Not Just Equipment

Allentown Faith leaders and Residents win a $50,000 commitment to Franklin Park

Last Wednesday, 75 residents, teens, and parents, and faith leaders from Center City Allentown as part of Congregations United for Neighborhood Action (CUNA) rallied at St. Stephen Outreach Center at a meeting with Allentown Parks and Recreation Director Greg Weitzel to secure $50,000 in new playground equipment for Franklin Park.

"It's not just playground equipment," Reverend Maritza exclaimed as meeting participants waived posters reading the same sentiment in the air. "It's a message of hope in a city that needs it."
Last December, Director Weitzel shared with Reverend Maritza the possibility of the city obtaining funds to remove the existing playground play structure and replace it with new equipment.  Wanting to secure these funds and make a case for future investments CUNA leaders, residents, teens, organizing Wednesday's meeting to make it loud and clear to the Department of Parks and Recreation that the investment would be well worth it.

Guadalupe Mella, Allentown mother of 3, shared in a moving testimony that this couldn't come at a better time. "It would mean so much to not only my kids but all kids in the area and struggling moms like me to have a safe park in walking distance."
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Anthony Archilla, a 21 year old of Allentown,  and member of the Allentown B-Boys a break dancing crew who practice in Franklin Park and St. Stephen Outreach Center, shared his experience from two months ago when waiting for his b-boys to arrive for practice he was jumped by 20 teens.  "I was hurt and angry but we can't let the violence win."  In his moving testimonial, Anthony shared that he is not giving in or giving up and that he wants to challenge the Allentown Parks Department to do the same.

A portion of the evening was a research report, in which meeting organizers told the story of Franklin Park, how it started as Franklin Elementary School.  In the 1960's the school was shut down and razed, leaving a large open space.  For close to 50 years the space sat underutilized housing only the remnant play structures associated with the elementary school.  Around 15 years ago new playground equipment was installed.  As it stands now the equipment is some of the oldest in the city of Allentown, with some portions simply boarded up due broken features and unsafe playing conditions.  Yet despite the condition Franklin Park is cherished by the surrounding community and used by hundreds of children and families daily.

Upon the completion of the research report, Esteban, another member of the B-Boys commented that everyone in this city as a child or teen had drugs, gangs, and bad choices offered to them but there were adults, resources, and activities that provided most of us an alternative so we didn't go down that path.  Esteban then challenged the city officials and the residents gathered to make the right decisions that children and teens of today would have the same resources, activities, and positive influences so they too can make the right decisions.  He concluded that we can start by securing the funds for the playground.

Following the presentations, Director Weitzel committed that the funds would be secured for Franklin Park.  "Right now we have $50,000 allocated towards the project."  He then explained that after seeing such a large community presence at the meeting that he would work to secure more for Franklin Park.  "We're excited and hopefully we can find more dollars to do more improvements."

Wrapping the evening up, Reverend Maritza explained the importance of this effort.  "The good things and the bad things all happen in that park. Now there is a plan to clean up the park and make it a beacon of hope for the future. The Lord has bestowed us with a wonderful gift from the city of Allentown." Reverend Maritza added, "It is hope, it is vision and it is joy. This will be an attractive place in the neighborhood and give kids a place to exercise."

Next Steps

• The department of Parks and Recreation agreed to invest $50,000 in new playground equipment; they also agreed to use the long term vision and recommended renovations for future park improvements such as: Refurbished Pavilion with new concrete surface and moving the existing flower boxes to a location more ideal for the community garden.
• The department of Parks and Recreation agreed to partner with CUNA in both the removal and installation of new equipment by organizing both a closing ceremony for the outgoing equipment and a ribbon cutting for the new equipment.  City officials shared that the outgoing equipment will be re-purposed and sent to Haiti for a playground there.

Ron's House Demo

Back in 2007 when Joshua first started working in Camden, New Jersey for CCOP, he initiated a "quick win" project with Father Jud and members of the St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church (where Alma was baptized) and School to take down a dilapidated and abandoned house that was being used for all sorts of crimes (remember the drug bags?) and was located just feet from the school.

Well, finally -- because this is how slow progress can be in a city like Camden -- the church and community had a major win this week with the demolition of the house!!!!  How exciting!

Just take a look at how bad the house was when Joshua started working on this project. Amazing!

Congratulations to Father Jud, the St Anthony Local Organizing Committee, Kate Goodman and the rest of the CCOP staff!!!

Vacation Wrap Up

We were lucky enough to have three straight weeks of vacation this summer.  Well, one week of "workcation" followed by one week of "memorialization" before a week of actual vacation.

Our first week was spent in Applegate, CA (near Sacramento) for Joshua's work conference.  The overarching organization that Joshua, through CUNA, works with, People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO), is an international non-profit that encourages the employees to bring their families to the yearly week-long work conference.  I've been wanting to attend for years but this is the first time that the trip didn't interfere with my own employment.  Alma and I spent our days playing with the other 40+ kids in attendance and enjoying the beautiful Jesuit retreat center where the conference was held.  And, at night, Joshua and I would hang out on the patio overlooking the pond and share a crossword puzzle.

Sadly, Joshua's grandmother passed at the beginning of June, so we spent the next week with his family celebrating her life.  While it was a sad event, it was so nice to have some time with the Chisholm clan when we had not been planning a visit with them for this summer.  We were able to spend a day at Santa Monica beach (photo of Alma and me was snapped by Hayden!), some time in the backyard shooting cans with a BB gun, and Alma had plenty of time idolizing her cousin Hayden.

After a wild trip home -- three days of delayed flights, car rides interrupted with me getting sick on the side of the road (yes, that happened more than once), an eventual red-eye flight home with an overly tired toddler -- we were home for 20 hours before leaving for a trip up to the Adirondacks for a week of relaxing with Kate, Neal (a.k.a. Uncle Fun), their pup Rio and our dog Simon.  It was a week composed of all the greatest things: best friends (even Simon had his best friend), delicious food, and an amazing house right on Lake Paradox.  We spent days hiking, napping, watching the dogs swim until near-drowning fatigue and our nights were long games of Kate beating us at Settlers of Catan.

CUNA's Youth Employment Initiative

On Sunday, CUNA's work was featured on the front page (above the fold!) of the regional newspaper, The Morning Call.

... To help students like Alexander navigate the job process, Dolich asked Congregations United for Neighborhood Action to get involved. With the support of Allentown and Mayor Ed Pawlowski, CUNA launched an initiative to place at least 25 students with local companies.
So far, six have been placed, though getting them a job isn't the pilot program's only goal. It also will give teens opportunities to be mentored or shadow employees, and to receive job training.
In a letter asking business owners to participate, Pawlowski said the effort is of "economic and social importance."
"Teens who work have a greater likelihood to graduate from high school and they receive the soft business and trade skills necessary for future employment," he said.
By the time school ends, Dolich, who is a CUNA board member, hopes the program has placed all 25 students in summer jobs. ...

Read the full article here.

CUNA's Youth Jobs Initiative in Allentown

Last night, Joshua's organization, Congregations United for Neighborhood Action (CUNA), held an action in Allentown asking the mayor to support the effort to create more youth jobs this summer. See the Channel 69 News clip here.  It was a great event filled with positive energy from the women chairing the event, a spot-on research report, and a great mix of over 100 Allentown residents. 

Hooray CUNA on your first citywide action with Joshua at the helm!

Work

As an update to my stay-at-home and work status, I am now officially working for the University of Pennsylvania's business school, Wharton.  Fancy pants stuff, if I do say so myself.  I'm still working for Penn's National Resource Centers and just adding on Wharton since the roles are similar.  I think my official title is Evaluation Coordinator, which means that I prod my bosses to do evaluation work so that twice a year I can write huge narratives on how great their work is.  And when I say bosses, I mean the seven (!) people I report to about my projects.  Wish me luck as I toss another ball into the air and try to keep juggling!

Neverending Birthday

Due to Joshua having to be in California for a work conference on Alma's first birthday, we ended up creating three first birthday celebrations.  The first was the day before Joshua left for his trip:

 While she ate the strawberries, the cake ended up here ... on the floor ... then in the dog's stomach.

The second was on her actual birthday when my parents came to visit for the day:

And the third was a smallish family gathering when we celebrated my two favorite ladies -- Alma and Nana:

(She ate the cake!)

Happy birthdayS, Alma!

Work

You may have noticed a decrease in the number of postings recently.  This is both because we are busy -- running after Alma + being in random places while Alma snoozes because her crib is no longer a fun place to snooze these days (according to her, not me!) -- and because I keep adding things to our full plate of activities.  Like jobs.  Yes, plural.  Because spinning plates is fun!

For awhile now I've been working as a GIS consultant for a few non-profits.  That work comes and goes in fits and starts, which is great for me.  But now I've added a more steady position with the University of Pennsylvania's National Resource Centers.  I'm working as a evaluation coordinator making sure that they gauge their success so that their work continues to get refunded.  So far, it has been interesting and my work is valued.  Couldn't ask for more.  Moreover, I'm able to do all of this work from home (besides a few odd meetings in Philadelphia that will creep into our lives about once a semester) and still take care of Alma full time.  Not a bad deal, right?

It has felt great to make maps and think creatively.  I like remembering that I am more than just a wife, mother and an owner-lady.  Just my sewing room and this blog will have to be ignored on occasion and I think that is an okay trade.

All this being said, I have a bunch of cute photos that I am going to post over the next few days.  So stay tuned!

Youngest Organizer

Alma has a great role model in her father.  While she will have to endure many public policy discussions during her youth, we hope that she will grow up to be well-informed and passionate about her community.

Saving Money, Saving Lives

The summer I was pregnant with Alma I worked as a Samuel S. Fels Intern with Project H.O.M.E., an amazing non-profit in Philadelphia that is dedicated to eliminating homelessness.  I was tasked with producing a report that argued for a change in funding for services for those who are chronically homeless.  This report has recently been finalized and published.  Hooray -- my first official publication!

Check it out! Saving Money, Saving Lives

Update: The Move to the Lehigh Valley

Lots of people have been asking us how the move to the Lehigh Valley is going. Well, from my perspective, it is at a stand-still.  Here is the current state of things:

• We found and are under contract with a great house in Bethlehem.  The sale is contingent upon the sale of our own house.
• We have someone who has looked at our house three times and is interested in putting down an offer (or so says our agent) but no word yet.
• Joshua's last day of work at CCOP is this Saturday -- a BBQ to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the organization.
• Joshua's first day of work at CUNA is next Wednesday.
• We are not looking forward to his daily commute up to Allentown and how that will mean that he won't see Alma most days.  I think that Alma and I may go up there once a week so that we can have some time together.  Plus, I hear that Alma's skills as a receptionist are top-notch.
• We are appreciating South Philly in a new way.  Even the parts that we don't like seem charming these days, mostly because we know that we won't have to deal with them any more.  For example, yesterday at the park we saw a fight between two women.  Mid-fight, one lady pulled the other lady's tube top down and the local boys started chanting "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!"  We will miss this wacko place that we have called home. 
• We are excited to start a new adventure!  I'm especially excited to get to all the projects I've been putting off since we are showing this house (quilts! toys for Alma! dress-making!) and digging into a new house (a library! a craft room! painting walls! a yard for plants!).

We are hoping to have a grand closing day where we sell our house and purchase the new one.  Hopefully this will happen soon -- September 30th?  Then Joshua will only have to commute for one month and we have a vacation mid-month to break up the pressure.

Work

Alma and I have recently been going over to Camden for CCOP's Thursday night lecture series.  It is a great way for me to keep my brain active, let Alma see her daddy in a new space and give the CCOP family some time with our cutie. 

Unfortunately, Alma's social anxiety has started to ramp up a bit these day.  Here she is looking a little scared with Mariatu, one of CCOP's leaders.

Lehigh Valley, Here We Come!

Exciting news around these parts....

Joshua was officially offered the director position in Allentown at Congregations United for Neighborhood Action (CUNA) and we have decided to accept, sell our house and move up there.

We are thrilled (and a little nervous) about this move! We had been toying with the idea of getting out of the city to be closer to nature and better schools for Alma, then this opportunity came along. We already looked into the Montessori School in Allentown, which is just a few blocks from Joshua's new office, and it seems ideal. For example, they have a Interfaith Chapel for the Primary! This past weekend, we spent a day at Lake Nockamixon, which wouldn't be too far from where we would live, and learned about their sailing fleet and racing club. I was in love. Plus, the proximity to the countryside (lots of trees and grass) was making Joshua drool. We will miss our Philadelphia friends, but we are still close enough to visit often.  It is a tiny bit closer to my parents in Carlisle and an easier drive to Brian and Bridgette's.

CUNA is part of People Improving Communities through Organizing (PICO) which Camden Churches Organized for People (CCOP) is part of too. Therefore, Joshua will be in the same "network" of non-profit faith-based community organizations.

We are nervous about the process of selling our house and buying a new one, so, if you have any suggestions, we are all ears! Moreover, if you know anyone who is interested in a cute South Philly rowhome or know of any great homes for sale in the Lehigh Valley, let us know!  We have a friend who is possibly interested in purchasing our house from us directly and we are super excited about this prospect.  Saving all of that money by not using a real estate agent = yes please!  But we are going to officially list it with the MLS late next week if she decides to bail on the idea.

We will keep you posted as we make more decisions about this move.   But in the meantime, email me soon if you want to see (and then purchase!) our house.  We will make you a great offer!!!

Article in Inquirer about CCOP's Efforts

Mayor Redd: Tear Down These Walls
By Kevin Riordan
Philadelphia Inquirer Columnist

Best part of the article:
Camden mayors are traditionally wary of CCOP, particularly because of its independence and media savvy. That has been the pattern for more than 20 years. It's time for Redd to break that mold.

Welcome Spring!!

The little Japanese cherry tree that is in front of our house is blooming.  Hooray!

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In other exciting news, congratulations to Joshua for winning The Romero Center's Social Justice Education Award at their yearly Romero Lecture Series for all of his time and energy spent talking to groups about the work of CCOP in Camden and about other social justice initiatives throughout the country. You deserve it, babe!

'Ugliest House' Razed in Camden

By DEBORAH HIRSCH • Courier-Post • January 14, 2010

CAMDEN — The worst of the worst eyesores in Cramer Hill was demolished Wednesday -- four and a half months after residents voted it the ugliest house in the neighborhood.

About 20 community members, church leaders and students from St. Anthony of Padua parish school braved the frigid morning to watch a demolition crew topple the burned-out shell of 923 N. 27th St. and an adjacent row home.

The two buildings were the first of 23 hazardous structures that are expected to come down over the next few weeks.

Leaders from Camden Churches Organized for People organized the ugly house contest last July in an effort to draw attention to the thousands of abandoned homes in the city.

[For the complete article, please see The Courier Post.]

Camden's Ugliest House Lives On and On

By Matt Katz
The Philadelphia Inquirer

Camden's ugliest abandoned house is still there, as ugly as ever.

Four months after a high-profile protest and promises by politicians to have it razed, the building on North 27th Street - winner of an "ugliest house" contest by a community group - is a reminder of the difficulty of progress in the nation's poorest city.

"Thinking about Camden's capacity to govern itself, this is a perfect example of how the capacity is still not there," concluded Brother Jerry Hudson of Camden Churches Organized for People, which organized the competition.

(For the full article, please visit the Philadelphia Inquirer.)

CCOP in The Economist

Camden's crisis

Ungovernable?
Nov 26th 2009 | CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
From The Economist print edition

The state may have failed the city it took over

ROSA RAMIREZ is an active member of Camden Churches Organised for People (CCOP), a large and powerful civic group in Camden, New Jersey. She complains that rubbish is not collected. She worries about drug dealers hanging out on street corners and in the city’s many abandoned buildings. But when her daughter, who lives in the suburbs, begs her to leave, Ms Ramirez replies, “How can I leave? Camden needs me.” It does. Not enough people care about this city of 79,000 people that lies in the shadow of Philadelphia.

Hopes rose seven years ago, when the state took over the post-industrial city. The inept municipal government was struggling to provide even the most basic service. Poor management and lack of resources meant possibly waiting hours for police to respond to calls. Corruption was rampant: three former mayors ended up in jail. Camden was given $175m in bonds and loans and in return the state was given municipal authority over the city. The governor appointed a chief operating officer who could veto decisions made by the mayor and the city council. The state also took over the abysmal school district and, in 2005, the police department. Much of the money went to big urban development projects. The waterfront, with its fantastic views of the Philadelphia skyline, was given particular attention. Hospitals and universities in the area received money to expand and more than $1 billion was leveraged in private investments.

But the city’s districts, many blighted with abandoned buildings, did not get much cash. In the Cramer Hill district Brother Jerry Hudson of the St Anthony of Padua church talks about the run-down place next door to the parish school. Although the city had boarded it up, vandals routinely broke in. It became a den for drugs and prostitution. Though many such buildings have been demolished, Brother Jerry reckons there are just as many now as there were in 2002.

Camden had the highest crime rate in the country in 2008, according to CQ Press, with 2,333 violent crimes for every 100,000 people. The national average is 455. Camden spends $17,000 per child on education, yet only two thirds complete school. Two out of five people live below the poverty line. The Philadelphia Inquirer recently summed up a series on Camden by saying that “residents are just as poor today and just as likely to be murdered. They are just as unemployed…And the city is twice as reliant on state taxpayers as before.”

Little wonder then, that Chris Christie, the governor-elect of New Jersey, has called the state takeover a “failed experiment”. He hopes to return control to the city, perhaps even before the takeover expires in 2012. But not everyone feels the city is ready. One former chief operating officer predicted it would stay under state control until 2030. As there is no tax base to support city services, Camden would still have to depend on the state for funding. But New Jersey is struggling to balance its own books, and it is not alone: less state support can be expected all over the country, just when cities most need help. The National League of Cities has found that 88% of city finance officers are less able to meet fiscal needs this year.

But there is some good news. Crime is down 13% this year so far. Murders have fallen by 38%, while shootings are down 18%. Big construction projects at Rutgers University and Cooper University Hospital are under way. Tom Corcoran, the former head of the Cooper Ferry Development Association, thinks that if the city can lower crime and improve schools, it can turn around. He thinks the waterfront is key: the city has 15 miles of it, though only 10% is accessible to the public.

Ms Ramirez is typical. She thinks the state is doing a bad job, but she also worries that the city will fall apart without it. “It’s in Christie’s hands,” she says. “If he can figure it out, he would be a hero.”

Christie blasts city schools

By JIM WALSH • Courier-Post Staff • October 13, 2009

CAMDEN — Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie on Monday night blasted the city's school system as "obscene" and said its failed classrooms are to blame for Camden's dangerous streets.

In a speech here, Christie aimed much of his criticism at his Democratic opponent, saying the administration of Gov. Jon S. Corzine has taken "deep bows" for "half measures" in the impoverished city.

But Christie also targeted teachers unions for city school failures, saying their leaders "are feeling fat and they don't want change."

Christie said he'd improve education opportunities for city youth by offering more charter schools, introducing vouchers that would cover tuition payments at private schools and through unspecified "innovations."

"The failing schools must change or they must go extinct because we can't continue to fail your children," he said a meeting sponsored by the nonpartisan Camden Churches Organized for People. About 100 people turned out for the session at Sword of the Spirit Church.

(For the complete article, please see the Courier Post.)

U.S. block grant to take down Camden's most dilapidated

By Matthew Spolar, Inquirer Staff Writer

In August, an abandoned, crumbling home at 923 N. 27th St. was named the ugliest house in Camden's Cramer Hill neighborhood.

Now, thanks to a federal grant, its days are numbered.

The building took the crown in a contest that Camden Churches Organized for People conducted to bring urgency and publicity to the problem of abandoned houses. It was chosen from among 13 candidates by parishioners at participating churches.

The organization demanded it be torn down within 48 hours. At the time, Pat Keating, Camden's public works director, said a recent major demolition had left him with too little money to make that happen.

Late last month, however, $500,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funding was approved for demolitions in the city.

"That's the money I've been waiting for," Keating said.

He will use it to demolish 33 houses on the city's "imminent hazard" list: 12 throughout Cramer Hill and East and North Camden, 12 in South Camden, and 9 downtown.

On the list is 923 N. 27th St. and its decrepit next-door neighbor at 925.

"They're going to be in that first batch," Keating said.

The list is set for bidding by demolition contractors. The contracts would then require City Council approval.

"If that comes down, it'll be a big relief for all of us," said the Father William "Jud" Weiksnar, the pastor at St. Anthony of Padua Church, who spearheaded the contest won by 923.

But the contest should not end efforts to rid Camden of abandoned properties, he said.

"The reason for the ugly-house contest was to draw attention to a situation most people [in Camden] had become used to - living with dangerous or abandoned houses right next door," he said.

...

Keating said the building at 923 N. 27th St. would likely have been on the list of 33 even without the attention brought to it by the contest, but he still applauded the efforts of Camden Churches Organized for People.

"God bless them. I love that stuff," he said. "That's how you keep people engaged. You need these folks to do what they do."

(For the full article about this CCOP victory, please visit the Philadelphia Inquirer.)