'Yes' Prevails At CAJE Nehemiah Action

Four social-justice issues brought more than 1,300 people to Evansville’s Old National events Plaza on May 8 for the 2017 Nehemiah Action organized by Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment.

As in past years, CAJE representatives explained the issues – and recommended solutions – to the crowd before calling up civic leaders and asking them for commitments to pursue those solutions. On this night, “Yes” prevailed unanimously.

“This is not a political agenda,” said Rev. Larry Rascoe, pastor of Evansville’s Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church. “We come together as a community to do justice.”

Father Ed Schnur, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Poseyville and St. Wendel Parish in St. Wendel, serves on CAJE leadership, and he expanded on Rev. Rascoe’s comments.

“We come together as faith communities to harness people power … to make Vanderburgh, Warrick and Posey counties better places to live,” Father Schnur said.

Following is a summary of the issues and recommended actions from the event.

Crisis Intervention

CAJE continued its push for development of a mental-hearlth crisis-intervention program that would provide help to offenders instead of just jail time. In 2016, Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke agreed to form a commission to study the concept.

This year, he returned with Wyeth Hatfield, Director of Social Services and Outreach for ECHO Community to Health, and agreed to take the next steps. Specifically, at CAJE’s request, the mayor and Hatfield agreed to present a strategic plan for development of a mental-health crisis-intervention center by September. They also agreed to conduct a study of current mental-health services in the community and report the findings to the Mental Health Commission by January 2018.

“We have all the players at the table ( with the commission), Mayor Winnecke told the crowd. “We believe the best opportunity for success is to partner with other organizations, and we have identified two.”

Affordable Housing

Continuing its efforts to have in place and operating an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, CAJE representatives outlined its desire to move forward. Kelly Coures, Director of the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development, agreed to move forward toward adding $500,000 to the trust fund that has been earmarked for this purpose.

When asked if he would develop appropriate application and approval processes, along with guidelines for monitoring grants and repaying loans, Coures said yes – and noted that his office was already at work on these items.

Saving Lives with NARCAN

Posey County Sheriff Greg Oeth appeared to respond to CAJE requests that county law enforcement and first responders be trained on the use of NARCAN to counteract drug overdoses, and provided the life-saving medication. Oeth not only agreed, he announced that the entire country program would be in place by the end of May.

“We fight the demons of heroin and opioids every day,” he told the crowd. “We have already equipped our EMS and Corrections staffs. By the end of this month, all of our patrol cars – in fact all of the vehicles we use – will carry NARCAN.”

During this presentation, CAJE also announced that, after initially declining, the Evansville Fire Department has added NARCAN for firefighters and first responders. Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties now have NARCAN “on the streets” and saving lives as a result of CAJE’s ongoing efforts.

Second Chances

CAJE asked the Vanderburgh County Commission to budget $40,000 to fund the hiring of a second case manager for Aurora’s Reentry Program, which provides support to people who are released from prison and are returning to society. The presentation included statistics that 40 percent of the released inmates returning to Vanderburgh County who are not part of the Aurora Reentry Program will be back in jail within three years. The rate of recidivism for those in Aurora’s program is five percent.

Aurora’s program provides housing and job-placement assistance to former inmates returning to the community, and case management that promotes individual accountability.

County Commissioner Ben Shoulders said yes when CAJE asked if he would submit the $40,000 request for the 2018 budget. Four of the seven voting members of the County Council also attended the Nehemiah Action, and all answered yes when CAJE asked if they would vote to approve the expenditure. They included Council President John Montrastelle and members Mike Goebel, Angela Koehler Lindsey and Stephanie Terry.

All of those CAJE requested action from in these four areas agreed to attend the organization’s Community Problems Assembly in November to report on their progress.