04-17-2007 5 th Annual Adopt-a-Block Kick-off

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the near northwest that it has inspired other South Bend residents to work to implement Adopt-A-Block in their neighborhood. As in past years we will meet the NNN offices (corner of California and Portage) at 8:00 a.m. to eat a light breakfast, receive safety instructions and take the annual Adopt- a-Block picture. Yet this year there will be a wonderful addition to the Adopt-a-Block event, the brief gathering entitled "Celebrating New Life in the Neighborhood" This will be a more deliberate way of sending everyone to their blocks after reflecting on what we cherish about our neighborhood. It is easy to feel weighed down by undesirable challenges like litter in the streets, graffiti, and vacant properties, but when we come together as a community we remember the small acts of kindness, the gift of neighborliness and the physical signs of new life that have appeared. The Adopt-A-Block program was developed by near northwest neighbors in collaboration with the City of South Bend's Department of Code Enforcement, and has proven to be very successful over the past 4 years. The program gained national recognition last year, after the City's Department of Code Enforcement received the award for Outstanding Achievement in Code Enforcement Techniques from the American Association of Code Enforcement. The development and success of this program proves that neighbor involvement can make a difference. Please plan on joining us at "Celebrating New Life in the Neighborhood" and the Adopt-a-Block Kick-off, where in addition to sharing good food, songs and words of inspiration, we plan to announce the winner of the "Most New Captains Contest." This community gathering is about remembering why we chose to live in the near northwest area and resurrecting the joy we felt making that commitment. It is also about surrounding ourselves with a clean beautiful neighborhood to convey the beauty in our spirit