 Dennis E. Greenhouse, Director of the Community Capacity Development Office. |
Summer is a busy time at CCDO. It is a time when we travel to many of the Weed and Seed sites throughout the country and witness firsthand the transforming work that is taking place in these communities.
We see the "weeding" successes as neighborhoods are being made safe again, so that children can play in the parks and families can walk in their communities. We see the "seeding" successes as these sites help residents become homeowners and build economic opportunity in neighborhoods that had been dominated by vacant lots and boarded buildings. Weed and Seed sites throughout the country are creating healthy communities that offer safe after-school programs, health care, free tax assistance, job training, and child daycare. These successes reinforce our commitment to this work, and we want to take this moment to congratulate everyone involved with a Weed and Seed community—whether you serve as a site manager, law enforcement officer, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer, language tutor, youth mentor, or Safe Haven volunteer.
Each issue of In-Sites celebrates our Weed and Seed contributors and recounts success stories. This issue is no exception. In this issue you will learn about law enforcement successes in Mount Hood, OR; an innovative anti-gang initiative in Binghamton, NY; reentry successes in Iowa and Michigan; and an exciting anti-meth initiative that will provide prevention resources that can be tailored to individual tribes in Indian Country. Do you have a story you want to tell? We want to hear from you. This e-magazine is your forum, and I encourage you to consider what you have to teach to your peers. We are always looking for new success stories and lessons learned. You never know; maybe you have a story or an idea that will provide inspiration for a peer located many states away.
At CCDO, we are busy putting the final touches on preparations for the 2007 CCDO National Conference. This year's theme is "Promoting Unity in Each Community." The conference is your chance to network with your peers and celebrate the excellent work we all have done over the course of the past year. Aside from meeting old friends and making new ones, this is your opportunity to learn about building community capacity, grant writing, strategic planning, partnership development, and creating and sustaining local community-wide efforts. You can learn more about the conference at the official Web site. On this site, you will find a tentative conference schedule, information about the city of Detroit, the conference hotels, and exhibitor information. Online registration began on May 1, 2007.
Yes, summer is busy for all of us. Nobody ever said that building safe, healthy, and drug-free communities would be easy. But we also share a secret—few things are more rewarding. See you in Detroit, and I look forward to reading about your work and successes in the next issue of In-Sites.
Sincerely,
Dennis E. Greenhouse
Director
Community Capacity Development Office