Two years ago, a group of Waimanalo residents had an idea of a community that worked together to solve its problems. Some of the problems were evident: the homelessness, overcrowding and a lack of affordable housing, pollution of our streams and bay, poor communication in the community. And so this small group of residents formed the Waimanalo Community Development Corporation.
Community development is the recognition of our strengths and power, of our own abilities. It is the development of self--as individuals, as neighborhoods, and as a community. As a child develops it improves its skills and learns new ones--ultimately learning to be a self-sustaining individual, capable of working and interacting with others, developing relationships, and being self-motivated to solve its own problems. Community developent is about individuals personally taking responsibility to improve their skills, or learn new ones, and work together to solve the problems of the community. To work togther members of the community need a way to commuicate with each other.
To inform and inspire
The Waimanalo News was started to provide the community with information of the issues that affect the community, so that the community can meet, make decisions, and respond appropriately. It keeps residents abreast of activities at the schools, the district park, the library,the environment, health issues, and about people who are doing interesting things for the community. Articles cover topics such as community-based planning, sustainable communities, and about people in this community and in other comunities who are making a difference--working together to make their community a better place to live.
All of the writers volunteer their time and energy. The Waimanalo News always welcomes new writers and persons with ideas for stories. Each month a paper planning meeting is held to sort out the issues that are hot and who will write about them.
The Waimanalo News was started with a grant from the Hawaii Community Foundation Neighborhood Grants Progam, but now the paper is supported solely by advertising, subscriptions and donations. For example, early this year the Friends of Waimanalo donated a new printer, and other individuals and groups have given donations from $2 to $200.
Watershed stewardship
The natural environment is an important part of why we find Waimanalo such a special place. Over the past two years members of the community have been involved in monitoring the water quality of two of our streams, and performing observations and surveys of the plants and animals in the stream environs. WCDC recently recieved funding to initiate an Ahupua'a Council to continue the stream monitoring and provide education to the community on non-point source polllution. If individuals better understand how their actions affect the quality of the water, it is then in their power to take responsibility and act appropriately.
The council has adopted 1,000 feet of the Kahawai Stream as part of the Mayor's Adopt a Stream program and will have a community clean-up in November. Other activities will be planned to help promote stream and watershed stewardship.
Community Assets
One way to plan for the community is to look at all our problems. Another way is to look at our assets and capitalize on our strengths and resources. The Waimanalo Resource Directory is an effort to catalog the resources available to residents of Waimanalo--shops, services, businesses, nurseries. Anyone who provides a product or a service can be listed in the directory free. Paid advertising will also be available. The Resource Directory will be a special insert in the January 1996 issue of the Waimanalo News and will be mailed to all addresses in Waimanalo.
A Place to live
Overcrowding and homelessness is a problem--and it contributes to other problems like domestic violence, poor health maintenance and substance abuse. WCDC board members and staff are receiving technical assistance to become a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO). This will provide a way for the community to develop homes that are affordable to our low income families and fit the commuity's needs.
An idea is like a seed. If you plant it and nourish it, it will grow into something good and strong, and it will bear fruit. The idea of community development is an idea that is bearing fruit in communities and neighborhoods, villages and cities, around the world. It is the idea that the residents of a community can identify problems, set priorities, plan and implement solutions. It is the idea that a community has the power and the knowledge and the strength to make decisions on what its future will be like.
To find out more about the Waimanalo Community Development Corportaion, or to get involved in any of the projects give us a call at 259-9558, or write to WCDC at PO Box 634, Waimanalo, HI 96795.