Page 17 - UnitedMagazine2016 - rev
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THERE’S A BELIEF NOW THAT THINGS CAN MOVE “
AND CHANGE AND WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER
- KARLENE NIELSEN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR IN FORD CITY
Speaking of the neighbourhood “There were people from beacon or a place for people to
where she grew up, Benoit- the neighbourhood involved gather around, and participate
Gonzalez says, “It’s a sense of throughout the entire process more in the neighbourhood and
pride as opposed to ‘let’s clean it and then they actually saw that what’s going on,” says Karlene
up’. Now it’s ‘let’s make it better, tangible change, and then it turns Neilsen, program coordinator in
let’s make it bigger.’” into comments that, ‘we wanted Ford City.
this 20 years ago and now it’s
The Ford City Neighbourhood finally happened,’” says Patrick It’s also been a win for the city.
Renewal Program is one Firth, program coordinator for With more resident eyes and
of four United Way-funded The Initiative – Glengarry to ears on the ground alerting city
programs focused on nurturing Marentette. officials to derelict properties,
neighbourhood improvement residents have had some success
initiatives that are resident- “Crime in Windsor in getting the most offensive
driven, and the investment is neighbourhoods has declined buildings torn down, a process
paying off. over the last several years that is driven primarily by resident
where United Way is investing complaints. The relationship with
With the support of in neighbourhood engagement the city is one that all the program
Neighbourhood Engagement strategies, such as West Windsor coordinators are striving to
program staff, residents in these and Ford City,” says Barry strengthen into the future.
targeted neighbourhoods come Horrobin, Director of Planning
together to identify challenges and Physical Resources for the “There’s a belief now that
and the solutions to address Windsor Police Service. things can move and change
them. It’s the neighbourhood and we can do it together,”
program coordinators’ role to But myths persist about says Nielsen.
mobilize residents and act as a high crime in low income
liaison with other community neighbourhoods, says Tammy Neilsen admits that some
stakeholders. Then, residents Murray, program coordinator residents perceive that the city
rally resources, volunteers, and for Our West End. Hearing that or the police don’t care, but by
city support to get the work done these statistics just aren’t true bringing them to roundtables
– things like improved lighting to is “reassuring for the long-time where there’s representation
make streets safer, the removal residents. It creates a little more from police and the city and
of blight, and working with the resolve [to keep improving the reopening those conversations,
Windsor Police Service on crime area],” she adds. perceptions are shifting.
prevention. The result has been a
renewed sense of hope. “Our strategies have had “There’s lots of work to
significant success in being a be done there, but shifting
www.weareunited.com | 15
AND CHANGE AND WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER
- KARLENE NIELSEN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR IN FORD CITY
Speaking of the neighbourhood “There were people from beacon or a place for people to
where she grew up, Benoit- the neighbourhood involved gather around, and participate
Gonzalez says, “It’s a sense of throughout the entire process more in the neighbourhood and
pride as opposed to ‘let’s clean it and then they actually saw that what’s going on,” says Karlene
up’. Now it’s ‘let’s make it better, tangible change, and then it turns Neilsen, program coordinator in
let’s make it bigger.’” into comments that, ‘we wanted Ford City.
this 20 years ago and now it’s
The Ford City Neighbourhood finally happened,’” says Patrick It’s also been a win for the city.
Renewal Program is one Firth, program coordinator for With more resident eyes and
of four United Way-funded The Initiative – Glengarry to ears on the ground alerting city
programs focused on nurturing Marentette. officials to derelict properties,
neighbourhood improvement residents have had some success
initiatives that are resident- “Crime in Windsor in getting the most offensive
driven, and the investment is neighbourhoods has declined buildings torn down, a process
paying off. over the last several years that is driven primarily by resident
where United Way is investing complaints. The relationship with
With the support of in neighbourhood engagement the city is one that all the program
Neighbourhood Engagement strategies, such as West Windsor coordinators are striving to
program staff, residents in these and Ford City,” says Barry strengthen into the future.
targeted neighbourhoods come Horrobin, Director of Planning
together to identify challenges and Physical Resources for the “There’s a belief now that
and the solutions to address Windsor Police Service. things can move and change
them. It’s the neighbourhood and we can do it together,”
program coordinators’ role to But myths persist about says Nielsen.
mobilize residents and act as a high crime in low income
liaison with other community neighbourhoods, says Tammy Neilsen admits that some
stakeholders. Then, residents Murray, program coordinator residents perceive that the city
rally resources, volunteers, and for Our West End. Hearing that or the police don’t care, but by
city support to get the work done these statistics just aren’t true bringing them to roundtables
– things like improved lighting to is “reassuring for the long-time where there’s representation
make streets safer, the removal residents. It creates a little more from police and the city and
of blight, and working with the resolve [to keep improving the reopening those conversations,
Windsor Police Service on crime area],” she adds. perceptions are shifting.
prevention. The result has been a
renewed sense of hope. “Our strategies have had “There’s lots of work to
significant success in being a be done there, but shifting
www.weareunited.com | 15
