Weed & Seed important to rebuilding process

What is Weed & Seed? I had a chance to go to two nights of training.

I decided to go, with low expectations. Started out with introductions. Why were there so many organizations - police, correctional officers, neighborhood representatives, city manager's office, U.S. Attorney's Office, Linn County Substance Abuse and others?

As the meeting went on, the explanation of Weed & Seed became clearer. It is the learning tool of how to use the local law enforcement with information provided by the neighbors to weed out law breakers.

The seed part was to learn how to get the neighbors involved. To plant a positive attitude toward a goal of a neighborhood that prospers and builds on help toward those less fortunate.

Also to build on developing an area for youth in the communities to grow up with a positive outlook on life.

After the first meeting, I realized it was imperative to go to the second one to get all the info I could to bring back to my neighbors. I learned how to start getting the neighborhood moving forward after our flood. I live on the northwest side where we have lost so much. With the help of Weed & Seed, there is hope that we can rebuild to what we had before the flood and possibly better.

Gary Stansberry

Cedar Rapids