Community Benefits Report | Winter 2024
NEIGHBOURHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY
NEIGHBOURHOOD GREEN IMPROVEMENTS
In April 2024, the Greening of Detroit hosted a free tree giveaway at Patton Park where staff, project team members and volunteers distributed 500 trees to Southwest Detroit residents. Following an earlier event in 2021, this initiative has provided a total of 750 trees in Detroit. Additional environmental stewardship programming will be delivered by the Greening of Detroit in the neighbourhood in 2024 and 2025.
AMERICORPS URBAN SAFETY PROGRAMMING
The AmeriCorps Urban Safety Programming initiative launched at the Delray/ Southwest Community Health and Safety Fair held in April 2024, which included distribution of auto safety items and food boxes along with lunch, games and bouncy houses. These events will be held in Clark Park in May, June, August and September of 2024. Throughout 2024 and 2025 , AmeriCorps youth service members will be active in Southwest Detroit:
? boarding up and cleaning open and vacant properties
? hosting health and safety community events at Clark Park
? developing Safe Routes to Schools for local students and their families
? delivering auto safety interventions including VIN etching, auto clubs and wheel-locks
? performing home safety assessments and senior healthy safety risk assessments for residents.
SUPPORTING LOCAL YOUTH
With the support of Community Benefits Plan funding, non-profit and charitable organizations in west Windsor and Southwest Detroit are delivering important programming and realizing positive benefits for local youth.
Congress of Communities (CoC) - Green Infrastructure and Programming
CoC has supported programming that connects young people to their roots as stewards of the land through a mix of gardening, intergenerational work, youth mentorship, environmental education and leadership development. The Youth Environmental Healing Program (YEH) launched in October 2023 and continues to engage youth ages 13 to 22 through bi-monthly meetings and stewardship activities.
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC) - Southwest Detroit Youth Programming
DHDC is offering afterschool and summer program activities including tutoring and homework support, unique experiences such as robotics, 3D printing, visual, performance and media arts. Approximately 90 youth, aged five to 17, have benefited from the programming developing creative and technical skills while building strong and trusting relationships with program providers. Southwest Detroit Youth Programming continues in 2024.
Urban Neighborhood Initiative (UNI) - Southwest Urban Arts Mural Project (SUAMP)
Thirteen youth artists and five lead artists, ages 14 to 22, were employed by SUAMP in 2023. The youth learned color theory and mural design and applied these learnings over the summer months by painting murals in the Springwells community. This included collaborating on a large-scale mural on Lafayette and Wheelock in Southwest Detroit. SUAMP programming will continue to be supported by the Community Benefits Plan with additional community art projects delivered in 2024.
Sandwich Teen Action Group (STAG) - Girls Group Programming
In 2023, 28 young women from west Windsor aged 14 to 18, participated in STAG’s Girls Group programming, including outings, educational trips, guest speakers and other activities that exposed the young women to a variety of sports and career paths, encouraging program participants to try new things. Through the program the girls set goals while enhancing their leadership potential and supporting their personal growth.
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - Youth Mental Health Services
CMHA’s Youth Wellness Hub is providing rapid access and low-barrier services to youth aged 12 to 25. Youth in west Windsor have been engaged through outreach activities and individual health services including peer support and counselling. In 2023, CMHA served 220 individuals by hosting or participating in 32 events in west Windsor, significantly improving engagement in wellness activities and increasing knowledge of available community services.
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UPCOMING INITIATIVES AND ACTIVITIES
SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES
Sandwich Business Development Program
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre provides free concierge supports and programming to businesses located in Sandwich and west Windsor. Activities and results achieved through the past six months include:
? conducting seven in-depth Digital Main Street consultations resulting in two businesses successfully receiving $2,500 Digital Transformation Grants
? providing free drop-in hours in the community each month
? facilitating 25 business consultations
? hosting three targeted development seminars.
Bilingual Bridge for Businesses
Puente Cultural Integration provides bilingual (English/Spanish) opportunities and resources to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in Southwest Detroit. Throughout 2023, program outcomes included:
? hosting 23 events and workshops
? providing services to 95 businesses during open office hours
? supporting businesses with their goals including renewing 24 Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs), registration for 24 businesses and filing 12 new LLCs/Employer Identification Numbers.
Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA)
completed improvements to the business center in 2023, resulting in a vibrant, user-friendly and accessible space that has allowed SDBA to expand programs that support local small businesses and offer an additional space in the neighbourhood for community partners to host workshops.
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATION STRATEGY
OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
Chief Relations Officer @ WDBA-APWD | External Communications
6 个月So proud of the accomplishments delivered over the last quarter and thanks to the project team members and our community partners for working together to make a positive difference in our communities.