Richard A Stevenson, Wayne Township Trustee, announced his retirement at a press conference held at his office on Superior Street on Friday, December 6, 2019. First elected in 2006, Trustee Stevenson served for 13 years as the leader of one of the . . .
“Nearly 51% of the residents of the 46803, on the southeast side of Fort Wayne, live below the poverty line, compared with only 0.7% of the residents of the 46765, in the rural Leo-Cedarville area. The statewide poverty rate is 13.5%.”
Wayne Township contains parts of nine other ZIP codes besides 46803. Across our township, over 22% percent of the population falls below the national poverty level, and a whopping 39% of our children live below that line.
Many years before I became township trustee, I worked as a staff member at the Allen County Economic Opportunity Council (now known as Brightpoint). While I had grown up experiencing some tight economic conditions, that job showed me how truly devastating and overwhelming poverty could be, damaging families, children, marriages and the community at large.
Being poor means much more than just not having enough money to pay bills. Poverty encompasses all aspects of life, from health care to child care to employment to self-esteem and mental health. It involves not just whether or not you have a job, but having a job that pays enough to support a family.
During the time I have been in office, Wayne Township has been not only a safety net but also a dedicated partner helping our clients to seek improvement and growth in themselves and their families.
During 2019 our Employment Training Center has had a record year helping clients get on their feet and find meaningful work. We did this by identifying clients’ skills, assisting them in eliminating barriers to working and then linking them with employers who were hiring. Our assistance sometimes included helping clients get their GEDs, training them in resume writing, providing them with job skills and training and giving them the confidence they needed to improve their situation.
We have also focused on the children of Wayne Township through our scholarship programs, our school supplies store, our Clothing Emporium and our food programs. Our children are our future and their potential is a beacon of hope that poverty doesn’t have to be forever.
With both Indiana’s richest and poorest ZIP codes being only 11 miles apart here it seems that Allen County is at ground zero of the income inequality problem that is raging across our nation and the world. None of us have all the answers, but as we enter another holiday season that economists predict will be a boon for retailers and the economy, here at the township we will keep thinking of and looking out for all of our citizens, especially those who are struggling.
We’ve had a real cold spell this fall that is reminding me that the winter holiday season is just around the corner. We have already filled our Christmas Bureau spots with children from our client families. And we have changed up our holiday routine . . .
While Memorial Day is the official holiday when we remember and honor military personnel who have died in the service of our country, Veterans Day is intended to recognize and thank all those, living and dead, who have honorably served in the military. . . .
On Saturday, October 12, the Wayne Township Trustee Office held the first Annual Family Fun Day at our property downtown on Superior Street. Several hundred attendees—mostly children and their families–enjoyed the brisk and sunny fall weather . . .
This Monday, October 14th is Columbus Day, one of ten federal holidays recognized nationwide by the United States Government. It’s a holiday celebrated every second Monday of October, and has been a federal holiday since 1937. There won’t be any . . .
September is bringing her usual glory this year; beautiful days when the sun seems to be coming in on a different slant, showing off the rich colors of our Midwestern autumn. Just down the road from our office on Superior Street is a new downtown treat. . . .
During the fall season the weather is cooler and many plants become dormant. Leaves change to an array of different and vibrant colors.
I’m always looking for enjoyable inexpensive events for our clients to take part in. Most of our clients . . .
I’m looking forward to attending the Annual Labor Day Picnic at Headwaters Park again this year (Monday, September 2nd, from 11AM to 3PM). It’s a big event; well over a thousand people come out for the free hot dogs and beverages and to hear some . . .
National Senior Citizens Day recognizes the contributions senior citizens make in communities across the United States. It is annually observed on August 21. Some people celebrated Senior Citizens Day on August 14 as it was the day US president Franklin . . .
Fort Wayne Community Schools will be back in session August 13th, and here at the township we are gearing up for the new school year. While some children may wish for endless summer vacation, I always kind of looked forward to the start of a new school . . .
Earlier this year I wrote about the importance of mothers and fathers in the raising of a healthy generation of young people who can not only live happy, productive lives themselves, but can help make the world a better place to live in for all people. . . .
Well, it’s been a busy time at our office for the last few months. After the deadline for applying for our two annual scholarships, the Recognizing Achievement Scholarship and the Academic Encouragement Award, we went to work reviewing the applications. . . .
I learned recently that there is a new book out by David Blight about Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), and since the 4th of July is coming up and I look forward to our local traditions of fireworks and picnics, I am also reminded of a tradition from . . .
Last month I wrote about the importance of our mothers in setting each of us on our individual paths through life by giving us their unconditional love. This month, in honor of Father’s Day, I’d like to pay tribute to the fathers in our lives who . . .
Once again I am looking forward to participating in Waynedale’s Memorial Day Parade on May 27th. This will be my 13th year to be a part of this wonderful community get-together as the Wayne Township Trustee, and I’m just as excited as the first . . .
Being the optimist that I am, I’m looking forward to a sunny and mild Mother’s Day on this Sunday, May the 12th. Mother’s are so important in our personal lives and in the life of our communities. They give an unconditional love that ideally . . .
I am often asked about the role of township government and what the Wayne Township Trustee’s Office does for our citizens. Since I am so close to what we do here every day, I sometimes forget that it is not always obvious to the general public what . . .
Soon after taking office in 2007 I saw that an economic downturn was upon us and that, besides helping people with emergency assistance, the Trustee’s office was going to need to focus on getting people back to work. With that in mind I put a strong . . .
It’s sure nice to welcome spring. After a winter of such ups and downs in temperature it’s no wonder that we have outside work to do such as potholes to fill and lawns to repair. I’m sure many of you are looking forward to some sunshine and pleasant . . .
Well, spring is just around the corner and that means we are busy with a couple of projects besides our usual township business; one project that is new for us this year is that we are a site for the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program. The Tax-Aide Program . . .
Recently an employee experienced the passing of her father. When someone I know loses a parent, I think about the loss of my parents. Some of the words to “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by the Byrds pop into my mind, “To everything, there is a season… . . .
Presidents’ Day is on February 18th this year, and a few years ago I did some research on that topic that I would like to share with you again.
When I was growing up, we didn’t have a holiday called Presidents’ Day.
There were two United States . . .
We just celebrated the national holiday commemorating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr, and now I am looking forward to Valentine’s Day.
That’s when I share my warm regards (and sometimes the gift of roses) with the ladies in my life. While . . .
Well, it’s been a wonderful holiday season for me, and now I am looking forward to all the possibilities promised by a new year. As I begin my fourth term as your Wayne Township Trustee, I feel so fortunate to be able to continue with the important . . .
Another Christmas has arrived, and here at Wayne Township we are feeling the glow of having achieved another successful Christmas Bureau Drive (serving more families and children than ever before) and also of holding our 7th Annual Holiday Celebration . . .
As I make my way around the township this holiday season it appears that lots of folks are out shopping—the traffic is heavy and the parking lots full. That says to me that people are working and have money to spend. This is always good for our office, . . .
I am always very excited about our Holiday Celebration. We started holding this free party in 2012 as a way of giving some holiday cheer to families who maybe didn’t have the means to provide their kids with such a great holiday on their own. I expected the community would appreciate our efforts, but I was surprised that at our first event we had over 2,000 attendees. The turnout has remained high each of the last six years, and it is clear to me that there is a need in the community for an event like this.
In early 2013 we began awarding the “Recognizing Achievement Scholarship” to graduating high school students as part of our effort to promote education in the community. Later that year, at the 2013 Holiday Celebration we made “Education” our theme. At the party that year we provided not only free food, fun games, toys and bicycles but we gave out many educational gifts like books, computer notepads and more. We also announced that once again the RAS would be awarded to students showing the most improvement in their academic performance in the upcoming semester.
Two years ago at the Holiday Celebration we announced and started taking applications for the RAS and for a new educational incentive for younger students, the Academic Encouragement Award. In July of 2018 we were able to award eleven AEA scholars and four Recognizing Achievement Scholarships to worthy graduating students who were going on to higher education.
We use no tax dollars to hold the Holiday Celebration or for the scholarships, so as our event grows from year to year my staff puts in greater effort toward raising the money, planning the events, putting on a great party and awarding young students. The whole community participates as local businesses and individuals contribute money and in-kind donations toward the party and toward the scholarships. This is a true collaboration between the Wayne Township Trustee Office, our citizens and the businesses and individuals who help make it happen.
While the economy is improving and more people are finding jobs, I would like to invite all who are able to consider donating toward our Holiday Celebration, making a happy holiday for the children of Wayne Township. You can do that by contacting us at (260) 449-7000 extension 328.
At this festive time of year it warms my heart as the community comes together for another afternoon of holiday fun with games, prizes, food and educational activities…all for free. The joy on the faces of young and old alike is priceless; come and see for yourself!
During the Thanksgiving season I always take time to think about the many blessings for which I am grateful. Once again I am especially thankful this year that you, the voters of Wayne Township, have given me the privilege of serving as your Trustee for another four years.
This has been a wonderful job for me over the past eleven years. Being able to help those in need and watch them progress toward independence is exactly what I think public service should be. I am grateful for the opportunity to carry on this work.
In January of 2007 I took office during a “perfect storm.” The economy was getting worse and worse and more clients needed our help. Yet, tax revenue was dwindling, and we had fewer dollars available for assisting our clients. We had to find innovative ways to continue to provide the best service possible with less money.
To tackle these problems we spent time revising our Township Eligibility Standards. We placed caps on the amount of assistance we were providing while at the same time looking at ways to help clients become independent and no longer need Township Assistance.
We really focused on our Employment program. We created our “Employment Training Center” and started our Wednesday employment training classes. All clients able to work were required to attend employment training each week. We improved our Workfare Department, which oversees the work clients are required to perform for non-profit agencies in exchange for their assistance.
In our Representative Payee Program, we developed better communication with clients and started a procedure to make sure each client was getting all the benefits to which he or she was entitled. The Representative Payee Program helps clients, most of whom receive Social Security disability benefits, to manage their own money. The program has been and still is a service provided for the public at no cost to the clients.
Most importantly, during the past eleven-plus years, I have continued to stress the importance of treating every person who walks through our door with dignity and respect. Any one of us could fall on hard times. I believe we must treat clients the same way we would want to be treated if we were on the other side of the desk.
Our whole community works to help those in need, and I’d like to mention a few places where people looking for a good Thanksgiving meal can head to this season. In our local community, Waynedale United Methodist at 2501 Church Street will be serving turkey on Monday November 12th from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. On Saturday November 17 the “Dinner of Thanksgiving” will be held at Pilgrim Baptist Church at 1331 Gay Street at 2:00 PM. This is a feast that was originally started by our own LeRoy Page and his wife Sylvia. LeRoy worked here at Wayne Township as Director of Employment, and we’ve missed him since his passing last year. His wife is continuing their tradition of providing a free Thanksgiving meal to all who come.
And this from the website of St Mary Mother of God: “A complimentary, complete Thanksgiving dinner is served to any and all on Thanksgiving Day. Serving is from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Carry-outs are available 1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Currently we serve over 900 carry-out and 900 sit-down dinners during the day.”
These are just a few of the Thanksgiving Dinner opportunities here in Fort Wayne. Everyone should be able to find a place to celebrate their own gratitude for life’s goodness. Thank you!
I am a great proponent of teamwork, both at work and in the home, and I’m proud to say that my staff believes in teamwork, too, especially in teaming up with our clients to improve their lives and the lives of everyone in our community.
When people think of a team, they think of a sports or work team. However, some think of their family as a team, with each member working together to provide a stable environment and great home life for all members of the team.
A team is most effective when the members understand their roles and responsibilities within the group, and try hard to achieve them. Some families function in a traditional manner with responsibilities split up such as the male in the family the outside chores, and the female doing the inside housework and cooking. Some families consider who likes to do what, or who does what the best, to decide on each person’s role in the household. Family members must be able to communicate and share ideas, and there needs to be a feeling of respect in place for each team member’s contribution.
Family members can have unnecessary conflicts with one another when some on the team feel like their ideas are not being heard or are not important to others. Members should listen to what others have to say. You may need to practice and work to improve your listening skills. “Win/win” solutions come about when everyone’s contributions can be respected and used. Be positive and give recognition for one another’s ideas and accomplishments. When issues arise, attack the issue not the person. Work at not putting others on the defense.
This time of year you hear discussion about football teams and the teamwork involved in ensuring a winning season. I like these quotes by Vince Lombardi: “People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society” and “Individual commitment to a group effort – that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.”
When it comes to our work here at Wayne Township, we function as a team with all the members working to provide prompt, necessary relief to eligible citizens and residents of our community. Our Intake Department welcomes the clients, gathers information about their needs, and sets appointments for assistance. Our Investigations Department gathers additional information from the clients and works to provide the needed assistance for the clients. Our Workfare Department assists the clients in performing volunteer work at nonprofit agencies, to improve their work habits and interpersonal skills. Our Employment Department provides training and job leads for the clients, with the hopes of eliminating employment obstacles. We continually study our statutes and then work within the eligibility guidelines to provide assistance and guidance to the clients. Our employees team with one another, our clients, and other community resources to accomplish goals and to enrich the lives of all the citizens of our township.