Lakewood's Promise

I like the idea of neighborhood associations.  I like the fact that people, sharing a common area of town,  have opportunities to get together and discuss what goes on in a neighborly way.  I like the fact that you can talk with City representatives, police officers, fire personnel, guest speakers, as well as neighborhood residents and business owners.

I like all of that.

I have attended a number of neighborhood association meetings all over town and have always come out with a smile on my face because I learned something cool, met someone new, shared my news, and enjoyed a tasty treat.  Granted,  I have always been easy to please but these meetings are fun and informative. Have you ever wondered what the sirens you heard were for, or why a house got demolished, or if you heard gunshots a particular night?  Those questions are answered at neighborhood association meetings.  Do you have an issue that needs to be addressed concerning the neighborhood?  Are you concerned about youth with nothing to do? Do you not feel safe?  Bring it up at the meeting.  Their purpose is to get neighborhoods talking, officials listening, and hopefully prompt all concerned to take action.

Lakewood has a number of neighborhood associations.   You can find the list, meeting dates and times by clicking here.

What amazes me is why most neighborhood association meetings are not well-attended.  They really should be bursting beyond the capacity of the meeting place and forcing the Association leaders to seek out larger venues.  Sometimes there are only a handful of residents representing a neighborhood of thousands.  Unbelievable.  To me, a vibrant neighborhood association meeting should have in attendance:

• Scores of residents – youth, adults and seniors
• School representatives from the neighborhood
• Business owners from the neighborhood
• Neighborhood restaurants bringing food to share
• Faith community representatives
• Parks people
• Elected officials
• City employees
• Police, Fire, etc..

I also feel that that the organization structure of all the neighborhood associations should include a youth representative. (After all this is the Lakewood’s Promise ‘blog).

This shameless plug is in response to an email I received from the Lakeview Neighborhood Association – seeking more participation for their group.  They have pizza at their meetings – how cool is that?  Hopefully this will help.  I’ll see you guys next Thursday – save me a slice of pepperoni.

Both St. Leo Food Connection and the Clover Park School District have sites for Lakewood youth, 18 and under, to receive a free lunch in the summer months.  Check out the map below.

More information is found here.

Click on the sites for details

This summer, youth and teen volunteers will undertake a big project for Lakewood’s Promise. The goal will be to “map” out every youth-serving program in Lakewood and create an easy-to-use Internet resource for Lakewood families.

Click HERE to see the beta page.

This project will be all-inclusive, looking for all programs that benefit youth.  This will include:

• schools and school-based programs
• tutoring programs
• after-school programs
• martial arts centers
• youth centers
• day care centers
• faith communities with youth programs
• business with youth classes
• athletic programs
• colleges with youth classes
• volunteer and employment opportunities for youth
• health services
• parks and recreation sites and programs

Once identified, the information will go onto a database and the site will be place-marked onto a  Google map.  The placemark will link to the database and the database will link to the program’s website.  If the program does not have a web site, then a page will be created for it on the Lakewood’s Promise site.

Teens equipped with cameras and bus-passes will be traveling throughout Lakewood to verify the site, interview program providers, take pictures and shoot video.

Two important things will come out of this project:

1. We will see where all of the programs are.
2. We will see where  the programs are not – and possibly identify new opportunities.

Any youth (over age 13) interested in helping out with this project should contact Kurt Sample.  This is a neat opportunity to learn all sorts of skills including dBase management, web design, marketing, and journalism.  The project crew will be working summer afternoons (Monday-Thursday, Noon to 3:00) at the Computer Clubhouse.

Internet voting is going on right now for the Paint Your Wagon event. Be sure to vote for your favorite three wagons and please tell all of your friends, family and co-workers to do the same.  The polls will close Wednesday, June 16th at 6:00 PM.  All of the wagons will be displayed at SummerFEST (June 26th at Fort Steilacoom Park) and one could be yours if you win it in the silent auction.

VOTE NOW

Have a little fun coloring your own wagon on your computer screen