previous reports pertinent to this matter . master...

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TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT

CHAIR AND MEMBERS COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE

MEETING ON MARCH 1,2010

ROSS L. FAIR GENERAL MANAGER OF COMMUNITY SERVICES

STRENGTHENING NEIGHBOURHOODS INITIATIVE: KIPPS LANE STRATEGY UPDATE

I RECOMMENDATION I1 That, on the recommendation of the General Manager of Community Services, the following actions BE TAKEN:

i. the Strengthening Neighbourhoods Initiative: Kipps Lane Strategy Update BE RECEIVED as information; and,

ii. The members of the Community Services Department, as identified in Appendix 1 BE COMMENDED for their participation and contributions to the Kipps Lane Strategy.

PREVIOUS REPORTS PERTINENT TO THIS MATTER

. Alternative to the Local Area Council Model Recommended in the Parks and Recreation Strategic Master Plan (September 13, 2004); . Social Policy Framework for the City of London (April 3, 2006); - Departmental Restructuring (July 19, 2006);

1 Neighbourhood and Children's Services Division Strengthening Neighbourhoods Initiative: Kipps Lane Strategy (May 7, 2007); and,

= Strengthening Neighbourhoods Initiative: Kipps Lane Strategy Update (October 27, 2008, June 1, 2009).

BACKGROUND 11 The Kipps Lane Strategy is fundamentally about helping residents work to improve the quality of

l i fe in their neighbourhood

Background

On May 14, 2007, City Council endorsed the Strengthening Neighbourhoods Initiative: Kipps Lane Strategy. Through the 2008 municipal budget process, Council approved a service growth request of $180,000 to support the Kipps Lane Strategy's key building blocks: community development, recreation programming and youth mentorship.

The work is guided by the following key principles: . =

=

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Resident engagement: Empowering individuals and groups of people to effect change in their own community. It takes time: Action that is purposely directed toward altering local conditions in a positive way is not immediate. Strategic Building Blocks: Our strategy is built on 3 building blocks to build and sustain community; community development; recreational programming; and youth mentorship. Partnerships: We recognize the value of working with our community partners to continually grow and cultivate opportunities at the neighbourhood level.

The goal of this approach is to help people build the relationships that will grow their community and to empower individuals and groups of people to effect change in their own communities. The action then that residents take is purposively directed toward altering local conditions in a positive way.

Committee members have heard from residents in Kipps Lane at 2 previous meetings and continue to invite them back to update and provide Council members with the highlights of what residents are doing to strengthen their neighbourhood.


Purpose

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the progress that has been made to date.

What is the Kipps Lane Strategy?

Civic administration developed this strategy to engage individuals, youth and families in the Kipps Lane area of London to participate in enhancing their neighbourhood’s capacity and vibrancy. The Kipps Lane area of London has some of the highest risk indicators related to health, education, family and individual well-being. Poverty is a major determinant of health, well being, and self-sufficiency. Initial findings suggested that this neighbourhood is underserviced in areas of recreation programming, facilities and other services.

The Kipps Lane Strategy is a pilot initiative for the Community Services Department to undertake an asset based community development approach in a specific neighbourhood. It is our intention that our learnings will guide us as we move forward to other neighbourhoods in the future. The Kipps Lane Strategy also formed the basis of the city-wide “London Strengthening Neighbourhoods Strategy” that was endorsed by City Council on February 22, 2010. This document highlights the Neighbourhood Action Planning process as a key strategy to ENGAGE residents and build stronger neighbourhoods.

Our Process

The Kipps Lane Strategy seeks to increase opportunities for community members to be involved and engaged in their neighbourhood, to build community leadership in the long-term and to build a stronger and more vibrant neighbourhood where all individuals feel safe and proud to live there. In order to accomplish this, the Strategy identified 3 key steps:

1. Neiqhbourhood AsDirations

The City of London in partnership with The University of Western Ontario‘s Population Studies Center developed a detailed survey. Through a door to door survey, residents explored questions on items such as neighbourhood attachment, neighbourhood organizational involvement, social issues facing the community and gaps in community services. Community interviewers completed 1,024 surveys (average 30 minute completion time) through guided and self guided surveys. This equated to just over I in 4 households responding to the survey.

2. Communitv Development Maming

City staff worked with the community created a map of the neighbourhood which identifies all physical assets, including green space, amenities, public and private infrastructure, types of housing, city lighting, sidewalks, etc. In addition, staff mapped all current programs and services offered in the Kipps Lane neighbourhood. This tool was used as part of the process to develop the neighbourhood action plan.

3.

In November, 2008, City staff held a community meeting in the Kipps Lane neighbourhood to share the findings from the “Kipps Lane Community Needs and Baseline Survey” and to discuss next steps in the process with residents. All interested residents were invited to participate in the development of neighbourhood action plans to meet neighbourhood goals and priorities and address local issues. The “Kipps Lane Resident Working Group” met over a one year period to:

Development of the KiDDS Lane Neiahbourhood Action Plan

Build a vision for their neighbourhood; Confirm key strategic areas identified by the residents through the survey process; Confirm the neighbourhood vision and strategic areas with their neighbours; and, Develop a neighbourhood action plan that identifies short and long term opportunities in each key area- defining how, what, why for each opportunity.

Highlights of the Neighbourhood Action Plan

The Kipps Lane Neighbourhood Action Plan was fundamentally a resident driven strategy engaging local neighbourhood residents to build a vision and a plan to strengthen their neighbourhood. Interested residents created a mission and vision for their neighbourhood and developed a series of Objectives and Actions Steps to be carried out over the next 3 years.

Now that the Plan has been completed, residents formed a local community group in an effort to continue to engage their neighbours in community building activities and complete the identified Action Steps.

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neighbourhood

Residents have formed the Kipps Lane and Community Group, developing the group's structure, an identity (logo) and a "go forward" plan to implement local Action Steps. Outlined below are highlights from the resident's Neighbourhood Action Plan (see Appendix 2 for the complete Plan).

Mission Statement:

The Kipps Lane neighbourhood, a diverse inclusive community working together, building a foundation for a positive and safe environment.

A community respecting nature, nurturing people of all ages and creating a great place

I . Hold celebratory good news events

Neighbourhood Priorities:

1. Safety To increase our feeling of safety and celebrate our diverse and positive voices.

2. Transportation To increase opportunities for all residents in Kipps Lane to travel to their destinations easily, safely and in a convenient manner.

3. Neighbourhood Maintenance To provide a physical environment which is appropriate and attractive to residents, through maintenance and improvements.

4. Physical Structures, Programs and Services To ensure that programs and services are available and meet the needs of Kipps Lane residents and have physical structures appropriate for those programs.

5. Information and Community Engagement To increase opportunities for Kipps Lane residents to be involved and engaged in their neighbourhood through the use of communication and information.

6. Environment To create a new environmental standard in Kipps Lane for the City of London by changing people's behaviour to create attractive places to live.

Kipps Lane Neighbouthood Action Steps:

Increase information to newcomer

I Obiectives I Timeline I Action Stem I

. . (completed- Build brand for the group, increase membership Find and work with a service provider who has a stmng relationship with

- = Year 1 and 2

I Build positive perception of the I Year 1 to 3 I 1 Increase good news stories I

population in Kipps Lane newcomers in the neighbourhocd

Clean up litter and garbage Increase recycling Remove graffiti

Year 1 Year 2 Year 1 = Build team IO clean graffiti monthly (underway)

Build from Clean and Green to make monthly events Work with City of London Environmental Services

I 1 - Infh-stakeholders who share information of locations to distribute in Promote information to residents bv email - keep database of residents'


Objectives

Develop a long-term plan to continue to keep the neighburhood maintained

Build relationships with City staff

and services identify gaps of needed facilities - Increase knowledge of who to call for service

Decrease youth crime/gang activity

- Lobby to increase access to key jestination points

Lobby to increase access of public :ransportation

Timeline - Year 1 Action Completed Year 1

Year 1

Year 1 - Year land 2

Year 1 to 3

- fear I 4ctions nmpleted

fear 1 4ctions nmpleted

1 Hold informational meetings with City staff who assist in neighburhood maintenance solutions . - e . . . . . .

. 9 Types of spaces identfied 1 Look at funding opportunities

Network with agencies in the area on a regular basis

Take inventory and map facilities and parks

Regular participant surveys

. Hold information sessions . * 1

1

9

1

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Develop a proposal for a pilot program with Crime Stoppers Design and distribute a safety pamphlet that includes all options for who to call for service when something happens Design and hold a safety info session for residents Increase sports activities and recreational opportunities in the neighbourhood (underway) Provide scholarshipdbursaries to youth for programs and activities in the community Provide more Spectrum programs for youth (underway) Make youth and families aware of financial assistance for Spectrum programs Involve youth in the planning for and implementation of community events Develop a mentorship program between youth and adults in the neighburhood, centered around specBc activities

Met with LTC to better understand their programs, policies, and decision .. a .

making processes Collaborated with NELCE (Northeast London Community Engagement) to develop steps to increase access to key destination points

Collaborate with other key stakeholders in community advocating a plan dealing with increased accessibility to public transit Collaborate with NELCE to develop steps to increase accessibility of public

1 Investigate alternative transportation methods

. Next Steps

The Kipps Lane and Community Group are actively involved in a number of initiatives and events that will inform, engage and involve residents to implement the Action Steps identified above in an effort to continue to strengthen their neighbourhood. Activities underway include:

Relationship building with local agencies and stakeholders through committee positions, meetings and invitations to work together on events; A blog created by youth is being used by the Kipps Lane and Community Group (KL&CG) to promote their groups name and includes the minutes of meetings, the full Neighbourhood Action Plan and upcoming events and action groups; The KL&CG are involved in the Northbrae Community Hub Open House on February 23,2010 to promote and recruit residents to take part in the implementation of the Neighbourhoods Action Plan; and, The development of a resident database that will assist in the ongoing communications in the neighbourhood and the recruitment of volunteers for special events, etc.

In addition, civic administration will continue to support the newly formed neighbourhood group as they connect with stakeholders and implement their Plan. In addition, city staff will continue to provide community development support, recreational and neighbourhood building activities and events alongside residents and local community groups in an effort to:

Increase opportunities for people to participate in a wide range of recreational, social and educational activities; Increased opportunity for community members to be involved and engaged in their neighbourhood - reduced isolation;

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Build community leadership for the long-term; and, Build a stronger and more vibrant neighbourhood where all individuals feel safe and proud to live there.

See Appendix 3 for an overview of key neighbourhood initiatives and activities that have been happening in Kipps Lane since the spring of 2007.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

All activities for 2010 have been included in the 2010 departmental budget.

CONCLUSIONS

Residents are the heart of change in communities. The Kipps Lane Strategy is creating more opportunities for community members to be involved and engaged in their neighbourhood, to develop as community leaders, and to work collaboratively to build a stronger, more vibrant neighbourhood where everyone feels safe and is proud to live, work and play. Residents are working hard to improve the quality of life in their neighbourhood now and for future generations.

PREPARED BY: I ..

CherylSmith fl

SUBMITTED B Y

CC: Councillor Stephen Orser Councillor Bernie MacDonald


APPENDIX 1 Kipps Lane Strategy Internal Support Committee

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APPENDIX 2

Kipps Lane Neighbourhood Action Plan

ood Action

Kipw La Resident rkhg Group

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Physical Structures, Programs and Sewices

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Transportation

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, , Highligl - Spring/ Summer 2007

Ninter 2007

Spring 2008

summer 2008

:all 2008

Vinter 2008

;pring 2009

;ummer 2009

'all 009

Community development staff locates to neighbourhwd bu lding relationsnips

PJbk meeting held in neighbourhwd

StaKehOlaers meetings UWO nursing placement stuaents eXDlOred needs of

Local residents hired to conduct door-todwr survey, over 1 in 4 householas responded Mapping of the neighbourhwd

Survey results analyzed and Report comp eted

Formation of Kipps Lane Resident Working Group

Resident-led process to create a vision and identify priority areas for action in the neighbourhwd

Resident-led process to develop a detailed Neighbourhood Action Plan (see Appendix 2 for additional details)

Proposed implementation of Neighbourhocd Action Plan to begin

Residents to report back to CPSC in Fall 2009

Neighbourhood Action Plan finalized

1st Annual Pumpkin Compost Party held in Ed Blake Park- residents and agencies together

playground programs at Northbrae (Energize)

Pilot free swim passes and transportation to city pool

Extended Northbrae SOOT program for youth

Extended Northbrae SOOT program for youth on an ongoing basis

Pilot no-cost summer playground programs at multiple locations in the neighbourhwd

Free swim passes and transportation to city pool Life Resource Centre open gym for male youth (soccer) and female youth (volleyball) No-cost Babvsittino course (withmarkiting for smployment component)

COL provides 5 staff for Northbrae SOOT program lor youth on an ongoing basis

No-cost COL drop in ?creation programs Saturday mornings at the Uorthbrae Community 4ub

3ended Targeted .eadership Program

Summer playground mgrams offered in nultiple locations

-ree swim passes and :ransportation to city pool

sports leagues expanded

3abysitting Course offered

SOOT program

sports night at Sir George ioss S.S.

'iiot Targeted Youth xadership program

rargeted Youth .eadership programs ?xpanded (ongoing)

rargeted Leadership 'rogram

summer training and mployment bpportunities for youth unded by YOU T i staff hired to develoo bmmunity Economic ' h d e l for Youth

bmmunity development taff locates to eighbourhood: building slationships with youth, chools, businesses, key takeholders

'outh Photovoice Project ompleted see Appendix 3 for etails)

'outh Job Fair held

itroduction to lntrepreneurship kmmer Company 'rogram developed

M a l Enterprise 'pportunities developed ir local youth

lentorship Program iloted in Fall 2009 in artnership with UWO, us0 unior Achievement :ompany Program :ookbook)

lrafted Youth ammunity Economic levelopment Model

Northeast (youth employment)

Kipps Lane identified as location for Child Care and Communitv Hub as Dart of COL'S Beit Start Plan LIHCs outreach workers employed to engage youth in

Community Partners cleanup near Thames River of bulky garbage and litter

Adelaide Bridge Mural Project

Community Garden opens

COL Spectrum registration and subsidy opportunity held in neighbourhood Child care (56 spots) facility built attached to Northbrae Elementary School as part of COL 's Best Start Plan Northbrae Community Hub operated by YMCA and a coalition of service providers opens (COL provides $20K in operating)

NELCE resident sub- committee formed to inform park plans for Ed Blake Ed Blake Park Redevelopment

Life Resource Centre exoands Dresence to include 2 portables (COL providing $12K)

Local residents (Kipps Lane- Resident Working Group) have been invited to sit on the Northbrae Community Hub Steering Committee

, - , *

Group came to an end.

Residents from the neighbourhood came together and formed the Kipps Lane an( Community Group. This group will begin to implement the Neighbourhood Action Plan

Logo, organization and debut of the Kipps Lane and Community Group - Open House Feb 23,2010

Partnership with Youth Opportunities Unlimited, LUSO and Pillar Non-Pmfit Network to coordinate job fairs in the neighbourhood

(ipps Lane and Community Sroup providing leadership in :he neighbourhood ?ecruitment and invitation for more resident participation

(ipps Lane and Community ;roup in partnership with other ;takeholders to hold special 3vents including: movies in the lark, International Picnic Day and other informal gatherings (ipps Lane and Community ;roup neighbourhwd-wide ;ummer Picnic June 19)

vlonthly Clean Up and Graffiti ?emoval

nformation nights

Special events offered at the Northbrae hub for families (Snowman making, Valentines Card

Adult Yoga

Babysitting Course

Youth Dance

Party)

2hildren's Sketching h r s e

ixtended SOOT program

;ummer playground irograms offered in nultiple locations

;M swim passes and ansportation to city pool

;ports leagues continued

eadership In Training

Green Teens Environmental Group ~

battery recycling project

Partnership with London Community Foundation to research entrepreneurship and youth micro-finance P r o i d Youth Advisory for entrepreneurship and youth micro-finance

Launch of the Junior Achievement Cookbook - Open House at the Northbrae Hub held in partnership with Kipps Lane and Community Group and other stakeholders Leadership In Training

P r o i d

National Youth Week Special Event

Training aids for 'Building Blocks: Youth Community Economic Development Model" developed

Flash Mob Performance Team in partnership with LlHC

Kipps Community Garden project Kipps TV

Strategic Plan developed for Northbrae community Hub

Youth Serving Agencies in NE meeting regularly at Northbrae Hub to coordinate programs and services

Huron St. Cultural Market committee formed. Comprised of agencies, residents, vendors and youth to plan the expansion of the pilot Market held in 2009

Ed Blake Park Re- Development

Kipps Lane and Community Group Graffiti Removal Team, and resident owned Clean up days

Ed Blake Redevelopment

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