Neighborhood Development
Thu Nov 29, 2012
Leaders “celebrated the completion of the new water distribution system by El Paso Water Utilities. The celebration took place at San Patricio Catholic Church in Canutillo. More than 240 homes in the Mayfair and NuWay communities are now connected to the water system, and 60 more residences in the Schuman Estates will have running water in the next few days.
The community fought for years to get reliable water service, said the Rev. Pablo Mata, a member of the community group Border Interfaith….’At the end, the people got it done,’ Mata said.”
[Photo Credit: Aileen Flores, El Paso Times]
Hundreds in Far West El Paso Receive Water Service, El Paso Times
Sat Oct 20, 2012
“The roar of a bulldozer will prompt a celebration in an Alief neighborhood whose residents have waged a four-year battle to get rid of an abandoned, burned-out condominium complex….The Metropolitan Organization of Houston, along with determined neighbors, thought the disintegrating structure was so dangerous that the city of Houston should spend money to bulldoze the darn thing, but legal and budgetary impediments precluded quick action….. The machinery, which will demolish the public nuisance known as the Winfield I, represents a triumph…”
Civic Activists Win Fight Over Eyesore Condos, Houston Chronicle
Tue Aug 16, 2011
WIN created a $450 million Community Benefits Fund and a $100 Neighborhood Investment Fund to ensure that the investment in downtown development is matched by an equivalent investment in DC’s neighborhoods. Revenue from the funds is dedicated to affordable housing, neighborhood retail, libraries, other public facilities, infrastructure repairs and upgrades in the city’s poorest neighborhoods, including the The new Washington Highlands Library.
Thu Sep 2, 2010
In response to Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s proposal to close half of the recreation centers, BUILD led the fight at City Hall to keep them open. After turning out hundreds of youth, parents, and residents throughout the City budget hearings, BUILD joined the Mayor and City Council members to support passing a 2 cent bottle tax to fund the recreation centers and keep them open.
Mon Aug 16, 2010
In 2009 WIN launched a youth organizing initiative named DC Youth Power Network (YPN). YPN’s youth leaders successfully won significant upgrades to Parkview Recreation Center and creation of the new $2 million Bruce-Monroe Community Park. Additionally, WIN led the fight for public investment in new recreation centers at Benning Terrace, Watts Branch, and Fort Stanton, the new library in Washington Highlands, and $21.5 million invested in for renovation of athletic facilities at six DC public high schools. WIN leader Ebenezer Osanyingbemi leads a tour of the renovated Parkview Recreation Center.
Tue Mar 17, 2009
AIM congregations organized for $30 million in county funds to renovate four neglected community centers in historically African-American neighborhoods. This will impact the 3,500 families who are within walking distance of these community centers, particularly the seniors and low-income, at-risk youth who mostly utilize these centers.
In the News
Blight, Neighborhood Safety, Housing, organizing in Nebraska
KETV
OTOC Fights for $1 Million in Housing Demolition in Omaha
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Omaha Together One Community wants both candidates to commit $1 million a year to the problem. The city has 748 houses on its demolition list. On average, it costs the city about $12,000 to knock down a house -- but neighbors say it’s worth every penny.
Community Organizing in Texas, community organizing in Austin, organizing for better neighborhoods
Austin American Statesman
Austin Interfaith Blocks Lobbyists from Rewriting Land Use Code
Friday, February 1, 2013
After Austin Interfaith leaders took issue with a proposal that “would have allowed registered lobbyists to serve on the citizen committee that will guide the rewriting of the city’s land-development code…” the proposal was pulled. Leaders said the proposal blurred “the lines between the duties and responsibilities of citizens in the democratic process and the role of … lobbyists who represent organized financial interests in the legislative process.”
Blight, Community Organizing in Mississippi, Community Organizing in Jackson
Clarion Ledger
Working Together Jackson Fights Blight in Mississippi
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Institutional leaders of Working Together Jackson began evaluating non-profit land trust models to help transform the Mid-City neighborhood of Jackson, Mississippi. Based on conversations with neighbors and residents, Ms. Brent, President of the Mid-City Neighborhood Association, and Rev. Tucker Sr., pastor of True Vine, identified a number of things they would like to address: abandoned housing, overgrown lots, crime, mentoring for its youth and services for its elderly. But people involved in the effort know that, as Rev. Tucker puts it, “the real work of rebuilding the neighborhood isn’t cutting lawns or boarding up houses. The real work is building relationships between its residents.”
While the non-profit land trust would take control of abandoned properties for rehabilitation and renovation, leaders of Working Together Jackson plan to continue the work of building relationships between neighbors.
Working Together Jackson Touts Turnaround in Mid-City Neighborhood, Clarion Ledger
Land Trust a New Strategy in Fight Against Blight, Clarion Ledger
Neighborhood Development, Environment
New York Daily News
Fighting the waters in Southeast Queens
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
As our region continues to recover from the devastation of superstorm Sandy, Gov. Cuomo and Mayor Bloomberg have rightly said that the city and state need to update their infrastructure to deal with the increased likelihood of future flooding. Bloomberg even based his endorsement in the presidential race on President Obama’s position on climate change.
