HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/16/2019 08 Letter of Support for Opportunity Industrialization CenterITEM TITLE:
SUBMITTED BY:
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEM ENT
1
Item No. 8.
For Meeting of: April 16, 2019
Letter of support for Opportunity Industrialization Center
Cliff Moore, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Steve Mitchell, CEO of Opportunity Industrialization Center (OIC), requested a letter of support
for an application to the United States Department of Justice — Office of Juvenile Justice
Delinquency Prevention to implement a mentor program in our underserved and
underrepresented communities. Due to the deadline for this application, there was not time to
bring this to the Council Partnership Committee.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approve letter.
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
letter of support 4/12/2019 Coyer Memo
April 16, 2019
Mr. Steve Mitchell, CEO
Opportunity Industrialization Center
815 Fruitvale Blvd.
Yakima, WA 98902
Re: OJJDP Mentorship Grant
Letter of Support
To Whom It May Concern:
2
The City of Yakima is a full service municipality providing services that include municipal
court, public safety, general government, and legal services. These systems work cohesively to
deliver high-level services and initiatives to maintain an inclusive, safe and secure community
for residents and visitors. Yakima is a diverse and hard-working community, but also one that,
like many other mid-sized cities (our population is approximately 93,000), has poverty, crime,
and gang activity.
Through the City's work engaging the community about public safety, and evaluating the youth
programming currently offered within the city, we have identified a growing need for
comprehensive mentor programs aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency through mentors h.
rehabilitation, and counseling. We are in full support of the Opportunities Industrialization
Center (OIC) of Washington's application to the United States Department of Justice — Office of
Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention to implement the mentor program in our underserved
and underrepresented communities. Our commitment to this project is an extension of our
existing partnership of coordinating youth services in the community.
The City is committed t
• Assist in the participant recruitment process by providing adjudicated youth information
and referrals through the City's School Resource Officers, for the purpose of enrolling
students;
• Collaborate and assist in program development and outreach activities;
• Help OIC with mentor training, as appropriate; and
• Leverage and coordinate the City's Gang Intervention and Prevention Task Force grants
and opportunities with OIC's mentoring program, where such coordination would be
beneficial to either the mentors or juveniles participating in the mentor program.
3
Again, we are committed to working with OIC to develop and implement this program and hope
they will receive the grant.
Sincerely,
Ms. Kathy Coffey
Mayor
City of Yakima
Mr. Cliff Moore
City Manager
City of Yakima