|
OUR MISSION "To strengthen the capacity of neighborhood based organizations, and neighborhood leaders to act as advocates for and instruments of positive change. We will accomplish this by facilitating access to resources, and acting as a conduit for communication. " |
Overview
In 1992, the Department of Justice initiated the "Weed & Seed" Official Recognition Process. Under the leadership of U. S. Attorneys, communities developed comprehensive strategies to "Weed Out" violent crime and "Seed In" the restoration of neighborhoods through social and economic revitalization.
The Project is being implemented in three contiguous neighborhoods and two housing communities of the Near Westside of Indianapolis. The three neighborhoods are Hawthorne, Haughville and Stringtown. The housing communities are Eagle Creek and Concord Village. The Seed component of the Indianapolis program has produced three Safe Haven sites, Hawthorne Community Center (2440 W. Ohio), Christamore House (502 N. Tremont) and Old School #75 (2447 W. 14th)
The Indianapolis Weed & Seed Program is part of the ambitious U. S. Department of Justice Weed & Seed Initiative. Simply defined, the components of this program are:
Indianapolis was designated a Weed and Seed site in January 1993. The Mayor and the U.S. Attorney worked together to obtain primary funding for what is now known as the Near Westside Strategy. Westside Cooperative Organization (WESCO) was resurrected to coordinate and integrate public and private initiatives, and to secure resources to be concentrated in the target neighborhood. The population of the Near Westside target area is 10,493 with a high incidence of violent crime and drug and gang related activities. The unemployment rate is 13 percent, the district school dropout rate is 23 percent, and 29 percent of the residents live below the poverty level. Deterioration, lead-based paint, and substandard housing are major concerns: 50 percent of the housing units were built prior to World War II.
The Near Westside project has enjoyed many successes since inception. In law enforcement activities, the Safe Streets Project targets neighborhoods with the highest rate of criminal activity. Residents continue to attend code enforcement meetings. Stay away orders have been implemented to keep drug dealers from coming back to areas where they have been using and dealing drugs. A pre-arrest targeting program called IMPACT has been implemented. The Community Policing Committee continues to meet monthly while the officers work closely with the Community Prosecutor and the courts.
The Hawthorne Community Center Safe Haven continues to serve the community through provision of daycare, preschool, social services, emergency food pantry, structured teen activity organized sports, social activities, and senior citizens hot cooked lunch. The Single Parent's Support Group includes programs such as EFNEP, quilting instruction, exercise class, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership, and Asante Children's Theater while providing baby-sitting services. Welcome to Our Community meetings are held in addition to the Youth Fair Chance Project. Teen basketball and baseball play an important role in youth activities as do the 500 Festival, WESCO Community Fair, and the Mini-Marathon. Also, the Westside Community Development Corporation continues to grow while providing much needed assistance to home owners through its Families in Transition housing program. Finally, the Hammerwest project has taught the participants specific job related skills needed to enter the work force.
In addition to a large base of community support for programs, other Weed and Seed resources include: HUD, IPD, Indianapolis Division of Housing, URD Grant, Cellular One, Indianapolis Power and Light Company, HHS-ACF, DOL, IUPUI, Annie Casey Foundation, Indianapolis Foundation, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Christamore Aid Society, Coalition of 100 Black Women, Stanley K. Lacey Leadership Program, National City Bank, Society National Bank, GTE, Beta Phi Sorority, Neighborhood Resource Center, City of Indianapolis, Central Indiana Council on Aging, Indianapolis Capital Improvement, and various other financial institutions.
After School Programs [Top of page]
WEED & SEED AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM (After School Program starts in the fall)
Teen Court - A peer sentencing program for juvenile offenders. Youth ages I- 1 7 participate as prosecuting attorneys, defense counsels, bailiff, court clerk, and jury.
Sister for Sister and Junior Sister for Sister - This group focus on healthy lifestyles, career exploration, violence prevention, teenage pregnancy prevention, physical fitness, and positive self-esteem. The girls range in ages from 7-10 Junior Sister for Sister and- II- 14 for Sister for Sister.
Young Men on the Rise - A young men's group ages I I - 1 6, designed to teach responsibility as it pertains to sexuality, sexually transmitted disease and adolescent pregnancies through education sessions, group discussions, sports, recreation and field trips.
Power Hour - A tutoring program to provide one on one tutoring in various subjects to improve youth educational opportunities. Bicycle Project - This project is housed at the Christamore House. The project is designed to teach Weed & Seed youth the instruction of bike repair and how to run a business. Youth are provided with tools to fix broken bikes and knowledge of "rules of the road".
Hammerwest - This program helps near westside residents and residents presently on probation, to improve and enhance their lives by providing them the opportunity to participate in a community service program with the possibility of job placement. This programs run from Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:00 p.m. a stipend of $6.00 hours is paid to each participants. Training includes on-the-job training, classroom training, and Survival Skills for Men and Women.