Community Based Initiatives
Weed and Seed Initiative
History
Weed and Seed in the Southern District of Florida began in 1996 and was funded beginning in 1997 with the establishment of our first Weed and Seed Services site in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami, Florida and the prosecution of a notoriously violent narcotics distribution organization terrorizing that neighborhood.
Since that time, Weed and Seed in the Southern District of Florida has grown to include sites in:
Liberty City Miami-Dade County
Little Haiti Miami-Dade County
North Miami Beach W.A.V., Miami-Dade County
Homestead/Florida City, Miami-Dade County
Hallandale Beach, Broward County
Delray Beach, Palm Beach County
Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County
West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County
Gramercy Park, Palm Beach County
Belle Glade, Palm Beach County
Ft. Pierce Florida, St. Lucie County
What is the Weed and Seed Strategy?
Weed and Seed is funded through the Office of Community Capacity Development of the United States Department of Justice. Weed and Seed is not a program but a strategy to empower communities to fight crime, blight and illegal drug use on their way to making their neighborhoods safer, better places to live.
A Weed and Seed site may be established in any locale which meets the basic criteria for funding. In summary the proposed site must have defined boundaries, contain a minimum population, have a significant crime problem and have a collaboration of residents, social service providers, law enforcement, business and service providers working to change that community for the better.
Strategic Planning is the key for successful funding and operation of a Weed and Seed site. Weed and Seed site strategic plans (and grant request) must address the following elements:
A. Law Enforcement (A site specific law enforcement strategy)
B. Community Policing (Collaboration between police and residents)
C. Prevention Intervention and Treatment
D. Neighborhood Restoration
E. Long Term Sustainability
How can I bring Weed and Seed to my Neighborhood?
What to Expect
The Weed and Seed application requires more than giving a good grant writer a few days to get something in before the deadline.
Each of the successful applications approved for "Official Recognition" of proposed sites in our district have involved establishing and developing a core of Weed and Seed partners (law enforcement, local government, businesses, non-profits and residents) from all sections of the site community. These committed partners then collaborate, over a period of 8-12 months (or more) on the development and implementation of a Strategic Plan, an organizational structure and the funding application. Then, with or without additional funding, they begin implementation of their strategic plan. Finally, if successful they will receive official recognition as a Weed and Seed site and funding to continue with their strategic plan implementation.
The U.S. Attorney's Office regularly assists committed communities with technical assistance in developing Weed and Seed strategic planning, the application process and strategic plan implementation.
For more details on Weed and Seed and the final application process and related reference and technical assistance resources, check the Community Capacity Development Office (CCDO) website at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ccdo