City of Columbus - File #: 1556-2023

• File #: 1556-2023
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 5/18/2023
• In control: Neighborhoods and Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Affairs
• On agenda: 6/5/2023
• Final action: 6/9/2023
• Title: To authorize the transfer and expenditure of up to $280,000.00 within the Department of Neighborhoods; to authorize the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into a sub-recipient grant agreement with the Columbus Urban League in an amount up to $280,000.00 to add needed capacity to address COVID-19 specific services for boys and young men of color and black girls; to authorize the payment of expenses starting May 16, 2023; and to declare an emergency. ($280,000.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/9/2023	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
6/8/2023	1	MAYOR	Signed
6/5/2023	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
6/5/2023	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass

…BACKGROUND:
In 2014, the White House, under President Barack Obama, launched the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. Through this initiative, the Administration called on cities, businesses, and foundations to take important steps to connect young people to mentoring, support networks, and help them gain the skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way into the middle class. The milestones associated with the My Brother’s Keeper initiative include having young people enter school ready to learn, reading at grade level by third grade, graduating from high school ready for college, completing post-secondary education or training, successfully entering the workforce, and providing a second chance to those with past criminal offenses. In responding to the call to action, the Department of Neighborhoods established the My Brother’s Keeper Village to be the hub of all work throughout the City of Columbus.
On July 16, 2018, Columbus City Council adopted resolution number 0208X-2018 to create The Commission on Black Girls (The Commission or COBG). The creation of COBG was led by former Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson. The impetus for creating The Commission was the disparities that Black women experience in several areas including but not limited to: homelessness, eviction, infant mortality, maternal mortality, and the wage gap. To change this trajectory, the intent was to start at earlier stages of development and focus on girls. Charged with studying the quality of life of Black girls in Columbus, The Commission released a report in July 2020 with 18 recommendation areas that are intended to improve services and systemic issues that impact Black girls. The three main areas of focus in the report include Education, Economics, and Mental & Emotional Health.
Explanation
The Department of Neighborhoods ho...