City representatives met with NACOLE to discuss ways to ensure that the new citizen oversight process being considered in the city is open, inclusive, and leads to an oversight structure that reflects the needs of the community.
“The decision to engage with NACOLE will help ensure greater participation from our community members,” says Mayor of Ferguson James Knowles. “We’re committed to enhancing citizen oversight and continuing to build trust between residents and our police department. By bringing in NACOLE to the process and utilizing its resources and available network of experts in citizen oversight, we hope to develop a system that can be effective and work for everyone.
The City Council has introduced legislation to establish a Citizen Review Board, which will work in conjunction with the Ferguson Police Department. This Board will be made up of community residents who are not involved in local government. The Board will work closely with the City’s administration, the Police Chief, and the community in advising and reviewing operations and actions of the Police Department.
“We commend Ferguson’s City Council for taking concrete steps toward ensuring that the City of Ferguson provides constitutional, effective, accountable policing for all residents of Ferguson,” says NACOLE President Brian Buchner. “We are committed to making our training resources, in areas such as conducting investigations and audits, risk management, and analyzing police-involved incidents, available to support the new citizen review board as it prepares to fulfill its duties.”
“By working together, we can develop the best oversight model for the City of Ferguson,” he adds.
For more information about NACOLE and civilian oversight of law enforcement, please visit http://www.nacole.org/
Attached Photo: L-R: Devin James, Founder/CEO of the Devin James Group; Ferguson Mayor Knowles, NACOLE VP, Brian Corr; Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson; and NACOLE President, Brian Buchner. Photocredit: Devin James Group
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Media Contact:
Devin James (636) 748-7455
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“It is my hope that the community center will be a place that can strengthen the community by providing residents with a place to enjoy time with each other for recreation and exercise; ultimately helping Ferguson families stay healthy and active,” says Mayor Knowles.
Who: The Mayor and City Council
What: Ferguson Community Center Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony
Where: Ferguson Community Center, 1050 Smith Avenue, Ferguson
When: Friday, September 19, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.
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Media Contact:
Devin James (636) 748-7455
[email protected]
For the City Media Hotline please call: 314-873-7975
]]>“There have been so many conversations and issues that have come up that we need to address but most importantly we wanted to begin our dialogue with the community by clearing up the misinformation that is circulating so they know exactly where we stand on things with full transparency,” says Mayor Knowles.
Who: The Mayor and City Council
What: Town Hall Meeting Addressing Misperceptions about the City of Ferguson
Where:
Ward 1- City Hall, 110 Church Street
Ward 2- Wellspring Church, 33 S. Florissant Road.
Ward 3- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 17 Hawkesbury Drive
When: Monday, September 22, 2014, 6-8 p.m.
Upcoming Town Hall Meeting Dates and Topics (Locations TBA):
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 – Addressing Communication to/from Ferguson Leadership
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 – Addressing Diversity and Racial Tension
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 – A Roadmap for Growth: Where do we go from here?
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 – Opportunities for Youth/Civic Engagement
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Media Contact:
Devin James (636) 748-7455
[email protected]
“The overall goal of these changes is to improve trust within the community and increase transparency, particularly within Ferguson’s courts and police department,” says Council Member, Mark Byrne, Ward 1. “We want to demonstrate to residents that we take their concerns extremely seriously. That’s why we’re initiating new changes within our local police force and in our courts.”
While these changes have been accomplished or are in the process of implementation, the City Council continues to explore additional changes. The Council will be holding ward meetings to hear the views of community members and anyone is welcome to contact the Council with ideas.
Specifically, the changes that are currently underway include:
The City Council has started the process to establish a Citizen Review Board to work in conjunction with the Police Department. This Board will include citizens who are not involved in local government. The Board will work closely with the City’s administration and the Police Chief in advising and reviewing operations and actions of the police department and will provide valuable input in improving operations.
At its next meeting the City Council will be introducing an ordinance that will ensure that budgeted court fine revenues remain at or below 15% of the City’s revenue and that any excess revenue is earmarked for special community projects instead of general revenue purposes. The Council believes that this ordinance sends a clear message that the fines imposed as punishment in the municipal court are not to be viewed as a source of revenue for the City. We are hopeful that the Council’s clear statement will encourage the Municipal Judge and Prosecutor to explore and utilize alternative methods of sentencing, such as community service, to punish violators and deter similar unlawful conduct.
In conjunction with this change, the Council will be introducing an ordinance that will repeal the separate offense of “Failure to Appear” in Municipal Court. So, defendants who fail to appear will no longer be charged with or fined for failing to appear in Municipal Court.
In addition, the City Council will be introducing an ordinance to abolish certain administrative fees which may impact low-income persons to a greater extent than others. The City is aiming to abolish the $25.00 administrative fee to cover the cost of police personnel who arrange for the towing of abandoned, nonfunctional or other vehicles; the city will now absorb this cost. And, the City Council will be abolishing the $50.00 warrant recall fee and the $15.00 notification fees which are both associated with municipal court cases where a defendant has failed to appear.
The Municipal Judge has signed an Order establishing a special docket for defendants who are having trouble making monthly payments on outstanding fines. Sometimes, financial circumstances change and although a defendant may have agreed to a particular payment plan when the case was first resolved, that person may now have trouble making those payments. This docket will allow those defendants another opportunity to speak to the judge and/or prosecutor about his or her financial circumstances and the possibility of modifying the payment plan or seeking alternative sentencing.
At the request of the City Council, the Municipal Judge signed an Order establishing a warrant recall program which will run from September 15, 2014, through October 15, 2014. All defendants with outstanding warrants are urged to contact the Municipal Court Clerk to obtain information about having the existing warrant recalled.
Lastly, the Council has expressed its commitment to seek funding for the West Florissant Great Streets Project in conjunction with the City of Dellwood and St. Louis County. The City will seek federal and state highway funds, streetscape grants, and other sources of funds for this Project, which will improve and revitalize the entire corridor.
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Media Contact:
Devin James (636) 748-7455
[email protected]
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Several reporters, news organizations and others asked for documents specifically pertaining to Michael Brown. One such request was made by the St. Louis Post Dispatch. On August 12, 2014, the paper requested “all documentation concerning the events leading up to and including the shooting of Michael Brown” which shall include “incident, arrest and investigative reports, 911 audio, photos and video retained by the police department.” Another request, made on August 14, 2014, by Judicial Watch requested all records relating to Michael Brown and dated between August 1, 2013, and August 9, 2014.
The Sunshine Law dictates that Governmental entities must respond to both general requests and specific requests and release all documents that are responsive to the those requests, unless those documents are otherwise closed.
The Ferguson police department retained the incident and investigative report of the store robbery which occurred less than 10 minutes before the shooting. The reports, which included the surveillance video, concerned Michael Brown. Under the Sunshine Law, the police department had no reason to close these records and withhold them from the public.
By the date of August 15, the City having reached its statutory deadline to respond to the information requests, released the store robbery reports, including the surveillance video.
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For Media Contact, please call: 314-873-7975
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Richmond, California – August 29th, 2014 – California Autism Foundation (CAF), the leading provider of full life services to people with autism and other developmental disabilities in California, today unveiled a new brand identity and announced a crowdfunding campaign. In a year marked with leadership transitioning and growth, CAF’s refreshed brand identity signals another exciting change for the non-profit.
“Over the past year, the California Autism Foundation has embraced change, transitioned to new leadership, and renewed our commitment to excellence and the people that we serve,” says Leslie C. Werosh, MPA, Division Director of Operations and Compliance at CAF. “We believe that the introduction of our new brand best represents who we are and where CAF is going.”
She continues: “The new identity reflects the California Autism Foundation’s mission and we selected a bolder and brighter color palette to clearly express our vivacity. The three “person” icon forms a circle and is intricately designed to symbolize a community coming together. We feel it best represents our team’s vision, collaboration, and commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for our clients.”
CAF appointed the Devin James Group (DJG), an award-winning nationally recognized communications firm that specializes in “Communication that Benefits People” to help create a new brand for the organization. DJG is most known for infusing creativity and social leadership to help non-profits transition through accelerating growth and change.
The crowdfunding campaign (http://www.gofundme.com/doffts) is part of the 31st Anniversary campaign. CAF is funded via state and federal reimbursement for services provided to their clients. Services that are needed beyond that are up to CAF figure out how to fund. So CAF wanted to find a new way to be able to raise funds to continue to operate additional programs. Unlike other autism organizations, CAF is a 31 year old 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct services to children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Werosh adds: “CAF does not conduct research but aims to support individuals through evidence-based approaches and best practices in the educational, vocational, residential, and employment modalities for serving people with disabilities. We employ 133 staff who support 175 people with autism and developmental disabilities each day.”
She continues: “Without your support, our programs are dependent only on government funding. That’s why your support at any amount is critical to continuing CAF’s mission of providing people with autism and other developmental disabilities the best possible opportunities for lifetime support, training and assistance to help them reach their highest potential for independence, productivity and fulfillment.”
To view CAF’s new logo and brand identity, visit their website at www.calautism.org.
To support/view the crowdfunding campaign, visit http://www.gofundme.com/doffts
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About California Autism Foundation:
The mission of the California Autism Foundation is to provide people with autism and other developmental disabilities the best possible opportunities for lifetime support, training and assistance to help them reach their highest potential for independence, productivity, and fulfillment.
Media Contact:
Devin James, PR Manager
[email protected]
(510) 995-0962
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Richmond, California – August 21st, 2014 – California Autism Foundation (CAF), the leading provider of full life services to all people with autism and other developmental disabilities in California, has just announced their 31st anniversary gala, with the theme: “Celebrating Our Past. Defining Our Future.” The gala will be held on Friday, October 17th, 2014, at The Box SF in San Francisco, CA.
The gala will serve as a platform for introducing CAF’s new brand and new leadership team, who embody the non-profit’s important mission of providing people with autism and other developmental disabilities the best possible opportunities.
“We can’t wait to show off the new CAF to California,” says Valisha Fullard, the Executive Director of the California Autism Foundation. “The gala will demonstrate just how CAF has made a difference in our community, and share our plans for an even larger impact for people with autism and other developmental disabilities in the future.”
The CAF Gala will feature a premium open bar with a cocktail hour from 6-7 pm, a special celebrity guest, and heavy hors d’oeuvres from 7-9:30 pm. The gala will also feature a silent auction. All proceeds will benefit CAF’s continued efforts to improve the quality of life for people with autism, including outreach programs, educational and vocational training, and residential programs. After the silent auction, guests can dance the night away to amazing live music by Dirty Cello.
WHO: California Autism Foundation
WHAT: 31st Year Celebration Fundraising Gala
WHEN: Friday, October 17th, 2014 from 6-10pm
WHERE: The Box SF http://www.theboxsf.com 1069 Howard Street in San Francisco, California.
Guests are encouraged to wear causal cocktail attire.
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About California Autism Foundation:
The mission of the California Autism Foundation is to provide people with autism and other developmental disabilities the best possible opportunities for lifetime support, training and assistance to help them reach their highest potential for independence, productivity, and fulfillment.
Media Contact:
Devin James, PR Manager
[email protected]
(510) 995-0962
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It is our hope that as we continue to work for the wellbeing of Ferguson, residents will stay home at night, allow peace to settle in, and allow for the justice process to take its course. We owe it to our children to be able to return to school and work together peacefully for Ferguson’s future.
We plan to learn from this tragedy, as we further provide for the safety of our residents and businesses and progress our community through reconciliation and healing.
We have been working in the recent days to build upon our many existing community relationships to establish new and healing dialogue, to listen to our community, and commit to long term engagement.
Our Mayor, members of the City Council, and City employees have been meeting with residents in addition to religious and elected leaders to establish immediate, intermediate and long-term solutions to the concerns raised as a result of this devastating series of events.
We are exploring a range of actions that are intended for the community to feel more connected to and demonstrate the transparency of our city departments, including:
• Commitment to support county wide programs to increase number of African American applicants to the law enforcement academy and to our and neighboring communities’ police forces.
• Commitment to develop programs and incentives to encourage residency of police officers in the City of Ferguson.
• Commitment to raise funds and secure dash and vest cams for our patrol cars.
• Commitment to work with local school districts and educational institutions to further engage the young people in the area providing better resources for their continued growth.
• Commitment to rebuild and enhance the West Florissant business district providing additional jobs.
• Commitment to expand and enhance the school resource officer program.
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]]>1. Video Messages: Skype, Facetime and other instant messaging services are awesome when you have time to sit still but my business is always on the go so I mostly rely on services like Glide. My family and I all have accounts and we send video messages throughout the day. I can’t tell you how impactful a simple video with an “I love you” message and a smile is in terms of helping you get through a stressful day and how it makes them feel like they are still a priority.
2. Instagram: To make jokes and do funny things I turn to Instagram. For example, I will record short clips from different portions of my day and add a little humor. This allows you to kind of bring your family along for the ride each day which also keeps life interesting and provides something you all can look back on and discuss when you do get a chance to catch up in person. It’s like a “highlight” reel. Sometimes when I get home we hook my iPad up to the TV and just watch videos from my trips and discuss what was going on each day.
3. Photoprints as Postcards: Then I use the Walgreens app to upload my favorite pics from each trip (I make it a point to take a few selfies with landmarks in each city) to create 4×6 prints and postcards that I mail to the kids from each city which also gives them something tangible to look forward to every week.
4. Xbox Live: Then finally to take engagement to the next level I travel with my Xbox and my kids and I carve out time every night to play together online via Xbox Live. We put on our headsets, pop in NBA 2k14, Fight Night or a Racing games and we spend quality time playing as teams and head to head. On the weekends we hold tournaments that really get everyone engaged and this really helps eliminate some of the separation anxiety.
Photo by Amanda Tipton Photo by Glide
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PRE-EVENT TACTICS
1. Branded Theme – Whenever you do an event you have to develop a theme that will achieve unified messaging, both literal and visual (internal and external), that positions your event as one of the most sought-after tickets in town.
2. Marketing Materials – You have to create amazing marketing materials, i.e. “the Deck”, Save the Date cards, Invitations, Sponsorship packets and Press Kit should answer all the questions; who, what, when, and why should I be involved
3. Build rapport and create brand-building partnerships with corporations and other community focused organizations to leverage their sphere of influence for sponsorship and attendance. This is extremely important! No event is going to be successful without Stakeholder engagement.
EVENT KICK-OFF TACTICS:
1. Once you’re within a few days of the event; no matter the size of the event, you want to schedule a press event featuring political, corporate and community figures and anchors/reporters from local TV media outlets to build excitement and participation. This will also boost credibility!
2. Conduct local TV Morning show story pitching to secure appearances for the spokesperson to be featured. Alert and pitching should include call for potential corporate sponsors as well as promote current sponsors.
Wrap-up – If you have the skill sets and connections use these tips and execute them properly and you will definitely improve your attendance for upcoming events. If you don’t, hire a PR/Event Firm. (Mild suggestion, Devin James Group lol)
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