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Here is a post for October 24, 2005. Let’s see if it shows up on the date picker.

NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 6 PM.CIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE CENTER1040 West Washington St. South Bend JOIN US IN WELCOMINGMARSHA PARHAM-GREEN, New ExecutiveDirector of the South Bend Housing Authority and KATRINA LEE, New Executive Director of theSouth Bend Human Rights Commission TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION:SUPPORTING THE STRUGGLE FOR SAFE ANDACCESIBLE HOUSING FOR ALL RESIDENTSOF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY

Tuesday, Feb 20, 6 PMCivil Right Heritage Center1040 West Washington, South Bend CODING EVICTIONS:ST. JOSEPH COUNTY INDIANASMALL CLAIMS’ EVICTION COURT WATCH STUDYJudith Fox & Katherine Wines February 20, Civil Rights Heritage Center 6 pm A discussion of findings and recommendations fromSt Joseph County Court Watch study

In Light of a Lack of Legislative Progress, the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition Calls for the Creation of a Commission on Housing Affordability & StabilityThe Hoosier Housing Need Coalition is staffed by Prosperity Indiana.  Read the full statement here.************************Two local Indiana legislators speak out about the situation at Cedar Glen Apartments and the fatal house…

NEXT  HHR MEETING – THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024 AT 6 PMTOPIC: HOUSING TRUST FUNDS The YWCA of North Central Indiana will host a discussion about a proposal for a Housing Trust Fund in St. Joseph County.  Housing trust funds are distinct funds established by city, county or state governments that receive ongoing dedicated sources of public…

WHAT HAPPENED AT OUR NOVEMBER MEETING?We heard from Myrnetta Daniel, the Chief Residential Officer at the Center for the Homeless,Sheila McCarthy, Director of Motels4Now, and Carl Hetler, Homeless Coordinator for South Bend.  They shared information about changes in this year's Weather Amnesty Program and responded to numerous questions and comments from those attending the meeting. WHAT…

HHR Action MEETING – TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 20236 PM – CIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE CENTER (1040 W Washington St) This will be our last meeting in 2023 and we have lots of information to share! Primary discussion: What has changed for this season's Weather Amnesty?Presentations:— Carl Hetler, Homelessness Coordinator, City of South Bend— Jo Boileau, Motels4Now/ New Day…

MEDICAID TRANSITION WITHIN THE BEACON MEDICAL SYSTEMInformation received from Kreg GruberBeacon's CEO on October 30, 2023FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Is Beacon participating in Medicaid?Yes. Beacon cares for two-thirds of the Medicaid population in our area and will remain a Medicaid provider. Recent changes occurred at seven of our 72 physician sites for two of the managed…

NEXT MEETING OF HHR — Monday, October 30, 2024 at 6 pm. Community Learning Center of the Main Street Library, in Classroom B Program topics:1. Lead Poisoning Prevention in SJC2. Beacon Health System: What has changed for Medicaid clients? At our October 12 meeting, we made a last-minute change in plans.  We decided to devote…

HHR-Action, an organization of housing advocates who understand that safe and accessible housing is a basic human right.  NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, OCT 12, 6 PM MAIN LIBRARY, COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER, CLASSROOM D         PROGRAM: 1.      Lead poisoning prevention in Saint Joseph County, a presentation from the Lead Affinity Group, a community coalition of civil servants,…

Book Study and Discussion:Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond, author of Evicted Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Community Forum for Economic Justice “Urgent and accessible . . . Its moral force is a gut punch.”—The New Yorker “Astonishing . . . Desmond has set a new standard for reporting on poverty.” — Barbara Ehrenreich,…

  TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 6 PM – 7:30 PM MAIN ST. LIBRARY, COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER, CLASSROOM B   PROGRAM:  Kathy Schuth, Director of NNN, Si Barker, VP of Board of 466Works, Regina Williams Preston, Far Northwest Neighborhood Activist.   LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES AND BEGIN A DISCUSSION OF  THE AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN OUR…

Next meeting of HHR, Monday, July 31 at 6 pm Classroom D, Community Learning Center at the Main Library      Topic for discussion: A Place for Safety An introduction to new roles, growing efforts, and ways to help. A continuation of our discussions on Homelessness featuring Carl Hetler, South Bend’s newly appointed Homeless Coordinator, and Common…

HHR: HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT! Next Meeting: Monday, 6/19, 6 pm At the Civil Rights Heritage Center (1040 West Washington St.) Discussion topic: Need for a "HOMELESS BILL OF RIGHTS" A Homeless Bill of Rights is, at its essence, a reaffirmation that the homeless are entitled to the same rights and privileges as other citizens…

Perspectives on Public Health in St. Joseph County: Challenges, Successes, and a Call to Action Dr. Robert Einterz of the Saint Joseph County Department of Health shares perspectives and insights gained from serving as the Health Officer of St. Joseph County for the last three years.  Dr. Einterz’s term as Health Officer began just a couple…

OPEN FORUM FOR FINALISTS for DIRECTOR of theCOMMUNITY POLICE REVIEW BOARD OFFICE The Common Council has narrowed down the candidate hiring pool for the position of Director of the Community Police Review Board Office and will be hosting an open forum with the finalists on March 20, 2023 at 7:00 PMSt. Joseph County Library, Ballroom…

EQUAL PAY DAY March 15, 2023  Wear RED on March 15, 2023 as a symbol of how far women and minorities are still “in the red” because of the wage gap. Join YWCA North Central Indiana and our partners to raiseawareness about the wage gap and its impacton women and minoritiesEQUAL PAY DAY RALLYMarch 15,…

Join Us for the Re-Launching of CAFE(Community Action for Education) When:   Thursday, March 2, 2023Where:  Civil Rights Heritage Center 1040 W. Washington South Bend, INTime:     6:00 P.M.Please Download Cafe_Flyer3.2.2023-1 for a flyer about the event.

Book Study with Mike Mather on"Having Nothing, Possessing Everything" March 1, 7 PM, via zoomFor a flyer about the event, please click Download Book_Study_Mar_21-1.

JOIN US ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9th, AT 6PM AT THE MAIN BRANCH OF THE ST. JOSEPH COUNTY LIBRARY, COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER, CLASSROOM D. The Housing as a Human Right Action Group is joining the South Bend Tenants Association in supporting changes to Indiana law that provide addition protection for tenants facing unsafe and non-habitable housing…

A reminder to join us for the COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICEANNUAL MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2023 Current, former & future members are invited to participate in our 2023 Annual MeetingPROGRAM THEME: "YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROWOrganizing for Justice post Covid – 19 With additional challenges and new conditions! We will meet in person, at 6 pm, at the…

Presented at a recent press conference addressing future educational legislation at the Indiana General Assembly which reconvenes in Indianapolis on January 9th: SO WHAT DO KIDS NEED? As we head into a budget session this January, we must ask ourselves how we can best support Indiana's children and prepare them for a bright future. As…

The Community Forum for Economic Justice Presents a Book Study of: Braiding Sweetgrass INDIGENOUS WISDOM, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND THE TEACHINGS OF PLANTS By Robin Wall Kimmerer Book Study Leader: Dr. Monica Tetzlaff For more information, Download Braiding Sweetgrass flyer-2022 with link

This event will be held via Zoom. For more information, please email sjc.cfed@gmail.com

HHR-Action is an organization of housing advocates who understand that safe and accessible housing is a basic human right.  We believe that housing that requires more than 30% of a family’s income is not accessible to that family and that housing tainted by lead, mold or other health hazards is not safe for that family.  We…

HAVE YOU CONTACTED YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND SHARED YOUR VIEW ABOUT WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS?   The Indiana General Assembly has rescheduled it special session for July 25, when legislators will respond to the recent Supreme Court decision on women’s reproductive rights.  We have the power to affect that change — with our voice and our vote!  Don’t miss this…

HHR- Action Is an organization of housing advocates who understand that safe and accessible housing is a basic human right. We believe that housing that requires more than 30% of a family’s income is not accessible to that family. We believe that housing tainted by lead, mold or other health hazards is not safe for the members…

Jobs, Incomes, and Unions in South Bend: Seizing New Opportunities to Promote a More Just Economy Sponsors include:The Community Forum for Economic JusticeHiggins Labor Program, University of Notre DameCivil Rights Heritage Center, Indiana University SB Join us for an important May Day conversationfocusing on the following questions: What are people, especially the working poor, experiencing…

  SAVE THE DATE: MAY 1, 2022   The Community Forum for Economic Justice, Higgins Labor Program at the University of Notre Dame, and Civil rights Heritage Center at Indiana University of South Bend present   "Jobs, Incomes, and Unions in South Bend:  Seizing New Opportunities to promote a More Just Economy"   Civil Rights Heritage Center,  1040 West…

The Community Forum for Economic Justice presents:  A Book Discussion Standing Up: Tales of Struggle Stories about the Social Justice Movement that inspire and encourage! On Tuesday, March 29thth 6:00- 8:00 PM, Dr. Darryl Heller will interview the authors of the book Standing Up by Ellen Bravo and Larry Miller (Brooklyn, NY: Hard Ball Press,…

St. Joseph County is asking for public participation to develop a comprehensive Plan for the County. The comprehensive plan provides a guide to the County Commissioners, Council, Area Plan Commission, staff, development community, and residents regarding the type, location and intensity of development and redevelopment within the unincorporated County. It also describes an aspirational vision…

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUMFOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A WEEK AWAY:MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2022 — AT 6 PM. CURRENT, FORMER & FUTURE MEMBERS ARE INVITEDTO PARTICIPATE IN THIS VIRTUAL MEETING.PROGRAM THEME: "YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW" During the meeting we will share information about past and current activities of the Community Forum.  We also invite…

  THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF PUBLIC FORUMS ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL RESIDENTS OF ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, INDIANA We will explore how the South Bend Human Rights Commissionprotects your access to safe and affordable housing.  PRESENTATIONS BY: FRED HARRIS, HOUSING CHAIR, SOUTH BEND NAACPDIANA MOYA, SB HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION…

VITA (VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE)              Looking for an interesting volunteer opportunity?  Want to use your mind at the same time that you are providing a real service to low and moderate-income residents of our community.  Want to meet interesting people, both your fellow volunteers as well as taxpayers with varied backgrounds?  Then VITA is…

SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING          MONDAY, SEPT. 20, 5:30 PM,          WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL,           4747 W. Washington Street Community Action for Education (CAFE), Community Forum for Economic Justice, NAACP South Bend Branch, the Michiana Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression and BLM South Bend call on you to join us for an urgent mobilization at…

HAVE YOU REGISTERED FOR WEDNESDAY’S PUBLIC FORUMABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY? “Eviction is a national crisis. It is a humanitarian crisis. It is ahealth crisis. Yet, it has been a silent crisis because most of itsvictims are poor. For a brief moment during the coronaviruspandemic of 2020, policymakers seemed to recognize theconnections between…

Land Banks as a Tool to Address Vacant Properties A public event sponsored by the Civil Rights Heritage Center, Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc., the Community Forum for Economic Justice, and many other community partners.           MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021 AT 7– 9 PM (EDT) Join us (in-person or online) as we welcome Tarik Abdelazim, Director of National Technical…

COVID – 19 & its economic consequences have magnified a long-existing threat to housing security in Michiana, especially for low-income residents.  Emergency funding through the American Recovery Act of 2021 and temporary moratoriums on evictions have provided temporary relief for some.  However, the central problem remains. There is insufficient affordable housing in our community.  On…

Register to join this conversation here: https://go.iu.edu/3LIK In the wake of ongoing and escalating gun violence in our local community, the painful regularity of mass shootings across the country, and the incessant killing of unarmed Black people by police and other state actors, it is clear that traditional measures of dealing with crime and violence are…

CAFE Welcomes Guest Speaker Noah Remnick: The History and Future of Policing in Schools WEDNESDAY, May 26, 2021 | 6:00PM Doctoral Candidate Noah Remnick will join CAFE on Wednesday, May 26 for a discussion on the history and future of policing in schools. His presentation will outline how school-police partnerships and punitive disciplinary policies arose out of…

  At their March 15 Meeting, the SBCSC BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES will discuss current efforts to comply with provisions of the Consent Decree. You can view this discussion at 5:30 pm on You Tube. (South Bend Community School Corporation Live Stream – You Tube) The SBCSC has experienced over 40 years of Federal Oversight….

Monday, March 15th @ 6 PM  Police Accountability & South Bend's Community Police Review Board: A Roundtable Discussion Join our panel discussion about the successes, challenges and limitations of Citizens Review Boards. We will acknowledge the importance of the City of South Bend's landmark Community Police Review Board and discuss how South Bend's Board and accompanying office can…

FROM THE INDIANA UNIVERSITY CIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE CENTER:  FAITH, BLACK CHURCHES, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE   THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021, 6PM – 8PMRegister to join a panel of local faith leaders as they confront their role in movements for social justice.   In February 2021, local PBS affiliate, WNIT, aired the two-part documentary series, “The Black Church,” from noted…

RIGHTSIZE / REORGANIZE / REDESIGN / INNOVATEWHAT’S AHEAD FOR SOUTH BEND SCHOOLS? A Virtual Public Forum sponsored by theCommunity Forum for Economic JusticeWEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 2021, 6 – 7:30 pm  We first learned about the proposal to “right-size” and “reorganize” South Bend’s public schools at the January 25th meeting of the Board of School Trustees. For…

      VITA, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, is the program that provides free income-tax preparation to low-and moderate-income taxpayers.  The Community Forum for Economic Justice has supported VITA for many years, and a number of our members participate actively in the program.       The program this year is being sponsored by Goodwill.  Goodwill has a long history…

“VIEWING EDUCATION THROUGH A RACIAL EQUITY LENS”           A PRESENTATION BY DR. PATRICIA PAYNE,           Director of the Racial Equity Office           Indianapolis Public Schools, 10/20/20 If you were unable to listen to the live presentation, you can view it on the Facebook Page of the Community forum for Economic Justice                         Viewing Education Through…

MEET DR. PATRICIA PAYNE, WHO WILL JOIN USAT THE OCTOBER 20 PUBLIC FORUM OF THECOMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE. For 58 years, Dr. Payne has worked in the Indianapolis Public Schools district — pushing to make the district a more equitable place that meets the needs of all of its students, regardless of their skin…

Join Community Action for Education’s monthly virtual meeting for a discussion about the use of police/school resource officers (SROs) in SBCSC schools.  During the past month, growing numbers of the public are demanding transformative changes for public safety institutions, specifically focusing on the role of police. Educational advocates have raised similar questions about school safety.The…

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD: The VITA program is now available to do free tax preparation.  Because of the coronavirus, it is being conducted without face-to-face interaction.  The program, sponsored by Goodwill Industries of Michiana, is open to taxpayers whose income is $66,000 or less.  It will run through the end of the tax season, July…

An Invitation to View and Discuss a prize-winning documentary on Public Education   The Community Forum for Economic Justice, Community Action for Education, Michiana Advocates for Public Education, South Bend Chapter of Indiana Black Expo, Black Lives Matter South Bend, and The Civil Rights Heritage Center will sponsor an online showing of Backpack Full of…

From Chris Cobb, from the Open Space and Agricultural Alliance: I am writing with important news about stopping the IEC. After 21 months of delay, the Economic Development Division has finally released the “Indiana Enterprise Center Area Master Plan” for public comment. It’s been 21 months since the general public last had a chance to…

Earlier this month, four South Bend women traveled to Indianapolis to share their organizing experiences at this year’s Prosperity Indiana Summit, “20/20 Seeing Opportunity through the Lens of Values.”  The Summit is designed to push the boundaries of traditional community and economic development thinking and practice.  Prosperity Indiana’s mission is to build a better future…

Promoting a Just Wage Economy:What makes any given wage just or unjust?  Concerned that wages for most Americans have been flat for four decades? Worried that economic inequality between the rich and everyone else is at its most extreme since the 1920s? Wondering how to improve people's pay in an era of rising housing, health…

Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 6 pmCivil Rights Heritage Center1040 W. Washington St., South Bend Topic: Understanding the Consent DecreeWhy it's still relevant in 2020                   In February, 1981 the South Bend Community School Corporation was placed under a court-ordered consent decree by the United States Justice Department.  The decree is part of a judgement by the…

Leaders of the South Bend Community School Corporation are currently negotiating an agreement with Purdue Polytechnic High School that would allow a charter school to operate within South Bend’s Washington High School. There currently are two Purdue Polytechnic High Schools in Indianapolis, one that opened in 2017 in the downtown area and one that opened…

  SBCSC STUDENTS: WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?WHY ARE THEY LEAVING?  South Bend schools’ enrollment is down nearly 700 students this year, and it’s predicted that an additional 500 will leave by the Fall of 2020. The questions of where these students have gone and why they’re leaving the South Bend Community School Corporation are the topic…

DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DISPLACEMENT!BOTH A CITY ISSUE AND A COUNTY ISSUE Next meeting of the Community Forum for Economic Justice:Tuesday, September 17, 6 – 8 pmLaSalle Branch Library, 3232 Ardmore Trail, SB Featuring community activists from South Bend & St. Joseph County, who will share their stories of protecting neighborhoods against any negative effects of economic…

The Great Land RobberyThe shameful story of how 1 million black families have been ripped from their farmshttps://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/09/this-land-was-our-land/594742/ How Southern Farmers were Forced from their Land, and their Heritagehttps://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-southern-black-farmers-were-forced-from-their-land-and-their-heritage  

  Reparations: Building Community UnderstandingWednesday, August 7, 2019 from 6 – 8 pmCivil Rights Heritage Center, 1040 West Washington, South Bend The subject of Reparations for American descendants of slavery is a widely discussed topic today, calling out for national and local understanding and action.       On August 7, Dr. Darryl Heller will lay out the history…

CITIZEN SCIENTISTS ARE NEEDED TO ASSIST THE SAFE AND HEALTHY HOUSING TEAM OF SUMMER RESEARCHERS WORKING WITH THE BOWMAN CREEK EDUCATIONAL ECOSYSTEM.  We are the Safe and Healthy Housing team based in Lang Lab, the Southeast Neighborhood Headquarters of BCe2. Our project centers around testing the effectiveness of various, inexpensive cleaning techniques people can implement…

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR RURAL ST. JOSEPH COUNTY? On Tuesday, June 11th the Community Forum for Economic Justice (CFEJ) and the Open Space and Agricultural Alliance (OSAA) will host Sybil Drew, a filmmaker from Elwood, Illinois at the New Carlisle Olive Township Public Library 408 S. Bray Street, New Carlisle, Indiana 46552.  The meeting will begin…

     HHR-ACTION       DOCUMENTS “Why Your House Was So Expensive,” by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic. July 2022Download Why Your House Was So Expensive – The Atlantic “Homeowner and Rental Vacancy Rates Declined During COVID-19 Pandemic,” by Jonathan Spader, www.census.govDownload Housing Vacancy Rates Near Historic Lows “Lessons From Eviction Court,” by Fran Quigley, December…

You are invited to participate in         A CONVERSATION ABOUT REPARATIONS,Led by Dr. Darryl Heller, former Director of the Civil Rights Heritage Center,and past President of the Community Forum for Economic Justice. The idea of providing reparations for the oppression inflicted upon Black people dates back to right after the end of the Civil War.  For…

FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2019, 6PM – 9 PMCIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE CENTER9TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION HOSTED BY THE CIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE CENTER In May 2019, the CRHC celebrates nine years since the transformation of the former Engman Public Natatorium. We're gathering folks to celebrate those nine years, and to talk not only about where we've been, but where…

Important Community Service, Necessary Evil, or Just Plain Evil Tuesday April 2nd, 6:00 -7:30 PM La Salle Branch SJC Library (3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend) Panelists Dr. Judith Fox, Clinical Professor of Law, Notre Dame Law School Dr. John Hagen, Philosopher, Statistician and Social Activist Cheryl Ashe, Community Activist John Kang, CEO Jubilee Initiative…

CAN WE IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF RENTAL PROPERTIES IN SOUTH BEND? SOUTH BEND CURRENTLY OPERATES A COMPLAINT-BASED HOUSING INSPECTION SYSTEM WHEREBY TENANTS CAN CONTACT CODE ENFORCEMENT TO REPORT SUBSTANDARD HOUSING CONDITIONS — SUCH AS STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, MOLD, INFESTATION, OR A LACK OF UTILITIES. THIS MONTH, A PROPOSAL WILL COME BEFORE THE COMMON COUNCIL…

Tuesday, Nov. 20: Community Forum for Economic Justice November Meeting When: 6 PM Where: Civil Rights Heritage Center, 1040 W Washington St, South Bend, IN 46601 Discussion Topic: The Midterm Election is Over; Where Do We Go From Here? The meeting provides an opportunity to review the outcomes and experiences of the recent elections and…

  SOUTH BEND PUBLIC SCHOOLS A COMMUNITY CONCERN!    On November 6, three members of the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees will be elected by registered voters who live in School Districts 1, 2 and 5. Not all families in South Bend include children who attend schools in the South Bend Community…

VOLUNTEER FOR VITA! VITA – the VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE program provides free, electronic tax filing for low-to-moderate income taxpayers           The Community Forum for Economic Justice supports policies and activities that improve living standards and broaden opportunities for the residents of St. Joseph County.  Since 2008 we have partnered with…

  On November 6, three members of the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees will be elected by registered voters who live in School Districts 1, 2 and 5. Not all families in South Bend include children who attend schools in the South Bend Community School Corporation. But ALL residents of South Bend…

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018 6 PM, LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY Come at 5:30 pm for light snacks and a chance to socialize.   Hear & discuss the experiences of Susan Sharpe, Advisor on Restorative Justice, Center for Social Concerns, UND Kathe Streeter, Restorative Justice in Education Coordinator, Jefferson Traditional Middle School, SBCSC Isaac Hunt, Group Violence…

A public meeting sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Justice is planned for Thursday, August 23rd at the LaSalle Square Branch Library.           Come at 5:30 pm for light snacks and a chance to socialize.           The program will begin promptly at 6 pm with presentations by: Alkeyna Aldridge, Director of Engagement & Economic…

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING AN “ECONOMIC JUSTICE BOOK CLUB”?               The Community Forum for Economic Justice is organizing a book club that will read and discuss books that can deepen our understanding of issues that underlie the fight against social, economic and racial injustice.  Most of us have experienced the desire to discuss…

Thursday, June 28, 6 pm SJCPL Main Branch Library, Dickenson Room Sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Justice   TRAUMA: A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS Learn how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), traumatic experience during childhood such as abuse, neglect, and chaotic relationships, bring about an increased risk of chronic disease, mental health disorders, and early…

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE 2017 SCHOOL CORPORATION ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT?                   TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2019, 7 PM LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY (3232 Ardmore Trail, South Bend) Presentations by: Stuart Greene, Professor Emeritus of Africana Studies, UND Oletha Jones, Education Chair, SB NAACP Ruth Warren, Retired School Administrator

The issue of safe, affordable and fair housing has been a priority of the Community Forum for Economic Justice since our formation in 2006.  Our April 2018 monthly forum will preview some of the policies and practices that will be examined at the Fair Housing Conference later that week.  We’ll include documentaries about the Contract…

On April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1968 — also known as the Fair Housing Act.  The Civil Rights Act of 1968 defines housing discrimination as the “refusal to sell or rent a dwelling to any person because of his race, color, religion, or national origin.”…

Last Saturday, April 7, SBCSC Bus Drivers “overwhelmingly accepted” the tentative contract that was negotiated between AFSCME #686 and the School Corporation. It is expected that the Collective Bargaining Agreement will be approved at the next School Board meeting, scheduled for this Thursday, April 12th at 5:30 pm. We know that many of you communicated…

Dear community member,     The South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC) bus drivers need our support. SBCSC pays drivers significantly less than nearby districts (up to $5 less per hour), resulting in high turnover, low morale, and an ongoing transportation crisis where there are not enough drivers to get every kid to school on time…

  IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!           — TO EARN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA            — TO COMPLETE A GED PROGRAM   Do you have your diploma or GED? Do you know a neighbor, friend, or relative who is not a high school graduate? 40,000 residents who live within a 10-mile radius of South Bend are…

According to the Brookings Institution, states and localities spend $50 to $80 billion on tax breaks and incentives each year in the name of economic development despite a mountain of evidence showing that tax incentives produce mostly marginal returns. These traditional approaches to economic development by local governments have not benefited all populations — and,…

At its recent meeting on December 8, the Board of the Community Forum for Economic Justice elected new officers for 2018.  They are President                Darryl HellerVice-President       Regina Williams-PrestonSecretary                Linda WolfsonTreasurer               Teresa Marcy

Tuesday, Nov. 21, 7 pm, LaSalle Branch Library (3232 Ardmore Trail, SB)             The next meeting of the Community Forum for Economic Justice will focus on the need to protect neighborhoods from economic development policies that result in the displacement of residents.  Presentations by a panel of neighborhood activists will be followed by open discussion…

            The Community Forum for Economic Justice will hold a public forum on the issue of redistricting and gerrymandering.  Topics of discussion will include — how the democratic process is thwarted through the manipulation of local and federal districts that favor the party in power — various mechanisms used to suppress voter participation — the…

NEW BAIL RELIEF PROGRAM FOR ST. JOSEPH COUNTY WILL BE DISCUSSED   WHEN: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 – 7 PM WHERE: IUSB CIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE CENTER (1040 W Washington St., South Bend)         SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE   PRESENTATIONS BY: JUDGE JOHN BRODEN, St. Joseph Circuit Court KATE WILLIAMS, Exec. Administrator, Community…

      On July 22, 2016, Mayor Pete Buttigieg announced that all City employees (including part-time, seasonal, and temporary) would be paid a minimum wage of at least $10.10 an hour.          The Community Forum for Economic Justice, at its June 2017 meeting, discussed a proposal to require companies receiving tax abatements from the City of…

LEAD!  A NEGLECTED KILLER It can kill your future and even take your life.   A University of Notre Dame research team recently found that the lead poisoning of South Bend’s children is even worse than originally reported by the Indiana Health Department.  Their report identified three census tracts on South Bend’s near northwest side…

Companies Receiving Taxpayer Subsidies from South Bend Should Pay Its Employees at Least the Minimum Wage Paid to City Workers             Mayor Pete Buttigieg raised the pay of City of South Bend employees – all employees, including temporary, seasonal, and part-time workers – to at least $10.10 an hour.   The Community Forum for Economic Justice…

Are Property Tax Caps Pushing Us Off a Fiscal Cliff?   In 2008, Indiana passed property tax caps that limit an owner’s property tax burden to a fixed percentage of the property’s gross assessed value.  The full phase-in of these tax caps will take place in 2020  — an event described as a “fiscal cliff.” …

When: Tuesday, April 25, 2017 – 6 -7:30 pm Where: Community Wellness Partners (2806 LWW, SB) Sponsored by:     Community Forum for Economic Justice     Community Wellness Partners SB Infant mortality is defined as the death of a baby before his or her first birthday.  Every year, about 600 Indiana babies die before their first birthdays.  Indiana…

  What Will Happen If We Lose the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? A Moderated TOWN HALL on Health Care Invited: Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-2) Sunday April 9th 3:00PM ~ 5:00PM (doors open 2PM) Century Center, South Bend Sponsored by: Northern Indiana Community Coalition for Health Care (NICCHC) and Community Wellness Partners Download Town Hall April…

U.S. Immigration Policies Where we are, how we got here, and why it matters to all of us Join the Community Forum for Economic Justice for an update on the rapidly changing and uncertain climate around our immigration laws. Learn how local advocacy groups are responding, and hear testimonials from immigrants in our community. Tuesday,…

Making our voices heard: effective advocacy in difficult times                  During the winter of 2017, we are experiencing an upsurge in public participation in our democratic process.  We’ve seen marches, rallies, large and intense town hall meetings, on-line petitions, organized phone calls to legislators and debates on social media.  These are all part of a…

On Friday, January 20, 2017, a broad coalition of community organizers met to host a nonpartisan event, “The People’s Inauguration.”  This gathering marked a renewed commitment to social change in our community. Attendees left with concrete things we can do to promote equality, embrace difference, and resist systemic oppression.   One request needs immediate attention. …

COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICETUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2017 — 6 PMIUSB CIVIL RIGHTS HERITAGE CENTER(1040 West Washington St., South Bend) Topic: What will we lose if we lose public education?A community presentation and discussionof the importance of protecting public education. Presentations byDarryl Heller, Director of the IUSB Civil Rights Heritage Center:     The history of the…

Sunday, January 15th, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior Men’s Club is sponsoring a community luncheon at the MLK Jr. Recreation Center at 1522 Linden Avenue SB.  The speaker at the luncheon is Dr. Kenneth Spells, SBCSC Superintendent of Schools.  The program begins at 2 pm and there is no cost for the luncheon.  Monday, January 16th,…

YOU ARE INVITED   2016 HOLIDAY PARTY & POTLUCK DINNER         THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 6 PM NNN COMMUNITY CENTER, 1013 Portage, SB   Good food, great conversation, wonderful people! Plus, this year, we’re adding some musical surprises.    RSVPs are helpful, though not required.  Respond to sjc.cfed@gmail.com. We’ll provide non-alcoholic beverages.  You bring a dish…

COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE 2016 ANNUAL MEETING AND SOCIAL GATHERING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016 — 5:50 – 7 pm  LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY —3232 W Ardmore Trail, SB   Agenda: Election of the 2017 Board of Directors Presentation and discussion of the 2016 “Report to the Membership”  Suggestions for next year — Bring your ideas!   Throughout, light…

    NEW CENSUS BUREAU DATA ON POVERTY AND INCOME INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF UNITED WAYS: 2016 A.L.I.C.E. REPORT The program for our October meeting will discuss new data from both federal and state sources about poverty and income, followed by a discussion of current economic challenges faced by residents of St. Joseph County.    Economist Marty…

MAKING INFORMED CHOICES IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION A nonpartisan approach designed to provide information, promote discussion, and encourage participation in the political process.   Where: St. Augustine’s Church, 1501 W. Washington St., South BendWhen: Tuesday, September 20, 7 PM      Labor and the Economy: Dan Graff, Director of the Higgins Labor Program, University of…

MAKING INFORMED CHOICES IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION A nonpartisan approach designed to provide information, promote discussion, and encourage participation in the political process.   Where: Near Northwest Neighborhood, 1007 Portage, South Bend When: Tuesday, August 30, 7 PM Housing: Kathy Schuth, Director, Near Northwest Neighborhood     Is decent housing a right?     Is decent housing a…

MAKING INFORMED CHOICES IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION A nonpartisan approach designed to provide information, promote discussion, and encourage participation in the political process.   Where: Civil Rights Heritage Center, 1040 W Washington, South Bend When: Tuesday, June 28, 7 PM Racial Justice: Darryl Heller, Director, Civil Rights Heritage Center      Are we living in…

MAKING INFORMED CHOICES IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION A nonpartisan approach designed to provide information, promote discussion, and encourage participation in the political process.   Where: UAW Local 5 Hall, 1426 S Main St, South Bend, IN 46613 When: Tuesday, May 31, 7 PM Chair: Joe Taylor, President, UAW Local 5 Tax policy: Marty Wolfson,…

          APRIL 22, 2016 IS THE 10TH     ANNIVERSARY OF THE     FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE   On April 22, 2006, we organized the first    "COMMUNITY FORUM ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Improving our Quality of Life.”   It was a great success, bringing together activists who represented groups focusing on a variety…

GOOD HEALTH: AN ISSUE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE How healthy are residents of St. Joseph County?               WHEN: TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 2016, 7 PM             WHERE: LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY (3232 W Ardmore Trail, SB)             SPONSOR: COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE . Meet our new County Health Officer.  Dr. Luis Galup, a trained…

GOOD HEALTH: AN ISSUE OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE Part 1 – Tobacco makes money for the few but threatens the health of many A Public Forum sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Justice Tuesday, March 15th, 7 pm LaSalle Branch Library 3232 W Ardmore Trail, South Bend   Latorya Greene will discuss two…

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 7 PM  LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend   Presenter: Judy Fox Clinical Professor of Law at the Notre Dame Law School;  Director of the Notre Dame Economic Justice Clinic; Advisory board member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau & the Indiana Foreclosure Legal Assistance Program   Expert Panel…

Join us before the next School Board meeting to demonstrate our community’s concern about the Superintendent search.  We want a transparent process that respects the value of public input, removes barriers that limit it, and incorporates public input into decisions.  We strongly believe that the problems of our corporation are educational and require a superintendent…

WEST-SIDE REVITALIZATION — WHAT ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS?                 A Public Forum, sponsored by theCommunity Forum for Economic JusticeTuesday, January 19, 2016 — 7 pm — LaSalle Branch Library (3232 W Ardmore Trail, South Bend)          This program is a continuation of the community conversation that began at last October’s monthly forum. At that meeting, we…

WHAT DO NEW LABOR RULINGS   MEAN FOR AREA WORKERS?   "Richard F. Griffin Jr., the labor board’s general counsel, said a 1962 Supreme Court case — involving a spontaneous walkout because a factory was so cold — makes clear that the National Labor Relations Act protects nonunion workers, too.” (New York Times, 9/16/15) The California Labor Commissioner’s…

PUBLIC FORUM:  HOW WILL WE REVIVE OUR WEST SIDE NEIGHBORHOODS?   WHEN: Monday, October 19th, 2015, at 6 pm WHERE: LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend SPONSOR: Community Forum for Economic Justice At Monday’s meeting, – A representative of the Community Forum’s Affordable Housing Committee will summarize and critique current housing assistance programs in…

  WORKSHOP SESSION - 1:00 to 2:25 pm #1 – “Redirect the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Restorative Justice Works”  Restorative justice offers a viable alternative to the school-to-prison pipeline. This workshop will introduce participants to what restorative justice is and how it holds students accountable while keeping them in school. Participants also will have a chance to experience how restorative…

Participants for the morning panel on educational policies and practices include Indiana State Representative Gregory Porter, a representative of VOYCE (Voices of Youth in Chicago Education), Dawn Jones, a member of the South Bend School Board of Trustees, and Regina Williams- Preston, a local teacher and education activist.  The panel will address the importance of…

REGISTER NOW TO ATTEND THE    SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE FORUM Wiekamp Hall, Indiana University-South Bend    Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, 9 am to 4 pm       There is no charge to attend the program. Pre-registration is requested but not required.  Box lunches are available for $10, but should be ordered in advance. In addition, a limited number…

      EDUCATION, NOT INCARCERATION! BREAK THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE   A COMMUNITY FORUM WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, SEPT. 12th,  9 am to 4 pm,  AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY, SOUTH BEND, IN WIEKAMP HALL, Room 1001.   The School to Prison Pipeline results from practices based on zero tolerance and other school discipline policies that remove students from the classroom….

Were you unable to attend the June Community Forum meeting on "Big Ideas" on Economic Policy?" Did you attend the meeting but were disappointed that we only had time to discuss six of the  nine videos featuring economist Robert Reich?     Are you curious about the tenth “Big Idea…” — not yet available on the day we…

A COMMUNITY FORUM: BREAK THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE Saturday, September 12, 2015 — IU South Bend, Wiekamp Hall   In March, two public meetings were held to discuss what is known as the “School to Prison Pipeline.”  Over a hundred local residents attended one or both of these meetings.  Although the meetings were sponsored by…

May 17: Brown vs. Board of Education ******************************Mar 2: Re-Launching of CAFEJoin Us for the Re-Launching of CAFE(Community Action for Education)When:   Thursday, March 2, 2023Where:  Civil Rights Heritage Center 1040 W. Washington South Bend, INTime:     6:00 P.M.Please Download Cafe_Flyer3.2.2023-1 for a flyer about the event. ***************************** A Vision Statement on Racial Equity and Antiracist policies…

  When: Tuesday, June 16, at 7 PM Where: LaSalle Branch library, 3232 Ardmore Trail, South Bend   Progressive economist and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and MoveOn.org Civic Action recently launched “The Big Picture: 10 Ideas to Save the Economy.”  Ten videos, each less than 3 minutes in length are presented in Reich’s conversational and easy-to-understand style. …

Perspectives on Economic Justice from Community Forum for Economic Justice Members     Viewpoints are opinion pieces, approximately 500-1,000 words in length, that address important developments and policy issues related to economic justice, especially those that support the campaigns of the Community Forum.  Send your Viewpoints to the Community Forum at sjc.cfed@gmail.com. Viewpoints will be reviewed and…

To become a member of the Community Forum for Economic Justice, please click on this link  Or, if you prefer to use the mail, checks for membership and/or donations can be sent to Community Forum for Economic Justice P.O. Box 11082 South Bend, IN 46634    

YOU ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE WITH STATE SENATOR JOHN BRODEN AND STATE SENATOR KAREN TALLIAN IN A  COMMUNITY DISCUSSION OF THE 2015 SESSION OF THE INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY.   WHEN: THURSDAY, MAY 14, FROM 6:00 TO 7:30 PM WHERE: ST. JOSEPH COUNTY MAIN LIBRARY (304 S. Main St., SB), COLFAX AUDITORIUM (Lower Level) SPONSORED BY: THE…

YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE PROTECT IT AND USE IT!   The last municipal primary election was held in 2011. In that election, only 9% of registered voters went to the polls in St. Joseph County.     May 5 is election day for this year’s primary. – Early voting has begun. – Candidate forums &…

  WHEN: Tuesday, Marcy 31, from 6 – 8 pm.   WHERE: Charles Martin Youth Center, 802 Lincoln Way West, South Bend, 46616   The purpose of this meeting is to explore the next step or steps for resolving this important community issue.     Sponsored by       Community Forum for Economic Justice (sjc.cfed@gmail.com) and…

  IS IT HAPPENING IN SOUTH BEND?   CHILDREN SHOULD BE EDUCATED NOT INCARCERATED! A PUBLIC FORUM Sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Justice   When: Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 6 pm Where: Humphreys Room, St. Joseph County Main Library Who: A panel of educators and community members, including….   Dr. Maria McKenna, Senior…

    When: Tuesday, February 17th at 7 pm Where: LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 W Ardmore Trail, South Bend     Next Tuesday we will continue our discussion of A.L.I.C.E. — workers who are Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained yet Employed.  In St. Joseph County, 15% of households have incomes below the federal poverty guidelines, but an additional 25%…

           The Community Forum for Economic Development has changed its name to the Community Forum for Economic Justice.  The change of name was undertaken in order to better represent the concerns of the membership and the activities of the organization.  After our founding in 2006, we focused on what might be called…

WE DESERVE A FAIR SHARE OF THE PIE THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE INVITES YOUR PARTICIPATION AT OUR JANUARY PUBLIC FORUM ABOUT LOCAL WAGES AND INCOME.   A just economy provides equal opportunities for all and enables everyone to to obtain a living standard sufficient to sustain life in dignity.   What are the…

29th Annual Martin Luther King Community Service Breakfast & Day Celebration The Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation of St. Joseph County and South Bend Heritage are excited to announce plans for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Recognition Breakfast and Day Celebration. The 29th Annual Celebration will take place on Monday, January…

            The Community Forum for Economic Development has changed its name to the Community Forum for Economic Justice.  The change of name was undertaken in order to better represent the concerns of the membership and the activities of the organization.  After our founding in 2006, we focused on what might be called…

THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL SPONSOR A PUBLIC FORUM WITH SOUTH BEND SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES   Tuesday, October 21, 2014 — From 6:30 to 8 PM At Broadway Christian Parish, 1412 Carroll St.  (at the corner of Broadway and Carroll) South Bend, Indiana 46613   Quality public schools are fundamental to the economic stability…

THE MORAL MONDAYS MOVEMENT CAME TO INDIANA – HEAR WHAT HAPPENED! — Monday, September 29, 6 to 8 pm. — Main St. Library, Humphreys Room   Close to 100 people from St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties traveled by buses and cars to join with Hoosiers from across the state on Saturday, September 20. The day…

SEPTEMBER CFED MEETING TO FOCUS ON SOUTH BEND'S BUDGET PROCESS:   In May of 2013, the Community Forum sponsored a public meeting that addressed the question, "HOW DOES THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND DECIDE WHERE TO SPEND OUR MONEY?" On Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at 7 PM, we will resume the discussion at the LaSalle Branch Library (3232 W Ardmore…

THE PEOPLE'S CLIMATE MARCH WILL MEET IN NEW YORK CITY NEXT WEEKEND MICHIANA SUPPORTERS WILL GATHER IN FRONT OF THE MORRIS IN SOUTH BEND SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, FROM 4:30 TO 5:30   The largest action in support of action to address global warming, the People's Climate March, is being planned for September 21 and 22…

"Indiana has been ground zero in privatization of public resources, voter ID laws, assaults on reproductive rights, lax environmental regulations and dismantling unions." – Truth Out When are we going to stand together and say NO MORE! The Community Forum for Economic Development and the NAACP are co-hosting a meeting to discuss bringing the Moral Mondays…

JULY MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2014 — 7 PM — LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY   This will be a working meeting, focusing on three current projects.  We'll spend the first hour divided into three groups, meeting simultaneously, discussing and planning future actions concerning   1. Affordable Housing, in particular the…

THIS SATURDAY, JUNE 14, IS OPENING DAY FOR THE 2014 URBAN GARDEN MARKET   The Urban Garden Market is a farmers market, open on Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm at 2806 Lincoln Way West (LWW & Eclipse), in the parking lot of our sponsor, The St. Joseph County Minority Health Coalition.  On Wednesday…

SHIFTING AN ECONOMIC BURDEN TO AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT Tuesday, June 17, 7pm, LaSalle Branch Library (3232 W Ardmore, SB)  Presentations by Kate Williams, St. Joseph County Community Corrections Advisory Board Isaac Hunt Jr., Community Resource Advocate, Group Violence Intervention, Goodwill Industries Cheryl Ashe & Carolina Arroyo, "Ban the Box" Project                                      

MAY 20, 2014 – PUBLIC HEARING: HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEEDS OF SOUTH BEND, MISHAWAKA & ST. JOSEPH COUNTY   The Community Forum for Economic Development (CFED) is sponsoring a Public Hearing in partnership with the St. Joseph County Housing Consortium to initiate the process of developing the Consortium’s 2015-2019 Housing and Community Development (HCD)…

THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014 at 7 PM at the LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY (3232 W Ardmore Trail, SB).   April 15 is TAX DAY for 2014 — a good time to discuss the U.S. and Indiana Income Taxes.       Five members of the Community Forum's Board of…

White Like Me Join us for a simulcast and discussion of this groundbreaking documentary! Saturday, April 12, 2014 11:00 – 2:00PM (Registration at 10:30) IU South Bend 1700 W Mishawaka Ave Education & Arts Bldg. Lecture Hall Room 1011   More Information call (574) 514-9327 Register Online:  http://698filmreview.eventbrite.com

YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND  the 34th Annual McBride Lecture   Behind the Kitchen Door: Restaurant Workers & Their Struggle for Justice With Saru Jayaraman   Monday, March 24 7:30pm Hesburgh Library Auditorium, University of Notre Dame Free and Open to the Public.  Free parking is available directly east of the Library.

FAST FOR FAMILIES ACROSS AMERICA A Bus Tour for Immigration Reform and Citizenship   ARRIVING IN South Bend Monday, March 24, 2014 Rally and Press Conference 11:30 am   Community Meeting 5:30 to 7:00pm

Public forum: Michiana's Sustainable Future   Sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Development   On March 18, Dr. Mike Keen, Director of the Center for a Sustainable Future at  IU South Bend, and James Summers, CEO of the Michiana African American Chamber of Commerce, will share information on sustainability and its real impact on our…

presents   "Introducing the Future" Community Dinner   Saturday, March 15, 2014 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM Curtis Products 401 Bendix Drive. South Bend, IN 46628 (Formerly Bendix Corporation Administration Building) "Introducing the Future" is the kickoff event to build support and momentum for The Eating Well Grocery Store & Community Cafe.

    A Public Forum Is It Time to Raise the Minimum Wage?   Is it possible to live on the income from a minimum-wage job? Would raising the minimum wage increase unemployment? What bills have been introduced in the Indiana Legislature and the US Congress to raise the minimum wage?  7 pm, Tuesday, February 18, 2014…

    Housing is considered to be "affordable" if it costs less than 30% of a family's income. Does the South Bend area need more affordable housing?  If so, what can we do about it?   Public Forum on Affordable Housing 7 pm, Tuesday, January 21, 2014 LaSalle Branch Library (3232 W Ardmore Trail, SB)   Discussion…

IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY means addressing a variety of issues, including  – the health & fitness of our residents,  – equitable access to quality education, – safe and affordable housing for all, and  – the protection of our Civil Rights.   More than just talking about these issues, we need to share examples of how groups…

A REQUEST FROM THE SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY MINORITY HEALTH COALITION Dear Coalition Partner!!!! Please see the CALL FOR ACTION below to pack the halls at the Indiana Statehouse on November 19, 2013 in support of Expansion of Health Care Coverage.  Saint Joseph County Minority Health Coalition as well as statewide affiliates around the state have led the community conversation around the Affordable…

AN INVITATION FROM THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS  Lunch with the League – Professor Allert Brown-Gort on Immigration Reform Immigration Reform: Issues and Perspectives Professor Allert Brown-Gort Faculty Fellow, Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies, The University of Notre Dame Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Work and the Economy Immigration reform is one…

Here we are at the end of the produce season. October 19 is the last day for the 2013 Saturday Market on LWW and next Wednesday afternoon October 23 will be the final Market at the Western Avenue location. There still are tomatoes (red and green), onions, potatoes, all kinds of squash, pumpkins, cabbage, apples,…

The Community Forum for Economic Development Presents:  The Fight for Educational Equity A New Page in the Civil Rights Movement Tuesday, October 15, 2013 7:00 pm LaSalle Library (3232 W. Ardmore Trail, SB)   “We have deplored prejudice but tolerated economic injustice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   It’s been almost 60 years since…

    Since January 2008, the Community Forum for Economic Development has supported the United Way's "Pro$perity Building Tax Team" through VITA, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, that offers free tax preparation and e-filing for low-to-moderate-income taxpayers.  We've helped to recruit and train tax preparers and other support volunteers who have collectively built a very successful program in…

A FRONTLINE documentary, The Released, will be shown on Saturday, September 14, 2013, in the Colfax Auditorium at the Main Library, 304 South Main in downtown South Bend, from 10:30 am until noon.  The Released looks into the lives of mentally ill ex-offenders and their struggle to remain out of prison.  Following the viewing of the…

 Food for the body and food for the soul At the URBAN GARDEN MARKET this Saturday, September 14 — GOSPEL IN THE GARDEN, featuring  Gospel Artist, Bonita Mitchell Spoken word artist, Rhetorik  Gospel Artist, Jake Hughes Singer, Wendy Winters & many more Performances from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm — LOCALLY GROWN, FRESHLY PICKED, DELICIOUS…

    The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), along with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and other environmental and health officials, will be holding a public meeting on August 27 to discuss the sampling results and the recent proposal to add the Beck's Lake site to the Superfund List.       The meeting will be held on         Tuesday,…

     The Community Forum for Economic Development advocates a "community-based" approach for solving the problem of vacant and abandoned properties.  We recently completed a position paper that describes this approach, "Neighbors Saving Neighborhoods."       Central to our position is the view that "the problem we are addressing involves more than empty buildings and lots.  It concerns the…

How will the Affordable Care Act affect Hoosier families?  A presentation by Indiana State Senator John Broden Tuesday, August 20, 7 pm LaSalle Branch Library – 3232 Ardmore Trail

    The Community Forum for Economic Development is one of many community organizations that make up the Northern Indiana Coalition For Immigration Reform.  This Coalition is sponsoring a "STREET FAIR For Comprehensive Immigration Reform" on             Friday, August 16, from 2:30 to 6:30 pm             at the Jon Hunt Plaza in front of the Morris Civic Auditorium.     We urge you to…

Purdue Extension Educators Phil and Edie Sutton will be at the Urban Garden Market on Saturday, August 10th.  Phil's expertise is in home horticulture and he will answer questions about trees, lawn and garden care. Phil encourages people to bring samples of problem plants for his evaluation. He will also instruct on how to identify poison ivy, which is so prevalent this…

    JUNE MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT      TUESDAY, JUNE 25 - 7 PM – LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY (3232 W Ardmore Trail, South Bend)     On Tuesday, June 25, community members will have an opportunity to meet Shubhada Kambli, South Bend's new Director of the Department of Code Enforcement.  The discussion will focus on the role of…

THE URBAN GARDEN MARKET: WHAT'S CHANGED AND WHAT'S THE SAME? The opening date for this year's Urban Garden Market is Saturday, June 15, 2013 What's changed? We have a new location; we're moving a few blocks east — to 2806 Lincoln Way West (on the southwest corner of LWW and Eclipse). We have a new…

    The following letter was sent to Mayor Buttigieg and the Members of the South Bend Common Council on May 16, 2013:         As you know, on April 8th the Community Forum for Economic Development, in collaboration with AJ Wright workers and La Casa de Amistad, submitted a proposal to use the penalty money from AJ…

Public Meeting: "HOW DOES THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND DECIDE WHERE TO SPEND OUR MONEY?" When: Tuesday, May 21, at 7 P.M.         Where: LaSalle Branch Library (3232 W Ardmore Drive, South Bend) Sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Development and the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area.                                 …

 WORKERS ABANDONED BY AJ WRIGHT SPEAK OUT Date: April 20, 2013 Time: 4 PM Main Library, Basement 304 S. Main Street, South Bend     In early 2011, AJ Wright suddenly closed its operations in South Bend, leaving hundreds of workers jobless.     At a public meeting, AJ Wright workers will share stories of the challenges they continue…

THE APRIL MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT will provide an opportunity to continue the discussion about neighbors saving neighborhoods, a Community-Based approach to Vacant and Abandoned Housing. We'll begin with   A SPECIAL SHOWING OF A PRIZE WINNING DOCUMENTARY,   HOLDING GROUND, THE REBIRTH OF DUDLEY STREET   TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013  …

A REMINDER: ENDURING HYPOCRISY: How Felon Disenfranchisement Laws & Collateral Consequences Deny Full Citizenship Professor S. David Mitchell, Law Professor, University of Missouri Tuesday, April 9, 2013 — 7 p.m. — Eck Visitor Center — University of Notre Dame The Indianapolis Ex-Offender Re-entry Program, Presenter: Dr. Willie Jenkins Wednesday, April 10, 2013 — Noon —…

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY OFFICIALS TO DISCUSS PROPERTY TAX ISSUES Indiana property taxes provide the greatest overall income to our state, with almost all of the proceeds going to fund local government.   A public forum on Tuesday, March 19 will provide information about property taxes in St. Joseph County, answering questions about – how properties are assessed…

PIONEERS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: "BETTER HOMES OF SOUTH BEND" A PROGRAM FROM THE '50s. Followed by a discussion of how we can apply its lessons in 2013. Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 7 p.m. LaSalle Branch Library (3232 West Ardmore Trail, SB) Better Homes of South Bend (BHSB) was the first African-American-owned nonprofit organization nationwide….

$$$$  The 2013 Income Tax Season Is Now Underway!   $$$$ Since 2008, the Community Forum for Economic Development has partnered with the United Way and other local organizations to support the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), an IRS program for low-to-moderate income residents (those with gross incomes under $51,000).  Tax preparers who work with the…

SCOTT FORD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOUTH BEND'S DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, WILL BE OUR GUEST SPEAKER AT THE CFED MEETING ON TUESDAY NIGHT When – Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. Where – LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend  Sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Development     Mr. Ford will share…

The Community Forum will have an exhibit table for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebration at Century Center, on Monday, January 21.  We will have information about CFED meetings and projects, and about organizations with which we work.  It is a good time to talk with people interested in local issues.   We need volunteers to…

JOIN US ON NOVEMBER 20 FOR THE 2012 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.       Each November, elections are held for members of our Board of Directors.  This year, up to nine members of the CFED can be elected.   Current Board members whose terms will expire but who wish to remain…

The Community Forum for Economic Development will not meet in October; instead we strongly encourage all our members and supporters to attend next Tuesday's candidates forum for the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees.  It will begin at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 9, in the Kroc Center Auditorium, 900 West Western Avenue,…

Chartbook on Healthcare for the Black Population, St. Joseph County, Indiana, by John Hagen Download CHARTBOOK ON HEALTHCARE FOR BLACKS_STJOECO-CFEJ Report on the Indiana Enterprise Center by the Open Space and Agricultural Alliance Download OSAA Report 04-28-2021 Viewpoint by Heidi Beidinger-Burnett on Lead Poisoning Prevention in South Bend Link to Viewpoint in South Bend Tribune,…

Proposals from the Conversation on Poverty, Inequality and Economic Justice It was suggested at the Community Conversation on Saturday, September 15, 2012 that the Community Forum for Economic Development create a special page for Upcoming Events on its website.  This new page can be accessed from the Navigation Bar above or the page links on…

March 11: NNN hosting informational meeting on County Government From the Near Northwest Neighborhood Association: Have you hear about County government leaders making community decisions – about our health department, libraries, portage manor, and other areas that impact our community – and then wondered how it all works anyway?   The NNN, 1st United Methodist,…

Proposals from the Conversation on Poverty, Inequality and Economic Justice It was suggested at the Community Conversation on Saturday, September 15, 2012 that the Community Forum for Economic Development post Action Alerts on its website.  These Action Alerts would provide information about important ways in which community members could address issues of concern.  We have…

The updated charts, data, and source notes from the Community Forum for Economic Development: Download Updated CFED Data and Materials for 15 Sept Community Forum

Seventh Annual Community Forum on Economic Development:  A Community Conversation about POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE     The following community leaders will begin the conversation at the 7th annual Community Forum: Cheryl Ashe, Founder, Ex-offender Information & Referral Services John Broden, Indiana State Senator Dawn Chapla, Director of Labor & Financial Stability, United Way SJC Guadalupe…

….REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2012 FALL FORUM ON LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Seventh Annual Community Forum on Economic Development:  A Community Conversation about POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE On Saturday, September 15, 2012, the seventh Annual Forum on Economic Development will be held at Indiana University South Bend's Wiekamp Hall, 1700 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend.   Registration and…

This Saturday, August 11, 2012 the Urban Garden Market celebrates National Farmers Market Week with their second annual Corn Roast.     Along with the best sweet corn ever (one free ear per person), there will be a variety of exhibitors representing health care, agricultural, neighborhood, housing and other organizations plus face painting for the kids.  The…

The League of Women Voters presents a program on pro bono legal representation Have you, a family member, friend or neighbor once needed a lawyer that you could not afford?   This month's topic may provide useful information for the future. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area. Tomorrow's Program:…

The Community Forum for Economic Development will sponsor a public forum: ST. JOSEPH COUNTY'S HEALTH STATUS: WHERE WE STAND, WHY, AND WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? How healthy are we compared to other Indiana counties and what key factors influence health (education rates, income levels, and access to healthy foods and medical care)? What…

….REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2012 FALL FORUM ON LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Seventh Annual Community Forum on Economic Development:  A Community Conversation about POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE On Saturday, September 15, 2012, the seventh Annual Forum on Economic Development will be held at Indiana University South Bend's Wiekamp Hall, 1700 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend.   Registration and…

When: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 7 pm Where: LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend Sponsored by: Community Forum for Economic Development  and South Bend NAACP Branch         Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Common Councilwoman Karen White will be joining us.  Diversity Board Members have also been invited. The public is encouraged to attend…

SATURDAY, JUNE 16: OPENING URBAN GARDEN MARKET AT LASALLE SQUARE The URBAN GARDEN MARKET is an open-air Farmers Market located at 1025 N. Bendix Drive., just south of Lincoln Way West. The Market provides South Bend's West Side Community with a place to buy fresh produce, direct from producers, in a friendly and open-air environment….

Download 2022 Board members

Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 Time: 7 PM Location: LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend Speakers: Community activists Hardie Blake, Ray Turner, and Shane Peters   This meeting will discuss a program, called Blakeonomics, that uses a new systemic participation method of teaching, learning and training the poor and homeless how to…

Where:  County-City Building – Downtown South Bend When:  Saturday, April 28 at 12:00 Noon  The League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area registered 720 area high school students to vote during the League's three-month-long "No Vote, No Voice" high school voter registration program.  To encourage these new young voters to cast their first votes in the May primary…

Where: South Bend Century Center, 120 S. St. Joseph St., South Bend When: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is asking for public comments about the impact of a potential rate hike that could raise homeowners' electricity rates as much as 25%.  In addition to the event in South Bend, hearings will…

ARE "VOTE CENTERS" COMING TO ST. JOSEPH COUNTY? A PUBLIC FORUM Where: Colfax Auditorium, St. Joseph County Library, 304 South Main Street, South Bend When: Tuesday, April 17, 6 – 7:30 p.m. In 2011, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation making vote centers an option for any Indiana county.  A vote center is an election…

NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT  Tuesday March 20, 2012, 7 pm             LaSalle Branch Library (3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend)       Our special guest at this meeting will be Jim Kelly, the Notre Dame law professor who co-chairs, with Mayor Buttigieg, the newly created Vacant and Abandoned Properties Task Force….

CAN YOU HELP THIS SATURDAY (March 17) WITH THE COMMUNITY EFFORT TO REGISTER VOTERS IN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY?   Canvassing — (Organizer – Antonius Northern) The canvassers are meeting at the Natatorium (1040 W. Washington) at 10:00 am, for assignments.  All routes should take less than 1 1/2 hours, so the canvassers can be part of the flash mob planned for noon.     Media/Internet…

St. Joseph County Voter Registration Drive Underway   Last Saturday, a group of community leaders met to plan an extensive voter registration effort for St. Joseph County.  In attendance were representatives of the South Bend NAACP, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of St. Joseph County, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Senior Men's Club and a diverse group…

Reta Kopala, who passed away on March 4, 2012, was a member and loyal supporter of the Community Forum for Economic Development. We will miss her very much. In case you missed these descriptions of the many ways she enriched our community, here are the web sites of her obituary and an article by SBT…

A MESSAGE FOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The topic of January's CFED meeting is "Right to Work — More Than a Union Issue" When: January 17, 2012 at 7 PM Where: LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend This year, the Indiana General Assembly will consider a "Right to Work"…

Why does the COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE support VITA – the VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE program that provides free, electronic tax filing for low-to-moderate income taxpayers?                      The Community Forum for Economic Justice supports policies and activities that improve living standards and broaden opportunities for the residents of St. Joseph County.  Since 2008, we have…

The CFED Board of Directors sends our best wishes to all of you.  The year 2011 is drawing to a close.  We have prepared a summary of last year's programs and projects:  Download 2011 Review of CFED At our November meeting, seven Board members were reelected for two year terms: Jose Arevalo, Hardie Blake, Tony…

ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WILL JOIN WITH SIX OTHER MICHIANA ORGANIZATIONS TO SPONSOR: The Jobs Crisis & The Threat to Our Living Standards WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED: What caused this economic crisis? Is President Obama's jobs plan what we need? Can jobs be created for the long-term unemployed and…

THERE'LL BE MUSIC THIS SATURDAY AT THE URBAN GARDEN MARKET… From 10 a.m. until Noon, Kathleen Jewel and her friend Linda Hulse will play dulcimer duets. The market opens at 9 a.m and closes at 1 p.m.  Plenty of time to shop for vegetables, fruit, baked treats or barbecue and more — including pumpkins and…

UTILITY COSTS: HARD TIMES MAY GET HARDER FOR INDIANA RESIDENTS!   Residential electric bills may increase by 22.7% for Indiana residents if I & M is granted a rate increase by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.  Meanwhile, the Energy Assistance Program could lose up to 50% of its federal funding, drastically cutting heating assistance for…

1. This week at the Urban Garden Market -  Only three more Market Saturdays for the season!  Lynn Joyce will be making beignets this Saturday, Jim will have plenty of pulled pork, and the Butternut Squash Community Garden will have a special: "$1. off for a package of six" squash, easy to store for winter…

1. Business Planning Workshop When: Saturday, October 1, 2011 — from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Where: Sample Street Business Complex, 3702 W. Sample St. Suite 106, SB IN 46619 Sponsored by: The Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame       Michiana African American Chamber of Commerce…

September meeting of the Community Forum for Economic Development                 Tuesday, September 20, 2011         7 p.m., LaSalle Branch Library (2323 Ardmore Trail, SB)   The focus for the September meeting will be "Right to Work" legislation – what does it mean, how has it been used against the labor movement, its effect on economic…

The Community Forum for Economic Development encourages you to participate in the local VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Program. This is the fourth year that the Community Forum will join with the United Way of St. Joseph County and other community organizations and individuals to prepare free, electronically filed, tax returns for local working families….

RAIN OR SHINE — CELEBRATE NATIONAL FARMERS MARKET WEEK AT THE URBAN GARDEN MARKET SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Corn Roast —- Live music —- Information —- Fresh produce, Baked Goods, and home-made crafts Sample fresh roasted local corn donated and prepared by our regular vendors (free, but quantities limited) Enjoy…

NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (TUESDAY, AUGUST 16) TO DISCUSS THE MINORITY AND WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE DIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM On April 11, 2011 South Bend's Municipal Code was amended to include a Minority and Women Business Enterprise Diversity Development Program.  Ordinance 10081-11 replaced a 1987 ordinance addressing equal opportunity for minorities…

The Coming and Going of A.J.Wright Panel participants include:  Don Inks, South Bend Community and Economic Development Oliver Davis, South Bend Common Council Rebecca Ruvalcaba, La Casa de Amistad 7 p.m. – Marycrest Building, 2015 West Western Ave. South Bend Third floor, La Casa de Amistad meeting room (parking available on both the east and…

LUNCH WITH THE LEAGUE – Friday, June 10 at Noon "The Conflict Between the Federal Government and Indiana Over the Use of Medicaid Funds" Speaker: Ellyn Stecker, M.D., feminist family physician, member of the Board of PPIN   When: Friday, June 10, 2011; Speaker at Noon, come as early as 11:30 to purchase lunch. Where:…

Currently scheduled for a public hearing and Council vote is the revised Bill 25-10, supported by the Community Forum for Economic Development and other member organizations of the Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement. We strongly encourage you to attend the Council meeting (Monday, June 13, 7 PM at the County-City Building) and participate in the…

COMMUNITY MEETING: "PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE: HOW WILL GOVERNMENT CUT-BACKS AFFECT YOU?" Proposals in the 2011-12 Federal and Indiana State Budgets could have a significant impact on programs and services that affect the quality of life in our community.  The Financial Stability Committee of the United Way of St. Joseph County is sponsoring a special…

The League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area, with others, is sponsoring the following candidate debates in April: Saturday, April 9, 2:00 – 3:30 pm – SOUTH BEND DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL PRIMARY CANDIDATES, 1001 Wiekamp Hall, IU South Bend Sunday, April 10, 2:00 – 4:00 pm – SOUTH BEND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CANDIDATES FOR COUNCIL…

    The Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement asked all candidates for election in the May 2011 election to answer a questionnaire about tax abatement:  Download Tax Abatement Questionnaire South Bend Download Tax Abatement Questionnaire Mishawaka     Here are the candidates' responses: Download Candidates responses South Bend          Download Candidates responses Mishawaka     Some candidates supplemented their…

The topic for discussion: How will the 2011 Indiana Legislative Assembly Impact Economic Opportunities in St. Joseph County? The issues: collective bargaining rights for teachers and other public employees, school vouchers and the expansion of charter schools, project labor agreements and prevailing wage for public construction, "right to work" — what does it mean and what…

Sixth Annual Community Forum on Economic Development: THE 2011 INDIANA LEGISLATIVE SESSION  How will it impact economic opportunities in St. Joseph County? How will it affect workers and unions?   How will it affect public education? Saturday, March 26, is the date of this year's Community Forum on Economic Development. The event will be held…

1. The Justice Education Program at Saint Mary's College is sponsoring a panel discussion to look at the mounting protests throughout the state of Wisconsin and  spreading to Indiana and elsewhere — on issues affecting working people, including their right to organize unions and make a living wage. When: Monday, February 28 at 4 pm Where: Saint…

1. The next PECC Training Program for parents will begin on Monday, February 21, with weekly Monday meetings from Feb. 21 through March 28.  Each session is from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the Charles Martin Youth Center, 802 Lincolnway West, SB Refreshments provided.   RSVP at 574-289-1066 Ext. 205.     The goals of PECC…

…..REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2011 SPRING FORUM….. Sixth Annual Community Forum on Economic Development: WHAT PRIORITIES SHOULD GUIDE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? Residents of St. Joseph County testify about the economic needs of our community               On Saturday, March 26, the Sixth Annual Forum on Economic Development will be held at Indiana University South Bend's…

SOUTH BEND'S URBAN ENTERPRISE ZONE IS A TOPIC OF A PUBLIC MEETING, SPONSORED BY THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT… TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 7 PM LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY (3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend) Presentations from: Pam Meyer, Director of the Urban Enterprise Association Phil Damico, Chairman of the Urban Enterprise Association Oliver Davis, SB…

Film screening: "Inside Job" — a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Thursday, February 10, 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM University of Notre Dame's Debartolo…

April 4: Download Substitute Bill 86-10 March 7: A legal opinion, written in 1991, on why the City of South Bend’s affirmative action law is unconsitutional.  Download Legal opinion on SB Affirmative Action Law 1991 Jan 31: A revised version of bill 86-10 has been submitted, which is much clearer and indicates how the City’s…

Jan 31: South Bend Council holds public meeting on affirmative action. The South Bend Common Council's Community and Economic Development Committee will hold a public meeting on Bill 86 – 10, a proposed revision of the City's Affirmative Action Ordinance. The meeting will take place on Monday, January 31, 2011, from 5 – 6 PM,…

When: Thursday, January 27, 5:30 PM Where: Charles Black Center, 3419 W. Washington Street, South Bend     The South Bend Common Council is considering a revision of the city’s Affirmative Action Ordinance (bill 86-10).  The Community Forum for Economic Development encourages community wide discussion of the proposal to ensure that any changes made are in the best…

A "Little Taste of Peace" celebration, in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will be held on Saturday January 15, 2011, from 6:30PM to 9:15PM at the First Unitarian Church of South Bend, at the corner of Jefferson and Eddy Streets.  Download Little Taste of Peace flyer Jan 2011

25th Martin Luther King Community Service Breakfast & Day of Celebration   The Martin Luther King Jr. Foundation and South Bend Heritage Foundation are excited to announce plans for the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Recognition Breakfast and day long Holiday Celebration. The 25th Annual Celebration will take place on Monday, January 17, 2011 and is…

NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT "AN UPDATE ON THE REDEVELOPMENT OF LASALLE SQUARE" When: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 7 PM Where: LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 West Ardmore Trail, South Bend  A presentation by Jeff Gibney, Executive Director of the Department of Community & Economic Development, City of South Bend Some background for…

This holiday season, the newly formed Michiana African-American Chamber of Commerce (MAACC) are providing a location for micro-entrepreneurs to sell their merchandise.  MAACC opened the Center City Holiday Market with 10 vendors selling a variety of items.  Plan to visit the…. Center City Holiday Market Center City Place 229 South Michigan Street South Bend, Indiana…

International Human Rights Day in Michiana Links Economy with Human RightsDate: Saturday, December 11, 2010, 1:00PM-3:00PMLocation: IU-South Bend’s Civil Rights Heritage Center, Indiana University at South Bend, 1040 W. Washington St.Contacts:  Joe Carbone, Jobs with Justice:   574-292-8137.Jackie Smith, Michiana Social Forum: 574-631-2640; 574-233-3928

SJC Bridges Out of Poverty  presents Unnatural Causes,  a PBS film series about the health of your community, your workplace, your neighborhood and your schools Episode 1, "In Sickness and in Wealth" Thursday, December 2, 6 – 8 PM LaSalle Branch Library In Spring 2011, in partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, SJC Bridges Out…

Tuesday November 16, 6 – 8 PM    LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 Ardmore Trail, SB We'll combine business and pleasure at our 2010 Annual Meeting, including – The election of new members to the CFED Board of Directors, – The most recent information on CFED projects, – A celebration of the successful community effort to…

On November 4, the Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement introduced a revision to tax abatement bill 25-10.  This revision merged the best parts of bill 61-10 (introduced by Pat McMahon of Project Future) into bill 25-10, while still retaining the five principles the Coalition thinks need to be included in any tax abatement bill. Read…

1. Broadway Pizza Party: All the Pizza You Can Eat.   Come and eat pizza and help us raise the funds to keep our meal ministry open.  We serve 600 meals a week to people who need it the most.  Where:  Broadway Christian Parish, 1412 S. Carroll St., South Bend, IN 4613. When:  Saturday, October 30th, 2010, between…

The Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement recognizes that members of the South Bend Common Council have expressed an interest in putting together the best of Bills 25-10 and 61-10, alternative proposals for a revised tax abatement ordinance.  They will actively participate in good faith in discussions to achieve that objective.  At the same time, they…

1. You are invited to a Book Talk and signing: Where: The Civil Rights Heritage Center at the Natatorium, 1040 West Washington St. South Bend When: Tuesday, October 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM, Who: Katherine O'Dell, author of Our Day: Race Relations and Public Accommodations in South Bend The event is free but seating is limited.  …

    The LaSalle Branch Library is safe — at least until mid-2011, when the 2011 mid-year tax distribution will provide a clearer picture of the effects of the property tax caps and the new Local Option Income Taxes.  A recommendation to keep the LaSalle Branch open will be made to the Members of the Library Board…

1. October 18 through 23 is MONEY SMART WEEK. Two programs are planned for South Bend. –  Retirement Confusion? Get the Answers! When: Wednesday, October 20, 6 – 8 PM Where: United Way of St. Joseph County, 3517 E. Jefferson Blvd, South Bend Who: Presentation by 1st Source Bank Sponsored by: United Way of St….

1. This week at the URBAN GARDEN MARKET: The Urban Garden Market will remain open on Saturday mornings through October 23.  Visit us this Saturday to buy fresh fall produce, homemade baked goods, and delicious barbecue for footfall viewing.  Purdue Extension Agents Phil and Edie Sutton will visit once again.  Phil will answer your questions…

1. This week at the URBAN GARDEN MARKET: Something for almost everyone!   Fall fruits and vegetables in abundance. Bar-b-q, homemade bread and cookies, beignets and pastries, pumpkins and gourds and more.  There will be two special events this Saturday. In support of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Women in Touch, an outreach of Memorial Hospital to…

1. This week at the URBAN GARDEN MARKET: In addition to the fresh produce, home-made baked goods, barbecue, etc. two special events are scheduled for the this week's Market.  Michele Boone from LaPaz will provide musical entertainment.  Ms Boone writes folk music and will perform her own vocal and guitar compositions.  She will be performing from 10:00am…

1. Public Forum on Property Tax Cap Amendment What: Public Forum with Senator John Broden An open discussion about the history, purpose, and likely consequences of the proposed tax cap amendment. When: Tuesday, September 21, 6:30-8:00 pm Where: Indiana University South Bend Student Activities Center, Room 225   Sponsored by: American Democracy Project, Indiana University South Bend Community…

 Public Forum on Public Question 1  Indiana Property Tax Cap Amendment A conversation with Senator John Broden   The Referendum: The Indiana Property Tax Cap Amendment will appear on the November 2, 2010 ballot in the state of Indiana as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. The measure, if enacted by a simple majority of Indiana voters, will add property tax caps to…

1. This week at the URBAN GARDEN MARKET: Something for almost everyone!   Fall fruits and vegetables in abundance. Fresh, local, delicious.  Last weeks ribs and barbecued chicken were a great hit and Jimmy Mac will be back this week with great football game food for sale.  Word has it that Wendy, our "cookie-lady" will…

FOLLOW-UP MEETING TUESDAY, SEPT. 14, 7 PM, LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY The meeting next Tuesday will follow the regular meeting on the Lincoln Way West Gateway Neighborhood Association.  In addition to receiving an update on a variety of community initiatives that are already underway, we'll discuss future plans to keep the LaSalle Branch open.   The…

1. This week at the URBAN GARDEN MARKET: As you make your plans for this holiday weekend, consider a visit to the Urban Garden Market to stock up on fresh local produce for your picnic or tailgate party.  The Market is open between 9 and 1 on Saturday mornings through October 2.  Vendors provide a…

The Community Forum for Economic Development supports policies and activities that improve living standards and broaden opportunities for the residents of St. Joseph County.  For the last three years, we have partnered with the United Way and other local organizations to support the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), an IRS program serving low- to moderate-income…

1. This week at the URBAN GARDEN MARKET: At the Urban Garden Market, you can buy fresh produce direct from producers in a friendly, open-air environment. The Market also provides an opportunity for backyard gardeners and small farmers to sell their crops to our local community.  If your tomato or zucchini plants have produced more…

The Community Forum for Economic Development once again will partner with the Internal Revenue Service, the United Way of St. Joseph County, and two dozen other institutions, organizations and agencies that form the Tri-County Tax Team, a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA).  VITA is the IRS-certified program that prepares and e-files tax returns free…

From the Michiana Social Forum: You are invited to attend an event next Thursday August 26 to mark the end of summer and to hear stories from the youth and students and others who attended the historic US Social Forum in Detroit this past June.  Nearly 20,000 activists gathered in Detroit for five energetic and…

LaSalle Library still needs our help: Download Library appeal Feb 2011 Text of Recommendation to keep LaSalle Library Open  Download LAS_Recommendation_10-25-10 WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE THE LIBRARY UPDATE – 9/30 September Library Board meeting The room was overfilled; a small number of latecomers left because there was no more room.  The public was there to oppose…

Tuesday, August 17 — 7 PM — LaSalle Branch Library, 3232 W. Ardmore Trail, South Bend Focus for discussion: WHY DOES THE PROPOSED TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE HAVE BROAD COMMUNITY SUPPORT? Currently, fifteen community organizations make up the Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement: Community Forum for Economic DevelopmentLaSalle Park Neighborhood AssociationLeague of Women Voters of the…

On July 20th, about 65 community residents gathered at the Charles Martin Center to share ideas and information and to develop plans to save the LaSalle Branch Library.  A decline in revenues for the St. Joseph County Public Libraries has led to a proposal by Library Director Napoli to close the LaSalle Branch Library so…

MAIL: Community Forum for Economic Justice P. O. Box 11082 South Bend, IN 46634   EMAIL: sjc.cfed@gmail.com      

1. This week at the Urban Garden Market: At the Urban Garden Market, you can buy fresh produce direct from producers in a friendly, open-air environment. The Market also provides an opportunity for backyard gardeners and small farmers to sell their crops to our local community.  If your tomato or zucchini plants have produced more…

1. Featured this week at the Urban Garden Market: Stormy weather forced the cancellation of last Saturday's “hoopJAM” at the Urban Garden Market, but we'll have a second chance next Saturday, July 31st from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. A hoopJAM spontaneously occurs when a large number of hula hoops arrive at any given location.  Hula hoop dance is fast…

1. Featured this week at the Urban Garden Market:When:  Saturday, July 24th (also Saturday, July 31st)            10:00 am to 1:00 pm  ___________________Remember the fun of the old hulla hoop?  Kids of all ages still love them. Come join in a “hoopJAM” at the Urban Garden Market the next two Saturdays (July 24th & 31st) from…

On Saturday, July 17, the Urban Garden Market will feature … New vendors, including "Dizzy Dogs" (hot dogs) and Marigolds (fresh flowers and potted herbs), … Bags of "Sustainable Greens" for sale at the Urban Garden Market table, … Our regular vendors with loads of delicious, freshly picked produce and a wide variety of home-made…

A Public Meeting sponsored by the Lincoln Way West Gateway Association, in cooperation with the Community Forum for Economic Development. TUESDAY, JULY 20 6:30 – 8 PM CHARLES MARTIN CENTER (914 Lincoln Way West, South Bend) This meeting will provide community organizations and individuals with an update on current efforts underway and an opportunity to…

A new page has been added to the Community Forum web site.  See the page on Tax Abatement Documents in the right-hand column.  There you will find the complete text of Bill 25-10, the tax abatement proposal sent to the South Bend Common Council on May 19th by Mayor Luecke (with the support of six…

2014: COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JULY 28, 2014: COMMUNITY FORUM INTRODUCES PROPOSAL FOR RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION TAX ABATEMENT     The Community Forum for Economic Development proposed to the South Bend Common Council a new tax abatement that would help sustain communities in need, while at the same time being responsible to taxpayers.  It would provide…

South Bend Tax Abatement Ordinance Members of the Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement met on Thursday, July 1, to further develop plans for supporting the passage of Bill 25-10, an ordinance that would amend the current South Bend Tax Abatement Ordinance.  This Bill is scheduled for a public hearing and vote at the August 9th meeting of…

Sharp debate and lively discussion characterized the Community Forum's June 15th meeting, when residents from South Bend's West Side, especially from the neighborhoods surrounding LaSalle Square, were joined by supporters from throughout the County in an effort to save the LaSalle Branch Library.   A number of key issues were addressed.  Underlying the controversial proposal…

    The South Bend Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee met on Tuesday, June 8, to discuss the proposed tax abatement ordinance.  The Committee heard a presentation on the ordinance by Mayor Steve Luecke.  It also heard from representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Project Future, who asked the Council to postpone formal action…

Here are ways you can get involved in improving our community…. BUY A PLANT; SUPPORT THE UNITY GARDENS. Friday, June 4th (5 pm to 8 pm) & Saturday, June 5th (8 am to noon) - Unity Gardens Plant Sale at the Junk Evolution, 528 East Colfax St., South Bend.  Buy Tomatoes & Peppers, Perennials & Herbs….

The South Bend Common Council held a first reading for bill 25-10, which revises South Bend's tax abatement ordinance, on May 24, 2010.  Council member Tim Rouse announced that the bill was assigned to the Community and Economic Development Committee of the Council and that he anticipated a public hearing and vote on the bill…

            Tax abatement reform comes to South Bend.  An ordinance very similar to the one passed by the St. Joseph County Council last year will now be considered by the South Bend Common Council.   Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement             The ordinance before the Council is supported by the Coalition for Responsible Tax Abatement,…

The ST. JOSEPH COUNTY KROC CENTER will be the focus of a May 18 public meeting sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Development. Ground soon will be broken for the construction of the St. Joseph County Kroc Center, to be located at the existing Alonzo Watson Park at Western Avenue and Chapin St. The…

FIFTH ANNUAL COMMUNITY FORUM ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE        Saturday, March 27, 2010       9 am to 4 pm         IU South Bend, Wiekamp Hall 1001 There is no registration fee but advance registration is requested so that an adequate number of lunches can be ordered.  The cost of the lunch is $6…

REGISTER NOW FOR THE FIFTH ANNUAL         COMMUNITY FORUM ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE        Saturday, March 27, 2010       9 am to 4 pm         IU South Bend, Weikamp Hall 1001 There is no registration fee but advance registration is requested so that an adequate number of lunches can be ordered.  The…

The following article was posted on March 10th WSBT Website. A good public transportation system is critical for successful economic development.  It is true that the budgets of public institutions have been impacted by current economic conditions, as have the budgets of individuals and families.  The question is how these budget problems should be addressed….

Thursday, March 18, 2010 The March Evening with the League program will feature Anthony Hunt, station manager of WVPE, who will discuss how the media impacts public opinion. Sufficient Grounds Cafe (711 W. McKinley Avenue, Mishawaka)5:30 PM Event is free and open to the public. Friday, March 12, 2010 The March Lunch with the League…

The Fifth Annual Community Forum on Economic Development is less than three weeks away,on Saturday, March 27, from 9 AM to 4 PM, at IU South Bend, Wiekamp Hall 1001We need your help in preparing for another successful event.

 IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE        Saturday, March 27, 2010       9 am to 4 pm         IU South Bend, Weikamp Hall 1001 The opening speaker for this year's Forum will be Marty Wolfson, an economist from the University of Notre Dame.  His presentation will address the issue of equity and economic policy, in particular how…

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16,  7 PM LASALLE BRANCH LIBRARY (3232 West Ardmore) In addition to updates on CFED projects and activities, there will be three short presentations, each followed by a discussion, on the following issues: 1) A THREAT TO OUR URBAN BOUNDARY …. Do you oppose urban sprawl?  Is local food production an important issue…

from the League of Women Voters….. Lunch with the League Presents Jeff Gibney, Executive Director, Department of Community and Economic Development, City of South Bend  Making Plans for the College Football Hall of Fame Space – What are the Steps?  Who has Input?  Includes a discussion of Tax Incremental Financing (TIF). Friday, February 12, 2010 South Bend Chocolate Café 122 S. Michigan St., South…

WANTED! We need your support and participation in on-going activities of the Community Forum.  Here are some of the ways you can help. 1. The planning committee for the 2010 Spring Forum has been formed.  This year will be our Fifth Annual Forum, once again held at IU South Bend's Weikamp Hall, on Saturday March 27,…

NEXT MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A public forum: WHAT'S BEING PLANNED FOR DOWN TOWN SOUTH BEND? Speaker – Jeff Gibney, Executive Director of South Bend's Department of Community and Economic Development When: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 7 p.m. Where: Temple Beth-El — Enter from the Temple Beth-El parking lot at…

"A Little Taste of Peace" — Saturday, January 16, 2010 Each year the South Bend Human Rights Commission and other community organizations sponsor an evening in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday.  The Community Forum is one of the sponsors of this event and you are encouraged to attend and participate in a…

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15 6 – 8 PM M.R. FALCONS, 3213 KELLER ST. SOUTH BEND  (at the corner of Keller and Bendix Drive) Please bring an appetizer, snack or desert to share. Soft drinks and water will be provided. A cash bar is available for other beverages. This is a time to put serious issues aside…

* Hope for the Working Poor – Kim Bobo speaks at UND Dec. 6* International Human Rights Day – Health Care is a Human Right! Dec. 10* Lunch with the League – Mayors Leucke and Rea discuss local use of stimulus money Dec. 11 *****************************************************************

November meeting of the Community Forum for Economic Development Tuesday, November 17, 7 PM, LaSalle Branch Library (3232 West Ardmore Trail) The Membership meeting will begin promptly at 7.  CFED members will be asked to approve the By-Laws of the newly incorporated Community Forum for Economic Development of St. Joseph County, Inc. and to elect…

From the South Bend League of Women Voters…… Lunch with the League Friday, November 13, South Bend Chocolate Cafe (122 S. Michigan St.) As part of its American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 Series,  State Senator John Broden: "ARRA 2009: The State Level" Speaker begins at 12:00 noon.  Come as early as 11:30 A.M….

NEW INFORMATION ON OCTOBER 20 FORUM: "WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING?" The Community Forum for Economic Development will sponsor a public forum on stimulus spending in St. Joseph County, on October 20, 2009, at 7 PM. The location of this forum has been changed to M.R.Falcons, 3213 Keller St. South Bend (at the corner of Keller…

WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING? A PUBLIC FORUM ON STIMULUS SPENDING IN ST. JOSEPH COUNTY Tuesday, October 20, 7 pm, LaSalle Branch Library, sponsored by the Community Forum for Economic Development Mark your calendar and watch for additional information about this event. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by Congress and signed into law…

From the League of Women Voters ….. "9/11 – The 8th Anniversary – Are We Safer Now?" Lunch with the League – Friday September 11, 2009 At the South Bend Chocolate Cafe, 122 S. Michigan St., South Bend Guest Speaker: Dan Lindley, Associate Professor of Political Science, Univ. of Notre Dame Speaker begins at 12:00…

"HOLDING GROUND, The Rebirth of Dudley Street" will be shown on Tuesday, June 16, at 7 PM, in the Dickinson Room of the St. Joseph County Library (304 S Main, SB). This 1997 documentary tells the inspiring story of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and shows how members of one Boston neighborhood were able to…

Members of IBEW Local 153 are questioning why an out-of-town electrical contractor who does not adhere to South Bend's standards for wages and benefits was chosen over local union electrical contractors who purchase supplies and pay taxes in South Bend.  Local union electricians spend their wages and pay their taxes locally.  Members of Carpenters Local…

    On Tuesday, May 13, The St. Joseph County Council overrode a veto by the County Commissioners and passed Ordinance 24-09, which provides responsible standards for tax abatements.Download Ordinance 24-09Download Summary Ordinance 24-09Download Sbt.09.0513.St Joseph County Council overrides tax abatement veto

On Tuesday, April 14th, the St. Joseph County Council will decide whether to override the veto, by County Commissioners, of Bill 90-08 (now know as ordinance 24-09).  This ordinance establishes responsible standards for the granting of tax abatements to businesses in St. Joseph County.  Bill 90-08 was adopted by the County Council on March 17,…

COMMUNITY FORUM ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT — IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE  Saturday, April 18, 2009                9 am to 4 pm         IU South Bend, Wiekamp Hall 1001 To register, contact sjc.cfed@gmail.com or leave a telephone message for the Community Forum for Economic Development at 574-287-3834. Download black and white flyer: Download CF flyer 2009 bw final…

On March 17, the St. Joseph County Council passed bill 90-08, a tax abatement ordinance that is supported by the Community Forum for Economic Development.  Many of you actively supported the bill, attended the Council meeting, and testified at the public hearing.  The Council, by passing bill 90-08, significantly improved the tax abatement process in…

At a special meeting on Tuesday, March 17th, the St. Joseph County Council will hold a public hearing and final vote on bill 90-08, which establishes responsible criteria for the granting of tax abatements in the County.

The February membership meeting of the Community Forum for Economics Development will be held on Tuesday, February 17th, at 7 PM at the Charles Black Center (3419 W. Washington Street).

Because of Presidential Inauguration activities, the January meeting of the Community Forum for Economic Development has been postponed and is now scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, from 7 – 9 p.m.

SAVE THE DATE!! Our Fourth Annual Community Forum on Economic Development has been scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2009, at Indiana University South Bend. To participate on the planning committee, contact Paula Johnson at paulajjhn@aol.com.