www.wbna.org - Greater City Providence

www.wbna.org
Cynthia Langlykke
Baruch Sachs
How did the WBNA Start?
• Founded in 1983 by neighbors tired by
lack of services in neighborhood
• Sought to bring city attention to the
neighborhood and advocate for positive
change
• Today, we have over 250 households as
members, a full time staff of 2, an
extensive volunteer network and a
physical HQ on Westminster.
WBNA’s Mission
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The WBNA organizes neighbors and businesses on the West Side of
Providence to preserve and promote our diverse, historic, urban
community as a safe, vibrant, and sustainable place to live,work, and
play.
WBNA --in partnership with other organizations, businesses, and officials seeking to improve the
City of Providence-- works to:
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Provide neighbors with resources to solve community problems and opportunities to become a
powerful voice in neighborhood planning and development
Strengthen relationships among neighbors to build community and civic involvement
Reflect the diversity of the West Side in the organization's leadership and membership
Promote a strong sense of pride and place and maintain economic diversity in the neighborhood
Create and maintain a safe and clean neighborhood
Protect our parks, and return trees and green space to our neighborhoods
Advocate for equitable municipal and state policies and services for the West Side
Preserve the urban and historic fabric while guiding new development to complement the existing
built environment
Develop renovation and infill projects for residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties that
conform to the West Side Overlay District
Nurture local businesses and sustainable mixed-use development on the West Side's main
streets
WBNA Structure
• Committee Structure
Governance
Finance
Resource
Development
Marketing and
Communications
•Oversight
•Budget
•Membership
•Newsletter
•Evaluation
•Reporting
•Web Site
•Training
•Compliance
•Annual
Campaign
•Events
•PR
•Leadership
Dev
•Sponsorship
•Grants
•Calendar
•Collateral
•Resource Guides
•General Meeting
•Annual Report
CDC
Neighborhood
Action
•Econ and
Bus Dev
•Grassroots
Activities
•Planning
( Cleanups, block
parties, safety)
•Property
Rehab
•Maint.
What do we do?
• Advocate for our neighborhood while
fostering community
• Increasingly taking on the role of being a
Community Development Corporation
(CDC) to deal with large infrastructure
projects and buildings
• Still very much a grassroots organization
committed to neighbors and small
business
Challenges
• Revitalizing Westminster Street
– Enhancing Canonicus Sq
– Reconnecting West Side to Downtown
– Enforcing the West Side Overlay Zone and following
the West Side Action Plan
• Keeping the Armory Alive
– Securing funds for preservation and repair
– Get the Armory Occupied
• Ensure Responsible Development in our
Neighborhood and all of Providence
• Increase Awareness and Promote Positive
Perception of the Organization
in Action
• Building
• Making Change
• Connecting
• Having Fun
Building: 1577 Westminster
• Urban Greens
Market
• Green Design
• Affordable Housing
Building: Our
Environment &
Infrastructure
• Westminster
St.
• Luongo Sq.
• Dexter &
Parade St
• Dean St.
• Broadway
• Armory Reuse
Restoring our Park Space
67 new trees in the Park in
2006!
Building: Friends of Dexter
Training Ground Park Group
Organizes
neighbors to
advocate for,
maintain,
promote, &
celebrate the
Dexter
Training
Ground Park
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Photo: Rick Olsen
Working with the City:
Mayor’s office unveiled the
Big Belly Solar Trash can in
the park for a 6-week trial
• Champlin Foundation
Grant brought 4 trash
dispensers and 10
benches to be
installed in the
upcoming weeks.
• Dexter Friends
received grants from
the New England
Grassroots Fund &
Walmart to continue
their work
Making Change: Plan first!
• Providence Tomorrow
Making Change: Project Review
• WBNA’s Community Development
Committee professionalized and
formalized its project review process that
advocates for the highest quality design
for our neighborhood and our city
• The CDC reviewed and advised on myriad
projects from a green building proposal to
the controversial MetroLoft project to a
gas station expansion to the Lawton
building….
Connecting: Promoting Local Businesses
Connecting:
Other Groups
• Member Citywide
Green
• Fiscal agent for Little
City Growers and
others
• Provide below market
office, meeting space
and housing: Urban
Greens, Childhood
Lead Action Project
and family at 1560 &
1192 Westminster
Connecting: Keeping Neighbors Informed
• General Meetings
(Candidate’s nights, Nonviolence, Tree Tally,
Armory update, Public
Library, Comp Plan)
• Neighborhood Yard Sale &
Café
• Cleanups all year round
• Monthly Neighborhood
Action Crime Watch
Meetings
• National Neighborhood
Day Block Party
• Annual Calendar
showcasing the
neighborhood
• Tool Bank Rental
Connecting: WBNA Neighborhood
Spring Clean-Up
Being held this year on
Saturday April 28th starting at
8:30am!
Connecting & Having Fun:
Roll-the-Dice Membership
Party Julian’s Restaurant
Having Fun: Free performances as part of
Celebrate Providence & the Neighborhood
Performing Arts Initiative
Made possible by
WBNA, the
Department of Art,
Culture &Tourism,
the Department of
Parks &
Recreation
& Mayor David N.
Cicilline
Having Fun: Green Living
ECO-MOTION RAFFLE: RUN BIKE SCOOT
Win running shoes, a bike, or a scooter!! (get
around without a car)
Drawing held May 11th at the Armory!
Having Fun: Art and Architecture
at the Armory
First Public Event at the Armory in 10 Years!
2007 Goals
PRIORITIES
Building 1577 Westminster Street
Include more neighbors in the WBNA
Strategic Planning
Providence Tomorrow
Community Garden at 180 Bridgham
Street including RISD’s Solar Decathalon
house
• Sustain ourselves
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JOIN US!
•Become a member
•Volunteer at an event
•Join a committee
•Lobby legislators
•Attend General Meetings and stay
informed