Title: Neighborhood Assessment and Mapping

Facilitator(s): Philadelphia Campus faculty,Debi and Timothy Peterson, with students from Messiah College's Philadelphia Campus working in conjunction with Project H.O.M.E.



Purpose: Project H.O.M.E., an organization that works "to empower persons to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to address structural causes of poverty, and to enable all of us to attain our fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society" is working in cooperation with the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone, and the City of Philadelphia's Neighborhood Transformation Intiative to administer Philadelphia's Targeted Basic Systems and Repair Program. This program provides funds to assist homeowners in making physical repairs and improvements to their dwellings.

Description: From October to December of 2003, students and faculty at Messiah College's Philadelphia Campus collaborated withProject H.O.M.E. to collect data about the Cecil B. Moore Homeownership Zone located in Lower North Central Philadelphia. Faculty trained students to use a PDA and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) equipment and then accompanied groups of students as they combed the Cecil B. Moore neighborhood assessing the conditions of streets, sidewalks, lighting, land as well as building fascades, roofs, and windows. Following data collection, a GIS program generated three maps identifying blocks that potentially may meet requirements to receive funds for repairs.

Outcomes: The following maps demonstrate outcomes of the information students gathered in the Cecil B. Moore Home Ownership Zone.
Cecil B. Moore Neighborhood and Girard College Neighborhood
These two areas depict the neighborhood of Cecil B. Moore. The northern boundary of this neighborhood is less than four blocks away from Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus. The Cecil B. Moore Service Corporation has offered over 45 years of service and support for this neighborhood under the direction of board chairperson Geneva H. Hill. Ms. Hill came to Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus two times this year(2003-2004) to meet with students, share a few stories, answer many student questions and offer some sage advice for us all as we seek to be contributors to our neighbors to the south.

Village of the Arts and Humanities Neighborhood
The Village of Arts and Humanities is a community-based arts, education, and neighborhood development organization. Through arts-based programs and activities, they work with residents to reclaim abandoned space and rebuild a sense of hope and possibility in their neighborhoods. Youth and adults work together to turn garbage-strewn vacant lots to into vibrant art parks bursting with beauty and greenery. Over the past five years, several Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus students have spent time each semester working at The Village’s after-school program, getting to know some amazing new friends, young and old. The southern edges of this neighborhood are about 6 blocks from Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus so the residents are our neighbors to the north!