Neighbors Reclaiming Their Neighborhood

On Saturday evening, April 26th, I had the opportunity to help residents reclaim their neighborhood from drug dealers and gangs. We met at the Creighton Christian Church parking lot with neighborhood leaders, community members, members of "NAILEM," including founder Donna Neill, of the Guardian Angels, the Phoenix Police and the State Gang Task Force.

Approximately 75 members of the community walked through the neighborhood of Thomas and 20th Street. As the march proceeded through the neighborhood, people came out of their homes. The group was greeted with applause, smiles and comments like, "I'm so glad to see this!" Several families stopped what they were doing to join the march.

The event was coordinated by NAILEM, which was co-founded in 1996 by Donna Neill, who was frustrated with partisan politics at the legislature. NAILEM is the acronym for Neighborhood Activists Inter-Linked Empowerment Movement. It consists of neighborhood leaders from all over the State of Arizona. The goal is to force politicians to listen to the voice of the people, not just the special interest groups and high paid lobbyists. The group stages rallies and holds anti-crime marches.)

This is a great example of community members working together to bring forth the change we desire including safe streets, healthy kids, opportunities for all hard working members of our community, and collaboration between neighborhoods and law enforcement.

Throughout the evening one of the more popular chants was "Down with Dope - Up with Hope!!"