I have kept myself from commenting on this cluster f’ck mainly because the topic irritates me so much, I don’t know where to begin. First off, I have often felt that the MCC (which ironically shares initials with Minnehaha Country Club) should have separate ethnic directors to deal with the different ethnic groups and a central director to deal with the finances and day to day operations. Instead they let one person do the job over the past who has zilch in common with the majority of minorities who use the facility (Africans and Hispanics). I think Juan Bonilla says it best;
Some minority leaders say they hope to see one of their own take the reigns at the Multi-Cultural Center.
“We are the only ones that know what are the barriers, what needs are, so that’s very important for a person in that position.” said Juan Bonilla, president of the Spanish Speaking Association.
He is right. How can you serve the different ethnic groups when you are not from that ethnic group? It would be like a white guy running the NAACP. But the past director was only PART of the problem. While the board is quick to blame him, they outta take out a mirror. It would be different if the MCC was a private non-profit, but that is not the case. The MCC has been taking county and city money for years and the board has sat on their hands and let it come to this, kinda reminds you of that whole SE Fair debacle – doesn’t it? Like I said yesterday on one of the Gargoyle Leader threads. When people fail in private business, it is their butts, when people fail us in the public sector, it is our butts. It is time for our public officials to freaking wakeup and start paying attention.
This is one of the reasons I want as little govt involvement in anything, including taxpayer money. The MCC has been sitting back doing little because they know they do not need to show good results, only do enough to keep the doors open and get more money. Can anyone tell me what it is that the MCC does anyways?
They do have some good programs, that is not the problem here. It is taking public money without accountability. That has always been my contention with the Pavilion. I think it is good for our community, having a FREE Visual Arts Center is invaluable. But when shit doesn’t add up, heads should roll. Things are not adding up at the MCC and heads should roll, and not just the director.
l3wis: spot on, twice.
First, thanks for describing that the MCC exdir does not need to be in the, or from the, minority population. With ups and downs, the military and the education establishments accomplished and continue making great strides in breaking down barriers, furthering opportunities, providing necessary and required services, and generally advancing people on merit. What is essential is the leader have empathy, listen, and that several MCC board members have constituencies from among the community’s minority populations.
Second, good management is the imperative. Good management includes responsibility and accountability – empty words far too often to most public and private sector “boards”.
You know, I went around and around with SculptureWalk on this issue. If you take public money, you must take public dissent. It angered them so much they never mentioned public money for several years, until this year. I don’t think I am a hard ass, I’m just saying if you want to take public funds, fine, you must also be accountable for your decisions to the public. It’s not rocket science.
How can you serve the different ethnic groups when you are not from that ethnic group?
Do we then need a director from every ethnic group? How is a hispanic director to look after the needs of the of east african immigrants?
Oh, and the first president of the NAACP was a white guy.
The more you know…
That is what I am saying. Have ‘VOLUNTEER’ directors for each ethnic group and have a ‘PAID’ director to oversee it all. It’s kinda like a mechanics shop. The secretary can’t fix fuel injection and a mechanic can’t navigate Excel. But working as a team will have better results.
The right person with the right qualifications, knowledge, and background could be the director for everyone. A little knowledge of other cultures goes a long way. Extensive knowledge and travel is ideal.
Different cultures aren’t like different functions at an auto shop. People are people, no matter where they came from.
Translators would be nice, though.
Perhaps I am in the wrong, but is the goal of the MCC to help recent immigrants to integrate and get up to speed on our society? If this is any part of it would it not be correct to put someone native to our culture in charge? If anything perhaps just shut it down and let Lutheran Services deal with it all.
Take them off the dole. They’re part of the corporate welfare/elitist problem in this city.
Tracy
I think we need MCC. I think if a lot of these people didn’t have this program you would see a lot more unlicensed drivers, domestic violence and child abuse. It is like the homeless shelter, it saves us money in law enforcement to have social programs like this. That is not the problem, the problem is they had a jackass running the joint, and even more troubling a bunch of blind jackasses sitting on the board too damn lazy to fix the problem, instead they kill the messenger and fire the person who told them about the problems.