Neighborhood Forum 2021

Back in the early spring, Felician Center applied for a SACRED HEART CHARITABLE FUND from the Sisters of St. Francis, Denver, Colorado. This was advertised in the Franciscan newsletter. The funding was to support works of peace and justice, education, and earth care for the good of communities and all creation.

As we anticipate the 30th year anniversary of the Felician Center (August 11, 2021 – August 11, 2022), it was decided to focus on our own neighborhood for the use of the funding. The funds would be used to improve the self-image and standard of living, to offer a more decent appearance to the neighborhood, to invest in some safe exterior home improvements and to support local businesses with the spending.

Quarterly meetings would be held for the residents of Thorne Avenue, neighborhood committees would be formed, and community speakers could be invited to address some concerns. Monies would provide safe exterior steps, sturdy handicap ramps, new exterior front doors, street side mailboxes and eventually some beautification with the planting of shrubs, flowers etc. At each gathering, a takeaway will be given to each household for their attendance eg. a bucket, work gloves, trash bags and rake will be handed out at the first gathering. An explanation of who St. Francis is and the “Go repair my house” story will be offered at the first meeting. All participants will receive a plastic PEACE PRAYER card that will be prayed at each gathering.

On April 5, 2021, Sue Artone-Fricke, OSF communicated that Felician Center would be blessed and awarded $50,000 for the NEIGHBORHOOD FORUM project. The blessing has been received and properly banked for future use.

Next, some meetings with the local mayor, town manager and county supervisor have been held to inform them of the project. In return, our local government will waive all building permits needed and provide additional trash pickups during the project's duration. Some tree trimming will be scheduled for the spring as needed.

Other organizational preparations have begun and on June 2, Sisters Carol, Johnna and Susanne hand delivered to each home an invitation for June 7th to a neighborhood meeting at Felician Center to review the first quarterly project. Thorne Avenue is 1.5 miles long and it is believed 65 homes actually have residents. Twenty five households were represented.

At the neighborhood meeting, the residents were told that they had one week to clean up around their homes before a committee would make a site visit. If the home passed the outdoor inspection, the resident was given an application and waiver to complete and submit for new steps, railings or handicap ramp for the first quarter project. Local and area contractors have been lined up to construct each. The last week of July will be the work week for the celebratory project to take place.

In the meantime, the Felician Center board, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Felician Center, approved an additional $30,000 from its investment account to further the project. At present, several local churches have called and asked how they can participate. Some additional trim painting will also be added. This will be an experience of all the core values wrapped up as one: compassion, respect for human dignity, transformation, solidarity with the poor and peace and justice.

To date, the neighborhood clean-up has been outstanding, the public works department picked up the trash and residents are eager to be approved for their requests. Neighbors have complimented neighbors that accomplished the clean ups and contractors have been assigned their jobs so as to order their needed supplies. Thorne Avenue is the “talk of the town”.