Weinland Park Community Civic Association

Growing Weinland Park

You are here: Home / Civic Governance / Committees / Steering / Steering Committee Minutes – April 4, 2018

Steering Committee Minutes – April 4, 2018

posted on

Weinland Park Community Civic Association Steering Committee – April 4, 2018

Attendance:

  • Matthew Adair
  • Laura Bidwa
  • Jennifer Cheeks
  • Susan Colbert
  • Ed Chin
  • Omar Elhagmusa
  • Lexie Holiday
  • Jean Pitman
  • Steve Sterrett
  • Georgina Stevenson
  • Evelyn Van Til

Guests:

  • Ben Anthony
  • Ellen Moss Williams
  • Lydia Yoder

Godman Guild Update – Ellen Moss Williams

Ellen Moss William, president and CEO of the Godman Guild, shared with us Godman Guild’s 2016 Financial Report and informed us that the 2017 Financial Report will be out soon. She did comment that there will be a reduced community engagement staff. She said this year Godman Guild chose to be more conservative in its budget by making sure the agency has the funds available to support a program, rather than hoping that funds will be identified later to balance expenses at the end of the fiscal year. For example, the vacancy in the position of vice president of development will be filled instead with a director-level position to focus specifically on development and philanthropy.

  • DeShawn Tony will be responsible for community engagement as one of her many roles.
  • Godman Guild will continue to provide meeting space for the WPCCA Steering Committee, Housing Committee and Zumba. There was a question of what the best way would be to obtain access to the building after hours. Ellen did assure us that there is usually a staff member until 7:00pm.
  • Terry Althouse will be back as a contractor to maintain the gardens, write grants, and coordinate volunteers for the period of April to October. A resident asked if Terry will be able to continue to offer the Garden Club on Saturdays. Ellen will follow up with us on the scope of Terry’s new role.
  • The feasibility study for the capital campaign for a community center will start soon. Ellen is looking for 5-7 neighborhood residents to form a focus group to be interviewed by the Kramer Group, which is conducting the feasibility study. The community center will not just be for Godman Guild, but for everyone in Weinland Park. Evelyn Van Til has agreed to be the point of contact and will be sharing this information with the group when the materials are shared in appropriately 1 week.

Storybook Village – Ben Anthony

Ben Anthony, Community Engagement Coordinator for the Ohio History Connection, shared with us about the Storybook Village, one of its most popular events, transforming Ohio Village into a living storybook featuring costumed characters and emphasizing early childhood literacy. In 2015 and 2017, the Ohio History Connection targeted promotion and free admission to Storybook Village to residents of Weinland Park and Linden. The promotion to Weinland Park was underwritten with a grant of $3,500 from The Columbus Foundation. Ben asked the Steering Committee to recommend that $3,500 in community engagement funds from The Columbus Foundation be granted to the Ohio History Connection for targeted promotion and free admission to Weinland Park families this year. Storybook Village will be June 9.

  • Laura Bidwa moved that the Steering Committee recommend $1,750 be granted to the Ohio History Connection to support of the targeted promotion in Weinland Park (includes advance character story times in the neighborhood at the elementary school, Schoenbaum Family Center, and other appropriate community locations). Evelyn Van Til seconded the motion. The motion was adopted with 6 in favor, 1 opposed, and no abstentions. Steve Sterret will contact Ben Anthony and work out the funding arrangements.
  • The Steering Committee decided to talk about other additional monies later when we have a treasurer and a better idea of the monies that we have already allocated. One thought was to have a Storybook character participate at the Weinland Park Festival.

Growing Weinland Park Roots & Roofs – Evelyn Van Til

Evelyn Van Til shared her vision of expanding Roots and Roofs (scheduled for May 12, 2018, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm) to a series of volunteer opportunities in Weinland Park’s community gardens. Currently, a series of dates to save have been established. At future planning meetings, the goal will be to identify champions for each of the gardens. Snacks could be provided at all the garden series events. If organizers of a specific garden event would like bottled water, they will need to be requested. 4th Street Farms has been providing a water cooler and requesting that residents bring a reusable water bottle.

  • Jen Mankin moved to recommend the allocation of $3,500 to support the garden series, including Roots & Roofs. Ed Chin seconded the motion. The motion was adopted with 6 in favor, none opposed and no abstentions. Steve Sterrett will work with Evelyn and arrange funding for our first event, Earth Day – April 14th, 2018.
  • The last time that 4th Street Farms wrote a grant requesting funds was in 2013, due to the amount of effort needed. If there is a desire to pursue this option, we will need volunteers to help with the grant-writing process.

Jen Mankin moved to recommend the allocation of $3,500 to support the garden series, including Roots & Roofs. Ed Chin seconded the motion. The motion was adopted with 6 in favor, none opposed and no abstentions. Steve Sterrett will work with Evelyn and arrange funding for our first event, Earth Day – April 14th, 2018.

The last time that 4th Street Farms wrote a grant requesting funds was in 2013, due to the amount of effort needed. If there is a desire to pursue this option, we will need volunteers to help with the grant-writing process.