Initiative 2
Neighborhood and Community Strengthening
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR COMMUNITY
“Shared friendship doubles our joy and halves our sorrows.” – Swedish Proverb
“In neighborhoods without a usable park or playground, the incidence of childhood obesity increases by 29 percent.” – Darell Hammond
Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee extends the healing ministry of Jesus by improving the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of our community.
Envisioned Goal
Trinity seeks partners that can implement programs that will measurably strengthen neighborhoods in our community. Health begins at home, and our neighborhoods are the first network outside the home. By positively and significantly impacting neighborhood interaction, the isolation that can lead to addiction could be reduced. We seek creative proposals drawn from experience, other cities, or innovative ideas that will measurably support and encourage healthy neighborhood networking. The goal is to actively connect people to the folks who live in close proximity to the families down the street.
Background
In a revealing sociological study, a large percentage of Americans report having shrinking networks and fewer relationships. Nearly fifty percent of our population report feelings of loneliness, isolation, and lack of interaction with others, as noted in Robert Putnam's book, Bowling Alone. Trinity seeks proposals that will encourage relationships to be grown in the community (define community in the broadest sense that meets your organization's expertise – family, church, neighborhood, etc.). How do we connect people to people? Healthy relationships may be the most significant anecdote to addiction. Ideas from green space enhancement, community clubs for purposeful neighborhood interaction, community school family interaction, and church neighborhood outreach are examples of the general areas that would be of interest under this initiative.
Examples of Specific Initiatives
- NEIGHBORHOOD CROSSFIT: Proposed projects for the development of activities that get people out of their homes and interacting face to face regularly would be valuable to our community as well as individual health.
- CLEARINGHOUSE FOR COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES/SUPPORT GROUPS: Innovative ways to connect people to activities and support groups are sought (citywide neighborhood online bulletin boards, local networking of special interest groups, alternatives like Neighborhood Watch for other group purposes, etc.). Projects that encourage neighbors to interact face-to-face are sought.
- NEIGHBORHOOD GREEN SPACE: Proposed projects to improve neighborhood parks and greenways to create inviting spaces for people to interact and be active. Creative conversions of infrequently used neighborhood assets (aging tennis courts, vacant fields, etc.) into actively filled new venues (pickleball, Frisbee golf, etc.)
- NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER INITIATIVE: Proposed projects that create and systematically expand neighborhood prayer networks to get neighbors in contact would bring value to our community.
- OTHER IDEAS RELATED TO STRENGTHENING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Neighbors are isolated. The relationship process begins with knowing each other. We seek projects that have shown promise in different locations to reinvigorate neighborhood relationships from the smallest unit (the family) to the largest region (the city). The revitalization of Market Square is a great success story and example for other parts of our community.
Initiative 2
Neighborhood/ Community Strengthening
THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR COMMUNITY
“Shared friendship doubles our joy and halves our sorrows.”
-Swedish Proverb
“In neighborhoods without a usable park or playground, the incidence of childhood obesity increases by 29 percent.”
-Darell Hammond
Trinity Health Foundation of East Tennessee extends the healing ministry of Jesus by improving the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of our community.
Envisioned Goal
Trinity seeks partners that can implement programs that will measurably strengthen neighborhoods in our community. Health begins at home, and our neighborhoods are the first network outside the home. By positively and significantly impacting neighborhood interaction, the isolation that can lead to addiction could be reduced. We seek creative proposals drawn from experience, other cities, or innovative ideas that will measurably support and encourage healthy neighborhood networking. The goal is to actively connect people to the folks who live in close proximity to the families down the street.
Background
In a revealing sociological study, a large percentage of Americans report having shrinking networks and fewer relationships. Nearly fifty percent of our population report feelings of loneliness, isolation, and lack of interaction with others, as noted in Robert Putnam's book, Bowling Alone. Trinity seeks proposals that will encourage relationships to be grown in the community (define community in the broadest sense that meets your organization's expertise – family, church, neighborhood, etc.). How do we connect people to people? Healthy relationships may be the most significant anecdote to addiction. Ideas from green space enhancement, community clubs for purposeful neighborhood interaction, community school family interaction, and church neighborhood outreach are examples of the general areas that would be of interest under this initiative.
Examples of Specific Initiatives
- Neighborhood Crossfit: Proposed projects for the development of activities that get people out of their homes and interacting face to face regularly would be valuable to our community as well as individual health – a twofer.
- Clearinghouse for Communities/Support Groups: Innovative ways to connect people to activities and support groups are sought (citywide neighborhood online bulletin boards, local networking of special interest groups, alternatives like Neighborhood Watch for other group purposes, etc.). Projects that encourage neighbors to interact face-to-face are sought.
- Neighborhood Green Space: Proposed projects to improve neighborhood parks and greenways to create inviting spaces for people to interact and be active. Creative conversions of infrequently used neighborhood assets (aging tennis courts, vacant fields, etc.) into actively filled new venues (pickleball, Frisbee golf, etc.)
- Neighborhood Prayer Initiative: Proposed projects that create and systematically expand neighborhood prayer networks to get neighbors in contact would bring value to our community.
- Other Ideas to Strengthen the Neighborhood: Neighbors are isolated. The relationship process begins with knowing each other. We seek projects that have shown promise in different locations to reinvigorate neighborhood relationships from the smallest unit (the family) to the largest region (the city). The revitalization of Market Square is a great success story and example for other parts of our community.
Download Initiative 2 Proposal Details
Files are in PDF format. These files contain information about the intent of the topic, the general grant philosophy, and the approach of Trinity.
Download