Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2014 - (Page 23)

Ludie Weddle is a Host Neighbor for her block on Paris Avenue in the Dickinson School neighborhood. photos by Bernadine Carey-Tucker Transforming neighborhoods by empowering residents by Dottie Barnes Ludie Weddle walks along the streets of her neighborhood on Grand Rapids' southeast side, encouraged by the changes she sees. "It's cleaner, the neighbors know each other better and look after each other," said Weddle. "The children at the elementary school are getting free tutoring after school." Weddle has lived in what's known as the Dickinson School neighborhood for 35 years. The area covers 36 blocks between Hall and Griggs streets and Jefferson and Union avenues. About 2,000 residents live in the area - 30 percent are living below the poverty level, 66 percent are single parents and 75 percent of the children at Dickinson Elementary qualify for the state's free lunch program. Despite those statistics, positive changes have been made in the neighborhood since a grassroots initiative called Seeds of Promise began in 2005. Dozens of volunteers from area businesses and organizations have come along side Seeds of Promise, including students, faculty and staff from a broad spectrum of departments at Grand Valley. The philosophy behind the initiative is to empower residents to make their own decisions to improve their quality of life. "Empowering people is the only way to be successful," said Ron Jimmerson, president and co-founder of Seeds of Promise. "It's a 'bottom-up concept.' The people of the neighborhood come up with their own strategies to direct their destiny." Norman Christopher, executive director of the Sustainable Community Development Initiative at Grand Valley, has been on the board of Seeds of Promise since the beginning. 23 www.gvsu.edu Grand Valley Magazine http://www.gvsu.edu

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2014

Campus News
International Education
Arts
Athletics
Donor Impact
Covenant House provides education, opportunity
Going the extra Medical Mile
Seeds of Promise
Student media: creating community, content and careers
Q&A Bill Holsinger-Robinson
Research
Off the Path
Alumni

Grand Valley Magazine Winter 2014