Commissions seek applicants

The newly created Commission on the Status of Black Males and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission are two local authorities dedicating themselves to spreading awareness and education.\nAnd both have positions open. \nThe City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources are accepting applications to fill spots within the commissions. The newly established Status Commission, which addresses issues concerning the black community, needs people to fill all seven vacancies. At the same time, the King Commission has two vacancies -- city and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The King Commission has existed for several years and is a group dedicated to raising community awareness about King's philosophy, teachings and contributions.\nThe King Commission sponsors community events to commemorate the life and death of King. Its main event is the "A Day On! Not a Day Off," which is a community-wide effort toward community service in January to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.\nTerms for Status Commission are staggered and vary from one to two years. Mayor John Fernandez, the Common Council, the Human Rights Commission and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission appoint the positions after reviewing applicants. Applicants interested in the King Commission must live in Bloomington and applicants for Status Commission must live within Monroe County limits. \nThat means students can participate in the commissions. \nHaving vacancies open on two commissions is not atypical, said Peter Giordano, the director of the Community and Family Resources Department. He said the city has several commissions that need filling, and since the Status Commission is new, they are naturally going to have more vacancies.\n"We are really trying to move forward with this for the right reasons," he said. "I think there is sufficient interest where we can fill them in and we can begin the work that the commission is designed to do."\nThe Status Commission intends to address problems facing the black population locally and statewide.\n"Through this commission, we will focus on the political, economic, education and social issues that are adversely affecting African-American males in our own community," Fernandez said.\nCraig Brenner, the special projects coordinator for the Community and Family Resources Department for the city of Bloomington said the Status Commission is newly minted and ready to begin. The ideal candidate has knowledge and experience in a variety of areas concerning the black community, he said. \n"We are going to need someone with experience in education, in employment and criminal justice systems," Brenner said. "When we lift up one segment of society, then the whole society benefits, and that's true of our community, too."\nFor more information, call 349-3471. Applications are available through the city Web site, www.city.bloomington.in.us/clerk/boardapp.