racism-free

This morning I attended the Summit on Racism event at DeVos Place. They unveiled their new logo and message to begin creating a movement for a racism-free community. It was a really an inspiring event, but unfortunately ended with the news that Gene Proctor passed away last night. Gene was one of the "godfathers" of the christian community development movement in Grand Rapids, and until very recently, was still involved in almost any initiative of substance in the city that focused on poverty or reconciliation. Aside from being an astounding community loss, it also is a personal loss for me.

One of the first jobs I had out of college was as the Executive Director of a small nonprofit called Urban Produce. Gene was one of the founders of this organization as of Camp Tall Turf, where I now serve as board chair. He sat on my board for several years, and most of the initiatives I'm involved in now have Gene's name in their history some where.

Although our conversations were few, and he was backing out of responsibilities for much of the time I knew him, his influence on me was profound. He was one of those people that could shape the tone of a meeting by just sitting there, smiling. He brought levity and insight to the group, and I think his love for acting and theater translated into how he spoke with people. Everyone I know always felt welcomed and encouraged by knowing Gene. Regardless of who you were talking to, when you mentioned Gene's name, they listened harder or became more energized. For me, he was also the first black man I knew that was in a position of power and influence. That's a product of my sheltered upbringing, not a statement about the quality of leadership in our community. The beauty of watching Gene work was that he could go out to a rich, white guy's office, put them on the spot, get them to donate a wad of money, and they would thank him for it on the way out the door. It was an art!

Gene was a role model for so many people, regardless of their upbringing, race or culture. People found common ground in Gene, and he bridged so many cultures and allowed people to connect with each other in meaningful ways. He was the best of what Grand Rapids has to offer, and he will be missed.

mapping

I spent some time doing a quick mapping project for an area of my neighborhood that has consistently experienced high crime and poor housing conditions. It is only about a 4 block area but is responsible for about 20% of neighborhood crime. Some of this is due to a party store that sits dead center in the area and serves as a gathering point for people. You can see from the map that this is the epicenter of much of the crime.


So I took several data sets to create the map. It's exciting to me to start to see some local area maps with data at this level in a community. For several years I've been in groups talking about neighborhood data and indicators, but the problem always comes down to missing data or that we have data but it isn't meaningful to a group. I think through these series of maps, I've created a picture of a small community that is meaningful and could encourage some dialogue, action and accountability.

I know the image below isn't the best resolution, but I do that for your own safety. If you saw this map in all its glory, your head would explode trying to process the complex layers, graduated colors and symbols, and perfectly symmetrical north arrow. The basic gist is that your looking at a 4 block area with individual parcels or homes, the green to red scale is number of housing code violations (red bad) the smaller to bigger circles are number of crime offenses (big red or green circle is bad) and the purple crosshatched squares on the map are absentee landlords (purple may be bad depending on the landlord).

So the data I'm pulling together comes from three sources (it's about who you know, not what you know): the City Assessor's Office (taxpayer info March 2007) Neighborhood Improvement (housing code violations, 2006) and Grand Rapids Police Dept. (crime offenses April 06-Feb. 07). By using GIS to layer the data you can start to see trends of high crime areas with absentee landlords that aren't maintaining their properties. It makes sense to me that this would be the first tier. Communicate with the absentee landlords that have more than 1 code violation and more than 1 crime offense at their address in 2006. A second tier would look at homeowners that have the same and then third would be to go after more isolated cases. I'm meeting with the neighborhood association later this week to discuss some of this and see if there might be a plan of action.

Anyway, I wanted to share the idea here because I'm pretty excited about having this type of information at such a focused scale.

coming off a big weekend

The weekend started up with a trip with the boys to see "300". We had a couple beers with the guys and then stood in line for about 1/2 hour at the IMAX. We ended up a little close to the giant screen, but for a movie like this it really didn't matter. The critics are saying it is "like watching a big video game", which was fine by me. Morgan was in rare form, trying to start up blood chants at inappropriate times. SPARTA!

Saturday was mostly a day at home and then monster poker in the evening. Boelkins celebrated a birthday in style by hosting a 10 person game. I ended up placing 5th and Nora was tied for 2nd. Not a bad outing. Morgans must have partied too hard on Friday night because they crashed out 9th and 10th. The big man Phil won it all and heads into March Madness full of confidence. Brackets are out and due on Thursday. I think I will have Levi do my picks this year - he knows the teams about as well as I do at this point. I hear the middle seeds are all pretty even so Levi has as good a shot as any.

Finally, Sunday rolled around and we spent a couple hours in the afternoon looking at color options for the cohousing unit. We are finishing up our interior upgrades and option picks this week and then choosing more specific colors and materials in a couple weeks. I think we are going really "green" for most of it. Some of the features: ivory bamboo flooring which is a renewable grass, high efficiency Energy Star appliances throughout, Marmolium floor in the bathroom which uses natural oils instead of petroleum products, recycled carpet on the second floor and wood & fiberglass framed windows. They blew in the foam insulation and are finishing up the drywall in the first unit. We had a guy come out to test the efficiency of the unit, and we got a 99.5 out of 100. He said that our units heating bills will be 1/2 to 1/3 less than those of a Federal Energy Star Rated home. 1/2 = Awesome

first steps: 10.5 months

Picking Upgrades and Options

It's an exciting time in the life of cohousing. In the next couple weeks we are finalizing our picks for interior options by making decisions on bamboo flooring, cabinets, countertops, etc. Nora and I are really excited thinking about new appliances and getting some of the things we have always wanted. Owning a 120 year old house for the past 8 years was filled with great memories but some bad ones too. We have adopted the Boelkin's rule that everything in an old house costs 2.5 times as much and takes 2.5 times as long to complete.

Speaking of the old house. We have a new renter moving in this week. I spent most of last weekend cleaning and fixing things in our apartment. One of the major repairs was on our shower. A few years ago we had a couple move in, and he was a tile layer. So in exchange for no security deposit he helped me (or helped him) put in a built in tile shower and tile floor. The valve stems for the shower ended up stripping this year so I went on a mission to replace the stems. After a failed trip to our local hardware store, Rylees, I started to get the feeling that this was not going to be a morning project. So later that day I ran out to Godwin Plumbing who are known in GR as the plumbing gurus.

When I got into the store there were many older men walking around the plumbing department helping out various customers. I walked up to the counter and told Fred that I was having a problem finding a replacement stem for my shower and handed over the stem. He looked at my offering, looked back at me, and said, "Where did you get this, Afghanistan?" I felt my confidence and weekend time line disappear. It turns out that I have a knock-off valve in my wall, sitting behind beautiful new tile. The Godwin experts recommended that I cut out some tile, cut out some drywall and replace everything. That did not sound very good to me. So in Faber style, I have come up with a no-tile-breaking solution. JB Weld to the rescue!

With another trip back to Godwin, hoping that Fred was not working, I requested some stem extenders. Using some magic epoxy, I cemented new extenders to the old stems. I'm really hoping everything holds together, so far so good. I know that in the next few years I'll have to bite the bullet and break into that wall. As I cemented the new extenders my thoughts turned to cohousing and a new house... level floors...right angles...tight windows...

Community Counts

So part of the reason I haven't posted much lately is because I've been working hard on a major publication and event. Last Monday was the big kickoff and it hit the street. You can check it out at www.deltastrategy.org under the Community Report Card link.

Each year The Delta Strategy puts out an annual report card that tracks key quality of life data for the greater Grand Rapids area. Indicators and community data is some of the toughest work I've been involved in. There is so much data available, but at the same time so little data that you actually need or want.

A weekend at home

The past two weekends, Nora and I have been able to spend some good time at home, watching movies and playing with Levi. We have Levi on a very strict sleeping schedule thanks to a book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" which should be called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Parents". The phrase "Sleep Nazi" is become popular around our house as we guard nap times and map sleep patterns. We have to adjust our schedule around these important milestones, so that usually means sticking close to home or making quick errands.

So we caught up on a couple movies we have been wanting to see. If you get a chance, check out "Idiocracy" by Mike Judge. It is a comedy about a future where the least intelligent have taken over the future because our great thinkers didn't procreate and spent their collective energies on solving erectile dysfunction and hair loss instead of the major world problems. It's just close enough to reality to make you cringe.

Similarly, but in a more serious tone, we watched "Children of Men" a Sci-fi thriller about 2027 when mysteriously, women can no longer have children. The world collapses into depression and chaos when they lose that hope for the future. England becomes the last safe haven for order so refugees are flocking to its coasts. There is a shot of the lead character leaving London and graffiti on the wall reads ,"Last one to die, please turn off the lights" which kind of characterizes the movie. Miraculously, a refugee girls becomes pregnant after the country has gone 18 years of having no children. The story involves trying to get this woman out of England because she also happens to be a refugee.

January Post

Hey readers,

sorry, things have been really busy in January so the blog has taken a hit in terms of updates. I have a couple big projects do in the beginning of February, just in time for my birthday. Happy Birthday to me!

Gerald Ford passing

There has been almost constant coverage on the life and death of Gerald Ford, GR's native son. I watched a well done documentary on Public Television that talked about Ford's upbringing. Apparently, he had a rather large temper, so his mother would make him recite this poem, IF by Kipling, as a way to calm down and control his anger - a more sophisticated way of counting to 10. This was a new poem to me, but I really love it, so enjoy...

[IF]

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling

morning walk

Levi and I took a nice morning walk around the neighborhood. With all his winter clothes, he barely fit inside his backpack. It may be time to start looking for a stroller that can double as a bike trailer; I can't imagine having to lug him around this way for much longer.

First we visited the construction site to take a few pictures. Things are really moving along on the garages and the first unit. The first unit is taking a little longer because they have to work out some of the kinks that always happen between what is drawn on paper and what can actually get built. I saw our architect and builder on the site earlier this week inspecting the discrepancies. I think the other units will really fly once the builder figures out the details.


Second we walked through the various parks. Lookout Park was beautiful this morning; the sun was out and there was a haze across the city. It really made me want to hike down to the river and take the trail, but the thought of hiking back up with Levi wasn't do'in it for me. There were a lot of squirrels out, probably thinking spring is right around the corner. It has been such a mild December that I think the next three months of winter will be much more tolerable. We went from Lookout Park back over to Coit Park and took the small path that runs through the park. There were a lot of people sitting on benches and just enjoying the sun. Then it was home again.

for unto us....

Levi's first Christmas and a long weekend of family and friends.

green vs grey

My neighbor/friend Andy I went out for beers last night down at Founders. For most of it we were joined by a friend who is an economic development guru in GR. It was really great to hang out in the neighborhood joint and talk neighborhood stuff! Basically, Spectrum Health is pissing a lot of people off because of their blatant disregard for all things pedestrian. St Mary's just announced their plans to have a "green" health campus - removing parking lots, adding back in greenspace, LEED certified buildings, etc. As our friend stated about halfway through the pitcher last night, "It's green vs. grey". When you look at the monoliths that Spectrum is creating with a major 5 lane road and freeway running through it, you have to wonder where they are getting their ideas from. You would think by this time in America's design history, that the context of a building would matter. Instead, they continue to build inaccessible buildings with no street-life - it doesn't exactly inspire one to think about health and well-being. So good job St. Mary's, keep it up, in the end it will come around and you will be grateful for making a stand now.

Also, a lot of credit goes to Peter Wege who set some standards as to what he would give money to in terms of environmental design. Yet another novel idea, a philanthropists values are reflected in the architecture. You can look at any major building project and see what the major donors care about. So what do the Spectrum donors value if you look at the design? People and Health don't exactly come to mind.

Well, Christmas is almost here. I have a half day tomorrow and then a couple days to enjoy family and friends. We are heading up to Nora's Dad's place tomorrow, my family on Saturday and then the rest of Nora's family on Monday - BUSY! This is one of my favorite times of year if I can keep my sanity and stamina going. I find myself needing to retreat a little each day to recharge the social battery. This will also be the week to reflect back on the great year of 2006.

joel's wedding

I'm out in Washington for a couple days attending an old highschool and college friend's wedding. The wedding was last night here in Lynden, WA with a great service at 3rd church and a reception following at a school. Sitting there in 3rd was really surreal. I leaned over to mom about half way through the service and said, "I think this what heaven is going to be like, a lot of people you sort of recognize and are glad to see, but you're not really sure who they are or why." I had a great time seeing old friends, most of whom I haven't seen in 12-15 years, sort of a mini high-school reunion. Anyway, I'll post more when I have a bit more time.

inspirational change agents

Here is my new favorite website.

TED: Technology, Entertainment, Design

Great site to be inspired and challenged to make the world a better place. I may start doing some linking and reflecting via this blog on some of the different lectures. You can also subscribe to the video podcast through iTunes.

foundational

The foundations for Newberry Place should start going in this week. We are using a Superior Wall System, so the side walls and ceiling go in first, with the basement slab getting poured last. The Shea House is the first to start, with Nora and my building pulling up the rear. First move-ins should be in mid-summer with our own tentative move-in of October. This is great because it gives us a little more time to figure out what we are going to do with our house. Exciting stuff!

christmas party

Last night Nora and I went to the Lighthouse Communities Christmas party. As some of you know, about 5 years ago I started working for City Vision, a sister organization of Lighthouse. Lighthouse has been really generous both to City Vision and to me personally over the past few years. When City Vision went "virtual" last year, Lighthouse allowed me to keep a desk in the corner for my computer and some files. This has really been great for me because I value the comrodery and friendship of all of the Lighthouse staff.

At the party, all the staff was encouraged to bring dishes from their heritage or tradition. We ate like kings and queens and were able to partake in foods from Egypt, Dutch/Indonesia, Urban America, Venezuala and Mexico (we also sampled tequila from Mexico). What an amazing feast. Lighthouse has done such a fantastic job of living out its values of acceptance and innovation be hiring such a qualified and diverse staff. And I know this has made everyone's lives richer.

During the meal, Dave and Donna got a call from their son, Don, who is currently stationed in Iraq. You can read more about Dave's experience at his blog (linked on the right). Two soldiers of Don's unit were shot yesterday. Dave and Donna were obviously shaken up by this event last night, but they also have to live with uncertainty and worry every day that Don is over there. A report I read last week says that we have now been in Iraq longer than our entire engagement in WWII. As Dave and Donna shared the news I became both saddened and furious, not that we are still in Iraq, but that some of us are being asked to carry this burden of war while others are not made to sacrifice. My friend Earl and I were talking on the street the other day in the Madison neighborhood (80%+ black) and we see military recruiters combing the streets. I work at the Community College and daily see recruiters positioned in the hallways. Are these same recruiters setting up shop at our private colleges? Have our taxes gone up to support this war effort? Have I ever been asked by my government to do anything in support of this war other than to buy more stuff to keep the economy on track?

groundbreaking photos

giving thanks

I woke up this morning, the day after Thanksgiving, thinking, "you know, I probably don't need to eat anything today..." Moderation has never been one of my attributes. I find something that I like and then go way overboard - usually trying to get everyone around me to do the same so that I don't look so crazy. Examples of such behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

Settlers of Catan - found the game, played it about 10 times the first night, proceeded to call all my friends and tell them how great it was, had a friend who I hadn't seen in 2 years come over and play Catan at 1am, bought every expansion and upgrade

HALO - Jon bought and xbox and told me how great the game Halo was. I played it and immediately struck a deal with Nora that if I lost 10 lbs I could get one. Did so. We had about 1 year where we played Halo non-stop - again mostly at 1am.

Podcasts - I got and Ipod a couple years ago so that I would have a running partner. I immediately got into podcasting - again wrangling multiple friends into the obsession. For a couple months people accused me of have earbuds surgically implanted in my ears.

(Unfortunately, my brother and Marty tend to get the brunt of my persuasive techniques)

Anyway, this endearing quality usually more prominently presents itself during the Holidays for a variety of reasons. First, the Holidays are about extravagance and excess. Too much food, too much drink, too many presents. Second, there are people around that typically will indulge some of the obsession. Third, there is time off from work that needs to be filled with some new activity. It would be wasteful or sloth to leave that time unused, idle hands and all....

So on Thanksgiving, I ate to much, played too many games, drank too much, watched too much T.V., spent too much time with my son, and enjoyed my family way too much... wait.... that sounds pretty good. That sounds like the kind of obsession I want to drive into the ground. I think I'm getting hungry...

loan

Today we signed our loan to begin construction on Newberry Place. UNBELIEVABLE! Foundations should start to go in the next couple weeks.

apple cider

As a quick break from cohousing madness, we visited Robinettes to get some apple cider and take a hay ride. We had all the cohousers over to our place to sign purchase agreements, the mood was festive and full of stress. Thankfully, we have the needed paperwork so that we can get to the bank on Monday and try to close on the loan. I'll post as soon as we know more.