Title
Declaring December 15, 2016 Readus Fletcher Day in the City of Saint Paul.
Body
Whereas, Readus Fletcher’s Saint Paul roots run deep. Born and raised in Saint Paul by a proud African American family, his father was the first African American to get a Saint Paul streetcar license and his mother modeled for famed photographer Gordon Parks;
Whereas, Readus Fletcher, a native son of the Rondo neighborhood, treasures the value of the Rondo community, the significance of its history, and has never stopped advocating for the residents of Rondo;
Whereas, Readus Fletcher has dedicated his career to public service, economic equity for businesses and residents, and increasing workforce opportunities for young people of color;
Whereas, Readus Fletcher started with the City of Saint Paul in 1975 as an aide to Bill Wilson, Saint Paul’s first black council member, and later pioneered early minority business development efforts in the department of Planning and Economic Development;
Whereas, in 2008, Readus Fletcher led efforts to create the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity, and has since served as Director and Deputy Director of Human Rights and Contract Compliance and Business Development;
Whereas, Readus Fletcher has served on countless boards, commissions, and organizations dedicated to improving opportunities for the youth, the workforce and the small business community in Saint Paul;
Whereas, Readus Fletcher has been a tireless champion of civil rights and advocated for all Saint Paul communities, from individuals living with disabilities to local disadvantaged businesses;
Whereas, Readus Fletcher has provided wise counsel and sound guidance to community partners, city leadership, and five different City of Saint Paul Mayors, for over 40 years;
Whereas, Readus Fletcher has serenely led generations of grateful employees through times of stability and times of volatility;
Whereas, a great multitude of colleagu...
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