Building a Safe, Sustainable Community in Central Woodward

Thursday, October 15, 2009

By Lori Ella Miller, Detroit LISC Scribe

Safety is the number one priority for area residents in Central Woodward and the North End.  Detroit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the Central Woodward/North End Collaborative have joined forces to address this important issue, as one component of the larger comprehensive strategy for the area.

With support and funding from Detroit LISC, the Central Woodward/North End Collaborative developed and launched a Safety Management Program, designed to significantly decrease crime, while increasing the quality of life for residents and businesses in the area.

Focus: HOPE, an architect for change in the Central Woodward/North End community for 40 years, was selected to become the on-the-ground CDC coordinating the Central Woodward Safety Management Program.  

“In addition to having quality and affordable housing to live in, people also want to have a safe place to live,” said Deborah Fisher, Community Development Manager for Focus: HOPE.

The Safety Management Program called for the creation of a Community Safety Coordinator who could shepherd the project.  With funding from Detroit LISC, Focus: HOPE hired Bridget Vance to step into this important role. 

Vance, who has extensive experience in this type of work, received additional training from the national LISC Community Safety Initiative (CSI) and the successful SafeGrowth training program.  The SafeGrowth model employs the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, which focus on minimizing opportunities for crime and deterring criminal behavior.

Vance believes that it is essential to first understand the problems that plague communities in order to solve them.  She took a very grass-roots and organic approach when developing her overall safety plan.  She established an open line of communication with area residents by attending block club meetings, faith-based functions and hosting monthly safety meetings and workshops.  The area residents became true advocates for safety, and were empowered to take an active role in developing problem-solving strategies.

This critical community dialogue resulted in the development of an agenda for change. Vance points out that the community rallied around many issues, including targeting and maintaining vacant properties.  One success story in this area is the “Clean Corps Summer Program.”   Five area teenagers served in the “Corps” for eight weeks.  This group of dedicated youth canvassed more than three miles in the target area, preparing reports on the vacant and abandoned properties, as well as photographing them.  Utilizing the latest technology, they uploaded the data and images to Google Earth to create a user-friendly mapping tool.

“These teens did some dynamic work,” said Vance. “We hope that one day the City of Detroit and other non-profits will be able to use this Google Earth tool, and access the data and images.”

The teens also returned to the vacant homes to clean-up the lawns, remove debris and litter and trim the hedges. 

“These are kids who live here and who are a part of the community,” said Fisher.  "We hope that this program will build a foundation for reaching out to other youth in the future.  We need everyone to be a part of this safety effort.”

Another key strategy in the Central Woodward Safety Management Program is the creation of an effective CB Radio Patrol.  Working closely with the Detroit Police Department and the community, Vance has already organized a group of volunteers who will be a part of an enhanced Central Woodward CB Radio Patrol.  The group is participating in comprehensive training sessions, which include “ride-alongs” with Detroit police officers, as well as lectures by other citizens who have successful CB programs.  Vance hopes to roll out the first patrol at the end of October in time for Angels Night.

Vance’s outstanding work has not gone unnoticed.  Recently, she received the Detroit Police Department’s Community Service award, as well as a certificate of appreciation from the Board of Police Commissioners and the Spirit of Detroit award.

Photo Caption:  Detroit police officers personally present Community Safety Coordinator Bridget Vance with a certificate of appreciation, recognizing her work on behalf of Central Woodward and the North End.  

There are also future plans for monitoring by police patrols, as well as the placement of a sophisticated camera surveillance system in major business corridors.  The surveillance tool will be accessible to area residents via a wireless network.

In addition, the Safety Management Program will feature other key initiatives, including the implementation of a “Weed and Seed” program in the community, utilizing social media sites to reach and engage today’s techno-savvy youth, creating school safety strategies and hosting educational workshops on crime and safety issues. 

The Safety Management Program also focuses on other relevant issues, such as: blight elimination and code enforcement, anti-breaking and entering, anti-auto theft and anti-drug trade.

The concept of neighbors helping neighbors is the driving force behind the success of the Central Woodward Safety Management Program, which has been up and running for almost one year.  Filled with a new sense of passion and civic pride, the citizens who live in the Central Woodward/North End area are building strong, safe and sustainable neighborhoods, and protecting the future of their community.