Free To Grow

Days/Hours of Availability

Ongoing

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Client Eligibility Criteria

Resident of Clinton or Hartley Neighborhoods. 

 Contact

Erik Laing - Community Organizer
(402) 471-4515 ext. 250
elaing@lincoln-action.org

Funders

Woods Charitable Fund - http://foundationcenter.org/grantmaker/woods/

Nebraska Children and Families Foundation - http://www.pcanebraska.org/

Program Description

Lincoln Free To Grow is a neighborhood revitalization program based in the Clinton and Hartley Neighborhoods.  Program staff work closely with neighborhood residents, community partners, neighborhood organizations and local businesses to create stronger communities and connect residents to available resources.

Lincoln Free To Grow program strategies allow neighborhood residents to take ownership of their neighborhood by taking active roles in activities that help to improve the quality of life where they live.  Neighborhood activities such as block parties, Neighborhood Watch groups, neighborhood clean-ups, and community leadership groups provide an opportunity for residents to make a lasting change in their neighborhood.  It's through these neighborhood activities that informal leadership is established.  Then, neighborhood leaders take part in identifying neighborhood concerns and solutions, and develop an action plan to address neighborhood issues.  Tenants, homeowners, and property owners are provided with the tools to continue and sustain neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Lincoln Free To Grow staff and partners focus on three main areas:  1) improvements in the physical environment, 2) increased resident leadership and social cohesion, 3) the development of strong families.  Strategies for development in each of these areas are designed to be interrelated in implementation and results.  The activities in these areas include but are not limited to:

- Working with public and private systems to address barriers to family and community
   development through more effective partnering.   
- Increasing resources and enforcement to reduce property deterioration and blight.
- Developing leadership to identify, drive, and sustain neighborhood improvement.
- Providing accessible resources for family needs including mental health, substance abuse, parenting,
- Connecting residents to each other and an array of community partners. 

Quote from neighborhood resident after a block party:

“People are getting to know one another, and many are saying that as long as they’ve 
  lived here this is the first time something like this has occurred. Some residents who 
  were not originally part of the planning came to as many parties as they could just 
  to meet their neighbors.  Others stepped forward to host parties in their own yards."

Key Partners

Lincoln Police Department - http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/police/

Clinton Elementary School - www.lps.org
- K-5 Education for residents of Clinton neighborhood.

Clinton Neighborhood Association
- Facilitates resident communication regarding neighborhood safety, community development,
  neighborhood beautification and public awareness in the Clinton Neighborhood.

Hartley Neighborhood Association - http://www.hartleyneighborhood.com
- Facilitates resdient communication regarding safety, community development,
  neighborhood beautification and public awareness in the Hartley neighborhood.

Hartley Elementary School - www.lps.org
- K-5 Education for residents of Hartley neighborhood.

Lincoln Council on Alcoholism and Drugs
- Treatment/referal for those seeking help with chemical dependency.

Centerpointe, Inc. - www.centerpointe.org
- Treatment for people suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues.

UNL Psychological Consultation Center 
http://psycweb.unl.edu/psypage/dynamic.asp?dir=dept&page=pcc.htm
- Affordable Mental Health Services for children, adolescents, and adults.

NeighborWorks Lincoln - http://www.nwlincoln.org/
- Promotes home ownership, neighborhood resources and development
  of Lincoln neighborhoods.

City of Lincoln, Urban Development - http://lancaster.ne.gov/city/urban/index.htm
- Provides residents of low to moderate income neighborhoods in Lincoln with resources
  to improve their homes and neighborhoods.

Department of Building and Safety, City of Lincoln - http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/build/index.htm
- Assures the safety of Lincoln resdidents through enforcement of housing codes.

Lincoln Housing Authority - http://www.l-housing.com/
- Government agency providing affordable housing for residents of Lincoln.

Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department
http://www.lincoln.ne.gov/city/health/index.htm
- Ensures the safety of Lincoln residents through the enforcement of health codes.

Lincoln Action Program - Head Start
- Resources for families with children.