Asheville Receives Grant for Weed & Seed Initiative

A grant award from the Department of Justice will extend the City of Asheville’s West Riverside Operation Weed & Seed (WROWS) initiative and allow residents, law enforcement agencies, the city and local non-profit organizations to continue their efforts to improve the quality of life experienced by members of the West Riverside Community.

WROWS strives to improve quality of life comprehensively by “weeding” out harmful elements in a community like drug trafficking and violence while “seeding” the community with positive support like job training, youth programs and neighborhood restoration projects.

The $200,000 grant
marks the second year of funding for the WROWS initiative, and will be
used to further the efforts that were initiated in the first year of
the project.

Since the Asheville Police Department began concentrated Weed &
Seed patrols in February 2007, 95 arrests for illegal drugs, weapons
charges, outstanding warrants and other offences have been made.
Relationships between police officers and residents have been
strengthened through community projects such as Crime Prevention
Through Environmental Design trainings and community events such as
block parties and neighborhood beautification days.

Community policing activities bridge the gap between the “weeding” and “seeding” components of the initiative.
As part of the “seeding” effort, ten local organizations received
sub-grants to bring youth programs, health programs, parent support
groups, money management classes, home ownership classes, neighborhood
beautification projects and small business development classes to the
West Riverside area.

In July 2007, members of the WROWS Steering Committee worked together
with the faith-based organization, World Changers, to bring resources
and manpower to do emergency repairs on homes and community centers
within the West Riverside area.

All of these efforts will continue in year two of the initiative.
Additionally, there will be an emphasis on reducing gun violence and
gun violence education.

For more information or to get involved in the WROWS project, contact
Dawa Hitch, Weed & Seed Site Coordinator, at 828-258-2813 or
[email protected].