Free To Grow
Program staff and partners are making strategic and concurrent investments in three main areas: improvements in the physical environment, increased resident leadership and social cohesion, and the development of strong families. Strategies for development in each of these areas are designed to be interrelated in implementation and results. In summary, these strategies are: Working with public and private systems to address barriers to family and community development through more effective and efficient partnering
Increasing resources and enforcement to reduce property deterioration and blight
Developing leadership to identify, drive, and sustain neighborhood improvement
Connecting residents to each other as well as to an array of community partners
Providing accessible resources for family needs including mental health, substance abuse, parenting, and home improvement.
The Core Team
A partnership of 17 private and public organizations will be forged to implement these strategies. Representatives of 12 of these organizations meet as a Core Team once a month to assign tasks and review progress focusing on the coordination of strategies for physical property improvements, crime reduction and social capital. The Lincoln Free to Grow Core Team currently includes representation from: Residents, tenants and property owners
Clinton Neighborhood Organization
Hartley Neighborhood Association
Malone/Hawley Neighborhood Association
Everett Neighborhood Association
Near South Neighborhood Association
Lincoln Police Department
City of Lincoln's Department of Urban Development
The City of Lincoln-Mayor's Office
City of Lincoln's Department of Building and Safety
Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department
NeighborWorksฎ Lincoln
Lincoln Housing Authority
Other possible participating organizations are the Human Services Federation, The HUB, City Impact, Cedars, Clyde Malone Center, Hartley Elementary School and Clinton Elementary School.
Criteria for Neighborhood Selection
Condition of residential housing stock and neighborhood infrastructure Crimes stats
Neighborhood potential (existing efforts of investment)
Strong resident leadership-neighborhood organization, landlords, a community-conscious elementary school, etc.
Neighborhood assets-Churches, businesses, community center, etc.
Homeownership rates
Resident involvement with the program
Lincoln Free to Grow program strategies allow neighborhood residents to take ownership of their own neighborhood by taking active roles in activities that help to improve the quality of life where they live. Without resident participation the program will not be effective. Neighborhood activities would include: Host a block party
Establish a Neighborhood Watch group
Support/participate your annual neighborhood clean-up or organize a clean-up efforts on your block
Neighborhood Scan- Residents identify code violations, poorly maintained properties and other detractions in the neighborhood and report them directly to appropriate City Departments that can help correct the particular issue. Neighborhood Associations will be asked to build an Action Team consisting of landlords, property owners and tenants to help report code violations and other health/safety issues. These teams will then be invited to bring problems to the Free to Grow Core Team at least once a month.
Become a member of the Lincoln Policy Network to help change policy and create effective tools to help support neighborhood revitalization efforts.