The Role of the

FRIENDS

When the Court approved the landmark Collaborative Agreement in August 2002, it provided a way for individuals and organizations to actively express their support for the Agreement.  The Court did this by encouraging the formation of an advisory group of these supporters as members of the Friends of the Collaborative.

 

Friends of the Collaborative is part of the well-established American tradition of committed individuals and organizations volunteering to serve the needs of their communities.  Even before the Friends organization was created, local faith-based organizations were opening their doors to host meetings for citizens concerned about racial equity and justice in our city; business organizations were sponsoring and leading initiatives to improve neighborhood business districts; social service organizations were reaching out to at-risk youth; and civic organizations were bringing citizens together to exchange ideas on how to make Cincinnati a better place to live and work. 

 

The Friends of the Collaborative channel this civic involvement to support the Parties to the Agreement and the goals of the Agreement.  These goals have the purpose of reforming policing and improving relationships between the police and the citizens, especially those who are African American.  They are as follows:

 

First Goal:                 Police Officers and Community                                      Members Will Become Proactive                                   Partners in Community Problem                                     Solving

 

Second Goal:             Build Relationships of Respect,                                      Cooperation and Trust Within and                                    Between Police and Communities

 

Third Goal:               Improve Education, Oversight,                                       Monitoring, Hiring  Practices and                                   Accountability of CPD

 

Fourth Goal:             Ensure Fair, Equitable, and Courteous                                    Treatment for All

 

Fifth Goal:                 Create Methods to Establish the                                      Public's Understanding of Police                                     Policies and Procedures and                                           Recognition of Exceptional Service in

                                  an Effort to Foster Support for the Police.

 

Friends of the Collaborative is a volunteer organization that supports the Parties to the Collaborative Agreement in all aspects of the Agreement. The Friends meet quarterly to  receive updates on the Collaborative Agreement and to     coordinate their work with the priorities of the Community Police Partnering Center. Meetings are hosted by the local chapter of the Urban League and are routinely held at the Urban League office on Reading Road.

 

The Friends support the Collaborative Agreement in a variety of ways.  Among these are:

· Providing meeting space for CPOP problem-solving meetings.

· Communicating news of the Collaborative Agreement to their members and the larger public through meetings, newsletters and       emailing.

· Hosting meetings to obtain public input on ideas to best achieve the goals of the         Collaborative Agreement.

· Educating the broader public on the very  important role of citizens in achieving the goals of the Collaborative Agreement and encouraging their involvement.

 

Friends of the Collaborative has grown into a vital organization over the past two years.  They have brought together experts and committed individuals from various sectors of the community to offer their ideas, their resources and their hard work to achieve the goals of the Agreement. They have involved the youth of our city in bringing their ideas to the table and rolling up their sleeves to make Cincinnati a safer and fairer place for all its citizens.

 

For more information or to become a Friend of the Collaborative, please call (513) 559-5450 or email friendscollab@gcul.org.

Providing Consultation and Support to the Parties of the Collaborative Agreement...