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There was a supportive atmosphere of hope and enthusiasm last week on MacLaren Boulevard, in Crescent Valley, which bodes well for this north end neighbourhood. Residents present and past, some of whom are community leaders, dignitaries with interest and local roots and backers from the charitable, government and business communities came together to celebrate the opening of a multi-faceted Community Resource Centre. The launch of a fundraising campaig, "Greening of Flemming Court," and transform it into a public park and recreational area for all ages was also part of the event.

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Ann Barrett, (left), of the Crescent Valley Resource Centre’s Board, welcomed Michael Doyle’s announcement of the Greater Saint John Community Foundation’s $30,000 Anniversary Grant to help the “Greening of Flemming Court” project at last week’s opening of the Crescent Valley Resource Centre.

Ann Barrett, until recently, the vice-principal of Hazen White-St. Francis School, has been dedicating her volunteer time to the initiatives, knows the community, and has their trust and confidence. Since 2005, she has taken part in information sessions, meetings, surveys, roundtables, presentations and Crescent Valley-Renew Our Community's (CV-ROC) sessions, along with residents like Juantia Black, Janet MacLaughlin and Nancy Savoie, who spoke at the event. "The residents of CV are very lucky to have two community groups working for them: the Crescent Valley Community Tenants Association (CVTA), which has been in the community for 18 years and is manned by volunteers, and this new Resource Centre where Vibrant Communities and the City of Saint John are paying for a full-time co-ordinator," she states. The Province of New Brunswick footed a bill of more than $500,000 to renovate the structure. Brunswick Pipeline is also contributing $10,000.

Now that the centre is open, programs such as a library, clothing room, Quality Learning N.B.'s literacy program, as well as future additions like CALNet, health programs from CHC and a Money Matters program put on by the Community Loan Fund, will all benefit the neighbourhood. Shannon Campbell, the centre's recently hired coordinator, is enthusiastic about her job. She facilitates long-term relationships between Crescent Valley community residents and other community, government and business representatives.

Savoie, a resident since 1997 and a board member of the CVRC, said, "If you believe, like I believe, we can bring the community together and have a better place to live." Juantia Black, another long-time resident, is a member of both CVCTA, CV-ROC, worked on the community survey and is part of Vibrant Communities Leadership Round Table. Janet MacLaughlin is president of CVCTA and also was involved in the survey.

The Greater Saint John Community Foundation's Chairman, Michael Doyle, announced details of a special anniversary grant commitment of $30,000 to the Crescent Valley area and its Flemming Court Park Project. The donation is being characterized as a way of challenging the community to take up the cause of one of Saint John's vulnerable neighbourhoods in need of community support. According to the centre's "thermometer" to date, $130,000 of the $330,000 goal, has been committed. The other contribution of $100,000 came from the City of Saint John.

The Anniversary Grant was inaugurated in 2006 to mark the Community Foundation's 30th anniversary. Each year, the major award of $30,000 goes to a community charitable group which best addresses clearly documented priorities in Greater Saint John. The foundation's annual report card on Greater Saint John's quality of life, Vitals Signs, has identified a number of challenges, such as poverty, illiteracy, housing, childhood obesity and lack of physical activity, which will be tackled in the north end community's action plan.

"Our Community Foundation was established in 1976 to improve the quality of life for our citizens," said Doyle. "Often a modest grant will go a long way, but occasionally, a more substantial sum can truly make a difference to a charitable group. We evaluated many excellent projects put forward along with many regular applications for funding. We congratulate The Crescent Valley Resource Centre, for making their voices heard and setting new goals for their neighbourhood."

The neighbourhoo group of 388 households (88 dwellings are being razed and will be replaced through a community consultative process with a wider range of housing options) has created a mission statement: "To create together - residents and community partners - a clean, safe, peaceful neighbourhood for people of all ages and abilities, with trees and green spaces, opportunities for work, education and training, access to services, pleasing homes, roadways and sidewalks and no crime ... a people place where respect, responsibility, care and cooperation are the community values."

Five goals were identified as part of the Crescent Valley-Renew Our Community's Community Action Plan for 2007-08. This project will help achieve two of those: "Improve roads and landscape and show respect and grow respect inside and outside our community."

The Greening of Flemming Court is designed to transform a vacant space, bounded by the u-shaped Flemming Court and MacLaren Boulevard and opposite the CVRC, into a place of natural beauty, with shrubs, trees and flowers. Youth of the neighbourhood participated in a series of collaborative sessions to identify what they wanted, aspired to and what would serve their community best. They will contribute efforts to implement the plan, once work begins. A gazebo and splashpad for children are major components. Storytent, a project of the Saint John Free Public Library, which also has been financially supported by the foundation, is hoping to utilize this space. Forty-three other charitable causes totaling $132,805 in Community Foundation grants were also announced.

Community Profile is a weekly column highlighting community causes and work done by non-profit organizations in the Greater Saint John area. It is contributed by Jane Barry, executive director of The Greater Saint John Community Foundation. Contact the foundation at 506-672-8880. To view other Community Profiles go to www.saint-john-foundation.nb.ca.