Neighborhood Technical Assistance Center (NTAC)

A collaborative project of the East St. Louis Community Development Block Grant, Inc.

and the

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

 

Monthly Report - October, 1997

 

Summary

 

# of Neighborhood Organizations assisted:

# of Faith-Based Organizations assisted:           

# of Municipal Agencies assisted:                       

# of Individuals assisted:                                   

 

Introduction

 

October saw the commencement of the NTAC’s Training Schedule which includes Internet Training (October), Non-Profit Management Training (November) and Grantsmanship Training (December) and was also a month that saw NTAC staff members give presentations at national conferences about positive changes occurring in East St. Louis. 

 

NTAC staff conducted Internet training for five (5) organizations, including Operation New Spirit, the Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities, Emerson Park Development Corporation, Neighborhood Law Office, and Aldersgate Community Development Agency.  The purpose of this training is to familiarize local residents and organizations with the Internet and encourage them to utilize it for research, fundraising, and data gathering necessary for their non-profits.  A copy of the materials are attached.

 

NTAC staff gave presentations on East St. Louis community planning activities at the National Society for Experiential Education/Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning in Kansas City, Missouri and at the American Society of Planning Historians in Seattle, Washington.  The Kansas City, Missouri presentation, given by Patricia Nolan, focused on University-Community partnerships, while the Seattle, Washington presentation, given by Damon Smith, focused on the history of planning in East St. Louis.  All of these opportunities are used by NTAC staff to highlight the positive changes occurring in East St. Louis because of the partnership between East St. Louis CDBG Operations, the University of Illinois, and the neighborhood organizations throughout the city.

 

Aldersgate Community Development Agency

 

NTAC staff provided Reverend Marcheta McCoy with Internet training and access so that she could search for potential funding sources for her agency.


Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc.

 

The NTAC was asked to recruit twenty-four University of Illinois volunteers on October 17th and 18th to clean 17 lots, backyards and basements, demolish and reconstruct a fence, clean an URPS mini-park, and clear a lot around a CDBG-funded rehabilitated home.  All of these efforts were in support of low and moderate income residents in the neighborhood identified by Alta Sita Neighbors, Inc.

 

Community Sites /Operation New Spirit

 

NTAC staff, in partnership with Rev. Johnnie Davis of Community Sites and Toya Nash of Operation New Spirit cleaned and cleared lots in Olivette Park.  Community residents outnumbered University of Illinois volunteers at these sites.

 

East St. Louis Planning Commission

 

NTAC staff attended the East St. Louis Planning Commission meetings on Thursday October, 9 and provided sample bylaws for review by the commission.

 

Edgemont Neighborhood Association/ Ms. Bootchee

 

At the request of the Edgemont Neighborhood Association the NTAC staff spent Friday, October 31 winterizing the home of Ms. Bootchee, a mentally impaired low-income, elderly resident at 8316 Grimont.  Ms. Bootchee receives $465/month in income and owes $350/month in rent.  Ms. Bootchee’s windows were caulked and sealed by the entire NTAC staff.

 

Emerson Park Development Corporation (EPDC)

 

NTAC staff developed Emerson Park recruitment brochures and flyers for the neighborhood organization.  Twelve University of Illinois volunteers worked with local residents to knock on doors, pass out flyers and informed residents how to get involved in the neighborhood organization.  NTAC staff supervised twelve other students who conducted a land use survey that collected building condition, site condition, number of street trees, and land use for all 2,000 parcels in Emerson Park.

 

Good Shepard Shelter

 

NTAC staff assisted Rev. Parthenia Morgan with tracking her utility bill and budgeting her expenses for the rest of the fiscal year.  In addition, staff researched the feasibility of DCCA funding and CILA Group Home state certification for Good Shepard.  As a result of that research staff will assist Good Shepard in preparing a DCCA grant.


 

Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts and Humanities

 

NTAC staff provided Internet training to Jeanelle Stovall, Associate Director of the Katherine Dunham Centers, and developed an Annual Report for the centers.  In addition staff assisted with the preparation of a quarterly report for the Benton Foundation grant that was used to purchase a computer.

 

Volunteers were recruited to rebuild a porch at the Dunham residence.  This project was led by Craig Miller, NTAC design specialist.  Mr. Miller also conducted an assessment of the Dunham Museum and began preparing specifications for plumbing repairs to be funded by CDBG.

 

Lansdowne Improvement Association

 

NTAC was asked to recruit University of Illinois volunteers to clean lots as part of Lansdowne’s URPS project.  University of Illinois volunteers were used as in-kind match on this project.

 

Olivette Park Neighborhood Association

 

NTAC staff assisted Olivette Park with their largest annual gathering, the Olivette Park Neighborhood Halloween Party.  Staff assisted by drafting a fundraising letter, recruiting volunteers and staffing the event.  In addition, staff recruited 12 University of Illinois volunteers to clean and clear the Bolden Community Garden in preparation for future landscaping with URPS funds.

 

Senior Citizens Services of St. Clair County (SCA)

 

NTAC staff assisted SCA with the development of a fundraising letter and scheme for their annual open house.

 

Winstanley/Industry Park Neighborhood Organization

 

The NTAC asked the University to supply volunteers to clean out an abandoned apartment building and adjacent property at 1845-47 St. Louis Avenue.  This site is a part of a CDBG-funded rental rehabilitation program.


 

Budget*

 

Vendor

Budget Category

Amount

Damon Y. Smith, Director

Salary

$3,210.00

Craig Miller, Architect

Salary

$2,633.33

U of I Benefits

Benefits

$1,198.47

C.L. Wicks

Rent

$750.00

Union Electric

Utilities

$157.05

Illinois Power

Utilities

$19.47

 

TOTAL

$7,968.32

 

* See attached bills and time sheets