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Recognizing Black History month in the City of Saint Paul for the month of February and uplifting the local work of Proceed, Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. Paul Johnson and "Mama" Jo Ann Clark.
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WHEREAS, Black History is our United States history, and the City of Saint Paul recognizes the dire need for accurate portrayals of the influential contributions made from Black communities; in our schools, our literature, in our production of knowledge, and in our own chamber walls;
WHEREAS, Black History Month is a chance to make visible historic inequities that our present-day leaders strive to correct, including systemic discrimination perpetrated through redlining and racial covenants, access to housing, environmental injustice and the removal of Saint Paul’s Rondo neighborhood - the center of Saint Paul’s African American business, residential, spiritual and cultural life - for the construction of Interstate 94; and
WHEREAS, from the East Side to Rondo and everywhere else across Saint Paul, Black people, families, neighborhoods and communities have been part of Saint Paul history in a foundational way, weaving a rich tapestry of multi-cultural traditions that celebrate Black wellbeing, Black accomplishments, Black resistance and Black experiences across the spectrum; and
WHEREAS, The City of Saint Paul celebrates our extraordinary Black communities who have given their collective efforts, energy, and spirit to breaking down barriers and striving to create a city that ensures equal opportunity, economic security and civil rights for all; and
WHEREAS, through public policy and investments in every area of life, the City is committed to upholding the wellbeing of our residents with a focus on racial equity and investment in Black communities and economic prosperity, from the Inheritance Fund that supports displaced Rondo homeowners in accessing homeownership again, to city rental assistance support, to business assistance programs and economic development initiatives that focus on Black business owners and development opportunities, and more; and
WHEREAS, In 2023, the City of Saint Paul also established the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission, a Council commission that aspires to begin to repair the damage caused by public and private systemic racism in the City of Saint Paul through giving recommendations to the Council on strategies to grow equity and generational wealth, closing the gaps in home ownership, health care, education, employment and pay, and fairness within criminal justice among the American descendants of chattel slavery; and
WHEREAS in February 1926, historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson initiated the first Negro history week to recognize the important contribution made to our nation’s life and culture by Black citizens ; and
WHEREAS in 1975 President Ford issued a message on the observance of Black History week and in 1976 the Association for the study of African American history and life, founded by Dr. Woodson expanded the commemoration from a week long observance to Black History Month; and
WHEREAS during Black history month historians and communities alike recognize the entirety of Black history in America that includes the involuntary enslavement of African people being brought to America through chattel slavery as early as the 17th century, injustices of lynch mobs, impacts of segregation and denial of fundamental rights of citizenship; and
WHEREAS we recognize that despite these challenges, Black people in America possessed innovation, ingenuity, invention, creativity, resilience, and genius that has transformed American History; and
WHEREAS the Saint Paul City Council recognizes that resilience, innovation, and genius still exist within our current Black History and all throughout the city, including the East Side of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS the East Side of Saint Paul is home to many Black community members, organizations, faith leaders, and businesses that aim to further Black history and legacy through dedicating years of their lives towards direct community service; and
WHEREAS the East Side of Saint Paul is home to Progressive Missionary Baptist Church and Progressive Missionary Baptist Church has served the Saint Paul, MN, community since 1992; and
WHEREAS Progressive Missionary Baptist Church founded the organization Proceed 27 years ago as a progressive center for education and economic development with a goal to impact the Saint Paul community and bridge disparities within employment, education, youth enrichment, health, and civic community; and
WHEREAS Proceed is led by many Black, African American trailblazers including but not limited to the leadership of their board of directors, Ms. Darlene Scott, Mr Robert Doty, Ms. Jo Ann Clark, Ms. Kim White, Rev. Dr. Melvin Miller, Mr. Duane Dutrieuille, Ms. Niceta Thomas, Ms. Margo Britten, Mr. Theodore Rose, Mr. Kevin Pattain, Sr.; and
WHEREAS they seek to provide positive alternatives to the challenges within their community such as poor educational outcomes, substandard economic conditions, health disparities and food insecurity for those in the immediate and surrounding neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS Proceed and Progressive Baptist Church Fishes and Loaves Food Shelf Ministry began in the year 2007 to build a bridge between the community and the organization through services of food relief; and
WHEREAS Rev. Paul Johnson and staff administers food weekly to East Side families in need; and
WHEREAS Proceed addresses these challenges through educational programs from pre-k to college with reading proficiency, tutoring, college prep and a well-known HBCU tour initiative, tools to strengthen employment profiles regardless of education and criminal history and a food shelf with nutritional services; and
WHEREAS Proceed is embarking upon the creation of a new Youth Complex in partnership with MHealth Fairview to provide a gymnasium, classrooms, workforce development center, walking track and workout center, a full service health clinic to tackle health disparities within the Black community and the East Side with the unrelenting leadership and pioneering work of Jo Ann Clark ; and
WHEREAS longtime East Sider and Ward 7 resident, Jo Ann Clark has spent over 35 years successfully raising million dollars for youth education which includes $1 million in scholarship, college tour and care package funds. She founded the thinking college early fair that has given over 1,000 students access to higher education programs and inspires youth to think and dream bigger for their future; and
WHEREAS Jo Ann Clark’s vision to provide educational opportunities for young people and to motivate adults to actively engage in the lives of young people has continued to fuel the dream that will soon become a reality for Proceed; and so therefore
BE IT RESOLVED the Saint Paul City Council uplifts the current work of Mrs. Jo Ann Clark, Rev. Paul Johnson, Rev. Melvin Miller, Progressive Baptist Church, and Proceed, and the upcoming work of this organization during this Black History month as we recognize that Black History is still being made everyday here in our city; and therefore
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the Saint Paul City Council recognizes the Month of February as Black History in the City of Saint Paul.