Summary of Maryvale Revitalization Corporation Programs

Current Programs

1)    Maryvale Curb Appeal Program – This program assists owner-occupied residences within Maryvale with permanent exterior improvements that can be seen from the street (curb).  Up to $500 can be granted toward improvements such as exterior house painting, desert landscaping, front fence repair or trees.  It does not cover anything inside the home, nor in the back yards.  Residents must provide written quotes for the materials or select their paint colors from our charts.  When possible we help provide volunteers to help those not physically able to do the work; but we do not guarantee that assistance.  This program is in its final year and the money will be exhausted by fall, unless we stop the assistance to save money for one more Strength of Youth project in November (approximately $10,000 for materials to improve 20 – 25 homes).

2)    Graffiti Abatement & Illegal Sign Removal – Staff goes out every weekend and supervises community service workers removing graffiti and illegal signs in the community.  The crews also have helped with park cleanups. 

3)    Community Volunteer Programs – We work with several local groups to carry out a variety of projects.  These volunteers may be from local schools or universities, businesses, churches or youth organizations.  They perform a variety of projects such as house painting, desert landscaping, alley clean ups, graffiti paint outs and area beautification projects.  Our biggest example is our annual Strength of Youth project each November with 500 youth from the LDS church when 20 – 25 homes are painted or landscaped in four hours on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  Other recent examples were ASU Devils In Disguise doing painting/landscaping; Vanguard Securities employees painting a home; graffiti paint outs with the Maryvale Weed & Seed partners; and Global Youth Service Day.  The latter being when youth from Maryvale & Scottsdale YMCAs, Stewart Boys & Girls Club, and Maryvale High School did a clean up project at Cricket Pavilion.  When the curb appeal dollars are exhausted, all future projects will need to focus on graffiti abatement and beautification programs.  We have two trailers for projects - one graffiti abatement trailer with gas powered paint sprayers and one tool trailer to use for community cleanup projects.

4)    Neighborhood Enhancement Projects – We partner with Phoenix Parks and Recreation to receive federal dollars to do streetscaping and parks improvements.  We write the grant applications and these partners complete the actual improvements.  Examples are ramadas installed at Sueno Park along with other improvements; arterial street improvements and the 51^st Avenue Street Improvement project where a significant amount of new streetscaping was done prior to spring training in order to present a better image of the community to the attendees of the games.

5)    The Maryvale Project: Think Twice Curfew Prediversion Program – This program is a 4 hour class for first time curfew offenders to teach the reasoning behind curfew, drug and alcohol awareness, ethics, decision making, goal setting and dealing with peer pressure.  The parents attend the last hour of the class as the youth report out on what they learned.  By taking this class, the youth do not end up going to court nor having a police record.  Since it began, in 2009 we have had 153 youth take the class - with only one ever being picked up again.  It is our desire (and that of the Phoenix Police Department) that this program be expanded in the future to cover additional precincts in the city.

6)    The Maryvale Project: Maryvale Leadership Education Training – This monthly training started in September 2009 with 29 participants.  It is a monthly training with guest speakers aimed at helping residents learn more about leadership and what they can do in their community.  Attendees range from high school through retirement and receive training in several categories.  Some of the class topics include: servant leadership, how to run a meeting, public speaking tips, how to work with the city, planning a successful event, grant writing, working with the media, social marketing, and cultural awareness.  With a few months to go, we still have 25 participants as we had one move away, and the others have had employment changes that created conflicts in their being able to continue.  Currently, the class is being given simultaneously in English and Spanish.  Members of the class have undertaken a couple of projects in the community through their relationships with other classmates. 

7)    The Maryvale Project: Domestic Violence Education & Awareness – In partnership with Black Lama, the University of Advancing Technology and the Maryvale Partnerships In Action we have created two domestic violence education videos.  The two videos: Keeping Families Safe, for adults and service providers, and Healthy Teen Relationships, on teen dating violence awareness will be distributed initially in Maryvale.  These videos make it possible for hundreds of groups including churches, schools and youth providers to pass along the information to help address the domestic violence crisis in their areas.  Once completed and the first videos have been distributed we will begin promoting the videos around the valley and nation.  Domestic violence in the Maryvale Precinct alone in 12 months involved approximately 750 police calls that involved youth either as a victim, assailant or witness.

8)    Jacori Rufus Memorial College Scholarship Program – Founded in 1999 following the tragic car accident that took his life when returning home from Idaho State University, Jacori was a 1998 Maryvale High School graduate attending college on an academic/athletic scholarship.  Jacori was a member of National Honor Society, All-State in football and track, as well as a 3 year starting point guard in basketball.  The scholarship began as one winner at $500 per year for Maryvale High School graduates, and has been expanded to cover Alhambra and Trevor Browne High Schools.  While applications are accepted from students attending all three schools, they are not guaranteed a selection.  Since its inception, the scholarship has been increased to $500 per semester, over a maximum of four years.  This fall we will have ten students in college.

9)    MAPPs & MOTION – In 2008 MRC met with thirty different youth oriented providers in the community to discover gaps in service and how these groups might work together to cover those gaps. These providers represented schools, churches, YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs, City of Phoenix departments, community centers, substance awareness groups and other youth organizations.   From those meetings Maryvale Adolescent Providers Partnership (MAPPs) was founded.  The group now meets monthly to share information about themselves and what is occurring in the community.  The first project undertaken was creating monthly free staff training seminars for everyone involved.  In 2009 the group expanded focus and added a subcommittee, Maryvale Youth in MOTION (Motivated, Organized Teens Impacting Our Neighborhood), which is led by youth elected from their membership.  In their first twelve months, they organized and held a community fair (attended by thousands) and a teen forum at Trevor Browne High School with over 100 youth in attendance.  The teen groups selected the discussion topics and had the opportunity to discuss relevant topics amongst themselves.  MAPPs also created a teen traveling basketball league in 2009, which offered a no-fee league with teams from different MAPPs organizations.  The league continued with its second season in 2010.  Also in 2010 MAPPs changed from the monthly one topic staff trainings to hold an annual, multiple topic, staff training conference so attendees could gain more knowledge in a single day.  MAPPs, its endeavors and subcommittee are considered to be highly successful community partners.

Proposed/Enhanced Programs

1)    The Maryvale Project: Neighborhood Education and Training Program - will provide a series of   community education and awareness classes to residents, young and old, in three main categories: Health, Finance and Employment.  There will be at least five different training classes under each main category along with a few others that are needed in the community.  One of the objectives is to provide needed employment skills to first time workers along with giving additional skills to those looking for better opportunities.  Another objective is to increase health awareness, especially about some medical conditions prevalent in the community such as obesity, diabetes and asthma.  There is a need to do basic banking instruction, along with education in identity theft that applies to everyone.  By educating the community on these topics, we are preparing our residents for a healthier, better prepared future.  Some numbers related to the Maryvale Village of west Phoenix include that it is the most populated village in the city with over 200,000 residents - 40% of which are under the age of 19.  Additionally, the Stewart Boys & Girls Club, with whom we are partnering, has researched its attendees. Sixty percent (60%) of the youth attending the facility come from single mom households.  A lot of these young mothers have entry level jobs, mainly because they are lacking confidence in themselves as well as job skills such as basic computer knowledge.  By creating a better prepared and healthier work force, we increase the image of the valley along with creating more stable households - both which benefit the Valley of the Sun. The project obviously addresses education of both adults and children/teens in a community of at hope citizens.  ASU conducted a study two years ago calling Maryvale - "A Community on the Edge" - that documented the need for employment education, along with youth direction, as two of the greatest needs in the community.  The Program will address needs of the community relating to health, employment and finance - three topics needed for a higher quality of life.  The health focus will be twofold in addressing how to deal with various ailments such as diabetes, and with prevention topics including nutrition and fitness. Employment topics will include basic computer skills, resume writing, interviewing skills and employer expectations, to name a few.  Finance will deal with basic banking, identity theft, budgeting and general financial literacy.  These topics cover the basics in quality of life and can help provide a foundation for a successful and sustainable future for those involved.  Additional training will include two Maryvale Revitalization domestic violence awareness trainings: Healthy Teen Dating Relationships, and Keeping Families Safe.  Additional training may include parenting skills, basic tutoring for youth and citizenship assistance for legal immigrants.  A healthier, better prepared workforce will be a great benefit for the entire Valley, making the area more attractive for businesses to locate here.The project will be a series of 2 hour training classes every month.  There will be two classes per week - four sets of classes (8 total) per month.  These will take place at the host sites of the two lead partners in the project.  Funds are needed to cover additional utility and related expenses for the facilities to be open additional hours, in addition to staffing for child care supervision, site coordination, classroom instructors, and program administration.  Additional expenses will include printing, classroom supplies and handouts.  We are proposing 48 weeks of trainings with two trainings per week at 2 hours each.  Breakdowns of the expenses include facility usage at the Stewart Boys & Girls Club (including the gym, computer room, art room and classrooms).  There would be an on site coordinator, along with two child care supervisors. The 96 classes are budgeted for paid instructors, but we will look for qualified volunteer instructors.  There will be informational flyers distributed weekly regarding upcoming classes along with handout information provided in each of the classes.  Maryvale Revitalization will pay a staff person to handle coordination, outreach, attendance, evaluation for possible class repetition and researching requested future classes.

This project helps plant the seeds of a better prepared and healthier workforce in the future for Phoenix and surrounding cities.  It works at the basic level to help youth get a better foundation to build their future on, while helping others increase their abilities to provide for their families.  It will provide health education that allows for healthier, more aware families, which means youth miss less school due to illness while learning more; and employees are more productive in the workplace, creating stronger businesses in the community.  Financial education leads to families being more stable and better prepared to handle needs such as housing, food and other basic family needs.  As the program continues, we will be looking for additional support from other organizations to provide classes at more locations.  Your support plants the seeds to help this expand in the future and reach more and more individuals and families.  We will reach out to other possible partners to help provide only the best and widest range of needed trainings, all will focus on increasing the quality of life in our community.

              2)    The Maryvale Project: Maryvale Leadership Education Training Expansion - is the continuation and expansion of the inaugural training class.  The success of the first class led to discussions from the attendees who suggested breaking the class into two sets of classes; one for teens and one for adults.  While the class enjoyed the total blend of both in one class, it was felt that the topics could be geared more directly to teens if offered their own class. 

The first year started with 29 attendees and is completing with 25 due to some job changes and relocations.  Topics in Year One included servant leadership, cultural awareness, how to run meetings, public speaking tips, how to work with the city of Phoenix, social marketing, planning a successful event and other topics.  The class meets monthly with ten classes over eleven months.  Classes are held at the MRC offices in the main conference room. Binders are provided for attendees to keep handouts and other related information in.  A highlight after only three meetings was some of the class came together to help 60 Bhutanese refugees receive a free Thanksgiving dinner.  They planned out the transportation logistics since the refugees do not have cars and the church adapted the servings for those that were vegetarians.  The refugees were all smiles and so appreciative, they just kept going around shaking hands and thanking everyone. 

Several of the class members have now volunteered to work on a multi-cultural showcase charity event in November – even though the current class ends in July!  Educating new leaders builds the social capital of a community and helps it to increase positive activity in the area.  Several attendees are community liaisons between Cartwright Elementary Schools and the community; these folks have commented on how much they have learned and been able to put that knowledge to use in their own jobs.  The future teen class would be conducted in partnership with Maryvale Youth In M.O.T.I.O.N. (Motivated, Organized Teens Impacting Our Community) which grew out of the Maryvale Adolescent Providers Partnership (MAPPs).  MAPPs is a group that MRC formed following discussions related to youth needs in the community in 2008 and now has spawned three subgroups: 1) Free staff training for the member organizations 2) Maryvale Youth In M.O.T.I.O.N.  3) Maryvale teen traveling basketball league. 

Additional comments from the class included interest in future classes having a formal graduation ceremony, putting together either one large class project or splitting into smaller groups and doing smaller projects, keeping the class time the same length but having half be instructional and half being attendees’ interaction.  The best way to build success for future classes is by listening to attendees’ input on improvements to the program and having them help participate in future classes.  Another way of sustaining the class is having previous attendees participate and help in the following years’ class. 

Continuing, expanding and improving these classes will reap benefits to the community and the individuals for years to come.  The more productive leaders in the community - the more productive the community. 

                3)    The Maryvale Project: Block Watch Expansion and Training Program – will reach out to residents and help them learn how to be engaged in their immediate neighborhood.  This program helps follow up on the partnerships created between residents, Phoenix Police Department – Maryvale Precinct, and Maryvale Revitalization Corporation to increase safety and educate residents on how to take control of what is happening in their community.  Dwight Amery has spoken at regional events in Arizona and California on what residents can do, along with producing a video in 2000 that was used nationally by major cities (Orlando, Tacoma, Indianapolis, Lincoln, Boston, etc.) to help guide residents as to what can be accomplished.  While the video has become outdated over time, the knowledge base is still there and can be adapted to today.  With hands on assistance we can help new groups get started and lend them guidance.  As these empowered residents are emerging, they will be able to participate in our next Maryvale Leadership Education Training class, in the fall of 2010.  Often times people know something needs to be done, but they are not sure where to start, and either give up immediately or after an early failure.  With our leadership and guidance, we can provide them with needed materials and direction to begin a successful Block Watch and/or neighborhood association.  We have the knowledge and partnerships to bring success to these residents and help make the community safer and more engaged in area programs.  While we can provide the knowledge base for these residents to work from, we will not dictate the priorities of their focus.  Some topics may apply throughout the community, while others may be specific to one area; we will not know exactly the concerns of each group until we help them organize and discuss the major topics of their concern.  We have to enable them to take control of their area and this is done by listening to them and guiding them to proper resources while providing encouragement that they can succeed and make a difference.

Having residents that take ownership of their neighborhood makes it safer for residents of all ages.  Educating people on how to report suspicious activity helps in two ways – it helps the police have better information in researching possible crime and it builds confidence in the resident’s relationship in working with the police.  We will work with the groups to get more people to go through the Phoenix Neighborhood Patrol training.  Through our experience and knowledge we can help guide residents towards other resources they utilize in increasing their awareness of programs available to their neighbors, while creating comaraderie and improved relationships between neighbors.

While we are taking the lead on this program, we will partner with all current block watches and neighborhood associations to lend additional support and guidance in the new areas, along with offering to help the current groups gain strength and outreach.  Several of the current leaders have stated they are willing to be one on one mentors/resources with the leaders of these emerging groups.

              4)    The  Maryvale Project: Strength of Youth and Area Beautification – is continuing current programming that will expend all funding in the next few months.  The biggest highlight of this program is the annual Strength of Youth partnership with the LDS Church in November when 500 volunteers, mainly teenagers, come together for a community service project.  On the Saturday before Thanksgiving the group meets and goes into the community to paint and landscape 25 homes in a 4 hour period.  The homes selected are owner occupied with a focus on two things – first is assisting those not able to do the work themselves such as seniors and secondly, to do the project in a condensed area so the impact is greater and it builds activity in the area.  Often times when we are out doing the project (six years of success so far) it encourages other neighbors to come out and work on their homes or to plan future improvements to their own homes.  Through other donations the group gets breakfast and lunch, along with shirts for the event, and provides Thanksgiving turkeys to the local residents. MRC collects funds strictly for the materials for the home improvements.  Each year the youth compare how many times they have participated and tell of previous years’ projects.  The church leaders shared last year that a youth had gone off to college and when he came back and talked to the high school students, that participating in our Strength of Youth project was still the highlight of his comments.

For several years we have had our curb appeal program which helps homeowners provide that touch up to their property that they have wanted to do, but cannot afford.  Often times these families want to make the improvements but cannot afford the materials needed – it is not a hard decision between house paint and putting food on the table.  This program is for permanent exterior improvements that can be seen from the street.  Examples include house paint, roof repairs, fence repairs, desert landscaping and dust proof parking with a limit of $500 assistance from us.  The owner is responsible for any cost above and beyond our limit.  We work with several volunteer groups that provide labor assistance to those not physically able to do the work themselves.  The better the area looks, the more pride residents have in their neighborhood and the better the impression that is made to visitors and potential future residents.   Funding that was dedicated to this program covered these improvements and the Strength of Youth program but that fund will be completely depleted.

We partner with the city of Phoenix on supplies for graffiti removal in the area.  We have removed over 10,000 graffiti sites in the past three years and are removing around 750 illegal signs on street corners monthly.  Community service workers and volunteers provide extra manpower in order to accomplish these improvements.  We need to provide staff supervision and coordination on these efforts along with handling proper documentation and paperwork for community service workers for their court ordered service.  While the city provides us with rollers, brushes and paint for graffiti removal, we still have the related vehicle expenses in getting the supplies and transporting the workers through the area.

                 5)    The Maryvale Project: Business Education and Faith-Based Alliance Program – is creating smaller regional business alliances for large and small business.   Helping business owners gain a better perspective of their fellow local merchants can help everyone succeed.  One main focus of this program is to promote businesses to work with others in the immediate area while allowing them to communicate their issues and concerns internally.  The hundreds of businesses in the area can work together taking advantage of local partners to meet their business needs for various services and products.  These organizations may include a Desert Sky Core group (primary village core) for those in and immediately surrounding Desert Sky Mall; another may be a 51^st Avenue and Indian School group (secondary village core) and others similarly located to major business intersections.  Working with the Maryvale Association of Churches to help them become stronger and more active is another piece of this program. 

Building stronger relationships with local businesses and churches helps everyone in the community become stronger.  It has the ability as well of providing additional opportunities for future partnerships and volunteers for our other ongoing programs.  We have seen through some of our other programs such as the Maryvale Weed & Seed and the MAPPs program how bringing organizations together can create a synergy and grow of new opportunities for the community.