Neighborhood Coalition for a Positive Change Beat 22X

by Angela Haller and Renee Sykes

What is an NCPC? For over a decade, residents who participated in NCPCs (Neighborhood Crime Prevention Councils) throughout the city believed the main focus of these groups was to address crime issues. That is understandable, considering the word "crime" is in the title. However, this could not be further from the truth.'

In 2008, residents from Montera, Woodminster, Lincoln Heights, Oakmore, and the Dimond district came up with the name "Neighborhood Coalition for a Positive Change," keeping the NCPC initials. The key words in the title are positive change. The goal is to motivate and educate residents who want to make a difference in their community and to teach them how to navigate and work with various city agencies for positive change in their communities. Does it work? Let's see what happened in 2009.

Beautification

Kathleen Russell, chair of the Beautification committee, has a passion about litter and believed the ongoing dirt and debris were negatively impacting businesses in the Dimond District. By working with the Public Works Agency through the "Adopt a Spot" program, she and another local merchant created a weekly cleanup program for the Dimond Merchants who made a point of keeping the front of their businesses clean. Business owners who were committed to "Make the Dimond Sparkle" were mentioned in the MacArthur Metro. Kathleen has resigned as chair of Beautification, and the NCPC is looking for another individual to step in and continue the commitment of beautifying all of Beat 22X. Thank you, Kathleen, for a job well done.

Crime and Public Safety

Angela Haller and Julee Disgrazzi agreed to co-chair this committee and together worked on various issues. By working with the Problem Solving Officer and the Neighborhood Services Coordinator of the police department, they assisted residents on Montana who were victims of burglaries, cleaned up Boston/Palmetto to eliminate open-air drug dealing, worked with Parks and Recreation to minimize loitering/drinking in Dimond Park, and held a residential burglary workshop to educate residents about "target hardening" their homes. The focus in 2010 will be on CORE (Communities of Oakland Responding to Emergencies).

Economic Development

What better way to build a community than by having residents research and determine what business will benefit a community? The chair of this committee is Carrie Campbell. Her positive and upbeat energy has reenergized the Dimond community. She thoroughly researches any new businesses coming to the community and encourages residents to patronize existing businesses. Are there more Carrie Campbells out there? Please let us know. We said goodbye to Del Navios and hello to sports bar Monaghans and Taste of Joy, its partner restaurant, which just opened up in the Woodminster area. They recently received a positive write-up in the Oakland Tribune. Monaghans will definitely bring more traffic to the Woodminster area.

If you are interested in being part of the NCPC and learning more about what positive things your neighbors are doing, please come to the next NCPC meeting on Monday, February 22, 2010, at the Greek Orthodox Church, 4700 Lincoln Ave.