Month: April 2021

Community Center in Ward 1

One thing that could really improve the quality of life in Ward 1 would be to build a community center. A big issue that the residents of Ward 1 seem to be facing is a lack of social capital exacerbated by the income inequality in the area. In terms of neighborliness residents rated Ward 1 as “Isolated and Unavailable”. As it currently stands, the only real place that residents can gather is at the golf course or country club. While this does seem to be a good place to get to know your neighbors and foster social capital, it is only really accessible to the wealthier residents. Because Ward 1 is home to some of the richest and poorest people in Ralston, it is important to have a space where everyone can gather without any membership fees. This way, money is not a barrier to people feeling like they are a part of the community. A community center would not do anything to address the income inequality that is so prevalent in Ward 1, but it would help to close the divide between the two groups in Ward 1 and create a real sense of community between all of the residents. Every other thing about Ralston gives the impression that this is a place where people care about inclusion and diversity. This would help to make sure that these ideals are more of a reality in Ward 1. The community center would not have to be particularly big or elaborate: it would just need to be a place where people living in Ward 1 can spend time together as a community.wealthier residents. Because Ward 1 is home to some of the richest and poorest people in Ralston, it is important to have a space where everyone can gather without any membership fees. This way, money is not a barrier to people feeling like they are a part of the community. A community center would not do anything to address the income inequality that is so prevalent in Ward 1, but it would help to close the divide between the two groups in Ward 1 and create a real sense of community between all of the residents. Every other thing about Ralston gives the impression that this is a place where people care about inclusion and diversity. This would help to make sure that these ideals are more of a reality in Ward 1. The community center would not have to be particularly big or elaborate: it would just need to be a place where people living in Ward 1 can spend time together as a community.

The Sabrina Chesterton Adventurer’s League

The Sabrina Chesterton Adventurer’s League is a nonprofit using the famous ballooneer’s house (with a model balloon attached to the front) as a base. It is dedicated to helping girls & young women break into traditional male dominated fields such as programming, law, politics, etc. It does this mainly by helping them develop a plan to gain the qualifications & portfolio to be the best candidate, as well as by networking to help them develop social capital & get into programs to set them on the right track.

Infrastructure Around Canal Gardens

My contribution would be to improve the infrastructure around the Canal Gardens affordable housing area. It doesn’t need to be infrastructure the houses specifically, and especially if that makes the cost of the houses go up for those living there. I think that improving public infrastructure to give the Canal Gardens area things similar to the Ralston Country Club area would be a good idea. If a good enough job is done, the affluent people may even be willing to stay around that area.In addition, I would like to have Canal Gardens host more events. All of Ralston would be encouraged to visit the Canal Gardens area and this could allow for the residents of Ralston to meet some new faces. The feedback would most likely be met with higher scores in the Ward Vitality section because of the events, and higher scores in the Ward Neighborliness section because of the infrastructure.

Background: Ward 1 of Ralston is considered the worst place in Ralston to live according to most of its residents. The residents gave the Ward Vitality a low score of 2/4, “Not Much Happens”. They gave the Ward Neighborliness an even lower score of 1/4, “Isolated and Unavailable”. To put it simply, Ralston’s Ward 1 is a contact zone because cultures clash there in very asymmetrical relations of power. It is the place where the richest and poorest of Ralston residents are expected to coexist.Here’s an excerpt from the structural look at Ralston: “Economic disparity is most glaring in this sharply divided ward, and it’s most notable in the housing sector. An enclave of large homes rings the golf course, properties belonging to some of the wealthiest and most established families in the city. Across the bridge road, the Canal Gardens affordable housing development is home to city residents who earn less, on average, than residents in any other part of the city.” The ward has the Ralston Country Club, and an affluent old neighborhood stretches around the country club’s golf course. Across the bridge, there is the Canal Gardens affordable housing development. Residents that live here earn less, on average, than those living anywhere else in the city. If the resident score is so low, then one contribution to the Ralston community would have to do with improving Ward 1.

Small Business—Ice Cream Shop

I also live in a small town, there are very few stores, but one that stands out from all of these is Shady Glen, an ice cream and burger place. I think that Ralston could also benefit from a business such as this, it would again create a better community, as well as, open jobs for people, and help their economy.

Change—Built Environment and Public Amenities

Change—Built Environment:I think that Ralston should create an incentive for people not to commit property crimes, this way a safer and closer community is created. This incentive could be created through a harsher set of laws, and repercussions. Overall people should not feel the need to be scared of living here.

Public Amenities: I think there should be more parks or gathering areas, there may be many people that have a desire to create something more within Ralston but need a bit of encouragement. A brand new area could be the thing that would drive people to create engagement within the community. People could also encourage engagement through good causes, such as fixing homelessness, climate change, etcetera.

Community-Connecting Features in Ward 1

If I could make a contribution to the community of Ralston, I would like to add some sort of contact zone in Ward 1. In “A Structural Look at Ralston”, Ward 1 ranks the lowest for both Ward Vitality and Ward Neighborliness. This is likely because of the stark divide between the upper and lower classes in this ward – they are literally separated by a road, with the only sort of social place in the entire ward being the golf course and country club – something that’s only accessible to the wealthier households. I think the easiest way to do this would be by utilizing these existing places. The country club and golf course could put aside certain days of the week or month to be “community days”, where they’re open for everyone in Ralston, not just existing members. Not only would this allow other groups of people to enjoy the amenities offered at these places, but it would give an opportunity for community members from all over Ralston (not just Ward 1) to get together and socialize.Another option that would require more money and resources would be to build a park or a bike path, like the Ralston P3 or Burlington Greenway, in Ward 1. A bike path would probably be more effective, as it would appeal to both the upper and lower classes in the ward – since the upper class already has access to the country club and golf course they likely wouldn’t utilize a park as much and it wouldn’t act as a very good contact zone. On the other hand, a bike path would encourage residents to get out and explore the rest of their ward more. Since it’s something that would be appealing and accessible to both economic classes in Ward 1, it would be an effective contact zone.

Community Garden

My idea for the community of Ralston would be to have a community garden where all the produce for the community was grown. I think this would benefit the community in many ways. First, having a community garden where people can come visit, volunteer, and buy food would create an active contact zone where anyone from the community can interact. It would also be beneficial for the community to be sustainable and only rely on their own land. A large community garden would supply the whole community with fruits and vegetables in the warm months. Lastly, the community garden would keep the community healthy, and the people busy. If the garden was a community project then citizens would come volunteer in the garden, which would give people a sense of community and well-being, and keep the plants alive. Additionally, fresh fruits and vegetables are part of a balanced diet, which keeps the community healthy and happy.

Restaurants and Businesses for the Ward 1 “Ghost Town”

In Ward 1, it is considered the “Ghost Town” according to the structural look on the index provided. Adding restaurants and other places of attraction such as businesses or a park near the waterfront (like Burlington) or hikes or bowling alleys or other attractions would make an impact on that one uncared-for section of the town. This would also bring attention to the town from people surrounding Burlington as food chains or chain restaurants could also be there. This will make the community better as it utilizes the unused space and bring more tourism into the town. Since Ralston is on an island, it makes the competition for restaurants wanting to settle higher and make the town more modern and updated with potential new buildings. Having different wards of town makes the town more unique and potentially more appealing to people. The town already has a great and bonding community but adding more businesses would make it better.

Sports for Children with Disabilities

I would like to propose the making of a non-profit challenger program featuring different sports to play for each season for Ralston. For this non-profit organization, I think that making a challenger program would be a good fit for Ralston, because by looking at Ralston, you can see that the people living here are always willing to help out their neighbors and be involved with the community. This program will benefit children and adults with disabilities in the area, and allow for more social capital, heart and soul attributes, and contact zones to be formed. In doing this, it will allow the community to become for inclusive and accepting to people with disabilities.

The program will be run by volunteers in the community who are willing to help and work with children or athletes ages 4 to 18 with disabilities. Adults with disabilities can also sign up for the program as coaching assistance and help out that way. Volunteers or buddies that want to help have to be at least 13 or in 7th grade to participate, and coaches have to be adults or experienced buddies. All volunteers have to complete the designated training program for the sport at least once before they become a volunteer for that sport offered that season. It will work by forming some kind of governing structure. Coaches will make and enforce rules and run a program, pairing buddies with athletes, and making and going over practice stations. They will also run fundraisers and be in charge of budgeting. Coaches assistance will assist the coaches in practice. Buddies will work one-on-one with the athletes staying with their paired athlete the whole practice and teaching them how to play the sport.

Parents are also involved in the program and can also be in charge of making fundraisers and budgeting but are not allowed to be involved in the practice. The way the program is designed is to have parents relax and enjoy watching their kids play sports.

The program is non-profit, so fundraising will be a big part of the program with auctions, paint nights, social dinners, and other fundraising events. These fundraising activities will pay for uniforms, merchandise, sports equipment, field fees, and team fees. The goal is that no athlete or parent will be paying to be part of a team, for equipment, merchandise, field use, or uniforms. Children with disabilities tend to have high medical bills in response; it will not cost athletes or their parents anything to play.

Parents are also involved in the program and can also be in charge of making fundraisers and budgeting but are not allowed to be involved in the practice. The way the program is designed is to have parents relax and enjoy watching their kids play sports. The program is non-profit, so fundraising will be a big part of the program with auctions, paint nights, social dinners, and other fundraising events. These fundraising activities will pay for uniforms, merchandise, sports equipment, field fees, and team fees. The goal is that no athlete or parent will be paying to be part of a team, for equipment, merchandise, field use, or uniforms. Children with disabilities tend to have high medical bills in response; it will not cost athletes or their parents anything to play.