Washington Heights Community Revitalization Project – Recover Our Neighborhood
Overview: The Washington Heights Community Revitalization Project, “Recover Our Neighborhood” located in Battle Creek, MI, is set to transform the neighborhood using the Purpose Built Community framework and Collective Impact strategies. This initiative tackles economic stagnation, decaying infrastructure, inadequate housing, and a lower quality of life, aiming for systematic and sustainable change.
Key Components: Economic Development: Facilitating economic growth by empowering the community through apprenticeships and vocational training, aimed at attracting businesses and reducing unemployment.
Workforce Development: Providing marketable trade skills through the Apprenticeship Program, enhancing individual employability and retaining skilled labor locally. Community Outreach and Social Cohesion: Strengthening social bonds through life skills development, cultural activities, and recreational opportunities. Infrastructure and Physical Space Improvements: Engaging community residents in refurbishing projects to enhance infrastructure and foster pride and ownership. Affordable Housing: Developing 17 single-unit homes to meet essential housing needs and establish a mixed-income neighborhood. Sustainability and Long-Term Viability: Ensuring the longevity of improvements with a focus on both environmental and economical sustainability.
Strategic Approach: Holistic Strategy: Integrating social, economic, educational, and infrastructural components to break poverty cycles.
Leveraging Partnerships: Collaboration with local schools, colleges, foundations, and community organizations maximizes resource use and ensures inclusivity. Community-Led Change: Prioritizing resident and leader involvement for culturally relevant and supported initiatives. Policy Influence: The project aims to serve as a model for broader policy and funding priorities.
Impact & Importance: Breaking Poverty Cycles: Offering better opportunities through comprehensive community investment. Economic Stimulation: Attracting businesses, creating jobs, and stimulating local economy. Quality of Life Improvements: Enhancing living conditions, infrastructure, and public spaces. Education and Skill Development: Building a skilled workforce to benefit individuals and the broader community.
Social Cohesion and Safety: Uniting community groups toward shared goals and creating safer neighborhoods. Sustainability: Ensuring enduring improvements and setting an example for environmentally conscious redevelopment. Hope and Pride: Revitalizing the community restores residents’ pride and instills future hope. Legacy and Preservation: Celebrating and preserving the rich cultural heritage of Washington Heights.
Housing Affordability: Ensuring quality, affordable housing to prevent displacement and foster homeownership. Equity and Inclusion: Prioritizing historically marginalized groups to guarantee equitable revitalization benefits.
Health and Wellness Initiatives: Greenwood Park Upgrades: New slides, basketball courts, fitness areas, and walking tracks to promote physical activity.
Addressing Structural Racism & Health Equity: Combatting Disinvestment: Reversing the effects of systemic racism by reinvesting in neglected areas. Workforce Opportunities: Providing economic growth and sustainability for minority populations. Accessible Healthcare Services: Integrating preventive health screenings and wellness programs into the community.
Systems-Level Change: Sustained Health and Well-being: Comprehensive development of green spaces and education access points fostering long-term community health.
The Washington Heights Community Revitalization Project is much more than infrastructure improvements; it’s about building a future where our community thrives through collaboration, equity, and sustainable development. This initiative is poised to become a beacon of community-driven progress and a testament to the transformative power of holistic revitalization.
Contact:
Rev. Dr. Monique French
Pastor/Director
153 N. Wood St., Battle Creek, MI 49037
Office: (269) 968-8773 Cell: (810) 814-6487
washingtonheightsumc.org
