Office of Justice Programs

Executive Office for Weed and Seed

WEED & SEED IN-SITES

Creating Healthy

Communities

A special conference edition highlighting

Weed and Seed initiatives that promote

healthy communities, including:

■ Crime Prevention

■ Primary Intervention

■ Youth Contributions

■ Treatment

■ Community Well-Being

■ Diversity

Volume VIII, Number 3 August/September 20
Throughout this

issue, look for this

symbol to indicate

stories and sites

that are featured

in Breakout Sessions at the

Creating Healthy Communities

conference!

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, Assistant Director

Nancy Ware, Director of Technical 

Assistance and Training

Cheryl Driscoll, Supervisory 

Grants Manager

Paul Casagrande, Special

Projects Coordinator

Edison Aponte, Faith Baker, Ila Blue,

Eric Chin, Michael Connor,

Jonathan Faley, Sharron Fletcher,

Robert Hendricks, Erin Holbert,

Dionne Johnson, Louise Lucas,

Katherine Mera, Andrew Press, 

Romia Ray, Shannon Taitt,

Program Managers

Claude Thomas, Chief of Staff

Linda Hawkes,

Administrative Officer/Grant Specialist

Prince Cummings,

Program Analyst

Penne Soltysik,

Public Relations Specialist and 

In-Sites Editor

Lisa Huff-Galloway, Secretary

Jessica Caldwell, Program Assistant

Please send all submissions, comments, or address

corrections to the above address.

From the Director

More than a year has passed since many of us

gathered together to network and celebrate with

our peers at the Weed and Seed 1999 National

Conference in Houston. Much has happened in

that time at the Executive Office for Weed and

Seed and in each of its Officially Recognized

sites.

All of our conferences this year have provided

the opportunity for site representatives to share

with one another information on what it is that

makes their site strategies work. Held statewide,

regionally, and nationally, these training conferences focused individually on site coordination,

weeding efforts involving community policing,

law enforcement, youth leadership development, the application process for

Official Recognition, and coordinating a Drug Education for Youth (DEFY)

Camp. We end the year by offering what might prove to be the most celebrated

Weed and Seed conference of 2000. Creating Healthy Communities will aim to

teach attendees that Weed and Seed implementation is a process involving collaboration, outreach, and early intervention. The process, when supported by

comprehensive crime prevention and neighborhood renewal efforts, is very

effective.

We know that Weed and Seed works. The proof of its success comes from sites

that have witnessed the transformation of their communities into areas people

want to live in. No longer are these areas considered disenfranchised. Instead

they are areas that offer advanced afterschool programs, dependable health

care, job training, summer programs for adults and children, and promise for

future community investment. Because of the implementation of a creative

Weed and Seed strategy, they are now healthy communities.

I invite you to reach out to your fellow Weed and Seed peers. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of networking and communicating with more 

“seasoned” Weed and Seed practitioners who have worked tirelessly with us for

years to create healthy communities in their target areas. Our Creating Healthy

Communities conference will provide attendees with wonderful networking

opportunities. This conference issue of In-Sites is aimed at celebrating the success of Weed and Seed projects, supporting the Creating Healthy Communities

conference, and, most importantly, distributing information on seeding projects

to In-Sites readers who are unable to attend the conference.

I hope the enclosed information helps all Weed and Seed practitioners realize

their potential and encourages them to coordinate progressive and creative

seeding projects that will continue to create healthy communities across the

country.

Stephen Rickman

Director, EOWS

Weed & Seed In-Sites

2
3

August/September 2000

ESSENTIALS OF WEED AND SEED

Creative Problem Solving in Lowell, Massachusetts.............................................4

Indianapolis Weed and Seed Sponsors Second Annual 

Bike Safety Rodeo................................................................................................................5

Coordinating Special Events in Your Weed and Seed Community.................6

Augusta’s Community Festival Energizes Residents........................................................6

Super Kids Week at Palmer Munroe Community Center ................................................7

Salazar Youth Center Cleanup Day....................................................................................8

PRIMARY INTERVENTION

The Small Site Experience: Weed and Seed in Rural Communities ..............10

Pittsburgh Weed and Seed Sites Partner With 

University of Pittsburgh To Create Healthier Communities.............................11

The Way It’s “Supposed” To Be: Residents Drive the 

Weed and Seed Strategy................................................................................................12

Focus On: Health Care......................................................................................................14

Topeka, Kansas, Hit by a Health Wave! ..........................................................................14

Tipper Gore Visits Aldine Health Center To Promote CHIP ...........................................15

EARLY INTERVENTION

High on Space......................................................................................................................16

Police Officer Trading Cards a Big Hit With Fresno Youth................................17

North Charleston’s Police Department Impressing Area Youth......................18

Full Speed Ahead for DEFY 2000, Thanks to Kmart 

Kids Race Against Drugs .................................................................................................19

Not Just “Babysitting With Crayons” ........................................................................20

Together Everyone Accomplishes More ...................................................................21

TREATMENT AND REENTRY

Las Vegas Weed and Seed Provides Support for Ex-Offenders .....................22

NOW AVAILABLE! Weed and Seed Best Practices 

Spring 2000 Edition

The latest edition of Best Practices highlights truancy prevention,

strategy implementation, gun violence reduction, and community mobilization.

To order a copy, call 1–800–851–3420 and request NCJ 181507.
ccasionally a serious problem hinders the effectiveness of a wellplanned community-based program. When a problem surfaces, it is

crucial that Weed and Seed sites analyze the issues involved and

develop a strategy to remedy the situation quickly. Problem solving is

often difficult, particularly with limited resources—but by working together community problem solvers can turn an obstacle into an opportunity for teamwork.

Recently access to youth activities in the Weed and Seed target area in Lowell,

Massachusetts, has been a problem for not only area youth, but for service

providers as well. Public transportation in Lowell stops running at 6 p.m., meaning that program participants were often left stranded or forced to walk long 

distances late at night to get home.

In spring 1999, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell worked with high

school and graduate students to design a youth transportation study. The study

showed that Lowell youth needed public transportation in the evenings to get

to work, community centers, and home. 

Following a forum on the study’s findings, Weed and Seed and other community

groups formed a partnership to respond to youth transportation needs. The

partners agreed to take a closer look at the research and to brainstorm possible

solutions to reported problems. The group met once a week for several weeks

starting in October 1999 before developing a proposal called the Youth Loop.

Two area organizations offered to donate their vehicles during the hours that

youth most needed transportation—evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. After

this critical component was in place, other partners began to offer marketing,

evaluation, and planning services. 

The partners continued to meet weekly to plan the transportation route, develop marketing materials, write grant applications to local foundations, and plan

an evaluation. On June 17, 2000, just 8 months after the partners first came

together, the Youth Loop service began. It carries youth across the city on weekday evenings and on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stops are located at

youth centers, grocery stores, a movie theater, and public housing complexes.

The Loop provides youth access to healthcare services, prevention programs,

and employment opportunities.

“Each organization standing alone did not have the resources or the knowledge

to implement a transportation service to fill the gaps in the current system as

identified by the youth in Lowell. The innovation in the project comes from

4

Weed & Seed In-Sites

Overview

Process and Implementation—

Process can be defined simply

as a series of actions, changes,

or functions bringing about a

result. Forming a Weed and Seed

strategy requires a comprehensive

planning process, calling for the

formation of partnerships and the

rebuilding of functions within a

community. The process is directed

by a Steering Committee, managed by subcommittees, financially supported by local and national

resources, and driven by residents

and stakeholders. The process lets

“community assets” support the

implementation of the local Weed

and Seed strategy.

Weed and Seed strategy implementation requires several “behind

the scenes” processes, including

evaluation, assessment, promotion, organization, and continuous program development. The

following articles about Lowell,

Indianapolis, Augusta, Tallahassee,

and Fresno serve as examples of

forging effective partnerships and

emphasize the importance of 

program evaluation and selfpromotion. These components

play an important role in successful strategy implementation and

are essential to creating healthy

communities.

“The Essentials of Weed and Seed”

will feature 13 Breakout Sessions

on process and implementation,

from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on

Wednesday, September 6. 

Creative Problem

Solving in Lowell,

Massachusetts

Cristi Lemon

Weed and Seed Coordinator

Lowell, Massachusetts

continued on page 9
5

he Near Eastside Community Organization

(NESCO) Weed and Seed in Indianapolis,

Indiana, is focusing its efforts on building better relationships with community youth and

providing opportunities for youth to interact with both

community residents and police officers. On May 13, 2000,

NESCO held its Second Annual Bike Safety Rodeo.

Youth from 6 to 16 years of age were given the opportunity

to test their bike skills on bike courses designed by Indianapolis Police Department East District officers. Youth who

completed all of the bike safety courses were eligible to

participate in a raffle to win 1 of 23 bicycles donated by the

Indianapolis Police Department from a collection of recovered and unclaimed stolen bikes. Community donations

were used to put the bikes back in operating order; work

on the bikes was completed by East District officers. To

encourage bicycle safety, 62 helmets (purchased from a

local store at a substantial discount) were distributed and

bicycle patrol officers provided training on bike safety rules.

The bicycle rodeo drew 93 community youth and 35 volunteers from the Weed and Seed Steering Committee,

the Weed and Seed Community Policing Committee,

Indianapolis Police Department, Park Ranger Cadets, and

Secina High School. Other participants included McGruff

the Crime Dog, the Indianapolis Mobile Community

Outreach Police Station (MCOPS) van, the Indianapolis

Fire Department, the Tobacco-Free Youth Initiative,

HealthNet–Hoosier Health Wise, and NESCO’s seven

Safe Havens. All children who completed the bike rodeo

received coupons for free pizza from a neighborhood pizza

parlor. Local businesses contributed $465 in cash and inkind donations, and the NESCO Weed and Seed Safe

Havens donated food for the after-event picnic. All preregistered youth were given free t-shirts, and a Bike Station

was set up where youth could take their bikes for inspections and minor repairs.

All parties agreed that the bike rodeo played a very important role in building relations within the community, and

August/September 2000

5

McGruff the Crime Dog watches over participants in the NESCO

Second Annual Bike Safety Rodeo.

One happy youngster prepares for the bike safety course at the

NESCO Second Annual Bike Safety Rodeo.

Indianapolis Weed and Seed

Sponsors Second Annual 

Bike Safety Rodeo

Shirley Musgrove

Weed and Seed Coordinator

Indianapolis, Indiana

plans for the Third Annual Bike Safety Rodeo are already

under way. 

Site representatives from Indianapolis, Augusta (page 6),

and Tallahassee (page 7) will discuss special event planning

in the Breakout Session titled ”Jump Starting Your Program”

on Wednesday, September 6, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Weed & Seed In-Sites

6

Augusta’s Community Festival

Energizes Residents 

Michael Simmons

Weed and Seed Site Coordinator 

Augusta-Richmond, Georgia

he Barton Village Community of Augusta,

Georgia, hosted a jubilant kickoff to the spring

season with the First Annual Barton Chapel

Weed and Seed Spring Fling community festival on April 29, 2000. Sponsored by the Barton Chapel

Progressive Neighborhood Association and the AugustaRichmond County Weed and Seed Initiative, the festival

provided a day of enjoyment for the entire community

and encouraged greater resident involvement in the 

neighborhood.

During the festival several local groups displayed their talent through dance and song presentations. Students from

Barton Chapel Elementary School and the Augusta Mini

Theatre were among the groups that showcased their talents.

The Barton Chapel Classy Steppers, ranging in age from 9

to 11, delighted the crowd with several step performances

that encouraged youth to stay in school and away from

drugs. The Performance Team from the Augusta Mini

Theatre used poetry to challenge youth not to fall prey to

negative peer pressure. Under the leadership of Judith

Butler, the Performance Team specializes in creative

expression and this youth ensemble is one of the most

sought after in the State to perform, particularly during

Black History month, at colleges, churches, and community events.

In addition to entertainment, the festival included health

screenings for the community provided by the Richmond

County Health Department, promotional information

regarding Census 2000, a three-point basketball shootout,

an open-mike rap contest, and a live broadcast by a local

radio station. The festival attracted more than 400 residents.

“This event is a success because of the efforts of Weed

and Seed, the Barton Chapel Progressive Neighborhood

Association, and the residents of Barton Village. We are

excited about the future of Weed and Seed here in

Augusta and its ability to transform communities,” said

John Garcia, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern

District of Georgia.

Many partners supporting and coordinating the festival

were members of the Weed and Seed Steering Committee.

These members, for the most part, represent local agencies, including City Parks and Recreation, the Augusta

Housing Authority, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s

Department. Additional sponsors signed on to the project

when they realized the potential impact of the event on

the community.

The First Annual Barton Chapel Weed and Seed Spring

Fling helped link together many community stakeholders.

City services set up exhibits to educate and inform residents, youth showcased their talents in front of a large

audience, and the Steering Committee used the event as

an opportunity to improve relations with existing business

partners and to reach out to new ones. The success of this

community event far exceeded coordinators’ expectations,

and Augusta-Richmond County Weed and Seed looks forward to organizing similar events in the future. 

Coordinating Special Events

in Your Weed and 

Seed Community

Without question, special events can provide an enormous boost to any Weed and Seed initiative. Whether a

block party, summer festival, midnight basketball tournament, or a community cleanup at a local park, events

that are creatively planned to bring members of a community together for a common cause can prove to be

the best marketing tool for a local Weed and Seed

strategy. Some sites coordinate several events throughout the year, whereas others are just getting started this

year with “First Annual” events. Each site soon realizes

that the efforts required to coordinate these events are

well worth it when the positive returns are tallied. InSites highlights a few of these events hosted across the

country; they present different approaches to creative

event programming. 

For assistance in and suggestions about coordinating a

special event in your Weed and Seed site, please contact EOWS at 202–514–0709. Staff will be happy to

help you pump some energy into your initiative!
7

August/September 2000

Super Kids Week at Palmer Munroe

Community Center

Carmen Coleman

Weed and Seed Site Coordinator

Tallahassee, Florida

ocated in the Tallahassee, Florida, Weed and

Seed target area, the Palmer Munroe Community Center, in partnership with the

Tallahassee Police Department, successfully

hosted Super Kids Week, March 13–17, 2000. Participants

enjoyed the week-long event, which included crafts, cooking and dance lessons, games, field trips, and a St. Patrick’s

Day cookout. More than 65 youth, ages 5 to 16, participated and, to the surprise of event coordinators, interest was

so overwhelming that more than 25 youth had to be

placed on a waiting list.

Creative programming helped heighten interest within the

community; for example, events and activities reflected

daily themes. Monday was “Balloon and Magic Day,” during which local magic store owner Vann Patacxil taught

youth the art of balloon sculpture and treated them to

a magic show. Mrs. Paul from W.T. Moore Elementary

School taught participants how to juggle. A short time

after she taught them the fundamentals of “criss, cross,

applesauce,” participants were doing juggling tricks on

their own, including crossovers and columns. The activity

was so popular that the Tallahassee Weed and Seed now

plans to organize a Juggling Club at the community center.

Tuesday was spent at the Tallahassee Museum of Science

and Natural History, where in the morning participants

toured a replica of a farm from the 1800s. Participants

were intrigued by the way people lived at that time and

gained an appreciation not only for the history of their

home city but also for modern conveniences.

Tuesday afternoon the group was divided by age groups.

The 5- to 7-year-olds learned how to make butter using a

hand churner and a lot of heavy cream. After about 30

minutes of rigorous churning, participants were given

crackers so they could taste their creation. Meanwhile, the

older group (ages 8 to 16) ventured outside to learn about

reptiles. Part of the day was also spent hiking on nature

trails and observing a group of great white tigers.

Wednesday’s “International Day” featured special guests

Nana El Omar, a flamenco dancer, and Nancy Redig, a

Hawaiian dancer. Both dancers teach classes at the Palmer

Munroe Safe Haven as well as throughout the Tallahassee

area. The dancers taught youth to dance the bolero, the

Tahitian, the hula, and the hukilao. To complement the

theme of “International Day,” the afternoon was spent

making banana fritters and egg rolls, both popular dishes

of the Philippines.

Thursday’s “Sports and Heroes Day” featured San Juan

Jones, 1 of the top 10 gymnasts in the nation in training

for the Olympics, and Bradley Fita, a college football student at nearby Florida A&M University. The athletes worked

with the kids for most of the day until it was time to leave

for Crenshaw Lanes, where participants bowled and played

pool. In the end, “Sports and Heroes Day” proved exciting

and exhausting. 

The fun and excitement continued into Friday, March 17.

St. Patrick’s Day started out with games, arts and crafts,

and the long-awaited St. Patrick’s Day cookout. Everyone

stuffed themselves full of hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken,

cookies, punch, chips, fruit, drinks, and popsicles. The

weather cooperated and gave Tallahassee Weed and Seed a

beautiful day to wrap up a perfect week.

Planning a week-long series like Super Kids Week requires

considerable dedication and collaboration. When organizing the agenda, remembering that the mission of the event

is not solely to entertain participating children, but to help

bond the community, is imperative. Half the challenge is

ensuring that the activities are educational and thought

provoking. Thanks to the Tallahassee Police Department’s

Weed and Seed program and staff at the Palmer Munroe

Community Center, Super Kids Week was a hit! 

Community youth worked a vegetable garden during Super Kids

Week in Tallahassee, Florida.
8

Weed & Seed In-Sites

Salazar Youth Center Cleanup Day

Tom Grilione

Weed and Seed Site Program Manager/Community Police Officer

Fresno, California

n Saturday, April 1, 2000, more than 30 volunteers helped paint the Salazar Youth Center,

located in Region 4 of the Weed and Seed target area in Selma, California. The project was

part of Selma Weed and Seed’s beautification efforts.

During the past year and a half, local Weed and Seed beautification activities have consisted of four neighborhood

cleanup days, a tree-planting day in a park for which 109

trees were donated by Tree Fresno, and weekly efforts to

beautify the Vineland Apartments, a complex within the

target area.

Weed and Seed staff, residents of the Fresno Weed and

Seed target area, Vineland Apartments staff, and Selma

building inspectors met weekly to discuss areas of concern

and beautification projects for the complex. These weekly

meetings proved an effective forum for communication

between apartment residents and personnel and a catalyst

for improving the apartment living environment. Building

inspectors played a significant role by making sure inspections were completed efficiently and to the satisfaction of

all parties involved.

The cleanup project received partial funding from the

local Wal-Mart store, which donated $500 to help cover

costs for paint and supplies. Painters included volunteers

from the Weed and Seed Youth Club, Leadership

Selma, local Boy Scout Troop 129, the Selma

Beautification Committee, city staff, Mayor Pro

Tem Ralph Garcia, Selma High School’s

Interact Club, and residents from

the target area.

“A big thank-you to all those who

attended to help beautify the facility,” said Mikal Kirchner, Director

of the Recreation and Community

Services Department. “Those of us

who had seen the

Salazar Youth

Center with its

original paint job

know how important this project

was to the kids.

The appearance

of the Youth

Center now looks

so much more

inviting to the

youth and sends a message [that] we care and are continually making improvements,” Kirchner added. 

The Salazar Youth Center is operated by Selma’s Recreation

and Community Services Department and offers services

free of charge to youth 5–17 years old. The center houses

computers, pool tables, ping pong tables, air hockey, video

games, foozeball tables, and a kitchen. The Weed and Seed

Steering Committee meets regularly at the Salazar Youth

Center and hosts many sponsored activities, programs, and

special presentations.

Staff are currently collecting donations to pay for installation of a new sprinkler system at the Salazar Youth

Center. 

The Salazar Youth Center Cleanup Day was coordinated in

the interest of primary intervention and focused on environmental design. Community cleanup and nuisance abatement efforts give residents the opportunity to

express ownership of their neighborhood. The

Breakout Session titled “Environmental Design

and Crime Prevention” will highlight such

efforts on Wednesday, September 6,

from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Selma Weed and Seed beautification activities have

included four neighborhood

cleanup days, a tree-planting

day in a local park, and

weekly efforts to beautify

the Vineland Apartments

complex.
Rochester, New York

9

August/September 2000

Creative Problem Solving in Lowell, Massachusetts

continued from page 4

gathering interested organizations

together and utilizing each participating organization’s resources

or strengths,” said Andrea Leary,

Director of the Greater Lowell

Transportation Management

Association.

Partners in this project with Weed

and Seed include the Cambodian

Mutual Assistance Association of

Greater Lowell; the Mayor’s Joint

Youth Commission; Community

Teamwork, Inc.; the Lowell Enterprise Community; the Greater

Lowell Transportation Management

Association; the Lowell Housing

Authority; the Lowell Regional

Transit Authority; the Massachusetts

Prevention Center; the Northern

Middlesex Council of Governments;

and the Young Women’s Christian

Association of Lowell. Through the

Youth Loop project, creative problem solving and partnering linked

the services of Weed and Seed to the

community. The Youth Loop is also a

good example of using research to

leverage community change.

For more information on the Youth

Loop project or any of the Lowell

Weed and Seed partners mentioned

in this article, please contact Cristi

Lemon, Weed and Seed Coordinator,

at 978–446–7289 or send an e-mail to

clemon@ci.lowell.ma.us. 

The Lowell Youth Loop project will

be featured in the Breakout Session

titled “Forging Partnerships: Making

the Most of Networks,” from 1:30

p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday,

September 6.

Clearwater Weed and

Seed Releases Video

Documentary on Weed 

and Seed Achievements

This video features many of the site

partners, including government,

neighborhood, and law enforcement

representatives, responsible for the

accomplishments in the Clearwater,

Florida, Weed and Seed target area.

The grant-funded video was produced

for educational purposes and has

helped Weed and Seed sites throughout the country design strategies for

their communities. Anyone wishing to

obtain a copy of the video should call

Chief Sid Klein at 727–562–4343.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Primary Intervention and Environmental

Design in Weed and Seed 
10

Weed & Seed In-Sites

Overview

“Community Wellness” is a buzz

phrase growing in popularity

across the country. It appropriately describes the sets of systems

needing alignment before a 

community can be considered

“healthy.” These systems, fueled

by powerful partnerships and 

creative financing, call for the

removal of elements that are

notorious for contaminating a

neighborhood. Because they are

not always physical, these elements are not always obvious.

Illiteracy, immobile or apathetic

residents, environmental biohazards, unemployment, and lack

of economic opportunity are just

a few bad elements that might

hide behind the facade of a

seemingly healthy community.

Primary intervention efforts in

Weed and Seed have helped 

hundreds of neighborhoods face

these hidden issues. In target

communities, residents are

becoming homeowners for the

first time, businesses are providing jobs to residents by locating

in the neighborhood, children are

getting free health care coverage,

and schools are staying open later

to give adults the chance to gain

education and job skills training.

Efforts such as these have been

successful in Weed and Seed

sites including Lima, Ohio;

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and

Aurora, Colorado. These sites

have discovered that when neighborhood efforts are coordinated

in partnership with key stakeholders, primary intervention acts as

the catalyst for creating, and sustaining, a healthy community. 

The Small Site Experience:

Weed and Seed in Rural

Communities

Amy Odum

Weed and Seed Site Coordinator

Lima, Ohio

he city of Lima, Ohio, is a small community with a population of

45,000 residents that has been a Weed and Seed grant site since

1996. The Lima Weed and Seed target area encompasses approximately 9 square miles and is supported by 10 neighborhood associations. Lima provides a good model for smaller Weed and Seed sites where

funding and public resources may be limited.

In Lima, the Weed and Seed neighborhoods work closely with city police officers

and property maintenance code inspectors to direct targeted code enforcement

and nuisance abatement issues. Volunteers staff neighborhood cleanups, neighborhood tool chests, and targeted neighborhood intensive enforcement and

cleanups; a close working relationship with city police and enforcement staff

makes “a little go a long way.”

Lima has little money, little staff, and no full-time site coordinators. Yet its Weed

and Seed site removed more than 300 tons of trash, cleaned 7 miles of river, 

supported 8 “make a difference” projects, painted 63

homes, and worked with city staff on more than

2,000 weed, trash, and grass complaints

last year. Lima has also attracted its

first tax credit project using a private developer to rehabilitate a

92-unit multihousing complex.

If you are interested in more 

information on Lima’s experience

with code enforcement and nuisance abatement, please contact the

city of Lima at 419–221–5146. 

News From EOWS: New Letter of Intent Requirement!

All applicants intending to apply for Official Recognition

must submit a Letter of Intent postmarked by October 2,

2000. To be eligible for funding in fiscal year 2001, all sites

that have received Weed and Seed funding for 5 fiscal years

are required to submit a new full application for Official

Recognition by November 30, 2000. More details are available on the EOWS Web site (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows/).
August/September 2000

11

Pittsburgh Weed and Seed Sites

Partner With University of

Pittsburgh To Create Healthier

Communities

John Tokarski

Office of the Mayor

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

aking a lesson learned

from a “Communities

That Care” training session that was offered

in 1997 by EOWS, officials from

Pittsburgh’s Operation Weed and

Seed sites have entered into a partnership with the University of

Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)

that will have an incredible impact

on many residents in the target

areas.

The most ambitious undertaking to

date by this partnership is a leadabatement effort that is targeting

50 households in the PittsburghHomewood Weed and Seed site.

In addition to the lead-abatement

initiative, the effort also involves job

training, housing development, and

economic revitalization. 

Successful implementation requires

full commitment from each partner

in the project. After initial recruitment and application of qualified

residents for abatement, the Urban

Redevelopment Authority will

arrange for the transfer of families

to temporary housing facilities while

their properties are being abated.

At the same time, UPMC will coordinate an effort to educate the community on lead abatement. The training

will provide an introduction to leadbased products, their applications,

and the effects they have on populations in the community. The

Pittsburgh Black Contractor’s Association and the Community College

of Allegheny County will provide

training and will hire community

residents to do the removal and

oversee the abatement process as

they witness the property values in

their neighborhoods increase due

to their efforts. 

This multifaceted project will carry

a $1 million price tag. It is expected

that $900,000 will be realized from

available U.S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development

funding, with the remaining 10 percent coming from the individual

homeowners who participate in the

lead-abatement process. Other partners from the community that have

joined the project include the city

of Pittsburgh’s Office of the Mayor/

Operation Weed and Seed effort,

the Homewood Weed and Seed

Steering Committee, the HomewoodBrushton Community Planning

Committee, and the Homewood

Stingers Development Corporation.

Other parties supporting the effort

include the East End Neighborhood

Forum, Lead Free Pittsburgh (a

group founded several years ago by

Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy),

and local Clear Corp volunteers.

“The healthier and stronger a neighborhood’s population can be, the

more productively their children

perform as students, the more productive their work force is to both

employers and to other communityrelated efforts and activities, but—

more importantly—the stronger the

families become, both physically

and mentally,” noted Community

Outreach Specialist Kelly Benfer. 

Lead removal and abatement should

be taking place in late 2000 through

early 2001. In-Sites will continue to

cover this exciting partnership

throughout the year. 

Learn more about the Pittsburgh

Weed and Seed program in the

Community Wellness Breakout

Sessions titled “Money Seeds for

Medical Needs: Promoting Medical

Services in the Community” and

“Environmental Justice: Live and Let

Live” on Thursday, September 7,

from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Pittsburgh-Homewood

Weed and Seed site has

undertaken efforts including

lead abatement, job training,

housing development, and

economic revitalization.
Weed & Seed In-Sites

12 12

The Way It’s “Supposed” To Be:

Residents Drive the Weed and

Seed Strategy

D. Robert Smith

Public Information Officer

Aurora, Colorado

t some point during our education we’re

taught the theory of democracy. It goes something like this: citizens clearly articulate their

vision for the community they share, and government administrators listen carefully to what citizens

want. That’s the way it’s “supposed” to be.

Unfortunately, the media are filled with cynical stories

about how the way things “are” and how they are very different from how they are “supposed” to be. It often leaves

citizens with the feeling that, somehow, government is failing them. Not so in Northwest Aurora, Colorado. The

alleyways are improving in accordance with the wishes of

the people, just the way things are “supposed” to be.

In Original Aurora, the section of the city designated as

the Weed and Seed target area, more than three dozen

public meetings are held each year as part of the Weed

and Seed application process. The residents are asked how

to make the community better—how to improve the quality of lives not just for themselves, but for all Aurorans.

At the end of the first cycle of meetings in 1997, the residents had spoken clearly: Focus on the alleyways. Clean up

the alleyways, reduce noise and traffic in them, and make

them safer. In the Weed and Seed target area there are a

total of 147 alleyways. Many city officials were not aware

that alleyways were creating a problem for area residents

and business owners.

In Aurora, alleyways exist primarily in the Weed and Seed

target area; therefore their improvements became a major

focal point of Aurora’s Weed and Seed strategy from the

beginning. Progress continues every day, evidenced in

such efforts as the World Championships of Alley Clean

Up, alleyway paving, the Can Can Project, and the

Alleyway Lighting Program.

Residents played a vital role in Aurora’s Championships of Alley

Clean Up. The project led to the city paving all alleyways in the

Aurora Weed and Seed target area.

The World Championships of

Alley Clean Up

In July 1998, Original Aurora Renewal (OAR) helped

organize more than 100 volunteers in a project known as

the World Championships of Alley Clean Up. A total of

152 alleyways were cleaned. Volunteers, most from the

local church, removed bags of trash and large items that

had been dumped in the alleyways, and shopping carts

found in alleyways were returned to local grocery stores.

The effort stemmed from assertions of residents that the

area wouldn’t be able to substantially elevate the quality

of life for residents until significant improvement was

made in the alleyways.
August/September 2000

13

Concentration on the alleyways also led to the formation

of Aurora’s Improved Trash and Debris Ordinance, a 

substantial revision of the existing Trash and Debris

Ordinance. The movement lent momentum to the alleypaving effort.

Alleyway Paving

In late 1998, the Aurora City Council adopted a multiyear

plan to pave all of Northern Aurora’s alleys (previously the

alleyways were covered with dirt and gravel). Moneys were

allocated in the 1999 budget to cover the cost of paving

the alleys, selected for paving in random order by local

drawings. Residents had made great efforts to clean the

alleys, and securing the city’s promise to pave these areas

led them to believe that their efforts would not be a waste

of time.

The Can Can! Can You?

Project

“The Can Can make a difference! Can you make a difference, too?” That was the slogan of the Can Can Project.

In July 1998, just 2 months after the initial cleanup effort,

more than 2,000 32-gallon

trash cans were distributed

door-to-door to residents

within the Weed and

Seed target area of

Original Aurora. The

Can Can Project was

designed to make

Original Aurora neighbors aware of the

Improved Trash and Debris

Ordinance. The ordinance

requires that trash be

removed a minimum of once

a week and mandates that trash

ready for pickup be held in an approved container.

Pamphlets detailing the Trash and Debris Ordinance

as well as many other city programs and services were

attached to the trash cans that were delivered to each resident’s front door.

Seeing the Light

After the alleyways were cleaned, paved, and stocked with

new trash cans, city officials and OAR staff had one more

alley issue to tackle: alleyway lighting. “The cooperative

spirit of the Weed and Seed program has allowed us to

bring together the needed resources to see that a great

number of the alleys are better lit,” said Peg Alt, Neighborhood Networker and Alleyway Lighting Project

Coordinator. “Better lighting means safer alleys, and it

makes it harder for people to dump unwanted items just

outside of our residents’ homes.”

Eighty percent of the costs for the Alleyway Lighting

Project are covered by Aurora Weed and Seed; the rest is

paid for by the residents and the city of Aurora. Future

lighting costs will gradually be shifted to the city. The

Alleyway Lighting Project has worked with community residents to ensure that residents don’t have objections to the

proposed placement of lights, and city officials are optimistic about the project’s great success.

In November 1999, the OAR office organized a party in

the first alleyway to be paved, lit, and cleaned—“The Alley

of the Future.” Many of the attendant politicians, media

representatives, and Aurora residents walked a block to an

alleyway that had not yet been refurbished—giving them a

“before” image—and they were shocked by the difference

“The Alley of the Future” made in the neighborhood.

When the light sensor attached to the new light pole was

activated and the area light at the top of pole went on,

150 people in the alleyway applauded and cheered.

“A lot of the situation has to do with perception,” said Ken

Tweedy, Program Manger for OAR and Administrator of

the Weed and Seed program. “Before we started putting

this level of effort into the alleys, they were perceived as a

‘no man’s land’ and would often fall into disrepair. It was

becoming a downward spiral [in which] neglect was breeding more challenge. Now, the energy and the focus is

much different; substantial improvements are being made

to the alleys on a weekly basis.”

With real progress taking place every day—the kind of

progress that Aurora residents have requested—the alleyways in Northwest Aurora are standing out as an example

of the way things are “supposed” to be. 

Meet D. Robert Smith and learn more about Aurora

Weed and Seed at the Breakout Sessions on Wednesday,

September 6, titled “Creatively Financing and Sustaining

Weed and Seed” and “Developing Marketing and Promotion Strategies,” from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., as well as

“Environmental Design and Crime Prevention” from 3 p.m.

to 4:15 p.m.
Since the Health Wave program took effect on January 1, 1999, more than 32,700

previously uninsured children and teenagers in Kansas now have health insurance

and access to health care. This number represents more than 50 percent of the estimated uninsured population the program has been trying to reach in Kansas.

Health Wave is made possible by a combination of State and Federal funds.

The program provides affordable health insurance to children in low-income

working families, emphasizing prevention and including all medically necessary services. 

Following is a transcript from an interview In-Sites conducted with Don

Miller regarding Topeka Weed and Seed’s involvement in Health Wave. 

In-Sites: What motivated you to get involved in

the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)? 

Miller: During the past two summers we ran the Mayor’s

Summer Jobs Training Program. This is a partnership between

the city of Topeka and Topeka Weed and Seed. The city has

invested $100,000 each year to hire youth from our target

areas—the work they do is also in our target areas. We had

45 to 50 youth and team leaders the first year, and the number

doubled the second year. Youth in the program did a variety

of work ranging from painting houses for low-income or

elderly people, mowing lawns, clearing brush, redoing brick

sidewalks, etc.

For our second year, we extended an invitation to parents of the

youth within the Weed and Seed target area. We hosted a dinner

for parents and grandparents. We figured this was an opportune

time to distribute information to the guardians of our youth about

health care. Part of the orientation program was a brief introduction

by Health Wave personnel (the State of Kansas’ CHIP provider). They

provided informational materials to the audience and were on hand to

answer questions.

In-Sites: Where did you learn about CHIP?

Miller: My daughter went to work for Health Wave when it first came to Kansas

in 1991. Through my social outreach work with the church, where I have served as a 

minister for past 30 years, I was aware the program was coming to our State. So I took

a special interest when my daughter went to work there. She contacted one of the outreach

staff who followed up with our Weed and Seed program.

Weed & Seed In-Sites

14 14

Topeka, Kansas, Hit by a 

Health Wave!

An In-Sites interview with Don Miller, 

Weed and Seed Site Coordinator in Topeka, Kansas

Focus On:

Health Care

The U.S. Bureau of the Census’

Current Population Survey in March

1997 found that nearly 12 million children ages 18 and under were uninsured—

the largest number ever recorded in the

United States. The survey also found that

more than 90 percent of uninsured children

have one or more parents who work. Recently,

increasingly more families have found themselves

part of a growing population that earns too much

to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private

coverage. This population continues to grow as more

companies continue to limit health coverage for

employees’ dependents. This trend, the Census survey

reports, adds roughly 3,000 children each day to the

population without private health insurance.

Preventive health care, including immunizations and routine checkups, decreases a child’s chances of ever visiting

the inside of a hospital emergency room. The National

Center for Health Statistics reports that one in four uninsured children either uses a hospital emergency room

as a regular source of health care or has no regular

source of care at all. When the State of Florida introduced a program to assist parents in gaining coverage

for their uninsured children, emergency room visits

dropped by 70 percent in areas served by the new program, saving the State’s taxpayers and consumers

$13 million in 1996 (Florida Healthy Kids Corporation

1997 Healthy Kids Annual Report). Today, thanks

to an aggressive national initiative called CHIP

(Children’s Health Insurance Program), similar 

programs are now available in most States. 

In-Sites first reported on CHIP in its Millennium

Issue 2000 (page 15) and has learned in

recent months that Weed and Seed sites

are starting to take advantage of CHIP

initiatives. In-Sites offers this Focus On

Health Care to encourage more

Weed and Seed sites to do

the same. Healthy children

are part of healthy

communities.

continued on next page
August/September 2000

15

Tipper Gore Visits Aldine Health Center

To Promote CHIP

Derrick Heyward

Site Coordinator

Aldine, Texas

n February 8, 2000, the

Aldine Health Center in

Aldine, Texas, gave U.S.

Representative Gene

Green and Tipper Gore a tour of the

community health facility. The tour

was coordinated to focus community

attention on the Children’s Health

Insurance Program (CHIP) enacted

by Congress in 1997. The health center is located in the Aldine Weed and

Seed target area.

In his remarks, Representative Green

pointed out that more than a quarter of a million children in Harris

County (Aldine’s home county) are

uninsured. Most of these children

live in families that earn too much

to qualify for Medicaid and too little

to afford private insurance.

After touring the Aldine Health

Center, Mrs. Gore spoke to those

assembled about the importance of

both education and health care. She

cited the clinic as

an example of what

is “right” in health

care and emphasized that communities need to

take advantage of

opportunities to

improve community health services.

She hopes that all

children will be

insured by 2005, by

either expansion of

CHIP or inclusion

of every child in

a program such

as Medicaid.

CHIP provides comprehensive benefits to children who qualify as well as

access to physicians for preventive

care and regular checkups at facilities such as the Aldine Health

Center. Administration of CHIP

funds and CHIP activities takes place

From left: Ricci Sanchez, Director of the Aldine Health Center; Tipper

Gore; and Dr. Pauline Mbawuike Aham-Neze, Medical Director of

the Aldine Health Center, tour the community health facility. 

In-Sites: How many in your site would you

say are without health insurance? 

Miller: I don’t know, but I’m sure it is the highest percentage in the city. 

In-Sites: How did residents respond to the

information about health care?

Miller: Because Topeka Weed and Seed is closely aligned

with Topeka Housing Authority, we were able to get the

Topeka, Kansas, Hit by a Health Wave!

continued from previous page

Health Wave outreach staff connected to all the residents.

In addition, posters were put up at payment sites and

brochures were distributed through other public housing

literature. We became a partner in assisting Health Wave

to accomplish its primary goal.

For more information about how Topeka Weed and Seed has promoted health care within its community, please call Don Miller at

785–368–4468 or send an e-mail to dmiller@topeka.org.

at the state level. The Texas CHIP

Coalition comprises more than 60

statewide organizations working to

improve the health of children in

Texas. To learn more about the

CHIP program in your State, visit

www.hcfa.gov/init/statepln.htm.
Free Training Videos! The EOWS Community Training

Broadcast Series is now available to all Officially Recognized Weed and

Seed sites. Available videos include:

■ “Schools: Danger Zone/Safety Zone?” (aired September 16, 1999).

■ “Domestic Abuse and Family Violence”

(aired February 17, 2000).

■ “Community Policing: Experts Speak Out”

(aired April 20, 2000).

■ “Moving Beyond the Prison Gates”

(aired June 29, 2000).

To order a video or for more information, 

please call EOWS at 202–514–0709.

16

Weed & Seed In-Sites

Overview

Intervention is a basic “seeding”

element of the Weed and Seed

strategy. Intervention is coupled

with prevention and treatment

when promoting community

restoration. Whereas primary

intervention focuses on activities

coordinated in the interest of

entire community well-being,

efforts that promote the interest

of children within a community

fall under the definition of early

intervention. Safe Haven activities, youth mentoring, and truancy prevention initiatives are

just a few examples of early

intervention. When successful in

directing youth to positive

lifestyles and healthy environments, early intervention trials

can be replicated in other communities. The following efforts

have been both acclaimed and

replicated. They focus on education and law enforcement. Weed

and Seed sites that would like to

incorporate tested early intervention initiatives into their strategies should contact these

programs for more information.

Creating Healthy Communities

offers ”What Works as Risk

Protectors”—11 Breakout

Sessions focusing on early intervention in Weed and Seed sites—

on Thursday, September 7, from

9:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

High on Space 

he Young Astronaut Council (YAC) was formed by the

White House in 1984 to help children experience the

fun and adventure of learning. Today it is the largest youth aerospace organization in the world. Its integrated, multimedia educational programs have been used by more than 2 million students and educators

worldwide in Young Astronaut chapters, the Young Astronaut Club, Space

School, Young Astronauts Online, and Young Astronauts International. This 

year, the Young Astronaut Council is landing in Weed and Seed sites across

the country.

“Mission: Science,” the YAC curriculum, encourages children to explore what is

in space and learn about space travel. The four-part curriculum encompasses

earth and space science, physical science, and life science, as well as other subjects. Each unit includes an activity to help children view the subject from a different perspective and develop analytical skills.

“Mission: Science” is produced at three levels (grades K–3, 4–6, and 7–9), with

age-appropriate activities at each level. The four units of “Mission: Science” are

Astronomy: The Solar System and Beyond, Flight, Living in Space, and Earth

and Space. Through multimedia components “Mission: Science” aims to make

science and learning exciting.

The “Mission: Science” curriculum is administered by local teachers. YAC provides teachers with the tools to foster inquiry-based science learning. The curriculum is designed to be used with all students and encourages scientific

curiosity and problem-solving abilities that make learning an adventure.

Although specific standards and topics vary among states and school districts, the

comprehensive approach of “Mission: Science” and its subject content make it

applicable to virtually any educational system. To learn more about YAC or about

forming a Young Astronaut chapter, please call 202–775–1773 or visit the Web

site at www.yac.org/yac. 
olice-community relations in the Fresno,

California, Weed and Seed community and its

surrounding neighborhoods have improved

drastically because of the tireless efforts of

Weed and Seed police officers and key partners within the

community. The officers have taken particular interest in

becoming part of the community they patrol and work on

maximizing their interaction with all community residents.

This year a great idea was introduced that continues to

help the officers achieve their community policing goals—

the Southeast Fresno Weed and Seed Sports Cards Project,

which has strengthened positive relations between police

and youth in the Fresno area.

The Sports Cards feature photos of neighborhood police

officers, and area youth have found collecting these cards

challenging and fun. Nathan Stairs, the Winery Apartments manager and Safe Haven Coordinator, introduced

the idea last year to both the Weed and Seed Steering

Committee and target area officers after seeing the program implemented in other cities. The cards are an

attempt by police to connect better with children—to

form “a friendship and a bond,” said Capt. Jerry Davis,

who heads the Southeast District and Weed and Seed target area. The cards also encourage youth to interact with

their neighborhood officers.

The cards were officially released in the city of Fresno at a

ceremony on Thursday, May 11, 2000, at Sunnyside Park

in the Weed and Seed area. Each card is the size of traditional, popular trading cards and features a full-color

photo of a neighborhood police officer and his or her full

name. The back of the card offers background information on the officer and a brief message—for example,

“Strength comes in numbers,” “Only together can a community achieve neighborhood pride and a safe environment for kids,” or “Get involved in the war against

crime”—written by the featured officer.

Through the coordinating efforts and financial support

of Fresno Weed and Seed, Allstate Insurance, Winery

Apartments Safe Haven, Council member Sal Quintero,

and the United Way of Fresno County, more than 122,000

17

August/September 2000

Police Officer Trading Cards a Big Hit

With Fresno Youth

John Fletcher

Weed and Seed Site Coordinator

Fresno, California

4-color cards were produced at a cost of 6¢ each. To keep

kids’ interest, a few cards were produced in smaller quantities so that they would be harder to collect (much like

what is done with PokémonTM, football, and baseball trading cards). Each officer received 3,000 cards to distribute

in his or her patrol neighborhoods. Kids must ask officers

for their individual cards and signatures. Only 1,000

Weed and Seed Neighborhood Policing Unit and “The

Commanders” cards (for lieutenants and captains) were

printed, thus making collecting them more challenging.

Youth must first collect all other cards before they begin

collecting these harder-to-acquire cards.

This project is one

example of how

low-cost, innovative

projects can keep

a community

involved in day-today police work.

For more information on this project,

please call the Fresno

Weed and Seed at

559–243–3681. 

Sample card from the Southeast Fresno Weed and Seed Sports Cards

Project, which has strengthened positive relations between police

and youth in the Fresno area.
Weed & Seed In-Sites

18 18

North Charleston’s Police Department

Impressing Area Youth 

Cpl. Sharon Bumeder

Weed and Seed D.A.R.E. Officer

North Charleston, South Carolina

ost Weed and Seed sites are familiar with

D.A.R.E.® (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)

and G.R.E.A.T.® (Gang Resistance Education

and Training) because they have been teaching the crime-prevention curriculum in local schools for

years.

When planners in North Charleston, South Carolina, set

the goals of their D.A.R.E./G.R.E.A.T. program for the

1999–2000 school year, they decided that the curriculum

would be offered to every child in every elementary and

middle school within the Weed and Seed target area

(the area has three elementary schools and two middle

schools). From December 1999 through June 2000,

approximately 1,377 elementary school students participated in the North Charleston Weed and Seed D.A.R.E./

G.R.E.A.T. program, including 100 special needs students.

The school curriculum graduated more than 370 seventh

graders (currently D.A.R.E./G.R.E.A.T. is not available for

sixth graders, but a program will be made available for

them next year).

To further secure the foundation of the police-supported

curriculum for the 1999–2000 school year, the police

department assigned a police officer to work full time in

the three elementary schools within the North Charleston

target area. The officer focused on teaching the D.A.R.E./

G.R.E.A.T. curriculum to students in elementary and middle schools. The officer also worked with early childhood

development classes (3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds) and classes

for special needs students to establish a relationship with

these children and provide them with a positive first

impression of law enforcement. The North Charleston

Weed and Seed has experienced so much success implementing the program that it has begun to plan special

events and activities during school breaks to complement

the day-to-day curriculum.

The turnout for D.A.R.E.-related programming in the

North Charleston target area has been overwhelming.

During spring and summer school breaks, coordinators

developed week-long camps for area youth. Activities during the week gave youth the opportunity to spend their

school break learning while having fun. One such program

was the North Charleston

Weed and Seed Second

Annual D.A.R.E./G.R.E.A.T.

Golf Camp held the week

of June 11, 2000. Participating youth from the fifth

to the eighth grades were

nominated by the D.A.R.E.

officer and teachers in

each Weed and Seed 

target-area school. The students chosen were not the

schools’ best students or

their worst—these students

have average grades and no attendance or behavioral problems. This group of students is often overlooked for special

programs, and the Weed and Seed program felt reaching

out to them was important. Participants for the August

2000 camp were selected from youth who attend the various Safe Havens located within the target area.

The Golf Camp was taught by a golf professional who was

assisted by police volunteers. Together they taught the fundamentals of the game of golf and the importance of staying away from drugs and gangs. Camp was held at a local

golf facility, which donated its space and provided the

youth with use of the golf range. A local law firm assisted

with the daily transportation needs of the youth both to

and from the golf facility. Lunch was also provided to the

youth. At the end of the camp, each youth was presented

with a golf club donated by a local sporting goods store.

This year 35 million school children around the world—

26 million in the United States—will benefit from the

D.A.R.E./G.R.E.A.T. program. Feedback from parents, faculty, and students has been positive throughout the North

Charleston target area. Coordinators and officers dedicated to the program will work to ensure that the D.A.R.E./

G.R.E.A.T. program continues to have lasting effects on the

lives of the children living in the North Charleston Weed

and Seed target area. For more information on the national D.A.R.E./G.R.E.A.T. curriculum, please visit

www.dare.org. 

Cpl. Sharon Bumeder is the

D.A.R.E. officer for the North

Charleston Weed and Seed

target area.
August/September 2000

19

Full Speed Ahead for DEFY 2000,

Thanks to Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs

Marcia Roberts

Weed and Seed Coordinator 

Tucson, Arizona

ould Tucson Weed and

Seed be the charity partner in the upcoming

Kmart Kids Race Against

Drugs event? That is the question

the Arizona National Guard Drug

Demand Reduction Unit asked

Westside Coalition Weed and Seed

last spring. The Steering Committee

leaped at the opportunity to incorporate the event into the site’s upcoming DEFY Phase II program and

returned an affirmative answer

immediately. Since then, Tucson’s

DEFY program has been operating at

full speed.

In 1999, Westside Coalition Weed

and Seed was preparing to enter into

its first year of DEFY and was uncertain about how to fund the 12-month

Phase II program. The Steering

Committee didn’t expect to participate in the DEFY program during its

first year as an Officially Recognized

Weed and Seed site, so the budget

hadn’t set aside any funds to support

the program. In a lucky turn of

events, the Arizona National Guard

contacted the Steering Committee

during the same week it was planning its DEFY efforts. It was a perfect

marriage.

Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs is a

national drug prevention program

that tours major cities throughout

the country. The event focuses on

teaching parents and children about

the dangers of substance abuse. At

each site, youth ages 7–12 drive

miniature race cars around a racing

track in Kmart parking lots. Every

participant gets a free antidrug shirt

and hat, information about the dangers of substance abuse, a thrilling

ride, and a chance to win a $10,000

college scholarship. To top it off,

charity partners get a $5 donation

A youth gets driving advice from a volunteer ”safety rider” during the Kmart Kids Race

Against Drugs event in Tucson, Arizona.

continued on back cover

per racer from the Kmart Family

Foundation to use in their own

antidrug programs.

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions

of America (CADCA), Mothers

Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and

Drug Abuse Resistance Education

(D.A.R.E.) are the three national 

initiatives that support Kmart Kids

Race Against Drugs events. For the

Tucson event, CADCA provided supporting material, including an easyto-read manual and event fliers.

The 2-day event, March 11–12, started with typical Arizona weather:

warm and clear. Kids lined up early

next to the colorful track and danced

with excitement. The race course

went over a bridge, around turns,

over obstacles, and through a tunnel

to the finish line with an electronic

time readout. The Arizona National
20

Weed & Seed In-Sites

Not Just “Babysitting With Crayons” 

Sharon Paul

LECC Coordinator

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois

he McClernand Arts Haven program, part

of the EOWS Special Emphasis Initiative in

Springfield, Illinois, promotes the growth

and revitalization of troubled neighborhoods

through an arts program. The McClernand Elementary

School site is one of three Safe Havens in Springfield’s 

designated Weed and Seed neighborhood.

The general focus of Safe Haven programs is on prevention, early intervention, treatment programs, law enforcement, community policing, and restoration of the target

areas. The McClernand Arts Haven program focuses on

prevention through the arts. The Arts Haven provides a

secure, structured environment in which children can

develop their artistic abilities and learn about careers in

the arts.

In October 1996 a task force was formed by the Springfield

Weed and Seed Executive Committee to design an Arts

Haven program to be implemented at the McClernand

Elementary School Safe Haven site. Task force members

included the Weed and Seed Coordinator, the Fine Arts

Coordinator for Springfield public school district 186, the

McClernand Elementary School principal, and arts teacher

Lou Ann Davenport.

The site submitted the program request to EOWS and a

grant was approved the following year. The first sessions at

the McClernand Arts Haven were held in January 1998 for

youth in grades 3–7. Since then, the Arts Haven has continued to develop. The parties involved in program development have included members of the Weed and Seed

Executive Committee, the Illinois State Museum, the

Springfield Art Association, art instructors, the principal

of McClernand Elementary School, and principals of two

other schools that benefit from Arts Haven programs.

These groups work together to coordinate a program best

fitted to the community.

Arts Haven staff include two certified art instructors, four

high school mentors, and one coordinator. In addition to

the paid staff, volunteers from two local high schools help

out regularly. The total budget to operate the McClernand

Arts Haven and to provide arts instruction at the two other

sites is approximately $45,000. continued on next page

Imani and Kunama Mtendaji (with TAIFA Folklore Productions of St.

Louis, Missouri) presented a 3-day African folklore workshop at the

McClernand Arts Haven in May 2000. Youth learned about African

folklore through storytelling and dance presentations.

20

Hours of operation are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., during the school year.

Students must register to attend the program but are not

required to attend every session. During the 1999–2000

school year, 55 children were registered and active at the

Arts Haven. Most of these youth were in grades 3–7. To

attract older students (middle school and high school),

a separate studio is being planned at the Springfield Arts

Association, located across the street from the McClernand

site, for the 2000–2001 school year.

Arts Haven students are exposed to various art media,

including working with paints (acrylics, tempera, water 

colors), creating plaster casts and wood sculptures, and 

creative embossings using a printing press. One of the

largest Arts Haven’s undertakings was a community mosaic

installment, which was created under the direction of a

professional artist by not only the students but also their

parents, teachers, and members of the community. 

Entitled “Trees of Knowledge,” the mosaic measures 16

feet in diameter and has been installed on the grounds

outside of McClernand Elementary School. Three 
21

August/September 2000

Together Everyone Accomplishes More

Will Daniels

LECC Coordinator

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida 

rom April 28 to 30, 2000,

Ocala, Florida, hosted

kids and mentors from

six Drug Education for

Youth (DEFY) sites in the Middle

District of Florida. For the second

consecutive year in this district, the

event proved an admirable success.

Over the 3 days, 120 kids and more

than 50 mentors engaged in positive

physical challenges, motivational

workshops, and competitive sport

activities. Support from the local

U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), various law enforcement agencies, military partners, local businesses, and

volunteers made this year’s event

memorable for all participants.

“T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone

Accomplishes More) 2000” was

the prevailing theme for this conference, and organizers worked hard

to integrate the concept into every

activity. Speakers reflected on strategies of “going for the gold,” and spirits were elevated through myriad

collaborative events. Each child was

rewarded with a “gold” medal and

certificate of completion for his or

her positive accomplishments. Hats

off to Ocala for rolling out the carpet for these guests and to all of the

sites that lent their talent, expertise,

and time. Together, everyone does

accomplish more! 

For information on organizing a 

similar event in your State or 

district, call the USAO for the

Middle District of Florida at

813–274–6388. 

Will Daniels from the U.S. Attorney’s Office

for the Middle District of Florida congratulates a DEFY graduate at the ”T.E.A.M.

2000” conference in Ocala, Florida.

permanent benches will be placed around the mosaic 

during the 2000–2001 school year.

The mosaic design features seven coastal redwood trees,

each representing a particular field of knowledge: ethics,

ecology, language, health, history, science, and art. The

mosaic depicts 12 children working among the root systems of the trees in their pursuit of knowledge (made in

the likenesses of 12 of the children who actually worked

on the mosaic). 

The project took approximately a year from design to final

construction. The mosaic is a visual reminder of the

strength of the arts to unite a community and beautify

the neighborhood.

Arts Haven staff believe that the arts can enrich the lives

of children as no other pursuit can. Increasingly, more

studies show that the arts stimulate a child’s desire to

learn, improve problem solving and critical thinking skills,

increase knowledge and acceptance of other cultures,

engage the hard-to-reach student, enhance self-esteem,

develop self-confidence and self-discipline, improve communication skills, and increase test scores. Besides enriching the quality and enjoyment of life, the arts also provide

a positive alternative to street crime, drug abuse, and violence, which is a key objective of preventive afterschool

programs such as the McClernand Arts Haven. 

Not Just ”Babysitting With Crayons”

continued from previous page
Weed & Seed In-Sites

22

Las Vegas Weed and

Seed Provides Support

for Ex-Offenders

Jessica Caldwell

Program Assistant

Junior, Howard University 

Overview

Treatment plays a large role in

the healthy sustainment of any

community regardless of its economic class. Treatment is often

thought of as mental health or

substance abuse counseling, yet

increasingly more sites are getting involved with other forms

of treatment, including specialty

drug courts, environmental justice (in which potentially hazardous materials are removed

from the area), and programs

linking community-oriented

policing with local correction

agencies.

A community is only as healthy

as its parts. Too often incarcerated members of a community are

left behind in community treatment efforts. In-Sites features

an aggressive initiative in Weed

and Seed sites that addresses

the needs of incarcerated populations and their chances for 

successful reentry into the 

community.

Creating Healthy Communities

highlights some of the most

aggressive and successful Weed

and Seed projects coordinated

nationwide. ”Treatment and

Intervention” on Thursday,

September 7, from 11:15 a.m.

to 12:30 p.m., will feature 11

Breakout Sessions that focus on

improving the overall environment

of a community through treatment practices.

or ex-offenders, the transition from incarceration to life as a free 

citizen is always challenging and, unfortunately, sometimes met with

failure. Problems associated with reentry center on issues such as

employment, family reintegration, substance abuse, and socialization. Many ex-offenders relapse into criminal behavior, and as repeat offenders

face stiffer penalties and harsher sentences.

The Las Vegas Weed and Seed site consists of approximately 20,000 people who

are predominantly African-American and Latino-American. Unemployment is

high, although recently there has been considerable growth in employment

opportunities. About 90 inmates will be released into the Weed and Seed site

this year. Most will be male and in their midthirties. Chances for their successful

reentry are growing thanks to a new effort called the Nevada Re-Entry Demonstration Project.

The Re-Entry Project aids ex-offenders with the transition back into the community. A screening process targets inmates for the program approximately 1 year

prior to their expected prison release date. Once selected, inmates are asked to

commit to the project plan. They are placed in programs that provide job and

life-skills training, math and English skills development, anger management, and

parenting classes. A case manager assesses the needs of each inmate. The case

manager oversees between 30 and 40 inmates and encourages participation in

the prison industries program and the street-readiness program. At the same

time, participating inmates receive help with family reintegration.

The Re-Entry Project is managed by an oversight board that oversees the budget

and other project specifications. The board also reports to and maintains communication with the Weed and Seed Steering Committee.

Community involvement is a large part of the initiative. Faith-based and community organizations and ex-offender communities are asked to be involved in the

lives of Re-Entry Project participants after they are released from prison. This

support base provides a renewed sense of acceptance and trust within the site

from which the inmates might otherwise feel slightly rejected. Family counseling

also makes the transition easier for both the ex-offender and his or her family.

Other project services include job training and placement and assistance with

mental and physical health issues, including drug treatment.

The Nevada Re-Entry Demonstration Project provides the pathway for exoffenders to return to their respective communities and become active participants. The project’s main goal is to keep the rates of recidivism low. It offers a

continued on next page
August/September 2000

23

strong community foundation and attempts to reunite

families through a system of understanding and support.

The transition from offender to contributing community

member can be difficult. This effort is a two-step intervention process that begins prior to prison release and continues after reentry into the community. Blending intervention from law enforcement and the community offers a

strong support system to those who may not have previously acknowledged either group as an ally. Through the

Nevada Re-Entry Project, Las Vegas Weed and Seed tackles

Las Vegas Weed and Seed Provides Support for Ex-Offenders

continued from previous page

recidivism and provides a model for other sites to follow.

For more information on the Nevada Re-Entry Project,

please contact Franklin Simpson, Weed and Seed Program

Manager, at 702–229–5460. 

“Track 2: Breaking the Cycle of Incarceration” will comprise

five Breakout Sessions on treatment and reentry issues of

ex-offenders on Thursday, September 7, from 11:15 a.m. to

12:30 p.m. 

Red HOTand Sizzlin’! 

Thank you, Highland/Stoner Hill Weed and Seed, for your tireless team spirit 

and continued dedication to our mission!

Site Coordinator Mary Ellen Hoffman pitches in at the EOWS Law

Enforcement conference in New Orleans in May 2000.

Paul Casagrande (left) and Stephen Rickman (center) of EOWS

cool off at the Highland/Stoner Hill Weed and Seed exhibit at the

Weed and Seed 1999 National Conference.
U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Executive Office for Weed and Seed

Washington, DC 20531

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300

Return Service Requested

FIRST-CLASS MAIL

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

DOJ/EOWS

PERMIT NO. G–91

Full Speed Ahead for DEFY 2000, Thanks to Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs

continued from page 19

Guard, Marine Reserves, and Tucson Police Department

had impressive exhibits that attracted adults as well as 

children.

Before the event the Westside Coalition Weed and Seed

support staff worked with the Arizona National Guard to

advertise and encourage community participation. On site,

staff helped participants register, drove as “safety riders” in

the cars with youth, taught youth the drug-free pledge, and

waved flags. They also cheered the riders nonstop for

2 days.

In 2000, Kmart’s program will travel to more than 90 cities,

at more than 665 Kmart locations. Through the program,

Kmart expects to reach more than 700,000 kids and their

families with an antidrug message in a fun family-oriented

way.

Early this year, Kmart and CADCA contacted Westside

Coalition Weed and Seed to ask if they wanted to participate in future Kmart Kids Race Against Drugs events.

Westside Coalition looks forward to the opportunity to

send youth in the Weed and Seed target area a serious

antidrug message while providing a fun event for the

entire family.

To learn more about how to get involved with Race Against

Drugs, please visit www.raceagainstdrugs.org/ or call

1–800–327–5107. 

Arizona National Guard volunteers were on hand at the Kmart Kids

Race Against Drugs event in Tucson, Arizona, to give lessons on drug

prevention...and driving!

www.ojp.usdoj.gov/eows