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Greetings!
 In 2008, Urban Concern proposed a fairly radical shift in strategy in order to create a positive consensus: we defined a smaller target area of four phases with the goal of impacting a high percentage (at least 50 percent) of the residents in each phase. This month we want to update you on our community development efforts in Phase 1 of the target area, specifically on 13th Avenue. In my role as Family & Community Development Director at Urban Concern, I am proud of my fellow co-workers and neighbors whose activism is making a difference in South Linden!
Sincerely,
Mike Watson
Family & Community Development Director
Urban Concern
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Community Circle 13 Leads Safety & Beautification Efforts
In the 1970's, city planner Oscar Newman asserted that
communities are safer when people feel a sense of ownership and responsibility
for their neighborhood. Residents become
key agents in ensuring their own security.
South Linden Community Circle 13 embodies this principle
through its efforts on 13th Avenue.
What is Community
Circle 13?
 Community Circle 13 is an association of residents on 13th
Avenue in South Linden who have banded together to solve neighborhood
problems. They are concerned citizens, consisting of 13th Avenue residents and volunteers who are ready to roll
up their sleeves and better their neighborhood.
Mike Watson, Urban Concern's Family & Community
Development Director, has been involved in the project since its
inception. "As a homeowner on 13th
Avenue and leader at Urban Concern, I am encouraged by the activism of
my neighbors. This is Urban
Concern's vision is to see Community Circles on every street
in Linden," he said. "We can show other
residents in Greater Linden how working together produces wonderful
improvements on our street in terms of safety, beauty and new friendships."
Community Circle 13's focuses on three key areas: Safety & Security, Clean-up &
Beautification and Hospitality & Communication. Their motto is "It begins with me; it
continues with you; it grows with us!"
One of the first accomplishments of Community Circle 13 was
to register an official Block Watch with the Greater Linden Blockwatch
Alliance. Residents meet regularly for
updates on crime and learn how to look out for one other and report suspicious
activity. Carol Daniels, one of the
members, said that this has opened a door for better communication with
Columbus Police. "CPD has a liaison
officer we can call at any time. This empowers residents when they know and trust an officer who cares about the community as much as they do."
Next they began monthly Clean-Up Days where participants were
asked to clean their front and backyards as well as litter and debris on the
street in front of their home or alley.
This spring Community Circle 13 also started the Hope Grows Community Garden (see
below). Neighbors were surveyed to see
who was interested in participating in the garden with the idea of star ting
small and growing the area to include individual plots in the future. They sent a representative for training at the
Franklin Park Conservatory and also researched other community gardens.
Site preparation began on March 28th to clean and
prepare the lot. On April 5th
they held a potluck and work day to till the garden. Children at Harambee Christian School started
growing plants from seeds and volunteers from Xenos Christian Fellowship's
college group also attended work days.
This fall we will give an update on how the garden grew
during the summer months. But we
encourage anyone to stop by and see the progress at 914 13th Avenue,
Urban Concern's Village Center.
Showing Hospitality
Community Circle 13's third focus is on hospitality and
communication. "We want to show respect
to our neighbors," said Tonette Brown. "We
know that everyone doesn't want to be friends; however we'd at least like to
know who are neighbors are. We want to
meet the senior citizens on our street and welcome new residents, too." Know 9
Neighbors is an activity challenge set forth by the association. Each member of Community Circle 13 is
encouraged to meet at least nine households on their street. They also plan to have social events such as community
brunches and a harvest party to build friendships.
We hope Community Circle 13's enthusiasm catches on this
summer in Greater Linden.
Representatives of the association will have a booth at Urban
Concern's upcoming Greater Linden March Against Violence & Rally on May 30th to share about their work
and hopefully inspire residents to start a "circle" on
their street!
Community Circle 13 and the Hope Grows Community Garden need your help. If you would like to donate any of the following items, please call Beth Wickham at 614.298.9425 (h) or 614.747.0490 (cell):
- Flats of Flowers for residents on 13th Ave (annuals or perennials for home beautification)
- Composting Kit (home landscape size)
- Mulch
- Rain Barrel
- Wheel Barrel
- Multi-Pronged, Large Head Pitch Fork (Hey Fork)
- Plants or Seeds
- Watering Hoses
- Watering Wands
- Water Sprinklers
- Watering Hose Reel
- Work gloves
- Bed Edging Materials
- Plant Stakes (Wood or Metal)
- Jute Twine
- Plant ID Tags or Markers
- Plant Fertilizer
- Hand Trowels or Hand Weeding Tools
- Yard Waste Paper Bags
- Outdoor Covered Community Bulletin Board (to post information)
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You can make a difference!
- The Hope Grows Community Garden is in need of in-kind donations. See list above. Contact Beth Wickham at 614.298.9425 (h) or 614.747.0490 (cell).
- We are looking for Corporate Sponsors ($500-$1000) for the Greater Linden March Against Violence & Rally on May 30, 2009. Contact James Brown at 614-291-0885 x 130.
- Give to the Urban Concern Annual Campaign or Harambee Scholarship Campaign.
- Volunteer by calling (614) 291-0885.
- Spread the word! Forward this email to your friends and family.
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