GLI Alumni Euline Myrick, Sr. (2006) is simultaneously celebrating a milestone in his community project as well as gearing up for a major meeting with public officials and leaders to prepare for the next phase of the Lime Lake Project. Euline's project, started in spring 2006, is to create the Lime Lake park/recreation area in North Sarasota. The land sought after as the park/recreation area location had been owned by the County and Booker Elementary School but was recently annexed to Euline’s group so building plans can proceed!
Euline is working hard and conscientiously on bringing together the neighborhood to begin conversation on how to make the vision of a safe, beautiful place for the diverse segments of their community to gather a reality. Euline has also recently enlisted the help of past GLI Mentor Catherine Clouse (2006) and GLI Fellow Cesar Gomez (2008) in including the neighborhood's Latin community in the planning process by providing English-to-Spanish translation at the upcoming meeting and planning bilingual outreach.
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GLI Alumni Rebekah Brightbill (2007) is quoted in this article about the Crime Walk that happened through the Washington Park Neighborhood Association, the organization that GLI Alumni Rebekah Brightbill (2007) helped form as her community project:
Washington Park to host anti-crime walk
BRADENTON -- The Washington Park Neighborhood Association wants a safer community. JoAnn Spencer, president of the association, said she and residents no longer want a neighborhood that "is filled with gangs and drugs." That's why Washington Park and the Central Community Redevelopment Agency are hosting an anti-crime walk at 9 a.m. Saturday. "We decided we would do something about it," Spencer said. The march against crime, Spencer said, will be a start for the association that wants to raise awareness about the neighborhood's issues. "Little by little, we're trying to make it livable and be proud of our neighborhood," Spencer said. Washington Park is within U.S. 301 Boulevard and Ninth Street East and 13th Avenue West and Martin Luther King Avenue East.
The Washington Park Neighborhood Association was formed last year with the help of the CCRA and consultant Dr. Willie Holley. "We knew they had a history of being concerned with what was happening in the community," said Rebekah Brightbill, community development specialist for CCRA. "We asked them if they were interested in coming forward to address what was going on in the neighborhood." Sherod Halliburton, executive director of the CCRA, said the consultant helped organize the group, put by-laws in place and set up an election for officers. Halliburton said the crime walk will be one of the association's first formal events since it was formed. "Their stand comes from the inside, and it's about the residents saying 'Hey, we're going to take back our community' ," Halliburton said. "And we support that 100 percent. We're trying to guide and support them through their infancy."
Spencer said crime has long been a concern in Ward 5, where Washington Park is located. Spencer said surveys completed by Ward 5 residents showed crime listed as their top concern. The survey was conducted by Councilman Harold Byrd and was reviewed at last week's community meeting. "That was one of the main topics at our community meeting," Spencer said. "We already knew it because we know it's an issue." Saturday's crime walk will begin at the Church of Christ at 201 10th Ave. E. and end at the Bradenton Police Department substation at 1013 Sixth St. E.