South Bend Weed & Seed Alliance

LOCAL WEED & SEED PROGRAMS & SERVICES

Local Weed & Seed Projects include many of the following:

  • Police Overtime Patrols
  • Police Walking and Bicycle Patrols
  • Billboard Projects
  • Graffiti Blitz & Removal
  • Citizens Police Academy
  • Summer Tennis Program
  • After School Programs
  • GED Programs
  • Crime Mapping
  • Computers and Software for Safe Havens
  • Training at Weed & Seed Conferences
  • Residential Security Equipment
  • Video Productions
  • Neighborhood Restoration Plans
  • Activity/Coloring Book Projects

Two of our committees, Community Policing (COP) and our Prevention Intervention & Treatment Committee (PIT) are very active in using Weed & Seed resources and in developing projects to pisitively influence the community. Some program highlights:

COP committee programs
Billboard Projects
Over 360 students have participated in 3 billboard design contests held in the fall of 2003, 2004 and 2005. The students have designed billboards featuring the themes Graffiti against Graffiti, Pressure against Pressure and Anti-Gun Violence. The winning designs were placed on billboards throughout the Weed & Seed area for residents and visitors to see. All participants were awarded certificates of participation and winners have received savings bonds, art scholarships and gift certificates. Reaction to the contests and the billboard designs have been very positive. The Community Policing Committee plans to make the contests an annual event. Burkhart Advertising, Hobby Lobby, South Bend Regional Museum of Art and judges from Notre Dame and Riley High School have help make the projects a success.

Tennis Program
Division Chief Darryl Boykins from the South Bend Police Department has conducted his tennis program at LaSalle Park over the past three summers. Over 120 kids participated in the program at the park in the summer of 2006 and they learned the fundamentals of tennis. The program was a collaborative effort along with the Prevention, Intervention and Treatment committee. The Charles Black Recreation Center, a Weed & Seed Safe Haven, used the Tennis Program as part of their summer program at the center.

Along with learning the fundamentals, D/C Boykins teaches the children sportsmanship and how to get along with others. D/C Boykins encourages the parents to be involved in the program with their children. Many of the children had never played tennis before. After the program ended, many had learned the basic skills necessary to continue playing. Having a police officer working with the children helps to break down the barriers between police and community and facilitates stronger cooperation between the two.

Citizens Police Academy
During the summer 2004 the South Bend Police Department with help from the Community Policing committee, conducted a Citizens Police Academy for Weed & Seed residents. Sixteen residents took part in the academy. In an effort to bring the police out in the community and facilitate cooperation between residents and police, the academy focused on the duties of an officer and gave the residents first hand knowledge of the everyday situations police encounter. The six classes were held at various locations in the Weed & Seed area. Members of the Community Policing committee volunteered their time to help with the operation of the academy. Most students were impressed with the academy and have gone on to take the full 13 week academy.

 

Prevention Intervention & Treatment Committee (PIT) Programs
Safe Havens
A Safe Haven is a place where residents may go to access needed services. Many of the Safe Havens have after school programs to help youth increase their test scores and grade point averages. Some also have partnered with other agencies to provide needed services to their neighborhoods. Partner agencies with the Safe Havens include REAL Services, AIDS Ministries, Robinson Community Learning Center, South Bend Community School Corporation, Center for the Homeless, Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Healthy Communities Initiative. The following are the current Safe Havens for the Weed & Seed area: Laymen Chapel, La Casa de Amistad, Charles Black Recreation Center, West Side Neighborhood Partnership Center, St. Adalbert/St. Casimir Church and School and Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.

After School Programs
The Prevention, Intervention and Treatment (PIT) committee and the South Bend Weed & Seed Alliance, Inc. (SBWSA) board of directors, have approved funding for an after school program at Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. The Reach program provides children access to computers, software, homework assistance and life skills at the church. Mrs. Lorraine Davidson, along with 4 staff members, administer the program. Reach serves over 40 children during the week and provides a safe environment for the children. Volunteers from Notre Dame also come in and tutor the children. West Side Neighborhood Partnership Center, La Casa de Amistad, St. Casimr/St. Adalbert school and Charles Black Recreation Center also have after school programs. Tutoring, homework assistance, art instruction and recreational programming are included in these Safe Havens. Dance instruction will be added to the programming at the Charles Black Recreation Center and the West Side Neighborhood Partnership Center (WSNPC). WSNPC will also have a variety of programs for youth and adults beginning in October 2005. Call the Center, 235-5800 for more information and calendar of events!

Video Production
During the summer of 2004, the PIT committee had a video produced to inform residents of Safe Havens and the programs available in them. The video shows the many activities available at the Safe Havens and features children speaking of the positives of the programs and the negative influences of drugs, gangs and violence. Interviews with the Safe Haven directors and coordinators provide information on each center. RPM Digital Productions spent many hours capturing footage of the children, staff and visitors to the Safe Havens. The final product was a 13 minute video. Copies of the video are available by calling 235-7619. A second video production is planned for fall 2006. This will be a documentary filmed, edited and produced by Safe Haven children.

Enrichment Program
Through funding of the SBWSA, a summer enrichment program has begun at the West Side Neighborhood Partnership Center, 617 S. Pulaski St. Computers and Jump Start software have been purchased and SBWSA has contracted with a program director to lead the program. The focus of the program is to review the past school year’s work and enhance the youth’s skills and educational level. Other activities such as recreation and arts and crafts are a part of the curriculum. To take advantage of this program a youth must reside in the Weed & Seed area and be entering the first through fifth grades. The program runs Monday through Thursday from 6-8:30 pm. For more information or to register for the program, please contact Dolly at 235-5800.
 

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