There is a fresh wind blowing in the Homewood Community of late, one that is blowing over top of the negative images, mis-guided notions that good things are not happening, and that crime would be a barrier to progress. The wind is blowing away apathy, and lack of involvement, and stagnation.
External forces are moving towards Homewood with activity that will generate revenue and at the same time create revitalization with the community. The residents are joining in this movement because they recognize, that as millions of dollars worth of development are about to come into their neighborhood, they are entitled to reap some of the benefits from the new values that will be created.
In support of community participation, the Community Empowerment Association convened the first in a series of Town Hall Meetings, which included a pancake breakfast, to bring the Homewood stakeholders together to begin the conversation facilitate forming the “People’s Plan for Homewood.”
This first planning and strategy session was Nov. 8 at the CEA, located at 7120 Kelly Street. This meeting covered an outlining of the Mission, Vision and Goals of this collective; and also began to address some of the overriding questions facing the community. This was also an opportunity to prepare for the “unified voice” of the community that will be so vital in effectively conveying what the community wants to see happen to and for themselves.
According to CEA Executive Director, T. Ryshad Byrdsong, “this is part of becoming self sufficient—being able to clearly articulate through these conversations the things that will make us a stronger community; homeownership, entrepreneurship, and meaningful employment.—through greater understanding of the power of our role, as developers enter our neighborhood—we can drive the change in our community—and have a major voice in what happens here; where we are invested, where we live, work, play and raise our families.”
At least 100 individuals were on hand for this groundbreaking conversation. The participants included Jerome Jackson of Operation Better Block, Quinton Bullock, president of CCAC, City Councilman Ricky Burgess, and State Representative Ed Gainey. Also present were Father David Taylor, pastor of St. Charles Lawanga Parish, Yolanda Ferguson; the new branch manager of the Homewood PNC Bank, Shannah Thap-Gillian, of Homewood Children’s Village and a representative from the Mayors Office.
The framework of the day was shown in a presentation that addressed the importance of creating a “development arm” in Homewood; of developing a way to listen to each other, discuss issues, and reach consensus on vision/goals and specific strategies as well as the importance of collaborations, and partnerships.
After the opening, the groups dispersed into break out sessions to explore individual topics such as Workforce Development, Business Development, Housing and Youth.
The group reconvened and shared the discussion points of each breakout. Next steps are to create a directory of all community groups in Homewood and surrounding area, to continue the work started by the HBCCO 14 years ago, and to follow through on the suggestions and ideas from the break out sessions.
Byrdsong also shared that this gathering is just the first part of ongoing work on this initiative.
He stated, “The second phase will be that beginning in January, we will start a series of boot camps in each of the areas that will prepare our community to take advantage of the opportunities that are on the horizon—homebuyer education, workforce development and training, and business development.”
“The plans for this community process are very comprehensive, but in order to have it operate smoothly there will need to be the creation of a central clearing house of information. So there will be a centralized place of knowing what exactly exist—a resource center which will contain all the services members of the community can use.”
Jamil Bey a community member who attended the event, expressed the following. “The community is tired of the fragmentation and groups not working together for the broader benefit of our community. We must promote solidarity and unity if where going to advance the collective interest of our community not the few.”
