Weed & Seed
Weed & Seed is a Department of Justice initiative aimed at revitalizing neighborhoods suffering from high rates of crime. The goal is to "weed out" violent crime, drug trafficking, and gang activity and work towards preventing crime from reoccurring by "seeding" those neighborhoods with a variety of social services.
The most important element of Weed & Seed is the development of a comprehensive, five-year strategic plan focusing on certain neighborhoods' needs and goals. The success of the strategy depends on the coordination of law enforcement, local government, community groups, residents, and social service agencies working together to revitalize the neighborhoods.
Rhode Island has three Weed & Seed sites, one in Providence and two in Pawtucket.
PROVIDENCE -- Hartford and Olneyville
Historically speaking, the Hartford and Olneyville neighborhoods are among the oldest in Providence. They are located in the central western section of the city, and are of the most diverse and engaging neighborhoods in Providence. Olneyville was once the industrial, commercial, cultural, and transportation hub of the entire west side of Providence. Unfortunately, Olneyville's main artery, Valley Street, is used by residents and transients alike, not only to travel between Orms Street on Smith Hill all the way to Olneyville Square, but too often it is used as the route to transport drugs and guns throughout the area.
In 1999, the majority of Olneyville's residents surveyed by our office expressed fear for their safety, citing a lack of police presence, rising crime, substance abuse, domestic violence and homelessness. The area's social problems included rising levels of teen pregnancy, prostitution and other health problems such as lead poisoning.
Since being designated as Providence's Weed & Seed site, residents, the Providence Police Department and a host of other partners worked tirelessly - and continue working diligently - to "weed" out crime. In fact, crime statistics show that between 2001 and 2002, crime rates in the neighborhoods dropped off by 18.8% while the same types of incidents decreased only 6.3% in the City overall. By way of specific examples, homicides declined 33.3%, weapons offenses lessened by 69%, arsons declined 25%, driving while intoxicated decreased 33% and sexual assaults were reduced by 17%.
Other successes include the formation of a Neighborhood Association that is focused on programmatic activity and further resident investment and an innovative Anti-Prostitution Program called "Project JOHN" that targets the men who solicit the prostitutes (many of whom are customers of drug dealers supporting that business as well).
PAWTUCKET – Woodlawn
Pawtucket is a city with a special place in the industrial history of the United States. It was here at the Slater Mill Historic Site that Samuel Slater successfully constructed and operated machines for spinning cotton yarn in 1793. Besides textiles, a variety of machines and iron working shops grew up alongside the textile industry. The industrial development of Pawtucket continued to expand for the next century making it a highly developed and important manufacturing center.
Like Providence, after World War II, textile giants for the most part moved out of Pawtucket and the effect devastated the Woodlawn neighborhood. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, an assortment of violent crimes riddled the Woodlawn neighborhood. The Pawtucket Development Corporation (PCDC) a non-profit community development corporation was established in 1990 to develop affordable housing for rental and homeownership. Weed & Seed partnered with PCDC, the Mayor’s Office and many others in an effort to combine resources. According to recent crime statistics for the neighborhoods, homicides and other violent crimes have been on the decline ever since.
Two years ago, a number of summer programs were developed targeting teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 in the Woodlawn area. The programs are still going strong. Its goals focus on “prevention” and “protection” factors, and pledges to promote good citizenship, develop leadership qualities, create interventions, and teach youngsters and young adults how to make informed, educated and positive decisions. In addition, the summer programs introduced the Weed & Seed strategy to other residents who may not be familiar with it.
As a direct result of Weed & Seed and its partnerships, more Pawtucket Police officers are on bike patrols and are visible to residents, who report that they feel safer in the neighborhoods.
Two other successes of “seeding” directly related to the Pawtucket Weed & Seed program are its “Safe Haven” after school program and a soon-to-be-released prisoner re-entry program currently in development. Through this initiative, Weed & Seed worked directly with the Pawtucket police department in an effort to assist ex-offenders become re-acclimated into the communities.
For more information about the Weed & Seed sites, call Hollie Capuano at 401-709-5073.