Title: Weed and Seed In-Sites, November/December 2001
Series: Magazine
Author: Executive Office for Weed and Seed
Published: December 2001
Subject: Weed & Seed programs, terrorism, law enforcement -- general,
community policing, gun violence
41 pages
94,208 bytes

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U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Executive Office for Weed and Seed

November/December 2001
Volume IX, Number 5

Weed & Seed In-Sites 
MAGAZINE

South Tucson Weed and Seed's Veteran's Day Parade in Arizona

----------------------------

Contents

Letter From the Assistant Attorney General

What's Working
o Law Enforcement
o Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment
o Community Policing
o Economic Development

September 11, 2001, Weed and Seed Tribute


DEFY

Winners

Departments
o Web Sight
o Conference Corner
o EOWS News
o Resources

----------------------------

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

Stephen Rickman, Director 

Robert M. Samuels, Deputy Director

Nancy Ware, Director of Technical Assistance and Training

Cheryl Driscoll, Supervisory Grants Manager

Paul Casagrande, Special Projects Coordinator

Louise Lucas, DEFY Coordinator and Reentry Programs Coordinator

Kathleen Severens, Director of Community Dispute Resolution

Edison Aponte, Faith Baker, Michael Connor, Jonathan Faley, Sharron
Fletcher, Romia Gore, Robert Hendricks, Erin Holbert, Dionne Johnson,
Katherine Mera, Andrew Press, Shannon Taitt, Geroma Void, Program
Managers

Claude Thomas, Chief of Staff


Mary Breen, Anita Snyder, Special Assistants to the Director

Linda Hawkes, Administrative Officer/Grant Specialist

Prince Cummings, Program Analyst

Romia Gore, Public Relations Specialist and In-Sites Editor

Lisa Huff-Galloway, Secretary

Jessica Caldwell, Tracy DaCosta, Special Assistants, Technical Assistance and
Training Division

Please send all submissions, comments, or address corrections to the above
address.

----------------------------

Letter FROM THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

I am so pleased to greet all of our Weed and Seed communities. I have a great
affinity for you and the work you do, having served as U.S. Attorney in a Weed
and Seed community and as the first Director of the Executive Office for Weed
and Seed in 1992. This issue of In-Sites focuses on Weed and Seed
communities in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. With that in mind, I
would like to share some of my thoughts with you.

The events of September 11 are seared in all of our memories. On that tragic
day, life in America changed forever, and I think something changed in each of
us as well. Shortly after the attacks, I visited "ground zero" in New York City
and met with local officials and recovery workers. I expected to be horrified at
the sheer evil the scene represented--and I was. I expected to be overcome
with emotion and I was. But my overriding impression was one of reverence,
defiance, strength, and affirmation. The hundreds of rescue workers who slept
only when exhaustion forced them to rest . . . the hundreds of American flags
that were hung, letters that were written, and other tributes to those who lost
their lives . . . the unflagging dedication of those who gave thousands of hours to
assist the survivors . . . all of these sights convinced me that terrorists will never
defeat our country.

This spirit of perseverance and patriotism is echoed in Weed and Seed
neighborhoods across America. From the prayer vigil in Selma, California, to
the Weed and Seed Mobile Community Outreach Police Station van deployed
by the City of Norwalk, Connecticut, to generate light at ground zero on that
terrible, dark day to the Tucson, Arizona, Veterans Day Parade honoring
America's heroes to the Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the U.S. Virgin Islands
who teach high school students the values of faith and freedom that are the core
of our Constitution, Weed and Seed communities have pulled together to
respond to the terrorist attacks on our Nation. 

These few examples and the everyday work of all of our citizens on the Weed
and Seed Steering Committees--residents, law enforcement and emergency
response officials, faith-based groups, local businesses, and schools--convince
me that our resolve as a Nation is strong. As we are called to action, Weed and
Seed neighborhoods continue to respond. They care for families with loved
ones on active military duty; strengthen law enforcement and counterterrorism
activities; develop local emergency response and security plans; evaluate fire,
rescue, and public health resources; monitor local economic development; and
encourage the faith-based community to assist people of all faiths in the healing
process.

Preparing our Nation to respond to the threat of terrorism on U.S. soil is
another important focus for the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). Since
September 11, OJP has been working hard to support the Nation's response to
the attacks on America.

o Through our Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, our Bureau of Justice
Assistance is providing financial assistance to the families of the courageous
firefighters, police officers, medical rescue personnel, and other public safety
officers who died while trying to save the lives of others in the World Trade
Center attack.

o Our Office for Victims of Crime, since that first day, has provided crisis
counseling and helped victims to access assistance, including services and
financial compensation supported through our funding programs.

o Our National Institute of Justice provided expertise and high-tech camera
equipment to assist in recovery efforts at the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon and is working with the Federal Aviation Administration to identify
technology that will assist in airport security.

o Our Office for Domestic Preparedness worked closely with New York
officials to reestablish the city's Emergency Operations Center, which was
destroyed in the attack, and continues to provide equipment funding, training,
technical assistance, and support for national, State, and local exercises to
enhance the capacity of State and local agencies to respond to domestic
terrorism.

We will continue to work closely with the White House Office of Homeland
Security to determine other ways that OJP resources and expertise can help
our Nation prevent and respond to terrorism. However, the real work of
mobilizing America to meet this challenge lies within our communities. Over the
past 10 years, I have seen firsthand how powerful Weed and Seed partnerships
can be in ensuring public safety. I look forward to working with you to help our
country meet the challenge of domestic terrorism.

Deborah J. Daniels
Assistant Attorney General
Office of Justice Programs

----------------------------

What's Working
Law Enforcement

Law enforcement task forces across the country credit Weed and Seed for
providing them with a direct link to the community. By partnering with Weed
and Seed, task forces comprising various Federal, State, and local partners find
themselves with the tools they need to "hit the streets."

In the next three issues of In-Sites, task force efforts in Weed and Seed
communities will be highlighted to demonstrate effective approaches and
creative partnerships. EOWS encourages sites to submit information regarding
their task force initiatives. Share with In-Sites readers photos of your task force
operation, seizure counts from your raids, or commentary on what makes your
task force successful. Members of law enforcement not already connected to a
task force effort in Weed and Seed communities should contact the site's
coordinator or call EOWS at 202-616- 1152 to speak with a Program
Manager and learn more about linking to a Weed and Seed site.

Weed and Seed Provides Resources for Task Force in Central Maine
Kathy Spellacy

The primary mission of the Central Maine Violent Crimes Task Force
(CMVCTF) is to seek out and arrest people who have committed violent
crimes in Androscoggin County and central Maine. The Androscoggin Weed
and Seed initiative funded the task force's efforts to remove guns from the
streets of central Maine. As the task force has grown and become better
known, law enforcement agencies throughout the country have sought their
assistance. The task force demonstrates exactly what a multiagency,
multijurisdictional unit can accomplish.

From July 1999 through July 2001, the task force ranged in size from just two
agents to a full compliment of six. (All agents assigned to the task force are
deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service.) Though not as large and complex as
other task forces across the country in much bigger areas, CMVCTF removed
more than 100 illegally possessed guns from the streets of central Maine in just
24 months. In addition, the task force arrested 7 individuals with outstanding
murder warrants, 5 individuals for attempted murder, and 12 fugitives wanted
by Maine authorities who had fled the State. Forty-six individuals were charged
with felony possession of a firearm, and four armed career criminals were
sentenced to Federal prison for terms ranging from 15 years to life. These
accomplishments have had a profound impact on the community and the court
system.

Weed and Seed funding gave the task force the resources they needed to
operate efficiently. The task force, which once operated out of a basement with
two phones for four to six agents to share, was able to upgrade their office.
They now can accommodate up to eight agents, providing each agent with a
desk and telephone line. Office rental, training classes, and undercover
equipment were supplied through the Weed and Seed site. Without the Weed
and Seed program, the Central Maine Violent Crimes Task Force would be
unable to accomplish its goals and fulfill its mission.

To learn more about effective task force approaches to removing illegal guns off
the streets, request a free copy of the Bureau of Justice Assistance's Reducing
Illegal Firearms Trafficking: Promising Practices and Lessons Learned (NCJ
180752). This and many other valuable publications from the Office of Justice
Programs are available online at www.ncjrs.org.

----------------------------

According to the Maine Uniform Crime Report, the violent crime rate among
Maine juveniles increased about 20 percent between 1988 and 1997. In an
attempt to remove the number of illegal guns and target wanted felons on the
streets of central Maine, a task force partnered with its local Weed and Seed
site. Today, 100 fewer illegal handguns plague communities in central Maine.

----------------------------

Between 1986 and 1997, the rate of Maine juveniles arrested for possessing
weapons nearly doubled.

Source: Maine Uniform Crime Report

----------------------------

Minneapolis Officers Focus on Saturation Detail in the Phillips Neighborhood
Christina Kendrick

On May 11, 2001, the Minneapolis Police Department's 3d Precinct
conducted a saturation detail in the Phillips Neighborhood, a neighborhood in
which more than half of the residents live in poverty. Ongoing problems exist
with narcotics trafficking, gang violence, prostitution, and other related crimes
and calls for police service are higher than any other neighborhood in
Minneapolis. In an effort to connect with the community, more than 60 law
enforcement officers gathered in the Phillips Neighborhood to orchestrate a
1-day community "cleanup." The goal of the detail was to let local residents
know that narcotics trafficking, prostitution, or any offense that affects the
livability of the neighborhood would not be tolerated.

Roll call was held at 6 p.m. at the Franklin Avenue Community Safety Center.
Dinner for the officers was provided by the American Indian Business
Development Corporation (AIBDC). Community members from AIBDC and
local business owners welcomed the officers and thanked them for their work.
Local Weed and Seed site coordinators and staff from the U.S. Attorney's
Office also thanked the officers, gave details regarding the use of Weed and
Seed funds to support "weeding" efforts, and provided a brief overview
outlining the details and goals of the saturation. Finally, the group of officers
went over the process for identifying and removing anyone from the community
who was found committing a criminal act. The community established a
temporary booking unit, and three investigators from the police department
were assigned to book, interview, and/or debrief arrestees. By walking through
the community and visiting with local businesses and residents, officers were
able to identify individuals with outstanding warrants, people who were causing
a public nuisance, or people they knew were wanted by the police on other
charges.

The saturation led to 65 arrests, mostly for misdemeanors, warrants, or "quality
of life" violations, but officers also arrested an unregistered Level 3 Sex
Offender. (In Minnesota, this type of offender has the highest risk for
reoffending and is required to register his or her new addresses with local
officials.) They also located two males wanted for parole violations and
arrested a male wanted by authorities for burglary and obstruction of legal
process with force. Probation officers were able to check the probation status
of 13 offenders, and 19 gang members were contacted and identified by Gang
Strike Force Officers (a special Antigang Task Force).

Finally, the effort received tremendous support from the Minneapolis Police
Department's Community Crime Prevention/Safety For Everyone (CCP/SAFE)
Unit. CCP/SAFE is a part of the Community Services Bureau of the
Minneapolis Police Department. Officers in this unit work to reduce crime and
improve the livability of the neighborhoods located in the 3d Precinct. Because
of the officers' ongoing outreach efforts within the community, a high level of
trust between officers and law-abiding residents exists. The relationship
between the officers and residents and business owners was the driving force
behind the overall saturation effort and the reason why officers were successful
that day. 

----------------------------

Saturation Results

Arrests
1 gross misdemeanor arrest
2 narcotics arrests
3 felony arrests (2 parole violators, 1 burglary warrant)
11 warrant arrests
48 misdemeanor arrests (e.g., possession of drug paraphernalia, consumption
of alcohol in public, and littering)
65 total arrests

Contacts
1 city weapons ordinance (knife)
1 unregistered Level 3 Sex Offender
11 problem address visitations
16 petty misdemeanor traffic citations
19 gang members identifications
47 total contacts

----------------------------

Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment

Project Safe Neighborhoods

Student Pledge Against Gun Violence Helps Middle District of Florida Launch
Initiative
Donna Schulz and Will Daniels

Attorney General John Ashcroft recently launched Project Safe 


Neighborhoods: America's Network Against Gun Violence, further
demonstrating the Bush Administration's commitment to remove illegal guns
from the streets of the United States. Under the direction of each U.S.
Attorney, resources will be allocated to support both State and local
prosecutors and investigators and fuel ongoing networking projects at the State
and local levels. To enhance community outreach, each U.S. Attorney will
work with community partnerships throughout his or her district to devise or
enhance a gun violence reduction plan best suited for each community.

When Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) was announced, the U.S. Attorney's
Office (USAO) for the Middle District of Florida immediately adapted their
Operation HALT the Violence! strategy to complement the resources of the
PSN initiative. The Middle District Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee
and community outreach staff are anxious to receive the reinforcement they
need to better coordinate and improve partnerships to reduce gun violence. The
Criminal Division of the U.S. and State's Attorneys' Offices look forward to
bringing on additional staff and other resources to fully enforce the gun laws of
the United States and the State of Florida and more effectively prosecute
offenders.

The Middle District has successfully launched many collaborative projects,
including the organization of 15 Weed and Seed sites. (Today, the USAO helps
8 of these Weed and Seed sites coordinate DEFY [Drug Education for Youth]
programs, which mentor more than 250 children.) The announcement of PSN
came at a time when USAO staff were coordinating ongoing partnerships in
their communities to bring gun violence awareness to schools and community
residents.

Federal and State Experts Enhance Strategy

On behalf of its new Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, the USAO for the
Middle District of Florida has enhanced its ongoing firearms violence reduction
strategy, Operation HALT the Violence! It has partnered with the Florida
Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI), the Florida Crime Prevention
Association, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Office of the
Florida Attorney General to provide specialized training to teachers, students,
and parents on preventing and dealing with school violence. Halt the Violence!
has led to the development and production of new prevention tools that are
more attractive to today's youth than resources used in the past. For example,
young people in middle school and high school classrooms across Florida now
have access to Aftermath: Lessons in School Safety, an exciting and interactive
CD-ROM created by RCPI to help youth examine healthy ways to deal
responsibly with issues relating to guns, bullies, alcohol, and teenage suicide.
This interactive teaching tool has been distributed to all of Florida's School
Resource Officers (SRO) via the SRO network.

The Middle District and statewide partners have also used research from the
Behavioral Science Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Academy,
as well as the crime analysis division of the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement, to further direct the strategic initiatives of Halt the Violence! The
FBI, along with State and local leaders, law enforcement officers, and school
system personnel, provided training at several statewide summits. By inviting
witnesses and school leaders to provide testimonials and their strategic plans,
Halt the Violence! coordinators have been best prepared to consider better
ways to investigate or at least plan more effective approaches to dealing with
the aftermath of tragic events (including acts of gun violence in schools) and
how to prevent tragedies by intervening. Across the board, one strong
recommendation resonated among partners: gun-violence reduction efforts need
to incorporate a solid, proactive, and preemptive education plan. Although
USAO staff felt they had been conscientious about incorporating education into
their holistic outreach plans in the past, the summits have served as great tools
for expanding and directing the Middle District's gun violence reduction
strategy. Based on the recommendations of these summits, PSN/HALT the
Violence! is conducting community forums in Polk County/Lakeland/ Haines
City and Hillsborough County/Tampa through a pilot program with funding from
the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services and a partnership with the
Fox Valley Technical Institute.

----------------------------

To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better.
Whether by a healthy child, a garden, or a redeemed social condition. To know
even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have
succeeded.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

----------------------------

The Student Pledge Against Gun Violence 


Most churches, camps, afterschool programs, and community police 
officers do what they can to prevent youth from resorting to violence under any
circumstance. Halt the Violence! coordinators were anxious to link resources in
the Middle District and strengthen efforts to change the attitudes of the youth in
their schools. A growing national movement called Student Pledge Against Gun
Violence (www.pledge.org) motivates students to get involved. By taking the
Pledge, a student makes a conscious decision not to use guns to settle disputes
and adopts an attitude that will influence his or her friends to do the same.
Annual crime prevention events, vigils, and rallies are great ways to energize
and unite a community against gun violence, but as time passes, typically so
does the energy. Because of the Pledge, students are constantly reconnected to
their commitment. They put their commitment into practice by continuously
coordinating projects and communicating with classmates, teachers, and
advisors. Throughout the year, pledge-takers also coordinate efforts in their
community to spread gun violence awareness. The Student Pledge Against Gun
Violence has proven to be a unique opportunity to personally involve students
in the fight against gun violence. Through their collective commitment with
millions of young people across the Nation, students have the power to impact
the violent crime that is affecting their lives.

The Middle District of Florida encourages students across the State to take the
Pledge and provide assistance in planning special events with their schools,
other students, and their families. This USAO's Web site,
www.usdoj.gov/usao/flm, offers students ways to mobilize their classmates,
increase awareness, and get others to take the Pledge. Many students and
teachers in the Middle District use this Web site to get ideas, while others take
the lead and coordinate their own events to best serve the needs of their
community.

A USAO that wants to involve the schools in its district in the fight against gun
violence will find that by incorporating the Pledge into its outreach plan, it can
best help return its schools to safe havens for learning and positive interaction
among young people. This year, on the Day of National Concern about Young
People and Gun Violence observed on October 17, thousands of youth across
the great State of Florida signed the Student Pledge Against Violence.
Throughout the years to come, Halt the Violence! partners will continue to plan
and oversee Project Safe Neighborhoods initiatives in the Middle District, and
coordinators will continue to count on the young people of Florida to provide
leadership for their schools and their communities. Our young people are our
future! 

----------------------------


On August 2, 1996, Senate Resolution 282 was passed by unanimous consent
in the U.S. Senate. The resolution, which officially named November 7, 1997,
as the "Day of National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence,"
calls for national distribution of the Student Pledge against Gun Violence. In
2000, more than 2.4 million youth across America signed the Pledge. The
annual observance of the Day of National Concern falls in mid-October.

----------------------------

Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grantees Announced

In November 2001, 157 communities throughout the Nation were notified that
they will share $15 million in new Federal grants to strengthen their efforts to
prevent illegal drug and alcohol use by young people. The Drug-Free
Communities Support Program is overseen by the White House Office of
National Drug Control Policy in partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention. The program strengthens local coalition efforts to
prevent and reduce young people's illegal use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco by
encouraging citizen participation in community intervention and prevention.

"The battle against substance abuse will be won by communities dedicated to
addressing the many different reasons people use drugs," said Assistant
Attorney General Deborah J. Daniels. "The Drug-Free Communities Program
enables local communities to develop local solutions to local problems and lets
residents participate in helping their neighbors and taking pride in their
successes," added Daniels.

Weed and Seed sites have found that by tapping into Federal funding streams,
they can get the provisions they need to accomplish the goals   of their
strategies. Through grant funding, technical assistance, and national networking,
sites have been able to learn from other communities and have gained the
resources needed to strengthen their own local initiatives. Weed and Seed
communities, including those in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Providence, Rhode
Island; Freeport, Illinois; and Battle Creek, Michigan, have coordinated
initiatives funded by the Drug-Free Communities Support Program to
strengthen their prevention, intervention, and treatment initiatives. In-Sites will 
feature information about the approaches these communities use and the
progress they make as they continue to coordinate efforts to make their
communities healthy.

Find out how to get involved with the Drug-Free Communities Support
Program! At this year's Weed and Seed Grant Application Kit Workshop,
EOWS staff will teach Weed and Seed sites how to apply to the fiscal year
(FY) 2002 Drug-Free Communities Support Program. The Application Kit
Workshop will be held February 25-27, 2002, in Indianapolis, Indiana. On
February 28, 2002, sites will get guidance on how to strengthen their own
prevention, intervention, and treatment strategies with the support of the
Drug-Free Community Support Program.

Learn more about the initiatives supported through the Drug-Free Communities
Support Program and grantee projects funded through FY 2001 at
ojjdp.ncjrs.org/dfcs. 

----------------------------

Have You Met ADAM?

One of the only reliable and accurate sources of information available to
communities about local drug trends is provided by the resources of ADAM--
the National Institute of Justice's Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring program. By
taking an analytical approach to information gathering upon intake of both the
juvenile and adult arrestee populations, a community can best understand the
attitudes associated with and frequency of specific activities. Understanding
local perspectives on drug use, illegal firearms, teen sex, and public health is a
crucial step for a community practicing or planning a comprehensive strategy
such as Weed and Seed.

Each Weed and Seed site is strongly encouraged to seek the support of the
analytical tools and training support funded through ADAM. As a Weed and
Seed site, chances are you qualify under the protocol for ADAM support. The
program provides critical aid to community planning, monitoring, and resource
allocation. Visit www.adam-nij.net/ about1.htm for more information.

NIJ
ADAM
Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program

----------------------------

Community Policing

Off-Duty Officers a Welcomed Presence at John R. Grubb YMCA in Des
Moines, Iowa
Frank Owens

Four years ago, six officers (five of whom are still there) began a new off-duty
assignment--to serve and protect the YMCA, a primary Weed and Seed Safe
Haven. Weed and Seed funded officer involvement at this site so that
community residents could improve their physical well-being by participating in
YMCA activities without being concerned about crime or harassment.

When the program first began, YMCA patrons and local residents had some
unanswered questions, suspicions, and even resentment about the presence of
police at the YMCA. However, over time they discovered that the officers
were there to help the community and safeguard the rights of YMCA members.
So far, the results have been quite positive. "We don't have any problems here,"
said Officer Chris Curtis. "No one has ever been barred from the YMCA, and
there have been only two arrests--one for possible theft and one for intoxication
since the program began. Everyone is on a first-name basis, and it is a very
relaxed environment."

On any weekday evening, you can see two of the five officers--in casual dress
but distinctly police officers--walking around the YMCA grounds and talking
with members and visitors. The officers work from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Even when they are not working, they are often found using the
fitness equipment at the YMCA or just hanging out. They are a part of the
community, and people are grateful for their presence.

In addition to covering the YMCA, the officers have been asked to settle
disputes and assist with traffic accidents in the surrounding area. In some cases,
they have been asked to answer minor legal questions for visitors to the
YMCA. Ultimately, the participating officers believe their job is to be available
to patrons of the YMCA and for neighborhood residents in general.

"It's nice to work where the people appreciate you. It's not like that in other
places in Des Moines," commented Officer Mike Westlake.

Officer Curtis said, "The kids seem to like us a lot, and we like them. They ask
our advice and invite us to join in some activities. We're here to interact and
socialize with the people who come to the Y."

Young people will often ask the officers about their equipment and what their
jobs are like. Such interactions teach children about law enforcement and give
them positive experiences with police officers. For the officers, children, and
program staff at the YMCA, it is a win-win situation that has proved effective in
promoting the Des Moines Weed and Seed initiative.

----------------------------


They are the unsung heroes of the John R. Grubb YMCA in Des Moines,
Iowa: off-duty police officers whose presence at the YMCA and in the
surrounding area makes the environment safer.

----------------------------

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 gorer@ojp.usdoj.gov or submit it on disk via
mail with your hardcopy original photos. 

Please include captions with your photos and send them to:

In-Sites
Executive Office for Weed and Seed
810 Seventh Street NW., Room 6131
Washington, DC 20531

Photos will be returned if a self-addressed envelope is included. 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!

----------------------------

Economic Development

ONYX Weed and Seed Creates Jobs and Fresh Attitude
Richard Bray

In 1989, a group of residents in central city Toledo, Ohio, were frustrated over
the growing problems in their community. The area was high in crime and low in
economic opportunity. As a result, some of the residents turned to drugs or
drug-related enterprises, increasing the population of both drug addicts and
residents going to jail. To combat the situation, several residents founded
ONYX (Organized Neighbors Yielding eXcellence), applied to the Internal
Revenue Service for incorporation as a private nonprofit community
development corporation, and started making plans to turn their community
around. In 1998, ONYX, Inc., applied for and received Weed and Seed
Official Recognition.


ONYX Weed and Seed's objective and goals were clear: to create a visually
appealing neighborhood by reducing the number of vacant lots in the ONYX
Weed and Seed and surrounding community and employing and paying livable
wages to people from the neighborhood. When the ONYX Weed and Seed
Steering Committee discussed problems in the community, they agreed that the
identified problems were somehow related. Problem properties, drug and
alcohol use, and lack of steady employment continued to plague their streets
despite the progress made in rehabilitating their housing stock and cleaning up
the neighborhood's streets and parks. The committee members decided that by
initiating a plan to help the unemployed population of their target area gain
steady jobs, they could best counter other problems such as addiction and
homelessness. With a starting point identified, the committee members
discussed where they could place people in jobs. They decided to focus on the
young men and women who had recently been released after serving time in jail.
In addition, the site would find steady employment for individuals reentering the
community after receiving addiction treatment in an inpatient facility.

Fresh Attitude

The Steering Committee, recognizing that the population they were targeting
had lost their families, jobs, cars, and houses to addiction, established a support
network to help these individuals get closer to recovery. ONYX Weed and
Seed funded Fresh Attitude, a nontraditional approach to drug and alcohol
rehabilitation. In 2000-2001, Fresh Attitude provided intensive case
management and outpatient counseling services to 10 individuals who lived in
the target area. The program's services operated out of the community's Safe
Haven. Recovering addicts who participated in the program attended 2-hour
group sessions twice a week, mandatory support group meetings (e.g.,
Alcoholics Anonymous) once a week, and individual counseling as needed and
underwent periodic and random urine screening.

After its first year, Fresh Attitude coordinators celebrated their successful
treatment of people in recovery but reinforced the need to provide a continuum
of services and care (e.g., job placement, continued health services, and
counseling) to those served. Many of its clients needed gainful and meaningful
employment to support their continued road to recovery from addiction. Soon,
ONYX Weed and Seed began to look in its own backyard for the solution.

ONYX Neighborhood Work Corps

Looking around the ONYX Weed and Seed community, evidence of progress
was plentiful. Signs that the neighborhood was on the rebound after years of
decay and neglect were starting to bring the community renewed hope and
energy. The ONYX Weed and Seed neighborhood had seen the influx of more
than 80 newly constructed homes, several rehabilitated homes, and a new retail
center at a major intersection in the neighborhood. However, the conditions of
unkempt vacant city-owned land, abandoned homes, and other properties were
daily reminders that the dedication and hard work of the community were still
much needed.

ONYX, Inc., staff understood that the city of Toledo lacked the human
resources needed to properly maintain the vacant lots throughout the city.
ONYX, Inc., directed by the goals set forth in its Weed and Seed strategy,
made the connection to keep the neighborhoods of Toledo beautiful by
employing residents who were advanced in their recovery. An economic
development project that would assist the city with vacant land maintenance
was born ONYX Neighborhood Work Corps. ONYX Weed and Seed
moved forward, looking to its Safe Havens to identify recovering addicts and
ex-offenders who were ready for employment and interested in being a part of
an effort to revitalize the neighborhood.

Using funds from a grant awarded by Toledo's Department of Neighborhoods,
ONYX Weed and Seed purchased lawn equipment and a truck and started a
bank account to pay the wages of its new line of staff hired by the ONYX
Neighborhood Work Corps. Whereas the day-to-day management of the
Work Corps is headed by ONYX, Inc., staff, two staff members are
designated as supervisors, giving leadership opportunities and project
management experience to employees who take ownership and show more
advanced signs of recovery.

The ONYX Neighborhood Work Corps currently has the funding to operate a
small business, employing up to 10 individuals and youth in a business that is
visually enhancing the neighborhood, and to pay wages that help employees
maintain their homes and support their families. In spring 2002, the
Neighborhood Work Corps hopes to expand its services beyond city-owned
vacated lots to residential, commercial, and other city-owned properties. In the
meantime, as winter approaches, Fresh Attitude will continue to prepare the
residents of Toledo for a life of sobriety and healthy living as just a small but
crucial part of the overall comprehensive Weed and Seed strategy. 

----------------------------

To address problems identified in a central city Toledo neighborhood, ONYX
Weed and Seed takes a holistic approach to goal setting, resulting in a healthier
neighborhood from which greater opportunities will grow.


----------------------------

Community Fair Links Services to Pine Bluff Residents
Jessie Turner

On September 22, 2001, more than 500 residents of the University Park
Neighborhood in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, took advantage of the University Park
Community Fair. It was the first community event of its kind coordinated by
Pine Bluff Weed and Seed. Residents of all ages socialized with neighbors,
participated in a day of fun and games, and, most important, learned more
about the programs and services coordinated by the partners of the local Weed
and Seed site.

Pine Bluff Weed and Seed is a relatively new site, receiving Weed and Seed
funding just this year. From recreation and athletics to mentoring and tutoring,
residents can visit either of its two Safe Haven facilities for a wide variety of
programs. However, the Steering Committee and site coordinators wanted the
residents to be excited about the changes happening around them and to know
that many supporters from within the community and from the surrounding area
were committed to the Weed and Seed effort. Thus, the idea to host
"Empowering and Engaging Community Residents" came to life.

To help spread the word to everyone in the Pine Bluff area about the great
things happening thanks to the efforts of Pine Bluff Weed and Seed,
coordinators of the event arranged for a live remote broadcast by radio station
KCAT AM 1340. Radio personalities were onsite to welcome residents to the
all-day event held at Dollarway Junior High School. The program officially
kicked off at 10 a.m. with a welcome from Weed and Seed community
partners. Throughout the day, service providers from the area shared
information with community residents. Many tables lined with resources were
set up throughout the gymnasium, giving residents a one-stop service area. The
nonprofit Southeast Arkansas Medical Network, Inc., assisted by the Pine
Bluff Nurses Association, gave residents cholesterol and diabetes screenings
and blood pressure checks. Adults were encouraged by representatives from
the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and Southeast Arkansas College to
enroll in education programs or computer classes. Also, representatives from
local banks informed residents about legislation and Federal initiatives that back
the economic development of their community and walked them through the
process of securing a low-interest home ownership or home improvement loan.

Coordinators wanted to take the opportunity to bring employment resources to
the community because they knew many residents who would attend the event
were having difficulty getting a job that paid them fair wages. With more than
half of the households in the area bringing in less than $15,000 a year, there is a
great need for jobs that offer security and potential for advancement. To
address this issue, event coordinators invited human resource personnel from
J.C. Romiay, Lowe's Hardware, and the A-Team--a local temporary
employment agency--to attend the event. The businesses gladly accepted the
opportunity to recruit from the area and brought plenty of job applications to
the fair. Printed Page, Inc., a local copying and business center, sent volunteers
to the event to help residents draft employment resumes.

----------------------------

Community events are perhaps the most popular way Weed and Seed sites
have found to energize the residents of their target areas and breathe new life
into their Weed and Seed initiatives. In Pine Bluff, Arkansas, site coordinators
found that their community fair was exactly what they needed to keep the ball
rolling.

----------------------------

Finally, a community event is not complete without activities for the children . . .
besides fun and games, that is. Members of the Tri-County Drug Task Force
volunteered to talk to the neighborhood children about the use and dangers of
consuming alcohol and the importance of not resorting to violence when they
feel angry. Firefighters from the Pine Bluff Fire Department shared safety and
fire prevention tips in their mobile classroom, "Smokehouse on Wheels." 

In the end, everyone benefited. Weed and Seed was able to educate the local
community about its initiatives and the good things to come. Residents were
encouraged to make a better life for themselves and their families by tapping
into some of the resources Weed and Seed was bringing to the community.

----------------------------

September 11, 2001 Weed and Seed Tribute

When In-Sites staff surveyed Site Coordinators for their input about the events
of September 11 and the impact the attacks had on their communities,
responses varied. Some sites united and coordinated charitable events. Other
sites leaned on their neighbors and friends at candlelight vigils and prayer
circles. Each of their responses, including the ones highlighted in this special
section, serves as a reminder that a community's readiness to unite after tragic
events relies directly on the support systems maintained during times of peace.

Selma, California

On the evening of September 14, 2001, the community of Selma Weed and
Seed sponsored an all-night "sleep over" for both youth and adults. We had
about 60 youth and 20 adults. Staff and adult volunteers prepared a barbeque,
and at 7 p.m. we gathered in a circle and lit candles. One of our volunteer
parents said a prayer in memory of those who were killed and to comfort those
of us who live to see the footage of the attacks daily. We then started up a
bonfire and burned it all night, until sunlight at 6 a.m. It was a peaceful way for
our community to come together, pray, and begin the healing process.

--Henrietta Aguallo-Olveda, Site Coordinator, Selma Weed and Seed

Veterans Day Reenergizes Tucson Communities 

On September 10, the Westside Coalition and South Tucson Weed and Seed
sites were energized with that proud feeling the Weed and Seed community
experiences after pulling off a successful Phase I Drug Education for Youth
(DEFY) camp. The next day, upon hearing the news of the terrorist attacks, the
energy turned to something between sadness and confusion, anger and fear.
Arizona's Governor quickly responded to President Bush's request for the State
Governors to provide the support of National Guardsmen. Instantly, 200
uniformed guardsmen from the Arizona National Guard were deployed to
receive training from the Federal Aviation Administration in preparation for their
deployment to 10 of the State's major airports.

The Arizona National Guard is family to the entire Tucson Weed and Seed
community. Volunteers from the National Guard's Drug Demand Reduction
(DDR) Program support the site at every turn; therefore, when the site received
word that the Arizona National Guard had been deployed and were possibly
going to be called on for additional duties, the community became concerned.
The community kept itself busy by holding local events and meetings and,
eventually, started the healing process.

The impact the Arizona National Guardsmen had on the community's children
and their families on Veterans Day was notable. Despite rumors that other
towns and cities had canceled or scaled down their Veterans Day parades, the
popular Tucson Veterans Day Parade was a go; the local children were excited
about it. Uniformed Guardsmen from DDR were there in full support and
invited the DEFY kids they had come to know during the past summer's Phase
I camp to march with them. The parade turned out to be the most
old-fashioned patriotic celebration Tucson has seen in a very long time. It
renewed the community's positive energy. The crowd cheered for the DEFY
children who waved and proudly wore their bright yellow DEFY shirts. Along
with the National Guardsmen, the children marched waving American flags,
sang cadence from camp, and showed their support for America. The support
of the National Guard and the Tucson Weed and Seed's relationship with the
entire Tucson community helped everyone involved reaffirm both their pride in
the United States and their pride for their DEFY children.

--Marcia Roberts, Site Coordinator, Tucson Weed and Seed

Norwalk Weed and Seed's MCOPS Van Supports Ground Zero Rescue

On September 11, just a few hours after the terrorist attack on the World
Trade Center, the New York Police Department (NYPD) sent out a teletype
asking for assistance from area police departments. The Norwalk, Connecticut,
police department (approximately 40 miles north of New York City) assembled
a team of 12 officers to head to New York to assist NYPD, and Chief Harry
Rilling deployed the department's Weed and Seed Mobile Community
Outreach Police Station (MCOPS) vehicle. Norwalk Police Department
personnel quickly loaded the vehicle for the 2-hour drive to New York City;
officers had collected every 5-gallon water container they could find, as well as
flares, flashlights, medical aid kits, and other supplies. The MCOPS vehicle was
assigned to a checkpoint on the main emergency route, at Westside Highway
and 14th Street. Once near "ground zero," officers loaded more supplies, food,
tools, and clothing. While some officers manned the checkpoint and secured the
area, other officers distributed supplies. The MCOPS provided one of the few
locations with working lights, generators, and air conditioning. Rescue workers
and police officers used the MCOPS van to rest, regroup, and prepare to
deploy back into ground zero. The MCOPS vehicle has always been a place
for Norwalk citizens to get assistance and support. The Norwalk Police
Department was very proud to lend the MCOPS vehicle in support of the
heroes of September 11.

--Lt. Thomas Cummings, Commander, Norwalk Police Department

Bringing Applications in Law to Students in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Most people have to wait until college to get an education in law. In the U.S.
Virgin Islands, however, high school students learn firsthand from practicing
attorneys who work at the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joycelyn Hewlett teaches classes in street law at Ivana
Eudora Kean High School on St. Thomas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim
Chisholm teaches street law at neighboring Charlotte Amalie High School. On
the island of St. Croix, Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Morey teaches Business
Law at St. Croix Central High School. All of these people are employed by the
U.S. Department of Justice and serve the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District
of the Virgin Islands. Each one of these attorneys volunteers his or her time in
an effort to introduce high school students to legal theories and applications in
their everyday life.

September 10, 2001, marked the beginning of a new semester at St. Croix
Central High School. Morey started it off with a discussion about the document
that holds this Nation together: the U.S. Constitution. He engaged the class in
discussion by asking the students to consider what life would be like had our
founding fathers not formed a union for freedom. The classroom came alive as
the students started to interact with one another and their instructor. Morey's
topic proved noteworthy the next day when the class learned of the attacks at
the World Trade Center in New York and at the Pentagon in Washington,
D.C., which posed a threat to the freedom of all Americans. Such events
brought the importance of the U.S. Constitution to life for the students, enabling
them to learn a very important lesson about the value of freedom.

----------------------------

I want to commend all of our attorneys and those from the U.S. Attorney's
Office for the District of the Virgin Islands, members of the private bar, and
members of the judiciary for collaborating with us to make this an exciting and
intellectually challenging school year for our high school students on St. Croix,
St. John, and St. Thomas. The work we do will yield benefits beyond measure
for the students and the community at large. Thank you! Thank you! Thank
you!

--Azekah Jennings, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of the
Virgin Islands

----------------------------

Accountability Board in Eugene Gives Residents the Means To Resolve Hate
Threats

Unexpected situations confront Weed and Seed coordinators all the time, and
coordinators have learned to handle them using the support systems of their
neighborhood and their relationships with citywide partners. Troubling situations
usually work themselves out without much panic. During the early morning of
September 11, however, Bethel Weed and Seed residents in Eugene, Oregon,
received the shocking news of the terrorist attacks on the East Coast, as did the
rest of the Nation. No one imagined that our community would experience
immediate repercussions much closer to home.

That afternoon, a 33-year-old man from our Weed and Seed community made
a threatening phone call to the local Islamic Cultural Center--which also serves
as the local mosque--stating that "all Muslims should be erased." The director
of the center was able to retrieve the caller's phone number from Caller ID
technology. With pressure building in the community, the man turned himself in
to the police the following morning. Many members of the Bethel community
were not only deeply saddened, but felt extremely disappointed that someone
from our community would carry out such an act of hatred.

Through our partnership with the local District Attorney's (DA's) Office, this
case was referred to our Bethel Community Accountability Board, which is
funded under our Weed and Seed Special Emphasis Initiatives as a Justice
Innovation. The 13-member board of community residents was established
through Weed and Seed to help sanction offenders referred by the DA's Office
and the Department of Parole and Probation and foster some "reparation" and
"accountability" for crimes affecting the Weed and Seed community. The Board
accepted the referral and started reviewing the September 11 incident as a hate
crime.

The Community Accountability Board met with all parties affected by the phone
threat. The offender, the victims, members of the Board, and residents of the
community gathered for two open-forum sessions at which the offense could be
discussed. Each session lasted 2 hours and was held at our local Public Safety
Station. The Board was able to create a restorative agreement that the entire
community, including the victims, felt was not only fair but would work to better
"educate" the offender on tolerance and diversity. Terms of restoration for the
offender included writing a public letter of apology (which was published in the
local newspaper), attending lectures on Muslim issues, speaking with juvenile
offenders about the issue, and seeking long-term counseling.

--Lorna Flormoe, Site Coordinator, Bethel-Eugene Weed and Seed

----------------------------

We are so grateful for the Eugene interfaith community and our civic leaders,
including the mayor and police department, and even total strangers, for their
rapid show of support and kindness after the news broke.

--Tammam Adi, Director of the Islamic Cultural Center, in a letter to the City of
Eugene


----------------------------

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, dedicated in 1991 and
located in downtown Washington, D.C., honors America's fallen Federal,
State, and local law enforcement officers. On May 13, 2002, the names of
those officers lost as a result of the September 11 attacks will be engraved on
the National Law Enforcement Officers memorial during the memorial's annual
candlelight vigil held during National Police Week. An estimated 70 officers are
either still missing or confirmed dead as a result of the terrorist attack.

Evaluation of Domestic Preparedness To Come From Recently Formed Task
Force

On November 9, 2001, President Bush signed an Executive order creating the
Presidential Task Force on Citizen Preparedness in the War Against Terrorism.
The Task Force made recommendations to help prepare Americans in their
homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, places of worship, and public
spaces for the potential consequences of terrorist attacks. The task force also
recommended ways for Americans to support local agencies, including police
departments, fire departments, and community health centers, which are often
the first to respond to a terrorist attack. The task force is cochaired by the
President's Homeland Security and Domestic Policy advisers and consists of
relevant Federal agency heads. Visit
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/11/20011109-15.html to view the
complete Executive order, and go to the EOWS Web site
(www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/whatsnew.htm) to read the task force's findings. 

----------------------------

DEFY

Approaches to Overcoming Program Challenges

Diversification: Eastern District of North Carolina
Location: Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station
Youth participants: 35

Officer Phyllis Robinson, New Bern Police Department, reported on a
well-received 8-day camp. The biggest success was merely having the
opportunity to provide children in the Weed and Seed target area with
constructive activities during the summer, as many of the children did not have
other options (for activity) during the summer months. Taking children from the
New Bern Weed and Seed area and introducing them to children of military
personnel helped both groups of children understand one another better.
(Children of the target area generally live below the poverty level, whereas
dependants of Marines are primarily middle class.) Barriers were broken down,
friendships were made, and all the children had an exciting and educational
summer. The lessons they learned will help them greatly in the future, and the
Weed and Seed children were given the tools necessary to climb out of
poverty. Several of the Weed and Seed children are being raised by
grandparents and other family members because their parents have significant
problems and cannot care for them or simply do not want to care for them.
Mentoring will have a very positive impact on these children and undeniably
change their lives.

Multisite Coordination: Eastern District of Michigan
Location: Selfridge Air National Guard Base
Youth participants: 75

Youth were selected from four Weed and Sees sites in Michigan: Northwest
Detroit, Inkster, Highland Park, and Flint. This was the fifth year the U.S.
Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has helped coordinate the
DEFY program. Military personnel from the U.S. Air Force, Air National
Guard, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps and from the Michigan
National Guard Demand Reduction Force offered support and resources for
this year's summer camp. The range and commitment of the mentors were
inspiring; they represented local and State law enforcement agencies and five
Federal agencies, including the U.S. Attorney's Office. The biggest challenge
was maintaining the nonresidential aspect of the program. Because of the broad
outreach, transportation was a challenge. Some children commuted daily up to
48 miles each way. With the help of community mentors and volunteers from all
four Weed and Seed sites, the 2000-2001 DEFY program was the best yet for
the Eastern District of Michigan.

----------------------------

Final status reports for DEFY (Drug Education for Youth) Phase I are being
reviewed by DEFY Coordinator Louise Lucas. Final reports detail the
challenges and obstacles that DEFY camps face and the approaches to
programming that make a camp more successful. Here, In-Sites highlights a few
unique DEFY camp situations.

----------------------------


Leveraging Resources: Western District of Kentucky
Location: Loucon Training and Resort Center
Youth participants: 39

The residential camp was located approximately 11/2 hours outside Louisville.
The site tried a new location because last year's location did not have enough
recreation space for the children. The area used for the 2001 DEFY Phase I
consisted of 500 acres that included several camp areas, a dining hall,
basketball courts, and classrooms. Children were recruited and referred by
teachers and residents of the Smoketown Shelby Park Weed and Seed target
area in Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky National Guard provided five staff
to conduct the curriculum and assist with the program. Volunteers from other
organizations and agencies helped facilitate the program throughout the week to
give full-time staff much-needed breaks. The success of the camp is attributed
to many partners and the leveraging of many contributions. Transportation to
and from the camp was provided by Safe and Drug Free Schools and
Communities of Jefferson County; 6 dozen tubes of toothpaste and 6 dozen
toothbrushes were donated by a private individual; blankets, sheets, and pillows
were donated by the local fire department; and 50 water bottles were donated
by the Department of Neighborhoods Operation Brightside. The Kentucky
National Guard contributed resources to pay for the lodging and materials for a
physical fitness course through its Drug Demand Reduction initiative. Thanks to
all of these generous contributors, 39 youth from a low-income neighborhood
were given the chance to attend a weeklong camp for a Phase I budget of
$2,200.

Location Selection: Texarkana, Arkansas and Texas
Location: Texarkana College
Youth participants: 43

Traditionally, DEFY Phase I camps are held on military bases or facilities. The
two sites of Texarkana, Arkansas and Texas, however, chose to run their
second annual DEFY camp at an alternate location. Planning for DEFY Phase I
began in early March. Texarkana is unique in that two States (and two U.S.
Attorneys' Offices) share the target area but are considered two different Weed
and Seed sites. Since their award of Official Recognition in 2000, site
coordinators from both sites have found that collaborating together works best
for them. The two sites discussed the details of their upcoming Phase I camp
and decided to first approach the task of finding a camp location. The year
before, the military base the sites used did not provide enough recreational
opportunity for the active youth. This year, planners decided to approach the
local community college with an organized proposal outlining what was needed.
Texarkana College (Texas) offered the DEFY planners exactly what they
asked for: classroom space and a fitness center. College leaders bought into the
concept and enthusiastically helped finalize the details of the camp program.
Next year, coordinators plan to look into a residential camp to "eliminate the
deprogramming the children receive from their peers and family once they leave
for the day." Although the camp was not on a military base, it could not have
survived without the dedication and leadership of the U.S. Army Guard
(Arkansas) and the U.S. Marine Corps (Texas). In addition, collaboration with
the local college may lead to future partnerships for both Weed and Seed sites.

Task Master: Middle District of Florida
Location: Multiple sites
Youth participants: 240

The Middle District of Florida is a great example for all of Weed and Seed, not
to mention the DEFY program. Will Daniels, familiar to most Weed and
Seeders and attendees of the annual DEFY train-the-trainer meetings,
represents the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida and
helps coordinate and plan nine DEFY programs. Brevard County, Tampa,
Sarasota County, Orlando, Ocala, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Hillsborough
County, and St. Petersburg all host individual DEFY programs on behalf of
their Weed and Seed sites. Each camp has a unique set of challenges and
rewards. In addition to overseeing the DEFY projects in Florida's Middle
District, Daniels still manages to travel great distances over the summer to help
developing sites coordinate their local Weed and Seed strategies and
applications for Official Recognition.

Every DEFY camp coordinated during the 2001 summer months was unique in
its own way. EOWS salutes every mentor, military unit, police officer, and staff
volunteer who committed himself or herself to the children of Weed and Seed.
Your dedication and belief in their futures provide these children with the
guidance and support they need to develop into healthy young adults. At the
upcoming 2002 DEFY Train-the-Trainer Conference, sites will have the
opportunity to share their challenges and approaches with each other. Refer to
the EOWS online calendar (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/ conferences/htm) for
updates on this training.

----------------------------

Winners

New Haven Police Department Recognized for Its Commitment to Community
Policing 


The New England Community-Police Partnership (NECP2) presented the
New Haven Department of Police Service with the Robert Trojanowicz
Memorial Community Policing Award (50,000+ population category) on June
19, 2001, for "its outstanding commitment to community policing and
partnership development." At a ceremony held at Saint Anselm College in
Manchester, New Hampshire, Police Chief Melvin Wearing accepted the
award on behalf of the New Haven, Connecticut, department. "We are
honored to receive this distinction and to be recognized for our work on a
regional level in the New England area," said Chief Wearing.

The New Haven Department of Police Service serves as a national and
international model and is known for its progress in implementing community
policing, developing an organizational support mechanism and community
partnership to sustain this policing policy, and preventing crime. Chief Wearing
oversees all police operations in New Haven, including the Fair Haven
neighborhood in the Weed and Seed target area. Under his leadership, the law
enforcement element of the New Haven Weed and Seed strategy focuses on
violent crimes and efforts to improve the quality of life for Fair Haven residents.
In 1996, the neighborhood reported six homicides, whereas in 1999, no
homicides were reported. This reduction can be attributed to Weed and
Seed-funded patrol procedures and collaborative efforts between the New
Haven Department of Police Service and other agencies involved in community
policing efforts citywide. Under the Weed and Seed law enforcement effort,
police officers patrol hotspots to reduce street narcotics sales, gang activity,
noise, loitering, and other quality-of-life problems. Officers have formed bonds
with the community, and the community has become integral to helping patrol
officers curb crime and make the district a vibrant and wholesome community
for its citizens.

"We have some great community policing techniques, and our officers are
devoted to their target communities. They are not afraid of establishing
relationships with residents and leaders of the target communities in which they
work," stated Luz Gonzalez, Site Coordinator for New Haven Weed and
Seed.

Milwaukee Detective Contributes to the Nation's Sexual Assault Program

On June 27, 2001, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Police Chief Arthur L. Jones
presented a Superior Achievement Award to Detective Lori Gaglione of the
Sensitive Crimes Division because she was selected as the grand prize winner in
the fourth annual Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government.

Lori Gaglione's 17-year career with the Milwaukee Police Department has
included such exciting assignments as going undercover to infiltrate narcotics
activities and posing as a prostitute to uncover illicit activities. However, she
finds her current investigative work as a detective in the sexual assault unit the
most rewarding. "I love to see a case through from beginning to end," Gaglione
explains.

Always frustrated when the statute of limitations ran out on unsolved cases,
Gaglione devised a plan to keep them open. Combining shrewd legal
maneuvering with high-tech science, Gaglione's plan enables prosecutors to
issue John Doe warrants (for sexual assault cases) based on the DNA evidence
a suspect leaves at a crime scene (such as blood or hair samples). Thus, when
anyone charged with a felony in Wisconsin is arrested, his or her DNA can be
compared to the outstanding John Doe warrants to see whether it matches
anything.

Gaglione's own department had its first successful match on a John Doe
warrant last March. "I can't tell you how satisfying it was to bring closure for the
victim--and for all women," says Gaglione. "They can feel safe again." Police
departments around the country have adopted Gaglione's program.

The Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government recognizes women
whose work improves the lives of others through innovative programs and
dedication to public service. Detective Gaglione was nominated by the
Milwaukee Police Department and was 1 of 10 women selected from more
than 300 national nominees. She and the other honorees were profiled in the
July 2001 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. The Good Housekeeping
Award ceremony was held on June 20, 2001, at the Sewall Belmont House in
Washington, D.C.

Because Milwaukee Police Department rules and regulations prohibit
department members from accepting rewards or gifts for services rendered in
the line of duty, Detective Gaglione donated her monetary award of $25,000 to
various special-interest charities in the Milwaukee area.

Buffalo Weed and Seed Recovers From Community Tragedies
DeShuna Moore

With the death of Donald M. Dade, Executive Director of CRUCIAL
(Coalition for the Redevelopment of United Community Involvement and
Leadership), and the fatal shooting of local resident Oscar Paris at a Safe
Haven event, the Weed and Seed site in Buffalo, New York, suffered
unimaginable loses. Since 1997, Weed and Seed provided Buffalo with the
tools the community needed to bring itself up from what was once the city's
most socioeconomically distressed areas. With great leadership and strong
partnerships, Buffalo Weed and Seed has become a national example.
However, the community's losses in the early months of 2001 should have been
enough to stop them in their tracks . . . should have been.

Losing a Leader

On February 19, 2001, community leader and visionary Donald M. Dade
passed away at the Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Dade served as Executive
Director of CRUCIAL, a Weed and Seed Safe Haven that has provided crime
prevention and other services for youth in the North Fillmore neighborhood
since 1991. He also was chairman of Buffalo Weed and Seed's Steering
Committee for 2 years. He recently received a Community Service Award from
the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Dade, a 79-year-old World War II
veteran, was well respected in the community and a mentor to Buffalo Weed
and Seed Site Coordinator and Program Director Oswaldo Mestre, Jr. "He is
going to be missed," Mestre said during an interview for the Buffalo News. "He
gave half a century of his life to his country and his community."

In Dade's honor, Buffalo Weed and Seed dedicated the Donald M. Dade
Memorial Pavilion during the Buffalo Weed and Seed 4th Annual Awards
Ceremony on June 28, 2001. "Since the dedication, Buffalo Weed and Seed
has received more than $10,000 from people and organizations that believed in
what Donald M. Dade stood for," said Mestre.

The pavilion's public garden offers the community a leisure space where they
can socialize and learn about different types of trees and shrubbery. The
pavilion also acts as a memorial to victims of violence; trees will be planted and
dedicated in their honor. Seasonal Landscaping, local business leaders,
representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice, Block Clubs such as the
Moselle Street Block Club, CRUCIAL, students at Build Academy, West
Seneca AmeriCorps, and the Clean and Seal Team came together on A Day of
Caring to begin the pavilion project. A Day of Caring, sponsored by the United
Way, gives businesses that give monetary donations to various organizations a
chance to provide direct hands-on assistance to the communities they give to.

Sending a Strong Message

On January 30, 2001, nearly 3 weeks before the loss of Dade, the Buffalo
Weed and Seed found out that Oscar Paris was fatally shot in CRUCIAL's
gymnasium. Buffalo Weed and Seed has one of the most aggressive,
comprehensive gun-violence prevention programs in the country, so it came as
a shock to the community that a gun took someone's life. A dispute broke out
over a basketball game and ended when an 18-year-old at the center pulled a
gun on 33-year-old Paris. Mestre, who was volunteering at CRUCIAL when
the incident occurred, talked to Paris, trying to keep him alert until the
paramedics arrived. An important message resonated throughout the
neighborhood with the shooting of Paris; just 30 minutes before the tragedy,
Mestre talked to nearly 50 youth in the gymnasium about the importance of
resolving conflicts in a peaceful manner to avoid confrontation.

Mestre joined city officials, community activists, and religious leaders of
CRUCIAL on the Thursday after the shooting for a news conference to offer
condolences to the victim's family. In an effort to hold the community together,
he announced that, more than ever, the center is committed to its mission.

Because of Mestre's bravery during the shooting, he received an award from
the Crisis Center, an organization that helps those in need during an emergency.
The award was presented to Mestre on June 12, 2001, at the Adam's Mark
Hotel in Buffalo. Mestre continues to talk to groups of young people in the
community about the importance of resolving disputes in a nonviolent manner.
(On November 26, 2001, a jury found Odell "OJ" Wilkins, 20, guilty of
second-degree murder and second-degree possession of a weapon as a result
of the fatal shooting. His sentencing is scheduled for January 23, 2002.)

A garden was planted in Paris's memory on a spring day in Buffalo. As a result
of the shooting, the Buffalo Weed and Seed Program has participated in several
conflict resolution programs that revitalize and rebuild communities with the
assistance of residents. "If a positive can come out of something like this, it's
that this community is resilient," Mestre said. "People are going to continue to
demand that we put in place the tools needed to prevent shootings--and that's
what we're doing."

Coming Out of the Storm

The community had difficulties recovering from the tragedies. Many steps were
taken to help residents heal. For one, local police, the District Attorney, the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the U.S. Attorney's Office
collaborated to put criminals behind bars longer and to get illegal guns off the
street. Project Exile, a program that enforces strict sentencing guidelines for
illegal gun possession, has provided Buffalo authorities with the resources
needed to "exile" numerous repeat offenders from the community to serve
Federal sentences. The program also has been instrumental in developing better
relations between community police officers and residents.

During the Buffalo Weed and Seed 4th Annual Awards Ceremony, a tree was
planted in memory of Dade and 16 organizations and individuals were
recognized for the positive impact they made on communities in the Weed and
Seed target area. Shakor Aljuwani of United Neighborhoods received the
Doris Lewis Community Spirit Award, which honors Doris Lewis, a spirited
community police officer who was killed in a car accident on August 16, 1999.

Finally, Buffalo's Mayor Anthony M. Masiello joined forces with local business
owners, block club leaders, and community law enforcement officials to
spearhead an antigraffiti campaign. The purpose of the event, which occurred
July 2, 2001, was to remove graffiti from walls and buildings in various Buffalo
areas in an effort to rebuild Buffalo. The ultimate goal was to eliminate 60
percent of the graffiti in the city. "Property crimes like graffiti and vandalism are
not victimless crimes," said Mayor Masiello. "The entire neighborhood is the
victim. Perpetrators of these crimes instill a sense of fear in residents and lay
claim to the buildings, walls, and open spaces that rightly belong to residents."

Continuing Success

Youth development and leadership programs under the U.S. Department of
Labor's Youth Opportunity Initiative (VISTA), a growing SeedTech computer
learning center, and a new Young Astronaut Council curriculum are new
additions to Buffalo Weed and Seed and will all be available at CRUCIAL by
the end of January 2002.

Buffalo Weed and Seed also welcomed five new AmeriCorps*VISTA
volunteers, who are part of the Corporation for National and Community
Service. (Two more VISTA volunteers will join the staff in January 2002.)
CRUCIAL will have two VISTA volunteers. One of these volunteers will
provide computer training, and the other will start programs that promote
self-esteem and self-worth. A third volunteer will work at the Buffalo Science
Museum, a new Weed and Seed Safe Haven. The remaining four volunteers
will serve in different Safe Havens throughout the city to train youth on
computers, promote self-esteem, implement science projects, and establish
other rewarding programs. Buffalo Weed and Seed began its year with tragedy,
but the programs that have grown throughout the year have given the site
strength to focus on the future.

----------------------------

Web Sight

This section typically provides information about organizations and programs
that are available on the World Wide Web. For this issue, however, In-Sites
details another online resource recently created and implemented by EOWS: a
list service for Weed and Seed Site Coordinators and EOWS staff. Take a
look at what exciting dialogues the new list service has already conjured up!

EOWS developed an e-mail list service to provide Weed and Seed Site
Coordinators with a tool they could use to exchange information and resources
easily and quickly. The Weed and Seed Site Coordinator Listserv was the
brainstorm of Marcia Roberts of the Tucson, Arizona, police department and
Site Coordinator of Tucson Weed and Seed. "Listservs are a great way for
individuals across the country who are related through a common interest to ask
questions of the greater group and get answers," she explained at the
Accreditation Training held in Arizona in early 2001.

EOWS responded by developing a directed, efficient listserv system that
targets key players in Weed and Seed. The first list, the Site Coordinator
Listserv, was launched November 13, 2001, with a welcome message from
EOWS to 150 Site Coordinators. It was no surprise that minutes after the
opening message was distributed, Roberts became the first member to begin
communication. Her post, or question, was a very good one:

Question

We're looking for creative techniques/mechanisms to reach out to the
community to inspire participation in a community development plan process.
We're bilingual in a Hispanic community, and already in the process of doing
the usual: direct mailings, newspapers, radio, church bulletin. Has anyone tried
something out of the ordinary that they can share? Please include the nature of
your outreach and any interesting text/content that you think made your
outreach especially effective.

--Marcia Roberts, Tucson, Arizona, Weed and Seed

And she received a few very good answers:

Answers

Develop Focus Groups

I also work in a community with a high Hispanic population, and stimulating
community involvement is not always easy. I have a university social work class
meeting in my neighborhood this semester, comprising 23 college (senior-level)
students who are learning about low-income communities. Their goal is to
develop four focus groups, each of which will work with residents on a specific
neighborhood problem. Newspapers, fliers, and radio do not bring in the
attendance from the residents at their meetings, so we have decided to do a
street parade with music and entertainment. Each student in the class is required
to make contact with at least one person along the route who will agree to go
with them to their focus group meeting that same night. We will provide
refreshments at the final destination and hope that this will develop enthusiasm
for community involvement from many age levels.

--MaryAnn Drury, Weed and Seed Coordinator, New Britain, Connecticut

Promote Events via the Media

Many cities and towns have a public or college television station, a cable access
center, or both, and their mission is to promote community ventures and
information. Inquire. Find out about having interviews to promote Weed and
Seed.

--Celeste Carey, Site Coordinator, Albina Weed and Seed Northeast Coalition
of Neighborhoods, Portland, Oregon

Give Personalized Attention

In working with Latino families, I have found very successful the door-to-door
type of campaigns; particularly when you are able to do the 'knocking' between
6 p.m. and 8 p.m. A few words such as: "I hope to see you in this activity; your
presence is important" go a long way. Latinos appreciate very much the 'human
touch' and special personalized attention.

--Maria Hernandez, Trenton, New Jersey

As EOWS staff become more familiar with listserv technology, lists directed
toward law enforcement, Safe Haven Coordinators, Steering Committee
members, U.S. Attorney's Office representatives, and DEFY Coordinators and
their military partners will be developed. EOWS thanks the entire Weed and
Seed community for bringing forward their ideas and appreciates the patience
they have demonstrated in awaiting development of improved services.
Summaries of all Weed and Seed Site Coordinator Listserv communications
are posted weekly on the EOWS Web site for the general public. 

----------------------------

Information exchanged on the listserv between Weed and Seed Site

Coordinators is cataloged and available to the public at the EOWS Online
Community Center. Visit www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/commcent.htm to learn
more about what is happening in Weed and Seed neighborhoods!

----------------------------

CONFERENCE CORNER

To help sites prepare their travel plans to Weed and Seed training workshops,
EOWS presents approximate dates and locations for 2002 workshops. Here's
a "heads up" on the conference calendar for the first half of 2002. 

February: Weed and Seed Application Kit Workshop

This annual training is coordinated to ensure that sites properly fulfill the
requirements set forth by EOWS and the U.S. Department of Justice. EOWS
staff describe the grant process and review the nuts and bolts of Weed and
Seed funding. Attendees learn about applying for and using EOWS awards,
submitting a request for Special Emphasis dollars, and the process for
requesting technical assistance. The training session also includes a review of
the reporting requirements of the Office of Justice Programs. The workshop is
scheduled for February 25-28, 2002, in Indianapolis, Indiana. EOWS will
keep sites updated via the Web site (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows) and will
distribute correspondence to all U.S. Attorneys' Offices (USAOs).

March/April: DEFY Train-the-Trainer

Time flies when you're the coordinator of a Weed and Seed DEFY (Drug
Education for Youth) program! It's almost the time of year when hundreds of
DEFY Program Coordinators, their military partners, and their U.S. Attorney's
Office representatives gather for the DEFY Train-the-Trainer Workshop, a
2-day event that takes place each year in late winter or early spring. EOWS
DEFY Program Coordinator Louise Lucas is currently planning for the 2002
Train-the-Trainer Workshop, expected to be held the last week of March in
Las Vegas, Nevada. Sites practiced with DEFY should be contacting their
partners from last year to prepare for the training. Sites interested in applying
for DEFY should be pitching the program to local military partners (a military
partner must be identified before an application for DEFY funding is submitted
to EOWS). Next year's application process is expected to be competitive as
sites continue to expand DEFY efforts. Please contact Louise Lucas directly
with any questions or suggestions regarding the upcoming DEFY training at
202-616-3454. 

April/May: Weed and Seed Accreditation Series

In 2001, EOWS coordinated and offered sites the opportunity to receive
Weed and Seed Certification--a process through which "site teams" achieve
recognition for advanced training in the Weed and Seed strategy. Participant
feedback showed that the 8 days of training was time well spent because
participants new to Weed and Seed learned a lot from the testimony and
experience of their classmates. EOWS presented some 185 Officially
Recognized sites with certification in 2001.

As 2002 approaches, the next set of accreditation training sessions is being
coordinated. Sites that were unable to attend in 2001 and those recently
awarded Official Recognition will be invited to attend. The dates have been
tentatively set for the following: 

Accreditation Training I: April 22-26, St. Louis, Missouri
Accreditation Training II: May 6-10, Tampa, Florida

After completion of these sessions, only those site teams consisting of a site
coordinator, a law enforcement representative, and a community representative
will receive certification. (Classrooms are broken up by region; therefore sites
may share the same USAO representative.) Questions regarding registration for
this conference may be directed to Katherine Mera, 202-616-2599, at
EOWS.

Sites should remember that these trainings and respective dates are tentative.
Visit the EOWS Mark Your Calendar Web page
(www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/conferences.htm) for a complete list of the 2002
Weed and Seed workshop plans. 

----------------------------

EOWS NEWS
Weed & Seed

FBI Executive Fellows Present Research on Gangs

In October 2001, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Executive Fellows
David Allender and Dennis Lane gave a presentation on modern gang trends to
EOWS staff. Both Fellows provided great detail on the stereotypes affiliated
with gangs and their members, activities, and interests. The presentation
highlighted methods and approaches used by law enforcement to better
understand gang organizations nationwide, measure their presence, and predict
their behaviors at the local level.

"Gangs are not a problem police are going to be able to resolve," Allender said.
"However, through training and networking with other law enforcement
agencies across the country, police officers can better understand and predict
gang-related activity." 

Both Fellows have extensive knowledge of gangs and gang-related activities.
As a lieutenant with the Indianapolis, Indiana, police department, Allender has
for 3 years coordinated special gang unit efforts to target members of highly
sophisticated gangs. Lane has focused law enforcement efforts on gangs in the
Raleigh, North Carolina, area as the lieutenant supervising the FBI's Safe
Streets Task Force partnership with the Raleigh Police Department. Both
Fellows, representing law enforcement agencies from two very different
communities, offered EOWS quite similar testimony from a law enforcement
officer's perspective. Universally, Allender explained, officers who are
practiced in antigang efforts can quickly identify an individual as a gang member
and often can identify the gang affiliation simply by looking at personal
characteristics such as the style of dress and hand gestures.

"This isn't to say that if you dress like a gang member you're a gang member,"
Allender said. "It's cool for kids these days to look like gang members. And so
we're looking at other identifiers, such as graffiti symbols, to infiltrate the more
sophisticated organizations."

Antigang task forces have been successful in analyzing the symbols and words
that are painted on walls, bridges, sidewalks, and schoolyards across many
communities. To the common citizen, many remnants of graffiti make little
sense; however, these symbols, signs, numbers, and words help law
enforcement officers gain knowledge of the gang activity in their surrounding
area. The Fellows explained how studying graffiti can give officers insight into
how many gangs are organized in the area, their level of enterprise, if any, and
what cultures they represent. Graffiti messages are deciphered at the local level
and shared nationally through law enforcement networks to support antigang
efforts. It is important, Allender and Lane explained, to understand that most
graffiti is the result of kids being bored. "A lot of community centers closed in
the '80s, and kids were walking around with no direction, nothing to do,"
Allender explained. "It was during this time that we started to see more kids
spraying graffiti on our public buildings--for them, it was an act of defiance.
Gangs, on the other hand, use graffiti to talk to each other, sending encrypted
messages showing turf claimed and communicating threats to rival gangs."

Sites looking to learn more about advancements in law enforcement
approaches to gangs should contact David Allender (see Resources, page 23).
EOWS staff often discuss gang issues with sites and U.S. Attorneys' Offices;
however, the information presented by the Fellows provided real information
that many Weed and Seed sites may find useful.

----------------------------

Resources

For More Information

Contact these organizations or In-Sites Editor Romia Gore for more
information on articles featured in this issue, or visit the EOWS Web site for
related links at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/publications.htm.

Weed and Seed Provides Resources for Task Force in Central Maine
Sgt. Mike McGonagle
Lewiston Police Department
Lewiston, Maine
mmcgonagle@ci.lewiston.me.us

Minneapolis Officers Focus on Saturation Detail in the Phillips Neighborhood
Community Crime Prevention/Safety for Everyone, 3d Precinct
Minneapolis, Minnesota
612-673-2955

Christina Kendrick
Community Support Specialist
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Wskendrick@aol.com

Student Pledge Against Gun Violence Helps Middle District of Florida Launch
Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative
U.S. Department of Justice: www.usdoj.gov

U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida:
www.usdoj.gov/usao/flm/weed/wshot.html

Operation HALT the Violence!
Will Daniels
Community Resource Specialist
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida
william.daniels@usdoj.gov


Off-Duty Officers a Welcomed Presence at John R. Grubb YMCA
Carolyn Gathright
Site Coordinator
ccgathright@ci.des-moines.ia.us

ONYX Weed and Seed Creates Jobs and Fresh Attitude
Richard Bray
Site Coordinator
ONYX Weed and Seed
Toledo, Ohio
rbray@onyxdc.org
ONYX Weed and Seed: www.onyxcdc.org/weed_and_seed.htm

Community Fair Links Services to Pine Bluff Residents
Jessie Turner
Site Coordinator
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
pbicvr@aol.com

New Haven Police Department Recognized for Its Commitment to Community
Policing 
Luz Gonzalez
Site Coordinator
New Haven Weed and Seed
New Haven, Connecticut
203-946-7376

Robert Trojanowicz Memorial Community Policing Award Web site:
www.necp2.org/trojanowicz1.htm

Milwaukee Detective Contributes to the Nation's Sexual Assault Program
Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government:
www.cawp.rutgers.edu/News/GHAward.html

Buffalo Weed and Seed Recovers From Community Tragedies
DeShuna Moore
Media and Community Relations Specialist
AmeriCorps*VISTA
Buffalo, New York
dmoore@ch.ci.buffalo.ny.us

FBI Executive Fellows Present Research on Gangs
David Allender
Executive Fellow
Washington, D.C.
202-205-2681

----------------------------

Sites Reporting Activities Related to September Attacks

Henrietta Aguallo-Olveda
Site Coordinator
Selma Weed and Seed
wnsselma@msn.com

Marcia Roberts
Site Coordinator
Tucson Weed and Seed
mrobert1@ci.tucson.za.us

Lt. Thomas Cummings
Commander
Norwalk Police Department
203-857-5378

Lorna Flormoe
Site Coordinator
Bethel-Eugene Weed and Seed
lorna.flormoe@ci.eugene.or.us

April Bodemann
Site Coordinator
Ft. Myers Weed and Seed
abodemann@cityftmyers.com

Related Resources

America Responds: Presidential Actions and White House Responses 
www.whitehouse.gov/response

U.S. Department of Justice and Aid to Victims of September 11 Attacks
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/factshts/terrorism.htm

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial www.nleomf.com


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Available online! 

EOWS archives past issues at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/publications.htm.