Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative

The Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative is a commitment to improve the quality of life in the Historic Clarke Square Neighborhood. Journey House serves as a partner with the Clarke Square Neighborhood Initiative to help give quality services to the residents in our community.  The Clarke Square community members and residents developed everything that went into the plan.

At the April 30th kick-off event for this initiative more than 435 residents shared their vision for the community. They were asked to complete three sentences: “The best thing about Clarke Square is…”, “ Something I would like to change about Clarke Square is…”, and “Something that is needed in Clarke Square is…” The responses to these questions became the basis for the Zilber Neighborhood Initiative Clarke Square Quality of Life Plan. The final plan outlines nine key strategies to revitalize the neighborhood:

Community-School Partnership. Longfellow School and Journey House are in the midst of a $6 million capital campaign to create the Journey House Center for Family Learning and Youth Athletics. This effort will transform Longfellow into a community school that serves people in all stages of life with education and skills training, health and social services, and other community activities that will foster more successful students, stronger families and a healthier neighborhood.

Lifelong Learning. This plan will support high academic performance at neighborhood schools, encourage postsecondary education, and promote lifelong learning so that residents will be prepared to compete in the global economy.

Employment and Job Training. Through our newly created Urban Careers Institute, we are working to increase the job skills and workforce readiness of the community residents, and then match employment opportunities for teens and adults with employers’ current and emerging workforce needs.

Youth, Parks, and Recreation. By offering the community ample access to youth development activities and appropriate spaces for organized sports and family recreation programs, we are making our residents less vulnerable to the lure of gangs and drugs.

Social Connections. The Clarke Square Neighborhood Association was created to establish new relationships and build on existing connections to develop a sense of belonging and community pride.

Public Safety. We are taking the steps necessary to ensure that Clarke Square is a safe place to live, learn, work, play, worship, shop, and serve.

Neighborhood Beautification. We will raise the visibility of Clarke Square by enhancing its curb appeal and streetscapes in a way that reflects and promotes the cultures of its diverse residents.

Housing. We are working to stabilize, promote, and preserve diverse housing to accommodate a wide range of household incomes and family needs.

Economic Development. By sustaining and growing businesses, and enhancing job creation and retention, we will foster community wealth.

Download the full plan here.