Winters can be hard for the citizens of Hamtramck as heating bills come in and those from Asian and Middle Eastern countries struggle with what are, for them, unusually cold temperatures. As the city of Hamtramck fights bankruptcy and debt, individuals struggle to keep their homes warm and their families fed. In the midst of these challenges, there’s joy as kids enjoy snow days off from school, experience Christmas parties and look forward to a new year in hope. In spite of the financial challenges that face individuals in the city, Hamtramck residents demonstrate resilience, and we at Acts 29 reach out to reveal the hope and grace of Jesus Christ.
Hamtramck Community Initiative (HCI) Weed and Seed is a multi-year, federally funded community strategy to improve community and police relationships and reduce violent crime. The idea is to “weed” out crime and “seed” positive proactive programs for community improvement.
WHAT IS ACTS 29 ROLE and HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
Through HCI Weed and Seed, the city of Hamtramck is divided into six Neighborhood Watch areas. Acts 29 members are active in 3 of these Neighborhood Watch areas. Acts 29 members also serve in HCI Weed and Seed as grant writers, steering committee members, neighborhood crime watch leaders and participants, and volunteers in various Weed and Seed neighborhood restoration initiatives. Acts 29 Mission teams add muscle during community-wide Clean Sweep events or other litter and graffiti removal efforts. HCI includes a prisoner re-entry component, helping adults and youth who have been incarcerated successfully manage re-entry into the community. HCI also includes prevention, intervention and treatment for substance abuse clients, and youth leadership development. Acts 29 members are encouraged to lend a helping hand to the efforts of Weed and See as one more avenue for potential community transformation.
AXIS’ lawn Care program worked with the Detroit Rescue Mission to provide employment and job training skills to homeless men and women. The gospel accounts were read and discussed in the truck, its principles of stewardship and integrity were lived out in the field. The heart of the MSHDA lawn care grant was to provide safe passageways for school kids and pedestrians; it had only what it believed enough money to maintain 313 lots. As stewards of resources that ultimately belong to God, and representatives of Jesus Christ we went above and beyond what was expected of us. The lawn care team was able to cut 188 lots beyond what was required of them, and removed enormous amounts of debris and litter that most contractors would have cut over or gone around.
Now that the funding for the lawn care program has ceased, pray for the eternal impact of the things that have been witnessed by neighbors, city officials, homeless, and the Detroit Rescue Mission. Admittedly, we will miss this ministry and the opportunities it offered, but we look forward to what God has in store for AXIS the future.
Block Watch is a strategy of the Hamtramck Community Initiative Weed and Seed to provide neighbors a monthly opportunity to meet with local police and property code enforcement personnel. There are 6 Neighborhood Watch or Block Watch groups in Hamtramck. Each group focuses on crime or problem properties in their vicinity, making officials aware of the problems and working together on solutions.
Block Watch meeting times are listed weekly in the Hamtramck Review, published on Fridays. Select the Print Edition on the website and look for the Block Watch information notices, or call the HCI Weed and Seed office at (313) 281-8150. Block watch maps and registration for email notices are also listed on the HCI web site: www.hamtramckcommunity.org
Block Watch groups welcome the help of Acts 29 volunteers and mission teams to help with
graffiti removal
lot-street-alley clean ups,
reaching out to youth and families in need
repairing homes,
painting alley address signage
community gardening planting, weeding, harvesting
serving as a Drug Education for Youth Mentor
For more information call HCI Site Director Barbara Stachowski (313) 281-8150
To volunteer through Acts 29 please call Sharon at Acts 29 (313) 365-2287
Properties like this invite crime....
Working together we can make the neighborhood safe and clean
When school lets out in June the streets begin to buzz with activity: summer activity. Porches are filled with families trying to escape the heat of non-air-conditioned homes, streets are filled with bikes and little kids crowd the sidewalks playing hopscotch and tag.
Pulaski park has more life than ever this summer. The daytime playtime in the park hosted by Hamtramck Parks and Rec. is up and going. The evening crowd of soccer players are playing. Kids and families are coming to the park as usual to enjoy the new play scapes and the hot summer breezes. But the thing most can’t get over is the brand new “Splash Pad.” A splash pad is a large slab of cement that has plumbing underneath. It sprays fountains of cool water onto children who are running and screaming with delight. One of our staff families lives right down the street and enjoyed watching their own two-year old daughter delight in the watery wonderland not too long ago.
Pulaski Park has really seen some improvements for our community to enjoy.
Grab your brooms, gloves and trash bags and join in a city wide clean up… residents and volunteers gather early and are assigned to a neighborhood watch area to pick up litter and cut back overgrown weeds in the alleys. Clean Sweep takes place mid-May annually.
Polish immigrants, residents of Hamtramck, and southeastern Michigan celebrate “Fat Tuesday” (known locally as Pączki Day) by lining up at the city’s numerous Polish bakeries to purchase pączki. On Pączki Day, several local bars host parties with live entertainment, some starting as early as 7 A.M..(click for more)
Hamtramck Blowout
The Hamtramck Blowout is an annual music festival in Hamtramck. It is said to be the largest festival of its sort in the world. There’s usually over 200 bands there and the festival lasts for 4 days all over bars in the neighborhood.
St. Florian Strawberry Festival
Held annually in the first weekend in May at grounds at St. Florian Church.
Hamtramck Labor Day Festival
Held Labor Day weekend, ending with the Polish Day Parade on Labor Day. Live music on three stages, carnival area, beer, and food tents line a half mile stretch of Jos. Campau from Caniff to Carpenter.
Planet Ant Film & Video Festival in Hamtramck
The festival celebrates independent movies and the people who make them, featuring comedies, dramas, documentaries, animation and music videos.
Winters can be hard for the citizens of Hamtramck as heating bills come in and those from Asian and Middle Eastern countries struggle with what are, for them, unusually cold temperatures. As the city of Hamtramck fights bankruptcy and debt, individuals struggle to keep their homes warm and their families fed. In the midst of these challenges, there’s joy as kids enjoy snow days off from school, experience Christmas parties and look forward to a new year in hope. In spite of the financial challenges that face individuals in the city, Hamtramck residents demonstrate resilience, and we at Acts 29 reach out to reveal the hope and grace of Jesus Christ.
