Transcript: Dover Human Relations Commission Meeting

Meeting Leader

It's 6:00, we want to go ahead and get started with our evening. We do have some things to cover, so we will get started more sooner than later. So, first we have our open forum and we want to allow 10 minutes. That's what it says, 10 minutes, but we usually allow them to go ahead and take not as long as they need to, but I'm sure it goes past 10 minutes. We won't worry about the 10 minutes, but we are going to oh start with the open forum, and we're going to go ahead and get started. Do we have our our sign-in sheet?

Female Testing

Testing. Testing, testing.

Meeting Leader

Right now we have, I have the sign-in sheet, Commissioner Faust.

Meeting Leader

You can come up. You can come up and sign it. Okay.

Meeting Leader

We have right now we have four folks on the on the sign-in sheet: Bonnie Pennington, Anthony Williams, Sister Wanda Smack—

Vonda Smack

I don't have anything to give. I thought we was supposed to sign in.

Meeting Leader

It's all right. And we have Brother Amari Muhammad. And it's all good. We're going to hear a small presentation from the the Coalition of Dover, which includes Sister Wanda Smack and Brother Amari Muhammad. Before then, I just wanted to let you know the first person was Bonnie Pennington, and she did agree to allow the coalition to go first. Then we'll hear from Bonnie Pennington and we will hear from Mr. Anthony Williams during our old and new business portion of the meeting, okay? Just to let you all know. So we want to go ahead and open up our open forum, and we're going to allow the Coalition of Dover to come and give their presentation.

Vonda Smack

The clerk said she'll be back, but I'm going to go ahead and get started, okay?

Meeting Leader

Okay. Yes.

Vonda Smack

And we can all follow through.

Vonda Smack

How you doing? My name is Vonda Smack. I'm a community organizer and activist here in the city of Dover, been doing it a long time. When El-Nour 35 became a staple in our community, it was my space to go after chemo appointments, getting educated on some natural stuff to help me while I'm fighting. And as I started speaking with Brother Amari, I noticed that we had a lot in common that we wanted for our community, him and Enrico. And so we came up with this idea, cuz we know a lot of organizations within our community, we should come up with something called the Coalition of Dover because we all, you know, agree on a lot of the same things that we want to see in our community so that it can thrive, especially our marginalized communities. And so this is how we got the Coalition of Dover. All right? So we are a community-led solutions and people-powered

Public Commenter

action, um, organization. Uh, we work together to make Dover a safe and decent and thriving place to live. And we do it one street at a time. That's how we do it. Um, what, some of our things that we like, um, is house, that we really fight for is housing, healing, um, opportunity, and care. We see the pain on our community's faces. A lot of our community members do not know how to deal with this economy that we are in now. They don't know the resources to go to, to go get food, get help with the, a bill, and sometimes it drives them to other things that they've never done, which you all know, which could be drug addiction, could be drinking, could be going to steal something from the grocery store. So, a lot of what we've done doing in this, what, past nine months has really been mentoring some of our people in the community.

Public Commenter

We've had to change up our trajectory a little bit and really talk to our people and let them get it out so that they aren't committing crimes, aren't can't going to drugs, or alcohol, whatsoever. So, we're built from the community, not around it. Coalition of Dover is a community-led alliance of residents, community leaders, faith leaders, advocates, nonprofits, uh, volunteers, and business owners. And we even have social clubs and motorcycle clubs who came on after we got started, and they saw what we were doing, who wanted to be a part. So, our volunteers went up, uh, from 10 to 30 within, uh, what, one month?

Omari

Yes.

Public Commenter

One month. And we're still growing as is. Um, we believe that real safety comes from housing, healing, opportunity, and care, not punishment or displacement. That's one of the things that we strive on. I wanted to let you know what our mission and vision statement is. Um, our mission statement is to advance community-driven solutions that address the root causes of instability and harm. We definitely, definitely, definitely, uh, that is our mission. That's what we lead with. And, uh, we don't want to be forcing nobody to do anything they don't want to do. We advocate for equi- uh, equitable ac- access to affordable housing, behavior and mental healthcare. And we also, uh, youth and community centers, homelessness services, substance use recovery, support for single mothers, and reentry servi- uh, resources for returning citizens. Uh, the returning citizens is a big piece that Omari works on, has been working on for many a years. I mean, you come to some of our meetings, he may he may share with you his story, but he does a lot with returning citizens. If you ever heard of Hometown Chosen Ones, which is a big nonprofit all throughout Delaware, that's this guy here. Yep. And so, through collaboration, accountability, and people-powered actions, we work to strengthen neighborhoods and protect dignity, like we said, one street at a time. Some of our core values, um, are people most impacted lead, equity over optics, safety through investment,

Public Commenter

faith, culture, and collective care, accountability with compassion, community before profit, and solutions rooted in lived experiences. A lot of um people who are part of the Coalition Dover, a lot of our volunteers are people with lived experiences who are already trained to tell their lived experience to help someone else. Um we don't take a lot of pictures and videos of that, we're not that type of coalition, we do this work on the ground. But I am here to testify that I have seen people share their lived experience that has gotten people off drugs, it's gotten people off the streets, gotten them into job, uh a job and workforce development. And the thing about the mentoring is they just don't talk one time, they follow up and they have one-on-ones to make sure they're staying on task.

Public Commenter

So, just a community snapshot about us, to let you know what we do: we have 17 coalition partners, roughly about 32-plus volunteers and growing. We meet every fourth Thursday of the month for our meeting at Out North 35, and that meeting is at 7:00?

Unidentified Male

6:00 to 7:00.

Public Commenter

Oh, six- 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., excuse me. And um members, you know, I I'm going to keep it real about our coalition, our members, people part of it, we all donate something. We do it off our back. We don't get no grants, we don't nobody donates to us. And then he has a donation jar in the store of Out North, so whoever comes and shop, they put donations in so that we can keep the work that we're doing. Okay? Um our committees that we have: we have the Affordable and Stable Housing, we have Youth and Community Centers. We have someone working on that, that what we need a community center in Dover, so they're doing some research now. Substance Use and Recovery, Reentry and Returning uh Services, uh Returning uh Citizen Services. We also have someone who's running our Behavioral and Mental Health, Homelessness Support, Support for Single Mothers and Families, and we have someone uh we just got someone who's doing our Fundraising and Development, helping us come up with ideas for that so that we can get some funds in to continue some of the other work we want to do. So how we work: we listen, we center residents, or we center residents and people who are directly impact, we organize, we come back, we build committees, we volunteer, and we share ownership. If you are the manager of that and you need help, just reach out, we'll find volunteers, or someone from another committee or another partner will come and help you with it so that we can win. We connect, we link peoples to services and trusted partners. We act, which is to deliver community projects, and we advocate for solutions. And lastly, we build. I talk about Coalition Dover every day. If y'all really know me, I be inviting people. "Y'all try and come to one of our meetings." And that's the only way that we're going to grow and be a force out here in Dover so that we can continue. And I just wanted to share some of our community action in motion. Uh we haven't even been a year yet, and this is some of the events

Speaker 1

events that we have been doing. Ex-Prisoner Lobby Day, they invited us to come and be a part of it, to speak to legislators, and to also tell them about the Coalition of Dover. We helped out with cleanup day. We had to feed the hungry, where we worked with the uh the two uh social clubs that were there. It was two social clubs and two motorcycle clubs. Met at Al Noor, and then we organized and hit all of the hotels uh where we have our unsheltered people. That last one is our event we're doing now. We saw that a lot of people were doing um book bag giveaways and school supplies, and we've always uh, and Enrica's always talking about hygiene. So I was like, yo, yeah, we got to get something that's with hygiene so that these kids can go back to school and be clean. Everybody wants to feel good. Let's give them a toothbrush, I think we toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, what is it, the the wipes she was telling me about, Dude Wipes. The women, uh for the females we're trying to get the the the sanitary napkins for them, chapstick, and notebooks so they'll be able and a pen so they'll be able to write their feelings down. And this is targeted to

Speaker 1

the 547 unsheltered youth in our city, right here. And I've sent links to people so they could double check my data, but right here in Kent County, Capital School District, we have 547 unsheltered youth. And if y'all know me, when I come up here to make public comment, I'm always asking, what are we going to do about our 547 youth who are sheltered? And when we say I I'm sorry, that are unsheltered. And when I say unsheltered, that don't mean they're on the street. They could be in a hotel. They could be staying with their grandmother and don't have their own bedroom, but it's documented and it comes from the school. All right, um next slide.

Speaker 1

This right here is just showing um pictures of different events. It's showing uh we have one there where we had given away the bikes for Christmas. That was uh uh that was great. Um then we had another, we were trying to get donations for clothing, and we reached out. It was a man in Maryland

Speaker 1

who reached out through um count- Councilwoman Shané Darby put us in contact because she saw us asking for gently worn clothes for kids. And this man came and delivered, what was it like two- it was a lot. Um bundles of clothes that came from a Maryland um it was a Maryland uh food bank actually. They have a clothing closet, and they were getting new clothes, and he brought all those bundles to us, and we were able to uh clothe a lot of children. It it took us um what, two weeks to get rid of all them clothes?

Speaker 2

Two weeks.

Speaker 1

Two weeks to get rid of all those clothes. And the thing I liked about it, it had coats in there and we were in the middle of our coat drive. So that's some pictures there and also showing us at one of the hotels feeding and giving out coats to the youth, and giving the parents um like a little uh pamper package to help them, which came with for the women like some smell-goods, it also came with books to empower them that they could read through. Next slide. We're almost done. And here, um just recently we teamed up with the NAACP. Um we're doing the voter reg-

Presenter

registration drive down at El Nopal 35. It's very important that people know, uh, the, the they're, that they're educated about why it's so important for them to vote so that we can change the way that we're living right here. So we can attack those oppressed systems that do not support us. So we do a lot of education there, and, and Omari also, someone, um, you know, registers. We got hot dogs and everything there, and he educates on the natural healing that is there in his store.

Presenter

Also, you see some of these pictures. We were invited to go inside just recently, uh, with the Governor, the, uh, John Lewis Voting Rights Bill. And then, uh, you'll see some other pictures of us in Legislative Hall. They allowed me to take members of the Coalition to of Dover to Legislative Hall and give a tour because that's where we need to be at if we want to make change. And it was amazing. Uh, the Governor was there that day, and he really got to listen to everyone about what the Coalition of Dover is and what, uh, priorities we feel are important. And so that makes me feel good, and I send him our flyers all the time, hoping he gonna stop by one day. You already know. Uh, next slide.

Presenter

And here, you know, together we strengthen, um, what a partnership can look like. We bring a trusted community relationship, a growing volunteer base, issue-focused committee, um, we have direct connection to residents with lived experience, and a record of community events and civic action. I mean, we're still growing, and we're still doing things. And now we're into, uh, collaborating with other organizations. But my call here today, you know, I always come with a call to action whenever I speak, is that maybe the, you know, this commission, if you guys could, you know, donate to our hygiene, um, campaign we're doing. Uh, we do have a list, I have sent that to, uh, Commissioner Faust and also, uh, Commissioner Dr. Travis Sadler. And that is our call to action to see if this committee could help us with that. We do have donations coming in, um, and I, and I appreciate that. We have some orgs who may have an abundant supply that are donating to us, but we want to reach our goal of 547 items so that we can, um, you know, take care of these youth for real. So that is our call to action that we're asking you, the commission, to help us with. All right? You want to say anything, brother?

Presenter's Colleague

Nah, you dropped it.

Presenter

You sure?

Presenter's Colleague

Yes, ma'am.

Presenter

All right. So that's what we got. Any questions?

Commissioner

I I have a question.

Presenter

All right.

Commissioner

Um, when you do the voter registration, I mean the voters drive, uh, do you, are you all a voter registration, uh, person?

Presenter

Oh, I'm a registrar.

Commissioner

Yeah, you're a registrar.

Presenter

Yeah, plus we have the NAACP, I think half of our membership are all voter registrars, but I'm a voter registrar, yeah.

Commissioner

Good, good. I, um, I'm one myself, so...

Presenter

Oh, okay.

Commissioner

You might see me down there that same day.

Presenter

Okay. We're always the last Saturday of the month from 11:00 to 3:00.

Commissioner

Okay.

Presenter

Yep, we have a good time there. You might not see me there, I'm on a little bit of bed rest, but there'll be other members of NAACP—

Speaker 1

our Maurice is a member of the NAACP. He'll probably be there as well. Yep.

Speaker 2

Okay. Well, we appreciate it. Um, we definitely want to, um, keep in mind uh what the drive, and the things that you all are trying to accomplish and the donation that you're asking for. What is what Do you have the date you want, um...

Speaker 1

For that drive?

Speaker 2

Yes.

Speaker 1

Um, if she goes back a couple of, uh, September the 5th. Yeah, go back a couple. It's September the 5th. There, one more up. There you go. It's September the 5th. You can see some of our sponsors there that have helped. Uh, we have NeighborGood Partner I mean not NeighborGood Partner, um Neighbors in Need just donated all the drinks for the event. Uh, we have the NAACP, and we also have, um, Pyfer's organization, which is, um, Heart of the City. And we have more to put on there like December's Light had just, uh, she'll be bringing a ride on September the 5th and also bringing her volunteers to help us. And she's got about, um, about 50 different donations for each category. Yeah.

Speaker 2

So what we'd like maybe to do is, um, be there on that day as vendors, maybe.

Speaker 1

Oh, okay. That's, no problem.

Speaker 2

And then we'll, um, talk to you all about the the vending cost and then, um, what we might be able to establish through that process.

Speaker 1

Okay, that's amazing. I think it's important, um, that y'all in the community so the people know y'all here. I mean, I know it, but other our our community needs to know y'all here so they have somewhere to else come and give their, you know, be able to use their voice, and I appreciate y'all.

Speaker 2

Definitely. And we want to...

Speaker 1

Getting it back up and rolling, it's very important.

Speaker 2

We want to, um, also be involved with, um, what you're doing with the youth. I think we had a conversation before, um, when we when we were talking about feeding those 500-plus

Speaker 1

Yes.

Speaker 2

uh children. Uh, I've I've been talking to a couple of, um, food truck owners and some other folks, and and and possibly being able to collaborate, team up and and help, um, establish and and, right, get some grant funding and and be able to feed some of these kids.

Speaker 1

Man, that would be amazing, because, uh, you know, we had just talked about it. You know, this summer they get the food truck that comes by, but at dinner time, whatever's left from store, he he feeds they feed the they feed the people in the community.

Speaker 2

Right. Honestly.

Speaker 1

You know what I'm saying? And I think you shared that with you before, but that food truck in the afternoon or evening, definitely needed because a lot of these kids don't have meals.

Speaker 2

Right.

Speaker 1

And we're buying, you know, pizzas and things like that, which ain't really good for no kids, but that's what we can afford.

Speaker 2

Something healthy and nutritional.

Speaker 1

Yep.

Speaker 2

And and possibly I've also been talking with, um, uh a person who works with the uh with the Delaware Food Bank.

Speaker 1

Mhm.

Speaker 2

Of course you know we have the they have the mobile, um, food truck that comes around and and will distribute food to the community, but they also have, um,

Speaker 2

uh an industrial kitchen in Milford.

Speaker 1

Oh, yeah.

Speaker 2

And they have a chef.

Speaker 1

They got, yeah, they have a chef there. Mhm.

Speaker 2

And so, uh, I've had some discussion with the chef and and possibly being able to, um, even come up and and host...

Male Commissioner

a class showing how showing kids uh ways to cook and things like that, so.

Ms. Mack

That would that would be great. Um we definitely need to connect with you cuz that's giving them something to do. Right now, youth in Dover don't have a lot to do.

Male Commissioner

I've only been to one of your meetings which I was invited to at one time by Brother Muhammad, but I do plan to come to some more. Um and I want to come to your next one actually. If Is it this month or next month? September the September meeting might be the best one for me, because um

Ms. Mack

I make I'll make sure he connect with you and send you the flyer. I make sure you're on our um our our email list as well as our text list, the group chat. I won't put you in the group chat cuz I know you in a lot, but we'll make we'll make sure you get the flyer. You don't want It's a lot of people in the group chat. I don't want you going crazy.

Male Commissioner

Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Ms. Mack

But I got you, okay? I promise. And Faust, I got you. And anybody else that wants to get on it, I got you.

Male Commissioner

Yeah, yeah. Yeah, give them out. I will as well.

Ms. Mack

Miss Wanda. It's not so much you don't know that it's not going on.

Male Commissioner

Faust and myself attended the the one we were invited to um and the other commissioners I'm sure will, you know, make the decision um when when it's best for them to come.

Male Speaker

I'll be glad to attend the next meeting. Yeah.

Female Speaker

We appreciate the information. Yes. It's funny that you made contact.

Ms. Mack

Uh Faust, if you can send me everyone's email, I'd hate to put you on the spot, but you and I had a very good report.

Alan Faust

I will I will take care of that, Ms. Mack. I do want to say one thing for the public that's present. We don't have discretionary funds, but we will support your endeavors with help, you know, looking for uh resources and stuff like that. So the public knows Human Relations Commission does not have discretionary funds that the council does, so we can't cut a check.

Ms. Mack

That's correct. Fine, but it's from your heart.

Alan Faust

Yeah, I'm just saying that for the public. Our heart's there. If I can help out in any way personally, you have my phone numbers, Yeah. my email, please contact me.

Ms. Mack

Alright, everybody put $20, $30 together, you know what I mean, $10 together. This stuff is not that expensive, I'm telling you. If you actually look at the list, I think the cheapest thing is like $7 for like 100 of them. I'm just saying just look at the list, that wish list that I sent you too, and and you'll see. If you all put in $10, y'all could get two items that's on there, and we're still pushing it. I'm not I I I I I I designed that list so that we could get more for our buck. You feel me?

Male Commissioner

Good. That's right. Yeah. We would definitely be um in contact. Um now like Commissioner Faust said, we don't have the discretionary funds, that's with the district. So we can go back to our districts. I'm in District 4, I can go to my 4th District Council person.

Ms. Mack

Talk to your council person. Please do that, because I sent everybody the link, and one councilman has already, you know, did something. But yes, take it to your councilman. I appreciate it. Or councilwoman, excuse me.

Male Commissioner

We definitely um have the ability to uh be vendors at our at our events, so.

Ms. Mack

Yeah, I want y'all to. They need to know y'all here, man, cuz it it gets I'm telling you, the stories we hear, we encourage them to come here and tell their story. Um and I'ma be honest, and Amari can tell you, it's a lot of

Ms. Pennington

pain in this building for some families that have been here a long time and they're scared to come in this building. And uh it just get heavy, but I can't be the one to tell some of these stories. They got to come here and tell it, and we try to tell them how they could get, you know, help, maybe some resources. A lot of it, they need some therapy, man, for real, just because of things that have been done to them and they just can't get back on track. And when I say done to them,

Ms. Pennington

it could be uh a business within our city who has done something or treated them um incorrectly when they weren't at weren't wrong. And that's many other things that we talk about on the City Hall side when we come in and tell them what's going on in the city, you know what I mean, alerting our our leadership. But uh we definitely I wish we had like a mobile health clinic

Ms. Pennington

to just pull up in some of these streets and let these people hop in, talk to somebody. Cuz when you keep putting it in, putting it in, putting it in, it's going to send you somewhere else. So, that's my next thing, but that's probably not until the end of 2027.

Ms. Pennington

I'm going to advocate for that. A mental health truck that comes up and down into marginalized communities on a schedule for people to be able to get some assistance. Yes.

Commissioner

And I just want to let you know, there is one, so just talk I would I would like to speak with you.

Ms. Pennington

Okay, got you. I'll definitely reach out. Thank you, I didn't know that.

Ms. Pennington

All right. All right, let me get out of here.

Commissioner

Okay.

Public Commenter

I'm not involved in the committee. I don't know what you're doing. I'm not a millionaire, but I'm going to give you $10 to go towards whatever you need for them children.

Ms. Pennington

Oh, thank you, baby. I appreciate that. Look at that! Go ahead, look at God.

Commissioner

Ms. Pennington, don't don't let your seat get too warm.

Ms. Pennington

I felt that.

Commissioner

Don't don't even get comfortable. We appreciate the Dover uh the Coalition of Dover coming out and and expressing what what they're about, and the work that you all are doing in the community. We do see uh what's going on, so we appreciate it and and we try to

Commissioner

we want to try to um do along right with you and and take those steps as well, make sure some things happen.

Ms. Pennington

Thank you so much, we appreciate you. We'll be waiting. All right. Thank you and um y'all have I'm sorry I have to leave,

Ms. Pennington

but uh Todd Dr. Travers, uh Sadler, and also Faust have my my contact information. If any of y'all want it, just get it from them, and Ms. Bonnie got it. And Mr. Sadler. All right? Bye.

Public Commenter

...to put out a referendum or zoning for um, I'm looking in to see if the community would be willing to take a self-defense class for women.

Public Commenter

I have done a lot of research. I have looked into certain ones. I have talked to several people about trying to get this program up to date, and to see if we can get it done.

Public Commenter

Um, I have talked to Chief Johnson. He said he's unable to do it because of insurance purposes. I understand that.

Public Commenter

Then I went to Yosho's martial arts, I'm sorry. They want $159 a month for a one-year contract. That knocked them right out.

Public Commenter

Then I met a lady at Dover Days that she's not interested in really doing a self-defense class for just women. That's who I spoke with. I only have one. Um.

Public Commenter

Then I also went to Delaware Tac- whatever that word is, um, I talked to him, and I'm looking into him because the simple fact is he was an ex-police officer, he does he does military training, he is willing to do up to 20 to 25 women, men, whatever, any age.

Public Commenter

He also is willing to learn how to or teach sorry, I'm sorry, teach us how to hands-on surrounding, so if someone punches you, he's willing to teach the Mace, if you have Mace. He's also willing to teach you how to hold a gun and represent a gun without pulling the trigger so you don't have to shoot somebody and go to jail.

Public Commenter

Um, he is a little bit expensive, he's uh, it's $20 to $25 an hour, or- a session, but he said if it's in an organization he's willing to come down on the price, because that's like $600. Um, he is willing to come down in the price. He also is willing to do two to three classes, or how many classes it takes to teach these women self-defense.

Public Commenter

I had It took I spent several hours to get ahold of this gentleman, and I'm leaning to him, Travis, because I had another lady from Seven Elements. She didn't kind of act like she wanted to do it, and she doesn't want to give you hands-on. And what I'm looking for is like hands-on to show a woman or show a senior citizen, "Hey, this is what you do if someone approaches you."

Public Commenter

The reason I come up with something like this is because every meeting that I come to and I listen to, I hear these women say, "I'm scared to come out of my home. I'm scared to go to the grocery store. Or I'm scared to do this, or I'm scared to do that." I don't care who you are, where you live, I don't care if you pay a dollar for rent, you have no business of being scared to come out of your home.

1 (Public Comment)

Second thing is I've had a lot of people come to me and ask me what to do because they have been approached at the grocery stores. They were fol-, walked into the, walk up to the car, bang on the window, asked them for money. And they're scared, and I don't blame them because they're women. So that is something that I'm interesting in trying to get open, so I do have a building um the community research center over there by the bar. Miss Harris is the one who said we could use that building over there on Saturdays. The guy wanted to do it Saturday and Sunday, and I said, "Well, what about Saturday? Because Sunday, they do do church over there, and you don't want a bunch of noise why they're trying to, you know, do their church service." But that is what I came up with, and that's what I'm appealing to everyone who to see about how that sounds, and if that's a good idea to get the community together. In this, my situation, I want to see the community come together like everybody else does. And right now nobody's coming together. Everybody's running this way, this way, and that way. That's not what Dover needs. Dover needs people to help out.

1 (Public Comment)

I can volunteer sometimes. I can't do it all the time. Like I told him, and I'm going to tell you, I take care of my grandson 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and he is disabled. So I have to, a lot of my focus is staying on him. But I did take my time to research all this, go up on the computer and see what we can do to help these ladies, even gentlemen, if they, you know, if they can't defend themselves, to see what we can do to help these ladies to protect themselves.

Male Commissioner 1

The paperwork that you handed me, do you have more copies?

1 (Public Comment)

No, that's all I could get was one. Um unfortunately, my computer went up on me. I had to go get Reggie to to help me copy the one. So if you can get copies and pass around, sorry, Travis, my computer my printer said, "Poof." I got to go get a new printer. So,

Male Commissioner 1

If you can um can you send that copy to the City Clerk's office and ask to have them to distribute that between the commissioners? And we'll take, you know, we'll discuss it even further and um try to talk with City Council and make some recommendations on on possibly moving forward with um with some type of idea or some type of process or something that will address the concern of self defense for women and men in in our community.

1 (Public Comment)

The reason I said the one is because a lot of them want to teach you to kickbox, and in my opinion, yes, some elderly people could probably do that kick, but then you got a lot of them that are on medication, and their health ain't up to it. I'm not downing anyone. Believe me, I seen an 80 year old woman kick a man in the head in a heartbeat. So I'm not downing no one. It's the fact is I'm looking to make sure their uh eligibility to

Speaker

to do what could be done. You know, that's something that people need to understand when you take self-defense classes, it's not something easy, and they will approach you to show you how to do self-defense. They will actually come up behind you and grab you from behind to see if you actually know how to do self-defense. And my thing is, is these women going to be able to handle this? Cuz some people have the urge don't touch me, you know, don't come near me. You see what I'm saying? There's a lot of ifs, ands, or buts in that one.

Male Speaker

So you- what I heard, you recommend the Delaware Tactical?

Speaker

Yes.

Male Speaker

Uh, who's that's led by an ex-police officer?

Speaker

Yes.

Male Speaker

So, uh, we'll definitely take a look at Delaware Tactical as well.

Speaker

I think he's about the best one to approach cuz of the way he explained everything to me. He's also willing to, um, come down if it's on a budget. He said if you're on a budget and if someone is doing the budget, he would talk to the person. He might even come down more. You know, and I said, well, I'll let the- let them know at the next meeting and we'll go from there.

Male Speaker

Okay. I might have a couple suggestions that we might not think about. Do you ever think about reaching out to, uh, Dover Air Force Base? They do self-defense training up there.

Speaker

Well, he does do Air Force Base training. That's how he learned his, so I figured with Air Force Base, it's all connected into--

Male Speaker

I'm saying looking for free. If we get someone that's going to donate the time, or, uh, domestic violence groups sometimes offers free defense classes. That might be a thing to look into that. With tight- things being tight, if there's, uh, organization that does free training...

Speaker

I have looked into that and I have I was told no. Nobody's doing anything for free and this is the problem. Nobody wants to pitch in. Nobody wants to help. You know, it's this community just wants to shut down and lock down and don't wanna defend theirselves. And that's not the way it should be here in this area. You should be able to come out and do whatever you want. I have done some research, and I'm still researching. I'm not giving up. I am going to continue to see what I can find. Maybe I might be lucky and God will say, "Hey, this one is is going to do it for you for free." So I'm not done with that. I have been looking.

Male Speaker

We do want to get a a time when we stop researching and and move forward and start producing. So uh definitely um I want you know, would like to hear about uh what you come up with as far as that. And in the meanwhile we'll probably in the uh community programs uh committee, we'll we'll look to see uh what we can find out as well.

Speaker

Okay. And, um, another thing, Reggie and I--come on up, Reggie. Reggie and I was talking about the um solar, er, the the data center. I have done some research on that. I wanna talk to everyone about that. The data center is something that you do not want to bring in this part of the town.

Speaker

The data center is out to get your money. It's not out to help anyone in the state of Delaware. I have done some research. I had asked Reggie to help me write up something because I'm not, you know, all that, but, um, the data center is is it'll take all your water--

Female Speaker

it's going to take all your electorate, and it is a tax-bracket organization. So I'm recommending I come to you to ask you the best way to represent this to the community, because I'm not here to hurt the community. There's no way that I can afford to pay for a data center. I'm pretty sure nobody else could, either.

Male Speaker 1

We'll be discussing um part of that uh this evening.

Female Speaker

Okay.

Male Speaker 1

But we we'd definitely like to hear um since you since you brought them up.

Female Speaker

Yeah. Reggie can read it. He's fast.

Reggie

Well, thank you. So what we had said was that um regarding the discussion of the City Council to hold a moratorium vote next month for a hold on a development or plans for 18 months, and that while we are glad to see the City Council agree that we can't just allow centers to be built without any kind of regulation or guidelines, a moratorium is not sufficient. Data centers often rely on water for cooling, sometimes using up to millions of gallons per day. For example, Google's Mesa data center in Arizona holds a permit to use 1.2 billion gallons of water annually. That would be enough to fill 2,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools and give 753,000 people in Africa 5 gallons of water per person per day. With that level of water use for a state as large as Arizona, how can a small state like Delaware be able to supply that level of water to sufficiently cool that data center

Reggie

and still provide enough for us here in Dover or in Delaware? And that's not to mention our electric bills, which are currently being raised still every year. And then in other states, data centers have raised electric bills by as much as 70% to cover the cost, which if we are now struggling with that, we would be up the creek without a paddle. So that we are asking then that the Human Relations Commission urge the City Council not only to support the moratorium, but to protect our water, our pockets, and our peace of mind. No AI data centers now or ever, please.

Male Speaker 1

Thank you.

Male Speaker 2

Just so that you know, as a private citizen, I saw something on Facebook last night, and I've sent it to the mayor and council and uh Dr. Sudler and a few other people. Harrington had the same issue, and they voted down their data center ordinance.

Female Speaker

Mm-hm.

Male Speaker 2

So um, I was at the council meeting in question, and my key questions were, as a private citizen, our infrastructure, our electric infrastructure, water, and of that is probably not capable of handling it. So I expressed that at that meeting. So this is something has to be researched, and uh we hear you.

Male Speaker 3

And Kent County Levy Court uh they just had a ruling as well. So, it's going to be an ongoing development in trying to mediate this data center fiasco.

Female Speaker

Well, I think if Harrington can do it, I think we could do it.

Bonnie

you get power and the backup. Because if anything would go down there and shut it completely down, why can't Dover? Dover needs to start working together,

Bonnie

and this is something that is very important to everyone, not just me, not just to the elderly, but to the younger generations, because it's going to hurt from the older generation all the way down to the young generation. Because you're not going to be able to stand the pure smell of the, and it also proves the air. So you've got to look at that, too. And that's, you know,

Bonnie

they tell you everything about this data center. I done research. I went to Reggie, Reggie and I put our heads together, and we came up with this letter. I'm not good at computers, but I did research about a data center. Well, I don't want something in my area that's going to hurt my pocket and everybody in Dover.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Bonnie.

Bonnie

No problem.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Can, um, you all, uh, do you all have any physical, uh, implications that come from the data center?

Public Commenter

Um, one thing that I can attest to that I have seen from other states is the discoloration of the water because, you know, the water's being used to cool down these data centers, and then it goes back into the community. Um, I forget where it was, but I saw other places where they were showing the sink and they would turn on the faucet and the water would be the color of an egg yolk.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

What about also, uh, when it might deal to the, uh, to the citizen themselves? What effect does it have on human, on the human body?

Public Commenter

One thing that we have seen is that it can disrupt our ability to sleep and our mental health, because they make a lot of noise and there's just this constant droning where anyone is in vicinity of them that it causes disruption of your sleep, disruption of your peace, cuz it's just this constant vibrating, droning 24/7/365 that just goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on. And we don't adjust to it. Um, it distresses our communities, and I believe it could, because of that lack of adequate sleep, adequate peace of mind, a, um, degradation of our mental health, it could lead to, uh, greater incidents on a social level.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Are you aware of any of the toxins that are emitted from, uh, plants and operations into the community, such as what we're talking about tonight?

Public Commenter

I'm not aware of what specifically there are. I just am aware that they do cause a great degree of air pollution.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

That might be something you want to look into, uh, if you're trying to, um, go to, uh, to express, uh, some of the cons, cuz we do know about the pros. But some of the cons that you all, uh, need to know about in order to help with the, um,

Male Speaker 1

for the so-called battle.

Male Speaker 1

Okay. With the discussion.

Female Speaker 1

I do know that AI is monitoring everybody in the home with this part of this um thing, and I don't feel that I don't want AI in my home watching me. And I don't know about anybody else, but that's one of the things that I did read on there other than the high electric bill and the water and the and as I was reading down, but then it cut me off because they want me to give my name, my number, my address, and all that, and they don't need to know all that. I'm not out to put this out here. I'm out here to see if I can prevent this from coming in this area, not opening it up for them to say hey, come on in.

Male Speaker 1

There there has been research already done and completed regarding some of these data centers, um and it talks about some of the toxins that are emitted into the community, and it also talks about some of the physical effects on the uh human body um in the long-term as well as short-term. So, um

Male Speaker 1

that is public information, and and you can you can definitely find out uh specifically uh what what goes on.

Male Speaker 1

I've been doing some of the research myself, and and and I've come across uh several discomforting things. Um so I advise everybody else to do research as well. Not just take a secondhand information, but the information that you tell us uh and and you come across is is very helpful, so folks should be uh also go back on their own and read up on some of those um data centers.

Female Speaker 1

Watch what you read, though. Cause nobody believes what's on research.

Male Speaker 1

Yes.

Female Speaker 1

Do your research. Push in.

Male Speaker 1

Uh now, for example, you can use uh I know a lot of people use Google, but I'm not really sure if how many folks are aware of uh the option of Google Scholar. And the difference is uh regular Google you might get a lot of newspaper clippings, uh articles from people who just want to write about the topic and and give their personal opinions, but when you go into Google Scholar, you're more or less looking at people who have actually done the research, tried and tested, and and definite uh responses and and more factual things. So, um when when you come and you present um your your opinion and your research, um and things you want to try and back yourself with, uh it's good to have what they call empirical research, empirical data. And if you use Google Scholar, all you just have to type in in you can go to Google and type in Scholar, Google Scholar, and it'll take you to that particular um link where you can click on that and you can re- and you can research through um empirical articles that are already uh show you about the the testing and and

Female Speaker 1

I can tell you this.

Male Speaker 1

and the research and background done on what you're talking about.

Male Speaker 1

Okay.

Female Speaker 1

I watched a video today from a lady from Ohio and she was like this was the best thing that ever happened, blah, blah, blah. But then as her electric bill came in she was blowed out of the water, and then

Public Commenter

right now because electric's so high. They got to build another electric uh plant to get the electric to come back down. And this is in Ohio. So if it's happening in Ohio, and I think the other one was uh Louisiana and um something else, I didn't get the other two. And they were saying this is the worst thing they ever came up with, by putting a data center in their area because it's not all benefiting anybody. It's benefiting the people that are building it. It's not benefiting us. It's building the one It's benefiting their pockets. So to prevent this from coming in, I'm going to see what I can do to stop this from coming in because it's not fair to me, you, or anybody else to have to pay a higher electric bill, number one, and take our money and put it in their pockets, and it stays open for six months and then it falls down and then we're paying the taxes on something that's just sitting there.

Commissioner

We appreciate that. And the research that you are to, you two continue to do and present, um, uh, Mr. Reggie, uh, if you can, um, you know, continue to help her and- and- and look into that, uh, Google Scholar and- and present it uh factual information so that we can, um, have good examples from things that have already taken place and maybe people, um, who have already been affected, whether it's been positive or negative, um, both sides of the- of the fence.

Reggie

Yes, the uh research that we got here regarding the water usage, we did pull from a United Nations study about the impacts of AI data centers on the environment. But we will look into specifically air pollution and the effects on standard of living and our bodies.

Commissioner

Thank you. We appreciate it.

Commissioner 2

One suggestion I'd give you if you want people to get involved, you need to get, you know, I had a friend that went to the Harrington meeting. It was wall-to-wall citizens speaking. If you want Council to take it seriously and look at everything, I strongly urge you to reach out to your neighbors, other residents, and have them come out to the council meetings, email the council members of their district, uh call the council members, come up to council meetings. Um that's the only thing that's going to show council members that there is a concern that needs to be looked into a fine-tooth comb. So-

Commissioner

You know that's, that's for the City of Dover.

Commissioner 2

Dover, yes.

Commissioner

Right. The City of Dover resides somewhere within Kent County. So you have another The city might be one place, but as soon as you're outside the city limits, City Council has nothing they can do. And Kent County is right across the city limit border. We sit inside Kent County, which is the reason why Commissioner Spence mentioned uh Levy Court having uh it in their possession the same concerns, because we might um not we might not go for it in the city limits, but we got to understand we also have county uh area as well which is in close proximity. As a matter of fact, there could be a piece of property right-

Chair

next door to you that could be zoned as county property, and then they come set this uh data center right next door to your city limit line housing. You see there? So it's not just one place, city of Dover. You can make it you can express it in the city of Dover and in council, but you also need to think about Kent County Levy Court, making a presence there. You might want to find that every We all live in Kent County.

Commissioner

Yeah.

Chair

So we all have a uh Kent County Commissioner. Just like we all have a uh a a a council person for the city of Dover. And then you have a and then you have a state representative. So you really have three legs because state legislation is very influential. Um, and and I believe they may they may even have the last draw on what Kent County because in order to do business in Delaware, regardless whether it's in the county or the city, you have to have a Delaware license to do business. So that means if you don't have the license, you can't do the business. You see there? So you look you're looking at uh legislation.

Chair

And this body, um, cannot, you know, make any decisions, any approvals or or declines or can't turn over any warrants or things like that. We are a recommending body. So, um, we did have on the agenda that, well, I did have a uh a a purpose this evening to bring the data center up, and I'm glad you all let it in. It's not a problem cuz we still need to make a decision on that as a a body whether we want to support it or not, and and the kind of recommendation we want to send up to City Council. Thank you. We appreciate it.

Chair

Um, looking at our uh agenda for this evening, we want to um make sure everybody had a chance to look at the minutes from the previous, and we need to um entertain a motion to accept the agenda for tonight.

Commissioner

Second.

Chair

I'll first.

Commissioner

I make the motion that we accept the I mean the minutes from the last meeting.

Commissioner

And I'll second.

Chair

This is this is for the agenda, not for the minutes, not yet.

Commissioner

Correction. I uh make a motion that we accept the agenda as corrected.

Chair

Do I have a second?

Commissioner

I have a second.

Chair

It has been properly moved and seconded that we accept the agenda for this evening. Um, any questions on the motion? Any questions on the motion? All those in favor vote by saying yea, or aye. All those opposed have the same right. Motion carried. Give me a second, please.

Chair

Okay. Um, looking uh everybody had a chance to look at the minutes? Um, our next um the next thing we need to vote on is the approval of the minutes from the last meeting. I'll entertain a motion to accept the minutes.

Faust

Make a motion. Make a motion to accept the minutes from the last meeting.

Mullins

Second.

Chair

It has been properly moved and seconded by Commissioner Faust and Commissioner Mullins to accept the minutes from the previous meeting. Any questions on the motion? Any questions on the motion? Having no questions, uh vote uh we will vote. Those all uh uh for the motion vote as you may. All in favor?

Mullins

Aye.

Faust

Aye.

Chair

All opposed? Those have the same right. Motion carried.

Chair

Okay, um we will go ahead into the committee reports. And the first one being the um the Assessment Committee. Uh myself being a part of that committee, I have no updates at this particular time for the Assessment Committee. Uh Commissioner Mullins?

Mullins

We're still waiting to hear feedback from the survey.

Chair

Okay. Commissioner Brefeld is not uh available this evening. Um therefore, we will move on to the next committee, which will be the uh Community Programs Committee. Commissioner Faust?

Faust

I have three items to bring up tonight. Um this morning, I followed up with the 2-1-1 cards. They had uh dropped the ball, and not dropped the ball, there was a communication error, and I didn't get them in time for this meeting. They're going to drop them off next week at my residence.

Faust

Uh the second item I have uh, let's see here, I gave my business card out this weekend to the president of the Caesar Rodney Band Association. The kids are trying to win raise funds. So, uh he's going to reach out to us in the future to see if we can assist them to get more advertising or get people to know what they're doing fundraisers for the school.

Faust

Um the last item, number three, as a private citizen, I sent an email out to Mayor, Council, and uh CC'd uh Commissioner

Alan Gaddis

All right. Dr. Sudler, myself, uh, Smack, and a few other people, I asked the city to have a, say, workshop/town hall meeting so the citizens can ask questions, concerns, or fears, and get answers. Councilman Lewis from the Second District has responded, he's willing to assist. But I believe Dr. Sudler, you're for that? Uh, Dr. Sudler... uh, Mr. Sudler said he'll also assist from the Fourth District. So we're working on setting up a, uh, town hall meeting where citizens can come out, ask their questions or state their concerns and get hopefully answers that they want. So this has just started. Uh, it's nothing solid, but that's what we're working on right now.

Alan Gaddis

Commissioner Fleming?

Paul Fleming

No, I have nothing at this time.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

Okay. Well, with myself, uh, being a part of the community program, um, I just want to report, uh, last meeting we had a, a young lady come in by the name of, um, Helena Roses, and she talked about the Lemonade Stand Day, um, which was which took place on August the 15th, which was last Saturday. Uh, that that, uh, event did happen and I have a couple of, um, a couple of brochures I can, you know, just copies of some brochures of some of those who participated in that particular Lemonade Stand Day. Um, I thought they might come this evening to, uh, give a little update on it, but they're not available as well. Uh, however, um, I do have some things if you want to look at, uh, that I can share, and and you all can see it afterwards, uh, after our meeting. But that did take place and, and, uh, I do believe it was a success. I, I stopped, I had the I had the opportunity to stop by one and, um, and at least, um, see others as well. One was on Route 8, uh, going east after you cross over, uh, 13. Um, and then the there was another one, uh, that was held, uh, in front of Janane's Barbershop on Loockerman Street. And I know there were there was a third one here. Um, I'm not really sure where that location was, but I didn't get a chance to go by that one. However, they did have a, a good time and they had some success and and some folks came through and and I believe this is just the beginning of part of, uh, what will be growing into more of, uh, a statewide thing. So, uh, just be on the lookout for that. There'll be some more coming about and and they're going to have some more announcements regarding, uh, that particular activity in the community, okay? Um, also, um, we have, um, a, a com- uh, a possibility to vend at a, a community fair and, um...

Commissioner

I want, uh, Mr. Anthony Williams, who is with us tonight, to come and talk to, uh, give us a, a, a small summary of, um, this community fair and, um, our possible, uh, possibility of us being vendors at this affair. And then we can see how, how we can vend at, at other places as well. Mr. Williams.

Anthony Williams

Uh, good evening, all. Uh, my name, as he stated, is, uh, Anthony, uh, Williams, and I have the honor and pleasure of serving as a member of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, in the jurisdiction of Delaware. The Masonic Prince Hall family in Delaware consists of nine Masonic lodges and nine Order of Eastern Star. Our commitment to the community is to promote the Third Annual Health and Wellness Back to School Community Day. The Health and Wellness Community Back to School Day began in August 2024. The event is organized through DEMFAC, Delaware Masonic Prince Hall Affiliated Charitable Trust. One of the fundamental principles of Prince Hall Masonry is not only personal growth and self-improvement, but also charity, service, leadership, responsibility to our communities. As an organization, we recognized that we needed to strengthen our visibility and involvement within the communities we serve. We did not simply want people to know who we are. We wanted our communities to know us by what we do and who we serve. The Health and Wellness Back to School Community Day became one of the ways we could do just that. Our goals: with this annual event, we seek to become more visible and actively involved in our communities, provide charitable assistance and meaningful community service, promote growth, mentorship, and leadership opportunities for our young men and women, bring service providers, first responders, public safety agencies, and health organizations directly into the community, provide businesses and retail partners with opportunities to demonstrate their commitment to our, to the families they serve, connect residents with valuable health, wellness, safety, and community resources, help prepare children and families for a successful start to the school year. This is our third annual community day. It will be held on Saturday, August 22nd, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Each year, the event continues to grow in participation, partnerships, and community impact. Most importantly, everything provided to the community is completely free of charge. Families attending the event can receive and enjoy: health and wellness screening, backpacks and school supplies, free haircuts provided by local barbers, free water ice, free sports apparel, free food, snacks, and beverages.

Speaker 1

...two moon bounces. We have a batting cage. We have golf uh instructions and activities. We raffle off gift baskets and door prizes, and we provide health, wellness, safety, and community information. We also have voters registration. Our goal is to create an environment where families can enjoy themselves while also gaining access to resources that can make a meaningful difference in their lives.

Speaker 1

Community Day is also about giving back beyond the activities that take place that day. Each year, we conclude the event by making a charitable contribution to an organization whose work positively impacts our community. For the first two years, our charitable recipient was the American Cancer Society. For 2026, our selected recipient is the Delaware Diabetes Coalition.

Speaker 1

Leading up to this event, we also hold a pop-up pantry event, where we have the Delaware Food Bank come out and provide free food. That event is tomorrow, Tuesday, August 19th, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. I have flyers with me, by the way. Our community partnerships: this event would not be possible without organizations and agencies that share our commitment to serving Delaware's families.

Speaker 1

Participants and community partners for this event include the Delaware State Police, the Dover Police Department, the Dover Fire Department, the Delaware Food Bank, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Department of Public Health, Magnet Electronics, Redner's Markets, and others. These partnerships are extremely important because they provide residents, especially our young people, with an opportunity to interact positively with first responders, public safety professionals, health professionals, businesses, and community organization organizations.

Speaker 1

Our community impact: Last year, the Health and Wellness Back to School event served 316 attendees, 135 adults, 181 children. Those children consist of 95 boys and 86 girls. Those numbers represent more than attendance. They represent 316 members of our community who came together in an environment centered on family, education, health, safety, fellowship, and service. As we enter our third year, our objective is not simply to increase attendance. Our objective is to increase our impact. Our community outreach: Social media has become one of our primary methods of communicating with the community. We currently use Facebook and Instagram to promote the event, recognize our community partners, provide updates, and encourage families to participate. However, we also recognize the importance of developing stronger relationships with our local government, community leaders, businesses, nonprofit organizations, public safety agencies, and residents. Next year, we will be extending this event beyond Kent County. We will be extending it to the three counties in Delaware. In closing, on behalf of MWPHGL, the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Delaware...

Mr. Williams

our Masonic lodges, our Order of the Eastern Star chapters, and the entire health and wellness Back to School community day committee. I thank the members of this body for allowing me the opportunity to share their story. Prince Hall Masonry has a long tradition of service, charity, leadership, and community involvement. Through this event, we are working to ensure that these principles remain visible and relevant to the communities we serve. Our children should see organizations investing in them. Our families should know that resources are available to them. Our residents should have opportunities to interact positively with law enforcement, first responders, health professionals, businesses, and community organizations. Our community should see that that when organizations, government, businesses, and residents work together, we can accomplish much more than any one of us can accomplish alone. We respectfully invite the members of this body to join us on Saturday, August 22nd, 2026 for our third annual health and wellness Back to School community day. We would be honored to have you attend, meet the families we serve, interact with our community partners, and witness firsthand the positive impact this event continues to have. I come before this body today to ask for support and assistance from you. Thank you for your time, your service to our community, and your consideration.

Chairperson

Thank you, Mr. Williams. Do we have any questions from the floor? But any commissioners that have questions?

Female Commissioner

Yeah, yes. I have one. Where is it going to be held?

Mr. Williams

It's going to be held at the Grand Lodge of Delaware, that's 1412 College Road in Dover, Delaware. I will be handing out these flyers for you, and the address is on them, for the, um, for the pantry, for the Delaware Food Bank, as well as the community day.

4th District Commissioner

So, um, this event is in taking place in the 4th District, which is why I asked to have Mr. Williams come and present that because that's that's the district that I'm over, the 4th District. And as the 4th District commissioner, myself and and and I like to call you Pastor Mott all the time. Commissioner Mott, that's that's the district that we service. So, I am available for that day to attend. Can you please give us, before leaving, can you give us a little write-up on what the what it might cost for to vend with the other vendors? You said you had the city of Dover, I heard a lot of city of Dover vendors coming. So we definitely want to know what that might be. And we'll take a vote on if, you know, if you all don't mind, if we go if we go as a vendor, we'll need to vote on that. But we also need to know what the costs would be for for for

Commission Chair

on vending. Commissioner Williams, so when we come back with with our new business, we want to address um that particular thing.

Commission Chair

You can hand that uh you can hand that detail to Commissioner White and she'll she'll have it amongst us and then when we come back uh to revisit it, we'll we'll hear with uh Commissioner White.

Commissioner White

May I just ask a question?

Commission Chair

Yes.

Commissioner White

Is that the same event similar to the same event that you all had a couple trips last year with the grand march?

Presenter

Yes.

Commissioner White

It was indeed a pleasure to be there.

Commission Chair

Yes, it is.

Commissioner White

It was very nice and largely attended.

Commission Chair

And we did not vend. We saw everybody else, except for the Commission. Am I right? Did you have your shirt on?

Commissioner White

No, I We were not invited.

Commissioner White

But I, one of the Masons, um

Commission Chair

Right.

Commissioner White

the son that invited, the head the Grand Master and his wife, they had invited me and I did attend. It was, you couldn't even get in there.

Commission Chair

That's true.

Commissioner White

And I like to attend that day, but that day I have a veterans function.

Commission Chair

Okay.

Commissioner White

So, if the church celebrated that day, this particular time I won't be able to do that. And I wish you the best.

Presenter

Thank you.

Presenter

We would be honored to have this body. Uh last year our Grand Master was actually Everett Lewis, Jr. This year, our Grand Master is Kendrick R. Hamlin. Um same chairperson. Uh so so uh we expect a lot more this year. If you don't mind, I'll I'll leave some of these flyers on the table so people can grab them.

Commission Chair

Thank you.

Presenter

I will sit down to listen to the rest of

Commission Chair

Thank you.

Presenter

Thank you.

Commission Chair

Yes, sir.

Commission Chair

Um we have with us also um this is not old business, but uh we we heard from um an organization last meeting and they did return uh this meeting and we were hoping that they would be able to share some things with us. Um Miss Naike Carrington uh and and I believe it is um Andre? Dwayne. I'm sorry. But um we're glad that you are here with us this evening and uh hopefully um we're all right, we're ready.

Naikesha Carrington

Thank you. So, my name is Naikesha. Um

Commission Chair

I'm sorry.

Naikesha Carrington

No, you're fine. Everybody calls me Naike. Only hear Naikesha when I'm in trouble, so. I stick with Naike.

Naikesha Carrington

So, um this is my husband Dwayne. Um he's

Commission Chair

Yes, sir.

Naikesha Carrington

my support.

Commission Chair

He has a twin somewhere, might be at DelDOT.

Dwayne Carrington

DelDOT? Hey.

Naikesha Carrington

So, I um I started a mentoring program for adolescent girls um called EMC, um oh called EMC, Empowering...

Presenter

sharing, strengthening, and transforming. Um, I started this while I was working in treatment foster care as well as in a psychiatric hospital with adolescent youth. Um, just my perspective, I just, I just saw what was happening to them and their mental health was declining, academically they were declining. Um, just mentally overall, they were, they were just not doing well.

Presenter

Um, when you would see revolving door for the adolescents that were coming into the psych hospital, um, that became a, a issue for me because that, that hurt me. So I wanted to get involved.

Presenter

Um, my mission is to empower vulnerable youth um through mentorship, education, and community service. Um, the focus will be um girls between the age of 12 and 18 for right now. Um, let's see.

Presenter

Um, the four pillars that I'm, I will be focusing on is mental health, education, substance use prevention, and community service.

Presenter

Um, what the program will look like, um right now I'm just getting it off, like doing more, um just small, um like being able to manage a, a small amount of adolescent girls um in the area, it would be Kent County adolescent girls from all the districts, well Dover, Smyrna, Camden. Um, I wouldn't just keep it for just Dover. Um,

Presenter

Um, a lot of the mentees they'll, they will experience um mental health and wellness workshops, um self-esteem and confidence building, um one-on-one and group mentoring, um community service projects, of course, um, um and educational, recreational activities, and a lot more.

Presenter

My focus will be, I would, I would like to have more licensed um social workers involved in it so that they, they're able to pour into these young ladies and help counsel.

Presenter

Um, um I was able to talk with Delaware State University um while I was in their MSW program, um and I was approved to have the um BSW/MSW stu- students be an intern for this program to be mentors um under this program to gain their hours.

Presenter

Um, I do have short-term and long-term goals. Um, of course, I mentioned to increase their self-confidence, improve coping and communication skills, um increase knowledge of substance use risks. Um, and I bring up substance use because um, I don't know if you guys are aware, there are not many programs for substance use for adolescents, um not just adolescent girls, but adolescents in general in the state of Delaware. Um, we are probably one of the few states that do not have much when it comes to adolescents for substance use.

Presenter

Um, there, um there are um telehealth programs like Charlie Health, um I know Dover Behavioral Health also just started um a telehealth program. However, it's, it's nothing that's one-on-one, face-to-face, something that they can be there and kind of get help with that prevention.

Presenter

Um, community involvement, I think is, it is big for me. Um, I'm a woman of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated.

Speaker 1

and um our motto is "Greater service, greater progress." And I want to instill that into these young ladies as well, that we do the work. You'll you'll see the work, and you'll see the impact that you're making on others when you do the work. Um the barrier that I do have with my program is location. Um my ask is partnership so where I'm able to get a room so that I can host the young ladies once a month, um and then eventually it will um Well, it will stay once a month, and then my next step is to go into this um student the school board meetings to talk with them so we can partner with the school so that our mentors are able to go into the schools at least once a week or two times or three times out of the month to be able to meet with the adolescents and see how they're doing outside of just meeting with them one time. So, my focus is for us to be involved, um stay connected, um have for somebody for them to feel heard, feel seen, um because working in the mental health field with the adolescents right now, that is where they struggle, and that's where a lot of the concerns and their problems come from because they don't feel seen, they don't feel heard, um and they aren't able they're unable to really express themselves and be themselves. So, I just want to be that vessel for them, um and let other young women to be able to help them as well.

Speaker 2

Are you uh familiar with the Neighborhood Partners?

Speaker 1

Yes and no.

Speaker 2

There's that gentleman right there. He's he's he's embedded. It runs in his veins. However, what I heard the things I heard you ask for, um they have a Restoring Central uh Dover program going on, and and I think uh you would benefit from that partnership. Uh they also they're located right downtown. He'll tell you exactly where they are. Um they have a facility um that they allow the public. Uh if you if you you can become a member, and uh it's it's very feasible. I'm I'm part of it myself. Become a member and those those spaces that you're asking for, I think it would be a good start to start in those spaces that they provide. Uh if you go in and you look at what they have, uh what they offer and and how they offer it, I think you all would fit right in, especially at this particular time when you're starting out and those things that you're asking for, you want really want to move on more sooner than later. So, um I think that partnership if you meet with Mr. uh Reggie and and he can uh discuss with you some of the details that um is offered out of that building, because they also uh share they partner with Delaware State University. So, uh it's called the CURE Center?

Speaker 1

Yes.

Speaker 2

And and and and if you see Commissioner uh Spencer, Spencer is definitely um uh part of of what goes on uh with Delaware State University and and some other things as well. So, um I I would recommend that you start get to know uh the CURE Center and what they do with the Neighborhood Partners, and

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

and check out the space that is available and how they offer it, you'll be pleased.

Public Commenter

Okay.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

You will be pleased. And then we'll expect you at the commission to come back and let us know. You can probably talk with Commissioner Mullen--

Public Commenter

Oh yeah, she's very supportive, ever since she saw me.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

Uh-huh, uh-huh.

Public Commenter

Um also with this program, I forgot to mention, we do prom dress drives, um and homecoming drives, I've done it. Um this will be my third year doing it um with this program. Um so I've donated so far over a hundred dresses to different schools in the Kent County area: Smyrna High School, ECHS, um Dover High School. So I've been... I think I've just been beating myself up, but I'm stopping myself and I'm not doing that no more, so.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

Well, it sounds like you're on a good track.

Public Commenter

Yes.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

And and you've got good support.

Public Commenter

Definitely.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

So um um make sure that you all talk and and get to know and and then uh whatever you need to do to get on get on board and and uh make it happen. I think um you have the support of the of the commission. Um if you need some other recommendations, uh we're always available as well.

Public Commenter

Okay.

Male Speaker 1

Um I would also add, um Girls Inc., they're a statewide organization, so the president, LaWanda Sutton, she's also a D9 sister, and so I'm I'm happy to make that connection as well.

Public Commenter

Great, that'd be great.

Male Speaker 1

Yep.

Male Speaker 2

It's good to see you. Good to see you. Good to see you. That's not your twin out there. I know who that is, I see.

Public Commenter

Do I sign this?

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

Um, yes you can. Please. Thank you.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

That's that's all I have for the community program, communities program uh committee. We move on to the school programs committee. Um I don't have any uh school update, however I do have some things to say just a little bit, real quickly. Um the Capital School District, does that is everybody aware of of when they're going to be in session? Cuz you might want to be aware as far as community-wise, when they're going to start seeing our our children back out um running up and down, and and and the buses picking them up, and things like that.

Female Speaker

Yes. Starts on August--

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

Mhm. August 31st for sixth graders.

Female Speaker

Middle and high school start a couple days later, I think.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

September 1st?

Female Speaker

Yes.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

So on the um district calendar, Capital School District calendar, they have August 31st, K through 6th and 9th grade will begin, that will be their first day. And September 1st will be 7th through 8th grade as well as 10th through the 12th grade. Okay? Just to put that out there.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

Um, also I want to bring up um, I'm not I'm not sure who has who knows about, but um Trump has signed into uh his bill allowing um... um certificate programs to--

Chairperson

be, um, funded by Pell Grants.

Chairperson

And that that's a new -- I'm not really sure how how impactful, uh, people find that to be. However, uh, you know, if you're eligible, uh, you can take full advantage of that, and and we can have, um, Ms. Wanda, uh, Holifield, who is the I think she chairs the Workforce Development Board, uh, come in and speak a little bit more on that. However, that is out there for our public where, you know, the Pell Grant will pay for certificate programs.

Chairperson

Usually, the Pell Grant is for higher learning, uh, college credits only. However, uh, it, Donald Trump, President Trump has signed into effect that, uh, we can use Pell Grants for certificate programs.

Chairperson

That's very impactful. So, let's say you're a Delaware family and you have a high school student that's going to graduate and take advantage of the Inspire Scholarship. That might be motivational and inspiring for the parent to go back to school.

Chairperson

They might want to change their occupation. They might not want to go to get college credits, or they might want to because you can get do college credits through workforce development as well.

Chairperson

So, it, you know, a lot of a lot of folks do not know that. Um, however, um, there's going to be some, um, educational awareness workshops, uh, and that will that information will be presented in more detail. Okay? Just something good to know.

Chairperson

Um, also, on the School, uh, Programs Committee, um, Commissioner Roach, you have any updates? Commissioner Flemming? Okay.

Chairperson

Uh, moving on to the Bylaws Committee. Uh, Ms. Commissioner White, do you have any updates at this time regarding any bylaws or any questions or concerns?

Faye White

No, not at this time. Thank you.

Chairperson

Um, I'm also a part of that committee and and Commissioner Bogle, who's not here tonight. However, um, I just want to, um, express that, um, I hope we are looking at not just the bylaws, but our strategic planning, uh, and and and look at, uh, some of the other, uh, governing documents that we have to look at, um, for some updating. Um, I've been looking at it myself and and I will reach out, uh, to my fellow commissioners, um, just to ask you to look at, uh, specific sections, um, to see how we might be able to, you know, keep the same verbiage or change it, okay?

Chairperson

Um, thank you, Ms. Anthony-Williams, don't forget.

Ms. Anthony-Williams

You're welcome.

Chairperson

Okay. Um, also, with the moving right along, the Finance Committee...

Chair

We will be expected to um um spend some funds, use some funds for the um for the particulars for our new commissioner uh Jordan Spencer. Um I believe we need to make sure he has uh his uniform.

Chair

All right, I see I see you got it came in the mail with the name cards, we are on top. So, would to know um exactly how much. You do? Can you tell me what we spent?

Female Speaker

Yeah, it was $27.24, and the cards um was $34.19, $61.43.

Chair

You have a total on that?

Female Speaker

Yeah, total was $61.

Chair

Oh, 61, okay.

Female Speaker

43 cents, $61.43.

Chair

61.43 was the total for uh Mr. Spencer's uniform, which included the shirt and the cards. Um that's all we spent so far, which is the reason why I was saying we we can we can do some vending, okay, and and get ourselves out there and, um, you know, whatever we need to uh pay for the vending cost um just to be aware of. All right.

Committee Member

Question one, do we have any marketing tools such as pens or pads or something to distribute when you vend?

Chair

Uh Miss Wheeler, can we prepare ourselves for some marketing tools? Can we look into pens, um maybe some brochures? That means we'll have to take some photos. I'm sure of the system. Yep, this is what you asked for, marketing. It comes with photos. It comes with um social media and and and some other things, so prepare yourselves uh we that that's come with a cost as well as I was informed and and it was a recommendation uh given to me by uh Council President Neil um that we might want to look into um um maybe like a a a intern, a couple of interns from our uh institutions that can help provide some interns um and help with our intake. He also suggested that we look into maybe um providing a a stipend um for those uh interns. Uh we I was shocked myself. Uh but but I have it on record in the email. Um so just to, you know, I'm I'm not here to dictate everything, but just to let us uh be aware of of what some folks may be expecting of us and recommending to us, and I don't have any problem with that. Uh matter of fact, I have um uh two uh

Roy Sudler, Jr.

um prospects here this evening uh and and we might look to um, you know, use them as as such in that capacity. Um we have Miss Kayla Lucas as well as you can stand up and raise your hand uh as well as uh Miss Dior Wiggins and they are both um uh mass communication majors. So um you know, just seeing give them a little overview. I asked them to come down this evening and to see how we run things, how we operate and to think about maybe um doing those things for us. Any questions?

Unknown Speaker

Dr. Sudler, if I'm understanding correctly, we can use our budget for the stipends for the interns?

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Yes, that was the recommendation by Councilman uh President Council.

Unknown Speaker

Just wanted to get a clarification, cuz I know it's questionable if what we can do for training and all that, but just want to make sure if we're going to do it, it's all right.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Yes, sir.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Commissioner Fleming, it's good to see you this evening. Would you like to bring anything to the floor?

Fleming

No, I have nothing, Dr. Sudler.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Thank you.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

It's continuous in a while. Commissioner Rocha, I was about to call you.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

It's always a pleasure to see you.

Gerald L. Rocha, Sr.

It's good being here. I don't have anything in particular, but I think that this meeting has been very informative.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Commissioner Mullen?

Mullen

I just want to just re-emphasize again on the marketing tool. Whatever we do, can we look in a magazine or something? I'm I'm sort of tired of just existing and doing nothing. So whatever that marketing tool, let it be informational, you know, some information that people can utilize, like you hear it all the time they don't even know that we exist. So at least have some, you know, some contact information on there, um something that they can maybe like I was just sitting here thinking like maybe a magnet, you know, they can stick on their refrigerator, so if they need us, they have access.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Did you did you um did you hear that Miss Willer? Look into uh magnets, look into uh What about uh um what do we did the the automotive signs and the automotive wrapping?

Mullen

Whatever it takes to get the message out.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Did you hear that uh Commissioner White? Do you want to bring anything to the floor, Commissioner White?

Roy Sudler, Jr.

I believe you have to hit the button.

White

Are we still going to meet, I think it's in September, if I'm not mistaken, with the commissioner here? I mean with council and...

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Yes.

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Yes.

White

Is that date accurate?

Roy Sudler, Jr.

Miss Willer?

Chair

What is that, B? Is it September the 10th? I believe it's September the 10th, uh 5:00 p.m., which is an hour before the City Council meeting. We are asked as a commission to meet with City Council. September 10th, 5:00 p.m., and it'll be here in Council Chambers.

Faye White

Are you able to speak a little closer?

Chair

It's, um, it could it's it's going to address um the communications between City Council and Dover Human Relations. How we operate and how we will dialogue between each other. If you notice, um, I'm not really sure where our liaison is this evening, but um just the communication and connection between the two com- the two bodies is what we will be addressing. So it shouldn't be a long meeting. I actually plan to just be there and hear what their solution is uh because they are the governing body that controls us, so whatever they say, how we're supposed to uh go go on accordingly, we will follow. So I'm only there to listen to hear um how or what they've come up with on how we will communicate back and forth um on a more beneficial uh dialogue and and more purposeful meeting, okay?

Chair

And that will be 5:00 p.m., which is one hour before the City Council meeting. So it shouldn't take us long if if, um, they come and and they know exactly how they want to, um, you know, address us and and give us our instructions.

Faye White

And will that individual be in in attendance?

Chair

Hopefully all of them will be in attendance and they all can give their uh opinions and recommendations and then go ahead and vote and we can get this over with. And we can know what to expect.

Faye White

We don't have to send proxies for that particular person that we're discussing?

Chair

Um, I'm not really sure, but we're we're discussing everybody.

Faye White

Thank you very much. Okay.

Chair

You're quite welcome. Now we have to- remember, um, Commissioner White does not use too much of the technology that we all use. She has, so she has some special requests uh which she has the right to do. If if you notice, we might be in the electronic age, but in the Electronics Act, if you read it, you always have to have the paper on on hand, right with you. So for those who do not uh use electronics right away, you still have what the original comes from. Thank you, Commissioner White.

Faye White

Yes, I do appreciate that.

Chair

Thank you. We appreciate all you do as well.

Faye White

Thank you.

Chair

Commissioner Spencer, do you have anything to bring to the floor?

Commissioner Spencer

Um, I do not have anything to add, uh, just some thoughts and we can uh, that we can meet at another time uh and kind of discuss a little bit further. Um, but I do think uh for- as a body we should also have a stronger presence. I'm also going to volunteer my time for this Saturday. Um, if we can't uh get the vendor table um up and going, I'm happy to still

Spencer

represent, probably.

Commission Chair

Thank you. We appreciate that, Commissioner Spencer. Um, before we adjourn, I just want to make light of um some things that we will have to address. Uh, we will not be running from um what is happening in our community. Um, I'm not really sure if everybody is aware of of some particular events that had taken place, but one of them um has to deal with the arrest of a young lady which may have been um, you know, wrong identity and and how that particular thing was handled. Uh, as we receive more concerns from our citizens uh from Dover and more information, uh we will definitely have to uh address what does take place in our community and make some recommendations to our City Council. Um, so please keep your ears open, your eyes open, um and if you need to read more about it, um I'm sure you can find out things um through our community members as well as um the Delaware Online news. Um, so please um just just want to give you a heads up. Um, I I did expect um a little bit more this evening, um however it may not have touched down the way that I was thinking, um but it has touched down into our communities and and and our home. So um, please be expected to uh get ready to address particulars that are happening in our community um that already took place and and things that are still taking place. Um, and and there's going to be some some policies that we will have to look at um and make some recommendations on some of those policies and some ideas as well. And they will um address some concerns that our citizens have regarding the Dover Police, Dover City Council, um and and some other possibilities like state legislation and advocating for for some particulars and some uh advocating for some for other policies to be looked at and maybe changed, kept the same, or even um disposed of. So um, you please be be prepared for that and and that's all I want to say about that. I believe we're into our second hour and and um I want to appreciate everybody hanging in there this evening. Uh, we did need to hear a lot from from our uh constituents. And thank you, Ms. Bonnie, uh Mr. Reggie, um and and uh definitely uh Mr. Williams has has gone, but I believe it's the Carrington family, definitely, um uh Mr. Dwayne and and is it Nakeisha? Yes, thank you for coming out, okay. And our two uh prospects, um we appreciate you showing up, um just to find out what might be in store for you if you decide to um want to uh join us and and do a little internship here, okay. Um, I think we took care of old business and we've we've spoken a little bit on what our new business might be coming about, so

Chair

Um, I have nothing else to bring to the floor this evening. Uh, I will take a motion to adjourn.

Commissioner Faust

I make the motion to adjourn.

Commissioner Spencer

I second the motion to adjourn.

Chair

It's been properly moved and seconded by Commissioner Faust, Commissioner White, and Commissioner Spencer for us to adjourn. Um, any any questions on the motion? Any questions on the motion? Any questions on the motion? All those in favor to adjourn? All those who oppose have the same right. Aye. Uh...

Faye White

Before we close, Mr. Chairman?

Chair

Yeah. Hold on, we have a motion on the floor. We're on...

Faye White

Just a suggestion.

Chair

We voted to um all all was in favor to for the motion. So um the those opposed had the same right. Motion carried. Miss White?

Faye White

I just wanted to uh ask uh in each and every division that you represent, uh have you had any um break-ins for the Kia cars? In building uh two, um one two, uh parking lot one, two, and three, we have had uh break-ins in uh the Kia I think it's IKEA, am I saying that right? And they're doing the steering wheels, and they're just tearing the um tearing them apart. There were three individuals that were captured, but usually when you capture them, teenagers, they are let out. So what happened, we're having a lot of break-ins now, and uh soon if you do that in a parking lot, then what's going to happen next? They're going to come into the building. So, um

Chair

So, um

Faye White

So, I'm just saying if you all haven't in your area in the in the community...

Chair

First of all, the automobile...

Faye White

Yeah, the Kia.

Chair

...is Kia.

Faye White

Well, IKEA...

Chair

Now, IKEA is is is um, you know, a nice shopping place, you know, and they go in there, they might get lost, so they're going to get caught trying to get out of IKEA. However, um

Faye White

I just brought that to your attention.

Chair

Definitely. Thank you for your...

Faye White

...because they don't really, you know, we have senior citizens who have to have like full coverage and uh liability. And and if and if we have to have that to deal with the parking lot, but yet with someone breaking the cars, then uh that's it. So I just wanted to let you all know in your geographic area if you all haven't, if you haven't had that experience, you just might have it, so just be on the lookout. Thank you very much.

Chair

Thank you, Commissioner White. We appreciate it. Everybody, have a great evening.