The Rev. Paula Miller (left) of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, and residents Kenny Rosas-Aguilera and Tara Rucker, members of the Lincoln Park Social Development Coalition, speak during the Oct. 28 City Council meeting.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Sunday Times Newspapers
LINCOLN PARK – Three members of the city’s Social Development Coalition approached the City Council Oct. 28 with a request for the city to recognize the group as a city entity.
The Rev. Paula Miller of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church of Lincoln Park said the group made a proposal to the council May 13 asking it to recognize and support the Social Development Coalition.
“We have continued meeting since then,” she said, and introduced Tara Rucker, a social work master intern working with the coalition.
“I’m excited about it because it’s something great happening in the city of Lincoln Park, and we just hope the residents are able to benefit from the coalition as well,” Rucker said.
Kenny Rosas-Aguilera, an intern with the coalition from Wayne State University, said he has been developing a community resource guide, which helps residents connect more easily with social services.
Miller said the coalition will continue to update the council as the coalition progresses.
The Social Development Coalition is made up of city leaders, residents and service providers who are committed to improving residents’ access to services.
It was formed in 2019 when faith leaders, school social workers and council members met to brainstorm how to help meet the needs of those in the city.
Organizations participating in the SDC include: St. Michael and All Angels Church, Bethel Assembly of God and the Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church; representatives from the City Council, public schools and the city’s Economic Development Corporation; Lincoln Park Community Policing; and the Southwest Detroit Immigrant and Refugee Center.
The group hopes to improve the well-being of residents by creating a system that helps them connect to quality resources.
To date, the group has created a resource guide, available at citylp.com/residents/community_resource_guide.php; conducted two rounds of community need assessment surveys; and surveyed providers to determine opportunities for collaboration.
The SDC has also created a report outlining its logistics, goals and the potential benefits that could be realized by formalizing a connection between city officials and local service providers.
The community needs assessment surveys have identified resident areas of concern, which include infrastructure, businesses, community activities, youth programs, violence, bilingual education, mental health resources and housing.
The SDC expressed concern that when the city focuses on economic issues at the exclusion of other concerns, less time, attention and funding is directed toward social issues. By making the SDC part of the city’s structure, the members hope the city will better fulfill its social obligation to community members, and that community well-being will be measured by more than economic measures.
The group meets the third Wednesday of every month. For more information, contact them at LincolnParkSDC@gmail.com.