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

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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

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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

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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.


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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

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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.
          
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The human spirit is not measured by the size of the act, but by the size of the
heart.

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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

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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

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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

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What's Working

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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.

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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."

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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.

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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

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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)

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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