RLP #2: Mapping Community Assets

Resident Leadership Program: Part Two

By NHS Staff

Last Tuesday evening, we kicked off our second Resident Leadership class with Lee Cruz, Community Outreach Director at the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.  Lee led us in a discussion of “Mapping Community Assets”. Participants engaged in a series of discussions and activities centered on leveraging community resources and forging lasting connections.

The group discussed strategies for effectively combating the negativity that often dominates discussions of New Haven’s neighborhoods. Lee guided participants in identifying what steps neighborhood residents can take to transform perceptions and highlight the positive features of our communities. He emphasized the importance of avoiding the temptation to dwell on negativity, and instead to counteract negativity by  “overstating the positive”.

Participants spoke in small groups about what motivates them personally, and how they can begin to use these ideas to motivate others. These discussions were used to help inform community organizing strategies and provide inspiration for resident-led initiatives. Lee emphasized the power of rituals, and how that plays into effective community organizing. Once an activity is established as a routine and people being to expect and rely on those activities, it can be a powerful tool to unite a community. For example, if a group establishes regular street clean-ups in a particular neighborhood, residents will soon begin to anticipate street clean-ups and accept them as a part of life in their neighborhood.  Lee suggested that participants view the clean-ups as “a means to an end”, meaning that in the process of organizing and leading these activities neighbors will connect, share, and build relationships with each other, which ultimately leads to an interconnected, healthy neighborhood. These interactions and connections are key to successful community building, and can be surprisingly easy to initiate.  

Lee also pointed out that taking notice of the little efforts that our neighbors make, such as a new plant or decoration, we can take comfort in knowing that pride of place exists and express that to our neighbors. To make big improvements, we must acknowledge the small steps and opportunities that happen along the way.

Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service

Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service

by NHS Staff

Last Monday, we gathered at Lincoln-Bassett Elementary School to celebrate the second annual Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service. This day was observed by mayors throughout the country, and is aimed toward celebrating the profound and lasting impact of community service. Speakers, including Mayor Toni Harp, emphasized the importance of public service, especially in difficult economic times, and the vast improvement New Haven has made in recent years because of it. A group of students from Lincoln-Bassett Elementary School displayed their incredible artwork on stage - paintings that will become part of a community art project in Newhallville. 

NHS' AmeriCorps VISTAs Kim Ochilo and Kimberly Langin, who are members of our Community Building & Organizing Team, welcomed guests.

Students in Mr. Pavano’s 5^th and 6^th grade art class displayed their beautiful artwork throughout the building. These pieces are going to be implemented in to a community service project utilizing a wall of an abandoned building on Shelton Avenue.

 

Mayor Toni Harp, a former AmeriCorps VISTA, spoke about the incredible impact that volunteers have made in our community.

Our Executive Director, Jim Paley, speaks at the event. NHS has been a proud host to the VISTA program for the past 5 years.

Guests included VISTA hosts from throughout the New Haven community, Public Allies, PAVE New Haven, Lincoln-Bassett Students, and neighborhood residents.

Our Community Building & Organizing team developed this rendering for the Mayors Day community service project. We're excited to see the final product!

Our AmeriCorps VISTAs, Kim Ochilo and Kimberly Langin, worked with Lincoln-Bassett students to beautify the wall on Shelton Avenue.

Another painting from Mr. Pavano's 5th and 6th graders. We were thrilled to work with such a talented and dedicated group! 

Going Green

Going Green

By NHS Staff

NHS is one of the many organizations participating in the Healthy City/Healthy Climate Challenge.

In late April, NHS of New Haven will apply for designation as a NeighborWorks America Green Organization. While we have always thought of ourselves as a “green” organization, we have learned over the past several months that there are plenty of areas in which we could “green up.”

One area to which we have been paying particularly close attention is purchasing. By taking a closer look at the products we purchase and the vendors we utilize, we have found some ways in which we can change our habits while helping out both the environment and the local economy.

A purchasing committee made up of Green Team staff members Areta Huckaby, Becky Skau, and Colleen Trompeter, Board representative Celeste Suggs, and AmeriCorps Green VISTA Member Allison Kelly went through our office supplies, checking each product to see if it was an environmentally-friendly product. Surprisingly, many of our products were not as good for the environment as we thought! We learned a lot about greenwashing, which occurs when companies attempt to brand their product as “green” and “natural” without actually meeting any certification requirements.

The purchasing committee was a tad daunted at first. We needed to research alternative products that would better suit our sustainability goals. However, after reading just a few articles about the toxins and carcinogens in our current cleaning products, the committee decided to start by finding cleaning agents that would be better for the environment and for our staff! Once we decided to switch our cleaning products, we were much more open to switching over other types of products.

The NHS "Green Team" meets monthly to discuss how to make our operations more sustainable.

Paper was next. We were looking for paper products, from paper towels to copy paper, with at least 30% post-consumer recycled content. Since we’re recycling all our paper now, we need to show the market a healthy demand for new paper made from the old.

We were also pleased to have the opportunity to work more closely with local businesses. We were a little worried, for example, that our copy shop would not be able to meet our post-consumer recycled content requirements. However, they had plenty of paper choices and were happy to guide us as we transition our orders over to a more sustainable option.

We did learn, though, that we cannot switch over all of our products at once, as much as we would desire it. Some products, such as 100% post-consumer recycled content copy paper, or compostable utensils, while much better for the environment, are just too costly at the present time. When we discussed this with our vendors, they agreed that products such as these are not yet as affordable as they will be in the future. We decided to revisit these product options in a few years, to see if the market has shifted and their price has dropped into a range that we can afford.

However, we were also pleasantly surprised to find that several environmentally-friendly products, such as facial tissue and hand soap, were less expensive than the products we’re currently using! Buying in bulk will make each product cheaper per unit while also cutting back on packaging and transportation costs.

As we transitioned each product to a “greener” alternative, we were able to draft overall purchasing guidelines to help guide future purchasing decisions. Our goal is to purchase products that:

o       Minimize air, land, and/or water pollution

o       Avoid the use of chemicals and greenhouse gases that are detrimental to human

o       and environmental health

o       Are reusable, multifunctional, and produce the least amount of waste

o       Are locally produced or within 400 miles of New Haven, CT

Some products fit into multiple categories, while others satisfied just one requirement. Even small steps in the right direction, though, are reducing our impact on the environment while setting an example for other businesses.

Our new purchasing guidelines are just one part of our Green Designation Application. We’re optimistic that they will help us achieve a higher degree of green consciousness and sustainability in the years to come. We hope you will follow us as we report how we’re greening other areas of our organization.

Community Wall

A "Community Wall" in Newhallville

By NHS Staff 

PAVE! New Haven is an AmeriCorps VISTA project that brings together community organizations throughout New Haven to help children and families, aiming to improve the city's education-related services. NHS joined their collaborative efforts recently to design a “community wall,” a neighborhood beautification project, in Newhallville.

Cerda’s Market, on the corner of Starr Street and Shelton Avenue, has an adjacent shell of a building next door to it. The “shell” is, essentially, four walls without windows or doors. The wall targeted for beautification faces the Farmington Canal Trail, a pedestrian greenway that passes through Newhallville. The wall is something that many residents walk by regularly, including students from the Lincoln-Bassett School. Through the community wall project, Lincoln-Bassett students are able to participate in the beautification of a piece of their own neighborhood.

Shelton Avenue, with the Farmington Canal Trail on the left and Cerda's Market on the right. Photo courtesy Google Maps.

 

A rendering of the final vision. Each door and window space will eventually be filled with decorative panels.

The community wall project will fill the empty door and window spaces of this wall with plywood panels featuring decorative elements. The project provides six empty spaces in varying sizes (four window-sized, two door-sized) that need to be occupied. In our current vision, student art will fill the first and third spaces, with larger artwork filling the second space. The fourth space will be utilized as a “window,” featuring a window box with flowers and brightly painted shutters. The fifth space has been painted with chalkboard paint mixed from materials left over from NHS’ construction projects. The sixth space will likely be some form of interactive art to engage passersby.

The wall as it currently stands.

NHS' Community Building Specialist, Stephen Cremin-Endes, assesses the project site with volunteers from Yale University.

The CB&O team was fortunate enough to host a group of 12 Yale University volunteers, who were spending their spring break immersing themselves in the New Haven community by volunteering with various nonprofit organizations. Everyone in the dynamic group of students played an integral part in preparing the panels for the wall and the wall itself. On the first day, we assessed the project site and collectively brainstormed ideas for the wall. On the second and third days, the group divided itself. One group stained the brick wall to remove graffiti and create the chalkboard, and the second group cut the panels that will be decorated by Lincoln-Bassett students.

Thank you to the volunteers and the Yale Chaplain’s office for choosing to partner with us and for spending their Spring Break working on this project! Your time and skills were essential for getting the project started. 

The community wall project will be formally announced at Lincoln-Bassett School on Tuesday, April 1st, from 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM as part of the Mayor’s Day of Recognition for National Service. Mayor Toni Harp and others will come together to recognize the impact that national service has had on New Haven. 

If you are interested in joining us there, please RSVP to Shannon. To find out more about Mayor’s Day of Recognition, or to see other cities that are recognizing the impact of national service, please visit the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS)’s website.

RLP #1: Art & Science of Leadership

RLP #1

By NHS Staff  

We’re at it again! The 2014 Resident Leadership Program made its annual start this past Tuesday evening (March 18). The wonderful Leslie Radcliffe, who is a Hill resident, NHS Board Member, new City Commissioner, Truman Street Clean Green Project Coordinator, and so much more, led a very engaging discussion on "The Art and Science of Leadership."

As the first of a series of related topics, Leslie helped to convey to the nearly 20 participants that leadership is typically most successful when a creative, intentional, and structured approach is encouraged by someone guiding one or more people. The story of Rosa Parks was discussed as an exemplary example of this. Many activities facilitated the discussions that occurred throughout the night, which were great in helping everyone to feel comfortable and more knowledgeable about each other. Participating residents are not only from a diverse geographic selection, including Newhallville, West River, Dixwell, The Hill, East Rock, Fair Haven, and even Waterbury, but are also an intriguing mix of age range, occupation, culture and involvement. This diversity is exciting and important because, as Leslie highlighted, this program is set up to be a fulfilling learning experience for everyone involved. Not only do participants learn from a facilitator, but because everyone in the room has valuable skills to bring to the table, participants often share pertinent insight with each other. 

We at NHS are so pleased with the energy and inspiration that came out of this first session and have every reason to believe that this will continue as we delve into the program. Next up, on Tuesday, April 1st (no joke!), Lee Cruz, Fair Haven resident and Outreach Coordinator for the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, will join us to discuss "Mapping Community Assets."

Stay tuned for more stories about our 2014 Resident Leadership Program! If you’re interested in learning more about how to be involved in this and other similar programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Community Building Specialist, Stephen Cremin-Endes at (203) 562-0598 ext.22 or scremin-endes@nhsofnewhaven.org.

Wells Fargo at the Hill Museum of Arts

Wells Fargo Volunteers at the Hill Museum of Arts

By NHS Staff 

On a chilly day in February, twelve volunteers from Wells Fargo joined the CB&O team and local artist Krikko Obbott at the now-open Hill Museum of Arts in the Hill neighborhood of New Haven. The group met in the lobby of the museum and were introduced to Krikko and his work, admiring the intensive detail of his artistic pencil drawings of major cityscapes, such as Manhattan, Chicago, and (of course) New Haven!

Krikko, along with Stephen Cremin-Endes, NHS’ Community Building Specialist, gave the group a brief synopsis of the work that Krikko has put into the museum, as well as his plans for the house and garage space next door. NHS recently designed some architectural renderings of what the garage space could provide, working with Krikko to help his vision of an art and animation studio with children’s programming come to life.

Today’s volunteer event is now the second major volunteer effort [see article on first event held on MLK Day] put forth to begin the process of rehabilitating this abandoned garage. Krikko’s story - having a vision to transform a negative (abandoned building) into a positive (community art space) - is yet another great example of all that can be accomplished by a single person, whose dedication has rallied others to join in throughout the process. The Wells Fargo volunteers continued the work previously started by Squash Haven, Yale students, and Public Allies on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in January. The day was spent carrying items from the vacant garage to the dumpster beside it, clearing the space for future use.

Volunteers swept and cleaned out the garage space, being sure to uphold green practices in the recycling and disposal of certain objects. A few things we were particularly mindful of throughout the day were separating the waste from the garage and house into trash, recyclable, and reusable piles.

We’d like to commend Krikko for his thoughtfulness, inspiration and his vision, along with the Wells Fargo crew, lead by Kim Chamberlain and board member Arnoldo Ulloa, for all their hard work and dedication to the cause despite this cold weather.

A Day On, Not a Day Off

A Day On, Not a Day Off 

By NHS Staff 

Yesterday, our CB&O team organized a day of volunteer events at Krikko Obbott's Hill Museum of Arts to celebrate MLK day. With help from amazing volunteers from Dwight Hall at Yale, Public Allies, Squash Haven, and several of our neighbors and friends, we came together to honor Dr. King's legacy and give back to The Hill neighborhood.

Krikko Obbott lent his expertise to a group inside the museum, leading an art project based on his incredibly meticulous drawings of cityscapes. 

A dedicated group of  volunteers spent the day outdoors, cleaning up the garage adjacent to the museum. Krikko plans to eventually renovate this property and use it as an arts education center for local youth. We are thrilled with the progress that was made in one day!

We would like to extend our thanks to everyone who came out to support NHS and Krikko in honor of the holiday. The day was a great success, and we look forward to what is in store for Krikko and the Hill Museum of Arts! 

For anyone interested in visiting the museum, it is located at 210 West Street in New Haven.