COMMON VOICE JUNE 2011
INSIDE THIS ISSUE PRESS RELEASE BY CALVIN SMOTHERS PARK AVENUE COMMUNITY CENTER BECOMES A REALITY BY CALVIN SMOTHERS A NOTE FROM THE LANEY FAMILY BY ROBIN LANEY MEET KARISSA JOHNSON BY KARISSA JOHNSON WE ARE LISTENING BY CAIT CAUGHEY
"I’ve literally been dreaming of this day since I took the first walk on my neighborhood’s streets — and it’s always been just that: a dream. Sheri’s Show Club, which sits across the street from the taco truck and grocery store and 1.5 blocks from the elementary school and our home is not only closed…it is the new site of a neighbor-driven community center. I cannot begin to outline in words all that this means for my block, my people, my neighborhood, but I feel it in my body and I know right down to the cellular level that this is how hope manifests, one pipe dream at a time." Brit Hanson, neighbor and former inCOMMON Director of Neighborhood Development
PRESS RELEASE BY CALVIN SMOTHERS Here is the Press Release for those of you who may have missed it… Omaha, NE June 8, 2011 - inCOMMON Community Development announced today it plans to open a community center where longstanding Sheri‟s Show Club once operated. This iconic Park Avenue building was purchased in late 2010 by Kohll‟s Pharmacy & Homecare for future business expansion, but instead of sitting vacant will now benefit the local community as the only community center in this historic, downtown neighborhood.
“This is a generous and noble act on the part of Kohll‟s,” said Christian Gray, Executive Director of inCOMMON. “Instead of sitting idly on this great community resource, they‟ve readily agreed to leverage the building – headaches and all – to the common good of the community. Kohll‟s is a great example of a business operating at a double-bottomline level: benefiting the community both economically and socially.” “And the anticipated social benefits of inCOMMON‟s community center are impressive. The center is designed to provide a range of support and services for low-income and other at-risk residents in the area. The focus will be on building community support networks, providing preventative and emergency services, and increasing personal and employment success in an effort to assist residents in the attainment of healthy home and neighborhood conditions that promote successful and sustainable lives. The inCOMMON community center will operate through a growing collaborative effort between inCOMMON staff and volunteers, the UNO School of Social Work, Big Gardens, and partnering faith communities, neighborhood associations, and local residents. The community center has received letters of support from both the Mayor‟s Office and Destination Midtown. “The collaborative nature of the community center is one of the most exciting and impactful components of this project,” said Mike Battershell, board member of Midtown Neighborhood Alliance and President of the Hanscom Park Neighborhood Association. “This truly will be a center „owned and operated‟ by the community at-large.” The “icing on the cake,” Gray emphatically reiterates, is location where the first community center in Park Avenue will be housed. “The transformation from a strip-club to a community center is a powerful symbol of the health, vibrancy, and hope we envision for all neighborhoods.” inCOMMON is currently enlisting the support of additional community volunteers to help make this a bright, vibrant place where community can thrive. Interested individuals and groups are encouraged to contact inCOMMON through their website (www.inCOMMONcd.org) to sign-up or get additional information.
PARK AVENUE COMMUNITY CENTER BECOMES A REALITY BY CALVIN SMOTHERS
We have received an overwhelming response since the press release went out announcing our allocation of the Park Avenue Community Center. We sit humbled by the generosity of many including the ten media outlets that featured our story. The Park Avenue Community Center (though not open quite yet) is making a positive impact already.
After the news aired on Channel 7 we received a phone call that Sherry McCartney, owner of Pugsley Construction wanted to help. Sherry sent her construction crew to do the entire initial demolition for no cost. They worked for two weeks transforming the previously dark and closed-in space of Sherriâ€&#x;s Show Club into larger open areas where neighborhood people can meet and gather. Pugsley Construction made a huge impact in such a short time, so much that we cannot thank Sherry, Todd, Trent, and Colin enough!
Also in May we had over 30 folks from the neighborhood and local churches help haul 10-15 large dumpsters of demolished work. It was a dirty, grimy, dusty job, but all of the volunteers worked without hesitation. The dumpsters themselves were generously donated by a neighbor living in close proximity to the Community Center, which saved us time and financial resources. The neighborhood response has also been extremely positive thus far, As we continue work to get the space ready for opening day (which has yet to be announced), we
cannot help but continue to dream about the possibilities that are ahead for the Park Avenue area. The Park Avenue Community Center is something everyone can be a part of and benefit from. Whether it is the workforce development, ESL, soft skills, or gardening classes, the free coffee hours, free case management, meeting space for local groups, concerts, or the Listening Project, we will always seek to offer a wide-range of activities in a neighbor-driven setting. Our excitement and anticipation continues as we make preparations for opening day. We greatly appreciate all the support!
Thank-you Pugsley Construction Holdahl Company Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture Coram Deo Church Core Community Church KETV KPTM Omaha World Herald United Methodist Ministries Ben Wayman Pat O'Donnel & Odeys Kohll's Pharmacy and Homecare Tyler Cooper St. Luke United Methodist and many individual volunteers!
A NOTE FROM THE LANEY FAMILY BY ROBIN LANEY
The Laney Family (Dave, Robin, Christian, Nick, and Erin) assists inCOMMON every week at CommonTable. This month we asked if they‟d describe their experience to share here with our readers. Here is their story… Our family has been involved with inCOMMON Community Development for a few years now. We found out about the need for meal providers at CommonTable, (inCOMMON‟s Monday night Community Meal) through our church small-group. We began providing one meal a month at CommonTable and did so for a few years. It was a great way to contribute to the community using the gifts and resources God had given us. CommonTable also fit well with our current commitment to Starfish Ministry, where we offer lunch, clothing, and hygiene items once a month at 14th and Farnam Streets. Starfish Ministry is about loving people through relationships. In the same way CommonTable offers
us an opportunity to serve in this capacity, connect with our friends from downtown, and serve together as a family. Two years ago we took a break from our lunches at 14th and Farnam Streets. We then committed to spend every Monday evening at CommonTable (then known as Life on the Brick) helping out in whatever way we could. It was such a blessing to us. Then one year ago, Christian and Sonya approached us asking if we would take over the responsibility of facilitating CommonTable. Because we were there every week it was a fairly easy transition, and our only concern was being able to find the resources to provide a great meal every week. Of course, God is so faithful when we say yes to Him and His purposes, and He sent many people to help make this possible. It is amazing to me the care that goes into each meal. The response from the community is also tremendous. Each one of us is a priceless creation of a loving God. At our core we each desire love, acceptance, and a sense of self-worth as an individual. When we serve one another in love, God is glorified. Our purpose on Monday nights is to show people who God is by sharing what He has done for us and in us. It is about sharing the Gospel through word and action. CommonTable offers a great environment for that to happen; a hot, delicious meal shared with friends, a heart and mind opened to being used by God, a listening ear to share in peopleâ€&#x;s lives, and love for one another.
MEET KARISSA JOHNSON Our staff continues to grow at inCOMMON, and this month weâ€&#x;d like to introduce our newest intern; Karissa Johnson. Welcome!
About Karissa Karissa Johnson enjoys building relationships and understanding the heart of friends and the vision of strangers. Growing up in a Christ-centered household, this preacher‟s kid was encouraged to live and lead with integrity. As the middle child of five, she knew that she was strategically placed in the middle to take note of those who went before her and to be an example for those who would follow after her. She embarked on a scholastic journey to Oral Robers University in search of her calling, purpose, and refinement. Karissa received exactly what she pursued and treasures her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Community Development from ORU. Karissa‟s journey did not come without hardships and struggles. Karissa‟s confidence in communicating was challenged four years ago when she was afflicted with a mini-stroke (TIA) that affected her ability to walk, talk, and write clearly. The testimony of Karissa‟s healing and restoration has been viewed over 50,000 times and was shared live in front of more than 2,000 people in Louisville, KY at the Auxiliaries in Ministry Convention in 2007. She is a witness that the healing power of Christ still works! Karissa realized Omaha‟s need for developing soft skills in the urban community and corporate world and decided to do something about it. Miss Johnson recently became a Certified Etiquette instructor through the National Association of Urban Etiquette Professionals in April of 2011. Prior to receiving her training Karissa was invited to teach etiquette to the Nebraska Children‟s Home Society, sororities in Omaha, and church youth groups. She desires to use her training to impact Omaha‟s youth, professionals, and learners in a way that will build confidence, impact lives, and refine behaviors. Karissa currently serves as the Greater Omaha Young Professionals Council of Companies OPPD Representative, Interim Youth President of Christ Cathedral, Assistant Chairlady of Nebraska Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God Christ, an OPPD Young Professionals Group Board Member, and works in Human Resources at Omaha Public Power District. Karissa‟s constant exposure to exemplary mentors, coaches, and colleagues helps refine her as a young professional, soul winner, and valued leader in the community. She is thrilled to work at inCOMMON as she gleans from the seasoned community development experts in efforts to impact Omaha in a magnanimous way.
Listed left to right: Charles, Brandon, DeAnn, Anonymous, Anonymous, Stephanie,
WE ARE LISTENING BY CAIT CAUGHEY
“Every person can contribute to the betterment of our communities and our world. Thus, we seek to affirm and empower people, particularly those who have suffered from injustice.” Rural Southern Voices for Peace
Last month marked one-year of our Listening Project in the Park Avenue area. We‟ve listened to a lot of residents talk about their hopes, dreams, skills, and concerns for the neighborhood. We are so thankful for all of the listeners who have gone through our listening training since we began last May. Many of them have used their skills by sitting down with a neighbor (or sometimes stranger) and asking, “Can I listen to you?” We‟ve recently worked with students from Creighton University and Grace University, who initially felt uncomfortable sitting down with someone they didn‟t know at all, but afterward the majority of the students responded that they would do it again. As I sit and watch the videos and look at photos from these interviews I have become more aware of all the people currently working for positive change in the neighborhood. There are business owners who really care about adults and kids in the neighborhood, and so they opened an alcoholfree pool hall. There are families building new community gardens and sharing their yards with their gardening friends. There are college-students leading afterschool programs at the elementary schools. There are grocery store clerks who take the time to know regular customers who are also their neighbors. There are restaurant workers who help people who need food by offering work compensated with lunch. These are all examples of people participating in the life of the community that were shared in listening sessions. Many of these people may not
recognize that their actions, when combined with others, make a big impact. Here are some highlights from a few listening sessions that touch on ideas and feelings about the neighborhood…
Charles If you could change something about the neighborhood what would it be? We need more bike trails and more frequent bus service. Those would be my two main concerns to help transit to get from here to there. I‟m one of a small number of people who does not have a driver‟s license and has never had a driver‟s license. I have no wish to drive a car, to put my life at risk, or others lives at risk, so I‟ve always biked around. There should be bike trails and useable bike-able areas in this neighborhood. We are severely lacking in those areas, those areas need a lot of work.
DeAnn What activities do you think there could be in the neighborhood? I would like there to be more activities in the summertime for the kids. I remember Sun Dawgs used to be around in the summertime, I don‟t really see that anymore. There should be specials for pool lessons, barbeques outside, opportunities for kids to meet other kids in the neighborhood…
Brandon How do you think things are going in the neighborhood right now? At this point, a lot of needs are being met. I would say the area is really getting built up. There's a lot of people buying different buildings and renting them and making them more habitable. A lot less buildings are condemned. And I would say that's something the residents like to see because it just makes it nicer to walk around because you never know what's going on or not going on in those buildings.
Stephanie What comes to mind when you think of this neighborhood? I like this neighborhood. You have all the races down here. It‟s good for kids to grow here because they are not going to be racist. That‟s how I think about it. When my kids grow up with every single race they are not going to call other races names. Mexicans, Chinese, Africans. I think it is much better for the kids when they grow up mixed. What
are
some
priorities
you
see
for
this
area?
I think more people should help, they should make a place that is closer to homeless people where they can go and sleep. There is one homeless shelter downtown, but they have to walk and if it is so cold they can‟t walk. They are doing so many things, spending their money on things, but they need to help the community more. Not only rich people, but the government needs to help too. There are families outside on the street in this neighborhood and the government seems like they don‟t care. Everyone can help a little.
Anonymous What is the main priority in the community? Crime, but police activity is not going to help, that is just going to make it worse. What else could help? A Community Center could really help, with counselors to talk to the kids. There are a lot of gangs in this area. There needs to be a positive place that older kids can hang out.
Anonymous Do you think there is a main priority your community is trying to work toward? Yes, where I‟m at, the Midtown Development area. We‟re trying to get that built up and get people to move back to the downtown area. There has been a lot of remodeling, but it is a slow process.
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inCOMMON Community Development 1258 S. 13th Street Omaha, NE 68108