Title: Weed & Seed In-Sites Magazine, Summer 2002 Series: Magazine Author: Executive Office for Weed and Seed Published: Summer 2002 Subject: law enforcement -- general, community policing, gun violence, juvenile violence 40 pages 86,016 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 Summer 2002 Volume X, Number 2 Weed & Seed In-Sites MAGAZINE Project Safe Neighborhoods in Connecticut Announces: Hard Time for Gun Crime ---------------------------- 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 ---------------------------- Visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/abouteow.htm to learn about the functions of EOWS and its staff and www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/insites.htm for information on submitting articles and comments. ---------------------------- In-Sites MAGAZINE Volume X, Number 2 Summer 2002 Contents Letter From the Assistant Attorney General What's Working o Law Enforcement o Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment o Neighborhood Revitalization Winners Departments ---------------------------- LETTER FROM THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL This letter, signed by Assistant Attorney General Deborah J. Daniels, set forth the themes of the Weed and Seed Law Enforcement Coordination Workshop that was held June 18-19, 2002, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dear Weed and Seed Coordinator: As you know, Weed and Seed is essentially a coordination strategy. I am writing to tell you about a new initiative that should be well coordinated with your Weed and Seed strategy. Under the leadership of President Bush, the U.S. Department of Justice has launched an important program called Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) to reduce gun violence throughout the country through use of a comprehensive, strategic approach. Although progress has been made in fighting violent crime, America remains far too violent with a violent crime rate among the highest in the industrialized world . . . . A teenager is more likely to die from a gunshot than from all natural causes of death combined. This is unacceptable in America. For our children's sake, this Nation must reclaim our neighborhoods and streets. --President George W. Bush The Administration is committing $533 million to this effort over the next 2 years. In addition to hiring new prosecutors, the funds will be used to support investigators, provide training, and develop community outreach efforts that will promote and improve public safety. Working with Federal, State, and local law enforcement, each U.S. Attorney will implement the five core elements of PSN- -partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach, and accountability--in a manner that can fit the specific gun crime problems in that district. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a strategy to reduce gun violence in America. It is not another bureaucracy run out of Washington, D.C. It is a new, nationwide commitment to fight gun violence, and it incorporates and builds on successful efforts already in place around America . . . . --Attorney General John Ashcroft Attorney General Ashcroft has already announced over $70 million in U.S. Department of Justice funding dedicated to hiring Federal, State, and local prosecutors to ensure "that our gun laws are vigorously enforced so that our citizens will be protected from gun violence." To find out more about PSN, visit www.projectsafeneighborhoods.gov. Further, I encourage all Weed and Seed sites to work with your U.S. Attorney's Office to learn more about how PSN is working in your community. I also want to encourage you to coordinate your Weed and Seed efforts with other U.S. Department of Justice programs such as the Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI) and the new Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative and use measurement tools such as the National Institute of Justice's Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) program. Together, we can make America's neighborhoods safer. I thank you in advance for your dedication to these important coordination efforts. Sincerely, Deborah J. Daniels Assistant Attorney General Office of Justice Programs cc: U.S. Attorneys ---------------------------- What's Working LAW ENFORCEMENT Weed and Seed Sites Win MetLife/LISC Community-Police Partnership Awards Roberto Frietz The Garfield Weed and Seed program, a crime-fighting community policing and revitalization effort in Phoenix, Arizona's, Garfield neighborhood and the South Bronx Overall Development Corporation Weed and Seed program in New York each received one of six MetLife Foundation Community-Police Partnership Awards. The awards, which are sponsored by the MetLife Foundation and administered by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), celebrate and sustain successful collaboration between community groups and police. The Garfield and South Bronx sites received their awards and a $15,000 grant at LISC's Community Safety Initiative Conference in Kansas City, Kansas, on May 23, 2002. "By working together, community groups and police not only improve safety, but also transform the entire neighborhood and the lives of residents," said Sibyl Jacobson, President and Chief Executive Officer of the MetLife Foundation. "We are delighted to recognize the exemplary efforts of the Garfield and South Bronx Weed and Seed partnerships, and I hope they will serve as a model for other community groups and police departments across the country." "EOWS is proud of the accomplishments and partnerships that both the South Bronx and Garfield Weed and Seed sites have created in their communities. We at EOWS wish them continued success in their efforts toward revitalizing their neighborhoods," said Bob Samuels, Acting Director of EOWS, who was on hand in Kansas City to show support for the two sites as they received their awards and to talk to conference attendees about additional ways to work together. Phoenix, Arizona Since 1994, the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services and Police Departments have coordinated a public safety strategy that includes code enforcement, historic preservation, infill housing, and youth and family programs at local schools and parks and established block watches and neighborhood patrols. The program partners and residents have shut down more than 200 drug houses, rehabilitated or reconstructed 250 homes using low-interest Community Development Block Grant loans, and initiated a quarterly neighborhood newsletter. The Garfield Organization--the lead agency in the Garfield Weed and Seed effort--created model law enforcement and revitalization committees in which residents meet monthly to address public safety and revitalization issues. South Bronx, New York For 30 years, the South Bronx Overall Development Organization has been working to make the South Bronx a better place to live and work. Phillip Morrow, President of the organization, said "the Weed and Seed program has greatly benefited the people of the South Bronx by supporting focused and sustained law enforcement activities against gangs and drug dealers while nurturing community strengths so that children and families have a meaningful and positive future in their neighborhood." "These sites are doing extraordinary work in reshaping their neighborhoods and demonstrating how public safety is a catalyst for other elements--housing, economic development, job creation--that comprise healthy communities," said Lisa Belsky, Senior Program Director of LISC's Community Safety Initiative, which administered the awards. The Phoenix Garfield and South Bronx Weed and Seed sites were 2 of 430 applicants nationwide for the Community-Police Partnership Awards. The Community Safety Initiative is a national LISC program that builds formal, long-term partnerships among police departments, economic development corporations, and other groups in troubled neighborhoods to reduce crime, disorder, and fear. For more information about this initiative, contact Lisa Belsky Program Director CSI-LISC 733 Third Avenue, Eighth Floor New York, NY 10019 212-455-9824 Fax: 212-682-5929 lbelsky@liscnet.org More News From Garfield: Garfield Weed and Seed Site Celebrates Newest Historic District: Dennis Addition On May 13, 2001, residents and city officials of the Phoenix, Arizona, Garfield Weed and Seed site and Mayor Skip Rimsza and Councilman Michael Johnson celebrated a historic street sign installation with a ceremony for their newest historic district: the Dennis Addition. Historic preservation has long been part of the revitalization strategy of the Garfield Neighborhood Weed and Seed Program. The neighborhood itself is one of the oldest in the city of Phoenix. The Phoenix City Council formally designated the Dennis Addition a historic district on December 12, 2001. The Dennis Addition gets its name from John T. Dennis, a pioneer settler who left Ohio and migrated to the Phoenix valley in 1868. Dennis farmed for 15 years but began subdividing his property when people got interested in building homes. Dennis Addition was annexed into the city in 1899, 4 years after a streetcar line was installed in the neighborhood. Kevin Weight, the interim Historic Preservation Officer for Phoenix, said Dennis Addition's historical significance dates from 1833 to 1931 when it was settled by a primarily white middle class. Most of the homes are single-family and reflect different periods of architectural development. Dana Johnson--a longtime Garfield resident, Weed and Seeder, and chairman of the Garfield Revitalization Committee--has been pushing for historic designation of Dennis Addition for some time. "The most significant thing about Dennis Addition, the reason it needs to be designated, is because those properties will have the oldest mean age of any district in Phoenix," said Johnson. To help celebrate the installation of historic street signs, Johnson baked a cake in the shape and color of the signs that were installed. EOWS Presents First Law Enforcement Coordination Honor Awards Dedicated to the memory of Deputy Shane Bennett, Harris County Sheriff's Department, Houston, Texas, who was killed in the line of duty on June 12, 2002. People who work together effectively in all elements of the Weed and Seed strategy--law enforcement task forces, community policing, prevention/intervention/treatment, or neighborhood restoration--are critical to implementing a successful strategy. EOWS introduced a new Coordination Honor Award Initiative in 2002 to recognize this important work. Representatives from the five programs listed below received the Law Enforcement Coordination Honor Award, presented at the Weed and Seed Task Force Coordination Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 19, 2002. Atlanta Weed and Seed Intensive Surveillance Officers' Program, Georgia Description: This collaboration's goal is to decrease juvenile crime and reduce recidivism by troubled youth, particularly those from the Weed and Seed neighborhoods. The city of Atlanta is using its 2001 Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant funds for the Fulton County Juvenile Court System to provide intensive supervision of juvenile probationers living in Weed and Seed neighborhoods and direct services to their families. The program employs four probation officers as intensive surveillance officers who refer families to supportive services and programs provided by partnering agencies. The officers closely supervise 120 juveniles who have been identified as high-risk youth by the Fulton County Juvenile Court. The probation officers are sworn officers of the court with all the attendant powers and obligations. Responsibilities of the intensive surveillance officers include holding regular meetings with at-risk youth; patrolling Weed and Seed neighborhoods to maintain close contact with probationers and their families; visiting probationers' homes, schools, and places of employment several times a week; checking probationers' school attendance; and meeting with school officials when appropriate, while always respecting the laws of confidentiality. Partners: Office of the Mayor, Atlanta; Fulton County Juvenile Court; Atlanta Municipal Court; Atlanta Police Department; Fulton County Probation Office; Fulton County Office of Program Development and Management; Governor's Children & Youth Coordinating Council, State of Georgia; U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia. Project Exile, Buffalo Weed and Seed, New York Description: For the past 3 years, signs on buses and billboards have sent the message "You + Illegal Gun = Federal Prison" throughout Buffalo Weed and Seed target areas to inform residents of the consequences of illegal gun use. These signs are marketing tools for Project Exile--an initiative that exiles repeat offenders who use illegal weapons to serve strict sentences outside New York State. Since its start, more than 450 illegal weapons have been removed from Weed and Seed's target area. Some 1,000 weapons have been recovered, and dozens of repeat offenders have been convicted of gun crimes. A year ago, the U.S. Attorney's Office also teamed up with other Buffalo Weed and Seed partners, including prosecutors; community groups; faith-based organizations; and parole, probation, local, State, and Federal enforcement agencies to develop Project Exile Notification. Project Exile Notification, a preventive strategy, is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and is modeled after an intervention program in Winston-Salem and High Point, North Carolina, where first-time gun offenders, probationers, and recent parolees are required to attend a mandatory notification session at which the consequences of violating the law are explained. Partners: Buffalo Weed and Seed, New York; Buffalo Crimestoppers; U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York; Office of the Mayor, Buffalo; Buffalo Police Department; Erie County District Attorney's Office; New York State Probation Office; U.S. Probation Office; Erie County Probation; Erie County Sheriff's Office; Erie County Holding Center; Laura Jackson, Founder of Dealing Effectively After The Homicide (D.E.A.T.H.); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Buffalo; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Buffalo; Greater Buffalo Chapter MAD DADS (Men Against Destruction--Defending Against Drugs and Social Disorder); the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Buffalo; Reverend Kenyatta Cobb, Mt. Olive Baptist Church; 100 Club of Buffalo. The U.S. Attorney's Violent Crime Task Force, Charleston Weed and Seed, South Carolina Description: Since 1994, the U.S. Attorney's Violent Crime Task Force has been the impetus for reducing violent and drug-related crime in two Weed and Seed sites. The Charleston and North Charleston sites have benefited from the efforts of this professional, hard-working group of law enforcement representatives who cooperate to combat violent crimes, fugitives, major violent offenders, and multijurisdictional violations that occur in or affect Weed and Seed sites. The task force investigates, arrests, and prosecutes individuals and organizations that plan and/or carry out acts of violence, homicides related to gangs or drugs, and Federal firearms violations. The task force also obtains Federal fugitive warrants for individuals involved in acts of violence, apprehends individuals wanted on fugitive warrants, and investigates major violent offenses that occur in or affect Weed and Seed sites. Following a number of major drug busts, residents have increased their participation at the neighborhood meetings, and the community has a greater perception of safety. Partners: Charleston Resident Office, Atlanta Field Division--Drug Enforcement Agency; Columbia Division, Charleston Resident Agency--the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Charlotte Field Office--Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division; Charleston County Sheriff's Office; North Charleston Police Department; 9th Circuit Solicitor's Office of the State of South Carolina; East Side Community Council; U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina; Charleston Police Department; and the city of Charleston. Operation ROBUST, South/East Lumberton Weed and Seed Law Enforcement Special Task Force, North Carolina Description: South/East Lumberton's target area encompasses approximately 9,205 residents. The community has a strong commitment to Weed and Seed. The site began implementing its Weed and Seed strategy in 2000 with 11 Steering Committee members. Today, more than 40 members are on the Steering Committee and subcommittees. The site emphasizes community involvement in each element of its strategy. Intensive community outreach efforts, such as holding monthly meetings in the Safe Havens and distributing information about success stories, have helped the site break down barriers that had grown between the city and its residents in years prior to Weed and Seed. Residents who were surveyed stated prostitution, drug distribution, substance abuse, burglary, and violent crimes were the biggest threats to community safety. In response to the needs of the community, the Weed and Seed Law Enforcement Special Task Force was formed in October 2000. On March 28, 2001, the Drug Enforcement Agency Mobile Enforcement Team, in partnership with other agencies such as the Robeson County Sheriff's Department, arrested 69 people on State and Federal drug charges. The investigation resulted in the seizure of more than $1 million in property, money, and drugs. The Lumberton Police Department helped to obtain 181 State and 14 Federal indictments, most of which were in the southern and eastern parts of the target area. The Federal cases were successfully prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Partners: Mobile Enforcement Team, Atlanta Office--Drug Enforcement Agency; Wilmington Office, North Carolina--Drug Enforcement Agency; Fayetteville, North Carolina--Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; Robeson County Sheriff's Department; Lumberton Police Department; Lumberton Police Department Social Work Unit; U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina; the city of Lumberton; Robeson County District Attorney's Office. Operation Streetsweeper, Milwaukee Weed and Seed, Wisconsin Description: Operation Streetsweeper brings the two "prongs" of the Weed and Seed strategy together to work with law enforcement and residents to reduce street drug dealing and crime in the community. In 2001, District Capt. Glen Frankovis was assigned to the 5th District of the Milwaukee Police Department, which includes the Weed and Seed United South area. He made a strong commitment to reduce "hotspot" areas through Operation Streetsweeper. Milwaukee's bridge between community residents and law enforcement agencies is the Community Partners Program. The community partners work directly in the neighborhood to provide resource information about services and learn about residents' crime concerns. As the partners gain trust and credibility in the community, residents are more willing to assist the Milwaukee Police Department and other law enforcement entities (e.g., the Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) and inform them about illegal activities in the community. Residents have responded positively to the police department's outreach, response, and improved interaction with the community. The program has already affected the neighborhood; residents observe "peaceful nights" and children can play outside because gunshots have stopped. Law enforcement also has benefited from the residents' positive feedback and cooperation. Partners: Milwaukee Police Department--5th District; Milwaukee High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; Community Partners Program, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The following programs and/or individuals in Weed and Seed sites have been given honorable mention awards for noteworthy law enforcement coordination: Raceland, Louisiana, Weed and Seed. Raceland Weed and Seed Anti-Drug Task Force; Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office; Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force and Community Policing Station; U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bayou Council on Alcoholism. San Jose, California, Weed and Seed. Lt. Scott Cornfield, San Jose Police Department; Deputy District Attorney Ray Mendoza, Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. Tupelo, Mississippi, Weed and Seed. "In Memory of Charles Richardson," Haven Acres Neighborhood Association, Tupelo Police Department, Jennifer McCoy, Site Coordinator. Volusia County, Florida, Weed and Seed Program. Lt. Bob Lambert, Volusia County Sheriff's Office. For more information about these award-winning programs, contact the following people: Atlanta, Georgia Nina L. Hunt Deputy U.S. Attorney U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia 404-581-6253 Karen Rogers Coordinator Mayor's Office of Community Affairs--City of Atlanta 404-330-6086 kerogers@atlanta.org Web site: www.weedseed.org/siteinfo1.asp?ID=3 Buffalo, New York Timothy Scioli LECC U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York 716-551-4811 Oswaldo Mestre Program Director Buffalo Weed and Seed Program--City of Buffalo 716-851-4281 Web site: www.weedseed.org/siteinfo1.asp?ID=37 Charleston, South Carolina Sean Kittrell Assistant U.S. Attorney U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina 843-727-4865 Carolyn Brown Coordinator Charleston Police Department 843-720-1999 brownc@ci.charleston.sc.us Web site: www.weedseed.org/siteinfo1.asp?ID=4 Lumberton, North Carolina Kimberly Moore Assistant U.S. Attorney U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina 919-856-4172 Sylvia Stone Coordinator South/East Lumberton Weed and Seed 910-671-3997 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Francie Wendelborn Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee Coordinator U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin 414-297-1732 Sue Kenealy Program Manager Safe & Sound Social Development Commission Community Partners 414-935-7868 sknealy@execp.com Web site: www.weedseed.org/sitecontact1.asp The EOWS coordinator for this project is Mary Breen, Special Assistant to the Director, EOWS, 202-616-0289. PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND TREATMENT "One Milwaukee Night" Milwaukee Youth Send Anti-Gun-Crime Message in Summer Arts Program Imagine a major city where there are no gun homicides," said 16-year-old Alex Tillett-Saks. "And if one does occur, the whole community is outraged and works together to end the violence." Nineteen other teens who created and perform "One Milwaukee Night" share his zero-tolerance dream with the support of Milwaukee's Weed and Seed. With direction from local theater professionals, "One Milwaukee Night" was coordinated last summer as a theatrical project by 20 youth from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The 10-week project was a collaboration of Milwaukee Public Schools' Summer Stars Program, a local prevention-through-the-arts initiative; Safe & Sound, a community-based crime fighting initiative; and Theatre X, a nationally known and respected local arts company. Together, they created a youth theatrical project to address the underlying issues that contribute to gun violence. The partnership supports CEASEFIRE, a public-private initiative to reduce gun violence in Milwaukee County. "What better way to convey an antigun violence message to kids than through the experiences of their peers," said James Santelle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. The project took its first step in May 2001 by holding auditions in the community. Announcements and word of mouth advertised that Theatre X would hold auditions for teenage actors. For many youth familiar with theater, this audition was different. No songs were sung and no scripts were read. Instead, Theatre X staff asked each auditioning teenager to tell a story about how gun violence had affected his or her life. "We were not looking so much at the acting ability of the participants as much as their personal experiences with gun violence and an enthusiasm to try something new," commented David Ravel, Producing Director of Theatre X. The end result was a youth troupe comprising a diverse group of teenagers with a wide range of theatrical experience who had all been affected by gun violence. They named their troupe "People Against Gun Violence Everywhere" and spent the next 4 weeks writing and developing "One Milwaukee Night." The final 50-minute program was a series of skits and poetry about the cast's life experiences with gun violence. Recognizing the power of their project, the cast added a discussion with the audience at the conclusion of each performance. "It's inevitable that there will be questions and comments from kids in the audience," said John Schneider, Director. "The cast members felt it was necessary that they address those questions in front of the whole audience." With "One Milwaukee Night" written and rehearsed, the actors were eager to take the show on the road. Thirty performances were scheduled at various public schools, community centers, and churches within Milwaukee's Weed and Seed neighborhoods. "We wanted to take the performances to the kids that are most affected by gun violence," said JoAnn Anton, Cochair of the board for Safe & Sound. "We need to provide our youth the opportunity to discuss their feelings and witness the shared outrage of gun violence." The skits portrayed gun violence in many settings, including domestic violence, suicides, and accidental shootings. Every performance concluded with the personal testimonies of each cast member. "One Milwaukee night, my friend got shot in a drive-by," said Tim DuBose. "One Milwaukee night, my cousin was killed in a drug deal gone bad," said Aaron Brown. "One Milwaukee night, my sister shot a girl in the head," stated Michael Hadley. "One Milwaukee Night, it happened to my family," added Meghan Boyle. "It could happen to yours." "It is amazing that these kids, who have experienced gun violence first hand, are strong enough and willing to contribute their experiences to such a touching performance," said E. Michael McCann, Milwaukee County's District Attorney. "These performances remind all of us that whenever anyone is shot or threatened with a gun, kids' lives are affected." The Weed and Seed site and returning partners from last summer's production are looking forward to another successful summer program at Theater X. Funding and personnel support for the 2001 production came from a variety of Federal and private resources. Community partners are pooling their resources and applying for funding to bring theater arts to Milwaukee youth this summer. -------------------- How do youth in your community spend their days after school lets out? Here, In-Sites highlights a successful arts program that helps prevent crime by keeping kids busy in ways that turn them toward a constructive way of life. -------------------- At-risk youth in neighborhoods across the country are turning their backs on self-destructive activities and dedicating themselves to better efforts through the arts. Arts programming deters youth from delinquent behavior by building their self-esteem and giving them the confidence to express themselves creatively while opening their minds to the beauty in nature and other people. Once children find a medium in art that they can connect with, they find themselves consumed with a will to learn, do better, and set challenging goals. According to recent research, students who participate in band, orchestra, chorus, or drama are significantly less likely than nonparticipants to drop out of school, be arrested, use drugs, or engage in binge drinking. To learn more about these facts and the importance of art in the development of a child's inner strength, call 1-800-638-8736 or send an e-mail to puborder@ncjrs.org and order a copy of Youth in Action: Art and Performances for Prevention, published by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Be sure to request NCJ 178927. -------------------- Drug-Free Communities Support Program Substance Abuse Council and Battle Creek Weed and Seed The Substance Abuse Council (SAC) is a nonprofit grassroots organization that functions as the community antidrug coalition for Kalamazoo County, Michigan; it rents space in the county's Community Mental Health building. Conveniently, the recently funded Battle Creek Weed and Seed site operates out of the same building and uses the same space and equipment donated by the county. SAC is the grantee organization, the fiscal agent for the Battle Creek Weed and Seed strategy, and the employer for the Weed and Seed Site Coordinator. -------------------- As the fiscal agent for the Battle Creek Weed and Seed strategy located in Michigan, the Substance Abuse Council (SAC) embraces a prevention model recognized by the Office of Justice Programs and taps into the resources of the Drug-Free Communities Support Program to strengthen its effort. SAC has used the resources to fund a community response to drug prevention and intervention by making families stronger and has acquired its own resources to advocate for future treatment of its residents in need. -------------------- SAC received a Drug-Free Communities Support Program (DFCSP) grant last fiscal year. Their proposal outlined a plan to use the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) model. SFP is a 14-session, family-skills training program designed to increase resilience and reduce risk factors for substance abuse, depression, violence and aggression, delinquency, and school failure in high-risk 6- to 12-year-old children and their parents. Many Federal agencies, including the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, administrator of DFCSP, recognize SFP as an exemplary research-based family model. SFP has been modified for African-American, Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and American Indian families; rural families; and families with children in their early teens. As one of the most replicated family programs in schools, churches, mental health centers, housing projects, homeless shelters, recreation centers, family centers, and drug courts, SFP has been evaluated by many independent investigators. All have reported similar positive results in preventing substance abuse, conduct disorders, and depression in children and parents and in improving parenting skills and family relationships. SAC's initiative would not only strengthen existing approaches to prevention and intervention in the Weed and Seed neighborhood, but would also offer additional educational resources for middle school students and their parents. Programs such as this one that target both youth and their families for prevention activities have a much higher success rate for preventing substance abuse. With DFCSP funding, SAC is infusing the SFP model into the community with the support of many partners, including the school district and churches that have agreed to train staff and conduct drug prevention sessions at their facilities. Weed and Seed Coordinators also are reaching out to DEFY (Drug Education for Youth) youth and parents to ensure that they can also participate in intervention and prevention efforts. SAC builds the community's capacity to prevent youth drug use, which is a complement to ongoing Weed and Seed efforts. SAC staff are licensed to provide drug prevention programs; however, the organization has not turned away from saving resources to advocate for treatment. In addition, a new development is under way to create a women's drug court for Kalamazoo County. For more information on the Strengthening Families Program and details on replicated models across the country, visit www.safefamilies.org. -------------------- Weed and Seed and Drug-Free Communities are natural partners. Check out the Drug-Free Communities Web site at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/dfcs. -------------------- NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION Cass Lake Residents Reclaim Their Community After decades of crime, violence, racial tension, accusations against the police, and poverty, residents of Cass Lake, Minnesota, are taking back the community. American Indian and nonnative residents alike experienced the disintegration of the area, seemingly helpless to do anything to stop it. A particularly brutal murder in 1998 moved community members to declare enough is enough and organize. The residents came together, held public forums, and created a grassroots group called Community Voices Against Violence (CVAV). They adopted a zero-tolerance-to-violence policy and a mission statement that read: We stand together to save our children, parents, elders, and loved ones from the sorrow and fear caused by acts of violence in our community. A quality-of-life survey was conduct-ed in 1998 by the Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute, a St. Paul-based agency financed by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services that promotes community-oriented policing. The results of the survey documented the residents' feelings of anger, fear, and hopelessness. With this information, the residents began to develop and implement their plans for Cass Lake. Residents undertook special efforts to involve youth in developing a safer, healthier community. The community recognized that the hopelessness documented in the 1998 survey was intergenerational, and the only way to make effective changes to these debilitating attitudes was to infuse young people with a spirit of hope and renewal. Youth rallies were organized, a curfew was established, and a Boys and Girls Club was launched. The response of the youth has been a very positive factor in the revitalization of Cass Lake. Eighty-three percent of the citizens who responded to the 1998 survey also had problems with their community's law enforcement. The FBI did a 3-year investigation of a few local law enforcement personnel. The investigation showed that corruption charges were overstated. Only one charge, a petty misdemeanor, resulted. Overall, however, the survey, investigation, and negative community perception of law enforcement have helped law enforcement work to greatly improve its public relations efforts and image and to work toward having a positive impact on the community. -------------------- Community success stories often come about when residents get together to make a difference. The residents of Cass Lake, Minnesota, decided they were tired of the crime and violence in their neighborhood. They formed a grassroots group and started making a difference. -------------------- CVAV leaders knew that these poor conditions had to change before real improvement could take place. Local government leaders negotiated a law enforcement agreement among the seven governmental entities: the City of Cass Lake Police Department, Leech Lake Reservation Tribal Police, Cass County Sheriff's Department, Hubbard County Sheriff's Department, Beltrami County Sheriff's Department, Minnesota Highway Patrol, and Pike Bay Township Police. Beltrami County and Cass County now also have a very active drug enforcement task force that shares information and coordinates efforts among relevant partners. Officers now patrol all areas, with no gaps in tribal, city, and county jurisdictions. Prior to the law enforcement agreement--because Minnesota is a Public Law 83-280 State--if an incident took place one block outside the city and no officers from the county or tribe were available, the city could not respond. Residents of the county or tribe would have to wait for the appropriate jurisdiction to respond. The message seems to be getting through to all the residents of Cass Lake, based on the reduction in crime, the establishment of economic development planning, and visible signs of residents who are cleaning and fixing up their streets and yards. The Cass Lake community has come a long way. It still has a long way to go, but its residents are hopeful that they will succeed. The most encouraging moment came when, in 2002, the community received Official Recognition as a Weed and Seed site. Residents will now have additional resources to assist them with their efforts and can further demonstrate their commitment and determination. Team Players Individuals, businesses and city officials chip in to make a Clearwater policeman's dream of a children's park a reality Lynn Porter CLEARWATER--When Wilton Lee was growing up in the Old Clearwater Bay neighborhood, children would join together and play kickball, baseball and football in the streets. Nowadays, with the rush of cars down those roads, they'd be foolish to try that, Lee said. "The community has just grown," he said. So when the 43-year-old Clearwater police sergeant noticed three lots with overgrown vegetation in his old neighborhood, he thought small--as in "kids." He did research, talked to his superiors, sought donations and--with a bit of luck tossed his way by an anonymous philanthropist, and a lot of help from city officials and an area bank--Lee managed to make those lots bloom into a new park for children. Called the Garden Avenue Park, it opened Jan. 5. It features colorful playground equipment that youngsters can swing and slide on, climb on and hang from. A picnic table anchors one edge of the small park where there's a water fountain and benches parents and grandparents can sit on. Material made from shredded tires lines the area under the play equipment to provide a soft landing for tumbling children. Palms and oak trees and other plantings grace the park and a white fence separates it from nearby houses. "I just love it," said Vernice Burgess, 58, who with her husband, Willie Burgess, 64, lives next door. With 22 grandchildren, the playground is a "blessing" for the couple, who take the youngest of them to it often, she said. In fact, Willie Burgess likes the park so much he's "taken ownership" of it, calling Lee if he sees youngsters playing too rough or if there are any other problems, the officer said. Lee knows his neighborhood. Not only did he grow up there, he is a supervisor at a substation that provides community policing to the area. Because of that knowledge, he understood that children there had to cross four-lane, well-traveled Myrtle Avenue to get to the nearest park--before Garden Avenue Park was constructed. But understanding the need and getting the deed accomplished was, well, no walk in the park. Lee's first task was research. Working with the city's Neighborhood Services Division, he discovered that AmSouth Bank owned the property. The city approached bank officials and found that the bank would be willing to donate the land, if the city picked up the back taxes. It did, to the tune of about $5,200. The money came from asset forfeitures in felony cases, most of them involving drugs, said Police Chief Sid Klein, who made the decision to provide the money. "This is an ideal example of the police taking drug money out of a neighborhood and then putting it directly back into the neighborhood in terms of something positive and lasting," Klein said. Klein also came up with the idea of asking Robert Hudson, a building arts instructor at the Clearwater campus of St. Petersburg College, and his students to design the park. They worked with Leroy Chin Jr., parks, planning and projects manager for Clearwater's Parks and Recreation Department. Lee, faced with the problem of getting money to build the park, ran into a bit of luck. In talking to Jonathan R. Wade, president of the North Greenwood Association, one day he found out about two philanthropists--a mother and son--who wanted to donate to a park. The two, who insist on remaining anonymous, donated $28,134, Lee said. The Clearwater Weed and Seed Program donated $12,500 after Klein approached its steering committee, the police chief said. The program is a federal initiative designed to assist cities and neighborhoods by weeding out crime and then seeding neighborhoods with social action programs, he said. The effort got another $4,000 from the Allegany Franciscan Foundation after Clearwater reserve police officer Wanda Fyfe, who is associated with the foundation, suggested the city apply. Additionally, Home Depot on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard donated plants for the park. The city put in the rest of the landscaping, including palm and oak trees and sod and mulch, Lee said. And, last but not least, small donations came in from individuals, including one from a man who handed Klein a $100 check the day of the park's grand opening. Now that the park is open, the chief wants to get more people in the community involved in taking ownership of it. He is seeking residents to patrol it as part of the police department's volunteer parks patrol program. Lee knows the park is a community effort--and he thanks those who gave of their time and money. "I would like to give credit to them for stepping to the plate," he said. He is amazed at what the group effort brought about. When he first discovered the land could be had, he thought he'd be lucky to get it cleared and a swing set and slide installed. "This is on a much larger scale than I envisioned," said Lee, who calls the park a safe haven for children. "It really took off." Reporter Lynn Porter can be reached at (727) 823-3603. [copyright] 2002 The Tampa Tribune, reprinted with permission. From the Weed and Seed Site Coordinators Listserv Coordinating the partnerships, resources, and logistics needed to tear down a crackhouse or renovate an old school to make it a Safe Haven are enormous projects for most Weed and Seed sites. Replacing empty lots with playgrounds is merely a dream for sites that have not yet learned how to tap into national and local support systems. When the Reverend Jesse C. Turner, a Site Coordinator known by members of the Weed and Seed Site Coordinators Listserv, asked his peers how to revive his neighborhood efforts, they directed him to a few well-respected national and local resources, including In-Sites magazine! Every community can find utility in the information our Weed and Seed experts gave Reverend Turner. Question Hi everyone, I'm looking for ideas on reviving (economic, recreation, historic heritage, housing development) our urban community. Does anyone have something they can share with me? Thanks. --Reverend Jesse C. Turner, Site Coordinator, Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Weed and Seed Answers Advice From New York Greetings from cold Syracuse, New York! One suggestion would be to see whether or not you have a NeighborWorks[R] organization in your area. NeighborWorks[R] organizations are members of the national Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, a nonprofit entity dedicated to revitalizing communities through community economic development, housing, and reorganization. If you have a NeighborWorks[R] organization that serves your community, it would be a great partner. The Enterprise Foundation also works with communities to assist in revitalization efforts, and you could check with them as well. Here in Syracuse, we work closely with the Enterprise Foundation, and our Syracuse Weed and Seed Community Partnership is a division of Home Headquarters, Inc., a NeighborWorks[R] organization. I believe that there are about 250 such organizations in the country. There are also a number of publications like Best Practices that present strategies from around the country, and some excellent information is also available in past issues of In-Sites. --Nancy Kronen, Project Coordinator, Syracuse Weed and Seed Community Partnership 124 East Jefferson Street Syracuse, NY 13202 315-474-1939, ext. 30 Fax: 315-474-0637 Nancyk@homehq.org For more information about NeighborWorks[R], visit www.hud.gov/nnw/nnwindex.html. -------------------- NeighborWorks[R] In 1978, Congress enacted a law that created the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, a national nonprofit organization whose goal is to revitalize America's older, distressed communities. Neighborhood Reinvestment does this by creating and supporting local nonprofit organizations. Today, nearly 200 of these organizations operate in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the country. These organizations make up the national NeighborWorks[R] network. Neighborhood residents are behind much of the vision these organizations support and are in the majority on their boards of directors. For more information about NeighborWorks[R], visit www.hud.gov/nnw/nnwindex.html. -------------------- Suggestions From Sunny Florida Hello from Florida. Some suggestions include connecting to the city's Community Development Block Grant program and local housing authority for housing projects. I would also check to see if you have any local Community Development Corporations to get assistance with economic development-- along with the major agency in your city that focuses on economic development (e.g., Council of 100, Chamber of Commerce). Good information also can be obtained from the Council for Urban Economic Development [now the International Economic Development Council], 202-223-7823, www.iedconline.org; or the Neighborhood Reinvestment Training Institute, 202-229-2454, http://nw.org/network/HomeFramex.asp?searchfor=08. Regarding historic heritage, I suggest you connect with the local historic preservation society, your city's planning department, and the State's historic preservation department or bureau for information about forming an African-American historic district to help preserve old homes and generate community pride. (We are working on one as we speak!) You can also contact the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 202-588-6296, www.nationaltrustp.org. I hope this helps. Good luck; you have some great ideas. --Bill Patten, Project Director, Ocala, Florida, Weed and Seed Visit the WSSC Listserv at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/listguide.htm to view more dialog! ---------------------------- Winners Reverend Powell Makes a Difference in Youngstown, Ohio, Weed and Seed Rev. Alfred D. Coward Because she was born 100 years ago, Reverend Elizabeth Powell has seen the world around her change tremendously. Members of the Youngstown, Ohio, community credit her as the champion of many of these changes. She is widely known for her many evangelistic and charitable efforts, often using her own resources to feed, clothe, and shelter people in need. She carries herself with exceptional grace and dignity and lives her words. "If something must be done for the good of the whole, count me in." An ardent defender of both civil and labor rights, Reverend Powell has served on the Youngstown Human Relations Council and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). In fact, she remains the leading membership drive person for NAACP in Youngstown. Reverend Powell's first job was working as a maid in a hotel in Youngstown for $10 a week. At the time, she was not permitted to use the front elevator because she was black. Years later, after attending the Bible Theological Institute of Youngstown, she was prohibited from being ordained in the Baptist church because she was a woman. Under opposition from her colleagues, she did not give up her efforts to become a minister. She conducted funerals, preached at churches that would allow women ministers, and associated with progressive ministers who believed in women ministers. In 1956, after much effort, Reverend Powell became the first woman to be ordained a credentialed Baptist minister. In 1962, Reverend Powell founded the World Fellowship Interdenominational Church, where she is still pastor today. Her church is located in the heart of the Weed and Seed target area and often serves as an additional safe haven for youth in the target area. When she was 85, she spearheaded the effort to build a new church edifice. Today, the edifice, which was built debt free, is completely furnished and serves as a visible testament to never abandoning a dream. Reverend Powell has been recognized for her commitment to the community and has received many honors and awards, including Woman of the Year, Clergy Woman of the Year, and the Sojourner Truth Award. On October 17, 2001, Reverend Powell was one of 18 women inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. (Since 1978, the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame has publicly recognized the women in Ohio who have contributed to the growth and progress of the State, the Nation, and the entire world. There are currently 333 women inductees.) Reverend Powell's unfailing dedication to her community is remarkable. For example, about 1 year ago, while recovering from a hip fracture that resulted in a short-term hospital admission for rehabilitation, she continued to visit the sick and counsel those who needed her encouragement. Today, Reverend Powell continues to call on and visit her community, which has been enriched by her presence and tenacity. Weed and Seed Sites Featured in New Publication Case Histories in Alcohol Policy was released a few months ago by the Trauma Foundation in San Francisco, California, with funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation[R]. The need for this book became apparent after Trauma Foundation staff found that there was a need for research related to alcohol and its connection to injury and violence and for information on community responses to alcohol policy. The Trauma Foundation set out to bridge the gap between researchers and community leaders by learning in depth how other groups addressed alcohol-related injury and violence. -------------------- Case Histories in Alcohol Policy is a foundation-supported reference publication that highlights community approaches to change local alcohol policies. The activities of Weed and Seed sites are among the success stories. -------------------- An advisory panel of policy advocates and activists convened to collect examples of communities that mobilized in response to a specific alcohol policy. The result was a list of 40 organizations from around the country, 7 of which are highlighted in Case Histories in Alcohol Policy. It was no surprise that of those seven case history sites, two are projects supported by Weed and Seed communities. A BOLD Approach From San Antonio Fighting Back Most Weed and Seed sites are familiar with the work of San Antonio Fighting Back (SAFB). The organization serves as the fiscal agent for the Weed and Seed site in San Antonio, Texas, and its leadership has made tremendous contributions to Weed and Seed nationally. SAFB's efforts have been recognized time and time again at the national level because of its approaches to increase treatment accessibility, reduce drug-related crime, and prevent youth substance abuse. Norma Rabago, SAFB's Communications Director, has written articles for In-Sites in the past and contributed to the story, "A BOLD Approach," which is featured in Case Histories. The story offers a thorough look at a group of teenagers who coordinated efforts to do something about the billboards in their community that broadcast messages supporting tobacco and alcohol use. SAFB's Coordinator, Linda Tippins--who also coordinates the Weed and Seed strategy--learned about Erase and Replace, an antitobacco and antialcohol project coordinated by empowered teenagers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that resulted in the removal of tobacco and alcohol billboards in their community. Tippins and SAFB staff member T.C. Calvert felt the project was something that the youth in their community could replicate. The project was a success, and soon the youth formed their own organization, BOLD (Bicultural Organization for Leadership Development), composed of African-American and Latino youth from San Antonio's East Side. For several years, BOLD crusaded against the tobacco and alcohol industry advertisers that promoted their products on the billboards in the community. Eventually, the old billboards were replaced with advertisements that sent positive messages about staying in school and abstaining from drug and alcohol use. No Mas! Case Histories in Alcohol Policy features the East Salinas, California's, community opposition to plans to grant a liquor license to a supermarket that was slated to move into a new shopping mall bordering the neighborhood. Like many lower income communities, this Weed and Seed site had a high concentration of alcohol outlets, and many residents had struggled their entire lives with alcohol- and drug-related injury and violence. In 1992, a group of professionals who specialize in prevention used a grant they received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Substance Abuse Prevention to form a group called PARTS (Preventing Alcohol-Related Trauma in Salinas). The group immediately marketed its campaign to the entire Salinas community, including the interim chief of police, to involve and educate residents and city leaders about the effect of alcohol on public health and safety. While it worked on its antialcohol efforts, PARTS also taught interested residents about the local political process by which decisions that affected their neighborhood were made. Residents who had never been to city hall learned how to effectively communicate with city council. What resulted was an empowered community. The story of how the community turned plans to open another alcohol outlet into plans to open the Children's Services International Mountain Valley Family and Child Development Center is covered in the section of the book called, "No Mas," Spanish for "no more." The story is inspiring and an example of resident-driven community mobilization at its finest. Case Histories in Alcohol Policy provides an indepth look at recent alcohol-related facts and alcohol's role as a contributor to violence in our society and to the decay of lower income neighborhoods. The 200-page book tells stories about struggle, mobilization, and victory and serves as an inspiration for any community. To view this publication, go to www.tf.org/tf/alcohol/case.shtml. -------------------- Weed and Seed Success Stories In July 2002, at the National Evaluation Conference held by the National Institute of Justice, a panel on the Evaluation of Operation Weed and Seed highlighted some examples of the crime-fighting successes of the Weed and Seed strategy, including the following: o In its original sites, Milwaukee Weed and Seed reduced violent crime and weapons crime by one-half. o Seattle's Central Weed and Seed site reduced violent crime, drug crime, and weapons crime by about 45 percent, which was faster than the rate at which crime decreased citywide. o In Pittsburgh, between 1997 and 1999 (when crime began to rise citywide), crime remained low in the Weed and Seed sites. ---------------------------- Web Sight Resources for Addressing Hunger and Nutrition in Your Weed and Seed Neighborhood Brooke Evans Weed and Seed is a coordination strategy that brings together a wide variety of resources to prevent and control crime and improve the quality of life for residents. While the U.S. Department of Justice's resources focus on law enforcement efforts, EOWS also helps sites connect with other agency resources for the seeding side. This article focuses on hunger and nutrition resources. Sites looking for ways to sustain Kid's Safety House projects should check out these resources. Check out the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs at www.fns.usda.gov/cnd. These programs provide funding and information for schools and community organizations on feeding children. The National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program seek to feed children during the school year and over the summer. The Food and Nutrition Service also administers Team Nutrition, an educational program designed to introduce healthier meals into schools. Look for elderly feeding programs like the Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs at www.aoa.gov/nutrition. These nutrition programs, administered through the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provide congregate and home-delivered meals (i.e., meals on wheels), link older adults to supportive services, decrease social isolation, and provide nutrition education and counseling to help decrease or manage chronic health conditions. Although the primary service is providing meals, other services such as nutrition screening, education, and counseling are also available. Find your local Second Harvest Food Bank (www.secondharvest.org/foodbanks/foodbanks.html). The food bank can help your community in many ways. Often, it is the supplier of food for community programs and afterschool activities, such as the Kids Cafe Program (www.secondharvest.org/childhunger/kidscafe.html), which provides free and prepared food and nutrition education to hungry children. Cafes generally are located within existing community programs, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs or schools, and could also take place in your Weed and Seed Safe Haven. Sites with Kid's Safety House programs should look to this resource to sustain them. Get involved in the USDA Community Food Security Initiative (www.reeusda.gov/food_security/foodshp.htm), which offers Community Food Competitive Project Grants that help nonprofit groups, faith-based organizations, State and local government agencies, tribes, and individual citizens fight hunger, improve nutrition, strengthen local food systems, and empower low-income families to move toward self-sufficiency. Call 202-720- 5746 for more information. Support farmers markets (www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets) in your area. Other programs like the Women, Infants, and Children Farmers Market Nutrition Program (www.fns.usda.gov/wic/CONTENT/FMNP/FMNPfaqs.htm) and the Seniors Farmers Market Nutrition Pilot Program (www.fns.usda.gov/wic/content/seniorFMNPP/SeniorFMNPP.htm) work with local farmers to provide nutritious food to vulnerable populations. Go gleaning. Look to farms in or near your area that will allow you to pick unused crops. For more information, check out this USDA link, www.fns.usda.gov/fns/menu/gleaning/recover.htm, or call 1-800-GLEAN IT. Garden. Pull the weeds and plant the seeds. Educate the community and revitalize the neighborhood at the same time. Community gardens can turn abandoned lots into community green space. Find your State community gardening coordinator (www.reeusda.gov/food_security/scgc), and check out the American Community Gardening Association Web site at http://communitygarden.org for ideas and more information. Obtain information about general agriculture and USDA's funding opportunities from the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (www.reeusda.gov). Inform your community about hunger and nutrition resources. Check out the National Hunger Clearinghouse (www.ibiblio.org/farming-connection/location/groups/usdawhy.htm), or call 1- 800-GLEAN IT. This is a centralized national database of organizations working on food, nutrition, and agriculture issues. -------------------- Check out the "What's New" section of the EOWS Web site at least once a month: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows. ---------------------------- Conference Corner Faith-Based/Community-Based Focus Group Brooke Evans With the objective of identifying best practices, specialized training needs and resources, and evaluation and infrastructure needs, more than 75 individuals attended the Faith-Based/Community-Based Focus Group meeting in San Antonio, Texas, in May 2002. The participants came from faith and community organizations, private foundations, government, and other sectors to develop guidance for two important pieces of President Bush's agenda--Weed and Seed and the Faith-Based/Community-Based Initiative. To help increase the potential for Weed and Seed sites to leverage foundation resources, representatives of the Bradley Foundation and the Foundation for Community and Faith-Centered Enterprise spoke to the group and learned more about Weed and Seed. The Pew Foundation selected its faith-based initiative grantee, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), to represent the foundation at the meeting. Each of the foundations offer resources that could help Weed and Seed sites. The meeting also highlighted possibilities for Weed and Seed sites to leverage resources from Federal departments. Numerous opportunities exist through agency faith-based centers and other department components. The coordination and leveraging of resources is important for Weed and Seed sites as they move forward. Lisa Trevino Cummins, Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Faith-Based Center, and Dr. Ruth Sanchez-Way, then-Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, discussed resources at the Federal level regarding faith-based approaches. They also looked to the future and addressed the next steps. "Their presentations and expressions of willingness to work with Weed and Seed are positive developments, and we are already following up with them to develop additional resources and training to Weed and Seed sites," said Bob Samuels, Acting Director of EOWS. Another important component from the meeting was the release and added awareness of a study by the Public/Private Ventures group, which found that faith-based organizations are good partners for addressing crime and drug prevention and control programs like Weed and Seed. In many ways, the meeting echoed a recent lecture by John DiIulio, Frederic Fox Leadership Professor of Politics, Religion, and Civil Society and Professor of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. DiIulio delivered the lecture in Washington, D.C., in May and addressed the positive effect faith has on lowering and deterring crime among youth populations. The meeting participants also identified relevant informational materials-- examples of faith-based activities Weed and Seed sites organized, guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice on effective methods for using resources, and articles and studies published on topics concerning faith, law enforcement, and community revitalization. A summary of the proceedings and guidance for sites will be posted on the EOWS Web site soon. Also, NCPC has been asked to develop topic-specific booklets during the next year; the first booklet will focus on Faith-Based/Community-Based Initiatives. -------------------- Resources Available to Weed and Seed Sites Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention National Training & Technical Assistance Center (A Strategic Partner in Advancing Training and Technical Assistance Excellence) A Strategic Partner in Developing Strategies for Success The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) operates the National Training & Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) in support of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act mandate--to reduce youth crime and to improve the juvenile justice service delivery system through quality training and technical assistance. Through NTTAC, OJJDP coordinates the delivery of training and technical assistance related to-- o Planning and development for delinquent youth and their families. o Working with high-risk and delinquent youth and their families. o Implementing approaches proven effective in preventing and treating juvenile delinquency. o Supporting jurisdictional teams in addressing juvenile justice issues. A Strategic Partner in Enhancing Training and Technical Assistance Capacity NTTAC assists a number of OJJDP-funded training and technical assistance providers in promoting the use of best practices and in applying state-of-the-art methodologies for delivering training and technical assistance by-- o Facilitating the exchange of information and ideas through networking sessions and online resources and discussion groups. o Creating and disseminating model training and technical assistance protocols and guides. o Collecting and providing access to the best quality training and technical assistance materials available. o Identifying and assessing training and technical assistance resources in the field. o Developing new training and technical assistance materials to fill unmet needs. A Strategic Partner in Facilitating Training and Technical Assistance Delivery NTTAC facilitates the delivery of quality training and technical assistance by-- o Linking organizations and individuals to subject area experts, training and technical assistance providers, and events that best meet identified needs. o Distributing customized packages of training and technical assistance materials with valuable "how to" guides, resource lists, and reference materials. o Generating searchable directories of training and technical assistance providers, training events, and training and technical assistance resource materials. o Conducting ongoing needs assessments of the field and supporting efforts to evaluate training and technical assistance delivery. Weed and Seed partners are encouraged to take a look at NTTAC's Web site: www.nttac.org Sites may contact NTTAC directly for assistance. -------------------- Ocala Weed and Seed Reclaims Community Brooke Evans In 1990, 19 homicides took place in West Ocala, Florida, which for an area with a population of 50,000 is high. West Ocala was a drug-ravaged community that experienced drive-by shootings, gang wars, open-air drug markets, prostitution, robberies, rapes, and assaults. Houses were abandoned, dilapidated, and falling down. "Street after street was filled with hopelessness and despair--it looked like a war zone," said William Patten, Ocala Weed and Seed Project Director, in a speech he gave to participants at the April 2002 Strategy Development and Implementation Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Then, Ocala found Weed and Seed and created a site. Last year, the city had only two homicides. The total crime index rate for Ocala is down 35 percent, and violent crime is down 45 percent. The number of drug arrests has increased 148 percent. Grades and test scores at Ocala schools are up and discipline actions (e.g., suspensions) are down. Unemployment has decreased, and minority college enrollment and minority business ownership are up. Home construction and home ownership are also up. The Ocala Weed and Seed site has received funding assistance in many areas. Ocala was designated a "Front Porch Community" by the State's governor and received $3 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Agency and the State Public Health Department to build a health center on the Central Florida Community College campus. The site also opened a new department store and is currently awaiting designation from The Federal Government for an African-American Historic District. Overall, the community has seen a dramatic transformation. "So you ask yourself: 'What happened?' What did Ocala do to achieve this almost miraculous change?" said Patten. "What happened was WEED and SEED." Weed and Seed is a strategy that has made all the difference for this community in Florida. "It's not about money. Wow, you must think I'm nuts, but it's true," said Patten. "What it really is about is will--if you have the will, you will find a way." Neighborhood transformation does not happen overnight, though. It also does not occur without residents on board. Weed and Seed's strategy is to transform people within a community and get them to take ownership and control of their neighborhood. -------------------- One of the best sources of training for new sites is the experience of Weed and Seed Coordinators who have led successful efforts in older sites. At the St. Louis Strategy Development and Implementation Workshop in April 2002, Bill Patten of Ocala, Florida, Weed and Seed gave his advice and encouraged new and developing sites. -------------------- "That's what Weed and Seed is about. People--people who finally say, 'Enough. These are my streets, my neighbors, and my children. The drug thugs and their guns and prostitutes don't own these streets--we do! This is my neighborhood, not theirs,'" said Patten. "When that happens, change occurs. When you join that power--people power--in a marriage with government, great things happen." Weed and Seed connects community activists, neighborhood organizations, social agencies, churches, sororities and fraternities, and government agencies to create just that power. Success comes down to partnerships. Weed and Seed communities, which learn to build coalitions and network together, end up with far better success rates than do other communities. The communities that learn to enlist the residents, give them a voice, and use their incredible strengths succeed. It's that simple. However, it is never easy to get residents involved in the process. The most important first step is to find a leader who can help, take charge, and mobilize the people. "[Leaders] are out there. They are the people you need, and you have to find them," said Patten. In the end, when residents are brought into the partnership, true change begins to take place, the strategy unfolds, and Weed and Seed begins to happen. "When you start this Weed and Seed program, you are in for the ride of your life," Patten concluded. "This is the most exciting, high-riding thrill when you see all these things come together and real change begin. It's exhilarating . . . but, it's hard work." Weed and Seed 2002 Strategy Development and Implementation Workshop Brooke Evans More than 500 people attended the Weed and Seed Strategy Development and Implementation Workshop in St. Louis, Missouri, April 22-25, 2002. The workshop gathered new and old Weed and Seed sites to discuss how to develop a strategy and/or improve their existing plans. In addition to attending plenary sessions that addressed topics of general applicability, sites worked in small groups facilitated by mentors who offered advice on the process. Kim Norman, Executive Director for Operation Weed and Seed, Inc., in St. Louis, and Raymond Gruender, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, opened the conference with a greeting. Bob Samuels, Acting Director for EOWS, and Tracy Henke, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), welcomed the group, outlined the goals and objectives for the workshop, and stressed the value and importance of Weed and Seed coordination in communities throughout the country. The first plenary session discussed Weed and Seed and how it operates in different communities, whether they be east or west coast, urban or rural. Panelists emphasized that Weed and Seed is a strategy, not a program. In the afternoon, sites split up into one of four tracks, depending on where they were in the strategy development and implementation process. Track 1: Preofficial Recognition walked through how a site should begin thinking about Weed and Seed, how to establish a steering committee, and how to identify the specific Weed and Seed designated area. Attendees also discussed ways to develop a strategy and how EOWS assesses a strategy using the latest Official Recognition Guidelines (issued by EOWS on March 14, 2002). Track 2: Getting Started (Implementing Your Strategy) outlined bylaws, how the steering committee operates, and strategy implementation and outreach. Track 3: Reviving, Assessing, and Modifying Your Strategy was intended for already established sites that need assistance revamping certain areas. Attendees discussed topics such as issues that affect the community, the relevance of goals and objectives, and how to modify the strategy to accommodate changes. Finally, Track 4: Reviewing Your Strategy in Preparation for Official Recognition Replication or New Site Designation, was geared toward sites that were repeating the Official Recognition process or designing a new site. This discussion explained how to evaluate the effectiveness of a strategy and identify and assess the needs of the new area to expand the strategy to accommodate a new area. On the second day, participants delved into a variety of issues that affect Weed and Seed sites. The morning plenary sessions discussed population mobility in Weed and Seed areas and the importance of partnership in communities. Karen Thurber, Program Coordinator for the Ogden, Utah, site, and Toni Bair, Professor of Criminal Justice at Weber State University in Utah, talked about the challenge to progress and sustainment posed by high levels of transience in Weed and Seed sites. Farah Mohamed, Training Coordinator for the Outreach to New Americans program at the National Crime Prevention Council, spoke about ways to connect with transient populations and refugee communities. Then, Valencia Coar, veteran trainer for the Farrar Group, Inc., gave advice on how to partner with a broad range of groups and organizations to get the job done well. In morning breakout sessions, attendees discussed a variety of issues, including sustaining the site, organizing the community to fight crime, community-based prevention and treatment options, what volunteers can do for Weed and Seed, developing a memorandum of understanding, promoting the site, evaluation, organizational structure, neighborhood restoration and economic development, community policing and law enforcement, intervention and diversion strategies, and Safe Havens. That afternoon, participants worked in groups with mentors, outlining what has and has not worked in their target areas to create bridges that bring communities together and identify areas that need improvement. Tracy Henke ended the day by speaking about OJP programs that could be of help to Weed and Seed sites, including the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative. She also discussed interagency relations that will be developed at the national level between DOJ and other departments. The third day included morning plenary sessions that detailed what sites can expect from EOWS, plans for technical assistance, how to monitor subgrantees and contractors, and a community panel on empowerment. The afternoon breakout sessions gave participants the chance to ask specific questions regarding the role of certain positions in Weed and Seed, including the Site Coordinator, law enforcement, community policing, service providers, fiscal agents, 501(c)(3) status and community development corporations, neighborhood restoration and economic development plans, and the Steering Committee. The concluding activity for the day was a real treat. Conference participants loaded buses to get a tour of the Weed and Seed site in St. Louis. The tour included a discussion with a local community developer and the Salvation Army and provided participants with the opportunity to see and hear about changes taking place in St. Louis Weed and Seed neighborhoods. The final morning of the workshop was sparked by a dynamic presentation on resources for sites. Roy Priest, President of the National Congress for Community Economic Development, spoke about funding opportunities (outside Weed and Seed grants) that are available. Priest recommended the following reference tools: the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (www.cfda.org); Federal, State, and local budgets to ascertain available funding; foundation directories; the Chronicle of Philanthropy; and the Home Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program (www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/home/index.cfm) for housing funding. Information on these and other resources is available at www.ncced.org and http://knowledgeplex.org. Participants rated this session as extremely valuable because of one simple fact--Priest provided practical resources for finding other streams of funding. If you would like to order an audiocassette of his presentation, contact Claude Thomas of EOWS at 202- 514-8137. Participants rated the 2002 Strategy Development and Implementation Workshop a great success. Sites were able to come together, discuss what is happening throughout the country, and learn from each other. -------------------- Save the Date! Fifth National Weed and Seed Conference May 25-28, 2003 Working Together Works Agenda will include learning labs, exhibit hall, plenary sessions, and workshops. More information will be provided in the next issue of In-Sites. ---------------------------- EOWS News Online Resources for Addressing Crime in Federally Assisted Housing During FY 2002-03, with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), EOWS is making up to $50,000 per site available for one-time awards to Weed and Seed sites to address crime and public safety issues in federally assisted housing. The purpose of the funding is to assist in the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of violent crimes and drug offenses in public and federally assisted low-income housing, including American Indian housing. Sites must monitor how well local activities are working through Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) reporting, local evaluations, or EOWS site monitoring. EOWS is processing sites' requests for this funding through the FY 2002 applications to cover a range of activities, including increased patrols, community policing, gang intervention, tenant/landlord crime prevention training, safety training for residents, and crime prevention outreach to tenant associations. Funding will also cover expenses for installation of safety equipment such as increased lighting and surveillance monitors. A number of studies and evaluations, as well as additional resources, may be helpful to Weed and Seed sites working in public housing. For example, the National Institute of Justice supported a grant to evaluate a drug-crime elimination program sponsored by the Spokane Police Department and the Spokane Housing Authority. The final report, entitled "Reducing Disorder, Fear, and Crime in Public Housing: A Case Study of Place-Specific Crime Prevention," is available in the Justice Research and Policy Journal (Volume 1, Issue 2, Fall 1999). HUD maintains an extensive database that lists resources, including a section on best practices in public, assisted, and American Indian housing. The Web site address for HUD's database is http://170.97.67.13/library/bookshelf05/index.cfm. The following publications are also available online through the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), which searches the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy products. The NCJRS Web site address is www.ncjrs.org. Community Policing in Public Housing Case Studies/National COPS Evaluation St. Paul, Minnesota www.ncjrs.org/nij/cops_casestudy/stpaul2.html Lowell, Massachusetts www.ncjrs.org/nij/cops_casestudy/lowell4.html Knoxville, Tennessee www.ncjrs.org/nij/cops_casestudy/knoxvil2.html Savannah, Georgia www.ncjrs.org/nij/cops_casestudy/savanna2.html Crime Mapping and Strategic Approaches Measuring Crime in the Vicinity of Public Housing with GIS www.rti.org/units/ese/cemqa/geosci/p124/p124.htm Problem-Oriented Drug Enforcement: A Community-Based Approach for Effective Policing www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles/problem.txt Strategic Approaches To Community Safety Initiative (SACSI): Enhancing the Analytic Capacity of a Local Problem-Solving Effort www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/sacsi/sacsi.pdf Environmental Design and Crime Prevention Solving Crime Problems in Residential Neighborhoods: Comprehensive Changes in Design, Management, and Use, NIJ Issues and Practices www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles/164488.txt Landlord Training Programs Keeping Illegal Activity Out of Rental Property: A Police Guide for Establishing Landlord Training Programs www.ncjrs.org/txtfiles1/bja/148656.txt Sites with questions about this HUD-DOJ cooperative effort should contact their EOWS Program Manager or Mary Breen, Special Assistant to the Director, at 202-616-0289. ---------------------------- Resources For More Information Contact these organizations or the In-Sites editor for more information on articles featured in this issue of In-Sites, or visit the EOWS Web site for related links at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/publications.htm. Weed and Seed Sites Win MetLife/LISC Community-Police Partnership Awards Roberto Frietz Weed and Seed Coordinator Garfield Weed and Seed Phoenix, Arizona 602-261-8154 roberto.frietz@phoenix.gov Garfield Weed and Seed Site Celebrates Newest Historic District: Dennis Addition Roberto Frietz Weed and Seed Coordinator Garfield Weed and Seed Phoenix, Arizona 602-261-8154 roberto.frietz@phoenix.gov EOWS Presents First Law Enforcement Coordination Honor Awards Mary Breen Special Assistant to the Director Executive Office for Weed and Seed Washington, D.C. 202-616-0289 "One Milwaukee Night" Will Christianson Program Coordinator, CEASEFIRE Milwaukee, Wisconsin 414-297-1700 wchristianson@milwaukeehidta.org Cass Lake Residents Reclaim Their Community Randy Finn Chairman Community Voices Against Violence Cass Lake, Minnesota rfinn@clbs.k12.mn.us Team Players Lynn Porter Reporter The Tampa Tribune Tampa, Florida 727-823-3603 Reverend Powell Makes a Difference in Youngstown, Ohio, Weed and Seed Rev. Alfred D. Coward Mt. Pentecostal Calvary Church Youngstown, Ohio 330-747-4445 Resources for Addressing Hunger and Nutrition in Your Weed and Seed Neighborhood Brooke Evans Mickey Leland-Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow Executive Office for Weed and Seed Washington, D.C. 202-616-1152 Online Resources for Addressing Crime in Federally Assisted Housing Mary Breen Special Assistant to the Director Executive Office for Weed and Seed Washington, D.C. 202-616-0289 -------------------- Volunteer mentors are an important resource for Weed and Seed sites. Volunteer to be a mentor by sending your contact information and area(s) of expertise to neylanc@ojp.usdoj.gov. -------------------- Celebrating 10 Years of the DEFY Program Weed and Seed will help the Drug Education for Youth (DEFY) Program celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2003. The 2003 Weed and Seed Application Kit Workshop will include DEFY training and is scheduled for the week of March 3, 2003. ---------------------------- Summer 2002nd