(Revised) Monthly Report – February, 1999

# of Neighborhood Organizations assisted: 6

# of Faith-Based Organizations assisted: 2

# of Municipal Agencies assisted: 1

# of Non-Profits assisted: 5

The NTAC had a very busy and successful month servicing several organizations in the Greater East St. Louis Area. Ms. LaTonya Burton, Interim Community Planner, assisted Ms. Candace Hollaway (the granddaughter of Ms. Ceola Davis, a community activist in Emerson Park Neighborhood) do research on the Internet for a 6^th grade history project. The January/February issue of the NTAC newsletter was released, and the ESLARP/NTAC Search Committee prepared for the upcoming March interviews for the NTAC Coordinator (Director) and Project Associate (Community Planner) positions.

Ms. Burton did research on the Internet for park and recreation grants.

The NTAC and ESLARP faculty, staff, and U of I students have been working very closely with Dr. Hudlin and members of Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc. to begin the process of creating a comprehensive stabilization and revitalization strategy for their neighborhood

(Alta Sita Neighborhood Improvement Initiative).

On Tuesday, February 9, 1999 NTAC/ESLARP assisted ANSI facilitate a meeting regarding the Neighborhood Improvement Initiative (See attached attendance sheet). Alta Sita residents, businesses, community-based organizations, schools, churches, and fraternal organizations were invited to share their ideas regarding how to improve Alta Sita’s existing housing stock, expand recreational opportunities, enhance education and job training opportunities, improve police protection, and strengthen municipal enforcement of local sanitation codes. During this meeting, residents were also asked to participate in a cognitive mapping exercise, strategic planning, and neighborhood photographic exercises to develop a preliminary assessment of the area’s strengths and weaknesses. Ms. Burton made phone calls to Alta Sita residents, block captains, schools, churches, businesses and other institutions in order to invite them to participate in the neighborhood improvement initiative.

On March 19^th and 20^th the NTAC staff conducted resident interviews in the Alta Sita Neighborhood as part of our work weekend activities. Ms. Burton also made a flyer to advertise ANSI’s sale of newly constructed homes as well existing homes that were renovated.

ESLARP and NTAC staff organized the volunteer work schedule for Alternative Spring Break students from Colorado State University, Champaign High Schools, Grand Rapids Community College, Mammoth College, Northwestern University, and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Students from these institutions will do volunteer work in the Greater East St. Louis Area from March 1^st to March 20^th, 1999.

On February 19^th & 20^th the NTAC and ESLARP staff installed drywall and painted in the basement of Bride of Christ Church as part of our work weekend activities.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) met with Mr. Errol B. Allen (CEO/President) of Careers Around the World regarding possible technical assistance that the NTAC can provide his organization in order to successful execute the development of a career oriented exhibition facility to be possibly located in Centreville, Illinois.

Ms. Burton reviewed Carver Community Center’s information (articles of incorporation, by laws, etc.) and mailed it to the University of Illinois’ Legal Law Clinic for the legal application of 501c3 status.

NTAC provided computer access to the Director of Citizens for the Future, David Wilson. Mr. Wilson created budgets for the organization and used Internet access to research potential funders.

Ms. Burton wrote a letter to CDBG informing them that the NTAC provided grant-writing services to the Dorris Helping Hand Shelter. Ms Burton wrote a letter to two funding sources requesting an application and guidelines, searched the Internet for additional funding sources for the renovation of the shelter, and created customized stationary letterhead for Dorris Helping Hand Shelter.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) attended the ESL Ecosystem Council meeting on February 17, 1999 at the ESL Public Library. The primary issue discussed was the status of the Greater East St. Louis Urban Resources Partnership Program.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) and James Jones (Director, ESLCAN) met with Tabitha Wilson (Program Manager, East-West Gateway) and Malik Ahmed (CEO/ President of Better Family Life, Inc.) on March 3, 1999 about the possibility of Better Family Life, Inc. establishing an office in East St. Louis specifically for their Work Link Program. Mr. Ahmed expressed an interest in setting up an office in the Emerson Park neighborhood. I informed Mr. Ahmed to talk directly to Emerson Park Development Corporation, other community-based organizations and the local municipal agencies regarding this matter. Mr. Ahmed attended the February ESLCAN meeting to present information about his program.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) attended a committee meeting on March 8, 1999 for the Transportation Redefined: Policies and Strategies for 20209 and Beyond. I was selected to give a presentation at the Transportation Redefined Forum on March 22, 1999 regarding the relationship between transportation and community.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) started working on a site plan for a three bedroom single family dwelling. Cathy Klump (ESLARP Research Assistant) has been working with the leaders of the Emerson Park Development Corporation to finalize their updated neighborhood improvement plan.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) attended an Empowerment Zone Steering Committee meeting at the St. Louis Development Corporation’s office on Monday, February 22, 1999.

Student researchers at UIUC are working with NTAC staff to create a readily accessible population, employment, and housing profile of communities in the EZ. This information will be available through the ESLARP web page within the next four weeks for community leaders and municipal officials from these towns to use. Ms. Burton utilized the Arcview software to create East St. Louis maps (EZ boundaries) regarding census tract information, neighborhood boundaries, streets, and highways. These maps were submitted to Chad Cooper and Chad Quinn of the St. Louis Development Corporation.

The NTAC staff prepared for a FBO meeting scheduled for March 9, 1999 at the NTAC office. Seven ministers from the Greater East St. Louis Area were invited to attend this meeting. The purpose of this meeting is to have ministers discuss what the mission of Faith Based Organizing should be as well as how the community and church can be good partners in community revitalization.

NTAC staff met with Mr. Dwight Rattler regarding the type of technical assistance NTAC can provide to Friends of Frank Holden State Park.

At the request of the Greater East St. Louis’s community-based organizations, Professor Ken Reardon, Paul Foppe (UIUC graduate student) and the NTAC staff are working on a two day community organizing class that will be held in mid-March. The class will focus on membership recruitment, running meetings, leadership development, media relations, and grassroots fundraising.

NTAC and ESLARP staff have been working on the development of a web-based economic development decision-making tool aimed at assisting local residents and municipal officials in identifying development proposals which produce the optimal mix of social, economic, and financial benefits to the Greater East St. Louis Area. NTAC and ESLARP staff has adapted an input-output model developed by the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank for this purpose. We plan to demonstrate this easy to use modeling tool on Saturday, April 17, 1999 at a location to be announced. This tool was developed at the request of Mr. Curtis Galloway when he was the Director of East St. Louis’s Office of Business and Economic Development.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) executed pre-construction administrative duties for the phase two development of the Artisanal Village project. Neighbors United for Progress performed lead-base paint inspection/risk assessment at the Dunham Museum under the direction of the NTAC. The water-damaged walls in the Haitian Gallery of the Katherine Dunham Museum were repaired.

I also put together a mailing list for the Katherine Dunham Centers’ Children Workshop performance at McKendree College. Mckendree College utilized this mailing list to invite people to the performance.

Ms. Burton did research on the Internet for recent information on the unemployment rate in East St. Louis, Illinois.

NTAC staff assisted Ms. Deborah Hunt, President of ONV with non-profit organization management training.

Ken Reardon (ESLARP Executive Board Chairman) and I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) met with Professor Richard Bush (Director, Community & Nonprofit Leadership Initiative, American Humanics Program at SIUE), Ms. Sue G. Richards (Executive Director, St. Louis Nonprofit Services Consortium) and Ms. Janet R. Burnett (Unit Leader, University of Illinois Cooperative Extension). The purpose of this meeting was to discuss possible collaboration on community development training and technical assistance in the Greater East St. Louis Area.

Ms. Burton researched census data via the Internet on the East St. Louis poverty rate of families with high school age children. Mr. Demario Bell of the SIUE Upward Bound Program requested this information.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) and Ms. Mamie Bolden (President, Olivette Park Neighborhood Association) attended the URP Steering Committee Meeting on February 24, 1999 at St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis, Illinois. The primary issue discussed was the current OIG Audit and status of the Greater East St. Louis URP program.

Professor Ken Reardon and Brian Orland (ESLARP Executive Board Members) met with ten members of the Community Policing Initiative of the Illinois State Police, the University of Illinois at Springfield, and the Illinois Government Policy Institute to discuss how ESLARP and NTAC can collaborate on community revitalization efforts in Washington Park. A series of follow-up meetings were scheduled for the near future.

I (Craig A. Miller, Sr.) communicated WIPNO and Cheryl Oliver Realty regarding the appraisal of the 1240/1242 Gaty Avenue Building. I have yet to receive the completed appraisal from Cheryl Oliver Realty. On behalf of WIPNO, I am serving as the Interim Project Coordinator of the Gaty Avenue Project.

Budget*

*See attached bills and time sheets.