West Central Residents A Hit In Australia

West Central organizers flew halfway around the world to be reminded what they already knew: their neighborhood revitalization is unique.

“We got a tremendous response,” said Marilyn Trail. “They wanted to know so much about what we’ve done.”

Ten neighborhood residents and organizers returned last week from a community development conference in Melbourne, Australia. The conference was an international showcase for premiere neighborhood organizing efforts.

Representatives from Australia, Japan, Korea, Russia, South Africa, Cuba and several European countries listened to a neighborhood presentation on West Central’s efforts to rise out of crime and poverty.

The presentation, led by Trail, a Washington State University faculty member, included trust-building games, which proved to be a hit.

In one game, a group circled and threw a ball of yarn to each other, holding onto an end. When the string ended, a web had formed, showing people how easily communications are built in a neighborhood.

“Our style was a little different, and that’s why they us asked over,” said Pauline Posey, a resident who made the trip.

“This has been the best part of the conference so far. Spokane can lend us all a vision,” Colleen Fitzpatrick of Australia wrote to the neighborhood.

Spokane police officer Tim Conely was also a hit. No other city included police as heavily as Spokane, Conely said.

“People aren’t used to police being partners in solving problems in the neighborhood,” said Conely. “That’s changing.”

The presentation was such a success that conference organizers asked Trail to consider Spokane as a host in 1999 or 2001. The conference, Trail said, would use West Central as a showcase for successful revitalization.

“It’s just an honor to be asked to make a proposal,” said Trail.

, DataTimes