Weaving a Social Fabric, Part IV: Polishing the Image
The weaving of a social fabric can be a growing experience. I shared 10 strategies for prosperity in the new economy in my third blog. Among the 10 is one focused on “polishing the image” of the city. This is an area that informal leaders can embrace with few barriers.
In essence image improvement is about marketing the strengths of your neighborhood and city while reducing drivers of negative perceptions, such as blight. Of course a challenge is the physical decline of historic urban centers like Detroit, Pontiac and Flint and the contrast with the suburban communities. You might be interested to note that Pontiac has 26 parks but only 3 city employees to take care of their upkeep.
Key assets of our city include the increased demand for urban living options along with diverse financial incentives to promote restoration in those areas. Possible opportunities for polishing the image of those cities is the ability to executive cost-effective and cooperative clean up efforts in neighborhoods around the city; the possible connection between economic development and historic preservation and the ability to promote social responsibility and the inclusion of disadvantaged populations.
In Pontiac we started a garden club 5 years ago with the mission to improve the image of the city throughout the seven districts. The foundation event is an annual garden walk. Around 10 homes are featured with a defined mix in the quality and stage of the garden. Of course we want around 3 or 4 gardens that are wonderfully designed and exhibited. At the same time we have gardens that are only a few years on the journey; perhaps in a smaller space with less costs; and reflecting the ethnic and racial make-up of the community along with home ownership and, at times, rentals.
Over the five year period and due in large part to the strong leadership of Pat Blackburn David over $5,000 is generated for strategic investments by the club directed toward improving the image. The club has adopted some public and private spaces such as the public library, the creative arts center, and a local historic building and its environs. We have approached the mayor with a design for improving the city hall grounds with strategic placed plantings in 2008.
Over the past couple of years the club has created additional opportunities for building the social fabric of Pontiac. Designing festive hats and holiday centerpieces are parallel activities that continue to work for us financially along with growing our civic muscle.
This past summer a strategic location on M-59 was identified to make an image statement about Pontiac. A partnership between the club and a private business/homeowner occurred. His hope was a nicer looking landscape. The club’s desire was to showcase what can be done with a little blood, sweat and tears. Morning glories adorned a lengthy chain fence creating a wonderful site from mid-summer to mid-October. This provided an immediate improvement. Longer-term work includes the planting of a number of trees with plans calling for the development of a neighborhood orchard.
In the future more morning glories will be planted throughout key entrances to Pontiac and in key neighborhood settings. This plant grows rapidly and makes an immediate impact. For the future a signature plant for Pontiac is being developed along the lines of Holland’s tulip festival. Pontiac’s plant of choice will be the Iris.
In another five years this small band of passionate people from an inclusive base with a strong work ethnic reflecting a clear vision will really have a major influence on the image of Pontiac. Again this is about informal leaders coming together to help weave a stronger social fabric. Making people smile is a wonderful dividend. What can you do in your neighborhood to “walk our talk” about improving the region?
Rick David
Vice President, Strategic Relations
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
In essence image improvement is about marketing the strengths of your neighborhood and city while reducing drivers of negative perceptions, such as blight. Of course a challenge is the physical decline of historic urban centers like Detroit, Pontiac and Flint and the contrast with the suburban communities. You might be interested to note that Pontiac has 26 parks but only 3 city employees to take care of their upkeep.
Key assets of our city include the increased demand for urban living options along with diverse financial incentives to promote restoration in those areas. Possible opportunities for polishing the image of those cities is the ability to executive cost-effective and cooperative clean up efforts in neighborhoods around the city; the possible connection between economic development and historic preservation and the ability to promote social responsibility and the inclusion of disadvantaged populations.
In Pontiac we started a garden club 5 years ago with the mission to improve the image of the city throughout the seven districts. The foundation event is an annual garden walk. Around 10 homes are featured with a defined mix in the quality and stage of the garden. Of course we want around 3 or 4 gardens that are wonderfully designed and exhibited. At the same time we have gardens that are only a few years on the journey; perhaps in a smaller space with less costs; and reflecting the ethnic and racial make-up of the community along with home ownership and, at times, rentals.
Over the five year period and due in large part to the strong leadership of Pat Blackburn David over $5,000 is generated for strategic investments by the club directed toward improving the image. The club has adopted some public and private spaces such as the public library, the creative arts center, and a local historic building and its environs. We have approached the mayor with a design for improving the city hall grounds with strategic placed plantings in 2008.
Over the past couple of years the club has created additional opportunities for building the social fabric of Pontiac. Designing festive hats and holiday centerpieces are parallel activities that continue to work for us financially along with growing our civic muscle.
This past summer a strategic location on M-59 was identified to make an image statement about Pontiac. A partnership between the club and a private business/homeowner occurred. His hope was a nicer looking landscape. The club’s desire was to showcase what can be done with a little blood, sweat and tears. Morning glories adorned a lengthy chain fence creating a wonderful site from mid-summer to mid-October. This provided an immediate improvement. Longer-term work includes the planting of a number of trees with plans calling for the development of a neighborhood orchard.
In the future more morning glories will be planted throughout key entrances to Pontiac and in key neighborhood settings. This plant grows rapidly and makes an immediate impact. For the future a signature plant for Pontiac is being developed along the lines of Holland’s tulip festival. Pontiac’s plant of choice will be the Iris.
In another five years this small band of passionate people from an inclusive base with a strong work ethnic reflecting a clear vision will really have a major influence on the image of Pontiac. Again this is about informal leaders coming together to help weave a stronger social fabric. Making people smile is a wonderful dividend. What can you do in your neighborhood to “walk our talk” about improving the region?
Rick David
Vice President, Strategic Relations
United Way for Southeastern Michigan
posted by Megan at
1:42 PM
2 Comments:
Rick -- Appreciate your thoughts on engaging the citizenry to take back their neighborhoods. Government, clearly at the local level is strapped financially. Your reference of 3 employees for all city parks is a great example. Here's our challenge -- How can we encourage citizens to further commit to helping their communities in areas such as this, thus freeing up resources further so government can do what it needs to do (economic development, public saftety, housing, etc.) at appropriate levels and not fall into the "old United Way" rut of trying to be everything to everyone???
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