Print Article
BookMark Article
10 newest articles RSS
Concrete Jungles To Sustainable Communities: We The People
Author : Pat Munro
Submitted : 2011-12-25 04:54:59 Word Count : 570 Popularity: 11
Tags: concrete crack repair, concrete joint repair, concrete spalling repairs
Communities have been hit hard by the economic hardships of the last decade. People have lost their jobs, homes and identities through this very difficult recession and it shows. Houses have been abandoned, empty lots have become garbage dumping grounds, and people have a general ‘I give up’ attitude towards their areas. Concrete has become the playground for our children, teens are bored and getting into trouble, and our elderly stay in their hot, sticky homes due to fear.
So what do we do to change these trends?
Your first objectives should be clear. The key to finding the top objectives is to get a consensus from the neighborhood itself. What you feel is a top priority may not be what others feel. To this end, hold a neighborhood gathering. Pick a day and time when as many people from the area can attend. Outdoor gatherings bring more people because of the attention it receives from every age group. Do musicians live in your community? Ask them to perform at the function, provide food and beverages donated from the locals to garner more turnout and conversation. People need to meet and greet their neighbors, getting them out of the house will definitely do that. Once people know more about the people in their neighborhoods, there is a greater sense of belonging and together ness as well as the impetus to make positive change.
Once your community has decided on its goals, write them down and post them in a clear format for all concerned to work toward the same goals. It may even be a good idea to blog about your plans and experiences as you achieve your goals. Others in your area can see your progress and add their ideas without the need to gather physically. As well, it allows people and organizations who maybe would be donors to your status and your goals.
Some basic goals for most neighborhoods include:
A safe, clean area for the children to play
Clean up of garbage and drug paraphernalia from the streets and vacant lots
Safety for all ages
The government has grants and monetary funding for communities to develop their areas. The applications are available online. They are long and there are many applicants, so fill out the paperwork and keep working toward your goals while you await your replies. As you are probably aware, governments take time to process and decide who gets which grants. In the meantime, there are many different private organizations and corporations such as Home Depot who also have grants available for areas like yours to get a new start. Check with larger home and business development companies and organizations in the area, as well as individual donors. You never know who is interested in funding your community, so get the word out. Donations can be the materials as well as financial aid, take it anyway it comes.
There is nothing wrong with concrete. It provides shelter, roadways and many other conduits to the civilized world. Like most things however, it has a shelf life. If your community is crumbling along with the concrete, it’s probably time to restructure, and renew. The only way we as people can have the life and lifestyle we deserve is to demand it, and work together to achieve it.
Author's Resource Box
Visit http://www.kingservices.ca for concrete contractors, concrete curbing and asphalt paving.
Article Source:
Articles Alive