(The following statement of purpose is being considered by the S-D Board) PURPOSE OF THE SKINKER DEBALIVIERE COMMUNITY COUNCIL, INC. The Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council serves as an umbrella organization in an area bounded by Lindell, Parkview, Delmar and DeBaliviere in the West End of St. Louis. Working with the people, neighborhood organizations, churches and agencies in the area, it is the hope that the Skinker-DeBaliviere area will continue to maintain the heterogenous and desirable urban environment it presently enjoys.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council should in no way attempt to control all that happens in the area. On the contrary, the strength of this area lies in the ability and freedom of independent groups and individuals to come together and share their resources to meet particular problems. The Council, through its Community elected Board and staff, can serve these groups in many ways, but the key words must be serve and not control. Two examples of many such groups that operates indeperdently but in a cooperative relationship with the Council, are the People’s School and The Paper which have called upon the Council when necessary but doing so as a autonamous and independent organizations. The word confederation best describes the situation in the community with the Council serving when called upon.
Still certain situations do exist that are best met with an area-wide effort. These areas of concern; Housing, Crime, Education, Commercial Redevelopment and Communications are properly the direct task of the Council, but once again, only in close cooperation with the entire community. The success of any program demands as full a participation as possible.
The mission of the Council, is then, to serve the community through coordination, support, organization and formulations of new programs and direction to meet particular area concerns.
THE PROGRAM
1) HOUSING: By Board agreement in November 1970, the staff of the Council was to devote 60% of it’s time for Housing Redevelopment.
2) EDUCATION: To work with Education Committees to meet the need in our area for increased classrooms. Also to seek ways and methods to offer alternative forms of education. Investigate feasibility of Danforth Grant.
3) CRIME: Although the Crime Committee can not be expected to end crime in our area, the task of the Committee will be to increase the Block-Watchers Program, maintain a good relationship with the Police Department, maintain crime statistics, assist groups in anti-crime programs and encourage the use of Etching Machines.
4) CREDIT UNION Develop an area credit union with a major emphasis on low interest loans for home and building repairs to area residents. Feasibility by March 1, 1972.
5) YOUTH COMMITTEE: Work closely with Dorothy Garrett’s Youth Committee in establishing the following: (a) Summer Program Funding, (b) Funds for full year youth program
6) NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS AND. GROUPS: Support the local organizations and groups where ever possible in their efforts to organize and maintain their neighborhood and programs. Also, seek effective ways to increase the line of communications between these groups.
7) NEW INVESTMENT: Continue to seek methods to attract new investment in the area through home purchase and improvement, apartment purchase and improvement and commercial development.
8) GROUP SUPPORT: Continue to support and help create groups that are formed to meet a particular need or problem.
9) RESPONSE TO REQUEST: Be prepared to respond to requests presented to the Council or aid or assistance. These kind of requests are best classified as those demanding an immediate and not long term response such as finding housing or investigating code violations.
Originally published in The Paper, February 1972.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1972_02.pdf, printed page 6.
