What are the West Ward Urban Ecology Subcommittees?

For those of us (myself included) who keep asking, "what are the subcommittees for again?" "which one deals with what?" --Below is your answer, from Sophia Feller of the WWNP. The Subcommittees meet to discuss recommendations from the cantons (that's us!) and present them to the Steering Committee at the Steering Committee Meetings so that grant money can be set aside for the things we want to see happen in the neighborhood. Please pick the one that suits your ideas and concerns for the neighborhood best, and find out how you can get involved by contacting Sophia at ffeller@rcn.com. Here's a description of the four subcommittees:

Subcommittee Mission Statements and Tasks

1. Community and Economic Opportunity
Economic Development, Marketing, Mobility, Global Connections, Job Training

Mission Statement:
To enhance and encourage growth of community and economic opportunities by partnering with neighboring resources to promote a positive business climate through recruitment, technical/financial assistance, and job training.

Tasks:
Business development and recruitment develop; Marketing and signage techniques to brand the West Ward as “safe, clean, and green”. Mobility and access issues; Identify job needs and create job training and recruitment services.

2. Human Resources and Public Safety
Public Service, Community-based Learning, Children and Teens

Mission Statement:
The Human Resources and Public Safety Committee mission is to assess the human resources of the West Ward, to address program needs and issues of public safety, and to improve the quality of life for residents of the neighborhood.

Tasks:
Reduce crime and gang activities. Plan and organize neighborhood meetings and recreation. Support programs that help children and teens to become productive citizens. Design community toolkits and curriculum guides.

3. Natural Resources
Air, Water, Energy, Biodiversity, and Waste Parks and Gardens

Mission Statement:
Through an ongoing, public program of education and strategic development projects guided by the principles, standards, and best practices of urban ecology, the Natural Resources Subcommittee builds a healthy, creative, and connected community by ensuring residents’ and visitors’ enjoyment of nature and high-quality open space and the full benefits of an economically and culturally vibrant, responsible, informed, and sustainable community that successfully balances natural and human systems within the Delaware River Watershed.

Tasks:
Cultivate neighborhood gardens and plant street trees. Organize neighborhood Eco-Fairs, educate the public about urban ecology. Map environmental assets and developing green urban trails

4. Neighborhood Physical Quality
Housing, Design Guidelines, Safety, Ecology and Sustainability

Mission Statement:
To address pockets of blight, decrepit housing, unsafe sidewalks, litter, and nuisance behavior by holding proven property owners and slumlords to a higher standard while creating new revenue streams. In addition, this committee will promote good urban design, which will preserve Easton’s beautiful historic buildings and provide educational workshops for residents in an effort to raise public awareness to quality of life issues in order to foster pride of ownership within the West Ward.

Tasks:
Affordable housing and green and sustainable housing rehabilitation. Historic preservation standards, building codes and zoning and planning issues. Neighborhood cleanliness, hazard abatement and code compliance. Green workshops and home energy audits.