PROJECT RIGHT

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE AGENCY HAS WORKED ON PUBLIC SAFETY, CRIME PREVENTION, CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, ZONING AND HOUSING, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES THROUGH GRASS ROOT MODELS OF SUSTAINABLE RESIDENT ORGANIZING. THE AGENCY HAS FORMED A VERY STRONG AND UNIQUE COLLABORATION THAT HAS BEEN HIGHLIGHTED AS A MODEL IN NUMEROUS PUBLICATIONS. AT PRESENT, THERE ARE OVER FORTY ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED IN THE COLLABORATIVE. THE AGENCY PLACES A PRIORITY ON INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS INVOLVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, CRIME WATCHES, BLOCK WATCHES, AND TENANT ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN OUR TARGET AREA. THE AGENCY IDENTIFIES RESIDENT LEADERSHIP ON UNORGANIZED STREETS TO ASSIST THEM IN ORGANIZING THEIR STREETS.THE AGENCY PROMOTES RESIDENT AND YOUTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION THROUGH ORGANIZING, ACTION, ADVOCACY, AND COALITION BUILDING. THE AGENCY'S PHILOSOPHY IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT: "NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE ANTI-CRIME ACTIVITY." THE AGENCY'S VISION OF SOCIAL CHANGE IS WHEN GROVE HALL IS STABLE AND HEALTHY AND NO LONGER IMPACTED BY BARRIERS OF RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT LIMIT ACCESS TO SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES. OUR PLANS INCLUDE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR OUTREACH AND ORGANIZING INITIATIVES, INCREASE OUR EMPHASIS ON ENGAGING YOUTH IN POSITIVE ACTIVITIES WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON FEMALE TEENAGERS, EXPAND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES, AND SUPPORT EDUCATION ADVOCACY BY PARENTS AND STUDENTS (STUDENT TRANSPORTATION, BUDGET AND SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT PROCESS).THE AGENCY'S OVERALL GOALS ARE TO IMPROVE THE ACTUAL SAFETY AND WELLBEING IN THE GROVE HALL COMMUNITY; AND TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN POSITIVE ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. WE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED A TRAUMA TRAINING PROGRAM SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLEHAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRAUMATIC IMPACT VIOLENCE HAS ON INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY, AND LEARN ABOUT DEALING WITH THE TRAUMA AND THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THAT. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS UNDERSTANDING, IN TURN, LEADS TO A DECREASE IN VIOLENCE. WE ALSO INITIATED PROGRAMMING FOCUSED ON MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE STUDENTS THAT ADDRESSES BOTH STREET AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION. THIS EFFORT WILL IMPROVE THEIR SELF-ESTEEM WHILE INFORMING THEM ABOUT HEALTH ISSUES THAT WOMEN IN THE GROVE HALL COMMUNITY FACE. THESE NEW INITIATIVES, WITH OUR EXISTING EFFORTS, WILL DECREASE VIOLENCE IN GROVE HALL AND HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.