ADOPTED - JUNE 23, 2009

Agenda Item No. 35

 

Introduced by the Human Services Committee of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE ALLEN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY

RESOLUTION #09-196

WHEREAS, Allen Neighborhood Center (ANC) was founded in June 1999 by a small group of Eastside residents to provide neighbor-friendly access to health, housing and human service resources; to strengthen and support the civic infrastructure in partnership with the Eastside Neighborhood Organization and over two dozen smaller neighborhood groups; and to continue the creative engagement and planning for community improvement that had been the work of the Eastside Neighborhood Summit Project; and 

WHEREAS, ANC launched its first program, the Youth Service Corps, a job and life skill training program for 11-17 year old youth in fall of 1999; and 

WHEREAS, in March 2000, ANC helped host an Eastside Summit Gathering, bringing over 300 Eastside stakeholders together to conduct an assessment of the state of the neighborhood and to begin development of ‘Growing in Community: An Action Plan for Lansing’s Eastside’, which served as a strategic plan for Allen Neighborhood Center for the first five years of its existence; and

WHEREAS, during 2000, ANC launched a Nurturing Parent Program, an emergency food program (Food Movers), an early version of what is now the Eastside Neighbor newsletter, a summer lunch program for children, the Wednesday Morning Senior Coffee, the Housing Ambassadors, the Health Navigators, a GED program, home repair, and other classes; and 

WHEREAS, in 2001, ANC received its 501 (c) 3 tax exempt status, helped organize the first of several commercial corridor improvement initiatives, launched the Tuesday Chess Knights, Kinship Care Support Group, and co-located a portion of its programs with the ACTS Family Resource Center two doors down from the main center; and

WHEREAS, in February 2002, ANC launched a Health Outreach Project to enroll Eastside residents in the Ingham Health Plan, a continuation of our long and valued partnership with the Ingham County Health Department to create a healthy neighborhood culture on the Eastside; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, ANC hosted its first of many Eastside Home and Community Tours, launched three years of popular home improvement workshops titled Create the House That You Want from the House That You Have, worked with the City of Lansing to create the Hunter Park Master Plan; and

WHEREAS, in 2004, ANC hosted an Urbandale Design Initiative (later known as the Urbandale Project), launched the successful and lively Allen Street Farmers Market; and

 

 

ADOPTED - JUNE 23, 2009

Agenda Item No. 35

RESOLUTION #09-196

WHEREAS, in 2005, the Hunter Park Project, a partnership between ANC and the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department was designated as a Cool Cities: Neighborhood in Progress; and the Allen Street Farmers Market was the first non-profit in Michigan to be authorized to collective Electronic Benefits Transfer (food stamps) for farmers; and

WHEREAS, in 2006,  a Cool Cities Award of $100,000 was used to install  1) a ½ mile long walking path in Hunter Park, and 2) over the next two years, build the Hunter Park Community Garden House, a year-round greenhouse to serve as a hub for educational and entrepreneurial gardening initiatives; and

WHEREAS, in 2008, ANC, in partnership with the Eastside Neighborhood Organization, launched the Eastside Futures Project to engage stakeholders in a series of issue forums to prepare for participation in the City of Lansing Comprehensive Master Plan, even while creating a comprehensive strategic plan for Allen Neighborhood Center; and

WHEREAS, ANC continues as a hub for comprehensive and integrative community development, serving the northeast quadrant of the City and, indeed for people throughout the region who participate in ANC’s housing, health, community building, and food-related programs; and

WHEREAS, on June 24, 2009, Allen Neighborhood Center will celebrate its 10th Anniversary.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby congratulates the Allen Neighborhood Center on the event of their 10th Anniversary.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board wishes them continued success for many years to come.

 

HUMAN SERVICES:  Yeas:  Tennis, Davis, McGrain, Schor, Dougan, Vickers

       Nays:  None            Absent:  None         Approved 6/15/09