WHEC brings a positive message and empowers our community...one block at a time. We connect youth and community in West Harlem with needed resources, empowering them to reach their greatest potential.
Leader
Signe Mortensen
Location
1805 Amsterdam Ave New York, NY 10031
Moving into our 4th Summer of Empowerment Fairs, WHEC is raising funds to support our 2015 season. Once a month over the summer we close a block most in need of empowerment; low income areas with issues of youth on youth violence. We bring to the block local resources and organizations that can address the issues that are keeping youth and families from excelling to their greatest potential. These resources include legal aid, educational opportunities, job training, affordable healthcare and screenings, voting rights, post-incarceration guidance and much more. We also engage our youth with sports on the street: basketball, soccer and a climbing wall.
Our WHEC board of volunteer staff (5 local community leaders) conducts the outreach and coordination of the agencies, community organizations and block associations as well as working with NYPD to close streets and engage nearby businesses. Another 10-15 volunteers help on the day of each event.
Our mission is to reach those in need when and where they are most able to accept the help- on their blocks while surrounded by a positive message and empowering atmosphere.
Our goals include:
Summer Empowerment Fairs 2015
April 24- WHEC Partner/Resource meeting
May 31st- WHEC Gospel and Brunch Fundraiser
LEADING UP TO EVENT
POST- EVENT
WHEC is a coalition of community leaders, concerned citizens, clergy and professionals in West Harlem who are empowering our community on a grassroots level, one block at a time. In 2011 we saw a troubling trend among the youth of West Harlem. Rising crime rates and homicides left our youth facing hard decisions on the street and entering the criminal justice system at alarming rates. Many youth were returning home from incarceration and needed guidance and assistance to return to the street where they grew up. In an effort to get ahead of the upcoming Summer season and usual spike in crime, the Commanding Officer of the 30th Precinct gathered many like minded community leaders who wanted to find real solutions to the issue at hand.
After a brainstorm meeting it was decided that we had all the resources and tools we needed right in West Harlem to empower the community, but people who most needed them didn't know about or have access to them. So we decided to bring the resources to them. With the guidance of the 30th precinct we began to target blocks with high crime rates and poverty and bring resources to them. Since that time we have closed down 1 block per month over the summer for a day of Empowerment in West Harlem.
We want to create alternatives for our youth, especially during the warm summer months when crime peaks. This project provides mentorship for youth and resources and opportunities for the adults in their lives so they can focus on parenting.
