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ASSOCIATION IS GETTING THINGS DONE. REPORTER: A FEW YEARS AGO, PEOPLE DIDN’T WANT TO TOUCH THIS AREA. THEY DIDN’T RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WERE LONGTIME NEIGHBORS LIVING HERE. REPORTER: NICK SHERIDAN IS ONE OF THOSE LONG TIME NEIGHBORS WHO WANTS TO SEE THIS THE GREATER HARWOOD COMMUNITY IN EAST BALTIMORE THRIVE. SO DOES MARY MOSES. SHE’S BEEN HERE FOR 24 YEARS. >> YOU HAVE TO GET INVOLVED. KEEP YOUR STREETS CLEAN. PICK UP THE TRASH. WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE AND CLEAN. REPORTER: THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION IS DOING JUST THAT. >> EGGPLANT AND PEPPERS. SQUASH, CUCUMBERS. WATERMELON. CARROTS AND BEETS. REPORTER: THEY’VE PUT IN A COMMUNITY GARDEN. IT’S BECOME A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER AND ANYONE HERE IS WELCOME TO WHAT THEY GROW. >> TAKE WHAT YOU WANT, BUT EAT WHAT YOU TAKE. REPORTER: CHRIS JONES SPEARHEADE GETTING 25 TREES PLANTED HERE. >> YOU WALK OUT YOUR DOOR AND SEE GREEN. HERE’S SOMETHING THEY CAN ENJOY TOGETHER. REPORTER: THE ASSOCIATION GOT A GRANT TO FUND A PROJECT TO SPRUCE UP VACANT HOMES ON THIS BLOCK OF EAST 27TH STREET. >> IF WE CHANGE THE WAY THEY LOOK, RATHER THAN HAVING BOARDS THAT LOOK LIKE THE WHOLE PLA IS FALLING DOWN, THEY REPAINTED THEM. REPORTER: THESE SMALL BOARDS WERE CREATED BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE LARGER ONES ARE FROM THE JUBILEE PROGRAM. THE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HAS GOTTEN LOCAL DEVELOPERS INTERESTED IN RENOVATING HOMES HERE. THE NEXT STEP IS GETTING THEM INTERESTED IN BUILDING. RESIDENTS HOPE TO BRING BUSINESS TO THE AREA THAT WILL CREATE JOBS, RETAIL AND SENIOR HOUSING. THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT’S LEARNED TO BE ITS OWN CHAMPION >> THE CRIME, YOU DRIVE OUT THE DRUGS, AND HAVE A NICE CLEAN AREA TO LIVE IN.

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Community associations are often the backbone of many neighborhoods. They can turn an area around by putting in the time. "A few years ago, people didn't want to touch this area. They didn't want to recognize that there were longtime neighbors living here," said Nick Sheridan.Sheridan is one of those longtime neighbors who wants to see the Greater Harwood Community in east Baltimore thrive -- as does Mary Moses. Moses has been here for 24 years. "You have to get out and get involved. Keep your streets clean, clean your neighbor's stoop if you have to, pick up trash, whatever you have to do to make your neighborhood safe and clean, and people will come," Moses said.The community association is doing just that. They've put in a community garden. It's become a place where people can gather and anyone is welcome to what is grown.Kirsch Jones spearheaded getting 25 trees planted."It adds life. You walk out your door and see green. It created a big activity -- the community centered around something they can enjoy together," Jones said.The association got a grant to fund a project to spruce up vacant homes on this block of East 27th Street."If we change the way they look -- rather than having boards that really look like the whole place was falling down -- if we painted them," said Sheridan. Small boards were painted by Overlea High School students and larger ones were painted by students from the Jubilee Arts Program and Loyola University.The community association has gotten local developers interested in renovating homes. The next step is getting them interested in building. Residents hope to bring business to the area that will create jobs, retail and senior housing. It's a community that's learned to be its own champion."(Drive out) the crime, drive out the drugs and you have a nice clean area to live in and safe," Moses said.​