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WEED & SEED PROJECT - 26th POLICE DISTRICT

BACKGROUND

The 26th District Weed & Seed site has been a Weed & Seed site since 1992. In 1998 since the site was in its fifth year site, the site had to reapply to receive Official Recognition. In 1999, the 26th Police District Site was re-certified as a Weed & Seed site.

The 26th Police District site and the 26th Police District site were considered one site until 1998. In 1998, due to the large size of the original target area, the Steering Committee decided to split the large site along the natural police district boundary of Lehigh Ave into two sites. Both sites continue to work together and share one Weed & Seed Steering Committee. The main reason for maintaining one Steering Committee is that all the partners are primarily the same and it would not be necessary to hold two separate meetings.

DESIGNATED AREA

Since 1992, the target area has changed twice. The target area is currently approximately 3x's the size of the original target area. The following is the most update socioeconomic data available: *Information was not available on two of the census tracts in the area.

Population in the target area is: 18,935
Race Composition: 43% other race, 23% White, 32% African American, 2% Asian
Employment Status: 7.9% unemployed
Median Family Income: $17,666
Individuals below poverty line: 52%
Households on Welfare: 31%
H.S. Diploma or higher: 37%
Bachelors Degree or higher: 3.8%
Source: 2000 Census

STEERING COMMITTEE

The Weed & Seed Steering Committee is co-chaired by the U.S. Attorney and Philadelphia Police Commissioner. The committee is comprised of representatives from: city, state and federal agencies, community groups, police department leaders, school district officials, PA National Guard and the Weed & Seed Executive Director and Site Coordinator.

The Steering Committee meets on a monthly basis. The role of the Weed & Seed Steering Committee is provide an opportunity for reporting, and address issues and concerns that affect the work being done by members of the Steering, Safe Haven, and Community Policing committees. The Steering Committee members work as a collective group to resolve any concerns and to monitor the progress of the Weed & Seed goals and objectives. The steering committee members also serve on sub-committees, that address more specific concerns, and work together to coordinate Weed & Seed projects.

The Steering Committee also votes on policy and procedures (by-laws), budgets and projects to be under taken by the group at large and votes on recommendations of the police regarding the concentration of law enforcement efforts.

 

WEED & SEED PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

LAW ENFORCEMENT OBJECTIVE

To eliminate crime and drug trafficking in the target area through community policing and joint Law Enforcement efforts between local, state and federal agencies.

ACTIVITIES

1) Last year, Mayor Street started the Operation Safe Streets initiative and placed 2 police officers on the 300 worst corners in the City of Philadelphia. In the Weed & Seed area, 12 corners are manned by officers. Officers man the corners to disperse the drug dealers and then move to other drug corners in the area.

2) In the year 2002, the District Attorney's Office sealed 18 properties, filed to seal 21 properties and placed leaseholds on 14 other properties in the Weed & Seed area.

3) D.E.A. and Philadelphia Housing Authority continue to partner with the Philadelphia Police on a variety of drug and law enforcement task forces.

4) The narcotics enforcement teams continue to partner with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies on various task forces to combat the drug problems.

COMMUNITY POLICING OBJECTIVE

Reduce crime, educate the community on community policing and encourage residents to collaborate with Law Enforcement Agencies and participate in the problem solving efforts.

ACTIVITIES

1) There was a 77% increase in the number of Town Watch Programs over the last 12 months. 10 new Town Watch programs were started during the last grant period. There is an average of 14 members/town watch group.

2) A Representative from the Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia Housing Authority Police and State Attorney General's Office attended the 2002 D.E.F.Y. Camp.

3) The Community Policing Committee continues to meet and discuss their concerns with the police.

4) The District Attorney's Office and U.S. Attorney's Office representatives attended the 3rd Annual D.E.F.Y. Christmas party.

PREVENTION / INTERVENTION & TREATMENT OBJECTIVE

Reduce ATOD (Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs) & domestic Abuse, reduce the level of violence in the community through trainings, workshops, Safe Haven activities and collaboration with other community groups

ACTIVITIES

1) C.A.D.E. (Corporate Alliance for Drug Education and Shalom Inc. continues to provide drug prevention and substance abuse workshops for youth in area schools and in the Safe Havens. C.A.D.E. and Shalom Inc. are providing these services in 6 public and parochial schools in the Weed & Seed target area. Between the two agencies, 2,815 youth are participating in the workshops.

2) 60 youth are participating in the PA National Guard Troopers Mentor Program. The youth attend after school homework help and participate in football and basketball leagues and educational field trips.

SAFE HAVEN

1) The Safe Havens have provided programs to 430 youths in the community. Fairhill has 45 youth in their programs, UNAD Cultural Center 20, Troopers 40, Taller Puertorriqueno 250, Norris Square Neighborhood Project 75. The youth participate in homework sessions, computer classes and drug prevention and substance abuse activities throughout the year.

2) Most of the youth at the Safe Havens participate in one or more of the Notable Programs listed below. They are able to interact with positive role models from the Safe Haven staff and mentor programs offered and other positive adults associated with the Safe Haven sites. All year round, youth are taking part in anti drug initiatives and programs that equip them with the knowledge of how to stay away from drugs and violence.

3) E.D.C.V.S. serviced over 1,500 victims of crime with assistance and education while going through the court system. E.D.C.V.S. was also able recoup $164,000 for victims of crime through the States Victims Compensation Program. The court advocates logged in 315 hours of court time to assist victims of crime.

NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION OBJECTIVE

Improve the physical conditions of the target area, increase resident involvement in beautification projects and facilitate the improvement of employment opportunities.

ACTIVITIES

1) The Empowerment Zone Financial Services Center continues to provide micro loans to residents in an effort to help them start their own businesses.

2) The Mayor's abandoned Auto Program continues to be very successful. Last year, the Philadelphia Police Department removed 3,176 abandoned autos.

3) The Mayor's Lot Beautification Project continues to have an impact in the community. Last year, 2,224 lots were cleaned. The city is working to turn over ownership of the lost prevention and substance abuse activities throughout the year.

4) Most of the youth at the Safe Havens participate in one or more of the Notable Programs listed below. Youth are able to interact with positive role models from the Safe Haven staff and mentor programs offered and other positive adults associated with the Safe Haven sites. All year round, youth are taking part in anti drug initiatives and programs that equip them with the knowledge of how to stay away from drugs and violence.

5) E.D.C.V.S. serviced over 1,500 victims of crime and assistance and education while going through the court system. E.D.C.V.S. was also able to recoup $164,000 for victims of crime through the State Victims Compensation Program. The court advocates logged in 315 hours of court time to assist victims of crime.

NOTABLE PROGRAMS

1) PEACEMAKER: This is violence reduction program funded by the William Penn Foundation. The program focuses on youth between the ages 9-21. Youth from four area community centers come together and have teen talk sessions and discuss any and all problems or issues. The groups also attend workshops on various topics, retreats and recruit other youth in the neighborhood to participate in the program. The youth receive PEACE Dollars from non-violent acts they have done during the week. The dollars can then be used to purchase items from the PEACEMAKER store the youth have set up. The youth also become facilitators for youth workshops and teach other youth what they have learned.

2) D.E.F.Y. (Drug Education For Youth: D.E.F.Y. is a 2-phase program. During Phase I, the youth attend a 5-day residential camp at the PA National Guard Base. The youth receive training on conflict resolution, team building, leadership skills, substance abuse and hygiene. During Phase II, the youth participate in a mentoring program. The mentors are: police officers, military personnel and the National Guard. The youth meet with their mentors once a month for 4 hours for 10 months.

3) WEED & SEED TIP SHEETS: This program give the residents in the Weed & Seed area the opportunity to provide information on the drug trafficking occurring in their area via anonymous tip sheets. The residents fill out the tip sheets and then mail them directly to the narcotics unit or drop then off at the Weed & Seed Mobile Mini-Station. This program has helped the police make many arrests and confiscate drug from our streets.

4) Youth Works: This summer youth program provides jobs for over 100 youth in the Weed & Seed target area. The youth assist in community service projects and serve as junior counselors at the summer camps. The youth also receive training in various topics such as substance abuse and team building.

5) PARK PATROL: The youth in the park patrol program attend workshops and various activities throughout the year, but their primary function and goal is to maintain the Norris Square Park clean and beautiful. The youth help to pick up any trash in the park and assist in putting down mulching around the trees.

6) TEEN SCREEN: Drug Free teens along with their coordinator print screens on t-shirts for organizations and businesses throughout the City of Philadelphia. The youth learn how to work as a team and also learn a valuable trade that can lead to a job in the future.

7) TEEN COURT: Youth get the opportunity to learn about the judicial system and then implement what they have learned in the program. Youth from one of the high schools who have committed minor offenses agree to come before a court made up of their peer, the peers preside over the case and then give the penalty.

8) SEED TECH: Six state of the art computers were given to our Weed & Seed site EOWS to conduct computer training. Many trainers have already been trained and residents are taking advantage of the computer training, Residents get the opportunity to learn valuable skills that will make them more marketable in the work force and help them to acquire jobs.

EVALUATION

Sites continue to collect data to help evaluate the effectiveness of the programs and activities at their respective sites.

Benjamin Franklin Photo by B. Krist for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation