August 8, 2005: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: Service: Neighborhoods: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Charlotte John-Gomez has been executive director of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Inc. in Milwaukee since 1999, after serving in the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corps
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August 8, 2005: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: Service: Neighborhoods: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Charlotte John-Gomez has been executive director of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Inc. in Milwaukee since 1999, after serving in the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corps
Charlotte John-Gomez has been executive director of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Inc. in Milwaukee since 1999, after serving in the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corps
Everything LBWN does starts at the grassroots level. You need to work with neighbors to identify what they are interested in doing and what they are concerned about to make this a better place to live. It starts by going door-to-door, then holding community meetings and focus groups. You have to work with leaders to help mobilize the neighborhood and accomplish projects they want to do.
Charlotte John-Gomez has been executive director of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Inc. in Milwaukee since 1999, after serving in the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corps
TAKES FIVE CHARLOTTE JOHN-GOMEZ To improve neighborhoods, start at the grass roots
Aug 8, 2005 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors Inc. held a neighborhood picnic and fund-raiser over the weekend to celebrate its 10th anniversary of working to stabilize and improve the south side neighborhood bounded by S. Layton Blvd, Miller Parkway, Pierce St. and Lincoln Ave. The picnic was in the gardens of the School Sisters of St. Francis headquarters at 29th and Orchard. It featured food and entertainment as diverse as the area that's 42% Latino, 42% white and 8% Asian. Charlotte John-Gomez has been executive director of LBWN since 1999, after serving in the Dominican Republic with the Peace Corps and working for the Common Council's fiscal review section for five years.
She talked about the work of Layton Boulevard West Neighbors with reporter Georgia Pabst.
Q. Economic development and revitalization are tough jobs to pull off. How do you begin?
A. Everything LBWN does starts at the grassroots level. You need to work with neighbors to identify what they are interested in doing and what they are concerned about to make this a better place to live. It starts by going door-to-door, then holding community meetings and focus groups. You have to work with leaders to help mobilize the neighborhood and accomplish projects they want to do.
Q. Like what?
A. Like the Main Street Milwaukee program . . . in which we're working to stabilize National Ave., the Silver City commercial area. Then there are block watches. We try to identify people active on their block and then mobilize neighbors to work on neighborhood improvement projects. One block, for example, installed unique lighting on each porch, so that their block would be safer. It's simple projects that bring people together to work for a common purpose.
Q. Most organizations are struggling with funding for the future. What are your concerns for the agency?
A. When I came, the School Sisters were the sole source of funding. We've leveraged that investment of nearly $1 million to start the organization and that investment has brought others on board. We have a diverse portfolio of investors who believe in us. And we work with our neighbors and seek other investors to be part of our team.
Q. What projects are in the works?
A. This year we're undertaking our first real estate development project, at 3500 W. National Ave. We've established a limited- liability corporation and we've acquired the building. We're going to rehab it for mixed use. We've recruited Mekato's Columbian Bakery in Chicago as a tenant. Eventually, we hope to sell the building and see a return on the investment. That's a $530,000 project. This year we're also starting a volunteer mentoring program to connect emerging leaders with established leaders.
Q. How do you deal with skepticism about what you're trying to do? How do you convince folks to go along?
A. We do encounter that. We work with people who are willing to work to improve the neighborhood. There will always be people who might be skeptical. We try to include them and continue to work with those who do believe.
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Story Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Dominican Republic; Service; Neighborhoods
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