Spring Forward Indiegogo Campaign, Show Some Skin: Be Bold, Lots of Hope fundraiser and more NRC News! Love what we do? Click here to donate to Neighborhood Resources Corp. now, and support your South Bend neighborhoods. Follow Us On Twitter Friend Us On Facebook Forward To A Friend Neighborhood Resources Corp. has launched its indiegogo campaign for Spring Forward , a "public art meets abandoned properties" project that's been getting national attention. This is a communitywide effort to deal with vacant and abandoned properties, and the crowdfunding platform invites the community to support it! Mayor Pete said it best in a recent Tribune story about Spring Forward: "The challenge to deal with vacant houses is a call to everyone in the community to help, not just government." So please support the campaign at the link here , and download a Spring Forward brochure here

As South Bend explores some changes to animal control policies, the public is invited to a public forum on the topic. "Pets or Property: South Bend's Changing Laws Governing Pet Ownership" begins at 6 p.m. February 26 at Weikamp Hall, Room 1001, on the IU South Bend campus. Professor Elizabeth Bennion of the American Democracy Project will serve as host, with panelists includingSouth Bend Common Council member Valerie Schey, Pet Refuge president Pam Comer, and Matt Harmon and Brad Block of South Bend Animal Control. For information call Elizabeth at 574.520.4128 or Valerie at 574.210.9623.

Come see the Show Some Skin: Be Bold event at 7 p.m. on February 27 and 28 on the Decio Main Stage at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $3, and proceeds benefit the South Bend community in two ways. They'll go to supporting the NRC's work in South Bend neighborhoods, and Robinson Community Learning Center's Shakespeare Program. More important, though, are the conversations about diversity and our community experience that are sparked by the presenters. You can learn more on the Facebook page here . There's ticketing and other information at this website , and a YouTube video available here South Bend Things To Do and See



******** Feb. 20 The public is invited to a forum on the city's Renaissance District, near and south of Four Winds Fields at Stanley Coveleski Stadium, at 4 p.m. Hear updates and share ideas at the Union Station Technology Center, with more event info

Feb. 20 Artist and writer Faith Ringgold plans a book signing at 7 p.m. at the Annenenberg Auditorium, Snite Museum of Art on the University of Notre Dame campus. The talk on her internationally recognized career, which spans 60 years, is free and open to the public. Free parking available in the B1 lot south of the football stadium. The public is invited to a forum on the city's Renaissance District, near and south of Four Winds Fields at Stanley Coveleski Stadium, at 4 p.m. Hear updates and share ideas at the Union Station Technology Center, with more event info here. Artist and writer Faith Ringgold plans a book signing at 7 p.m. at the Annenenberg Auditorium, Snite Museum of Art on the University of Notre Dame campus. The talk on her internationally recognized career, which spans 60 years, is free and open to the public. Free parking available in the B1 lot south of the football stadium. Feb. 21 Celebrate Lincoln's Birthday at the Studebaker Museum's "Drinkin' With Lincoln" event, featuring authentic 19th- and 20th-century cocktails, along with live music, hors d'oeurves and some cool vintage auto surprises. The museum is home to one of the world's largest presidential carriage collections, and all galleries will be open. Tickets are $25, or $20 for mentioning Facebook and/or already being a member. Check out more info at the link

Feb. 23 "Some Change is Inevitable: A Conversation About Revitalization and Gentrification in South Bend Neighborhoods" begins at 5 p.m., following a 2:30 p.m. matinee presentation of "Clybourne Park" at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at the University of Notre Dame. Learn more about the play, performance dates and tickets, at the link Celebrate Lincoln's Birthday at the Studebaker Museum's "Drinkin' With Lincoln" event, featuring authentic 19th- and 20th-century cocktails, along with live music, hors d'oeurves and some cool vintage auto surprises. The museum is home to one of the world's largest presidential carriage collections, and all galleries will be open. Tickets are $25, or $20 for mentioning Facebook and/or already being a member. Check out more info at the link here "Some Change is Inevitable: A Conversation About Revitalization and Gentrification in South Bend Neighborhoods" begins at 5 p.m., following a 2:30 p.m. matinee presentation of "Clybourne Park" at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center at the University of Notre Dame. Learn more about the play, performance dates and tickets, at the link here . The panel discussion following the Sunday matinee is free. The event is one of many on the February calendar focused on diversity and the African-American community in South Bend. For a list of Notre Dame offerings, check the link here . You may also check the link to the IU South Bend Civil Rights Heritage Center on Facebook for more cultural events and dialogue opportunities.

Feb. 24 Yes, this is the rescheduled meeting! South Bend Science Cafe plans its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. at Chicory Cafe, 105 E. Jefferson Blvd. Learn more about sleep science, or about the event on Facebook

Feb. 24 South Bend Common Council meets at 7 p.m. on the 4th Floor of the County City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. For complete committee meeting information and agenda items, check the link

Feb. 25 The Near Westside Neighborhood Organization plans its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's Memorial United Methodist Church, at West Colfax and LaPorte avenues. For a complete list of South Bend neighborhood meeting times and locations, check the NRC website

Feb. 26 The Purple Porch Food Co-op plans to open its new store, 123 N. Hill St., to the public at 7 a.m. with the smiling face of new employee and longtime supporter Myles Robertson. The store is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with the usual market hours on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Get more details on the Facebook page

Feb. 28 Lots of Hope, a nonprofit launched by Nancy Tetzlaff in the Near Northwest Neighborhood, plans a Happy Hour at the High Rise fundraiser from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Chase Tower, 211 West Washington Street. Lots of Hope believes that every vacant lot has the potential to become a thing of purpose and beauty. To learn more, see the Lots of Hope website . There's also a Science Cafe special event on Saturday, February 22, for young adults at 3 p.m. at Chicory Cafe focused on science fiction literature. You can learn more about that event here South Bend Common Council meets at 7 p.m. on the 4th Floor of the County City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. For complete committee meeting information and agenda items, check the link here The Near Westside Neighborhood Organization plans its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's Memorial United Methodist Church, at West Colfax and LaPorte avenues. For a complete list of South Bend neighborhood meeting times and locations, check the NRC website here The Purple Porch Food Co-op plans to open its new store, 123 N. Hill St., to the public at 7 a.m. with the smiling face of new employee and longtime supporter Myles Robertson. The store is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with the usual market hours on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Get more details on the Facebook page here . Congratulations from NRC on this long-awaited day!Lots of Hope, a nonprofit launched by Nancy Tetzlaff in the Near Northwest Neighborhood, plans a Happy Hour at the High Rise fundraiser from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Chase Tower, 211 West Washington Street. Lots of Hope believes that every vacant lot has the potential to become a thing of purpose and beauty. To learn more, see the Lots of Hope website here

March 3 Mark your calendars for some upcoming opportunities for public input on South Bend Parks and Recreation's master plan. There are two sessions each day on March 3 and March 4 at locations around town -- watch for more information next week!

******** Michiana's Rising Star is taking applications for the 2014 competition, hosted by WNIT-TV. Last year, spoken-word artist Dara Marquez was chosen as winner from among more than 125 contestants. If you or someone you know would like to enter the Rising Star competition, please visit the WNIT link here to apply and learn more. It's free and open to the public.





********

Last week, local artist Chris Stackowicz had the chance to describe the role of artists in placemaking and building community in a Viewpoint letter to the South Bend Tribune. The NRC has actively embraced the ideas and opportunities made possible by community artists and projects, and NRC is happy to partner with Chris and Sammie Stackowicz on the Spring Forward Project. Here we'll share a few excerpts from Chris' letter:



"Artists have the unique ability to transform a community -- the 950 unique volunteers working on the bridge this past summer are a testament to this vision. ... Public art projects like ours have the ability to create a variety of learning opportunities from planning, designing, coordinating, organizing and, most importantly, as a vehicle for some to learn art outside of traditional models. ...



Because of our emphasis on visual revitalization, I have paired up with the Neighborhood Resources Corp. and created the "Spring Forward" initiative, modeled after a similar project in Cincinnati. The simplicity of the project is amazing. We will have painters from across the city, schoolchildren to professionals, paint plywood surfaces to appear as doors and windows on already boarded up vacant and abandoned homes. This is at no cost to the city and the sponsor's funds go directly back to the artists, the local neighborhood associations, materials and to the NRC. The homes that have been chosen for our project are ones not on the demolition list and not quite able to be sold. They exist in that gray area, too expensive to tear down yet not quite permissible to rehab. ...



For example, if you take the area around Muessel Primary Center, there are about 27 vacant and abandoned homes that fulfill these criteria. That means that every day these children walk to school, they slowly become more accepting of boarded up homes. We can change that vision. Let's give these kids the chance to see how a true community effort is created and turn these vacant houses back into homes. These beautification projects foster creative community investments. Artists are given opportunities outside of the gallery to engage in something bigger than what their own hand creates."



So please support the campaign at the link here , and download a Spring Forward brochure here ! ********

City of South Bend SBHIP program: Eligible South Bend homeowners may receive certain approved home repairs -- such as roof, furnace and electrical -- through the South Bend Home Improvement Program grant program. Exterior repairs that improve neighborhood appearance also may be eligible. For more details call 574.235.9660 or check the city website

City of South Bend Homebuyer Assistance: South Bend offers two programs for first-time homebuyer assistance: The Community Homebuyers Corp. grant offers up to $19,000 to assist with the purchase of a home. The Reward program offers $1,000 to a potential homeowner who takes credit and housing counseling classes, and it may be used toward down payment or closing costs. Details available at the City of South Bend website