The
Insurance Industry’s Contributions
to
Washington
Insurance Council
Insurance
Fund Foundation
Small SNAP Project Pilot
Arson Alarm Foundation
Puget Sound Special Investigators
Introduction to the Organization
The Washington Insurance Council (WIC) is a non-profit consumer education and media relations trade association, funded by member insurance companies. Its mission is to foster knowledge and awareness among consumers and the media regarding insurance issues. WIC participates in numerous projects to assist consumers and the public at large, including crime prevention, auto safety, home safety, insurance education and research. Through the Insurance Fund Foundation, WIC takes an active roll in promoting safety and security by sponsoring such programs as the Arson Alarm Foundation and Puget Sound Special Investigators. WIC is also taking a proactive role in revitalizing neighborhoods through the Strong Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP) and initiating a pilot program called the Small SNAP Project Grant.
Insurance companies have a critical stake in the health and safety of communities. Realizing this, WIC presented a model project to Seattle’s Weed and Seed representatives. Weed and Seed is a federally funded grant to the Police Department and the Department of Housing and Human Services, which is designed to transform high crime areas into safe, livable neighborhoods. WIC’s Strong Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP) plan was a pilot designed to test various community-initiated strategies for their efficiency in impacting crime and the quality of life in order to build stronger communities in urban areas. Since its inception, SNAP has given over $400,000 into Seattle’s Central Area and International District, as well as Tacoma’s Hilltop area.
Currently, WIC is issuing another pilot program to be conducted in conjunction to SNAP, the Small SNAP Project Grant. This program is designed to fund neighborhood projects, not to exceed $5,000, to any community in the state of Washington.
Project Management
The SNAP program is funded through the Insurance Fund Foundation and is run by SNAP Director Caryn Badgett. It is vital to the success of SNAP projects, that the selected community maintains primary control over the project and decisions surrounding it. In order to regain empowerment and instill pride within the community, residents must feel responsible for the results of the project. The purpose of the grant program is to give communities the tools and a forum to solve problems and implement programs necessary to sustain change. SNAP functions as a partner to communities and public agencies to effect change and improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods.
Caryn Badgett
S
Washington Insurance Council
1904 Third Avenue, Suite, 925
Seattle,
WA 98101-1123
(206) 624-3330
1-800-664-4942
caryn.badgett@wa-ic.org
SNAP Small Project Grant Pilot
The Strong Neighborhood Action Program has been very successful. Working with public agencies and community organizations has proven to be an effective tool in creating sustainable change and neighborhood improvement.
In order to expand our efforts, we are initiating a pilot program to fund small projects not to exceed $5,000. Communities and community organizations state-wide are eligible to request a SNAP Small Project Grant. Projects must demonstrate the original SNAP goals of increased safety, security and improved quality of life.
The goal of this new program, is to reach communities across the state in need of funding.
In order to apply, organizations are asked to submit a letter outlining proposed project along with a budget summary. Requests will be reviewed quarterly, with the first review in March, 2000.
The First SNAP Grant
The first SNAP grant was awarded to the Jackson Place Community Council, who demonstrated the best overall plan aimed at meeting the goals of the SNAP. These goals are to increase safety and security, as well as to improve the quality of life for private and business residents in the community. The submitted proposal addressed the following:
Increase Safety/Security (Decrease Crime)
1. English and Vietnamese block watch programs were implemented with support from the Seattle Police Department.
2. Identification kits (bar code ID stickers) were distributed to each resident.
3. Smoke detector vouchers were distributed to residents, which allowed a household to obtain two free smoke detectors for their home.
4. Fourteen new streetlights were installed to provide a safe and pleasant walkway through the heart of the Jackson Place neighborhood.
Improve the Appearance of the Neighborhood
1. Tree circles were cleared of trash and planted with variety of flowers and small plants.
2. One hundred and ten trees were purchased and planted in parking strips throughout the neighborhood.
3. A tool bank was developed and provides household, yard and painting tools that will be available to members on a nominal fee basis.
4. A program was put in place to improve the appearance of houses and assist residents in painting their homes, allowing neighbors to be reimbursed up to $400 in paint and painting supplies.
5. Gerard Tsutakawa, a celebrated local artist, designed a public art piece that will provide neighborhood identity.
Increase Resident Participation in Community Activities
1. Fifty volunteers from the community conducted a massive spring clean-up in April, with Seattle Solid Waste Utility providing free trash pick-up and local businesses providing food and beverages.
2. A vacant lot was leased from a local business to provide the community with a P-patch. Volunteers cleared and fenced the area, installed a tool shed and compost bin.
3. The community council rented a room in the Japanese Language School to provide a place for meetings, workshops and a working area. Volunteers cleaned, painted, refinished floors and purchased supplies to provide a working space. The office is used daily by staff and provides a computer, phone (including answering machine with a “Jackson Place Information Line”).
4. A monthly newsletter is published and distributed to every home and business in the Jackson Place Community. The newsletter provides information about SNAP projects and how to get involved.
Improve the Quality of Life
1. A needs assessment survey was conducted to obtain an understanding of problems in the community and provide guidance in planning community programs.
2. An outreach worker was hired to work with residents who required special needs. Such work included coordinating crime prevention meetings in Vietnamese, publishing a resource book of local service agencies and city departments, and troubleshooting neighborhood problems.
3. Jackson Place Community Council was host to three celebrations during the grant period. The parties brought residents together for a positive social gathering.
4. Three family film festivals were held during the summer months.
5. Workshops were offered to the residents of Jackson Place and in most cases included a Vietnamese interpreter. The workshops were held at the Jackson Place Community Council office and included topics such as gardening, composting and soil preparation.
6. A Red Cross Baby-sitting Certification course was offered free of charge and each graduate was asked to volunteer to baby-sit at one general meeting of the Community Council. The name and phone number of each graduate was maintained in a pool at the council office and used as a referral for residents.
2000 SNAP Grant Recipients
Central Neighborhood Association was awarded $33,250.00 for their ‘Union Street
Improvement’ project. The
project goal is to improve the business corridor along 23rd
Avenue and Union Street, which will make the area more pedestrian friendly,
thereby inhibiting criminal activity and increasing safety. The grant will be used to install pedestrian
lights, street trees and corner landscapes.
Garfield Community Council – Local residents and organizations will work
together to improve the safety and appearance in and around Garfield
Community Center. The $13,000
grant will pay for lighting improvements, a spring cleanup and a mural
installation. These physical
improvements will provide residents and local organizations an opportunity
to come together through community building activities.
Tacoma Hilltop Action Coalition received $10,000 for their ‘safety
through Positive Activities and Wholesome Neighborhoods’ project. Tacoma is seeking to prevent crime through
environmental design, safety and security improvements, community
building, and recreation enhancements. Funding will go to pay for alley lighting, security improvements
(locks, dowels), a tool lending library, park-lighting, newsletter and
translation services and youth stipends.
International District received an award of $8,000
for their ‘Improving Physical Spaces through Community
Involvement’ proposal. The
purpose of this grant is to promote a clean and safe neighborhood through
beautification and activity based organizing. The grant will pay for a spring cleanup, first-aid patrols
for summer events, lighting and window coating rebates and graffiti
removal.
Mount Baker Community Club is working with the Mt. Baker Housing Association
to build a community garden with local residents and area youth. This physical improvement project is
an opportunity for young and old residents to come together in a common
activity. The community
was awarded a $10,000SNAP grant will go to providing the irrigation
system for the garden.
Rainier Vista Leadership Team will create a community newsletter featuring safety
and crime fighting tips. The
newsletter will be translated into different languages, as well as offer
a vehicle of training and education for area residents. This project will improve communication
for this garden community. It will also be distributed to other community gardens as
a crime prevention and community building tool.
Southshore Community Council is working with Southeast Effective Development to
build the Mapes Creek 52nd Avenue Walkway. The corridor, which connects residents
to Rainier Beach High School and heavily used metro transit stops, is
currently unsafe for pedestrian use.
A $16,000 SNAP grant will fund the lighting portion of phase
one of this project, which will make this walkway a community gathering
place, complete with information kiosk, benches and landscaping
Continuing Grant Projects
Cherry Hill Community Association is working to decrease traffic speed along 19th Avenue, thereby reducing accidents at East Cherry and East Union and improving the safety of pedestrians. The SNAP grant will fund design and construction of a chicane, as well as for planting and a block party celebration. The project has caused neighbors to come together to work towards a common goal.
Jackson Place Community Council is continuing to implement a community traffic plan. The grant includes funding for planning and engineering consultants, office expenses to maintain organization, as well as construction of the traffic plan.
South Atlantic Street Community is working on improving communication within their community to work more effectively in identifying and addressing community needs. They have received SNAP funding to start a newsletter, create sign-boards to advertise meetings and events and pay for translation of these for non-English speaking residents. As the community association grows, it is hoped that volunteer translators will emerge from within the community and that the newsletter will become self-sustaining through advertising.
Squire Park Community Council is planning a big community organizing effort to strengthen their community council, as well as prepare their neighborhood for earthquakes. They will begin with a needs assessment survey of the residents in their neighborhood. The survey will be translated into Spanish, Eritrian and Korean. Residents and student volunteers from Seattle University will be responsible for data collection and supervising neighborhood youth in data entry. During the survey process, neighborhood “Block Captains” will be identified. Through the City’s Seattle Disaster Aid and Response Teams (SDART) program, each block will be trained to be prepared for the first 72 hours after an earthquake. Earthquake kits will also be distributed in the neighborhood.
Yesler Terrace Community will be purchasing security devices for their neighborhood. They will be replacing broken windows of first floor units with new windows coated with security film and providing wooden dowels to help prevent break-ins through sliding windows. Streetlights, which have been broken or burnt out will be replaced. Yesler Terrace Community Council works with the Seattle Police Department to put on a bicycle rodeo each year to teach bicycle safety to kids. SNAP funds will help to purchase new bike helmets and bike racks as a part of this event.
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