May 1, 2003
1. Description of Plaintiff Class
The class has been defined by the federal court as:
All African-American or Black persons and people perceived as such who reside, work in and/or travel on public thoroughfares in the City of Cincinnati, Ohio either now or in the future and who are stopped, detained, or arrested by Cincinnati Police Officers or their agents, and citizens of any race who have been or will be subjected to a use of force by Cincinnati police officers and their agents.
The Court has approved the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation (ACLU) as a class representative.
2. Duties of Class Representative and Class Counsel.
There are two main tasks facing the class representative. First, the representative and class counsel must act on behalf of the class to insure that the Plaintiffs, City and the FOP are meeting the terms of the Collaborative Agreement. This includes the use of force reforms, the fairness terms, the citizen complaint authority, and the responsibilities of these parties under the terms relating to community problem oriented policing (CPOP). Second, the representative and class counsel must ensure that the community becomes fully engaged in CPOP. That means the community must learn about CPOP, be trained in problem solving, and invited to participate in the problem solving groups being developed by CAN and eventually by the Community Police Partnering Center. Moreover, the class representative must continue to educate the class and the community about the goals of the collaborative, including responsibility for mutual accountability under the agreement.
3. Duties of the Advisory Panel.
The class representative will be greatly aided in accomplishing these two broad tasks by ACLU members and others who will serve on an advisory panel in Cincinnati, Ohio. This panel includes individuals with institutional reform litigation experience, small business owners in the African American community who know the residents and understand their needs, individuals who have been arrested and incarcerated and who now work to divert others from the criminal justice system, educators, ministers and others who know the community and can communicate well with the community.
Working with these individuals and many more like them, the ACLU will insure that the implementation of the collaborative proceeds in a vigorous manner. Moreover, the ACLU will tap the work of the many established organizations that have agreed to serve as “Friends of the Collaborative” including the NAACP Cincinnati Branch, the Urban League, and others. Finally, the plaintiff class has been the driving force behind the Community Police Partnering Center. This organization was developed to lead problem-solving groups across the city and serve a critical role in implementing CPOP. The board of the Center includes representatives from the Urban League, NAACP, FOP, City, Cincinnati CAN and the plaintiffs. The Advisory Panel will help the Friends and the Center Board connect thoroughly with the community and be successful with all segments of the community.
4.Advisory Panel Biographical Information.
George Beatty: Beatty is a graduate of Withrow High School class of 1968. Beatty then attended and graduated with a B.A. from Antioch college in 1973. Member of National Association of Security Dealers, President West-End community council 1999-2001, President of Genesis 1999-2001 and Precinct executive democratic party-1D. Beatty currently is President of the East End Pendleton Heritage Center and Owner and entrepeneur- Junebugs Barbeque, 1800 Linn Street in the West-end.
Charles Bronson is a lifelong resident of Greater Cincinnati and 40 year resident of Kennedy Heights. Bronson served in various capacities for Hamilton County, and worked on community development programs at the United Way, Community Action Commission, and the City of Cincinnati. A graduate of Walnut Hills HS and Kenyon College, he served on the Kennedy Heights Community Council and is a past board member of H.O.M.E. As parent of his daughter Mona, he was the named plaintiff and client liaison in the school desegregation lawsuit Bronson v. Cincinnati Board of Educ. from its filing through implementation of the settlement agreement.
James “Jim” Clingman: Founder and former president of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce (AACC), established in 1996. Clingman has enjoyed a successful career in business management, marketing, and training in the public and private sectors serving as General Manager for Segmented Marketing Services, Inc. and Program Director for several employment and training organizations, and operating his own consulting/training business since 1988. Named in George Fraser’s SuccessGuide Millennium as a “Speaker to watch … Thoughtful and pragmatic,” Clingman is the former Editor of the Cincinnati Herald Newspaper. He was an APPLAUSE! Magazine 1995 Imagemaker Award finalist for his journalistic work and won the 1999 Imagemaker Award for Entrepreneurship. He has written and published four books. His column, Blackonomics, is carried by hundreds of newspapers across the nation as well as in professional journals, magazines, on the Internet, and in organizational publications. He has also been featured in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s annual meeting journal and numerous other publications. Clingman developed and teaches a course on Black Entrepreneurship at the University of Cincinnati; he frequently speaks at symposiums and conferences, and hosts the weekly radio show, “Blackonomics” on WDBZ – “The Buzz” 1230AM, Cincinnati, Ohio (www.1230thebuzz.com). A native of Cincinnati and dedicated member of the Gray Road Church of Christ, Jim is also a community activist and volunteers for many positive efforts. He led a team to establish an entrepreneurship high school in Cincinnati, which opened in August 2002. He is a University of Cincinnati cum laude graduate and was awarded a full academic scholarship to the graduate School of Economics. Jim is married and has one child.
Jackie Gaines is an active citizen in the city of Cincinnati. Having lost her son to a very senseless killing by another teenage black male Jackie overcame depression and anger to work to help others. For years, she has channeled her energy to stop violence and murder among black young men. Gaines is an active member of Mothers of Murdered Sons and Daughters (M.O.M.S.). Every week Gaines can be found on a Cincinnati street corner in the most dangerous neighborhoods talking to young men and women. Each time another mother loses her son or daughter to another senseless killing in Cincinnati, Jackie seeks out the suffering family and offers comfort, support, resources for a proper burial and prayer.
Mary Gladden, member of Carmel Presbyterian Church, holds a Bachelor and Masters Degree from the University of Cincinnati. Mrs. Gladden received her certification in Supervision, Counseling, and Administration from Xavier University and her certification in Administrative Research from the University of Cincinnati. Mrs. Gladden is currently on the Executive committee of Hughes High School Trustee Board and employed as a part time consultant for High Schools That Work-South West Ohio. Mrs. Gladden's former employment was as principal of R.A Taft High School from 1997 through 2001 and a part time administrator for CPS Human Resources from 1994 through 1997. Mrs. Gladden is a member of Cincinnati Youth Collaborative’s Girl’s Club mentoring program at Hoffman Elementary School, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Strive for Excellence program at Taft High School.
Rev. Eugene Godhigh serves as of Christ Our Redeemer African Methodist Episcopal Church, member of the executive board of the Cincinnat branch of the NAACP, is president of the Interdenomational Ministerial Alliance, president of the Greater Cinti. African Methodist Episcopal Church Alliance, and is a member of the Over the Rhine Community Problem Oriented Policing (CPOP) Team.
Rev. Paula Jackson: Born 1952, Springfield MO. BA 1974, Univ.MO St.Louis; Graduate studies (Psych) SIU-Edwardsville and Texas Christian Univ; MDiv. 1979, PhD. (Theology) 1985, Southern Bap. Theol. Seminary. Episcopal priest since 1986, serving as Vicar of St. George's Louisville, Associate at Christ Church Cinti., and since 1990 Rector at Church of Our Saviour Mt. Auburn. Served on CPRP. Member of Faith Community Alliance of Greater Cinti. Prince Johnson, II. Graduate Hughes H.S., 2002, current student at Xavier University. Raised in Evanston. Mr. Johnson serves a tutor and will be interning this summer as a community worker in the Evanston neighborhood. He is eager to help draw young people into the collaborative efforts.
Rev. W. Peterson Mingo: Pastor since 1990, Christ Temple Full Gospel Baptist Church. Graduate, Temple Bible College. U.S.M.C. Board member, Coalition for Drug-Free Cincinnati, member of Baptist ministers Conference, Evanston Community Council. Founder, Evanston Bulldogs Youth Athletic Association and Evanston Rites of Passage. Coach, youth athletics (19 years).
Minister James Muhammed attended Cincinnati Public Schools and University of Cincinnati. Minister of Muhammed’s Mosque No. 5 since 1990. Raised in Cincinnati’s West End, Minister Muhammed became in youth-related activities in his early 20’s through the West End Community Council and a group he formed, Grass Roots, to work with troubled teens and youth. In 1971 Minister Muhammed began working with Seven Hills Neighborhood House, serving at risk youth. In that capacity he coordinated a citywide conference on youth-oriented drug involvement in Cincinnati. At the West End Drop In Center, he coordinated a gang truce. He has received numerous awards.
Michelle Taylor-Mitchell: Graduate Univ. Cincinnati 1986 in social work. Raised in Walnut Hills, Ms. Taylor-Mitchell has been active in social justice work for three decades, starting with her work on Community Action Agency’s Head Start program in 1973. Participant in community councils in Winton Terrace, Findlater Gardens, Avondale, Over the Rhine. She has served on the staff of the Association for Home Care Agencies, Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, and the Hamilton County Department of Human Services. She is currently involved in a number of community groups, including the OTR Contact Center, Cincinnati Black United Front, the Mental Health Roundtable, and Avondale Community Council, and remains committed to Head Start as a policy council representative. She is the mother of four children and grandmother of thirteen grandchildren.
Wendell Young: Born and raised in Cincinnati. Attended Cinti. Public Schools (Hughes High School 1963). U.S. Air Force: Active duty from August 1963- January 1967. Cincinnati Police Department from April 1967 – June 1992; At time of retirement in 1992, was Sergeant in command of the CPD Recruiting Unit. Training Sergeant at the Cincinnati Police Academy. School Resource Officer at Withrow High School from 1977 –1984. City of Cincinnati Assistant Director of Personnel/Equal Employment Opportunity Officer: June 1992- August 1999. Cincinnati Police Academy: Assistant to the Academy Commander: August 1999 – August 2000. Metropolitan Sewer District: August 2000 – Present; MSD Diversity Manager & Training Institute Director. In 1995, nominated by U.S. Senator Howard Metzenbaum (D-Ohio) for the post of U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Ohio. President of The Sentinel Police Association: 1979 – 1984. President of the Cincinnati Branch NAACP: 1984 – 1986. Past president: Cincinnati Chapter of National Forum For Black Public Administrators. Past Board Member of Cincinnati Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Past on-air reader for Radio Reading Services. Married with two children. Attended the University of Cincinnati and The Union Institute.
