire for additional assistance for young black women facing legal issues, and the need for more programs and opportunities for people who are now out of the prison system and trying to better themselves.
MBC-LEO is an affiliate organization of the Michigan Municipal League, which also was a supporter of the event. The conversation that took place in Saginaw fits directly with one of the eight assets the League has deemed essential for building vibrant communities – diversity and multiculturalism. Other event sponsors were Meijer, Spicer Group, Vividar Mor, W&W Cleaning Services, Siemens, Absopure, OHM, the National League of Cities, and the Saginaw Community Action Committee.
Click here to view additional photos from the forum.
Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at [email protected] and (734) 669-6317.