Alton Weed & Seed Strategy, Alton, Illinois


	Alton Weed & Seed Strategy c/o Saint Clare’s Hospital 915 E. Fifth Street Alton, IL 62002 Phone: 618-463-5359 Fax: 618-463-5219


	Alton Weed & Seed Strategy Working To Improve The Quality Of Life In Alton


	*...one neighborhood at a time*






	Alton Youth Development Strategy


	Alton Police basketball clinic at Hellrung Park


	Mission Statement The mission of the Alton, IL Weed and Seed Strategy is to weed out violent crime, drug trafficking, drug-related crime, prostitution-related crime, general disorder and derelict or sub-standard housing from the Hunterstown, Middletown and Mexico neighborhoods and then seed these areas through social and economic revitalization.


	Fundamental Principles Collaboration between residents and community groups, Federal, State, and local governments, as well as service agencies and the private sector. Coordination to bring together these stakeholders to concentrate resources in the neighborhoods and maximize benefits of existing services and programs. Community Participation to empower stakeholders to become involved in the strategy, knowing that broad citizen involvement is more effective than a strategy designed to provide services to clients. Leveraging Resources to fully fund the Weed & Seed strategy, because our five-year funding cannot provide the amount of resources needed to transform and revitalize a neighborhood.



			Seven of the fifty-six Hampton Place homes built in 2002 & 2006




	Hellrung Park Revitalization




	Family Learning Center at Fifth Street & Central


	The Alton Weed & Seed Strategy works collaboratively with residents and over 100 agencies, organizations and groups to advocate for and provide educational, recreational, social, and employment opportunities within the Weed & Seed Neighborhoods for residents, young and old.


	ALTON WEED AND SEED STRATEGY Funded by The United States Department of Justice, Community Capacity Development Office / Office for Weed & Seed & The City of Alton, IL

Community Oriented Policing:
Or
Problem Oriented Policing

Under this model of policing, officers and residents utilize an ongoing, systematic, process to identify neighborhood problems, disorder, and crime hot spots or trends. Problem oriented policing then employs a strategic model to collaboratively develop effective responses to these issues to improve quality of life and reduce crime hot spots. Through regular public meetings we foster a shared sense of responsibility for identifying, developing , and implementing these solutions. We refer to these activities as “weeding”.

In Alton these activities include:
Neighborhood Problem Solving Meetings
National Night Out Kick Off
Youth & Family Activities with Officers
Neighborhood Clean-ups
Crime Mapping To Identify Hot-Spots
Weed & Seed Sub-Committee
Citizen Police Academies

Law Enforcement:

Weed & Seed’s law enforcement component is designed to reduce crime and violence to improve resident quality of life. Efforts are directed at identifying, apprehending, and prosecuting the most serious and visible criminals in the neighborhoods to the fullest extent of the law. These efforts are undertaken by multi-agency task forces in Alton, Madison County and the United States Attorney’s Office. Collaboratively reducing neighborhood crime and disorder sets the stage for neighborhood revitalization or “seeding”.

In Alton these activities include:
Nuisance Abatement Task Force
Knock and Talks
Prostitution “Sting” Operations
Hot Spot or Targeted Police Patrols
Neighborhood Problem Solving Meetings
State, Federal & Local Partnerships

Prevention, Intervention
& Treatment:

The prevention, intervention and treatment component focuses on neighborhood efforts to enhance protective factors while reducing risk factors, thus promoting wholesome behavior that can lead to good health, well-being and personal success. This component focuses an array of human services on the neighborhoods to create an environment in which crime and violence cannot thrive. The reduction of risk factors and increase of protective factors is the hallmark of “weeding and seeding”.

In Alton, this group focuses on increasing educational and employment opportunities for residents, young and old, within the neighborhoods and works collaboratively to support: / provide:

After-School & Summer Youth Activities
H.O.P.E. / Prostitution Reduction Strategy
The Coming Home Reentry Strategy
Alton Youth Development Strategy Partnership www.drugfreealton.com
Community Collaborations
Faith Based Collaborations

A collaboration between
Lewis & Clark Community College
& The Alton Weed & Seed Strategy
has made possible:
The Family Learning Center
5th St & Central Ave, Alton, IL
(Old St. Patrick’s School)
FREE TO ANYONE
Here are a few things we offer:
Internet Access, GED Classes, Basic Computer Skills Training,
Project Read - Literacy Skills
Employment Readiness &
Resume Writing Skills
Call Margo Swift at 465-3928
for information and hours of operation.

Ridge Street Community Center
Ridge Street @ E. 6th
OFFERS:
Community Meeting Space
Weed & Seed Monthly Committee Meetings
(call for up-to-date meeting schedule)
Alton Police Officers, Explorers
& Cadets Sub Station

Neighborhood Restoration:

This component attempts to improve resident quality of life and revitalize the economic and social conditions of the neighborhoods, by working collaboratively to develop, influence and implement community responses to resident concerns. In Alton, information provided by residents, (forms are available online at our website) drives the work of the Nuisance Abatement Task Force. The N.A.T.F. has attempted to bring the housing stock within the city into compliance with building codes, ordinances and occupancy requirements. While we face ongoing challenges, many nuisances have been abated.
In Alton, this group collaboratively focuses on:
Providing Neighborhood “Safe Havens” at
The Ridge Street Community Center
Ridge Street @ East 6th Street
&
The Family Learning Center at
Old St. Pat’s School Community Center
Central Avenue @ East 5th Street
Hellrung Park Revitalization &
Youth Activities Within Neighborhoods Parks
Neighborhood Clean-ups
Cookouts, Celebrations & Social Events
Neighborhood Beautification Projects
Encouraging Neighborhood Business Development, Affordable Home Construction, Employment & Training Opportunities & Resident Empowerment through local political action.
Encouraging Resident Homeownership
Through Utilization of the City of Alton
First -Time Home Buyers Program &
The D.H.S. ASSETS ILLINOIS Individual Development Account Program administered by Madison County Community Development

Steering Committee
The Alton Weed & Seed Strategy is over-seen by a Steering Committee. Residents and Agency representatives meet quarterly to plan and sustain these efforts.
Sub Committees
The Alton Weed & Seed Strategy has two Sub Committees, Neighborhood Restoration & Community Policing and Prevention, Intervention & Treatment, that meet monthly. These two groups plan and implement the specific activities of the strategy. If you are interested in working with either, please call the office at 463-5359. Thank you.


	[Home] [Events] [News] [Calendar] [Committees] [NATF Forms] [About Us] [Resources]


	Alton Weed & Seed Strategy © 2004-2008 All rights reserved.


	Site Created & Maintained by Jim Sullivan Web Design


	c/o Saint Clare’s Hospital 915 E. Fifth Street Alton, IL 62002


	bbertolino@altonweedandseed.com Phone: 618-463-5359 Fax: 618-463-5219