Blog de la PEV

Jackson CDC is one of our DRIVE Hub organizations led by Heidi White. Learn about what they do and how being a part of DRIVE has impacted their work. 

1. In light of DRIVE, what is the vision for Jackson CDC in the Jackson Neighborhood? 
   • Alongside our residents, we seek the cohesive well-being of the Jackson Neighborhood and it’s residents through community engagement, advocacy, and asset-based community development. In this season of work we are intently focused on 4 initiatives. First, we continue to build our resident-led neighborhood association as a way to capacitate neighbors in asset based community development best practices. Second, we assist Jackson Elementary in educational attainment initiatives. Third, we collectively implement resident imagined solutions that impact our neighborhood’s greatest needs. Fourth, we engage in resident-led strategic revitalization that partners with the City of Fresno for systemic change. 

2. How is being a DRIVE HUB in the Jackson neighborhood providing an opportunity to engage in your community in a deeper way? 
   • Being a DRIVE HUB has enabled us to hire additional staff who are also Jackson resident leaders to support the community development work we are doing in Jackson. This is allowing us to reach wider and deeper in our community through already established networks and relationships. DRIVE is also providing us with the encouragement, tools and support we need as we equip and empower residents to engage in being part of the solutions to the challenges facing the Jackson Neighborhood.

3. How has ENP been of support to you and Jackson CDC? 
   • ENP has been helpful to provide training opportunities for our staff and residents, personalized coaching to help us achieve our goals, and they have created regular opportunities for us to connect with and learn from other DRIVE HUBS. 

4. Up to this point, what is 1 thing that you would like to highlight & share with others? 
   • In the last few months, Jackson residents have been putting forth their best ideas for how to make the Jackson neighborhood a safer, better, and flourishing community. From a list of the top 16 resident-submitted ideas ranging from starting a community garden, to hosting block parties, to doing alley clean-ups, over 150 neighbors voted to focus their attention on making our neighborhood safer through a Safe Streets Initiative. We are in the preliminary stages of gathering resident concerns and their best solutions to tackle the challenges of cars making donuts in our intersections, speeding, and running stop signs. We are currently hosting community meetings and putting out a resident survey to activate all the gifts, skills, and best ideas of our residents to work towards a safer neighborhood. We are partnering with the Fresno Police Department and City Hall to address not just the safety issues facing our current residents, but to consider systemic changes that could be made to ensure future residents are equally safe. Seeing residents use their voices, passions, and skills to enact change in our neighborhood gives us fuel to continue in the work we are doing in the Jackson Neighborhood.