April 16, 2012 General Meeting Minutes

Please find the Minutes for the West Willow April 16, 2012 general meeting here. Please note that the date of meetings has been changed to the 3rd Monday of the month at 7PM.

Fly Art Center comes back to NWWNA

During the Summer Program, the kids were thrilled to work with Katie from Fly Art Center and they won't have to wait long to regain the experience. Nearly every Friday from now until April, Fly Art will be coming in to do zany, instructive, fascinating crafts with the kids. Classes are FREE thanks to a generous donation from the Mardi Gras Foundation. All youth ages 6-13 are welcome to come attend. Moms, Dads, and Grandparents stop in and revisit your inner child! See the NWWNA Calendar for Upcoming Events.

Saturday, August 13th will be a day to remember...."Speak Peace Rally & NWWNA Annual Picnic"

Saturday, August 13th at the West Willow Park on Tyler Road, the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office - Street Outreach Team, along with the New West Willow Neighborhood Association with host a "Speak Peace Rally" and our 9th annual Neighborhood Picnic.


The event will take place from 10AM-4PM, with engaging activities occurring throughout the day, including:

• A 45-minute "Peace Walk" throughout our beautiful West Willow Neighborhood beginning at 10:30AM, with a meet up at the West Willow Park.

• Returning back to the park to listen to a number of guest speakers at 11:30 AM, including community leaders, officials and members of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office "Street Outreach Team", our NWWNA President Angela Barbash and more.

• Memorial balloon release following the speakers, to celebrate life and honor those who are no longer with us around 12:15 PM.

• Local non-profit and other organizations including St. Joseph Hospital - Free Mammograms and University of Michigan Hospitals - Free health clinic, Ozone House- Mentoring/crisis management program for teens, Girls on the Run-Tutoring program and Ann Arbor Dispute Resolution Center and Art in the Park-Arts Engagement Program, with booths to visit starting around 12:30 PM.

• A picnic hosted by the New West Willow Neighborhood Association starting at 1:00 PM, along with the "Ballin' in the Willow" 3-on-3 basketball finals and awards ceremony, during the afternoon. 

• An interactive graffiti art demonstration, comedy & step show beginning around 3:00 PM

• A wrap of to the days events with a Neighborhood pledge to end violence and plaque ceremony around 4:00PM.

Ann Arbor.com's writer Tom Perkins wrote a nice piece in the local newspaper about Saturday's "Speak Peace Rally". Feel free to read his piece at the following link.

We're looking forward to seeing our great neighbors out at the park!

Sincerely,

NWWNA Executive and Advisory Board Members

President Angela Barbash appearance on the Lucy Ann Lance Business Show 1290 AM

By-Monica Ross-Williams
NWWNA Governmental Advisory Board Member
Ypsilanti Township Parks Commissioner


Originally appeared on Ann Arbor.com June 18, 2011 
Recap of article by Lucy Ann Lance

Photo Credit-Ann Arbor.com

Plagued with shootings and distrust of police, Ypsilanti Township’s West Willow  neighborhood is fighting back to save its community. Last summer resident Angela Barbash started a Citizens Patrol to keep watch, and new entryway signs were erected to greet visitors. The New West Willow Neighborhood Association (Barbash is the president) was formed and a comprehensive strategic plan was created. 

Located in the north part of Ypsilanti Township directly west of Willow Run Airport, the neighborhood is bounded by a triangle of I-94, US-12, and Wiard Road - all limited access roads - which tends to isolate the community from the greater Ypsilanti area. West Willow neighbors are taking a novel approach to the rejuvenation of their community. We talked with Barbash, a driving force in these initiatives, on 1290 WLBY this past week (June 14, 2011).

President Angela Barbash of the NWWNA appearance on behalf of residents of the New West Willow Community was a part of the outgoing NWWNA Media effort to promote a positive view about our historical community to the populist at large. Listen to the entire interview, with radio host Lucy Lance at her website, near the bottom of the page.

Also, if you have not joined into our growing Facebook Fan Page, please take to time to do so now and connect with residents of this fabulous community.

2011 WEST WILLOW SUMMER PROGRAM

By Linda Mealing
Treasurer NWWNA/Youth Programs Committee Chairperson

West Willow Summer 2011 Youth Program

DATE AND LOCATION
June 20 - Aug. 11, 2011 *closed July 4th
Mon. - Fri., 11am - 3pm
Community Resource Center (CRC)
2057 Tyler Rd.
Ypsilanti, Mi., 48198

EARLY REGISTRATION (at CRC building)
June 14th - 10am-noon school
June 16th - 4-6pm

AGES: school ages 5-17 yrs. old Capacity around 60 youth

OVERVIEW - Lunch provides by Washtenaw Cty. ETC Lunch Program at 11:15am promptly!! With the help of other nonprofit agencies, governmental entities, individuals and area churches, the West Willow Summer Program (under NWWNA leadership) offers neighborhood youths a healthy and safe haven at the CRC for the summer months. Activities include guest speakers, nutritional classes, computer work, help with reading and math, gardening and a few field trips. We hope to cover each week with a central theme such as Safety, State of MI/Around the World Exploration, Community Helpers, Life Skills/Careers, Leadership, Art/creativity and much more!

SUPPORTING OPPORTUNITIES
Come as a guest speaker, janitorial services, provide a tax-exempt donation, volunteer as an adult mentor, donate craft supplies, provide support for field
trips, help get building & grounds ready, gardening mentors/care takers

Contact information: Linda Mealing 734-483-8195 or lindame5881@att.net

* more details can be found posted at the CRC and on distributed flyers