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Updated presentation on the use of relational culture organizing in community development work
Citation preview
Case Study in the Healthy Neighborhood Approach to Community Development
Chatham Square
June 2010
Theoretical Base Dr. Felton Earls
Longitudinal study of urban neighborhoods & crime
Local governments should support the development of cooperative efforts in low-income neighborhoods by encouraging neighbors to meet and work together
Most important influence on a neighborhood's crime rate is neighbors' willingness to act for one another's benefit, and particularly for the benefit of neighborhood children
“Cities that sow community gardens may reap a harvest of not only kale and tomatoes, but safer neighborhoods and healthier children” *
*Crime as Science (A Neighbor at a Time) Dan Hurley NYT Jan. 8, 2004 article on: Neighborhoods and violent crime: A multilevel study of collective efficacy. Science, 277:918-924 Sampson R, Raudenbush SW, and Earls F. (1997).
FrameworkHealthy Neighborhood Approach
Image: Residents are confident about the future of the neighborhood and outsiders think it’s a good place to live and work, even if they choose not to live there
Physical Conditions: Private property reinvestment; “in-between” properties (neither obviously public nor private) are in a high state of repair (i.e. curb strips, planter boxes)
Neighborhood Management: Neighbors manage change and threats; problems that arise are solved; public institutions are held accountable and are accountable; detrimental behaviors are considered outside the “norm” and are curtailed
Market: Ideally demand exceeds supply; in-movers need to be at least as good or better for the neighborhood as out-movers while quality housing opportunities for people of modest means are maintained
Fall Creek Consulting – Health Neighborhood Group: http://www.fallcreekconsultants.com/healthy_neighborhoods.php
Framework cont’dHealthy Neighborhood Approach
Key Components
Real Estate Market: barometer of neighborhood health Make neighborhoods places where it makes economic sense for
people to invest time, money and energy
Resident Participation: residents participate in the real estate market instead of protected from it Affordable housing as a tool for revitalization
Quality of Life Indicators: progress measured by tracking neighborhood confidence, not units of housing produced or people served Outcomes not Outputs
Self-Definition: residents define outcomes while practitioners offer insight, strategies and tools to get there Work toward achieving outcomes not delivering programs
Fall Creek Consulting – Health Neighborhood Group: http://www.fallcreekconsultants.com/healthy_neighborhoods.php
Methodology“Relational Culture” OrganizingKey Elements
Leaders and participants get to know each other beyond tasks and agendas
People engaged around their own interests
People who know and trust each are more likely to act in each others’ interests
Community is made stronger through increased social capital investments
Sustainable Action: Planting the Seeds of Relational Organizing - Rev. Louise Green
Getting Started
Community Foundation goals Increased urban neighborhood stabilization and revitalization Development replicable strategies
Knocked on doors; got to know residents and community
Introduced relational culture organizing and healthy neighborhood approach Activities, including meetings, are means to the end of getting
to know other residents Activities are outcome focused: improved image and/or
physical condition, impact market, manage issues
Center of relationships: “place” not problem
Neighborhood
Fair Haven, New Haven
Neighborhood
Fair Haven, New Haven
Chatham Square
Downtown
Market / Community Descriptors
3,500 people
1,100 households
42% Hispanic
Median Income $33k
Solid housing stock, mostly 2 and 3 family structures
2000 census data
Market / Community Descriptors
2007 Atwater Street Block Party
Community Analysis What Needs Work
Drug sales out of houses and at the park
Houses in need of repair
Homeownership: lower than city average south and west of park
Public infrastructure (sidewalks, park, public lighting)
Street litter, especially on the Clinton Avenue side of the park
Traffic flow and noise
Community Analysis
Community AnalysisWhat Deserves Recognition Committed residents Diverse community (cultural, economic, ethnic, racial) Five parks and three gardens Historic buildings ~ residential and commercial Great 2 and 3 family housing stock Home-Buyer Incentive prgs: Yale & Mary Wade Home Proximity to bus routes, highway, waterfront, parks Three local grocery stores Two commercial corridors Rehabbed Housing Projects Elderly services ~ Mary Wade Home
Resident-Developed Work Plan
Community-approved plan January 2007
Results: Image
Results: Image
Image: Residents are confident about the future of the neighborhood, and outsiders think it’s a good place to live and work, even if they choose not to live there
Neighborhood branded – 15 positive hits Channel 3 Channel 8 New Haven Register New Haven Independent
Festival in partnership with the City of New Haven Children’s photo exhibit (6-11 years)*
* Unless otherwise noted pictures in this presentation were made by neighborhood children ages 6-11
Results: Physical Condition
Results: Physical Condition
Physical Conditions: Private property reinvestment; “in-between” properties (neither obviously public nor private) are in a high state of repair (i.e. curb strips, planter boxes)
38 homes repaired through incentive program Partnership with homeowners and HRI
6 homes repaired w/o program assistance Investing made sense to homeowners
4 lower income homeowners offered assistance Partnership with homeowners and City of New Haven
2 Parks rec’d combined public-private support for repairs and upgrades
1st Bicycle lane in the neighborhood
Results: Management
Pictures: New Haven Independent
Results: Management
Neighborhood Management: Neighbors manage change and threats; problems that arise are solved; public institutions are heldaccountable and are accountable; detrimental behaviors are considered outside the “norm” and are curtailed
Community-identified problem: traffic speed, safety Community raised funds locally Foundation matched and donated City matched combined total National expert Dan Burden of Glatting, Jackson, Kercher
Anglin, Inc. conducts traffic calming study City recv’d $377,000 Federal Grant based on study in 2009
Results: Market
“Darden said her plans are to stay in the neighborhood, get her kids enrolled in the local schools, do some home fix up. Her career plans now call for her to stay at Mary Wade, of course; she is also going to get her registered nurse’s degree, too.” (2)
(2) Quote and Photo: NH Independent
“The information I learned on the tour of Chatham Square contributed directly to the sale of a house on Atwater Street”--Bruce Peterson, Realtor, H. Pearce Realtors (1)
(1) Photo: 149 Clinton Avenue from MLS listings
Results: Market
Market: Ideally demand exceeds supply; in-movers need to be at leastas good or better for the neighborhood as out-movers while quality housing opportunities for people of modest means are maintained
14 realtors attended neighborhood tours
3 home purchases totaling $700,000+ in sales directly connected to the neighborhood association
As of 2009, nine houses purchased with estimated combined market value over $2 million.
Resident Survey
Baseline Survey: October 2006
Follow-up Survey: September 2007
40 resident participants
1/3 survey participants are residents who attend neighborhood meetings
2/3 self-selected (festival attendees and door knocking)
Neighborhood Quality of Life
0
5
10
15
20
25
Great Good So-So Bad Terrible
20062007
Neighborhood Image
02468
101214161820
Great So-So Terrible
20062007
Neighborhood Physical Condition
0
5
10
15
20
25
Great Good So-So Bad Terrible
20062007
Use of Chatham Square park
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Every day At leastonce a week
Once amonth or
more
I rarely goto the park
20062007
Lessons Learned Identify leaders
People who get others to follow
Build on success Look for assets to build on, not problems to solve
Resident perspective Connect their dreams to your expertise
Collect and disseminate the success-affirming stories Be the bearer of the good news
New possibilities for work Linked to new people or new energy
Measure Success by outcomes, not output Quality of life, not quantity of program
Conclusions
Worthwhile investment: $80k/yr for 3 years investment has thus far yielded $2,617,000 in private and public investments and donations, includes home purchases
Replicable and Sustainable Currently working in West River and & Hill North
neighborhoods Sustainability: www.chathamsquare.ning.com
Keys to Success Work on “place” not problem Partnerships between residents, realtors, local businesses
Needs: More study, consistent funding and tax incentives
Chatham Square: Conclusions