Gary 1st District City Councilwoman Rebecca Wyatt hosted an "On the Table" breakfast in Miller
Tell me your ideas for community improvement
Contributed By:The 411 News
Knight Foundation's "On the Table" starts problem solving with a meal
Maybe Griffith can start up a movie night and billiards contests for kids and teens.
Maybe Miller can expand its neighborhood beautification projects to Aetna and nearby communities.
They’ll know after surveys are compiled from the 1000-plus residents in over 100 towns and cities across Lake County who shared a meal and ideas about ways to make their communities better.
Like in Griffith and Miller on Tuesday, September 26, breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings across Lake County were sponsored by the James L. and John S. Knight Foundation’s “On the Table” initiative. The foundation’s premise is simple: Bring residents together over a meal to encourage conversations that will lead to community problem solving. Ten U.S. cities are participating in the initiative.
Lake County’s Legacy Foundation, a Knight Foundation partner, spread the conversations throughout the county. And the Legacy Foundation will award ten $1,000 Community Action Awards to support the implementation of ideas coming out of “On the Table” conversations.
Legacy Foundation President Carolyn Saxton said, “The objective of “On the Table” is to gather 6 to 8 folks around a table on one specific day to share ideas on challenges and improvements for Lake County. Opinions and suggestions matter to us and will help guide Legacy’s future direction.”
Conversations were hosted by youth, non-profits, local businesses and government agencies.
In Miller, Gary’s First District Councilwoman Rebecca Wyatt hosted breakfast at the Captain’s House restaurant. In Griffith, Police Chief Greg Mance hosted lunch at Park West Apartments (formerly Mansards) south club house.
Conversations started with each community’s strong points. Miller residents are proud of their volunteer spirit, seen in beach clean-up and neighborhood beautification projects. Its lakefront location is a source of pride. One resident said her family sought out Miller as a vacation or second home, but now make it their home year round.
Spreading that spirit of unity to neighboring communities would make Gary stronger, residents said.
In Griffith, Park West residents applauded an increased police presence and quick response time to calls. They know their officers by name and can depend upon them. The department is proud of its Police Explorers program, a version of the Boy Scouts.
To make their community stronger, residents said more activities are needed for children and for youth in the apartment complex.
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with local roots. It invests in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. The Post-Tribune was once owned by the brothers.
Story Posted:09/28/2017
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