Number
121719
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
121596
Sponsor
ALD. DAVIS, MURPHY and HAMILTON
Title
A substitute ordinance establishing a black male achievement (BMA) advisory council.
Sections
320-29 cr
Analysis
This ordinance establishes a black male achievement (BMA) advisory council to make recommendations to the common council on the issue of African American male achievement. The BMA advisory council shall be composed of 13 members, each of whom shall be subject to confirmation by the common council.
The black male achievement advisory council shall also oversee the City Leadership Grant to Promote Black Male Achievement from the National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education and Families.
Body
Whereas, Nearly 2 in 3 African American children (64%) live apart from their biological fathers compared to 1 in 4 white children; and
Whereas, Only 45% of African American males in Milwaukee graduate from high school compared to 92% of their white peers who reside in Wisconsin; and
Whereas, The 2010 Census of Wisconsin residents reported that 12.8% (or 1 in 8) of African American working age men were in state prisons or local jails; and
Whereas, Over half of all Milwaukee County African American men in their 30s and half of Milwaukee County African American men in their early 40s have been or are currently in adult state correctional institutions; and
Whereas, Only 44.7% of the metro area's working age African American males between the ages 16-64 were employed in 2010; and
Whereas, Milwaukee is one of the top 10 poorest cities in the United States with the general poverty rate of 33.2% of which 40% of the population is African American; and
Whereas, A large body of research shows that young black males are significantly more likely than other segments of the population to experience joblessness, low educational attainment, incarceration, family instability, and other challenges that perpetuate a cycle of intergenerational poverty; and
Whereas, There is a strong commitment from the City to organize efforts to improve African American male achievement and reduce racial disparities in education, work and family outcomes between African American males and their peers; and
Whereas, Common Council Resolution Number 121596, adopted March 21, 2013, authorized the Department of Administration, through the Community Development Grants Administration, to apply for and accept a City Leadership Grant to Promote Black Male Achievement technical assistance project from the National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education and Families (YEF); and
Whereas, The Campaign for Black Male Achievement, led by Open Society Foundations, was created in 2008 to address the intensification of negative outcomes for black males and their continued educational, economic, social, and political exclusion; and
Whereas, Local responses to the crisis facing black males have been muted by the devastating economic recession and shrinking federal and state assistance to families and cities, which have exacerbated pressures on households and forced deep cuts in city budgets; and
Whereas, The City Leadership Grant to Promote Black Male Achievement technical assistance project responds to a need for technical assistance and peer learning opportunities among city officials that will help them explore and adopt promising practices for improving outcomes for young black males; and
Whereas, By providing intensive, site-level support, the YEF Institute will help city leaders accelerate the pace of local progress to reduce disparities in educational achievement, employment, financial security, health, juvenile arrests and detention, and family stability;now, therefore
The Mayor and Common Council of the City of Milwaukee do ordain as follows:
Part 1. Section 320-29 of the code is created to read:
1. ESTABLISHMENT. There is created a black male achievement advisory council.
2. PURPOSE. a. The purpose of the black male achievement advisory council is to make recommendations to the common council on the issue of African American male achievement. The black male achievement advisory council shall also oversee the City Leadership Grant to Promote Black Male Achievement from the National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education and Families.
b. The City Leadership Grant to Promote Black Male Achievement technical assistance project work's in each of the following 4 areas, which the National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education and Families believes are key to sustained progress at the community level in improving life outcomes of black men and boys:
b-1. Development of Strong Partnerships. Create or utilize an existing partnership structure that engages other local government officials, community and faith-based leaders, families, youth, funders, and other stakeholders within the city who are dedicated to improving outcomes for black men and boys.
b-2. Effective Utilization of Data. Strengthen data capacity that supports the city's efforts to use data to document needs, target resources, assess the effectiveness of strategies and programs, and measure progress in improving life outcomes of black men and boys.
b-3. Implementation of Comprehensive Strategies. Develop and advance new policies and practices that are of sufficient scale to generate significant improvements in outcomes for black men and boys in areas such as educational attainment, employment opportunities, family strengthening, and the prevention of violence and violence-related deaths.
b-4. Civic Engagement of Young Black Men and Boys. Promote an authentic youth civic engagement structure that allows young black men and boys to be involved in meaningful ways in local planning, policy, and decision-making processes.
3. COMPOSITION. The advisory council shall be composed of the following 13 members, each of whom shall be subject to confirmation by the common council:
a. The director of the Center for Youth Engagement, or his or her designee.
b. The chief executive officer of Community Advocates, or his or her designee.
c. The executive director of the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee, or his or her designee.
d. The senior pastor of Parklawn Assembly of God, or his or her designee.
e. The U.S. attorney of the U.S. department of justice, U.S. attorney's office, Eastern District of Wisconsin, or his or her designee.
f. A representative of the business community, appointed by the common council president.
g. Three citizens, appointed by the common council president.
h. A citizen, appointed by the mayor.
i. The commissioner of health, or his or her designee.
j. The chair of the community and economic development committee.
k. The chair of the judiciary and legislation committee.
4. TERM OF OFFICE. a. Term. Advisory council members shall serve terms of 3 years, with the first terms beginning July 1, 2013, and expiring June 30, 2016.
b. Reappointment. Members of the advisory council may be reappointed.
c. Vacancy. When a vacancy occurs in the advisory council, the appointing authority shall make an appointment within 60 days after the vacancy occurs. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
5. ORGANIZATION. The advisory council shall meet at least monthly and may meet at such additional times as the advisory council determines or the chair directs. The mayor shall be honorary co-chair of the advisory council; his or her attendance at meetings shall not be required. The chair of the community and economic development committee shall be co-chair of the advisory council. The chair of the judiciary and legislation committee shall be vice-chair of the advisory council. Advisory council members shall receive no compensation.
6. OPEN MEETINGS. All meetings of the advisory council shall be publicly held and open to all citizens at all times in accordance with subch. V of ch. 19, Wis. Stats.
7. STAFFING. The department of administration and the city clerk's office shall provide staff assistance to the advisory council. All city departments shall cooperate with the advisory council and provide assistance whenever the advisory council so requests.
8. ANNUAL REPORTS. The advisory council shall submit a written annual report of its activities under this section to the common council and the mayor.
LRB
APPROVED AS TO FORM
________________________
Legislative Reference Bureau
Date:______________________
Attorney
IT IS OUR OPINION THAT THE ORDINANCE
IS LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE
_____________________________
Office of the City Attorney
Date:________________________
Requestor
Drafter
LRB145945-2
Amy E. Hefter
5/3/2013