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Southeast Quality of Life <br />Strategic Neighborhood Action Plan <br />Creating and Reinforcing Linkages with Existing Institutions <br />Institutions often exist in a vacuum from the neighborhood within which it is <br />located. Although the high school is centrally located within the neighborhood <br />and serves many neighborhood residents, it does not depend solely upon the <br />existence of the neighborhood to keep its own doors open. Yet, one of the <br />most important assets within the neighborhood is Riley High School. The <br />Neighborhood must strengthen its relationship both with Riley School and other <br />neighborhood institutions including Studebaker Elementary School, Memorial <br />Hospital Clinic, Boys and Girls Club, banks, and neighborhood business to name <br />a few. These institutions are key neighborhood resources. Establishing and <br />reinforcing these linkages will strengthen the community and increase access <br />to resources to build the capacity of individuals and families. <br />Prevention Measures <br />Creating strategies which prevent not just remediate or treat symptoms requires <br />both identifying the root causes of crime, low self-esteem, and other social ills <br />and also committing to working toward its alleviation over the long term. <br />Prevention has little immediate rewards and success occurs when something <br />fails to occur -- when something was prevented --- rather than when something <br />occurs. <br />Long term capacity depends upon the building resources and neighborhood <br />assets. For example, long term neighborhood capacity depends upon residents <br />accumulating skills toward a degree, residents accumulating funds to buy a <br />home or go to college, or an organization effectively serving its supporters over <br />many years. A major barrier to the building of capacity within low income <br />communities is the lack of future orientation and the institutionalized inability <br />to build assets for the future. <br />Creating a Future Orientation Through Asset Accumulation <br />The accumulation of assets is a difficult concept for many due to their need to <br />see positive results TODAY. Moreover, individuals on public assistance are <br />penalized if they begin to accumulate wealth or assets. The allowance for <br />accumulation of assets is very limited. However, it is crucial for the future <br />success of the neighborhood that residents have a future orientation -- a vision <br />61 <br />