Title: In-Sites September/October 2001 Series: Magazine Author: Executive Office for Weed and Seed Published: September/October 2001 Subject: Weed & Seed programs, community policing, crime prevention 31 pages 66,713 bytes ---------------------------- Illustrations and captions are not included in this ASCII plain-text file. To view this document in its entirety, download the Adobe Acrobat graphic file available from this Web site or order a print copy from NCJRS at 800-851-3420 (877-712-9279 For TTY users). ---------------------------- U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Executive Office for Weed and Seed September/October 2001 Volume IX, Number 4 Weed & Seed In-Sites MAGAZINE 2001 National Conference Highlights ---------------------------- Contents Celebrating a Decade of Weed and Seed Letter From the Director In This Issue o Project Safe Neighborhoods: America's Network Against Gun Violence o Former EOWS Director To Head the Office of Justice Programs What's Working o Community Gardens Grow With the Help of Weed and Seed o First Offenders Required To "Return to the Scene of Their Crime" o Lumberton Weed and Seed: Holistic Approach to Implementation Makes First Year a Great Success Conference Highlights o The Weed and Seed 2001 National Conference: Leave No Neighborhood Behind o The Neighborhood Exhibit Hall o Weed and Seed Prevention Through the Arts o Ashcroft Praises Weed and Seed Efforts Winners o EOWS Presents Awards Departments o Web Sight o Conference Corner o EOWS News o Resources Weed & Seed In-Sites is a publication of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Executive Office for Weed and Seed 810 Seventh Street NW. Washington, DC 20531 Phone: 202-616-1152 Fax: 202-616-1159 www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows Stephen Rickman, Director Robert M. Samuels, Deputy Director Nancy Ware, Director of Technical Assistance and Training Kathleen Severens, Director of Community Dispute Resolution Please send all submissions, comments, or address corrections to the above address. For more information about the Executive Office for Weed and Seed and its staff, visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/abouteow.htm. ---------------------------- Letter From the Director First, I would like to thank each of you who called EOWS or sent e-mails offering kind words and prayer following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The gesture symbolizes that Weed and Seed is, in fact, a family. Just 2 weeks after we gathered to celebrate a very special anniversary for Weed and Seed, our country was hit with the most violent terrorist attack in U.S. history. We have all seen by now the photos, broadcasts, and testimonials of victims of the horrid events of that day. Pride in our country and knowledge of the strength of its people have helped us move forward and begin the healing process. We put our faith in the U.S. Department of Justice, our President, and his advisors. While they partner together in pursuit of justice, I ask each of you to partner with members of your community in pursuit of rekindling spirits and building strength. We accomplished so much at our National Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and I was pleased to hear that so many of you felt renewed again and driven to strengthen your own commitment to your local strategy. Use this strength to unite, and serve, your community. Talk to the children in your neighborhood who, by now, have witnessed the horrific events captured on video on September 11, and use the victim service resources available to you. We have listed several references for In-Sites readers on the Resources page. This issue of In-Sites magazine is filled with images of celebration. Remember our success over the past 10 years; remember your own personal accomplishments. I hope you will be able to tap into the positive images and stories of this issue to find renewal and faith in the hard work that drives the causes of each of your own Weed and Seed neighborhoods. After all, this is a part of what makes this country great! Even better things are coming our way. Stephen Rickman Director, EOWS ---------------------------- On the Cover Philadelphia's City Hall towers over Market Street in the city's busy downtown area. National Conference flags lined the street, welcoming attendees to Philadelphia and encouraging them to celebrate A Decade of Weed and Seed: Leave No Neighborhood Behind. ---------------------------- Project Safe Neighborhoods: America's Network Against Gun Violence ---------------------------- President George W. Bush and Attorney General John Ashcroft recently announced an aggressive initiative that will offer relief not only for professionals in law enforcement and prosecution, but also for residents and business owners in communities across the country. ---------------------------- Just 3 months before he addressed conference attendees at the Weed and Seed 2001 National Conference, Attorney General John Ashcroft was in Philadelphia with President George W. Bush to announce a strong new initiative entitled "Project Safe Neighborhoods: America's Network Against Gun Violence." The project's goal is to strengthen existing local programs that target gun crime by providing them with the resources and tools they need to be most successful. "This initiative invigorates our enforcement efforts by networking existing local programs together and providing the tools at the national, State, and local levels to take gun- wielding criminals off our streets and out of our neighborhoods. Our goal is to reduce gun-related violence in America and to sustain that reduction. From now on, all over America, criminals will do hard time for gun crime," announced Ashcroft. Per Ashcroft's request, the Task Force on Gun Violence developed Project Safe Neighborhoods. The Task Force includes representatives from various components within the U.S. Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Law enforcement advisors to the Project Safe Neighborhoods program include the Fraternal Order of Police, National State Troopers Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs' Association, Major Cities Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, National District Attorneys Association, and National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Over the next 2 years, approximately $558.8 million will be committed to this initiative, $233.6 million of which will be available this year. The funds will be used to hire new Federal and State prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, and develop and promote community outreach efforts. It is expected that newly appointed U.S. Attorneys will fuel the initiative by pooling State and local resources and establishing strategic partnerships between Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies in their districts. Each newly appointed U.S. Attorney will be directed to develop and certify to the Attorney General the implementation of a comprehensive gun violence reduction program. "I will hold each U.S. Attorney accountable for implementing the initiative and for getting results. They will be required to report to me every 6 months on the steps they have taken and the impact of those efforts in their community," Ashcroft said. Although each U.S. Attorney's Office will oversee a gun violence reduction program tailored to the needs of its community, each program will be founded on and supported by the same five core elements: partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach, and accountability. This year, 113 new Federal prosecutors will dedicate their efforts to prosecuting cases that involve illegal gun use under Project Safe Neighborhoods, and $75 million in grants will be used to hire and train nearly 600 nonfederal gun prosecutors. In addition, $144.3 million will be dedicated to funding programs that support activities under Project Safe Neighborhoods, and the U.S. Department of Justice's $189 million will support continuing enforcement of gun laws under this initiative and its efforts to ensure that child safety locks are available for every handgun in the Nation. Additional funds will be used to hire more new Federal and State prosecutors, support investigators, provide training, and develop and promote community outreach efforts. The Attorney General also described this project to the luncheon audience at the National Conference in Philadelphia. The announcement came as good news for those who focus on weeding efforts and who, for many years, have had difficulty bringing Federal and State resources to the table. Reagan Dunn, the Office of Justice Program's Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, also provided audience members with more information regarding Project Safe Neighborhoods in both the day-long Learning Lab "Gun Law Enforcement and Prosecution" and the breakout session "Promising Strategies To Reduce Gun Violence." President Bush's fiscal year 2002 budget will expand on Project Safe Neighborhoods with initiatives that include Project Sentry, a $20 million effort that will help new State prosecutors and community task forces combat juvenile gun crime and will hire new Assistant U.S. Attorneys who will focus on school gun violence and juvenile gun offenders. EOWS will continue to update In-Sites readers on these initiatives and encourages all Weed and Seed sites to contact their U.S. Attorneys' Offices to get information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, or visit www.usdoj.gov/ safeneighborhood.htm. ---------------------------- Learn about Detroit's Weed and Seed antigun violence initiative in the latest issue of Best Practices (NCJ 188552). To order a copy, call 1-800- 851-3420 or send an e-mail to puborder@ ncjrs.org. --------------------------- Former EOWS Director To Head the Office of Justice Programs On September 21, 2001, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Bush's nomination of Deborah J. Daniels to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. Daniels was the first National Director of the Executive Office for Weed and Seed and recently served as a partner with the Indianapolis, Indiana, law firm of Krieg DeVault LLP, where she specialized in governmental affairs, health care, and corporate compliance. OJP staff welcomed Assistant Attorney General Daniels to work on September 26, 2001. As U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana (1988-93), Daniels played a vital role in promoting and spreading the word about Weed and Seed. In 1992, the U.S. Department of Justice selected Daniels to serve as the first national Director of Operation Weed and Seed. Prior to her service as U.S. Attorney, Daniels worked as chief counsel for Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Goldsmith (who later became Indianapolis' mayor and has been a great supporter of Weed and Seed) in Marion County, Indiana, supervising areas including child abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence prosecutions; adult protective services; and victim assistance. Daniels' dedication to and success in establishing Project Weed and Seed in Indianapolis helped build the site into a national Weed and Seed model. Daniels received the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Management and the Attorney General's Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement Coordination and served on the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys. Daniels' commitment to the Indianapolis community has continued throughout the years. She has served as Executive Director of the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, a public-private partnership between the city of Indianapolis and corporate leaders that promotes economic development in Indianapolis. She also played a key role in founding an Indianapolis charity that provides transitional housing for victims of domestic violence and their children. She was previously involved in a variety of charitable organizations in Indianapolis, including the United Way of Central Indiana and various pro bono legal assistance projects. She received a bachelor of arts degree with honors from DePauw University and graduated cum laude from the Indiana University School of Law. ---------------------------- Deborah Daniels' record of service is impressive. She brings to the Office of Justice Programs an ideal blend of practical experience and fresh ideas. I have confidence she will lead this crucial component of the department with honor and distinction. --Attorney General John Ashcroft ---------------------------- From Fort Myers Weed and Seed Due to the outpouring of requests from law enforcement agencies all over the State of Florida, the Fort Myers Police Department is providing information about a fund that has been established for Officer Lorne Lyles and his children. Officer Lyles' wife, Cee Cee Lyles, was a flight attendant aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania. Anyone who would like to help the Lyles family can send donations in the Lyles' name to: Edison National Bank P.O. Box 2525 Fort Myers, FL 33902 The Fort Myers Police Department also encourages donations to your local American Red Cross in Cee Cee Lyles' name and/or donations to local blood banks. Thank you. --Janet Skinner, Clearwater Police Department, Clearwater, Florida ---------------------------- What's Working Community Gardens Grow With the Help of Weed and Seed James Hogan In 1994, Fox Park, a small neighborhood in the Near South Side of St. Louis, Missouri, became the city's first Weed and Seed site. The neighborhood had its fair share of drug dealers, drug houses, prostitutes, deteriorating and abandoned buildings, and vacant lots. Long-term residents started to move out of Fox Park because of these conditions to search for a better quality of life. Others, however, were determined to stay in their neighborhood and turn it around; Fox Park was ready for Weed and Seed. The residents who "stuck it out" in the Fox Park neighborhood reasoned, it's Weed and Seed, not Weed then Seed. With that in mind, the police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and others worked hard to remove the lawbreakers from Fox Park, and the law-abiding residents decided to beautify their neighborhood. In partnership with Gateway Greening, Inc., a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping residents create community gardens, the residents created a beautiful ornamental garden complete with footpaths, electric lights, and benches. It sits at the intersection of Russell Boulevard and California Avenue, the busiest intersection in Fox Park and a corner that used to be busy with drug sales. Slowly, flowers and trees began to replace mattresses and old tires. As a result of this ongoing transformation, the corner no longer looked like a place to buy drugs and the drug sales stopped. Residents started to improve their own yards and gardens and pick up litter in the streets and alleys, landlords began to see these improvements and rehabilitated their properties instead of selling them, and young couples began to buy property and move into the neighborhood. The residents next erected a raised-bed garden across the street, which provided 30 families with a place to grow vegetables. These vegetable beds were in such high demand that DeSales Community Housing Corporation (the local Community Development Corporation) donated a large lot a few blocks away for an additional community garden, providing space for 20 more vegetable beds. Before Weed and Seed entered the neighborhood, residents were known to say "don't go by Russell and California." Today, residents realize that Fox Park is an eye-pleasing, desirable place to live. They have developed an unparalleled sense of community and pride. Residents now encourage visitors to "stop and see our gardens!" Flowers do not arrest criminals, but it is a boost to the Weed and Seed strategy when the bad guys disappear and gardens bloom. Beautiful gardens lift the spirits of law-abiding citizens and help to revitalize a community. For six of the seven Weed and Seed neighborhoods in St. Louis, including Fox Park, community gardens have helped to unify the residents and increase the quality of life. In the end, Weed and Seed can mean weed and seed after all. ---------------------------- In neighborhoods in which the quality of life is diminishing and residents are continually relocating to safer areas, keeping the spirit of the community high is a challenge. When the residents of the Near South Side in St. Louis, Missouri, were designated as a Weed and Seed site, they received the "shot in the arm" they needed to strengthen their commitment to building a healthier community. ---------------------------- First Offenders Required To "Return to the Scene of Their Crime" Beverly Ward The State's Attorney's Office in Salisbury, Maryland, has for years supported the First Offenders Program, which requires fines and community service as a means of retribution, as a disciplinary sanction for first-time misdemeanor offenses. Approximately 6,000 college students attend Salisbury State University, located near the Weed and Seed target area, and many of the individuals facing first-time charges are students who are brought up on alcohol-related offenses. In fact, 95 percent of the program's participants are college students who attend the university. But the First Offenders Program allowed offenders to perform their community service hours in their own neighborhood--that is, until the local Weed and Seed Steering Committee spoke up. In February 1993, the Wicomico County State's Attorney's Office began the alternative sentencing program for first-time offenders of nonviolent, misdemeanor offenses. Under this program, defendants who sign an agreement contract waive their right to trial, pay a program fee, and perform a predetermined amount of community service hours. Upon successful completion of the program, the State will enter a nolle prosequi to the original charge (i.e., the legal action will proceed no further). With a continued enrollment of 200 to 300 defendants, the program has saved the county, conservatively, more than $400,000 per year in tax dollars by reducing court costs and jail time and increasing payment of fees and community service hours. In April 2001, at a Weed and Seed Steering Committee meeting, members voiced their concerns over what they viewed was a great disservice to their community. Although the community surrounding the university had to live with the nuisance of late-night parties and underage drinking, it wasn't reaping the benefits of a program that required a significant number of volunteer hours from offenders--a resource a revitalizing neighborhood could certainly use. The Steering Committee contacted the State's Attorney's Office, which, after hearing the appeal, agreed that offenders should be required to pay back something tangible to the violated communities. Soon after, community members, including the university, lent their support. Revisions to the policies of the First Offenders Program require that offenders return to "the scene of their crime" as volunteers for community projects and neighborhood activities. In cases in which an offender cannot return to the area, a fine is issued that must be paid within 6 months. Target area programs and nonprofit organizations that need support register their volunteer needs with Shore C.A.N. (Citizen Action Network), a volunteer opportunity registry coordinated at Salisbury State University. Shore C.A.N. generates citizen action through community service to address current volunteer needs. A Shore C.A.N. program coordinator administers community service work for the First Offenders Program, and the State's Attorney's Office monitors the supervision of the offenders. Seventy-five percent of the Salisbury Weed and Seed Steering Committee members are residents from the target area, and because they voiced their concerns and devised a plan of action, offenders today can no longer fulfill community service requirements in their "home" areas. In communities that have traditionally been disenfranchised, injustices are prevalent and widespread. However--as Salisbury Weed and Seed has demonstrated--the Weed and Seed strategy gives communities that work together the tools they need to right the injustices one by one. ---------------------------- When members of the Salisbury, Maryland, Weed and Seed Steering Committee voiced to their local State's Attorney's Office concerns they had about the policies of the First Offenders Program, they intended to make a difference. With the support of city police and a local university, their recommendations brought change to the program and additional resources to their community. ---------------------------- Lumberton Weed and Seed: Holistic Approach to Implementation Makes First Year a Great Success Creative partnering approaches, a thorough community assessment plan, and the support of a city social worker took law enforcement efforts in Lumberton, North Carolina, to extraordinary levels for the first quarter of 2001. Sgt. Detective Tal Barnett and police social worker Gwen Taylor headed up several successful operations that not only focused on eliminating drugs and prostitution in the Southeast Lumberton Weed and Seed target area, but also on providing services and treatment to the people they arrested. Southeast Lumberton's target area encompasses approximately 7,000 residents. Traditionally, this area's crime rate has been high and its income level low, yet its commitment to Weed and Seed has grown stronger. The site, which began implementing its Weed and Seed strategy in 2000 with 11 Steering Committee members and today has nearly 30 members on the Steering Committee and its subcommittees, emphasizes community involvement in each element of its strategy. Intensive community outreach efforts, such as holding routine meetings in local Safe Havens and distributing a community newsletter, have helped the site's efforts to break down the barriers that had grown between the city and its residents in years prior to Weed and Seed's entry. Specifically, the Southeast Lumberton Weed and Seed Law Enforcement Subcommittee serves the weeding interests of the strategy. Monthly meetings at which members openly discuss topics of concern have helped officers to identify the most serious problems that contribute to crime in the target area. Residents who were surveyed stated that prostitution, drug distribution, substance abuse, burglary, and violent crimes were the biggest threats to their community's safety. In response to the needs of the community, the Weed and Seed Special Task Force was formed in October 2000. Under the direction of Sergeant Barnett, this team composed of trained officers, undercover narcotics detectives, confidential informants, and a police social worker collaborated to measure the severity of the problems in the community. The Task Force went into the target area's most troubled sections day and night, coordinating operatives such as undercover prostitution/solicitation reversals and drug buys; issuing search warrants; and conducting knock and talks with the residents in the community. Similar to many other high-crime/ low-income neighborhoods, Southeast Lumberton has seen its fair share of strangers that drive through the target area to purchase drugs or solicit prostitutes. The team addressed the problem directly by organizing random traffic checkpoints. These checkpoints resulted in the confiscation of drugs, firearms, and alcohol and the arrests of individuals who were driving while intoxicated. The team also distributed a leaflet outlining the Weed and Seed strategy to every driver. The traffic checks helped to build residents' confidence in the community and trust in the officers. While the weeding efforts of the Task Force were going strong, the site hit a new high when, on March 28, 2001, the Drug Enforcement Agency's Mobile Enforcement Team--partnering with other agencies including the Robeson County Sheriff's Department--arrested 69 people on Federal and State drug charges. Sergeant Barnett and his team assisted in the investigation that resulted in the seizure of more than $1 million in property, money, and drugs. The Lumberton Police Department made 14 Federal and 18 State indictments, most of which were in the southern and eastern parts of the target area. Lumberton's Special Task Force maintained its focus after the arrests and did not move to a different target area. Early on, the officers realized that their efforts would result in the arrests of the individuals causing problems in the community, which in turn would cause the remaining criminals to move to nearby neighborhoods or to move their "businesses" into areas in which they could not be seen. To combat this problem, officers continued to make arrests but also began to focus on crimes that could take place behind the walls of abandoned properties. ---------------------------- When a rural town in North Carolina was awarded Official Recognition in 2000, its local police department quickly started working to achieve some of the goals set out in its strategy. By incorporating a social service element into their weeding plan, the Southeast Weed and Seed Special Task Force was able to best provide for its entire strategy while building community trust. ---------------------------- One approach to cleaning up the streets is to make many arrests. Such efforts would be a great disservice to the neighborhood, however, if communities did not address substance abuse, public health, and treatment issues in the community. Experienced officers in the community realized that some of the people they arrested needed services that law enforcement could not always provide. With the support of a police social worker, officers felt they could better help the people they were arresting, particularly those brought in on drug and alcohol abuse charges, by directing them to city- and Weed and Seed-provided social services. Because the Lumberton Task Force understood the Weed and Seed strategy in its entirety, it immediately partnered with a professional social worker--Gwen Taylor--through the Social Worker and Police Partnership program. "[E]veryone gets a chance to start over, no matter what they have done in their lives," said Taylor. In her role, Taylor accompanies the arrestee, referred by the Task Force officer, through every step of the judicial process. Taylor recently created an 8-hour class entitled, "New Beginnings," which is held in a community Safe Haven. Offenders that are mandated by a court judge to attend the class learn how to get treatment and to obtain housing, employment, better health, and spiritual awareness to better their lives. (Local judges that support such Weed and Seed efforts are most helpful in the sentencing phase because they require substance abusers and solicitors of prostitution to undergo treatment.) "All who attend the New Beginnings classes or receive social services must believe that they can make a difference in their communities. . . . [W]e can't save the world, but we can try to save a little part of Lumberton," said Taylor. The weeding and seeding efforts in the Lumberton target area continue to move forward under the direction of the Steering Committee. The committee hopes to develop partnerships with the U.S. Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of Corrections Permanent Placement Housing Program to promote home ownership in the community. The site is aggressively applying for additional State and local resource grants to help it realize its long-term revitalization goals. In the meantime, Sergeant Barnett's team continues to dedicate itself to helping all the residents and business owners of Weed and Seed live in a productive and healthy community. While arrests continue in these trouble spots, the community is working with the City of Lumberton's Community Development Office, which uses State and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to rehabilitate homes in need of repair. They also are working with the City Planning and Inspection Department to reduce the number of abandoned homes, cars, and lots in the area. On behalf of Weed and Seed, the Community Development Office recently applied for a federally funded, State coordinated grant that would provide $1.4 million over the course of 5 years to improve the streets, landscaping, and housing units around the Parkview Safe Haven area. The site will continue to go after these types of funding opportunities to provide resources for the coming years and to sustain the many plans the community has for its Weed and Seed initiative. ---------------------------- Thank you, Mary Lou EOWS would like to thank former Acting Assistant Attorney General Mary Lou Leary for her dedication to Weed and Seed and the Office of Justice Programs over the years and looks forward to continuing work with her as she returns to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, where she will serve as the Principal Assistant U.S. Attorney. ---------------------------- Conference Highlights The Weed and Seed 2001 National Conference: Leave No Neighborhood Behind On August 27-29, EOWS and the City of Philadelphia hosted the Weed and Seed 2001 National Conference, Leave No Neighborhood Behind. An estimated 1,700 attendees traveled to downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to celebrate a decade of Weed and Seed. Preconference Learning Labs allowed early arrivals the opportunity for extensive training on such topics as community technology, capacity building, effective grant writing, and meth lab cleanup. The rooms were filled to capacity with waiting lists for each lab. Based on the popularity of these learning opportunities, the EOWS Training and Technical Assistance Division is reviewing additional training opportunities for sites in 2002. On Sunday night, the City of Philadelphia and its team of volunteers rolled out the "green" carpet in true Weed and Seed fashion. The city closed off two full city blocks on Market Street outside the host hotel, erected two concert stages, set up food booths for a "Taste of Philadelphia," and offered Weed and Seed attendees a celebration never seen before. Under the shadows of the massive Philadelphia City Hall, and surrounded by symbols of America's colonial fight for liberty and freedom, approximately 1,200 Weed and Seeders from across the country collected for a Philadelphia Block Party that they'll never forget. The Neighborhood Exhibit Hall with 100 exhibitors and partners of Weed and Seed, more than 50 breakout sessions, a special luncheon with a keynote address by Attorney General John Ashcroft, guest presentations from Office of Justice Programs leaders, tours to Weed and Seed sites, the Indianapolis Mobile Community Outreach Police Station (MCOPS) van, video highlight films that captured the history and success of Weed and Seed, presentations of the EOWS Director's Awards, and the Accreditation Series Graduation all contributed to the success of Leave No Neighborhood Behind. The thousands of details that came together so successfully would never have been possible without the vision and incredible support of the host city and its volunteers. EOWS extends a special thank-you to the host committee, which worked tirelessly during the months leading up to the conference and went the extra mile for our attendees. Thank-You to Members of the Host Committee o Bill Hausman, Outreach Program Manager, and Joe Liciardello, Law Enforcement Coordinator, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. o Frankie Hughes, Deputy Managing Director, and Roxanne Andrews, Conference Coordinator, Philadelphia Managing Director's Office. o Michael Cruz, Weed and Seed Coordinator, Philadelphia Weed and Seed Project. o Anthony Murphy, Executive Director, Operation Town Watch. o Lt. Col. Richard Blosser, Counterdrug Coordinator, Pennsylvania National Guard. o Sister Carol Keck, Executive Director, Norris Square Neighborhood Project/UNAD. o Sylvester Johnson, Deputy Police Commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department. And thank-you to all the volunteers who committed their time and wonderful attitudes in support of the National Conference! Featured in this issue of In-Sites are photos taken throughout the conference. Sites seeking copies of these photos should call the In-Sites editor at 202-307-6031. We will do our best to provide them via e-mail. Additional photos from the conference will be posted on the EOWS Web site in coming weeks. ---------------------------- The Neighborhood Exhibit Hall The Neighborhood Exhibit Hall, decorated to resemble a local neighborhood, was packed with exhibits from 59 Weed and Seed sites and organizations and programs from across the country. Many sites displayed their creative flair and brought giveaways from their sites and hometowns, while others found unique ways of promoting their Weed and Seed efforts with sophisticated multimedia presentations that broadcasted images and audio samples of the residents of their sites. Linda Fitch, coordinator of all exhibition hall activities, set up props donated by the Marriott Hotel and a local initiative known as "Village of Arts and Humanities," a community-based arts, education, and neighborhood development organization located in inner-city North Philadelphia. The exhibit hall was transformed to look and feel like a traditional Philadelphia neighborhood--complete with a life-size Liberty Bell! Visitors entered the hall through a large "brick and iron" gate, making note of such details as the use of flickering bulbs in the lampposts to resemble the flicker of gas lanterns used in the "old days." Trees and park benches placed throughout the hall invited visitors to stay awhile. The exhibits lined the neighborhood streets, with appropriate names such as Liberty Lane, Independence Court, and Penn Square, and a caf‚ encouraged participants to take a seat and meet a new friend or catch up with a colleague. To complete the effect, a 10-foot-long version of the Weed and Seed 10th anniversary plane featured on conference materials flew above the "Decade of Weed and Seed" banner. The hall was centrally located and popular with conference attendees. On Tuesday, conference attendees packed the exhibit hall for a networking lunch event with guest speaker activist Patrick Hadley, founder of Men Against Destruction-Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder (MAD DADS). Later that evening, the City of Philadelphia graciously hosted a reception that featured a popular local disc jockey. The reception also showcased the Junior Calypsonians and Banjo players and the Eulalie Rivera Safe Haven Steppers, both from Estate Grove Place Weed and Seed in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. The event was so well attended and popular that the reception was extended for another hour! On behalf of EOWS, In-Sites would like to thank exhibitors for sharing their brochures, newsletters, videos, giveaways, and promotional items with conference participants. Each exhibitor made the conference all the better! How's This for Weed and Seed Spirit? The City of Minneapolis Weed and Seed booth made a splash at the 2001 National Conference with its plastic "Weed and Seed Prosecution" sign. The sign resembled the "We Support Weed and Seed" plastic signs that EOWS offered, but also provided Federal prosecution warnings to anyone considering committing a crime within the boundaries of the Weed and Seed area. The signs were a huge hit, as many sites pointed and asked the Minneapolis site, "Where'd you get those!?" The Minneapolis exhibit was created and staffed by Christina Kendrick, Community Support Specialist for the City of Minneapolis. When In-Sites caught up with her at the Minneapolis booth in the exhibit hall, she expressed how popular her site's custom-designed signs were and that other sites were getting creative in their approach to "leverage the resource" of her exhibit. With demand so high and the relative cost per sign so low, Kendrick made a generous offer on behalf of Minneapolis. Those who want the artwork to reproduce these special signs themselves, would like a copy of the sign, or would like information on where the Minneapolis site got its signs bulk-produced should e-mail Kendrick at christina.kendrick@ ci.minneapolis.mn.us. She will respond to every request that includes at least one comment about the site's exhibit. In addition, she has offered to pay for the costs of shipping for all requests made before December 31, 2001. Thank you, Minneapolis! Law Enforcement in Hispanic Neighborhoods Hosting a session in the late afternoon of any conference is a challenge, especially when it follows a full day of breakout sessions, a networking lunch, and plenary sessions. Despite that, a few law enforcement attendees managed to attract nearly 40 attendees to a session they coordinated to discuss "Law Enforcement in Hispanic Weed and Seed Neighborhoods." With the assistance of Anita Snyder, EOWS' Special Assistant to Director Stephen Rickman, the group offered the session so that attendees could come together and talk about the challenges to law enforcement recruitment and deployment in Weed and Seed target areas. Adrian Garcia, Director of the Mayor's Antigang Task Force in Houston, Texas, and Sgt. Randy Sutton of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department hosted the 1-hour discussion. The attendees talked openly about a wide variety of challenges in their communities. A lengthy discussion centered around language barriers between English-speaking officers and residents whose primary language is Spanish. Garcia and Sergeant Sutton asked the audience to explain their various approaches, including interpretation alternatives, language immersion programs, and partnering with local refugee relocation centers to help officers take a proactive approach to identifying problems and crime trends in the Latino community. ---------------------------- Weed and Seed Prevention Through the Arts Providing young people with alternatives to violence and teaching them how to divert anger and confusion into creative expression has proved to be one of the best crime prevention tools around. When role models are available to introduce youth to positive community-based activities (e.g., mentoring, afterschool programming, volunteer opportunities), youth gain leadership skills, self-esteem, and confidence that will last them a lifetime. Through the Weed and Seed Prevention Through the Arts Special Emphasis program, adults provide children and teens with support and reinforcement they may not find elsewhere. Weed and Seed sites across the country provide encouragement and instruction in many art forms, including puppet shows, stilt walking, mural painting, play writing, stage production, music recording, and ballet dancing. Groups of youth from various Weed and Seed communities dedicated to these programs performed for attendees throughout the National Conference, demonstrating how their talents have developed through the help of Weed and Seed. These youth are not members of hobby clubs--they are serious artists, often supported by professional instructors, who spend a large portion of their day practicing and perfecting their art. North Bellport Weed and Seed Youth Steel Drum Band The North Bellport, New York, Youth Steel Drum Band performed at Monday's luncheon. The group consists of 14 youth ages 7 to 14 and was founded in January 1999 as part of North Bellport Weed and Seed's crime prevention efforts. The band has been featured on local Cablevision and in the Long Island, New York, Newsday newspaper. They are not strangers to the stage, as they also have played at many local community and church gatherings. Estate Grove Place Musicians and Steppers Conference attendees couldn't miss the Estate Grove Place Junior Calypsonians and Banjo Players, a group of young artists from the U.S. Virgin Islands, with their bright yellow T-shirts and big smiles. The group entertained audiences with songs and music at both the luncheon on Monday and the reception hosted by the City of Philadelphia in the Neighborhood Exhibit Hall Tuesday night. Their artist peers and neighbors, the Eulalie Rivera School Steppers, a group of young women from the same Weed and Seed site, performed at Tuesday's reception and brought the audience to its feet at Tuesday's general assembly. Audience members cheered and called out "Go girl!" as the all-female group proudly stepped and cheered in unison with all their heart. Using EOWS Special Emphasis funding, the Eulalie Rivera Safe Haven offers afterschool arts programming for target area youth. This program serves approximately 40 children between ages 5 and 16. Each child is taught the fundamentals of composing music, writing lyrics, and training their voices. These artists have entertained audiences at such events as the Crucian Christmas Festival and the St. Thomas Carnival and at local school functions. Instructors from the target area spend 3 hours a day, 4 days a week, teaching the youth the traditions and history of calypso music, composition, and production . . . that is, as long as their homework is complete and they participate in additional tutoring after school. West Philadelphia Weed and Seed's Unspoken Praise Unspoken Praise comprises a group of young ladies from the West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Weed and Seed site. They energized the Tuesday morning assembly with their interpretive dance, grace, and pride. Unspoken Praise was established nearly 5 years ago and ministers its talents regularly at the Calvary Gospel Chapel. The group has also performed at the Mann Music Center, Philadelphia Zoo, and local Nubian Festival at the Philadelphia Community College. Mark Barksdale and Ruby Brown Tuesday afternoon's general session kicked off with the talents of local artists Mark Barksdale and Ruby Brown. Barksdale, a resident of the Norris Square community in Philadelphia, is a self-taught singer and serves as a teen tutor for youth in the United Neighbors Against Drugs, Inc., Safe Haven afterschool program. He sings in his school choir and is considering a career in music. While Barksdale displayed his singing talent, artist Ruby Brown sat at his piano in front of the stage and delivered a piece that brought the audience to its feet. Brown is a student at the Girard Music Academy in Philadelphia and is involved in several Weed and Seed programs in his community. His goal is to pursue a career in music. It appears he is well on his way! ---------------------------- Ashcroft Praises Weed and Seed Efforts The Keynote Luncheon celebration gave conference attendees food for thought in the packed Grand Ballroom of the Marriott. Louise Lucas, DEFY Coordinator and Reentry Programs Coordinator at EOWS, warmly welcomed attendees, and EOWS Director Stephen Rickman praised the dedication and activism of Attorney General John Ashcroft--who, according to Rickman, this year recommended an unprecedented 25- percent increase in funding for the EOWS budget. "This Attorney General stood up for the distressed communities we represent; he stood up for Weed and Seed; he stood up for you, for me; he stood up for us--I ask you to stand up for him now," Rickman announced, and the room came to its feet to welcome the keynote speaker. In his address, Ashcroft praised the great vision and pioneering efforts of Weeders and Seeders, which he said demonstrate that "you don't have to move to live in a safe neighborhood." "Weed and Seed has dedicated people, people who care," Ashcroft said, noting that since its 1991 inception Weed and Seed has awarded more than $232 million to more than 300 communities. "We must go beyond that; we must ensure that no neighborhood is left behind," he added, to much applause from the audience. Ashcroft discussed his intention for the U.S. Department of Justice to focus on protecting citizen safety by emphasizing efforts to reduce gun violence and get illegal drugs and drug traffickers off our streets. He asked EOWS to strengthen coordination with other Federal agencies and programs, expand efforts to keep illegal firearms out of Weed and Seed areas, and encourage partnerships with law enforcement and the military--all elements of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Bush Administration initiative that is discussed in this issue of In-Sites. Also during the luncheon, the second and third EOWS Director's Awards were presented. Tracy Henke, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, presented the awards to Capt. Melvin Douglas of East Point, Georgia, and Mayor Shirley Villegas, City of South Tucson, Arizona. ---------------------------- Weed and Seed has dedicated people, people who care. It is a maxim of human relations that Weed and Seed demonstrates more than any other organization. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. --Attorney General John Ashcroft ---------------------------- Celebrating a Decade of Success . . . Weed and Seed Style ---------------------------- Winners EOWS Presents Awards EOWS Poster Contest Winners In conjunction with the Weed and Seed 2001 National Conference, A Decade of Weed and Seed: Leave No Neighborhood Behind, EOWS sponsored a National Poster Contest that tasked youth with drawing a piece of art that embodies the theme "How Weed and Seed Has Changed My Community." Entries depicted different visions of Weed and Seed, but the winners were selected based on colorful artistry, artistic talent, and originality. Copies of the winning posters were on display in the Neighborhood Exhibit Hall during the National Conference, and the winners were recognized during a luncheon ceremony on Tuesday, August 28. Entries were grouped into four categories based on the entrant's age. The 2001 National Poster Contest winners are o Juan Ranero, a 7-year-old from Laurel Hill Annex Elementary School in Providence, Rhode Island, who won for his crayon drawing of a house under renovation with the words "Thank you Weed and Seed" across the top. o Charles Wilson, a 10-year-old from Cascade Elementary School in Atlanta, Georgia, who won for his crayon drawing of a revitalized neighborhood, including the local playground, pool, community centers, school, and athletic fields. o Pete Anthony Lee Bell, a 13-year-old from Stonewall Jackson Davis Middle School in San Antonio, Texas, who won for his pencil drawing that depicts weeding and seeding in a community ("out with drugs house . . . up with safe house"). o LaTorya Robinson, a 16-year-old from Southside Comprehensive High School in Atlanta, Georgia, who won for a colored pencil drawing that shows a community of people in one embrace and lists components of successful community collaboration ("drug-free zone," "court watch program," "neighborhood watch program," and "neighborhood cleanups"). EOWS extends warm congratulations to the winners! Each has been awarded a personal computer loaded with educational software. The next National Poster Contest will be held in 2003 in conjunction with that year's National Conference. Details will be distributed in late January 2003 to allow youth ample time to design posters before the summer submission deadline. EOWS Director's Award Winners Throughout the Weed and Seed 2001 National Conference, presentations of the EOWS Director's Awards honored the accomplishments of the 2001 award recipients, namely o Capt. Melvin Douglas, Community Policing Division of the City of East Point Police Department in Georgia, whose commitment and hard work embody the meaning of community policing and make the East Point community a better place to live. o Veronica Hartsfield, President of the Carver Terrace Tenant and Civic Association in Washington, D.C., who helped rid the Carver Terrace community of drugs and crime and helps operate programs to revitalize and benefit the community. o Sylvester M. Johnson, Deputy Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, whose law enforcement and community service activities span three decades. o Sister Carol Keck, a School Sister of Notre Dame and Executive Director of the Norris Square Neighborhood Project, Inc., in Philadelphia, whose efforts include driving drugs and criminal activity out of the Norris Square neighborhood and building coalitions between community residents, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors. o Leslie Nesbitt, National Executive Director of the Urban Financial Services Coalition, Washington, D.C., who has developed and directed community development and youth leadership programs. o Gloria Ross, Midtown Edmondson Community activist in Baltimore, Maryland, who has contributed her time, love, and energy to working with local youth for many years. o Shirley Villegas, Mayor of South Tucson, Arizona, who has implemented public policies related to community development, economic development, public safety, and housing and human services. She cochairs the South Tucson Weed and Seed program and is program coordinator for the Las Artes Youth Arts and Learning Center, an award-winning youth arts and education program. Mayor Douglas H. Palmer also accepted an award honoring the City of Trenton, New Jersey, one of three cities first chosen to implement the Weed and Seed strategy. In 10 years, the City of Trenton has revitalized neighborhoods, increased community safety, and established community policing and prevention and intervention programs. A few years ago, EOWS Director Stephen Rickman created the EOWS Director's Awards to recognize at national EOWS conferences those individuals who have championed causes for Weed and Seed. The Director's Award, a sturdy house-shaped glass statuette, is etched with the recipient's name and commemorates the strength of his or her commitment to the Weed and Seed strategy. Director's Awards have been presented at the EOWS National Conferences of 1999 and 2001 and the 2000 Weed and Seed Law Enforcement Conference. Accreditation Graduation During the National Conference, approximately 200 Weed and Seed sites received Site Accreditation Awards in a graduation ceremony held in the Grand Ballroom on Wednesday, August 29. It was a special moment for many site team representatives who have committed much time and effort to their local Weed and Seed initiatives. Each site team attended two 4-day trainings in 2001. EOWS will continue accreditation training for sites in the northeastern region of the United States and will offer an additional session in 2002 for people new to Weed and Seed as well as site staff who were unable to attend the training this year. ---------------------------- EOWS would like to thank a very special winner, Linda Fitch. She worked miracles coordinating the exhibition hall for the Weed and Seed 1999 National Conference in Houston, Texas, and returned to again "wow" our guests in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We don't know how she does it, but we're so glad she does! Thank you, Linda! --Nancy Ware, Director, EOWS Technical Assistance and Training Division ---------------------------- NOWS Hosts Session on Faith-Based Initiatives The National Organization for Weed and Seed hosted a standing-room- only workshop following Sunday's Learning Labs that outlined funding and technical assistance resources for implementing faith-based and community initiatives. Guest speaker Rev. Marcus W. Harvey inspired the crowd and commended them for their commitment to community service. Reverend Harvey is the U.S. Senate Congressional Fellow to Senator Rick Santorum (Pennsylvania) and Special Advisor to the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. ---------------------------- WEB Sight The Weed and Seed 2001 National Conference, Leave No Neighborhood Behind, gave many site teams new energy and the motivation they needed to recharge their local initiatives. Immediately following the National Conference, sites looked for new ways to jumpstart their strategies. Believing firmly in the power of self-promotion, EOWS encourages all sites to advertise their activities via press releases. Used as a marketing tool, a well-crafted press release is an inexpensive way for any site to keep the public up to date on local events, initiatives, and accomplishments. And when press releases are covered by broadcast and print media, the Weed and Seed strategy is promoted outside the target area . . . and that can attract great support and additional resources. In Gulfton, Texas, for example, the Weed and Seed site continues to receive calls of support from employees at area corporations and businesses who have learned about the changes happening in a neighborhood once viewed as very dangerous. When the local paper ran a story about a SeedTech Learning Center opening in the Weed and Seed site, Site Coordinator Nylene Qasem says she received calls immediately from people who wanted to volunteer at the center. "After the newspaper ran the story, I was surprised by the number of calls I received. One came from a stock broker who now teaches ESL [English as a Second Language] two nights a week in our center, and another call came from a tax attorney. He now volunteers in our computer center and provides tax services and advice, something that most of our residents don't otherwise have access to," explained Qasem. The Gulfton site has received calls of support from management staff at corporations in the area such as Duke Energy, which offered to partner the company's employee volunteer program with Weed and Seed site programming. The outpouring of support, Qasem believes, is the result of the media network the site has tapped into in the Gulfton area. With a little practice, site staff can learn how to write their own press releases. Conducting an Internet search on the topic will deliver many Web pages committed to writing press releases, and sites should use these free resources to "learn the ropes" of press-release writing. Meanwhile, In-Sites provides here a walk-through of the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ's) online Press Room, where thousands of press releases are posted to educate the general public, particularly the media, about DOJ-related news. These timely and concise press releases also serve as excellent models for writing novices. Every DOJ component posts its press releases online, and the public can readily access them by clicking on the "Press Room" link at www.usdoj.gov. Press releases issued by the Office of Public Affairs or individual DOJ components since July 1994 can be found in this section of the site, which also houses speeches and statements by the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, and other senior DOJ officials and congressional testimonies. Once in the Press Room, visitors can click on the "components" link to access, for example, news on activities supported by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Information on U.S. Attorneys' Offices in specific districts, including press releases highlighting recent prosecutions and indictments, is available by clicking on the "U.S. Attorneys Press Releases" link. Also from this page, visitors can access the text of speeches made by Attorney General John Ashcroft, including his address at the National Conference! Posted here also are remarks made by the Attorney General at Weed and Seed sites in Mobile, Alabama, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Bookmark www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches.html, and check back often for more speech texts as the Attorney General visits more Weed and Seed sites in the coming months. Finally, the Office of Justice Programs posts press releases announcing program and grant news for public access at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/press.htm. Visitors can access announcements and press releases dating back to 1997. Sites looking for further guidance on press releases and other marketing efforts should visit the EOWS Web site at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/marketing.htm. ---------------------------- Your News Is Good News! Most of the news coming out of Weed and Seed target areas is not simply "good news"--it is good news from an area that, at one time, delivered much bad news. The media love to publish "human interest" stories about positive change, such as those coming out of Weed and Seed neighborhoods. The challenge for sites is to get their news into the hands of the local media. Media networking should be an agenda topic at every Steering Committee meeting--to, at least, identify newspapers, radio and television stations, and magazines in the area that may, over time, become your site's biggest ally! ---------------------------- CONFERENCE CORNER Regional Meetings Statewide and regional meetings are growing in popularity for Weed and Seed sites across the country. The State of Arizona just wrapped up another successful statewide meeting at which both Officially Recognized sites and developing sites networked and exchanged stories of failure and success. In January 2002, a West Coast regional meeting will be held in Salinas, California. These trainings require much commitment from the host site or the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) that coordinates the event; however, the rewards are tremendous. Sites or USAOs interested in learning more about coordinating a regional conference are encouraged to contact their EOWS Program Manager. Project Safe Neighborhoods The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative (see page 4) was recently announced by the Attorney General. OJP is developing a 1-day informational review of the components of Project Safe Neighborhoods and other anti-gun violence initiatives. Any site hosting a regional or statewide training for Weed and Seed is encouraged to add this training to its agenda. To request support for your training on this topic, please contact Program Manager Andrew Press at EOWS at 202-307-5965. Conferences for 2002 EOWS and its national partners offer many training opportunities throughout the year. Sometimes it is difficult for sites to attend them all. Here EOWS provides a "heads up" so that sites may forecast and plan their travel for the remainder of 2001 and 2002. These training sessions are in the development stage only and may be changed or canceled. The following information is provided solely for budget and calendar planning, and to offer sites an opportunity to provide their input in advance. Any questions regarding these workshops should be directed to Nancy Ware, Director of Training and Technical Assistance at EOWS, at 202-519-1152. o Weed and Seed Application Training Workshop--February 2002. o Accreditation Training I and II--March and April 2002 (for new sites and sites unable to attend in 2001). o Weed and Seed Task Force Training--June 2002. o Faith-Based Initiatives in Weed and Seed--June 2002. o Community Leadership Training for Target Area Residents--July 2002. o Topical Session Training--September 2002. o The National Crime Prevention Council's Annual Conference--October 2002. ---------------------------- EOWS NEWS Weed & Seed FBI Executive Fellow Program EOWS welcomes to its office Lt. David Allender from the Indianapolis, Indiana, police department. Lieutenant Allender, as a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Executive Fellow, will divide his time between EOWS and FBI headquarters for the next 6 months working on Weed and Seed Safe Streets projects. Safe Streets Task Forces (SSTF), also referred to as Metro Gang Task Forces, bring together personnel from Federal (FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), State, and local law enforcement agencies. In each Weed and Seed site, the SSTF is entirely dependent on partnerships. Contributors "at the table" vary from city to city; however, they all support the same mission--to identify and target individuals involved in criminal activities in Weed and Seed areas. Lieutenant Allender brings to EOWS extensive knowledge in task force initiatives targeting criminal enterprise. Both Lieutenant Allender and Lt. Dennis Lane, an FBI Executive Fellow from Raleigh, North Carolina, who joined EOWS in June, will work with EOWS Program Manager Andrew Press to monitor and support law enforcement efforts for Weed and Seed. Site Coordinator Listserv A few years ago, EOWS offered an electronic listserv for members of the national Weed and Seed community. Recently, however, after receiving numerous requests from sites, EOWS looked into upgrading this service by targeting specific individuals supporting a Weed and Seed initiative. A listserv is essentially a mailing list for announcements distributed via e-mail. Subscribers can receive messages from and post messages to other subscribers. The Office of Justice Programs recently acquired the technology to support this type of service onsite. EOWS launched its first listserv recently by broadcasting a message to a mailing list of site coordinators. Approximately 185 individuals currently subscribe to the listserv. As EOWS becomes more practiced in the technology, it will develop similar lists for members of law enforcement, as well as fiscal agents and the general Weed and Seed public. This service is meant to provide peer-to-peer mentoring as sites develop, implement, and evaluate their approaches to Weed and Seed. Information and subscription details will be posted on the EOWS Web site as these listservs develop. ---------------------------- Want In-Sites? Free subscriptions to or past issues of In-Sites are now available! Send your request via e-mail to insites@ojp.usdoj.gov, or call 202-307-6031. ---------------------------- For More Information Contact these organizations or In-Sites Editor Romia Gore for more information on articles featured in In-Sites, or visit the EOWS Web site for related links at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/publications.htm. Project Safe Neighborhoods: America's Network Against GunViolence Office of Congressional and Public Affairs Office of Justice Programs Washington, D.C. 202-307-0703 askojp@ojp.usdoj.gov www.usdoj.gov/safeneighborhoods.htm Community Gardens Grow With the Help of Weed and Seed James Hogan Resident St. Louis Weed and Seed St. Louis, Missouri 314-776-7439 First Offenders Required To "Return to the Scene of Their Crime" Beverly Ward Weed and Seed Coordinator Salisbury Weed and Seed Salisbury, Maryland bward@wicomo.org Lumberton Weed and Seed: Holistic Approach to Implementation Makes First Year a Great Success Gwen Taylor Social Worker Lumberton Police Department Lumberton, North Carolina swapp2@aol.com Sylvia Stone Site Coordinator Lumberton Weed and Seed Lumberton, North Carolina 910-671-3997 Teresa Johnson City of Lumberton Lumberton, North Carolina 910-967-3844 EOWS Presents Awards Weed and Seed Poster Contest Louise Lucas Executive Office for Weed and Seed Washington, D.C. 202-616-1152 lucas@ojp.usdoj.gov EOWS Director's Awards Mary Breen Executive Office for Weed and Seed Washington, D.C. 202-616-1152 breenm@ojp.usdoj.gov EOWS News FBI Executive Fellow Program Andrew Press 202-616-1152 pressa@ojp.usdoj.gov Weed and Seed Safe Streets Projects Tacoma Weed and Seed www.safest.org/WeedSeed.html Topeka Weed and Seed www.safestreets.org Site Coordinator Listserv www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/listguide.htm ---------------------------- Community Resources To Help Families Recover From the Traumatic Events of September 11, 2001 ParentCenter (www.parentcenter.com/general/34754.html) gives parents advice on how to talk to children ages 2-8 about the events that took place on September 11. This site also contains a variety of other parent-related resources. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers "The Disaster Response Kit" on its Web site (www.aacap.org) to assist parents and children in dealing with the events of September 11. The American Psychological Association offers "Managing Traumatic Stress: Tips for Recovering From Disasters and Other Traumatic Events" (helping.apa.org/daily/traumaticstress.html), a complete resource for friends and families in the community that have been affected by the tragic events of September 11. ---------------------------- November 15, 2001 Weed and Seed sites, remember this date! Sites are required to submit reporting form SF269, "Financial Status Report," to EOWS on a quarterly basis. November 15, 2001, is the deadline for third quarter 2001. Sites that have questions should contact their EOWS program manager for more information by calling 202-616-1152. ---------------------------- Photos All conference photos by U.S. Department of Justice photographers Darryll Westbrook and Craig Crawford and In-Sites editor Romia Gore. Visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows.photo.htm for more 2001 National Conference photos. ---------------------------- LT 000446