CRB executive director highlights youth summit, staffing vacancy and vehicle needs

Executive Director Fincher updated the board on recent outreach and staffing matters, including a youth advisory summit, an open compliance monitor vacancy and the CRB’s need for a dedicated vehicle. Fincher said the youth advisory summit held the prior weekend included students, school principals, SROs and a youth engagement practitioner from New York; she thanked Tennessee State University for hosting the event and singled out staff member Damika Cash for organizing the summit. Damika Cash told the board applications for the youth advisory council are open and that staff will target criminal‑justice‑academy high schools to recruit students; the board was told organizers plan to meet one Saturday a month. Fincher said the CRB received about 85 applications for a compliance‑monitor vacancy and that staff are vetting roughly 55 qualified applicants for interviews in mid‑August. She also said the CRB has repeatedly requested a Metro vehicle to support events and equipment transport; finance and general services did not grant the request but the director said the office will pursue leases or rentals if necessary. Fincher listed several community partners for an upcoming back‑to‑school event and said the CRB will host an open house after a small remodel later in the fall. Board members asked staff to invite elected officials and the full local delegation to outreach events; Representative Vincent Dixie attended the meeting and thanked the board for its work. No formal vote was taken on budget items during the meeting; Fincher asked members to advocate for the vehicle request as the budget process proceeds.