Community Development - Marvel Parker
Weed and Seed Program
This has been an eventful year for the Village of Summit. In December 2005 the village was awarded a grant from the Community Memorial Foundation, Hinsdale, Illinois. this grant was to hire a consultant to conduct the four neighborhood regional meetings held in April 2006 to discuss problems facing our diverse community.
Residents were responsive in discussing problems and offering solutions to issues that are unique to some areas and commonplace to others.
Residents asked to be allowed to hear the results of the research gathered and the data compiled by Dr. Laverne Carter. A meeting as held on May 17, 2006 with over one hundred residents attending to hear the results of the information gathered.
The Summit Village Board and the Police Department agreed to bring Dr. Carter back in June to work with the Weed and Seed steering committee to develop a five year strategic plan and application for Weed and Seed designation and funding. During the summer this group worked diligently to learn the guidelines and strategies that needed to be adopted and implemented in our community.
Partnerships were created with state and private service agencies to bring additional resources into the community to implement the strategies. Some of the programs that will evolve from the Weed five year strategic plan are: a Prison Reentry Program to aid ex-offenders in their reentry into the community, Job Training Programs, and Record expungement.
The Seed component will develop programs that will address cultural diversity and youth focused activities. The Summit Park District and the Summit Library are working with the Prevention/Intervention and Treatment commitee to collaborate existing programs and develop additional programs for youth, adults, and families.
The Neighborhood Revitalization Committee will work to help create a Chamber of Commerce and a Cultural Center.
We are asking community residents to become a part of the Weed and Seed Program. SIGN UP NOW! (708) 563-4800
Taken from the December 2006 Village of Summit Newsletter.