A collaborative project of the East St. Louis Enterprise Community (EC),

St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department (IGD)

and the

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

July at the Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center was indeed a successful month. It was the first month since December of 1998 that the NTAC was fully staffed and the progress we made, particularly on the Faith Based Organizing Initiative, is a testament to what the NTAC is capable of accomplishing when fully staffed.

The NTAC made significant strides on its Faith Based Organizing Initiative by holding an excellent workshop devoted entirely to educating religious organizations on opportunities for them to get more involved in community building activities. The workshop discussed the pros and cons of 501c3 status, the benefits of collaboration and provided information on the services provided by the NTAC. We were very fortunate to have excellent presenters. Among these were Mr. Percy Harris of the EC, Ms. Ohala Ward of the Carver Community Center, Ms. Lisa Houssen of Interfaith Ministry Network in Houston and Ms. Cindi Geerdes of the U of I Law Clinic. The greatest testament to the success of the workshop was the attendance. After a comprehensive outreach effort, sixty (60) representatives from EC religious organizations attended the workshop and all feedback has been very positive. This document outlines the specifics of the workshop, as well as the steps we are taking now to ensure a quality Faith Based Organizing Initiative. A few of the materials from the event are attached.

Although the Faith Based Initiative dominated our focus in July, we also made significant progress in the Enterprise Community. In Washington Park, the NTAC planned a physical improvement project of the Police Department in partnership with the Mayor’s Office and Community Awakening Civic Organization (C.A.C.O). This project will be done with volunteers in the Fall. Also in Washington Park, the NTAC assisted in planning for and executing the new entranceway sign at the intersection of Kingshighway and Bunkum Road in partnership with Citizens for a Decent Community. In Centreville, the NTAC continued working with Neighbors United for Progress on their Neighbors Place One landscaping project. In Brooklyn, the NTAC has planned a Town Meeting for August 24^th to introduce the community to the services of the NTAC and to donate four computers to their Civic Center. Every day, more and more groups from these new partnering towns are approaching the NTAC for assistance and we are reaching out to them in accordance with our mission.

The work done in East St. Louis has always been of key importance to the NTAC and in July we continued working with several organizations on their community development projects. The NTAC is assisting the University and Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc. to complete their neighborhood plan. We are working with a couple organizations in securing their 1998 URP funding and we continue to accept and implement dozens of requests for assistance from our regular neighborhood partners. Many people have commented to the NTAC that our services are extremely valuable and that our office has been instrumental in building the capacity of local citizen organizations.

Despite the successes, the NTAC is faced with not having enough staff or space to fully meet the present demand. In the future, the NTAC hopes to build the staff and move into a larger space where organizational training, access to technology and fundraising for local projects take a priority. In recent weeks there has been increased demand for large-scale design projects. Based on our limited time and the sheer number of requests, the NTAC is unable to take on design projects for large-scale initiatives. Mr. Craig Miller, Design Specialist, has thus made connections with several local and regional design professionals to connect neighborhood groups to these firms that may offer their services pro-bono or at a reduced cost. Beyond the design projects, the NTAC is working hard to become more efficient at routine, administrative duties and is planning more group, rather than individual meetings.

At the end of August, the NTAC will publish its July/August Newsletter full of articles written by our partnering organizations.

Below is a summary of the organizations that the NTAC provided assistance to in July.

The NTAC worked with Mr. Stanford Scott and Mr. Archie Moore to plan for the development of the Wedgewood/Dayton Neighborhood, which is designated as a FEMA wetland. AIM has requested design assistance from the NTAC in order to develop the south side of the site into a wetland/nature trail park with a soccer field and action activities for physical fitness and team leadership training for local youth. The NTAC requested the assistance of John Harryman of the St. Clair County Soil and Conservation District. The NTAC also contacted Ms. Florine Johnson of NRCS to request her assistance with this project and to request an updated map of the proposed site for this project.

On July 13 and 27, ESLARP and NTAC staff and the members of ANSI organized and facilitated the ANSI neighborhood meetings. These meetings are part of completing the Alta Sita Neighborhood Plan. The NTAC assists the ESLARP planning team in doing outreach for the meetings and serves as a local liaison for Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc.

In July, ASNI and the ESLARP planning team concentrated on developing strategies to improve senior and youth services and improvements to the urban design and infrastructure. The group also spent time discussing their crime prevention strategies. In August, the group will focus on housing improvements. The regular meeting of ASNI is on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in St. Regis Church. Through August, they also have meetings on the forth Tuesday of the month. It is anticipated that the University planning team and Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc. will wrap-up the planning process by September and complete the document in October.

On behalf of Alta Site Neighbors, the NTAC requested a building permit for the construction of a wood deck. The deck will be located in the Alta Sita Mini-Park on the corner of 33^rd Street and McCausland Avenue (Virginia Place). NTAC submitted the plans of the deck to Gene Evans, Director of the City of East St. Louis Building and Regulatory Affairs, for approval of construction and called JULIE to have them locate underground utility lines on the site. The deck was designed by University of Illinois Landscape Architecture students during the Spring. The deck has not been constructed due to some necessary last minute structural changes and adjustments to the exact location on the site. Craig Miller is currently working with Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc. to make adjustments to the deck and then the NTAC will plan for student architects and local residents to construct the deck in the early Fall.

On July 28^th and 29th, the NTAC worked with Dr. Hudlin of Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc. to revise their 1998 Urban Resources Partnership grant proposal according to the recommendations given by the U.S. Forest Service. It is anticipated that with the changes, the grant will receive full funding of approximately $20,000 to plant new trees and remove dead or dying trees.

ASCDC requested that the NTAC assist in revising their 1998 Urban Resources Partnership grant proposal according to the recommendations made by the U.S. Forest Service. If funded, Virginia Park will receive approximately $30,000 in improvements including new trees, the removal of dead trees and other beautifying elements.

The NTAC was contacted by Bethlehem Church for assistance in finding an architect to design a new church. The NTAC referred them to Bill Watkins of the Watkins Building Group, L.L.C.

Upon the request of Mike Andrejasich (ESLARP Executive Committee), the NTAC contacted several carpenters to request estimates to repair Ms. Boyer’s bathroom floor. The scope of work shall be the replacement of some of the floor joists and the installation of new floor tile.

As part of the NTAC’s ongoing efforts to expand our service area to the entire Enterprise Community, staff contacted Ms. Juanita Clemons, Stites Township Supervisor, Mayor Ruby Cook and Ms. Irene White, President of Lovejoy Community Action Ministries. The NTAC is organizing a town meeting with community, municipal and religious leaders and other residents to inform them about the services that the NTAC offers. The tentative date is Tuesday, August 24, 1999. At this meeting, four computers will be donated to the Village of Brooklyn. The computers were provided by the family of one of the volunteers who had worked at Quinn Chapel in Brooklyn over her Spring Break. The Village of Brooklyn will determine the best location for the computers.

On July 30^th, the NTAC toured the Village of Brooklyn in order to document some of the existing conditions and familiarize ourselves with the area.

On July 20^th, the NTAC met with Kuhlman Design Group, Robert Betts, Program Manager, CDBG and Reverend Tidwell, Carver Community Center Board member. We evaluated the Carver Center for possible ways of installing a new heating and cooling system, a hollow metal door at the front entrance and a wheel chair lift at the rear stairs and entry to meet ADA requirements. On July 23^rd, the NTAC prepared an advertisement for bids for the installation of a heating and cooling system (HVAC). In the coming months the NTAC will follow up on a request from the Carver to assist them with a landscaping plan.

Ms. Ohala Ward of the Carver Community Center and a long-time partner of the NTAC, made a presentation at the NTAC 501c3 Workshop for faith-based organizations on July 24^th. At the request of the NTAC, Ms. Ward discussed the positive results of collaboration with religious organizations and the success they have had at community building efforts.

During July, the NTAC assisted Citizens for a Decent Community plan for and install a new entranceway sign in Washington Park. On July 26 and 27, Citizens of a Decent Community, James Jones of ESL CAN, Mr. Peete of Emerson Park Development Corporation and the NTAC constructed a sign welcoming visitors to the Village of Washington Park at the intersection of Kingshighway and Bunkum Road. The group also cut the grass, tilled the soil, installed ground cover (mulch and peat moss) and planted flowers at the base of the sign.

The NTAC is also working with their Board to organize and fund their annual Back-to-School Picnic scheduled for late August. The NTAC prepared a Casino Queen Foundation Mini-Grant to partially fund their annual picnic. Other funds will come from donations by local businesses and residents.

The NTAC attended City Counsel meetings during the month of July as part of our ongoing effort to disseminate city information to our neighborhood partners via the associations’ regular meetings.

The NTAC has begun working with C.A.C.O. of Washington Park on local physical improvement projects. The NTAC conducted a visual assessment of the Washington Park Police and Fire Departments in order to determine what unskilled volunteers could do to improve the building. The work will include painting and some small repairs to the interior and exterior of the building. This project is being conducted in partnership with C.A.C.O., the Mayor’s Office and the Police Department. The project will be scheduled into a Fall 1999 ESLARP Work Weekend with architecture and landscape architecture students.

As part of the Consolidated Plan process of CDBG, the NTAC has agreed to prepare the Technical Assistance and Capacity Building section of the plan. The NTAC and ESL CAN will also work with CDBG to organize a community meeting for the end of August. The NTAC’s assistance with the Consolidated Plan was requested by Stevie Cox, Planner for CDBG.

The NTAC prepared and presented land use case number 99-003 for the regularly scheduled meeting of the Plan Commission on July 21^st. This meeting was a follow-up to the July 14^th Public Hearing regarding this case. At the hearing, the Plan Commissioners requested additional information from the petitioner and the NTAC assisted in moving the process along and providing full information to the commissioners. In August, the NTAC will prepare Land Use Case No. 99-005.

The NTAC continued assisting ENA in their pursuit of the Hardee’s building as a community center. The NTAC inquired about the ownership of the Hardee’s Building located on State Street in East St. Louis. Mr. Fulton Allen of ENA requested that the NTAC contact Cheryl Oliver Realty. Ms. Oliver referred the NTAC to her husband, Mr. Fred Oliver and he stated that he would send the address and name of the owner to the NTAC as soon as possible. On behalf of ENA, the NTAC will contact the owner(s) of the building to inquire if they are interested in selling or donating the building to ENA to be renovated into a community center.

The NTAC assisted EPDC with their Urban Resources Partnership grant proposal by creating maps showing the location of dead or dying trees, the number of healthy trees per block and the location of overgrowth blocking the sidewalks.

The NTAC also assisted EPDC in completing their next CHDO proposal for the rehabilitation of a multi-family housing structure. At the request of EPDC, the NTAC created a new brochure for the organization that indicates the progress EPDC has made over the past year.

The Faith Based Organizing Initiative was the primary activity of the NTAC during July.

As a follow-up to our intensive outreach efforts in June, the NTAC held a workshop on July 24^th at the East St. Louis Community College Center from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Three mailings were sent to 150 religious organizations in the Enterprise Community inviting them to the workshop and stressing the importance of community building efforts through the church. Mailing #1 was a general advertisement for the workshop, mailing #2 included an agenda for the event and #3 was an event reminder that included a survey for each organization. The survey (see attached) was designed to assist the organization and the NTAC in evaluating the readiness of these faith-based institutions in carrying our larger scale community projects and obtaining their 501c3 status. All 150 religious organizations also received phone calls from the NTAC at least two days prior to the workshop. In addition to direct contact with the faith-based organizations, the NTAC sent press releases to the media and presented the workshop details on Channel 13’s Voices of the People.

The intensive outreach worked and sixty representatives from a variety of religious organizations attended the workshop. The workshop agenda is attached. The NTAC recruited excellent speakers for the event. Mr. Percy Harris of the EC spoke about the breadth of resources available within the church, the need for collaboration on projects, the funding available locally and nationally and the models of effective faith-based community development throughout the country. Ms. Cathy Klump presented the history of the NTAC and the services available to religious organizations. Mrs. Latonya Burton-Webb and Ms. Cindi Geerdes of the University of Illinois Law Clinic presented the pros and cons of 501c3 tax exempt status, the legal requirements and the importance of maintaining good standing with the Federal and State governments.

Ms. Ohala Ward of the Carver Community Center presented the process North End Missionary Baptist Church is taking in reaching out to the community and the trials and tribulations of this kind of work. Mr. James Jones of ESL CAN talked on the importance of collaboration between religious organizations and neighborhood associations and the significance of building partnerships to reach your goals. The NTAC recruited Ms. Lisa Houssen of Inter-Faith Ministry Network in Houston to discuss the importance of faith based community development, the importance of collaboration and the benefits available to all organizations through her national ministry network. Ms. Houssen also presented some examples of related success stories. Mr. Craig Miller concluded the workshop with a presentation entitled "Physical Development through the Church." The presentation discussed the six steps required to build a structure from planning to construction and the architectural and construction management services available through the NTAC.

Each attendee received a packet full of information on tax-exempt status, funding sources and examples from across the country. Participants were asked to bring their incorporation papers and the survey forms to the workshop so that the NTAC could begin to work with them individually in the hope of later connecting them to each other and other local organizations. Religious organizations have until August 13^th to submit their paperwork so that the NTAC can assist them towards reaching their goals of initially obtaining 501c3 status and eventually implementing their plans.

The NTAC is happy to announce that several organizations are currently working towards completing the preliminary steps for 501c3 status. Each time a religious organization completes the necessary paperwork with the NTAC, their information will be forward to the University of Illinois Law Clinic for processing. The application fees will be waived for 16 organizations. The fee waiver is sponsored by the Enterprise Community. Below is an updated list of religious organizations that we are currently working with towards this goal. We anticipate that a few more will come forward by August 13^th with their paperwork.

15^th Street Baptist Church

Aldersgate Community United Methodist

Bread of Life Christian Church

Church of God Mission Center

Community Mission Church of God in Christ

Haynes Miracle Temple Church

Higher Level Ministries

Mount Paran

Mount Sinai Baptist Church

New Beginnings

New Macedonia Church

St. Elizabeth Spiritual Temple

Wesley Bethel United Methodist Church

The NTAC feels confident in the effort put forth on the Faith Based Organizing Initiative. It was certainly a challenge to convince religious organizations to cross lines that often divide them. These dividers include differences in religious denomination, church affiliations and the divide between church and state. All 150 religious organizations in the Enterprise Community have had ample time and information to get involved in this initiative. The NTAC has made it a point to be inclusive of all churches and to encourage the use of our services.

We will move forward on obtaining 501c3 status for all religious organizations that are actively pursuing this designation. It is our hope to move all pre-applications to the University of Illinois Law Clinic in the next couple of months in the hope of spending down the grant monies by the turn of the year. With the funds spent on 501c3 applications, the NTAC would like to continue assisting religious organizations with their community development plans. Many organizations have expressed concern to us that they are fearful that our services are only available for this short amount of time. The NTAC has expressed to them interest in continuing our work with the religious organization and in fact, believe that continuing our services is paramount to encouraging collaborations and the continued success of this initiative.

The NTAC worked with CCC to organize a large-scale meeting of potential board members for the organization. CCC recruited twenty prominent residents to sit on an "Action Panel" to address the most pressing issues facing the Fairlawn neighborhood. The NTAC prepared a mailing, maps and meeting materials. The meeting, held on August 3^rd, was a large success with over thirty participants and a new found interest in that neighborhood association.

Throughout July, the NTAC worked with Mr. Fair-Kincaid on his organization becoming incorporated, obtaining their 501c3 and devising a proposal for a youth empowerment program in Centreville. The NTAC is currently working on their incorporation and 501c3 paperwork. The NTAC is assisting Golden Garden, Inc. in writing a full proposal for the re-use of Golden Garden School and identifying outside funding sources. The NTAC holds bi-weekly meetings with Golden Garden, Inc. to assist them in strategizing future actions that will place them closer to their goal.

The NTAC has become a "Community Information Center" for the Empowerment Zone. Residents can visit the NTAC and pick up information on the Empowerment Zone. This new "asset" of the NTAC will be advertised in the July/August Newsletter.

The NTAC administers the Urban Resources Partnership Grant funding for the African Artesian Village. NTAC is preparing all documentation for the conclusion of this project. Meetings are held between the NTAC, Jeanelle Stovall, Ted Wofford and Gilda Smith in order to expedite the process.

At the request of the Lansdowne Neighborhood Steering Committee, the NTAC made a connection between them and the Fairlawn neighborhood. Lansdowne was interested in getting some overgrown lots cut but did not have a tractor. A gentleman from Fairlawn cut the lots and was reimbursed for the cost of the gas and oil. This is an example of the NTAC encouraging distinct neighborhood organizations to collaborate towards common goals.

The NTAC organized a dozen volunteers to work at the new Cultural Center on State Street for two days. The volunteers from the Northwestern Illinois University high-school program received a tour of East St. Louis and assisted with the rehabilitation efforts of the building. Thanks go to Sunshine and EPDC for identifying this need and for ensuring that the volunteers felt welcomed in the community.

The NTAC continued to assist the Morning Star Baptist Church in the planning for and funding of a large multi-functional complex and day care center adjacent to the Morning Star Church. The NTAC reviewed the "Special Needs Grant" and provided a list of suggested changes to strengthen the grant proposal. The NTAC staff will continue to attend weekly meetings to assist the church in locating various funding sources and will provide grant-writing and strategic planning services for this project.

Neighbors United for Progress is moving forward on the Neighbors Place One landscaping project funded by the Urban Resources Partnership (URP). On Saturday, July 10^th, approximately 20 volunteers from The Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints, Mr. Irving Switzer of Neighbors United for Progress and the NTAC cut down trees, cleared brush and cleaned debris from the Neighbors Place One lot located at 43^rd and Market in Centreville.

On July 22^nd, the NTAC met with Bob Patterson of Illinois American Water Company, Mr. Irving Switzer and Mr. Thomas Grimmett of Neighbors United for Progress. The purpose of the meeting was to locate existing water lines on the site of Neighbors Place One and to discuss the possible location of a water hydrant and meter. The NTAC also prepared a preliminary itemized budget for this project. In the coming weeks, the NTAC will work with Neighbors to create a landscaping plan for Neighbors Place One and assist with outreach for local and regional volunteers to complete the project.

The NTAC met New Macedonia Church to tour their current facilities and discuss their plans for the future. The NTAC is assisting the church in getting 501c3 status, planning the future use of their vacant space and raising needed funds to conduct a myriad of programs.

The NTAC attended the monthly meeting of OPNA on July 1^st and assisted them in planning for their annual community picnic scheduled for late August. At the request of Ms. Minola Brown of OPNA, volunteers from Northwestern University and the NTAC staff cleaned the alley located behind 14^th and Veronica Streets.

The NTAC was very fortunate to be included in the President’s visit to East St. Louis on July 6^th. On July 1^st, Ms. Fannie Woods, HUD Community Builder, contacted our office for assistance in distributing tickets to residents. The NTAC contacted all of the forty organizations that we regularly partner with and were able to distribute over 400 tickets for the event. This experience for many of the residents was a huge opportunity that they will not forget anytime soon. Despite the rain and heat, the feedback we have received has been very positive and the NTAC is delighted to have been able to connect the limited number of tickets with so many residents. Many thanks to Mr. Percy Harris for making the connection between our office and the President’s visit.

Upon the request of the Salvation Army, the NTAC evaluated the Crawley residence located on 43^rd Street in East St. Louis. The roof of the residence has collapsed and is desperately in need of replacement. The NTAC photo-documented the structure and prepared a preliminary cost estimate to replace the entire roof and tuckpoint and repair the exterior brick cladding. This information was submitted to the Salvation Army in order for them to raise funds for the necessary repair of this structure.

The NTAC prepared a preliminary cost estimate for the repair of the roof and replacement of windows at Mr. Turner’s home. While it is customary for the NTAC to not assist individual homeowners on their private improvement projects, the NTAC did assist Mr. Turner at the referral of Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc. The NTAC will continue to search for alternative funds for small home improvement projects given the excessive demand for these funds and the realization that CDBG HOME funds for rehab cannot possibly assist everyone interested in improving their homes.

At the request of Prof. Christopher Silver, the NTAC provided a tour of East St. Louis and an overview of the NTAC services to a group of international students interested in community development. The students came from India, Malaysia and China to learn about East St. Louis.

The NTAC met with Ms. Brenda Crisp of Uni-Press to tour the new daycare facility and to discuss their current fundraising needs. The daycare is in need of substantial funding and the NTAC will assist in locating these funds. The NTAC is preparing a pre-proposal letter to the "For All Kids" foundation that was identified by Mr. Percy Harris. "For All Kids" is the foundation of Rosie O’Donnell that funds construction costs of daycare facilities throughout the country.

The NTAC met with Ms. Florine Johnson of USDA-NRCS to discuss the program activities available through the NTAC. Ms. Johnson will refer her clients to the NTAC when their projects will benefit from our services. The NTAC also prepared a contact sheet of all local organizations that the NTAC is currently working in partnership.

On July 7^th, the NTAC was scheduled to participate in the Washington Park Youth Police Academy and Asset Mapping program. Unfortunately, this program was cancelled due to lack of youth participation. The program was rescheduled for August. At the request of CORO and Washington Park’s Weed and Seed, the NTAC re-released a public service announcement to local media regarding the program in an effort to get more youth enrolled in the program.

The NTAC will serve on the Community Development Weed and Seed sub-committee in the coming months at the request of Mr. Bruce Reppert.

The NTAC assisted WIPNO and CDBG by inviting the City of East St. Louis Housing Authority to submit a proposal of purchase for the 1845-47 St. Louis Avenue and 1240-42 Gaty Avenue properties. On July 9^th, the NTAC met with the Housing Authority Architectural and Engineering firm to evaluate the current condition of the properties. As a result of this evaluation, the ESL Housing Authority has declined its offer to purchase the properties because of the substantial cost to complete the renovation of the structures.

The NTAC was contacted by Ms. Carol Malone, Planner for the City of East St. Louis, regarding the tax delinquency of the Farmers Market. The NTAC has discussed the situation with WIPNO and has provided advice on the future direction of the Farmers Market. WIPNO has expressed a strong interest in retaining the property and working through some of the issues that made it difficult for the Market to open this season. The NTAC will continue to assist WIPNO at their request.

The NTAC assisted WIPNO in preparing a flyer for their upcoming neighborhood meetings in an effort to recruit new members.

The NTAC is in the process of planning for some small-scale affordable improvements to its space. Tentatively these improvements include:

• Turning a storage room into an enclosed office space;
• Adding a second phone line;
• Improving internet access and connection speed; and
• Adding shelf / storage space.

The NTAC has also decided to advertise a sign contest for local grade school children. The outside sign on the office is terribly faded and barely readable. The information on the sign is also outdated. In the coming weeks the NTAC will organize the contest and prizes. It is our hope that the Enterprise Community and St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants will contribute towards the prizes.

Given our contract extension with the Enterprise Community, the NTAC is preparing a proposal for another year’s funding through the EC and IGD. The proposal should be ready by early September. Accompanying this proposal will be a yearly report of NTAC activities since September of 1998. The NTAC is also pursuing alternative funding sources.

Mr. Craig Miller, NTAC design specialist will take vacation from August 9^th to 13^th and the 26^th to the 30^th.

*See attached bills and time sheets.