Reverend Linnette C Williamson Memorial Park Association

AS A NONSECTARIAN, NONPROFIT, HARLEM LAND TRUST, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERSHIP CREATED, PROTECT, AND USE OUR FOUR PUBLIC, OPEN SPACES TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF HARLEM. WE STEWARD AS TRUSTEES OUR 3 VEST-POCKET PARKS AND COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND 1 URBAN MEADOW PLAYGROUND. THEY HELP TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE OF DIVERSE AGES, CULTURES, GENDERS, INCOMES, RACES, RELIGIONS, SEXUAL ORIENTATIONS, ETC. OUR GROUP GROWS THE IDEA AND PRACTICE OF "COMMUNITY" WITH PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS AND ALL THOSE WISHING TO BECOME INVOLVED IN OUR VOLUNTEER-DRIVEN ORGANIZATION.

OPERATION OF LAND TRUST TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES: AS ONE OF THE FEW INNER-CITY, URBAN LAND TRUSTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED STATES, OUR NONSECTARIAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS A VERY PRACTICAL TOOL. IT IS TO BE USED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERSHIP TO HELP SOLVE LOCAL PROBLEMS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, SENIORS, AND FAMILIES (INCLUDING SINGLE AND MULTI-MEMBER FAMILY UNITS). THE COMMUNITY SERVICES WE OFFER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE SINCE BEING FOUNDED IN 1994 WITHOUT OUR NONPROFIT OPERATING AS A FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION. THIS REQUIRES RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP, AN ACTIVE AND DEDICATED BOARD AND MEMBERSHIP TREATING EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY, FINANCIAL VIABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRUST AND SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

OPERATION OF LAND TRUST TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES: AS ONE OF THE FEW INNER-CITY, URBAN LAND TRUSTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED STATES, OUR NONSECTARIAN, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS A VERY PRACTICAL TOOL. IT IS TO BE USED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND MEMBERSHIP TO HELP SOLVE LOCAL PROBLEMS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE FOR CHILDREN, ADULTS, SENIORS, AND FAMILIES (INCLUDING SINGLE AND MULTI-MEMBER FAMILY UNITS). THE COMMUNITY SERVICES WE OFFER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE SINCE BEING FOUNDED IN 1994 WITHOUT OUR NONPROFIT OPERATING AS A FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION. THIS REQUIRES RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP, AN ACTIVE AND DEDICATED BOARD AND MEMBERSHIP TREATING EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY, FINANCIAL VIABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, AND TRUST AND SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC, OPEN SPACES: AS ONE OF THE FEW URBAN LAND TRUSTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED STATES, THE REV. WILLIAMSON PARK ASSOCIATION BUILT, AND NOW PRESERVES AND PROTECTS, FOUR (4) PUBLIC, OPEN SPACE PROPERTIES. WE OPERATE ON THESE PROPERTIES AN AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL PROGRAM FOR 50+ FAMILIES TO BE BIG-CITY FARMERS. OUR PROPERTIES INCLUDE THREE VEST-POCKET PARKS (UNITY PARK, REV. LINNETTE C. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL PARK, AND THE EDWARD P. BOWMAN PARK) AND THE HARLEM VILLAGE GREEN "URBAN MEADOW" CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND. THE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED AT 53-57 AND 65 WEST 128TH STREET; AND 52 AND 54 WEST 129TH STREET BETWEEN 5TH AND LENOX AVENUES IN THE NORTHERN MANHATTAN COMMUNITY OF HARLEM.

CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC, OPEN SPACES: AS ONE OF THE FEW URBAN LAND TRUSTS IN NEW YORK CITY AND THE UNITED STATES, THE REV. WILLIAMSON PARK ASSOCIATION BUILT, AND NOW PRESERVES AND PROTECTS, FOUR (4) PUBLIC, OPEN SPACE PROPERTIES. WE OPERATE ON THESE PROPERTIES AN AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL PROGRAM FOR 50+ FAMILIES TO BE BIG-CITY FARMERS. OUR PROPERTIES INCLUDE THREE VEST-POCKET PARKS (UNITY PARK, REV. LINNETTE C. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL PARK, AND THE EDWARD P. BOWMAN PARK) AND THE HARLEM VILLAGE GREEN "URBAN MEADOW" CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND. THE PROPERTIES ARE LOCATED AT 53-57 AND 65 WEST 128TH STREET; AND 52 AND 54 WEST 129TH STREET BETWEEN 5TH AND LENOX AVENUES IN THE NORTHERN MANHATTAN COMMUNITY OF HARLEM.

HOMELESS FAMILIES IN HARLEM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER: WE SUPPORTED FAMILIES LIVING IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IN CENTRAL HARLEM. SAFE HORIZON, "THE LARGEST VICTIM SERVICES NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES," PROVIDED SERVICES IN THE SHELTER "TO VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND VIOLENT CRIME." THE REV. WILLIAMSON PARK ASSOCIATION SUPPLEMENTED THE SHELTER SERVICES BY ASSIGNING A SPENDING BUDGET FOR THE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY SHOPPED IN A LOCAL DEPARTMENT STORE AND PLACED THE ITEMS SELECTED ON LAYAWAY FOR OUR NONPROFIT TO COVER THE COST THANKS TO DONATIONS FROM OUR GENEROUS FUNDERS. THE RANGE AND QUANTITY OF MERCHANDISE CHOSEN BY THE FAMILIES IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES. OUR HOMELESS SERVICES PROGRAM SERVED 48 FAMILIES: 48 SINGLE PARENTS AND 114 CHILDREN. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE ITEMS SELECTED BY THE PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ITEMS PURCHASED FOR THE SHELTER FAMILIES: 451 PAIRS OF SOCKS; 180 BLOUSES, SHIRTS, SWEATERS, SWEATSHIRTS, AND T-SHIRTS; 418 UNDERWEAR GARMENTS; 162 JOGGING OUTFITS, LEGGINGS, PANTS, SHORTS, AND SLACKS; 108 COATS, HOODIES, JACKETS, AND WINDBREAKERS; 164 COOKING EQUIPMENT, BOWLS, PLATES, AND UTENSILS (EACH FAMILY WITHIN THE SHELTER LIVES IN A SEPARATE APARTMENT CONTAINING KITCHEN, BEDROOMS, BATH, ETC.); 98 PAIRS OF SHOES; AND 84 BEDDING/LINENS, BLANKETS, PILLOWS, TOWELS, AND WASH CLOTHS. WE ARE ALSO FINANCING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY ROOM FOR ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER.

HOMELESS FAMILIES IN HARLEM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER: WE SUPPORTED FAMILIES LIVING IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IN CENTRAL HARLEM. SAFE HORIZON, "THE LARGEST VICTIM SERVICES NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES," PROVIDED SERVICES IN THE SHELTER "TO VICTIMS OF ABUSE AND VIOLENT CRIME." THE REV. WILLIAMSON PARK ASSOCIATION SUPPLEMENTED THE SHELTER SERVICES BY ASSIGNING A SPENDING BUDGET FOR THE LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF FAMILY MEMBERS. THEY SHOPPED IN A LOCAL DEPARTMENT STORE AND PLACED THE ITEMS SELECTED ON LAYAWAY FOR OUR NONPROFIT TO COVER THE COST THANKS TO DONATIONS FROM OUR GENEROUS FUNDERS. THE RANGE AND QUANTITY OF MERCHANDISE CHOSEN BY THE FAMILIES IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES. OUR HOMELESS SERVICES PROGRAM SERVED 48 FAMILIES: 48 SINGLE PARENTS AND 114 CHILDREN. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE ITEMS SELECTED BY THE PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ITEMS PURCHASED FOR THE SHELTER FAMILIES: 451 PAIRS OF SOCKS; 180 BLOUSES, SHIRTS, SWEATERS, SWEATSHIRTS, AND T-SHIRTS; 418 UNDERWEAR GARMENTS; 162 JOGGING OUTFITS, LEGGINGS, PANTS, SHORTS, AND SLACKS; 108 COATS, HOODIES, JACKETS, AND WINDBREAKERS; 164 COOKING EQUIPMENT, BOWLS, PLATES, AND UTENSILS (EACH FAMILY WITHIN THE SHELTER LIVES IN A SEPARATE APARTMENT CONTAINING KITCHEN, BEDROOMS, BATH, ETC.); 98 PAIRS OF SHOES; AND 84 BEDDING/LINENS, BLANKETS, PILLOWS, TOWELS, AND WASH CLOTHS. WE ARE ALSO FINANCING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY ROOM FOR ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER.