Freedom West Community Action Assoc.

KEY TO A SAFER NEIGHBORHOOD

Feb 21, 2002

I believe that 2002 is a year we are going to see great things happen in the Freedom West neighborhood. One key to this is honest communication in our homes and between us as neighbors. Improving communications is like instituting a street safety project. To reach our destination of happy, healthy living together, we have to travel on a certain roadway of words. This is always a two-way street, not a one-way street; and the speed of travel, or amount and quality of time talking, is set according to the needs of the people in the neighborhood. "Speeding" through our exchanges with another can lead to injured hearts and is especially risky to our children. Leaving blockades or debris, such as unforgiveness, anger or prejudice, makes travel difficult, unpleasant and even dangerous.

Now is the time we can hope for and work together towards a cleaner and safer neighborhood. I believe we can start by 1) slowing down our hectic paces long enough to really listen to and talk to our spouses, children friends and neighbors and 2) purpose to remove the obstacles of past offenses or fear of differences that only serve to open us, our families and our neighborhood to unnecessary crime and deterioration. Let's begin a street safety project in 2002!

Ann Johnston
Block Captain Chairperson