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SUMMIT MEETING NOTES March 11, 2010 Location: Grace Episcopal Church
Approved Summit minutes can be found at the following website: collegehilloh.net
ACTION ITEMS The key action items as agreed to in this meeting are as follows: Item Responsibility 1. Meet to discuss & decide strategy for NSP2, NSP3 Tom Salzbren, Pete Bauer 2. Meet to discuss Pleasant Hill’s track team using the Rick Schroer, Dean Leonard Rec Center’s track for training. 3. Follow up on incidents of fights & bullying outside the Arnice Smith, Tom Strothers, Library after school hours. Jim Bodmer Arnice will meet with the Pleasant Hill Interim Principal Tom will bring this to CPOP Jim will bring it to CPD 4. Talk to Rec Center about possible day care/evening care for Matt Schwendeman kids of CCHMC residential families. 5. Send link for Dept of Justice article on youth to Summit members. Tom Strothers 6. Obtain Youth Crisis Cards and get them to Summit. Joan Burger, Matt Schwendeman
ATTENDEES: (in alphabetical order) Name Organization Represented Pete Bauer CHCURC Jim Bodmer CPOP/COP/Court Watch Joan Burger CCHMC Ron Cowgill Facilitator Dean Leonard Pleasant Hill Academy Brad Hammond CHCURC Valerie Hershberger Facilitator Ken Lyon e-newsletter Mary McLain ARCH, Grace Episcopal Church Sheena Parton Llanfair Retirement Center Tom Salzbrun Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity Rick Schroer CH Rec Center Matt Schwendeman CCHMC Arnice Smith Library Tom Strothers CPOP Rev. Dan Weyand-Geise CCCH Ron Whitt City Cure, CCCH Ralph Williams CCCH Hope Wilson WIN
AGENDA Welcome and Introductions Host Greetings Opening Prayer Special Announcements Previous Minutes Review/Approval Action Items From Previous Meetings CPOP/COP/CPD/Court Watch Housing Team Update CHBA Update CHCURC Update Schools Updates Library Update Children’s Hospital Update College Hill Rec Center Update Ministerium Update Discussion Topic: Meeting Youth and Young Adults in College Hill Community Activities & Announcements
DISCUSSION:
1. Special Announcements None.
2. Review of February 2010 Minutes
3. Review of Action Items from Previous Meetings (a) Aiken School Board Presentation: Phyllis sent out the information via email. (b) Children’s Hospital: Ron contacted Children’s and Joan attended this meeting along with her replacement, Matt. (c) Contact Info: Valerie discovered that Ron Whitt had given her his contact info in the October meeting, which she did not get summarized last October due to a case of the flu. However, She did summarize it in February, and discovered the information. (d) Rec Center Update: Cyd did not ask Rick to send out a Rec Center update for Feb, but Rick attended this meeting and gave a verbal update. (e) Facebook: Cyd and Arnice did meet and begin working on a youth-oriented College Hill Facebook page. More to come as the idea is developed.
4. COP/CPOP/CourtWatch/CPD – by Jim Bodmer & Tom Strothers Crime was down in February, probably because of all the snow. However, with warm weather coming there will probably be more people and kids on the street, and some increase in crime. The current issue more important to the community is the Hillrise Apartments. The current owners have let the building deteriorate, and have let criminal (drug dealers, prostitutes) rent apartments, resulting in health and safety issues as the criminals prey on other residents. The current owners have not demonstrated the ability to operate the building in a professional manner for several years. The community is not opposed to well-run Section 8 apartments, it just doesn’t have confidence in the current owners’ ability to do so. The CHMA meeting is the 18th. The Forum is moving their meeting to the 16th from the 23rd. The majority of cases being tracked in Court Watch now involve residents of College Hill who are committing crimes in other neighborhoods. EZ Market/Marlowe issues have been reduced. CPOP is supporting the effort by the Rec Center to create a Wii Tournament for local youth.
There was also a discussion about youth workers/community workers being stopped in the evenings by police for “suspicious” activity, which includes things like picking up youth to take them to programs. It was suggested that such workers be given ID card by the sponsoring organizations, but it was decided that the best approach was to meet with the local police and discuss the situation. Officer Jason Pechiney was not at this meeting, but follow up with him was planned by Jim Bodmer and Ron Whitt.
5. Housing Team Update – by Hope Wilson Hope handed out a flyer for the new house at 1402 Cedar. There will be an open house soon. Work on 1192 Cedar and 1309 Cedar will be starting in April. WIN anticipates they could complete a total of 5 houses this calendar year.
6. Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity – by Tom Salzbren Tom Salzbren is a resident of College Hill, and is the Executive Director of the Cincinnati chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity began its work in Cincinnati in 1986, and has built over 170 homes in this area since then. Habitat will do 14 houses this year, with 3 of those in College Hill on Homeside. The specific addresses are 1185 Homeside, 1189 Homeside, and 1141 Homeside. Tom handed out several documents giving background on Habitat, and illustrating the houses to be built on Homeside. Tom reminded us that Habitat homes are not given away, but require at least 500 hours of sweat equity by the new owner. For 14 houses, they will typically get over 1000 applications. Habitat also runs classes to train the new homeowners; there have been only 3 foreclosures out of ~170 houses done in Cincinnati over the years. Typically, organizational or business sponsors pay for the construction of each home. For the Homeside houses, the sponsors are: 1185 – Anonymous donor, house will be the Habitat Kremer model w/garage 1189 – Xavier University & Crossroads Church, house will be rehabbed 1141 – Delta, house will be an energy efficient AIA Cote Design Habitat always conducts both a groundbreaking celebration and a finished house dedication celebration.
7. Ministerium/Christ’s Community Update – by Dan Weyand-Geise & Ralph Williams The Building Bridges program with the Business Association is going well, although details cannot be shared because of confidentiality requirements. There are increased interactions of blacks and whites outside of the Bridges meetings. Please keep praying! The Interfaith Hospitality Network has been renamed “Family Promise”. Several churches in the area are participating, including St. Clare, 1st Baptist, 2nd Baptist, Grace Episcopal, CHPC, and 1st Church. St. Clare is having a fish dinner every Friday. There will be a Good Friday service at Grace Episcopal.
8. CHBA Update – by Juanita Canfield Juanita sent an update by email, which Ron shared. The content was as follows: “A. CHBA Annual Meeting coming up on April 21 at 6110 Hamilton Ave, upstairs. 6 p.m. dinner with meeting to follow. Cost $20. Mail reservation to CHBA at 5836 Hamilton Ave. B. CHBA is putting together a listing of all available property in the business district with the help of the owners of said properties. Trying to get it all together to have a listing available at the Annual Meeting. C. March CHBA meeting will be held at Bacall’s Café at 8 a.m. on the 17th.”
9. CHCURC Update – by Pete Bauer Brad Hammond will not be able to be at every Summit meeting, so Pete and Brad will share the role of updating Summit. The current officers of CHCURC are: President – Mike Cappel Vice President – Judy Moyer Treasurer – Juanita Canfield
Highlights of the CHCURC update included: · EZ Market will be purchased by the City. · The new specialty Iron Works at the old car wash location (6040 Hamilton Ave) is expected to be open by June 1. Remodeling is now underway. · The Annual Rhythm Race will be August 14. · There will be a fundraiser at Laurel Court on May 15. Judy Moyer provided the following written information on this fundraiser: “CHCURC encourages you to make your reservation for its annual CHCURC EVENING at LAUREL COURT FUNDRAISER held on May 15, 2010. Mark you calendar now and invite your friends and neighbors to attend this entertaining event. The Moyers are donating the use of historic Laurel Court at 5870 Belmont Avenue for what is planned to be a very entertaining affair. This evening allows attendees to mingle with their neighbors in this elegant Beaux Arts Mansion and provides updates on the projects that CHCURC has underway in the effort to revitalize this wonderful neighborhood of College Hill. Come find out how you can participate in these efforts. The Cocktail and Hors D’oeurves event begins at 6:30 p.m. Parking is in the rear parking lot off Oakwood Avenue. The cost is $50 per person. Reservations are required. Send your reservation request with check to CHCURC, PO Box 24219, Cincinnati, OH 45224. For further information phone Judy Moyer at 513-542-2000 or email Judy@Laurelcourt.com.”
They are still waiting on the fabrication of the new Gateway. They hope to have it by June. There is a Task Force working on developing new plans for the properties at the corners of Hamilton Ave and North Bend. The report should be posted soon at CHCURC.com. Some highlights of their recommendations include having a destination restaurant on the old Shuler property, and a Civic Center in the old Kroger Building.
Tom Salzbren asked if CHCURC was going to participate in NSP2 and NSP3 (the next phases of Neighborhood Stabilization Program). He understands that $24 million would be allocated to Cincinnati, ¼ of which would be for low income housing. It was agreed that CHCURC and Habitat would follow up later to discuss this further.
10. College Hill Schools Updates Pleasant Hill Academy – by Dean Leonard The school needs volunteers to serve as Proctors for testing. A flyer with more information was handed out. Interested volunteers should call Paula Sherman at 363-4366 or Carol Dean at 363-4369. The school has just initiated the 5th quarter. They are looking for opportunities for field trips and community service. Every Saturday, from 11 am to 3 pm, students and fathers can come play basketball together. Pleasant Hill is starting a Father’s Club and wants to expand to include more planned activities. The school is starting a track team. They would like to use the track at the Rec Center. Dean and Rick Schroer will meet later to discuss this. Track uniforms are also needed. It was shared that a retired UC track coach lives on Teakwood, and suggested that Paula may want to follow up. Volunteer tutors are needed during the day, especially math tutors. Pleasant Hill is connecting to the “Men of Aiken” program. They’s like to get it extended down into the 6th/7th/8th grades.
College Hill Fundamental Academy Jim Bodmer shared that the construction is on schedule.
Aiken High School The Parent/Community Appreciation Breakfast will be the first Saturday in May.
11. Library Update – by Arnice Smith The tutoring program started March 3, from 3-7 pm. The tutors are not as busy 5-7 pm. Laptops are available. A card was handed out. Arnice also handed out the Library activity calendar for March, and a flyer for Hunger Games Day. The Hunger Games activities are based on a book of the same name. The games will be held Saturday, March 20, from 1-3 pm. Arnice expressed concern that just since last Thursday, she has broken up about 10 fights between Pleasant Hill students outside the Library. She requested that adults from the community be present in the area from 2-6 pm to help prevent these fights and acts of bullying. During the discussion, it was decided that several follow up steps would be done: Arnice will meet with the Interim Principal of Pleasant Hill, Tom Strothers will bring the issue to CPOP, and Jim Bodmer will bring up the issue to CPD.
12. Children’s Hospital Update – by Joan Burger The new Mason facility, a specialty clinic for issues like eating disorders and ADHD, has opened. The College Hill facility continues to be very busy, with ~15,000 kids treated in one year, with 5000 more on a waiting list. The biggest need is for day care/evening care for children for residential families. Please send ideas for resources to Matt. Matt should follow up with the Rec Center to explore possibilities there.
13. College Hill Recreation Center – by Rick Schroer Ron Whitt and Rick will attend the March Ministerium meeting to talk the Youth Council, since it is intended to be a faith-based effort. More to come after this occurs.
14. Discussion Topic: Youth in College Hill Several interesting points were made during the discussion: · Youth need summer work. Forum used to work on providing summer jobs years ago. · There has been a cultural shift since then – the kids on the street say they don’t want jobs, just something interesting to do. · CPOP is getting information that youth issues are occurring around the globe. Tom has a link to an article by the Dept of Justice, which he will send out to Summit members. · Kids need activities, something constructive to do. Jobs may be part of it, but it is beyond jobs, especially for kids 13-15. · Athletics are good, but not sufficient. Lots of kids are not athletic, or aren’t interested in athletics, especially girls. · Significant relationships make the biggest difference. This isn’t age dependent – lots of effective mentors & tutors are over 50 yrs old. · Kids will surprise you and be interested in things you wouldn’t expect. A chess club was started at the Library by a staff person whose own hobby was chess. You wouldn’t expect that these kids would be interested, but the club is popular. Kids also love reading to Bo, the “reading dog”. · Kids have lots of excess energy and tend to just wrestle with each other to have something to do. Maybe there could be a Wrestling Coach. · How many of these kids are homeless? They tend to hide it, and hide it well. Hard to find out. But churches have packets of information for emergency situations – food, shelter, etc. · There’s an agency in Hamilton County that coordinates these kinds of support. They publish Youth Crisis Cards. Joan will order some and get them to Summit. · A lot of kids hang out late at the Library and Rec Center, waiting for parents to pick them up or just avoiding going home. Staff can stay only 10 minutes after hours, then by law has to call the police.
15. Community Activities and Announcements Ø Plant Sale – Children’s Hospital will be having a plant sale soon; herbs, vegetables, and flowers are all included.
Next Summit Meeting: April 8 @ 8 am at the College Hill Rec Center.
Summarized by: Valerie Hershberger April 7, 2010
Proposed Meeting Schedule
2010
General Meeting Time: Second Thursday of the Month, 8:00 am to 10:00 am.
Location Rotates
Tbc = to be confirmed
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Tom Strothers, Webmaster |
