Good Neighbor Stories

Remembering the Dream

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 12:46:37 -0600

Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., in August 1963 and shared his dream.

He dreamt that “rough places will be made plain, crooked places will be made straight … and all flesh shall see it together.”

Roots of that dream began as a preacher and pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in the Sweet Auburn area of downtown Atlanta. Last Thursday just a few blocks from Dr. King’s home church, the realization and continuation of his dream marched on.

Community members, local leaders and members of Dr. King’s family unveiled the new outdoor Atlanta Hawks basketball court at Selena S. Butler Park adjacent to the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation and Aquatic Center.

“It’s an honor to be part of his legacy and continue to push that vision and compassion for one other,” says Agent Cynthia Meertens, Decatur, Ga., who participated in the ceremony. “This holiday and celebration is a reminder of how far we’ve come and an encouragement to continue.”

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms unveiled the court. Among those accompanying her were Dr. Bernice King, Dr. King’s youngest child; Atlanta Hawks Owner Tony Ressler; Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin; State Farm Assistant Vice President Clarence Hearns, and current and past Atlanta Hawks players.

“The Atlanta Hawks and State Farm are exemplary partners. They continue to invest in communities,” Mayor Bottoms told the crowd. “We thank you for your work in the community and we are grateful for these collaborations.”

The Atlanta Hawks Foundation have pledged to revamp 25 basketball courts in metro Atlanta by 2020. State Farm and the Hawks, two organizations known for giving back to communities, entered an 18-year partnership in September.

Cynthia and fellow Georgia agent, Angela Holloway, are involved in similar events in their communities. Cynthia and her team work closely with Fernbank Elementary School in Decatur on the Socks of Love project that provides items to a men’s shelter in town.

Angela and her team support and serve the organization Save Our Children and Families, which provides awareness and intervention initiatives to abused children.

“If you look at the world today, a lot of people can feel uneasy at times,” says Cynthia. “To be part of Dr. King’s legacy and continuing to push forward that vision and compassion for one another is what he called us to. He is part of everyone’s history.”

And their future.

Neighbors work together to take back their local park

Tue, 09 May 2017 08:48:00 -0500

A community park can be many things. A green, peaceful escape from a concrete jungle. A place for children to play outdoors. A gathering place to enjoy time with family and friends.

“At their best, parks are places for communities to come together,” said Amanda Timm, Houston Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Executive Director. “Unfortunately, many neighborhood parks do not live up to this ideal and are not safe places.”

One such place is Clark Park, a 12.74-acre park in a neighborhood north of downtown Houston. “Clark Park has seen robberies, illegal drug sales, and other criminal activity. It’s also the only park serving the neighborhood’s 17,800 residents,” Amanda explained.

Coming together to take action

In 2015, Clark Park residents decided to take back their park, but they weren’t sure where to start. They found a program that had transformed other neighborhood parks: “Great Opportunities (GO) Neighborhoods,” a Houston LISC program funded in part by State Farm. The program produces diverse, vibrant, and safe communities by engaging members of neighborhood.

In May 2016, community leaders hosted a safety audit and visioning session for Clark Park. More than 50 residents, city and University of Houston staff attended the daylong event. Together they observed and recorded any hazard to safety (blocked visibility, lighting problems, maintenance issues, etc.).

Alejandro Perez, a 23 year resident with a goal of becoming a homeowner, got involved in the safety audit. “I wanted to be a part of shaping the neighborhood I will live in with my kids, when I finally buy a house here.”

That day during the visioning session, residents discussed their thoughts and dreams about the future of Clark Park.

“This was fun because other people come up with ideas you don’t think about,” Alejandro remembered. “One neighbor thought of a pavilion. It surprised me how many different age groups were using the walking trails. It’s a small park, but neighbors connect to it in many ways.”

Residents said they would like an updated jogging trail, more family-friendly areas, and more police patrols.

The Clark Park day was one of the largest attended events of its kind in Houston. It was clear, the community was ready to create positive change in their neighborhood.

Two months later, local residents reviewed a rendering of potential Clark Park improvements. They shared feedback with the city entities and nonprofits. Avenue Community Development Corporation (Avenue CDC) leads the on-going improvement work in Clark Park.

“Clark Park has so much potential,” Avenue CDC’s Community Coordinator Maria Aguirre-Borrero said. “With the help of elected officials and community member engagement, the park will be a shining light in the community.”

In March 2017, leaders added Clark Park to the city’s Capital Improvement Project plans. Now the park will receive improvement funds.

“Clark Park is a fine example of how positive actions can result in neighborhood improvements,” Amanda said. “With determination and hard work, the neighborhood will soon have a park to be proud of.”

What can you do to improve your neighborhood? Visit Neighborhood of Good to find volunteer opportunities in your neck of the woods.

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Tropical Treasure

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0600

Imagine growing and learning in a secret garden time has forgotten. A peaceful, tropical, edible treasure – the Grimal Grove.

The Grimal Grove in Big Pine Key, Florida was designed by a reclusive, engineering genius, Adolf Grimal in the 1950s. Mr. Grimal carved fresh water ways, ponds, cisterns, and built raised garden beds. He formed a lush tropical garden from limestone rock with his bare hands.

After he died in 1997, the two acre paradise, filled with edible plants, was forgotten and tuned into a place of drugs, violence and trash. The Growing Hope Initiative purchased the property in 2013 to restore it.

“This is a community-engaged, edible park”, says Patrick Garvey, founder of the Growing Hope Initiative. “We grow and sell spices, fruits, vegetable, and crafts built by students and volunteers from the community”.

The Grove also hosts year-around community events such as fruit festivals and youth environmental education and skill building workshops.

Students and volunteers from the community learn how to make, grow, and package fruits and other products created at the park like jams, soaps, and chocolates. Proceeds get reinvested back into the youth program.

“I find many of my students really want to understand where their food comes from,” says Jen Sullivan, Big Pine Academy middle school teacher. “They love to eat the items they grow. Thanks to the Grimal Grove Park, students are also growing fruits and vegetables at our school now and at their homes.”

“I’m using the skills learned at the park to create and grow my personal garden at home,” says Alex Bailey, seventh grader at Big Pine Academy. “I’m growing mint, basil, onions, and tomatoes. I’m even learning how to make chocolate from cocoa trees and forging metal safely from a blacksmith that lives in our community.”

“There is so much to learn and do here at Grimal Grove,” says Trent Halama, a student at Key West Collegiate Academy. “And it will help me better understand and protect our environment.”

“I’m getting my high school friends to work along with the middle school students at the park,” says Annastacia Cassidy, a student Key West High School who is studying to be a food technologist. “We want to make this park productive and beautiful again for everyone to enjoy.”

“Instead of playing video games or watching TV after school, students can now learn and put into practice valuable lessons they learn at the park,” says Jen Sullivan.

“Our youth will be advocates and catalysts in the amazing restoration of a unique, edible community park. We could not have done this without the help of the State Farm Youth Advisory Board,” says Patrick Garvey. “This is a lost piece of paradise and we are bringing it back to life,”