Progress because of community effort!

Because of the hard work of people like Sylvia Baylor, Wyshina Harris, Sheila Oliver, Dana Arnick, June Mason, Mayella Lopez, Monique Dawson, Lori Cullom, Linda Haynes, and several others the 10:15 p.m. bus is back!!!! (Click on the dates underneath each picture to see video "then" and video "now") If you look at the first picture (below), you can also see that back then there also weren't any street lights...but there are now...thanks to those same people!

At this point, the 10:15 p.m. bus is not permanent. They are testing it out to see if it is safe for the bus drivers. Please help us keep the bus there! If anyone you know does something to hurt a bus or bus driver, please immediately call 9-1-1. If you see kids messing up the new swings, please stop them! If you see people shooting out the street lights, please call 9-1-1. Let's work together to keep our community safe, well-lit, and full of opportunities for the children and ourselves.


Turner Courts, December 7, 2007


Turner Courts, May 9, 2008

People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world...are the ones who do!

Thanks to all of you who came out to the Town Hall meeting on Saturday and to those of you who demonstrated so much courage in speaking out. Though I know it was frustrating and seemed like we are at a point where people aren't listening, you are making a difference. Your courage, your work to get others involved, your willingness to get up and show up on a Saturday morning...it will all make a difference. We have to continue working and continue pushing. We can...and we will...change our neighborhood for the better. Hang in there...we're all in this together!

The power of community

Our "community" is growing!!

I had just gotten home from work and my phone rang telling me I had a text message:

8:19 I HAVE A WITNESS THAT THEY ARE BACK SELLING SINGLE CIGARETTES

Despite Evette going back to work and being unable to be at some of our meetings, she's making sure the community is staying on track!

After exchanging a few texts, Evette said she could be at the next community meeting to prepare us for the Town Hall meeting. PLUS, she said, she's bringing a friend!!

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This afternoon the kids were at the After-School Academy having a "tye-dye party" as a part of their Spring Break activities. Mayrea walked in and hung out, helping out where needed.

Mayrea came to the last Town Hall meeting. After we left the meeting, she and I talked for a little bit. She was excited about how the meeting had turned out and said she wanted to make sure and come to the next one.

She and her 13-year old son have begun volunteering at the After-School Academy. She agreed to help out with our new idea to do a Community Clean-up project this summer.

She also told us of some good news...but I'll let her blog that herself!

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Ms. Lori came to prepare lunch for the kids today. Lori has become an amazing force in the community.

Lori's neighbor, Rochelle, had come to check on her two boys in the After-School Academy. When she walked in, Sylvia and Lori immediately started asking her about attending the next community meeting.

As Rochelle hesitated and tried to come up with excuses, Lori explained to her that she just needs to take the first step and it would be easier after that. Lori went on explaining that her own reason for getting involved was because she "didn't have anything better to do" and "might as well." (and we are so glad that has been the case!)

Lori finally told her she may have to just go grab her and drag her out to the next meeting. That seemed an acceptable solution to Rochelle. Sometimes we need a friend, a neighbor to stand alongside us for support...sometimes we need them to "drag" us. That's what COMMUNITY is all about. Community is about support. Community is about holding each other accountable. Community is sometimes pushing people into things they don't think they want to be involved in and can't yet see the benefit.

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After I went back to the office, I heard a loud knock at the door. Mr. Rhodes was just passing by on his way to pick up his wife.

When I answered the door, he simply said, "I can't stay, but I wanted to give you this."

He handed me a complete CD recording of our last Town Hall meeting! "Listen to it. I think you'll find some interesting things to take notes on."

Mr. Rhodes is an asset. He's lived in the community for 60+ years and is often so frustrated with the lack of progress over the years that he has a hard time wanting to get involved again. But he has a desire and a passion to document what happens in South Dallas.

Because of him, we just may have a way to document the little and big successes of the residents of Rochester Park!

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Of course, the previous entry told about Ms. Haynes helping Mr. Williams learn how to use the computer. Both have been a part of our Town Hall meetings and utilize the Educational Outreach Center's computer lab now on a regular basis.

People are coming together! People are beginning to see the value in each other! People are beginning to see how they can effect change in the community...OUR community....ROCHESTER PARK!

Let's keep talking...let's keep working toward solutions! You guys are awesome!

Next community meeting...

Thursday, March 27, 2008
12:00-1:30 p.m.
Turner Courts' Community Room

Childrens' feelings

"What feelings do you have when you think of Turner Courts?" I asked the question of 9 kids in the After-School Academy.

Dangerous.

Happy.

Sad.

Afraid.

Embarrassed.

Disappointed.

I've heard some of the adults in Turner Courts say some of the same things. You can see pictures below that kids and adults in Turner Courts have taken to illustrate their feelings.

From talking with some of you, I know those are not feelings you want to have in the place you call "HOME."

So what can we do?

We take our neighborhood back from the people who are making the decisions about what they think we should and shouldn't have!

How do we do that?

We speak up.

The reality is, the people who are making the decisions about Rochester Park do not live in Rochester Park. They are not around when the sun goes down. They do not know what you know. So, we need your voice to help them understand. Though some of you have told me your situation and story, I can't represent it like you can.

Come join us today (Wednesday, February 20) at 12:00 to voice your opinions and help us decide what we want the city to hear from us when we meet in our Town Hall meeting on Saturday, March 1 at 10:00.

WE NEED YOUR VOICE!!!

Town Hall meeting #2!

Everyone come out! We are having our 2nd Town Hall meeting for the Rochester Park community.

I am so encouraged by the participation of the people who have come to the table so far. They have done a great job hanging in there and following up with the information we received. We definitely need everyone to participate in order to make our community better.

Please come out...

THIS SATURDAY
February 2, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

We will have progress reports presented by different people in the community and some new representatives from the city to help us address issues.

Please be on time! We want the city to know we are taking this seriously!

I look forward to seeing you!

Making changes

Thank you to Wyshina, Ms. Haynes, Monique, Sylvia, Bernard, Lori, and Dana coming out to the meeting with Dwaine Caraway today! I hope everyone felt like they got to voice their concerns...and I hope you were satisfied with the response. (I hate that I forgot to take pictures!!)

Though Dwaine said he was going to get right on those issues, we need to make sure we get our part done so the city is unable to make excuses for the repairs they are responsible for. We want the city to see that we want our neighborhood to be better and we are willing to do our part to make it happen as long as we have their support…even if we’ve tried before (as I know many of you have made calls before).

We have tentatively planned a
Town Hall meeting
January 5, 2008
10:00 a.m.
Location: After-School Academy

Please write this down and plan on attending!

Before that meeting, there are several things we need to accomplish…
1) Writing down the specific address of EVERY street light that is out—Who wants to be responsible for that?
2) Ms. Haynes calling about the DHA change in paying rent
3) Getting the word out about the Jan. 5 meeting—inviting friends, neighbors, etc. We want to begin showing the city that we will show up…but we also can’t get discouraged when people don’t. We just need to persevere. People will start coming out when they see that things are actually happening.
4) Visit the churches across the street and find out what community efforts they have…and just get to know them in general…begin building a relationship with them (maybe invite them to visit the ASA or the EOC)—Who wants to be responsible for that?
5) Begin our own meetings/conversations.

We need a Resident Council here at Turner Courts. But, we don't have enough people to make it work--President, Vice President, Treasurer, Chaplain, Sergeant at Arms, and 2 alternates. I suggest that we just start having lunch/community conversations and begin talking about the issues and working on them. As we attract more people and create leadership within our own group, we can advocate for a resident council.

Wyshina had a great idea I think would be great for us to start working on…I am going to look into getting us all trained and deputized to be people who can register voters. If we can do that, we will probably do it during our ASA staff development meeting (anyone can attend though). I’ll let you know when we get the person to train us.

I want to hear your comments about the meeting. Make comments below. (Ask Sylvia if you need help doing this)

Thanks again for coming today! I look forward to the possibilities!!