The neighborhood cabinet met on Monday, April 23, 2001, at 3:30 p.m., at ARCHS.

  Attendance (may not be complete or accurate): B.J. Cothran, Michael Burns, Shirley Wallace, George Jones, Ra Khem Thoth, and Bob Babione.

  Staff: Lisa Potts, Serena Muhammad, Rick LeGrand, and Veronica Banks.

   Lisa Potts gave an extended report on the status of the Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative and the various neighborhoods. Three are in the planning stage: south cluster, Wellston, and Walnut Park cluster. Lisa provided a handout of a report to the ARCHS board.

  Lisa described the use of a compact or umbrella agreement in sustainable neighborhoods. All parties sign the compact. Forest Park Southeast does not have such a compact, Lisa explained, because the plan was already done. Bob asked about the need for FPSE to do a compact. Lisa said the maybe down the road a compact would be needed for implementation, that was a "strong possibility."

   The World Wide Youth day was "well attended" and a "tremendous success," according to Lisa. Youth ideas were solicited for the planning process. Long range, there should be a regional youth council advising Neighborhood Leadership Teams (NLTs). Youth events are planned for September 23, 2001, with the collaboration of the Latter Day Saints. Serena and Rick are working on a youth / gang summit.

   The Home Team initiative is still in progress, even though DeMarco Farr and Mike Jones are no longer with the Rams (this was a personal effort by those players, not a Rams effort). Lowes is still committed, though Carol House has withdrawn.

   Wellston has received a parent-link grant for family strengthening. The program focuses on adolescents.

   In FPSE, a $20,000 grant was made to the Life Crisis program, which Lisa described as "a really good program."

   Each neighborhood has an annual budget of $40,000 for short-term success projects. Lemay is using some of those funds for a program like the city's Brighside program.

   The Old North St. Louis neighborhood is coming into the Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative. Alderwoman Griffin made her recommendations.

   SNI workshops will be held in September at Forest Park Community College. Prior workshops got good evaluations. The purpose is to connect neighborhood leaders. There was some discussion about charging a fee and about using national or local speakers.

   A Caring Community Conference will be from June 12 to 14, 2001, at Tan-Tara.

   Lisa is working on a NLT handbook. The draft was distributed with a request for feedback.

   Also distributed were project applications for short term success projects and nomination forms for the Special Recognition Awards. Veronica said she would provide a list of prior awardees.

   The next meeting will be on _________ 2001, at 3:30. (Usually the meeting is on the fourth Monday; May 28, however, is Memorial Day.)