I Believe

 1. I believe community-based leaders can implement solutions that reduce crime and violence.

• A citizen speaks up at the city council open meeting,
• A few people in the neighborhood successfully organize to protest the cutting down of trees by the city,
• A family member generates a plan to help a loved one to stop smoking, enlisting the support of other family members,

2. I believe neighbors should work together to restore broken families and communities.

• Neighbors share dinners,
• Minimizing the effort it takes to cook,
• Trade fruit from their trees,
•  Borrows a few eggs bring a plate of cookies that the eggs helped create,
•  Knowing your neighbors increases everyone's ability to share

3. I believe it is important to revitalize under served neighborhoods.

• Physical fabric,
• Neighborhood Image,
• Housing development, preservation and stabilization,
• Anti-gentrification strategies,
• Economic development,
• Financial security,
• Education,
• Health and safety
  
  

 

4. I believe low-income individuals and neighborhood-based organizations should play key roles in addressing problems in their communities.

• Churches,
• Schools,
• Health,
• Care Agencies,
• Social-service Groups,
• Fraternities,
• Support Clubs 

 

 

5. I believe value-generating and faith-based initiatives are uniquely qualified to address problems of poverty that are related to behavior and life choices.

• Civitan International,
• Habitat for Humanity International,
• Funders Network,
• Lutheran Services in America,
• Volunteers of America,
• YMCA and YWCA