OLM To Get
$500, 000 Grant!
…Big Boost For Liberian
Community in Minnesota!
OLM Governance Reform
The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) Constitution Committee has submitted a draft constitution to the OLM administration. OLM President Kerper Dwanyen, overwhelming elected in December 2007, constituted a constitution committee headed by Mr. John Jenkins Bartee - also now serving as OLM Vice President after the resignation of Mr. Andrew Tehmeh - to draft a new constitution to mirror a non-for-profit corporate structure.
New Constitutional Provisions
The new draft constitution contains provisions of governance reform to restructure OLM as non-for-profit-corporate entity with an elected board of directors having the primary and oversight responsibility to appoint and monitor the day-to-day leadership of the executive director. The new OLM board will comprise twelve (12) members - nine (9) of whom will be elected Liberians and the last three (3) non-Liberians will be nominated by the executive director and confirmed by the nine (9) Liberians on the board. The new constitution, if approved, seeks to craft a solution to prevent the continued rivalry that once existed between past OLM-elected presidents and board members by creating a unified chain of command. The OLM will also be positioned to utilize the leadership skills of non-Liberian friends to strengthen the organization and attract resources for the benefit of our community.
Community Input And Referendum
To meet his campaign promises, among others, Mr. Kerper Dwanyen has prioritized the formation of a non-for-profit bylaws and constitution that will create the enabling environment for members of the Liberian community to hold their leaders directly accountable for their performance. Such a system thinking approach as desired by Mr. Dwanyen will soon be realized by soliciting community input followed by a referendum scheduled for July 19, 2009.
The community input solicitation is part of the process of crafting a constitution with critical input from the community members, who will have the opportunity at a town hall meeting (to be announced later) to critically evaluate all items pertaining to the draft constitution. The constitutional-drafting process will continue with a referendum to accept or reject the new constitution.
For more than thirty (30) years the current OLM constitution has been a source of constant conflict between all elected OLM presidents and the board, which is replete with ambiguity and functional errors. The new draft OLM constitution, if approved, will boost performance and efficiency between the elected board and the appointed executive director leadership.
OLM Financial Stability
The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) has received grant awards and is seeking additional monies from various sources OLM President Kerper Dwanyen has disclosed. Grants awarded are:
$10,000.00 from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation. The grant obtained as a result of collaboration with the African Assistance Program, the Minnesota Institute for Nigerian Development, Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park Police departments is to support specified community development initiatives.
$2,500.00 from the Hennepin County Foreclosure Prevention Project - The grant obtained as a result of collaboration with the Jewish Community Action and the African American Alliance is to support foreclosure prevention programs in the Liberian community in the northwest area.
$3,500.00 from the GMCC Compassion Capital fund - The grant obtained as a result of a direct application from the OLM is to support strategic planning for the OLM
Pending Grant Approvals
OLM will also be benefiting from a yearly grant of $100,000 for five (5) years, totaling $500,000 to finance employment services and refugee social services in the Liberian community. This pending grant approval is based on two (2) proposals OLM submitted to its funding sources in collaboration with the African Assistance Program. OLM is highly confident of being awarded this grant when funding decisions are made in September 2009.
OLM is currently partnering with Hennepin County and the United States Census Bureau in its complete Count campaign to ensure all members of the Liberian community are counted in the 2010 census. The OLM and each participating Liberian organization can receive up to $2999.00 to support complete count activities. Meanwhile, OLM is urging all Liberian organizations to apply by the deadline of July 15. Seven (7) Liberian organizations have already applied to date.
Other grant proposals for capacity building and community development are in the pipeline. The goal of the Administration and the Board is to empower the OLM to employ paid staff to carry on the work of providing services to the Liberian Community in Minnesota in the years to come.
Community Center
OLM wishes to inform its entire membership of a pending approval for an office condo to be used as OLM offices and community activities. OLM intends to use proceeds from the $248,000.00 grants to purchase the property for cash payment, make improvements and furnish the property. When obtained, the OLM will have no mortgage payment obligations on the property.
Signed:
OLM Public Relations Committee
