09-Paris Economic Development Corporation's Quarterly Report

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Shannon Barrentine From: Paris Diversity Task Force [Paris_Diversity_Task_Force@mail.vresp.com] Sent: June 10, 2011 3:37 PM To: shannon@paristexas.com Subject: Task Force Update and Council Address Click to view this email in a browser Diversity Task Force Update Dear Task Force, Attached is the presentation we plan to make at the Paris City Council Meeting on Monday. As you can see, we are supporting the Diversity Initiative proposed by the PEDC and plan to merge the Task Force efforts into this new one. We have so appreciated all of your help and hope you can join us for our last three projects as well as the Initiative. And, we welcome your presence at the City council Meeting on Monday Mary and Marva ADDRESS TO THE PARIS CITY COUNQL "As you know, the Task Force was begun 31/2 years ago as a grassroots organization to address the racial tension in the community. Many of you have participated with our committees and in our events and we have appreciated it. Our projects have been a positive force in Paris. We have given opportunities for people of all races to meet, talk, and work together through our projects - the City Wide Block Party, The Law Enforcement Meet and Greet, Motivational Speakers in the schools, our U- Turn awards, the ministerial swaps between white and black churches, Diversity Dinners, and the very powerful Challenge Day that was brought to three school districts and changed lives. We've met all over town - MLK Church of Christ, St. Paul Baptist, Calvary Methodist, Mt. Zion Methodist, First Christian Church, the Civic Center, and the Fairgrounds. We have received financial support from many individuals, the United Way and from the City of Paris for which we are grateful. But, from the beginning, we knew we needed a plan to address diversity issues. Our projects were good but not enough. We had thought one would come from the U.S. Justice Department. We asked the City, the Chamber of Commerce and the PEDC to provide the needed funds to develop a road map of where we are, where we need to be, and how to get there. Until recently, we made little progress. But thanks to Steve Gilbert and the current board of the PEDC, we hope the Paris Diversity Initiative is going to finally happen and we welcome the help. Our position on the Diversity Initiative is that we will support the group that gets the contract. It is important to have a company that can deliver the services which apparently all three bidding companies can. But what is most important is that this community embrace the initiative, participate, be willing to hear and to act, and that we recognize we're being held back by our inability to adequately address racial concerns. Support must come from all races, from the rich and poor, businesses and schools. If that kind of participation happens, we will, at last, acquire tools to deal with the future and improve our reputation. - - 4'7 ,