CBAR Alum Champions West-End Community
I was recently featured in the CBAR-IPLIN (business-law) Newsletter regarding the community organizing work that I've been involved with alongside other volunteers and activists. I pasted the article below:
"Our West-End is a grass-roots group, comprised of local citizens and students, begun by CBAR alum Fabio Costante several months ago. The focus of the group is to mobilize and bring people from Windsor‟s west-end together to share ideas and thoughts about the issues and opportunities they face. Such issues range from local peculiarities like the boarded-up homes on Indian Rd. and Edison St., to more general concerns such as attracting investment and development to the area.
Fabio hopes the initiative will engage local citizens and unite the west-end which he considers to be currently divided into four quadrants: Sandwich Towne; the University of Windsor and its surrounding neighbourhoods; the neighbourhoods south of college and east of Huron Church; and the neighbourhoods west of Huron Church and south of College. Efforts to engage local west-enders include going door to door, partnering with groups and organizations in the area, and the establishment of a blog.
There are great things happening in all of the west-end neighbourhoods, and there are also challenges, some unique to a certain neighbourhood, and some reflected in all of the areas. The group aims to bring the four quadrants together and work as one west-end, giving the area a stronger voice at city hall thus increasing its ability to confront its challenges and opportunities.
Fabio's affection for the Windsor's west-end goes back a long time; he has lived in the area for most of his life. “The area is special to me,” he says, “and I‟ve realized that if we seek to change it then someone needs to stand up. This is what I intend to do”"
"Our West-End is a grass-roots group, comprised of local citizens and students, begun by CBAR alum Fabio Costante several months ago. The focus of the group is to mobilize and bring people from Windsor‟s west-end together to share ideas and thoughts about the issues and opportunities they face. Such issues range from local peculiarities like the boarded-up homes on Indian Rd. and Edison St., to more general concerns such as attracting investment and development to the area.
Fabio hopes the initiative will engage local citizens and unite the west-end which he considers to be currently divided into four quadrants: Sandwich Towne; the University of Windsor and its surrounding neighbourhoods; the neighbourhoods south of college and east of Huron Church; and the neighbourhoods west of Huron Church and south of College. Efforts to engage local west-enders include going door to door, partnering with groups and organizations in the area, and the establishment of a blog.
There are great things happening in all of the west-end neighbourhoods, and there are also challenges, some unique to a certain neighbourhood, and some reflected in all of the areas. The group aims to bring the four quadrants together and work as one west-end, giving the area a stronger voice at city hall thus increasing its ability to confront its challenges and opportunities.
Fabio's affection for the Windsor's west-end goes back a long time; he has lived in the area for most of his life. “The area is special to me,” he says, “and I‟ve realized that if we seek to change it then someone needs to stand up. This is what I intend to do”"