C4 plans a "blitz" before National Night Out and a reliable communication network; the Development Corporation adopts a four-point strategy and will host a "Town Hall Meeting" in September; The Market at FPSE will open June 21; the STF plans a working committee; and SNDO's immediate project will be a literacy program.  

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FPSE Buzz, May, 2003
A service of the FPSE Community Council. Submit items by
the Friday following the first Monday of the month to buzz@forestparksoutheast.org.

 
C4 action plans
   Sixty people attended the May 10 community assembly that closed the listening campaign sponsored by St. Cronan's C4 Core Team in partnership with the Security Task Force and Agape Outreach Center. The common neighborhood concerns that surfaced were safety and neighborhood unification.
   Neighbors who were concerned about safety identified building relationships as the key to improving safety in the neighborhood. They decided to do a "neighborhood blitz" leading up to National Night Out in an effort to get as many people as possible to come out and visit with each other that night. The 20th Annual National Night Out Against Crime and Drugs will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2003.
   People who were most concerned about neighborhood unification decided to create a reliable communication network. They will begin by coordinating all of the different communication forms in the neighborhood to increase the number of people who get information.
   "Overall, the Community Assembly was a very exciting event that provided an opportunity for the Greater FPSE Community to come together in order to know each other better and determine ways to continue to work together," C4 organizer Katie Jansen said. To be a part of the blitz or communication efforts, please call Katie at 367.3484.
Small business development
   Business productivity and success depend on using key business information for decisions, Greg Tucker, Small Business Development Center director, says. Tucker will be the instructor at an "Understanding Financial Statements" course on Tuesday, June 17, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Adams Park Community Center.
   Course participants will be able to: identify key business information on income statements and balance sheets; know what key ratios indicate, why to use them, and how to calculate them; and base business decisions on understanding financial statements, Tucker explained.
   This course is the first of three. Pre-registration is recommended by calling 314.631.5327. The fees, which include materials and refreshments, are: $39 for the first ten FPSE residents to register; $49 for additional FPSE residents; and $79 for others.
   Scholarships are available.
Development Corporation
  
Development Corp. logo The Forest Park Southeast Development Corporation is implementing a four-point strategy of Housing Development, Commercial Development, Human Investment, and Public Infrastructure, executive director Irving Blue said after the corporation's May 5 meeting.
   The strategy recognizes that FPSE has four distinctively different neighborhood organizations as well as several community organizations and interest groups, Blue said.
   The strategy embraces and will nurture and promote the different elements, but Blue emphasized that full participation and coordination with each other is needed for the independent interests to exist and flourish.
   Blue said that he plans on working with each neighborhood association and community group to assist in the implementation of a work plan that addresses the concerns of the groups and the community. The corporation will hold a "Town Hall Meeting" in September. At that meeting, the groups can voice their concerns and highlight their goals and accomplishments. Blue hopes that, at the conclusion of the meeting, there will be a meeting of the minds where everyone attending feels they are "a part of the Corporation and the Corporation is working for the community." Most importantly, Blue said, all residents should get involved "because they make the difference."
"The Market"
   Adams School second grader Brittne Brisco suggested the name for "The Market at Forest Park Southeast" that will begin operation on the Adams Center parking lot on Saturday, June 21. A gift certificate is on its way to Brittne for her contribution.
   Vendors already committed to the market are Mangrove, Fry's, Stewart's Bakery, Temok Mosqueda, Imani's High Fashion, Tracy's Creations, and Bisque BBQ, according to Saundra Moss, vendor coordinator. More vendors are wanted and support is available for five residents in getting their carts or stands for the market. Persons interested should call Saundra at 633.7924 or leave a message for her at 534.7075.
Renard Company anniversary
   Renard Paper Company celebrates it's 50th anniversary this year. In its half century, Renard has evolved from a Dixie Cups distributor to a supplier of janitorial and industrial chemicals and dispensing systems, floor and carpet care products, and cleaning and safety equipment. Congratulations to founder Henri Renard, his sons David, Paul, and John Renard, and all the rest of the family and enterprise.
STF plans
   The Security Task Force (STF) is looking for a person from every block to attend a Neighborhood Watch Meeting with Ninth District Police Captain Oldani, Neighborhood Stabilization Officer Brian Wilson, and other city resource officials. The meeting will be June 11 at 6:30 p.m. sharp and ending at 8:00 p.m. sharp. If interested in being the representative from your particular block, please email Sue Lauritsen at lauritsue1@yahoo.com or call her via her pager, 871.1850.
   Starting the first part of June, the STF will be forming a working committee comprised of residents and stakeholders in the FPSE neighborhood. This committee will be working on our mission statement, our vision statement, and goals and objectives for the rest of 2003 and into 2004, Sue said. We are looking for people with positive ideas, some energy to contribute, and some enthusiastic optimism to keep forging forward, she added.
   STF meetings are the 3rd Thursday of every month. The dates for the summer are June 19, July 17, and August 21. These meetings are all at 6:30 p.m. at Adams Community Center.
Lighthouse positions open
   Lighthouse Free Methodist Church is looking for a full-time outreach director, a music minister, and a volunteer landscape architect.
   The outreach director should have excellent administrative and people skills, be able to work with children, donors, and the board and would be responsible for financial oversight, newsletters, and fund raising events; MSW is preferred. The minister of music should have similar skills and will direct a children's choir and lead Sunday worship through music for a weekly stipend. Both positions would require good church and work references and active church participation / membership. A volunteer landscape architect is also needed.
   Send resumes or make inquiry with Pastor Craig Scandrett-Leatherman, 1218 Tower Grove, 63110; cscandre@ku.edu, or 314.832.8506.
Literacy project
   A literacy project will be the first effort by the renewed funding efforts of the Sustainable Neighborhoods Development Office (SNDO). Proposals for serving various age groups have been suggested. Ideally the program could serve 75 individuals and would be underway by late June if residents reach a consensus on operation, accountability, and budget, Bernard Becton, SNDO staff person, said.
Juneteenth celebration
   The play "Voices of the Past" will kick off FPSE's Juneteenth Celebration at the Missouri Historical Society on Sunday, June 1, 2003, at 3:30 p.m. The play will also be preformed again for FPSE's Juneteenth / Fatherhood Celebration on Sunday, June 15, 2003, at Adams Community Center.
Adams Grove activity
   The Adams Grove Block Unit has changed it's name to Adams Grove Neighborhood Association to better reflect its new vision, George Jones announced. The Association is a member of the Urban League's Federation of Block Units. The meetings continue to be on the second Thursday, 7:00 p.m., at the New Hope Church of the Nazarene, 1211 S. Newstead (between Swan and Norfolk).
   Residents of Adams Grove who are in need and have past-due electric bills have the chance to return to zero. For more information about The Clean Slate Program contact Deni Robinson of The Urban League at 652.8228.
   Don DeVivo initiated a petition drive and vacant property list at the May meeting. Don said that buildings on this list do not fit into the final draft plan for the area and, therefore, elected representatives should help eliminate these derelict buildings from the neighborhood. The petition will be available to be signed at all the block units and other meetings, Don added and asked anyone who wants to help to contact him at 853.4570 or devivo2@juno.com.
NCT meeting
   The next Neighborhood Coordinating Team meeting will May 21 (third Wednesday of the month) at 6:00 p.m. at the Adams Community Center. "Be sure to come out," Saundra Moss said, because it will be a time to ask questions and get first-hand information from Irving Blue, the new executive director of the Forest Park Southeast Development Corporation, the captain of the Ninth District, representatives from the farmer's market, ARCHS, the Neighborhood Justice Project, the Security Task Force, and the Neighborhood Stabilization Office.
Policy notes
   The Buzz is a resource for all residents and groups in FPSE. If you want your information included, just write it up and send it along. Also, advertisers are needed to pay the monthly printing costs. Send information and questions to buzz@forestparksoutheast.org.

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