Title: In-Sites, Fall/Winter 2002, Volume X, Number 3 Series: Magazine Author: Executive Office for Weed and Seed Published: January 2003 Subject: community policing, law enforcement - general, crime prevention 45 pages 102,400 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. ---------------------------- U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Executive Office for Weed and Seed Weed & Seed IN-Sites Fall/Winter 2002 Volume X, Number 3 ---------------------------- 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 ---------------------------- On the Cover This issue pays tribute to everyone whose diligence makes neighborhoods safe, allowing residents to be able to live, work, and raise their families. ---------------------------- Contents Fall/Winter 2002 Letters From the Department of Justice What's Working o Law Enforcement o Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment o Neighborhood Restoration Sustainment Winners ---------------------------- 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. ---------------------------- The human spirit is not measured by the size of the act, but by the size of the heart. ---------------------------- Letter From the Director This issue of In-Sites is dedicated to courage. More than a year after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack that claimed 3,000 innocent lives, we take a moment to remember the courage of the victims killed in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, and of the men and women who responded to those attacks. The countless stories of firefighters, police and emergency-rescue workers, and ordinary citizens who dared to face evil with courage by taking charge from their attackers, by returning to burning offices in search of colleagues and strangers alike, or by comforting those around them for whom there was no escape, continue to resonate from this tragedy. Extraordinary courage. In the last weeks of October 2002, those of us who live and work in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., carried out our daily routine in fear that we might be in the line of a sniper's sight. The news of the 10 victims killed and 3 injured shocked and frightened an anxious Nation, as well. The simple act of people going about their everyday lives--walking to school, traveling to work, pumping gas, or shopping--became an act of courage. Too many people in too many places still face that kind of challenge and rise to meet it, day after day. During that time, another tragic story unfolded here in a Baltimore, Maryland, neighborhood. A story of possible retaliation from drug dealers bent on a trade of destruction and mayhem. The choice to walk in hope, rather than in fear, both for themselves and their neighborhood, cost a mother, father, and their four children their lives in a predawn, deliberately set fire. In the face of such grief, we must remember this family for their courage. In Weed and Seed sites throughout the country, there are countless stories of the everyday courage it takes to make neighborhoods safer and improve the lives of their residents, to bring drug dealers to justice and put an end to senseless violence, to grow gardens from weeds overtaking cracked asphalt, and to sustain a faith that people can make a better future for their children. We honor the lives of people who face fear with extraordinary courage--and endeavor to provide help through Weed and Seed. Robert M. Samuels Acting Director Executive Office for Weed and Seed Office of Justice Programs ---------------------------- Letter from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah As U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah for the past 4 years and as chair of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee, it has been an honor and a pleasure to be actively involved in the Weed and Seed program. As reflected in each issue of In-Sites, the Weed and Seed strategy is getting great results in community after community across the Nation. As chair of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee, I have worked with new U.S. Attorneys around the country. Many are already involved in Weed and Seed activities and recognize the hard work underway in these sites. I encourage each Weed and Seed coordinator to work closely with his or her U.S. Attorney's Office. U.S. Attorneys have an important oversight responsibility for Weed and Seed in their district. They want to be confident that grant money is being spent in accordance with the grant as approved. Nothing can strain the relationship between U.S. Attorneys and Weed and Seed faster than allegations of misused grants. Weed and Seed is a new experience for some U.S. Attorneys. Over the years, insofar as Weed and Seed is concerned, I have done my share of adjusting from a strictly prosecutorial perspective. I often say I am a prosecutor, not a social worker. This perception means some U.S. Attorneys tend to start out more focused on "weeding" than "seeding." However, the good things I have seen in Utah Weed and Seed sites have convinced me there is a place for these partnerships. You can make this learning curve easier for new U.S. Attorneys if you work closely with their office and staff. In Utah, we have three thriving Weed and Seed sites. Our West Valley City site recently reached a milestone in its efforts to revitalize a blighted area with a long history of violent crime and unsafe living conditions. Weed and Seed partnered with residents and local, State, and Federal agencies to bring a $24 million revitalization project to the area. Housing for senior citizens and low-income families will replace run-down apartments that suffered from absentee owners, code violations, and high crime. Our Salt Lake City site, like all of our sites in Utah, is an active partner in our Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Just this month, residents of the Weed and Seed site reported apparent criminal activity in their neighborhood that led to the arrest and indictment of a convicted felon who had three stolen guns in his possession at the time of his arrest. Because of Project Safe Neighborhoods training done in the Weed and Seed site, this case was easily identified as one for my office's attention. We place special emphasis on Weed and Seed sites in our Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. Several of the more than 1,300 firearms cases we have screened have come from our Weed and Seed sites. Our newest site in Ogden is partnering with Weber State University to undertake community-based applied research in the site with nonprofit and governmental agencies. They are integrating research and community service into the curriculum in sociology, history, psychology, urban planning, criminal justice, business, foreign language, and other departments. One current project involves 37 sociology students who are replicating a 2000 Weed and Seed resident survey to determine if positive changes in perceptions of safety, police protection, and infrastructure have occurred. I recognize the hard work and dedication Weed and Seeders are doing in Utah and around the country. I also appreciate the work the Executive Office for Weed and Seed does on behalf of Weed and Seed sites. I am confident the Weed and Seed strategy will continue to be an important part of our efforts to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone, and that U.S. Attorneys will continue to fully support these endeavors. Paul M. Warner United States Attorney District of Utah ---------------------------- Letter from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia As I complete my first year in office as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, I am proud that the Weed and Seed Program in our district has made such a difference in our communities. During my orientation, I was briefed on the Weed and Seed Program, but it was not until I started visiting the sites and attending the various training conferences offered by Weed and Seed that I was able to fully understand and appreciate all that the program has accomplished. The most powerful aspect in the Weed and Seed initiative is the partnering of the various shareholders in each of the sites. The Augusta/Richmond County site of Barton Village partnered with the Augusta Housing Authority, Comcast Communications, Inc., National Urban Technology, and the State of Georgia Department of Community Affairs Local Assistance Grant Program to build a new community center. The center is one of the first constructions undertaken in Barton Village in more than 20 years. The center will offer space for a number of community-oriented programs, health programs, and a state-of-the-art computer lab. The neighborhood revitalization in Barton Village has been tremendous. In the Savannah Weed and Seed Program, there are several programs directed at community empowerment, reentry, and at-risk youth. The Leadership Development Center provides training for residents in public speaking, financial management, grant writing, and other skills that help them become advocates for their community. The mission of the Savannah Impact Program is to protect the public from high-risk offenders (adult and youth) who are on parole/probation through a collaborative community corrections program with State and local agencies by means of intense supervision, substance abuse counseling, and support programs to enhance the offender's reentry into the community. The development of the Savannah Community Alert Network has allowed a proactive Savannah Police Department to have a community crime prevention program to communicate directly with City of Savannah Neighborhood Services, neighborhood associations, and CrimeStoppers via e-mail. Also, in the site, the Juvenile Outreach Project works with at-risk youth in anger management, conflict resolution, and tutoring. The Waycross Weed and Seed Program has changed the fundamental attitudes of elected officials, law enforcement practitioners, social service providers, and citizens. The collaborative November 1, 2002, effort to work out solutions to mutually recognized problems has been very positive. The Weed and Seed program has opened the lines of communication and now seeks to work more with neighborhoods and residents to solve problems rather than just respond to them. I have also found that the Weed and Seed program has gained the confidence and respect of the community, local government, and law enforcement. These are the elements needed to ensure that Project Safe Neighborhoods is accepted and utilized. By partnering the Weed and Seed neighborhoods with Project Safe Neighborhoods, we can accomplish even more. In the Southern District of Georgia, the Weed and Seed program has proved a tremendous resource in combating crime and in gaining the community's trust. I thank you for your tireless efforts and support in making the program a success. Rick Thompson United States Attorney Southern District of Georgia ---------------------------- What's Working ---------------------------- Law Enforcement Gangs: The Weed and Seed Perspective Daryl Fox On June 10-13, 2002, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) sponsored the National Youth Gang Symposium in Orlando, Florida. This event focused on innovative programs and strategies that address the needs of youth who are at risk of joining gangs or are already gang members. Executive Office for Weed and Seed staff members, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Boys & Girls Clubs directors, and law enforcement officers from across the country attended the symposium. The Weed and Seed Initiative was a highlighted program of the symposium and featured the following speakers: Dan Drake, LECC (Law Enforcement) Coordinator, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, discussed how to use Weed and Seed resources to address gang problems. He identified investigative strategies, joint task forces, and training opportunities for law enforcement officers and community residents. Victor Gonzalez, member of the Gang Violence Reduction Team, Mayor's Anti-Gang Office, Houston, Texas, stressed the need for communities and law enforcement to conduct a gang assessment to determine the level and type of activity in each community. This assessment allows for a calculated approach to the gang problem. By knowing what strategy to employ--prevention, intervention, or suppression--a community can direct its resources to reduce criminal behavior among gang members and deter youth from joining gangs. Robert Appleton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Bridgeport, Connecticut, spoke about the prosecution of the Latin Kings gang in his State. An interagency Federal Gang Task Force was created that included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, local police departments, and other agencies. The use of wiretapping, physical surveillance, informants, and search warrants resulted in more than 80 gang members being tried and convicted of serious crimes. A survey conducted by the National Youth Gang Center estimated that more than 24,500 gangs and 772,500 gang members were active in more than 3,330 jurisdictions across the United States in 2000.* *Source: Egley, A., Jr., and Arjunan, M. 2002. Highlights of the 2000 National Youth Gang Survey. Fact Sheet. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Available on the Web at www.ojjdp.ncjrs.org/pubs/fact.html#fs200204. ------------------------ Weed and Seed sites are invited to consult with FBI Executive Fellows now on detail to EOWS about gang problems: Lt. Neil Thompson, Virginia Beach Police Department, and Jeff Brandau, Special Agent-in-Charge, Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Both can be reached at 202-616-1152. ------------------------ For more about OJJDP programs and information resources, visit OJJDP's Web site at ojjdp.ncjrs.org. To subscribe to JUVJUST, OJJDP's electronic newsletter, click on "Subscribe to JUVJUST." To subscribe to the bimonthly newsletter, OJJDP News @ a Glance, click on "Subscribe to OJJDP News @ a Glance." ------------------------ Three Weed and Seed Cities Join Forces To Weed Out Crime The Executive Office for Weed and Seed gave Lowell, Massachusetts, Official Recognition in April 1998. In 2001, Lawrence and Methuen, two cities just 10 miles northeast of Lowell, also received Official Recognition. Working on crime analysis with the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) for the District of Massachusetts, it was discerned that the number one crime in all three cities was motor vehicle crime. It also was noted that these vehicles often were stolen from one city and recovered in another. In addition, the stolen vehicles were used in other crimes, including gang-related crimes and crimes involving drug activity. As a result, the USAO, in cooperation with all three police departments, convened a tri-city task force that meets monthly to review crime analysis and trends. The Tri-City Initiatives Task Force includes Cara Henderson, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee; Marianne Hinkle, Assistant U.S. Attorney; Capt. Robert DeMoura, Lowell Police Department; Capt. Michael Driscoll, Lawrence Police Department; Capt. Joseph Solomon, Methuen Police Department; and representatives from both the Middlesex and Essex County District Attorneys' Offices (Massachusetts). The following Weed and Seed staff also are on the task force: Lt. Joseph Alaimo, Methuen, and Tricia Camire, Lowell, both Coordinators; Tricia Giarrusso, Methuen, Program Assistant; and Ritty So, Lowell, Project Assistant. The monthly task force meetings have improved relationships and law enforcement coordination efforts between departments. Each department has exchanged uniformed officers in marked cars driving through Weed and Seed areas to increase visibility and to let criminals know the communities are working together. Residents and businessowners in all three cities have responded favorably, remarking that they appreciate the "unusual police coverage." The Massachusetts State Route 110 corridor connects all three cities and is a common getaway route for thieves who steal motor vehicles. The task force plans to station traffic patrols from each of the three cities along this corridor to watch for stolen vehicles. In addition, further analysis also indicates a strong link between Lowell and Lawrence in drug activity, gangs, and violence. The task force is planning future meetings to discuss initiatives that will help eliminate the consequences associated with these criminal elements in Lowell and Lawrence. ------------------------ For more information on the Tri-City Initiatives Task Force, contact any of the following people by e-mail at cara.henderson@usdoj.gov, rdemoura@ci.lowell.ma.us, tcamire@ci.lowell.ma.us, tgiarrusso@ci.methuen.ma.us, or jsolomon@ci.methuen.ma.us. You can also call either Lowell Weed and Seed, 978-446-7289; Lawrence Weed and Seed, 978-764-5900, ext. 650; or Methuen Weed and Seed, 978-794-3245, ext. 508. ------------------------ What's the best way to have your site featured in In-Sites? Submit a story to In-Sites, and our staff will help you develop and polish the text! Please e-mail draft text to neylanc@ojp.usdoj.gov or submit it on disk by mail. Submit original photos via Federal Express. Please include captions with your photos and send them to: In-Sites Executive Office for Weed and Seed 810 Seventh Street NW., Room 6142 Washington, DC 20001 Your photos will be returned if you include a self-addressed envelope. Visit www.usdoj.gov/eows/insites.htm for more information on submitting your story to us. What's happening in your neighborhood? We look forward to hearing from you!--Carol Neylan ------------------------ Weed and Seed Workshop Focuses on Law Enforcement Coordination The Office of Justice Program's (OJP's) Executive Office for Weed and Seed sponsored the national Weed and Seed Law Enforcement Coordination Workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 18-19, 2002. More than 800 people attended the conference, representing the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO), Federal law enforcement agencies, Weed and Seed coordinators, and State and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, district attorneys' investigators, and probation and parole officers. The conference focused on the benefits of coordination among Federal, State, and local law enforcement working in Weed and Seed sites. Plenary sessions featured speeches by Deputy Attorney General Larry D. Thompson, on the need to reduce drug abuse through prevention and reinvigoration of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, and Assistant Attorney General for OJP Deborah J. Daniels on using Weed and Seed to coordinate anticrime programs. Deputy Assistant Attorney General Cheri Nolan spoke about the contributions that the new OJP Offender Reentry Program can make in reducing crime in Weed and Seed sites. Under Secretary for Enforcement Jimmy Gurule of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Department of the Treasury, discussed the potential for increased coordination of Weed and Seed with the Treasury Department's GREAT program. Carl R. Peed, Director of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), U.S. Department of Justice, spoke about the role of community police in Weed and Seed neighborhoods. Stephen E. Rickman, Director of Readiness for the Office of Homeland Security (formerly EOWS Director), discussed how Weed and Seed can serve as a platform for domestic preparedness efforts. These speakers also encouraged Weed and Seed sites to continue their efforts to make their neighborhoods safer and to partner with Federal, State, and local agencies and programs. In addition, one plenary session focused on the Boston Reentry Initiative. This multiagency initiative coordinates law enforcement, corrections, social service agencies, and faith-based organizations to help individuals being released from custody to successfully manage their return to the community. The initiative created a panel that meets directly with offenders who are at the highest risk for reoffending. The panel establishes a mentor for each offender and monitors the offender's behavior after release. Breakout sessions included presentations regarding the benefits of coordination, including joint law enforcement task force operations, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force program, Project Safe Neighborhoods, OJP's Reentry Initiative, Citizen Corps, and faith-based/community-based law enforcement partnerships. It takes dozens of people to hold a training conference of this size. In particular, EOWS would like to thank the following individuals for their assistance in planning the conference: Dan Drake, LECC, USAO/Southern District of Georgia; Pam Lightsey, Community Outreach Specialist, USAO/Middle District of Georgia; Frederico Rocha, LECC, USAO/ Northern District of California; Donna Schulz, LEM, USAO/Middle District of Florida; Angela Hammond, EOUSA; Robert Farkas, AUSA, USAO/District of New Jersey; Grace Denton, LECC, USAO/Central District of California; and former FBI Fellows Capt. Ed Blackburn and Capt. Jesse Delmar. A special note of appreciation is due to the Honorable Jim Letten, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, New Orleans, and members of his staff. Special thanks to Hattie Broussard, EAUSA (former), and Mary Jane Lattie, LECC, USAO, New Orleans. ------------------------ "When I was asked last year to serve as Deputy Attorney General, what really inspired me to return to government service was the opportunity to help shape our approach to drugs. It is a privilege to appear before you as part of the Weed and Seed Enforcement Coordination Workshop. For the last decade, Weed and Seed has been at the forefront in coupling drug enforcement and demand reduction. I applaud your efforts to reclaim our most challenged neighborhoods. Now we must build on what you have started. "President Bush has clearly defined our goal--reduce drug use by 25 percent within the next 5 years. It is only through full coordination that we will achieve this outcome. Seizing one drug load after another or arresting one drug trafficker after another, without more, will not get us there. Yet, at the same time, education, treatment, and demand reduction efforts cannot be effective in the presence of cheap, plentiful drugs. The drug problem must be attacked equally on the supply and the demand side. "The best in Weed and Seed, like the Atlanta program being honored here, are the multifaceted partnerships that go after supply and demand. This takes a combination of community police officers, prosecutors, courts, local government, the faith community, aftercare workers, summer camp coordinators, and a host of others." --Remarks of the Honorable Larry D. Thompson, Deputy Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice (June 17, 2002) ------------------------ Radio Interoperability: Can Your Emergency Responders Talk to Each Other? Lt. Neil C. Thompson, Virginia Beach Police Department, EOWS and FBI Executive Fellow Radio interoperability (RI) is the ability of different agencies with different radio equipment to talk to each other or otherwise exchange data on demand, in real time. Today more than ever, agencies need this capability for mutual aid operations, critical incident operations such as natural disasters and catastrophic accidents, task force operations, and day-to-day operations that cross jurisdictional or geographical lines. Each of these multiagency operations could involve a Weed and Seed partner or site. The absence of effective communications equipment can hamper a coordinated multiagency response to a crisis situation and result in injury or loss of life. The problems sometimes associated with establishing effective and efficient RI in an area are not always easy to solve. There are more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies and 35,000 fire and emergency medical agencies in the United States. All of them have radio systems that operate on varied bands of the radio spectrum (VHF/ UHF/800 MHZ) and different frequencies within the bands (25-869 MHZ). Sometimes, even radios that operate on the same band and frequency made by different manufacturers cannot talk to each other. Previous efforts by agencies to improve RI with other agencies in their region have included establishing mutual aid radio networks, but these channel or patch systems are usually cumbersome to use, time consuming to set up, and often provide unacceptable performance. Most of the system solutions currently offered to cure RI problems can be separated into three general categories: o Single System, High Tech. Innovative packages or custom made computer hardware/software systems which can be costly and have not yet been proved in the field. o Single System, Low Tech. Crossband audio switching systems which operate in the VHF, UHF, and 800 MHZ spectrums. They are affordable and some systems have been proved effective in the field. o Parallel Equipment. Enough preprogramed, compatible radios, batteries, and chargers to equip all key participants when needed. This solution is simple and effective but costly because it requires the bulk purchase of equipment. It also presents a logistical problem in storage and distribution. To be successful, an RI solution must have two primary components: o A formal RI agreement between agencies. Even though there is a push for a nationwide mutual aid plan and incident command system, a national survey confirms that most agencies prefer to plan and make decisions locally with the agencies with which they regularly work. Without coordination, cooperation, and planning among agencies, the technologies cannot be implemented to their greatest potential. Expedient and effective agreements may be attained by an addendum to mutual aid agreements that already exist between the agencies. o Joint training. This involves using the selected interoperable radio communication system with all of the participating agencies. Do not wait for an actual crisis situation to train personnel in how to use the RI system. Other potential issues that can be factors in establishing an effective RI system include funding limitations, organizational/political obstacles, outdated equipment, lack of planning, too few channels, and terrain/topography that can create dead spots for transmissions. These basic issues must be addressed when establishing a radio system in any region. To build a solid RI program foundation, start with local or regional solutions, discuss the plan with all partners/agencies in the plan, establish interagency agreements, and train with the system you have selected. Today, public safety agencies cannot effectively operate within the vacuum of their locality so they must have a regional perspective. If an agency whose participation may be important to an RI regional plan is not receptive to participation, it may be advisable to go forward with the partners who come to the table. Historically, when an effective RI system becomes operational in a region and the benefits of participation crystalize, previously resistant agencies often ask to participate. The domestic preparedness benefits are clear. The time to have an effective RI system is before you really need one. It is recommended that Weed and Seed law enforcement funds be used to help joint task forces obtain interoperable communication equipment. Radio interoperability is important; it will save lives and benefit all who participate. ------------------------ For further information on interoperability, contact Lt. Neil Thompson at EOWS via 202-616-1152, or Michael O'Shea at NIJ via 202-305-7954. ------------------------ Community Policing in Hamilton, Ohio Ten years ago, the Hamilton Police Department had community-oriented policing officers but they had little interaction with the citizens of Hamilton. In 1997, an individual died from a cocaine overdose while in Hamilton police custody. This incident sparked weeks of social unrest that led to SWAT responses by the police. In retaliation, the citizens of Hamilton spearheaded independent investigations of the police department. There was mistrust from both sides. In 2002, another death occurred under similar circumstances during an arrest attempted by the Hamilton police. Later, it was learned that the suspect in this case had swallowed a large quantity of cocaine after being contacted hours earlier by the police. When officers were called back to the suspect's home a second time, the suspect died during a struggle with the police. This time there was no social unrest. There were no SWAT calls and no citizen complaints. What changed? One of the first changes was the designation of Hamilton's highest crime rate area as an official Weed and Seed site. Hamilton police concentrated their efforts in this area with curfew sweeps, drug sweeps, and extra police presence funded by the newly acquired weeding money. This reduced crime in the area, but the department did not stop there. Police Chief Neil Ferdelman recognized that policing efforts were short fixes on the weeding side and did little to regain citizens' trust. He felt the community would be better served if one officer with the right personality and energy level led the community in both the weeding and seeding efforts. As a result, Sgt. Steve Henderson now oversees a staff of two community police officers assigned to the Weed and Seed area, a problem- oriented police officer, and all the problem-solving programs managed by the department for this community. As always, Weed and Seed is a cooperative project across the whole community. The city's Human Relations Director, Vaughn Lewis, community resident Ruth Pollard, and many others have worked hard to make Hamilton Weed and Seed a success. Chief Ferdelman felt the next step in regaining citizens' trust was to have more positive contact between the public and the police department. He met with members of the city's Human Relations Commission to discuss and improve police/community relations. During his first year as police chief, he assigned officers to go door-to-door to conduct a survey in the Front Street site. The officers were more accessible to the residents and began patrolling the neighborhood on foot and on bicycles as well as in patrol cars. Chief Ferdelman and the department began hosting summer cookouts. The police used the local newspaper, business storefronts, and community patrol and beat officers to get the word out. Officers attending the cookouts wore identifiers to be recognized by the public. Not wanting to miss a chance to meet the public, the mayor and most council members showed up in support. The presence of government officials enticed other community service agencies to attend the festivities. The response was overwhelming. The cookouts have grown from just a few a season to 13 in 2002. They have spread to just about every neighborhood in the city, including the downtown business district, with funding provided by the Hamilton Community Foundation. Feeding off the enthusiasm the cookouts created, Sgt. Henderson's group has come up with other problem-solving programs for the community. Some of them are very structured and have acronyms such as FROG (Future Role Models of Great). GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Treatment) is an educational program sponsored by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Hamilton officers work with children chosen to be FROGs with the intent of expanding good character traits. Activities of the FROG program concentrate on community improvement and restoration, such as landscaping a park. Participants are rewarded for a job well done with a family night at the movies or a day at the beach water park. Community police officers conducted a 6-week Police Department Youth Academy for youth 10 to 15 years of age during the summer of 2001. The sessions gave youth the opportunity to learn about the different functions of the police department. The youth attended a pizza party at the final session and were awarded graduation certificates. The reward activities are not limited to program participants. For instance, if a Hamilton police officer responds to a domestic call that results in the arrest of one or both parents, the department can offer the children a ticket to the movies with the FROGs. This offers the child, who is a victim of the incident, the chance to see the police in a different and positive role. The community officers keep the beat officers apprized of these opportunities for children. This creates interaction between community and beat officers, which is vital for police/ community relations. Every officer working in the community must be working toward the same set of goals or police/community relations is doomed to failure. The community police officers work with younger children in the FROG program only in the summer to prepare them for entrance into a new school in the fall. If the officers observe that a child needs further counseling, they will recommend it and have referred some participants to counseling. Isolated problems that creep up on a routine basis are the most challenging to community police officers. However, finding solutions to them can be the best part of an officer's job, according to Sgt. Henderson. Last year, a group came to him lamenting that the outdoor basketball court in the site was too dilapidated for use. The officers working in the area decided to do something about it. They solicited parts to rebuild two top-of-the-line backboards and developed a new business partnership with a local paving company to level and resurface the court. The court is now a frequent site for basketball games, and the games often include a Hamilton police officer. A Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) decal is displayed on each backboard so that everyone knows who renovated the court. A future problem-solving task for Hamilton community officers is to work with developers to remodel the Neiland Park Apartments, a government subsidized housing complex. The police plan to work with developers to consider crime prevention through environmental design. Additional plans have been approved by the city and include a police substation. Funds are obtained from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development New Approach Grant. Other weeding activities in the area include an extensive camera system mounted at strategic locations to monitor drug dealers and other illegal activities in the site. The problem-oriented police officer works closely with landlords not just to evict tenants, but to bring the properties up to certain standards to prevent law-breaking types of tenants from renting there again. The Hamilton Police Department continues to diligently enforce laws in the Weed and Seed area, but there are two keys to its successes in reducing crime. First, everyone in the police department works well together. Every request is addressed quickly, regardless of whether it comes from a COPS officer, the vice/narcotics division, or the uniform division. This type of working relationship comes from the department's upper management. The chief and captains are excited when officers come up with good ideas. They encourage that type of thinking. That, in return, gives officers the incentive to come to work and do a good job. Second, the community trusts and supports the police. Community members feel good about their police department, and the officers feel good about the community. Without community trust and support, most of what is being done today would not be possible. Five years ago, the Weed and Seed site in Hamilton had the highest crime rate in the city. Today, it enjoys the city's lowest crime rate. ------------------------ 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, and on the EOWS Web site in January 2003: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows ---------------------------- Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment EOWS Recognizes Outstanding Seed Programs Rapid City Weed and Seed Rapid City, South Dakota The Rapid City Weed and Seed Substance Abuse Subcommittee received the EOWS Coordination Honor Award for its Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment component. The vision and goal of the subcommittee is to develop a continuum of care in treating substance abuse patients. The subcommittee also looks at gaps in services, available services in the community, networking among service providers, and collaborative efforts throughout the community. In 2001, with the assistance of Project Hope, a private foundation, the group began working on a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant to coordinate and expand existing services. Although this initial proposal was not accepted, the group continues to work with SAMHSA and to reach out to other agencies and organizations, such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to seek support for a coordinated continuum of care to provide expanded and coordinated services to dually diagnosed American Indians and other individuals in Rapid City and Western South Dakota. Coordinating partners include o United States Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota. o Rapid City Weed and Seed Substance Abuse Subcommittee. o Pennington County. o Behavior Management Systems, Inc. o Sioux San Indian Health Service Hospital. o Project Hope. o Rapid City Weed and Seed. o Cornerstone Rescue Mission. o Friendship House. o City/county alcohol and drug programs, Rapid City, South Dakota. For more information, contact Alison Stoeckmann Site Coordinator 605-355-3519 Santa Ana Weed and Seed Site II Santa Ana, California The site nominated the Kennedy Elementary Safe Haven program for the Coordination Honor Award for its Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment activities. The nomination and subsequent award gave special acknowledgments to Principal Rick Mojarro of Kennedy Elementary School and Mark Van Horn, Community Outreach Consultant and Safe Haven Coordinator. They have been instrumental in opening school doors to community residents, health service providers, local colleges, and city agencies. The Kennedy Safe Haven is open to the community from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Community outreach is a priority, contributing to the Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment goals of the Weed and Seed strategy. A range of programs offer parenting skills, onsite social service counseling, and health and dental care. Parents and families in the area also participate in ongoing programs that include language and technology classes. Given the extraordinary level of coordination and services, the site estimates that it is leveraging resources totaling more than $2 million. Coordinating partners include o United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California. o Kennedy Elementary School. o Cornerstone Village Neighborhood Association. o Santa Ana Unified School District. o Community Resource Coalition. o Family and Community Together. o Federal Empowerment Zone. o Santa Ana College. o California State University at Fullerton. o Santa Ana Weed and Seed. o City of Santa Ana Parks, Recreation, and Community Services. o Santa Ana Police Department. For more information, contact Virginia Adame Site Coordinator 714-571-4283 Tupelo Weed and Seed Tupelo, Mississippi Tupelo Weed and Seed received the EOWS Coordination Honor Award for their neighborhood revitalization efforts. The Haven Acres Neighborhood Association was formed with the help of the Mayor's Office and the Tupelo Police Department after community residents decided to fight the increased crime from gangs and crackhouses that threatened the area. In 1999, the neighborhood became a Weed and Seed site. The award stated that the residents, law enforcement, city government, and site coordinator formed a bond that led to increased arrests and convictions in an area "that once feared and had no trust in law enforcement (and) now shared a working partnership and mutual respect." In November 2001, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new community center. It is located in an area where six crackhouses were closed and gang and drug activity disrupted. It is the result of the work of the Neighborhood Association, Weed and Seed, the Mayor's Office, and the Boys & Girls Club and includes funding from HUD and private sources. Coordinating partners include o United States Attorney's Office, Northern District of Mississippi. o Haven Acres Neighborhood Association. o Tupelo Police Department. o Office of the Mayor, Tupelo. o Tupelo Weed and Seed. o Boys & Girls Club. o Lift, Inc., Child Care Facility. o ER Carpenter Foundation. For more information, contact Jennifer McCoy Site Coordinator 622-840-6588 Montgomery Weed and Seed Montgomery, Alabama Montgomery Weed and Seed received the EOWS Coordination Honor Award for their neighborhood restoration efforts in Westside Montgomery. Increasing commercial revitalization and job opportunities is an important part of the Montgomery Weed and Seed Neighborhood Restoration strategy. In 2001, a group of State and local public/private organizations began meeting with the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss ideas for projects in Westside, the heart of the Montgomery Weed and Seed effort. The Westside Development Committee was formed and the Montgomery Weed and Seed Committee partnered in that effort. To date, their accomplishments include completion of a major survey of business and crime issues on West Fairview Street that has led to building restoration, increased street lighting, street beautification and other crime reduction activities, the future siting of an interpretive center for the Voting Rights Trail on West Fairview, major traffic designations and signage to attract visitors, and construction of a regional park. The extensive collaboration has brought other important economic development opportunities for the area. Montgomery was selected as the site of the first American Hyundai automotive plant, which will be located in Westside. Coordinating partners include o United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Alabama. o City of Montgomery, Alabama. o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. o Westside Development Committee, Montgomery Weed and Seed. o National Park Service. o Montgomery Police Department. o Montgomery Planning and Development Department. o Weed and Seed Beautification Subcommittee. o Alabama Power Company. o Alabama Department of Transportation. o Montgomery Clean City Commission. o Montgomery Traffic Engineering Department. o West Fairview Avenue Business Coalition. o Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce. o Carver Park Neighborites. o Mobile Heights Community Improvement Association. o Westwood Neighborhood Association. o Westgate Neighborhood Association. o Working In Neighborhoods Through Support. o State Representative John Knight, District 77. o State Representative Thad McClammy, District 76. For more information, contact Clare Watson Site Coordinator 334-241-4400 ------------------------ The staff lead for Coordination Honor Awards in EOWS is Mary Breen, 202- 616-0289. ------------------------ Bridging the Digital Divide in Santa Ana, California Andrea Rico The Corbin SeedTech Computer Lab, located in Santa Ana, California, has been a successful program for the Santa Ana Interagency Neighborhood Team (S.A.I.N.T.) Weed and Seed site. The purpose of the SeedTech Computer Lab is to provide area residents who have little or no access to computers with the technological skills they need to compete in the job market of the 21st century. The new lab has been well received by the community and its partners. The lab has 18 computer stations, all with high-speed Internet access. Through SeedTech funding, 5 computers are equipped with Pentium 3 processors, 700 MHz, and Windows NT. Santa Ana College donated the remaining 13 computers, which are a little older but good enough to get many of the students going. The lab offers morning computer classes for senior citizens and evening classes for adults, Monday through Thursday. Classes are offered in English and Spanish and are free. Course work introduces students to basic computer fundamentals, the Internet, and computer applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel. The lab also helps students explore career options. Through a partnership with the Rancho Santiago Community College District, instructors from Santa Ana College teach the classes at no cost to the Weed and Seed site. With the addition of a S.A.I.N.T.- funded computer technician, an afternoon and a Saturday component have been added to serve additional youth and adults. In addition to the regularly scheduled activities, the SeedTech Computer Lab has partnered with Hope Worldwide, a nonprofit organization, to conduct the Computer Geniuses Program on Saturdays. This program provides computer classes for students in junior high school. The 8-week course is offered three times a year and teaches students the basics of computer hardware, software, networking, and technology. Its goal is to give economically disadvantaged students who have done well in school (GPA of 3.0 or above) early exposure to technological opportunities. At the completion of the course, each student is required to demonstrate his or her knowledge by dismantling and rebuilding a computer. If the student completes the task, he or she will then be given a new computer to take home. This early introduction to computers gives kids confidence and lets them demonstrate their ability to learn and produce something that is completely foreign to many. It is expected that some of these children may pursue advanced education and training in technology. The Corbin SeedTech Computer Lab has three essential components that have led to its success: community need, responsive programming, and partnerships. A community need exists for these types of programs. In Santa Ana, only 15 percent of residents (population 337,000) own a computer. Within the next 10 years, however, 80 percent of all jobs will require some technological knowledge. According to the Orange County Register (California), about 60 percent of Santa Ana residents ages 25 and older lack a high school diploma. Because many residents lack the skills needed for technology-based employment and have little or no access to a computer, the need for technology-based programs is strong. This need has been identified and recognized by residents and officials; therefore, the programming at the lab has been responsive to the community's needs. The courses teach students about basic keyboarding, how to write a resume, and how to find a job via the Internet. Any resident, no matter what his or her level of computer knowledge is, can participate and benefit from the programs offered. Each program is tailored to meet the resident's abilities and needs. The final component that makes the SeedTech Computer Lab a success is the partnerships that have been developed. Through numerous partnerships, each organization brings resources and an expertise that enhances the level of service that the lab can provide for area residents. Santa Ana Weed and Seed currently works closely with the city of Santa Ana, Hope Worldwide, S.A.I.N.T., the National Urban Technology Center, and Santa Ana College. The Corbin SeedTech Computer Lab is an evolving service for those residents affected by the digital divide. ------------------------ Indianapolis Westside Weed and Seed Youth March To End Violence Renita Minor On August 2, Indianapolis, Indiana, youth took the lead in initiating a citywide silent march to take back their streets from violence. The theme of the march was "Where There Is PEACE, Violence Will CEASE." Many of the youth expressed the fact that they were tired of the senseless, young blood being spilled in their neighborhoods. Statistics show that from January to June 2002 more than 54 homicides were committed in Marion County, and that more than half of the victims were under age 26. Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson; U.S. Representative Julia Carson; Former U.S. Marshal Frank Anderson; Olgen Williams of Westside Weed and Seed; the Reverend Melvin J. Jackson of Westside Community Ministries, Hope Hall; and Youth Minister Kevin Tichenor, Jr., cut the ribbon to start the march. Prayer was led by Minister Tichenor and was followed by opening remarks from Mayor Peterson, Deputy Mayor of Neighborhoods Carolyn Coleman, Congresswoman Carson, Williams, Anderson, and Rev. Jackson. More than 325 people participated in the march, which included summer day camp participants from Westside Weed and Seed's Safe Haven, area parishioners, local residents, and representatives from other organizations. A food and Christian music festival followed at Haughville Park where youth were given the opportunity to speak out against violence and crime. "It takes a lot of hard work and planning to get things done, but it's a good cause," said Minister Tichenor. "We want to continue to steer the youth in a positive direction using the many Safe Haven programs, activities, and events." ------------------------ Prevention Through the Arts in Cocoa, Florida The Weed and Seed Changing Art Gallery in the Safe Haven in Cocoa, Florida, is an exciting place. It exposes young people to various art forms and encourages them to experiment with different media to create their own artwork. It also gives young people a place to display their work for family and friends to see and appreciate. The Alliance for Neighborhood Restoration is the grant recipient for the Cocoa Weed and Seed site. Delores McLaughlin has been its Executive Director for 2 years, during which she has inaugurated a wide variety of new programs. One of the most successful is the Weed and Seed Changing Art Gallery. When she began developing the idea of a prevention-through-the-arts program, McLaughlin found a perfect partner in Gina Hulse, a recognized local artist whose work has been exhibited far beyond the local community. Hulse shared her talents with the sites' developing young artists and allowed them to flex their creative muscles and come to a place where they could have a constructive and productive time to learn about art. Classes were held in the Safe Haven, and the Weed and Seed Changing Art Gallery was opened in the heart of public housing in Cocoa. Hulse framed the students' artwork and installed it in the new Changing Art Gallery, bringing art to the neighborhood for friends and families to enjoy. The art was displayed in the gallery through June 14, and then became part of the Juneteenth 2002 festival, held on June 15. Originating in Texas in 1865, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery and is celebrated today in more than 200 U.S. cities. The Cocoa Juneteenth festival, sponsored by the Alliance for Neighborhood Restoration, included a parade, gospel singers, bands, and other entertainment. In addition, the students' artwork was auctioned off, with all proceeds to be used for future programs in the area. McLaughlin and Hulse plan to continue the art program. The art gallery has drawn attention to the Weed and Seed initiative in Cocoa, attracting people from the broader community to visit and see the students' work. More important, the gallery has instilled in local residents a new sense of excitement and hope. For more information about the Weed and Seed Changing Art Gallery, contact Delores McLaughlin at 321-504-9595 or weednseed@cfl.it.com. ------------------------ Collaboration Helps Youth Roll Out Activity Every community wants to establish and support healthy activities for youth. In the search for these activities, the Lima Police Department (LPD) in Ohio decided to develop a roller hockey league for teenagers and younger children. A number of organizations and funding sources, including LPD, the Lima Department of Parks and Recreation, the Lima Exchange Club, area churches and businesses, the teen pregnancy task force, and Lima Weed and Seed, collaborated to accomplish this goal. In spring 1996, police detectives Ed Monfort and Tony Swygart launched the Lima Police Department Youth Roller Hockey League. They felt organized hockey would provide a constant activity for at-risk youth, particularly those from the impoverished areas in and around the Lima Weed and Seed community. Lima Mayor David Berger and then-Chief of Police Frank Catlett fully supported the concept. However, Mayor Berger also made it clear that with the current budget cuts the city was experiencing, the program would need to be operated by LPD, not the Lima Department of Parks and Recreation. With funding from Lima Weed and Seed and the cooperation of LPD and the Lima Department of Parks and Recreation, a portable roller rink system was purchased. The rink, appropriately called The Border Patrol, cost a modest $5,000. It quickly became evident that this alternative activity would be successful because it offered an exciting and organized alternative to other sports. With the rink set up in a parking lot in the community, the next challenge was to pay for equipment. Local donations provided for basic equipment for skaters who had none of their own. The league purchased additional and upgraded equipment with funds it earned by selling advertising space on the rink's inside walls to local businesses. In 1996, 130 youth from ages 7 to 17 participated in the roller hockey league. The season ended with a tournament held in a local department store's parking lot. Trophies were awarded to the winning teams in each of four age divisions, and all participants received a bronze hockey medal. That fall, advanced players from each division traveled to Detroit, Michigan, to participate in the annual National Hockey League Breakout Roller Hockey Tournament held in the parking lot of the Joe Louis Arena. That trip and the many tournaments that were to follow were paid for by community contributions. The 1997 season brought Colin Chin of the United Hockey League's Fort Wayne (Indiana) Komets to interact and skate with the youth during a registration event. In 1998, 250 youth registered for the league. Late in that season, the Lima Area Exchange Club joined the collaborative group. The Exchange Club chose the Lima Police Department Youth Roller Hockey League based on the broad socioeconomic backgrounds of the participants and its mission to serve youth. The Exchange Club purchased additional hockey equipment and helped cover travel expenses for youth attending the annual hockey tournament. Exchange Club President Merle Miller and Vice President John Rice worked with the Lima City School Board to acquire long-neglected tennis courts at Horace Mann Elementary School. The Exchange Club held fundraisers and earned enough money to have the tennis courts resurfaced and converted into a large roller hockey complex. In 1999, more than 300 youth enrolled in the league. The success of the program led to a 2-day tournament at the new facility. That year, two LPD teams took second place at the tournament held in Detroit, and one of them lost by only one goal in a shoot-out. The volunteers from LPD, the Exchange Club, and the hockey community cheered on the players. In 2000, the league had 24 teams in 5 age divisions and developed its own Web site to display statistics, pictures, and other information. For the first time, the league sponsored a team that won a championship in the NHL Breakout Roller Hockey Tournament in Troy, Michigan. The Lima Mustangs won the 17-and-under recreational title and went on to the NHL Breakout Roller Hockey Championships in Orlando, Florida, January 12-14, 2001. They lost to the eventual champion by only one goal. The league continued to grow in 2001, and the teams competed in the Columbus Bluejackets'-sponsored Breakout Tournament. Lima youth got to meet members of the new NHL team and met Willie Rhee, former Boston Bruin and the first African-American player in the NHL. The Lima Ironmen won in the tournament's 17-and-under age group. In 2002, LPD focused its participation on enrolling skaters who lived in a local government-subsidized housing complex. This increased the registration of at-risk youth in the Weed and Seed area. Future plans include a satellite rink facility at the complex, which should increase interest in the program. What started as a dream became a reality involving hundreds of youth, local businesses, civic groups, and Lima Weed and Seed. For hundreds of youth, the roller hockey league has taught discipline and teamwork and helped them develop skills and set goals. For information about roller hockey rules, equipment specifications, and other league details, visit www.lpderollerhockey.com/index.html. ------------------------ Atlanta Weed and Seed Celebrates Going "Back 2 School" With Queen Latifah Atlanta public schools opened their doors on Monday, August 12, but on Sunday, August 11, Atlanta Weed and Seed saw to it that its students began the year with plenty of supplies, pride, and great looks. In partnership with Radio One's Hot 107.5 and District 1 Council Member Carla Smith, the 2020 Hot Cuts annual event prepared youth for school by providing free haircuts, hair care products, and school supplies. The Back 2 School event was hosted by Radio One's Promotions Director Jerry Smokin' B and held at the Thomasville Recreation Center. Twenty-six metro Atlanta barbers and hair stylists donated their time and services to provide 348 haircuts and authentic hair designs. In addition, each young man received a book bag filled with school supplies, compliments of the recording artists Ying Yang Twins, and 400 school-age girls received book bags filled with school supplies and beauty products provided by Ultra Sheen. More than 600 residents were served. Entertainment was provided by MCs Jerry Smokin' B and morning radio personality Ryan Cameron, with DJs Triple J and Mami Chula. Door prizes of scooters, t-shirts, a remote control, a boom box, and a DELL computer were raffled off. Refreshments were donated by Publix, and Pepsi provided free Mountain Dew, Pepsi Blue, and Code Red. The Thomasville Residents Association provided volunteers for the event, and officers of the Atlanta Police Department Zone 3 provided security and spent time with the youth. Special prizes were given to dance contest winners. The highlight of the day was a special guest appearance by Queen Latifah and her new group, The Unit. The group performed and Queen Latifah delivered a motivational speech to the youth, encouraging them to go to school and make the best grades possible. She signed autographs and spent quality time with as many youth and parents as possible. What a way to start the school year! Atlanta Weed and Seed ended its Back 2 School campaign on September 14 with its annual Back 2 School Bike Ride. The Grand Marshals for this year's event were Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington and WSB Channel 2 Public Affairs Director Jocelyn Dorsey. The event was sponsored by Harley Davidson of Atlanta. ------------------------ Neighborhood Restoration Weed and Seed and AmeriCorps*NCCC: A Partnership That Can Help Your Community Roger Hurley Weed and Seed sites across the country rely on strong partnerships with their local community development organizations to help maintain neighborhood pride and integrity. So it is not surprising that Kerry Antrim of Weed and Seed in the East Consolidated (Econ) district of St. Paul, Minnesota, teamed up with the East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC) to initiate a Brush With Kindness program in the area. Brush With Kindness uses community resources to paint and do limited renovations on the homes of low-income and elderly people. When it came time to identify volunteers, local planners started with the neighborhood but sought others who wanted to help from nearby communities in St. Paul and beyond. Then they called on AmeriCorps and received a team of volunteers who made short work of the project. The team came out of Denver, Colorado, the AmeriCorps*National Civilian Community Corps (A*NCCC) that serves the entire Midwest region of the United States. Teams of 10 to 12 corps members are sent from Denver in assigned vans. They travel throughout the region to complete projects with nonprofit agencies such as Weed and Seed. Most corps members have a college background and are motivated and disciplined. Projects typically last 6 to 8 weeks. Denver and four other A*NCCC campuses in Sacramento, California; Charleston, South Carolina; Perry Point, Maryland; and Washington, D.C., serve all 50 States. A few years ago, another team out of Denver came to set up playground equipment at Bruce F. Vento Elementary School in St. Paul. "If it wasn't for that team, the principal and I would still be out there setting up that swing set," said Antrim. So, with funding from Econ Weed and Seed, ESNDC sponsored and hosted a team of 10 corps members from August 5 to September 15, 2002, to partner with local volunteers and paint 6 houses in St. Paul. "Nothing to it," said Charles Franklin, a corps member from New York City. "The projects we do vary from tutoring kids to disaster relief. Painting houses, like everything else, is really just another day's work." Team Leader Joanna Stansel of Connecticut explained that corps members are dedicated to meeting unmet human needs. "It always amazes me how much work our team can complete in just 6 weeks." Antrim agrees, "AmeriCorps teams have proved invaluable to Weed and Seed in St. Paul, and I would encourage Weed and Seed sites across the country to look into sponsoring one in their neighborhood." ------------------------ Roger Hurley works at AmeriCorps headquarters in Washington, D.C. ------------------------ Contacting AmeriCorps*NCCC Weed and Seed programs seeking information or help from AmeriCorps*NCCC should call the person listed for their area. Additional information about A*NCCC is also available at www.americorps/nccc. LaQuine Roberson, 410-642-2411, ext. 6850 Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont Azikiwe Chandler, 202-561-1382 District of Columbia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia Mikel Herrington, 843-743-2600, ext. 3008 Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and the Atlantic Territories Karin Mosier, 303-844-7439 Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming Sharon Morioka-Estrada, 916-640-0311 Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and the Pacific Territories ------------------------ Efforts Pay Off for Flint North Central The Flint, Michigan, North Central Weed and Seed has expended an enormous effort in addressing the issues of preventing crime and juvenile delinquency and intervening to guide neighborhood youth toward positive activities. Its Kid's House program offers an after-school Safe Haven for youth ages 5 to 15 who live in the Weed and Seed area. It provides them with a family style meal, mentoring, career days, hygiene awareness, creative thinking activities, field trips, and homework help. Since it opened in October 2001, Kid's House has grown from serving 5 to more than 20 youth. Business partners, including Flint Attorney Thomas Mengesha, Genessee County Health Department employees, Fashion Coordinator Tyrone Kirkland, and the Flint Wal-Mart management team, have mentored these youth in job shadowing, goal setting, and developing self-esteem. Flint North Central has also partnered with the Genessee County Family Independence Agency to provide mentors for youth who participate in the program. On the national level, Executive Director Joyce A. Thomas of Flint North Central Weed and Seed coordinated the 2002 Power of Prevention series of conferences in her role as an executive board member of the National Organization for Weed and Seed. More than 250 people from the Midwest region attended the first conference, which was held in Cincinnati, Ohio. Each conference focused on helping grantees learn to link to and leverage resources and to maximize services and outcomes. The other 2002 Power of Prevention conferences were held in San Antonio, Atlanta, and Manhattan Beach, California. Flint North Central Weed and Seed is also developing a SeedTech site to give residents access to computers. A spacious new computer room will allow maximum computer technology learning opportunities. The University of Michigan at Flint has agreed to provide Flint North Central Weed and Seed with skilled instructors to teach courses designed from the SeedTech curriculum. Flint North Central Weed and Seed continues to work closely with agencies and schools to provide residents with resources on how to purchase a home, free computer courses, and after-school/summer programs for youth. It hosted its first annual picnic this year to increase issue awareness and will continue to address the strategies that community members have set and serve as a resource for the Weed and Seed community. ------------------------ Our mission is to serve as a multiagency and partner with agencies that will fulfill our strategies in addressing the issues of the community through law enforcement, community policing, neighborhood restoration and intervention, prevention, and treatment. --Flint North Central Weed and Seed Mission Statement ------------------------ City of Prichard and Harlem Area Community Weed and Seed Break Ground for Historic Park Gerald E. Alfred On June 19, 2002, more than 200 residents attended the groundbreaking ceremony announcing the renovation of the once prestigious Pollard Park in Prichard, Alabama. Pollard Park was one of the premier recreation spots in the early 1970s and the "place to be" for local residents. During the summer, children attended the park daily to swim in its pool or play a game of "hoops." Neighborhood legends were born when the baseball and softball season came around, and many of the back-in-the-day stories are still being circulated. The renovation project is a collaborative effort of the city of Prichard, the Harlem Area Community Weed and Seed Strategy, the Neighborhood Restoration Subcommittee, the Mobile County Commission, the Prichard Housing Authority, and State Representative William "Bill" Clark. Located in the Harlem Area Community Weed and Seed target site, the renovated park, estimated to cost $315,000, will complement the Bella Street Affordable Housing Program. The program consists of 13 homes for low- to moderate-income families, the newly built Ella Grant Elementary School, and the House of Hope Child Development Center, all past accomplishments within the immediate area. People in the community are excitedly anticipating the reopening of Pollard Park. "This park holds fond memories for people of all ages throughout this county," said Commissioner Sam Jones. "We want it restored back to its original state. Nothing would please me more than seeing youngsters enjoying a clean and modern facility." The park will have two tennis courts, a basketball court, jogging trails, beautiful landscaping, additional lighting, and a concession stand. An additional $15,000 will be appropriated for organized recreation. The plan for the park is unique in concept as well as design. A volunteer park advisory board will be developed by the Harlem Area Community Weed and Seed Strategy and the Prichard Department of Parks and Recreation to oversee annual activities. The Prichard Housing Authority will maintain the grounds. ------------------------ Weed and Seed Partners With Charlottesville's PVCC Biotechnology Program The term "biotechnology" is part of the lexicon of today's world of high finance and startup companies. The field of biotechnology, however, was established in the world of academic research years before applications of the findings of its research scientists could be successfully transferred to the private sector. Biotechnology uses modern research techniques to analyze DNA and protein, and applies the results to improving crops and livestock. The associate in applied science (AAS) degree program at Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) provides education and training for individuals who are interested in working in support positions in research laboratories. It was developed when the principal investigator at the University of Virginia (UVA) requested that a training program for individuals to fill research support positions be developed. The program was formally proposed by Dr. David Brautigan, Professor of microbiology and medicine and Director of the Center for Cell Signaling at the UVA School of Medicine, in February 1999. Brautigan knew that he and other principal investigators at the School of Medicine had difficulty attracting and retaining qualified lab specialists. Brautigan's proposal led to a workforce development meeting with representatives of the city of Charlottesville, UVA, and PVCC. It was decided that PVCC would offer associate's degree and certificate programs to prepare people for long-term employment as lab specialists in UVA's Health Science Center, other departments at the university, and local biotechnical companies. An analysis of the work of lab specialists at UVA was developed through interviews with a representative sample of people in those positions and validated by principal investigators who supervise lab specialists. As a result, a Final Task List was prepared based on the Work Keys Profile, and PVCC proposed curricula to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to become laboratory and research specialists. A 19-credit-hour Career Studies Certificate in biotechnology was designed for individuals who already have an associate's degree, and an AAS degree in biotechnology was offered to give students the science and liberal arts background required of all AAS graduates, and the skills to perform at the level of a UVA lab specialist. These curricula have been reviewed and approved by a Curriculum Advisory Board at UVA, lab specialists at the university, local high school teachers, a representative from a local biotechnology company, and an outreach person in biotechnology at the Fralin Biotechnology Center at Virginia Tech. A training site was renovated in Charlottesville's technology corridor and a Federal scholarship program was established to support citizens of certain neighborhoods of the city. The original training site was located at 321 West Main Street in Charlottesville, with the rent and half of the renovation costs paid by the city. UVA provided $50,000 in classroom furniture and laboratory equipment, and $15,000 to train and support the faculty member in charge of the program. PVCC and the Federal scholarship program, Weed and Seed Network, have been publicizing the job training opportunities available to the citizens of Charlottesville and others in the service area. The curriculum for the AAS in biotechnology was approved by Virginia's State Council for Higher Education in November 2000. The program was structured to accommodate students who work during the day because it was anticipated that most students would be working adults. The three courses specific to the program are offered in the late afternoon and evening to accommodate most working students. The faculty members involved hold office hours in the late afternoon and evening to advise students and provide them with other support services, if needed. The Biotechnology Training Center is only 3 miles from campus and is well served by support personnel at the college.* *Story adapted from PVCC Biotechnology Program at www.pvcc.cc.va.us/biotech/ biotechhistory1.htm. ------------------------ What Works E E D Accountability N D Sustainment E E D ---------------------------- Sustainment ---------------------------- Pittsburgh Weed and Seed Shares Success for Sustainment Pittsburgh's Operation Weed and Seed is a joint Federal, State, and local coordinated law enforcement and community investment initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice under the local leadership of the Office of the Mayor and the U.S. Attorney's Office. It has been so successful since it began in 1992 that it hosted a regional conference in November 2002, with the twin themes of sustainment and supporting homeland security. Pittsburgh's Weed and Seed effort has reduced crime by more than 41 percent in target neighborhoods. Residents perceive their neighborhoods to be significantly safer across multiple outcome measures, including the severity of crime and police effectiveness in controlling crime. The program has operated in several target areas, including o Hill District from April 1992 to March 1997. o Hazelwood, Glen Hazel, Homestead, West Homestead since January 1996. o East Liberty, part of Garfield, part of Larimer since January 1998. o Homewood since September 2000. o Ward 31 (Hays, Lincoln Place, New Homestead) since January 2001. o Hilltop Communities (Allentown, Beltzhoover, Knoxville) since January 2001. o Ward 23 (Deutschtown, East Allegheny, part of Spring Garden) since April 2001. Program objectives include o Developing a comprehensive, multiagency strategy to control and prevent violent crime, drug trafficking, and drug-related crime. o Coordinating Federal, State, local, and private agency resources and concentrating them in the target area to reduce crime, foster housing and economic development, support prevention activities, encourage education and training, and provide social and recreational opportunities. o Implementing community policing to link concentrated law enforcement and support of social, educational, and recreational activities. Pittsburgh's version of Operation Weed and Seed continues a successful experience in the Hill District. The 1999 National Evaluation of Weed and Seed cited Pittsburgh as the best program in the country. The program model is built on two equally important foundations, both of which must be developed and moved forward together to make the approach work in communities. The two foundations are Weed--coordinated, targeted law enforcement--and Seed-- housing, economic development, and human services. Steering committees comprising representatives from the community, law enforcement, and government are impaneled for each target area. Major goals of Operation Weed and Seed include eliminating violent crime, drug trafficking, and drug-related crime from targeted high-crime neighborhoods, and providing a safe environment for law abiding citizens to live, work, and raise a family. Four principles guide Pittsburgh's approach: o Reducing crime (reduced by an average of more than 41 percent). o Investing in community computer technology (more than $600,000 in 40 locations). o Emphasizing tangible assets, which helps to sustain project impact. o Empowering community review committees to decide on seed projects to fund. Some $4.6 million in Federal funds were awarded over 9 years to Pittsburgh for Operation Weed and Seed. That amount has leveraged more than $350 million in economic development and human service investments in the target areas. Portions of some Weed and Seed communities are in the Federally designated Enterprise Communities, which entitles them to additional consideration for other Federal funds.* ------------------------ Residents perceive their neighborhoods to be significantly safer across multiple outcome measures, including the severity of crime and police effectiveness in controlling crime. ------------------------ *Pittsburgh Weed and Seed shared these insights and more at the recent Regional Training Conference held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on November 17-19, 2002. For further information, contact John Tolsarki at 412-255-4772 or Dave Farley at 412-255-4765. ------------------------ Weed and Seed Grows in Syracuse, New York Implementation of the Weed and Seed strategy involves planning, vision, and patience. Developing efforts and initiatives that can bring about lasting change requires that the right partners be at the table working together. Relationships must be established and trust earned. In Syracuse, the Weed and Seed initiative has focused on creating partnerships with the stakeholders needed to develop and implement long-term revitalization strategies. Working to address both institutional and neighborhood-specific issues, Syracuse's efforts seek to have an impact on two Weed and Seed neighborhoods through targeted programs for residents while concurrently addressing citywide issues. The Syracuse Weed and Seed Community Partnership has laid a solid foundation, results have been positive, and hopes are high for its continued progress. Residents Receive Expanded Programs In each of the two identified sites, services at Safe Havens have been expanded through Weed and Seed, and new programs are being offered. In the near westside neighborhood, the Together As One Gang Prevention Program has shown great progress since its inception in January 2001. Four Safe Havens and other partners collaborate through Together As One to address the needs of residents. Through a combination of outreach and case management, along with expanded program hours at the neighborhood Boys & Girls Club (open until midnight three nights a week in the summer and on Friday and Saturday nights during the school year), the program seeks to deter at-risk youth from becoming involved in gangs. It also works with young people who are already involved in criminal and/or gang activity, as well as young people who are in jeopardy of becoming victims of that activity. The program's success led Congressman James T. Walsh to support it through an additional grant of $250,000. When Together As One began, the Boys & Girls Club in the neighborhood had 645 members. That number has grown to more than 1,300. In addition, many of the young people targeted through outreach and case management are remaining free of further criminal involvement and are establishing goals for themselves. In the northside Weed and Seed neighborhood, partners continue to improve and expand programs for children and families. Prevention-through-the-arts initiatives and youth mentoring are key components of these programs. The Youth Violence Prevention Initiative, a year-long program, began in February 2002. Working with the High-Five Adventure Learning Center, this character and leadership development curriculum, taught using experiential learning techniques, was integrated into all Safe Haven and youth development programs. Adult service providers and teen mentors were trained during two separate multiple-day sessions. Participants were excited and stimulated by the trainings and the curriculum, and are working together to integrate what they learned into all programs. Many Partners Collaborate Law enforcement agencies in Syracuse were early supporters of Weed and Seed. The Syracuse Police Department has demonstrated a consistent commitment to the strategy through participation in the Weed and Seed Task Force and in the development and leadership of the Special Operations Teams. Through the Special Operations Teams, biweekly details in both sites involving four kinds of activities are carried out by Federal, State, and local partners. In addition, the Syracuse Police Department's Special Investigations Division carries out weekly supplemental operations, providing feedback to residents when possible. From January 2, 2001, to June 30, 2002, Weed and Seed law enforcement efforts resulted in the arrest of 963 defendants with a total of 1,798 charges. The Onondaga County Probation Department also has played a significant role in Syracuse's Weed and Seed efforts, including the reorganization of the caseload of the department based on the success of early Weed and Seed joint efforts between community policing officers and probation officers. Probation officers now work in specific neighborhoods and can integrate their efforts much more effectively with the police department. Community Neighborhood Initiative The Community Neighborhood Initiative (CNI) is an example of the continued evolution of coordinated law enforcement efforts in Syracuse. CNI Phase I operated on a 4-week schedule from October 8 to November 2, 2001, and Phase II was carried out from December 4, 2001, to February 9, 2002. CNI objectives included suppression of criminal activity, identification and apprehension of violators, suppression of gun violence, and the identification of neighborhood concerns. CNI had representation from the Onondaga County Department of Probation, New York State Division of Parole, Onondaga County Sheriff's Department, New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team, Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Syracuse Weed and Seed, and numerous local government services agencies. A designated area was selected for CNI operations. Under the direction of Police Chief Dennis DuVal, the Syracuse Police Department designed and was the lead agency in the CNI project. Residents and businesses in the designated area were informed that enhanced law enforcement was planned during this period. They were also notified that environmental concerns, such as abandoned vehicles, street lighting, and other nuisance factors that pose law enforcement problems would be addressed along with the increased law enforcement. This information was delivered door-to-door to improve communication with the residents and to give them an opportunity to address problems before the initiative began. The results of the CNI efforts were positive. Arrests were made, abandoned vehicles removed, warrants issued, and referrals made to the appropriate city departments for followup procedures such as enhanced street lighting and vigorous code enforcement. This kind of success demonstrates that objectives can be reached more easily by using combined resources in a designated neighborhood. The positive accomplishments and followup efforts also help to develop a trusting basis for future community efforts. Chief DuVal has made it clear that the Syracuse Police Department will continue its efforts in other neighborhoods and build on the lessons learned from CNI. Nancy Kronen, Weed and Seed Director in Syracuse, agrees that the coordinated strategy between the police department and other agencies has been positive. She credits Chief DuVal and his deputy chiefs with having a new vision for law enforcement that has expanded community collaborations and involvement. Syracuse Outreach Coalition Just as Syracuse Weed and Seed has been an active participant in the CNI project, it has also been one of the catalysts for the creation of the Syracuse Outreach Coalition. Organizations working to provide outreach and case management, both in Syracuse City Schools and in neighborhoods throughout Syracuse, are now coordinating efforts through this coalition. The coalition was formed to maximize efforts to reach young people. The group meets biweekly to share information relative to hotspots, trends, referral sources, and opportunities. The Syracuse Police Department has trained all of the outreach workers and case managers and issued them photo identifications. It is hoped that, through the coalition, conflicts can be identified before they lead to violence and that resolutions can be mediated. Uplift Syracuse Syracuse Weed and Seed has also been actively pursuing a somewhat different cooperative initiative called Uplift Syracuse. The long-range vision of Uplift Syracuse is to encourage the development of block associations throughout the city that will be directed by the residents. The conceptual basis for Uplift is the belief that structural change cannot occur until residents take control of the situations that create the problems in their neighborhoods. Uplift wants to provide information and support to make this a reality. Planning for development of this coordinated intervention strategy in Syracuse has been in process for more than 2 years. This holistic, multiagency approach to improving the community's overall quality of life household-by-household, block-by-block, and street-by-street has been carefully designed using models from other communities and lessons learned from previous endeavors. The time invested in developing Uplift reflects the understanding that addressing community problems requires forging partnerships among groups that may not be accustomed to working together. Kronen worked to develop this trust and a willingness to focus on common goals through early support from some key Weed and Seed partners who shared these goals. Syracuse Weed and Seed Community Partnership assumed a leadership role in this process, meeting with people to explain the initiative and to enlist their commitment. Syracuse Mayor Matthew Driscoll, then president of the Common Council, was an early supporter of the Uplift concept. Superintendent Stephen Jones of the Syracuse City School District had heard of similar programs in other communities, and endorsed the concept to County Executive Nicholas Pirro. A mission statement was adopted that included o Improving the physical appearance of the neighborhood. o Encouraging the creation of block associations. o Helping residents to access services more effectively. o Reducing truancy and making schools centers for accessing service information. o Decreasing criminal activity. The stakeholders in Uplift Syracuse are departments of the city of Syracuse, Onondaga County, and private partners. The range of partners is wide, including police, fire, public works, code enforcement, parks, health, social services, probation, schools, aging, and youth agencies. Private partners include faith-based groups, utilities, neighborhood groups, Rural Metro, and human service agencies. The group adopted operating procedures that identified scheduled activities and the responsibilities of team members. On the day of Uplift, participants, who operated in two teams, met 30 minutes before the actual start to share information. The Department of Public Works staff began 30 minutes before the rest of the activity. They mowed lawns, trimmed problem trees, and picked up trash. Then the street was closed and the teams went door-to-door to talk with residents. Two teams, one on each side of the street, each had a representative from every participating agency, such as social services, health, and police. Each team had a person record information that will help with followup activities. Interaction at each household began with a lead person going to the door. The lead person was determined from the information already known about the potential needs and problems at each stop (for example, a social service person if the resident was a client, a probation officer if the resident was a client). The lead person explained that individuals from city and county agencies and neighborhood representatives were on the street to talk with residents and learn their concerns. The teams offered specific help, if possible, and referral information about services available close to the neighborhood. One of the services provided was free smoke detectors and/or a check by the fire department of smoke detectors. Team members tried to ascertain if the resident would like to be involved in the development of a block association. If the individual had specific needs, appropriate information was provided, such as information on childcare, job training, health clinics, youth programs, senior programs for the elderly, and opportunities for renters to own homes. Residents were given a name and number to contact for services and someone to call for more information about joining the block efforts. The issues identified during Uplift have been even more far-reaching than expected. A tenant who needed legal assistance, refugees who did not know how to access services, and an elderly woman in a wheelchair who was desperate for help are only a few of those who received valuable referral assistance. Inspectors who were allowed to enter the houses found smoke detectors not working properly and corrected them. They also identified serious wiring problems. In addition to identifying problems, the teams connected residents to convenient and essential services. Sharing information about programs sponsored by Parks and Recreation, directing people to the Spanish Action League, and informing young people about swimming lessons were only a few examples of useful information that teams disseminated throughout the neighborhoods. The special collaborative efforts that have made Uplift possible include a strong buy-in from both the city and county elected officials, the police department, school district, Syracuse University, and private sector representatives. Mayor Driscoll and County Executive Pirro participated in developing the initiative and have dedicated significant resources to implementing it. The city of Syracuse hired a coordinator for the Uplift Syracuse initiative, Michelle Mike, who started on August 1, 2002. A database created by Syracuse University students tracks Uplift information and followup. It also provides a means of measuring the performance of the initiative. The program developed by these students could have applications for Weed and Seed sites across the country. Syracuse Further Embraces Weed and Seed Major initiatives such as Uplift do not occur quickly and easily; however, the benefits can far exceed the investment of time and work as the Syracuse experience demonstrates. The recent appointment of the Syracuse Weed and Seed Community Partnership to Mayor Driscoll's Youth Violence Intervention Task Force, the Syracuse City School District's Strategic Planning Committee, and the district's Coordinating Council for Alternative Education demonstrates the value placed on the strategy. As Syracuse and other cities in the Northeast face the challenges of youth violence, urban disinvestment, and quality of life in neighborhoods, it is clear that Weed and Seed principles operating throughout the cities and counties can help to overcome these challenges. Syracuse has been selected for an in-depth site assessment by the Justice Research and Statistics Association as part of EOWS's FY 2003 performance documentation effort. ---------------------------- Winners ---------------------------- Seattle Coordinator Uses Peace Corps Experience in Weed and Seed Brooke Evans Seattle, Washington, has two Weed and Seed sites--Central Area and Southeast--and is forming a third. An established Weed and Seed area, Seattle is doing many things to combat violence and transform communities, and they are working. Some of the success is due to LiLi Liu, the Weed and Seed Coordinator for the city of Seattle, who develops strategies that address the needs of minority and immigrant children, youth, and families. Liu, a Seattle native, has been active in community work at home and abroad for many years. From 1995 to 1997, Liu was a Peace Corps volunteer in Fiji working as a community health educator. She worked with local health professionals developing partnerships in the community and presenting health education programs to local businesses, primary and secondary schools, and villages. Liu also initiated needs assessments for nutrition and programs to prevent chronic disease in the community. Recently, Liu was one of the nationwide recipients of the Franklin H. Williams Awards. These awards recognize the leadership contributions that Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Color have made in the area of community service. "It was an honor to be recognized for what I do," said Liu. Along with her work with Weed and Seed in Seattle, Liu has been an active community volunteer. She is a volunteer board member for Seattle's Refugee Women's Alliance, which provides multilingual and multicultural advocacy and support services for refugee and immigrant women and their families. Liu also volunteers for the United Way of King County. Before her Peace Corps service, she was an AmeriCorps volunteer. In Fiji, Liu learned how to relax and let things happen, how communities change, and that in the end things work out. "I learned to develop relationships and listen before attempting to develop programs in the community," she said. This taught her that communities do not change overnight. Over time, as people work together in communities, change will begin to happen. "My experience in Fiji helped me learn that everything will work out," Liu said. "When it comes to activities for the community, I know that things will always work out for the best, whether or not everything goes exactly as planned." Creating change in communities is never easy. As Liu has found out, it is when you take the time to listen and work with the community that real change takes place. "Taking the time to listen is important when working with Weed and Seed because the communities know what is best for their neighborhoods," Liu said. "The idea of sustainability is to work myself out of a job as a coordinator. I am here to help the community achieve their goals and continue their good work." ------------------------ Peter Laun Recognized for Efforts Peter Laun, Law Enforcement Coordinator (LEC) for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, and valued Weed and Seed partner, received the Executive Office for United States Attorneys' Director's Award for Superior Performance in Law Enforcement Coordination. Pete and his colleague James Leene, LEC for the District of Vermont, were recognized for their significant achievements in enhancing United States-Canadian law enforcement cooperation. Since September 11, 2001, Pete has been instrumental in implementing Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) that span the two countries' border from Maine to Michigan. IBETs are multiagency, field-level groups of law enforcement officials dedicated to securing the integrity of the border by sharing information and technology and endeavoring to coordinate all activities to minimize duplication of effort and maximize the enforcement effect in a specific geographic area of the border region. The IBET concept is an operational plan that identifies law enforcement goals, partners, parameters and general logistics of planned joint operations, and resource commitments from participating agencies, while improving cooperation between Canadian and U.S. law enforcement. With the help of the LEC from your local U.S. Attorney's Office, these same principles can be incorporated in your weeding strategies, thus further strengthening the collaborative efforts between Federal and local law enforcement. This award is no surprise to any of us. Pete has been providing this level of law enforcement coordination support to Syracuse Weed and Seed sites for more than 6 years. Congratulations Pete! ------------------------ Strengthen Victim Services in Your Weed and Seed Communities The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has a Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) and a Resource Center (OVCRC) to help strengthen victim services in your Weed and Seed community. To learn more, visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc. OVC Training and Technical Assistance Center OVC TTAC provides comprehensive, quality technical assistance and training resources to victim service providers and allied professionals. o Training and Technical Assistance. TTAC offers training curricula and provides expert support and mentoring in a range of subject areas. o Speakers Bureau. TTAC supplies speakers for consultation, conferences, focus groups, and other meetings. o Consultant Database. TTAC-approved consultants have expertise on various victim-related topics. TTAC staff work with you to match a consultant to your needs. Following are examples of the tasks for which people and organizations request technical assistance from OVC. (Note: These are only examples and should not limit the type of requests submitted.) o Developing a strategy for implementing model operations or promising practices. o Improving system response through the use of technology. o Implementing recent Federal or State legislation, policies, or procedures that improve response to or expand service for crime victims. o Developing tribal codes and procedures that address child abuse, protection, and other crime issues. Following are examples of available OVC training curricula: o Hate and Bias Crime Training for Law Enforcement and Victim Assistance Professionals. o Immigration and Cultural Considerations in Assisting Victims of Sexual Assault and Physical Violence. o Identifying Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse. o Resource Package for Children Required to Testify in Federal Court and Juvenile Court Response to Victims of Juvenile Offenders. If you have questions about training and technical assistance, call 1-866-OVC- TTAC (TTY 1-866-682-8880) or send an e-mail to TTAC@ovcttac.org. OVC Resource Center OVCRC is an information clearinghouse for emerging victim issues. Information specialists will answer your questions using national and regional victimization statistics and OVCRC's well-established network of victim advocates and organizations. OVCRC is a component of the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), which provides access to the most comprehensive criminal justice library in the world. Register online to be part of the NCJRS mailing list to receive notice of publications and resources that address your specific areas of interest. Stay informed about new victim-related publications, grants, and funding opportunities and other news and announcements by subscribing to the NCJRS electronic newsletter, JUSTINFO. This free service will be e-mailed to you on the 15th of every month. OVCRC provides many of the tools you need. Call 1-800-627-6872 (TTY 1- 877-712-9279) for assistance 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, eastern time, or send an e-mail to AskOVC@ojp.usdoj.gov. ------------------------ Coordination Saves Lives ------------------------ 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. Sites will receive e-mails inviting them to the workshop in January 2003.he newly built Ella Grant Elementary School, and