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Several years ago the Stark Community Foundation in Canton initiated a program to form neighborhood associations in order to build upon their experience, encourage and assist the establishment of networks among neighborhoods and their leaders, broaden t he participant’s understanding of their community at large, and enhance the ability of the residents to resolve problems on their own or in cooperation with other neighborhoods groups and institutions. Several members of Massillon’s already formed Neighborhood Associations heard about the program in Canton and attended and graduated from the four leadership training programs allowing them to take back to their association the expertise and knowledge to move their association forward and also to apply for grants from the Stark Community Foundation to improve their neighborhoods by cleaning up and beautifying, advocating and supporting changes by working together to impact growth, reduce crime as well as aid housing and economic growth in order to make their neighborhoods a better place to live and raise their families. So, Canton’s Foundation decided to propose to the Health Foundation of Greater Massillon to adopt the same program and with their help in doing the leadership training, Massillon has seven neighborhood associations and working with the Health Foundation of Greater Massillon has applied for grants each year. At the present time, there are three sponsors that provide grant dollars each year. These sponsors are Stark Community Foundation, City of Massillon Community Development Block Grant dollars, and the Health Foundation of Greater Massillon. Other sponsors will be sought for in 2008 as more and more associations hopefully will be formed. The present Neighborhood Associations are: CHARM (Central Historical Area Residents of Massillon); Chestnut Hills Neighborhood Association; Southeast Improvement Neighborhood Association; Walnut Hills Neighborhood Association; Wellman Neighborhood Association; Witmer Arms Tenants Association; and Young Street Neighborhood Association. Another leadership-training program will be starting in 2008. Those dates are: Tuesday, February 19th, Tuesday, March 18th, Tuesday, April 15th, and Tuesday, May 20th. All sessions are conducted at the Massillon Area Chamber of Commerce’s Conference Room from 5:30 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. A free light boxed meal is served to those attending and each participant is required to attend all of the sessions in order to graduate and receive the benefits afforded to the graduates. Brochures on these training sessions can be obtained from the Massillon Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Massillon’s Housing Department, and the Health Foundation of Greater Massillon. Deadline for registering is January 30, 2008 and if you have any questions or would like to know more concerning the sessions please contact Ms. Judi Miller, Health Foundation of Greater Massillon’s Program Coordinator at 330-837-6864, Monday through Friday. It is the foundation’s goal to have stronger neighborhoods, which in turn will increase our property value, enhance curb appeal and more importantly be a happy and safer community in which to live and work. Our motto of the Neighborhood Partnership Grant Program is “You don’t have to move to live in a better neighborhood.” Why not register for these sessions and learn what our already formed Neighborhood Associations know and continue to work to improve their individual neighborhood which in turn will improve our entire community of Massillon. OUR PRESENT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS AND CONTACTS ARE:
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