ANNOUNCER: BRICK BY BRICK IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO LEADING SUPPORT FROM: AND MANY MORE.

WE COULDN'T DO THIS WORK WITHOUT YOU.

THANK YOU.

THOMPSON: OUR NEIGHBORS IN NORTHWEST DAYTON HAVE A VISION OF WHAT THEIR COMMUNITY CAN BECOME.

HUGHES: I THINK THIS COMMUNITY CAN BECOME THE SAME WAY IT WAS BACK IN THE 70S.

THIS AREA BACK IN THE 70S WAS BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS GORGEOUS.

YOU KNOW, THE LAWNS WERE WELL KEPT, THE STREETS WERE MAINTAINED.

OVERALL, IT WAS JUST A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.

RIES: SOME PEOPLE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW RESOURCES EXIST.

THIS IS THE ONLY LIFE THAT THEY'VE EVER LIVED.

SO IF MORE OF US CAN USE OUR VOICES AND SHOW UP AND DO WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY TO HELP BE THE AWARENESS.

THOMPSON: AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS WELL ON ITS WAY, IN PART BECAUSE OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS HELPING LIFT UP COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

MOORE: THE HOPE ZONE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS CREATE PATHWAYS TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY WITH A FOCUS ON THE YOUTH FROM CRADLE TO CAREER.

WE'RE INSIDE THE HOPE CENTER TO SEE HOW THEY DO IT.

THOMPSON: OMEGA IS ONE OF NEARLY 50 FEDERALLY FUNDED PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS NATIONWIDE, RECOGNIZING THAT IN ORDER TO GET KIDS ON A GOOD PATH, YOU MUST PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

LAGUERRE: ONE OF THE WAYS OMEGA IS HELPING THE COMMUNITY IS THROUGH HOME OWNERSHIP WITH THE RISE NORTHWEST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

WE SPOKE TO SOME OF THE LEADERS OF THE PROGRAM, AND WE SPOKE TO SOME HOMEOWNERS ON THIS STREET ABOUT HOW THE PROGRAM HELPED THEM BECOME HOMEOWNERS, AS WELL AS MOVE INTO NEW HOMES BEING BUILT, JUST LIKE THIS.

THOMPSON: SO LET'S GET INTO IT.

THIS IS BRICK BY BRICK: SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO BRICK BY BRICK, WHERE WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR A THRIVING COMMUNITY IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

I'M YOUR HOST, ANN THOMPSON.

TODAY WE SHINE A LIGHT ON THE OMEGA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, WHICH DECADES AGO RECOGNIZED A NEED IN NORTHWEST DAYTON.

LET'S BEGIN BY MEETING A FEW PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

RIES: HI, MY NAME IS BRITTANY.

I'VE LIVED IN THIS AREA IN DAYTON FOR SEVEN MONTHS.

WHAT I LIKE MOST ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY IS THE LOCAL BUSINESSES RIGHT OUTSIDE MY BACKYARD, WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO FEEL SAFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HUGHES: HI, MY NAME IS JEFFREY.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR SEVEN YEARS, AND I WOULD SAY ONE THING THAT I REALLY ENJOY ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO COME TOGETHER TO REVITALIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND AS THEY SAY, IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD.

THOMPSON: JUST LIKE THE NEARLY 50 OTHER FEDERALLY FUNDED PROMISED NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THESE COMMUNITIES OFTEN FACE COMPLEX, INTERCONNECTED CHALLENGES STEMMING FROM PERSISTENT POVERTY AND A LACK OF COORDINATED SUPPORTS AND SERVICES.

IN THE CASE OF NORTHWEST DAYTON, WHERE THERE'S A HISTORY OF REDLINING, RESIDENTS FACE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES.

GENERATIONS HAVE BEEN HELD BACK FROM HOMEOWNERSHIP BECAUSE YEARS AGO, BANKS DENIED MORTGAGES TO MINORITIES IN THESE AREAS, RESULTING IN DISINVESTMENT AND A LACK OF ABILITY TO UPKEEP THE HOUSING, MUCH LESS CREATE GENERATIONAL WEALTH THAT OTHER AREAS HAVE BENEFITED FROM OVER TIME.

IF YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH REDLINING, YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TOPIC IN THINKTV'S DOCUMENTARY BY THE SAME NAME.

YOU CAN FIND IT ON OUR STATION WEBSITES OR VIA THE PBS APP ON YOUR SMART TV.

THE GOAL OF THE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM IS TO REVERSE INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY AND MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE A STRONG ACADEMIC FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF BOTH THEIR FAMILY AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HOW IS OMEGA DOING THAT?

WE SENT BRICK BY BRICK'S EMIKO MOORE TO FIND OUT.

MOORE: RACHEL WARD IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF OMEGA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, OR OMEGA CDC, WHICH DELIVERS CRADLE TO CAREER SUPPORT ACROSS 17 NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE HOPE ZONE.

WARD: WE ARE CONTINUING TO SCALE AND DEEPEN OUR WORK IN NORTHWEST DAYTON, LIFTING THE ORGANIZATION UP AS A MODEL OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH PLACE BASED TRANSFORMATION, SHIFTING RESIDENT LEADERSHIP, ENGAGING COMMUNITY IN SOME REAL TRANSFORMATIVE WAYS.

MOORE: ONE WAY IS HAVING RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEAD WORKING GROUPS.

THESE EFFORTS ARE BEING MODELED NATIONALLY.

WARD: I WOULD SAY WHAT THAT HAS LED TO IS A TRULY COHESIVE COMMUNITY.

IT IS INCREDIBLE TO SEE.

WE HAVE AVERAGE WORK GROUP MEETING ATTENDANCE OF ABOUT 150 TO 160 PEOPLE PER MONTH.

MOORE: A RECENT EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE WAS A 12 WEEK PILOT PROGRAM, WHERE 94% OF PARTICIPATING THIRD GRADERS FROM FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY ADVANCED THEIR READING SKILLS BY ONE YEAR.

WARD: AND SO WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE INTERVENTIONS MATTER AND THAT WHEN WE LAYER THESE STRATEGIES ON TOP OF HAVING CARING ADULTS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THEM IN SAFE ENVIRONMENTS AND ALL OF THESE PARTNERSHIPS BEING WRAPPED AROUND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SEE SOME AMAZING OUTCOMES.

MOORE: AT THE HEART OF THE OMEGA CDC WORK IS THE HOPE CENTER, WHICH OFFERS WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY ON A 30 ACRE CAMPUS.

OUR FIRST STOP, MINI UNIVERSITY.

WARD: SO MINI UNIVERSITY IS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS OLD.

THERE ARE ABOUT 115 KIDS WHO COME TO THIS CENTER.

AND SO THEY WORK WITH PRESCHOOL PROMISE, BUT ALSO PROVIDE PRIVATE PAY AND OTHER TUITION SUPPORTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

MOORE: WHEN OMEGA CDC REALIZED IT NEEDED SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL SUPPORT, DAYTON CHILDREN'S ADDED AN OFFICE.

WARD: AND SO NOW CHILDREN DON'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT SIX MONTHS FOR A REFERRAL AND TO RECEIVE AN APPOINTMENT, THEY CAN RECEIVE THEIR SPEECH AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY RIGHT HERE ON SITE WHILE THEY'RE IN THE EARLY CHILD CARE CENTER.

MOORE: ON THE SECOND FLOOR IS SINCLAIR COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

WARD: SO LET'S CHECK THAT OUT FIRST.

MOORE: DR.

DONNA REMENCUS IS THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES FOR SINCLAIR.

SPEAKER 8: WE'RE FOCUSED ON SHORT TERM CERTIFICATES THAT HELP PEOPLE GET INTO THE WORKFORCE QUICKLY.

BUT WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THESE SHORT TERM CERTIFICATES IS THAT THEY ALSO CAN BE BUILT ON INTO LONGER TERM PROGRAMS.

MOORE: JUST DOWN THE HALL IS DAYTON CHILDREN'S PEDIATRICS.

WARD: THERE ARE THREE PEDIATRICIANS WHO WORK IN THIS SPACE, AS WELL AS COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, PSYCHIATRISTS, AND OTHER STAFF WHO ARE HERE.

THEY SEE ABOUT 40 TO 50 PATIENTS PER DAY.

MOORE: UP NEXT IS OMEGA CDC'S OFFICES.

WARD: SO HERE IS WHERE OMEGA CDC'S FAMILY SERVICES OPERATES.

SO OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TEAM, OUR TEAM THAT PROVIDES FAMILY PROGRAMMING AS WELL AS OUR SENIOR SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR, ALL HOUSED HERE.

WE ALSO HAVE A FEW COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT COME IN AND PROVIDE OFFICE HOURS SO THAT IF WE HAVE PARTICIPANTS WHO NEED ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, WE'RE PROVIDING REFERRALS.

THEY CAN BE SEEN RIGHT HERE ON SITE.

MOORE: JANIECE MALONE, A MATERNAL COACH WITH OMEGA CDC, WORKS DIRECTLY WITH PREGNANT MOMS, LIKE MELISSA MCINTOSH, TO HELP BUILD A STABLE FUTURE.

MALONE: MY ROLE IS TO REALLY BE THEIR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER.

MOST OF OUR FAMILIES ALREADY HAVE GOALS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN MAKING, INTERESTED IN COMPLETING.

MCINTOSH: SO WE SIT DOWN LIKE IT'S JUST WE GO OVER FINANCIAL PLANNING, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT'S JUST THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT WE COULD BE IN DEBT, FINANCIAL, OUR HOUSEHOLD, OUR KIDS, THINGS THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY NEED, JOBS, RESOURCES.

SO SOME OF MY GOALS, LIKE FOR THE MOST RECENT ONE, SEEING THAT MY KID IS ABOUT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WE JUST, WE TAKE A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME AND IT JUST FEELS GOOD TO ACTUALLY JUST BE ABLE TO SIT DOWN AND TALK TO SOMEONE WHO, YOU KNOW, CARES ABOUT YOU, YOU KNOW, WHO CARES ABOUT YOU, CARES ABOUT YOUR BIRTH, WHO CARES TO SUPPORT YOU.

MALONE: YOU ARE BEING HERE TODAY.

I'M GONNA BRING OUT A BRIDGE.

IN MOST CASES, IT CAN BE LIFE CHANGING.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE IN A YEAR AND HOW THINGS CAN TURN AROUND IN A YEAR.

OUR PROGRAM COULD BE FOR SOME PEOPLE A YEAR, SOME PEOPLE MORE.

AND IT COULD LOOK LIKE FACING HOMELESSNESS WHILE BEING PREGNANT TO NOW HAVING YOUR BABY, HAVING A HOME, GAINING TRANSPORTATION, BEING IN SCHOOL.

MOORE: THE HOPE ZONE IS MINING THE TREMENDOUS ASSETS ALREADY IN THE COMMUNITY.

WARD: AND THAT IF WE COULD HARNESS THOSE THINGS, IF WE COULD ALL BRING THE GIFTS AND THE TREASURES, OUR TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE INTO THIS SPACE, THAT THERE COULD BE SOME ABUNDANCE TRULY HERE, THAT THERE'S SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY IN NORTHWEST DAYTON.

MOORE: BUT WARD IS AWARE THAT REVERSING A COURSE TAKES TIME AND CONTINUOUS RESOURCES.

WARD: THE CHALLENGES AROUND EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC STABILITY AND HOUSING ARE THINGS THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AND SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CHANGE OVERNIGHT, BUT WE WANT THEM TO CHANGE FASTER.

SO WE WANT TO MOVE AT A QUICKER PACE.

AND IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT QUICKLY.

SO MY HOPE AND MY VISION IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT WORK IN WAYS THAT WILL SUSTAIN THE IMPACT LONG AFTER OMEGA CDC, YOU KNOW, HAS ACCOMPLISHED OUR MISSION, THAT THE RESIDENTS AND THAT THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF THIS COMMUNITY WILL BE AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE AHEAD.

THOMPSON: BRICK BY BRICK HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO HOW THE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS CONCEPT STARTED.

BEFORE IT WENT NATIONAL, THERE WAS A LOCAL EFFORT IN HARLEM, NEW YORK.

COMING UP A BIT LATER, WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

BUT FIRST, STUDENTS CAN'T SUCCEED WITHOUT THE ECONOMIC STABILITY OF THEIR FAMILY.

JUST AHEAD ON BRICK BY BRICK, HOW AN OMEGA SUBSIDIARY IS PUTTING EXTRA ENERGY BEHIND THAT.

A SUBSIDIARY OF OMEGA AND ITS PARTNERS ARE FOCUSED ON HELPING NORTHWEST DAYTON RESIDENTS BUY A HOME.

AS YOU'LL HEAR FROM BRICK BY BRICK'S HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR., THE EFFORT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION AND HOMEOWNER EDUCATION.

LAGUERRE: THE NORTHWEST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT'S CONCENTRATED ON THE REVITALIZATION OF FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN NORTHWEST DAYTON.

THEY FOCUS ON INCREASING HOME OWNERSHIP, BUILDING FAMILY WEALTH, SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE'S DEVELOPMENT, STRENGTHENING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND MORE.

I SAT DOWN WITH THE CEO, REVEREND VANESSA WARD, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER TANISHA BURNS MARTIN, ABOUT HOW THE ORGANIZATION CATERS TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

REV.

WARD: AS WE ARE AN ORGANIZATION THAT REALLY WANTS TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY BY CATALYZING CHANGE IN THIS SPECIFIC PLACE BASED AREA, NORTHWEST DAYTON.

STABILIZING HOUSING MEANS STABILIZING FAMILIES, MEANS STABILIZING CHILDREN AND ENSURING THAT THEY STAY IN SCHOOL, AND THAT THEY ARE IN SCHOOLS THAT ARE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS OR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

LAGUERRE: ANOTHER INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE RISE NORTHWEST PROGRAM IS A 15 YEAR TAX ABATEMENT.

TALK ABOUT HOW THAT HELPS THE INDIVIDUALS NOT ONLY BECOME HOMEOWNERS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THAT.

BURNS-MARTIN: SO THE 15 YEAR TAX ABATEMENT, OF COURSE, FOLLOWS THROUGH THE CITY OF DAYTON, ALLOWS THAT FOR THE INDIVIDUALS NOT TO PAY THAT, WHICH LESSENS THE MONTHLY MORTGAGE AMOUNT.

IT ALSO MAKES THE MORTGAGE MORE AFFORDABLE.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, THAT 30 YEAR MORTGAGE, OF COURSE, THOSE FIRST 15, THAT IS ONE THING THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

NOW, POST YEAR 15, THERE'S WHERE SOME ADDITIONAL EDUCATION THAT'S IN PLACE TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY KNOW THAT THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT MAY CHANGE THEREAFTER, BUT THAT ALONE ALLOWS FOR THAT PAYMENT TO STAY SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE.

LAGUERRE: THESE AFFORDABLE HOMES ALLOW HOMEOWNERS LIKE FAIRVIEW RESIDENT JANISE TIDD FEEL SUPPORTED IN HER DOCTORAL DEGREE PURSUITS AND IN HER CAREER IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE.

SHE TELLS US WHAT HER HOME MEANS TO HER AND HER LEGACY.

TIDD: FOR ME, IT MEANS THAT I HAVE SOMETHING, A LEGACY TO LEAVE FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER.

IT MEANS THAT I'M JUST GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A FULL LIFE AND SOME PLACE TO GROW OLD.

LAGUERRE: AND AS JANICE GROWS AND FLOURISHES, SHE DESIRES THE SAME FOR HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

TIDD: UM, IT MEANS A LOT BECAUSE I NEEDED THAT SENSE OF CONNECTION.

AND I HAVE CONNECTION WITH MY NEIGHBOR, WHO ALSO A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER.

WE ALL HAVE LIKE A LITTLE NETWORK AND A CONNECTION TO PEOPLE.

AND WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE EVERY DAY AND WALK AROUND OUTSIDE AND PICK UP TRASH AND JUST HAVE SOME PRIDE ABOUT WHERE I LIVE.

REV.

WARD: PEOPLE HERE HAVE DESIRES AND DESERVE, THEIR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER SCHOOLS, THEY DESERVE BETTER HOMES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

SO WHEN WE SEE THAT COMING TO FRUITION, I JUST WANT TO FEEL LIKE IT'S VISION REALIZED.

IT FEELS LIKE DREAM REALIZED.

AND I HOPE THAT THAT'S AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL.

LAGUERRE: IT'S DEFINITELY ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, LIKE FELLOW FAIRVIEW HOMEOWNER RENATA WATERS.

AT THE TIME OF THE FILMING, SHE JUST MOVED INTO HER NEW HOME, BUT SHE ALREADY HAS FUN VISIONS FOR HER ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

WATERS: WHEN I BOUGHT THAT LOT NEXT DOOR, IT'S AN EMPTY LOT.

WE'RE GOING TO DO MOVIE NIGHT.

I ALREADY GOT A PLAN.

I'M GONNA ORDER ONE ON A BIG OLD BLOW UP THINGS.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE DIFFERENT CHAIRS.

WE'RE GONNA GRILL FOOD.

BUT THAT'S MY GOAL, AND I'M MANIFESTING.

LAGUERRE: GETTING THIS HOME WAS A MANIFESTATION OF HER HARD WORK WITH RISE NORTHWEST SUPPORTING HER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

WATERS: I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE SHORT FUNDS, SO THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE ME FUNDS TO HELP ME WITH MY CLOSING COSTS.

THAT'S WHEN I FOUND THAT OUT -- I'M NOT GOING TO CRY.

SORRY.

EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T NEED THAT MONEY AT THE END, BUT TO KNOW THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO THAT, AND THAT THAT MONEY IS AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT PERSON THAT MAY NEED IT FOR THEIR CLOSING.

IT'S JUST, I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE WORDS FOR IT.

LAGUERRE: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BARRIERS THAT NORMALLY PREVENT SOMEONE TO BECOMING A HOMEOWNER?

BURNS-MARTIN: WE'RE FINDING CREDIT IS TYPICALLY THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE SEE.

ADDITIONALLY, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.

INDIVIDUALS DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE TO THEM OR FOR THEM.

AND THEN ONCE YOU START HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND START MITIGATING SOME AND DEBUNKING SOME OF THE MYTHS, THEN INDIVIDUALS ARE LIKE, "OKAY, I'M REALLY EXCITED.

I'M INVESTED."

AND IF THAT CREDIT IS A BARRIER, THEN THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THE STEPS TO OVERCOME THOSE SO THEY CAN NOW BECOME A HOMEOWNER.

LAGUERRE: I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A GOAL THAT YOU WANT TO REACH BY 2030.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT GOAL IS AND IF YOU GUYS ARE ON TRACK TO TO REACH THAT GOAL?

BURNS-MARTIN: SO THE GOAL IS 50 HOMES BY 2030.

I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY.

AND I BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY EXCEED THAT GOAL.

LAGUERRE: AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT IS THE METRIC OF SUCCESS FOR THIS PROGRAM?

REV.

WARD: A SUCCESS MARK THAT IF WE GET MIXED INCOME HOUSING IN AN AREA, SO A CONCENTRATED AREA WITH MIXED INCOME, THEN OVERALL THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE SEE THE COMMUNITY SEEING THEMSELVES AS THE CHANGE THAT THEY WANT TO SEE, THIS IN AND OF ITSELF IS SUCCESS.

LAGUERRE: WELL SAID.

WELL, REV.

WARD, TANISHA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON BRICK BY BRICK.

REV.

WARD: THANK YOU FOR INVITING US.

LAGUERRE: YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

THOMPSON: BEFORE THE OMEGA HOPE ZONE LAUNCHED, RESIDENTS OF NORTHWEST DAYTON CAME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY COULD IMPROVE THEIR COMMUNITY WITH THE GOAL OF SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING WEALTH, ESPECIALLY BLACK WEALTH, STUDENT SUCCESS, COMMUNITY PRIDE, AND AMENITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK RESIDENTS, SO THAT FAMILIES OF NORTHWEST DAYTON THRIVE.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF LEARN TO EARN, THEY AGREED TO FOCUS ON THINGS LIKE MAKING CHILD CARE MORE ACCESSIBLE, PROVIDING AFTER SCHOOL SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS, BEAUTIFYING THEIR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HELP TO BUY A HOME.

THE IDEA FOR PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS CAME FROM THE HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE, DESCRIBED AS THE MOST AMBITIOUS AND AUDACIOUS PROGRAM IN U.S.

HISTORY TO END INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY.

IT BEGAN AS A ONE BLOCK PILOT IN NEW YORK CITY, AND NOW SERVES TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ACROSS MORE THAN 100 BLOCKS.

HERE'S ONE OF ITS STUDENTS.

DIABY: WHEN I CAME TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, THEY TOLD US ABOUT LACROSSE, AND I WAS INTERESTED.

WE HAVE PRACTICE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

WE LOSE A LOT, BUT IT'S FUN.

AND THEN THEY TOOK US ON TRIPS.

THEY TOOK US TO DUKE, UPENN AND DIFFERENT COLLEGES.

WHEN I WAS THERE, I WAS LIKE, "I'M EXCITED TO GO TO COLLEGE.

I WANT TO GO TO COLLEGE."

THOMPSON: LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 1000 FORMER PARTICIPANTS IN THE HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE WERE ENROLLED IN COLLEGE.

THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CREATED PROMISED NEIGHBORHOODS IN 2010 BASED ON PROGRAMS LIKE THE HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE.

ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS IS IN BALTIMORE.

A 2025 REPORT LOOKED AT SUCCESSES AND LIMITATIONS OVER SEVEN YEARS.

HERE ARE SOME OF THEM.

A 75% REDUCTION IN INFANT MORTALITY.

IMPROVEMENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES AND STUDENT ATTENDANCE.

AND A SAFER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

HOWEVER, STAKEHOLDERS REPEATEDLY SAID THAT WHILE THE GRANT INVESTED MONEY AND TIME INTO BALTIMORE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE PROGRAMMING ALONE WOULD NOT DISRUPT MULTI-GENERATIONAL POVERTY AND DISINVESTMENT WITHOUT POLICY CHANGES AND INVESTMENT ACROSS SECTORS.

IN A SEPARATE STUDY, THE INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES EVALUATED THE NATIONWIDE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM AS A WHOLE FROM 2011 TO 2018.

IT FOUND TWO MAIN CHALLENGES: MOST GRANTEES REPORTED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO IMPLEMENT AND MONITOR SERVICES DUE TO A LACK OF SCHOOL AND DISTRICT INVOLVEMENT.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS PROGRAM DOESN'T FUND SCHOOL DISTRICTS DIRECTLY, BUT EXPECTS GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS TO WORK WITH THEM.

ALSO, THE REPORT SAID IT WAS HARD TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT STAFF AND CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP.

OUTSIDE OF THIS REPORTING THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT FUNDING.

SOME WONDER IF PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS WILL CONTINUE TO GET MONEY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

OMEGA HAS THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND SAYS, REGARDLESS, IT WILL FUND ALL OF ITS PROGRAMS, EVEN IF IT MUST RAISE MONEY LOCALLY.

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE AND GOING DEEPER ON THE ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS WE'RE REPORTING, CHECK OUT OUR SHOW PAGE AT THINKTV.ORG AND CETCONNECT.ORG.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THIS STORY ALONG WITH ALL THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RESPONSES WE'VE BEEN COVERING IN THE FIRST FEW SEASONS RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

IT SEEMS AS IF THE PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS APPROACH IS WORKING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

IT'S TIME FOR TAKEAWAYS WITH HERNZ AND EMIKO.

AND YOUR REPORTING CERTAINLY GAVE US A BETTER IDEA OF HOW THE OMEGA HOPE ZONE WORKS.

EMIKO, LET'S FIND OUT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MAKING THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE AND WHY?

MOORE: ONE OF THE THINGS IS THEIR MULTIGENERATIONAL APPROACH.

AND I THINK THE HOPE CENTER REALLY ENCAPSULATES THIS MULTIGENERATIONAL APPROACH BECAUSE ON THE FIRST FLOOR, YOU'VE GOT THIS MINI UNIVERSITY WHERE YOU'VE GOT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, AND THEN YOU HAVE A PEDIATRIC CENTER ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

YOU ALSO HAVE, UM, THEY FOUND THAT THEY NEEDED A LOT OF STUDENTS WHO NEEDED OCCUPATIONAL AND SPEECH THERAPY AND THEY PUT AN OFFICE THERE.

SO NOW THE CHILDREN CAN JUST GO TO THAT TO GET THE TREATMENT THERE AND NOT HAVE TO HAVE THE PARENTS COME OUT AND MISS A DAY OF WORK OR TRY TO FIND EXTRA TRANSPORTATION.

AND THEN FOR THE PARENTS, YOU ALSO HAVE SINCLAIR UNIVERSITY, SINCLAIR COLLEGE THERE SO THEY CAN DO A LOT OF CERTIFICATES.

THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET SHORT TERM CERTIFICATES TO GET THEM OUT IN THE WORKFORCE QUICKLY.

AND THEY SAID THAT THESE ARE STACKABLE CERTIFICATES.

SO YOU CAN COME BACK AND BUILD ON THOSE WITH YOUR CAREER.

BUT THEY ALSO HAVE FAMILY COACHING.

IF YOU NEED FINANCIAL COACHING OR MATERNAL COACHING, THEY'RE REALLY THERE TO SUPPORT AND CHEER YOU ON.

THOMPSON: YEAH.

AND AS YOU POINT OUT, THIS ENABLES THE PARENTS TO GET AHEAD ECONOMICALLY BECAUSE IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY BABYSITTING AVAILABLE, LIKE HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO GO TO COLLEGE CLASSES?

BUT THIS IS A GOOD METHOD TO LET THEM GET AHEAD.

WELL, HERNZ, YOU FOCUSED ALSO ON THE ECONOMIC STABILITY IN TERMS OF HOME OWNERSHIP, AND WHAT DO YOU SEE AS WORKING THERE?

LAGUERRE: I THINK WHAT'S WORKING IS THEIR APPROACH.

I FIND IT REMARKABLE THAT THEIR REVITALIZATION EFFORTS AREN'T JUST FOCUSED ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT IT'S FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA OF OF BUILDING SELF-SUSTAINING RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA SO THAT THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY HELP THEMSELVES OUT, BUT ALSO HELP OUT THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S TRULY SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN BUILD UPON, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF HOMES THAT THEY'RE CREATING.

BECAUSE RISE NORTHWEST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SAID THAT THEY HOPE TO BUILD 50 NEW HOMES BY 2030.

AND TANISHA TOLD ME THAT THEY'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO MEET THAT GOAL, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO EXCEED THAT GOAL.

SO I THINK ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE FOCUSED ON JUST FIVE NEIGHBORHOODS IN THIS HOPE ZONE, RIGHT?

I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IF THEY GET THE RESOURCES TO GO INTO THE OTHER 12 NEIGHBORHOODS IN THAT AREA.

THE IMPACT, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE HUGE.

MOORE: YOU CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF STABILITY, HOUSING STABILITY FOR FAMILIES, EVEN JUST FROM THE EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE.

SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS EDUCATIONAL ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WHEN YOU HAVE MORE STABLE HOUSING, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN ATTENDANCE.

AND THAT'S HOW EDUCATION IS BUILT, YOU KNOW, LAYERS.

AND BY THIRD GRADE, IF YOU'RE NOT READING BY THIRD GRADE, IT'S REALLY AN UPHILL STRUGGLE FOR THE REST.

THOMPSON: AND WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE ARE LOTS OF PARTNERS THAT HELP OMEGA AND WHAT REALLY MAKE IT WORK.

FOR EXAMPLE, I LOOKED ON THEIR WEBSITE AND THEY HAVE OVER 40 PARTNERS, JUST TO NAME A FEW: LEARN TO EARN, DAYTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DAYTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THE LIBRARY, THE YMCA, GOODWILL, EASTER SEALS MIAMI VALLEY.

AND YOU MIGHT WONDER, WELL, WHAT ARE THESE PARTNERS DOING?

IN LEARN TO EARN'S CASE, AS YOU HEARD EARLIER IN THE BROADCAST, THEY HELPED RESIDENTS CREATE A VISION FOR NORTHWEST DAYTON.

LIKE, WHAT ARE THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS.

FOR DAYTON CHILDREN'S, AS EMIKO MENTIONED, THAT IT HAS A PEDIATRIC CENTER IN THE HOPE CENTER THAT FOCUSES ON MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

AND THE DAYTON METRO LIBRARY HOSTS EVENTS LIKE HOPE MARKET, WHICH CONNECTS RESIDENTS TO WELLNESS AND EDUCATION AND OTHER LOCAL PROGRAMS.

MOORE: AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BUILT ALL OF THESE THINGS WITHIN SUCH A SHORT TIME.

THEY HAVE THIS FIVE YEAR GRANT, SO THEY'VE GOT THE MONEY TO BUILD A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS.

BUT AS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE HAVE TAKEN YEARS AND YEARS TO CREATE THIS KIND OF SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE TRYING TO TURN THIS SHIP AROUND.

I DO THINK IT WILL TAKE MORE TIME AND MORE RESOURCES.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT A GENERATION THAT'S OFTEN LIKE 20 YEARS, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS IS SUCH A SHORT TIME.

SO LET'S HOPE THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK.

RACHEL WARD IS A GREAT GRANT WRITER.

SHE'S THE NEW PRESIDENT.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT SHE'S GOING TO REALLY BE GETTING ON THAT.

AND HERNZ, AS YOU SAID, THEY'RE REALLY INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO REALLY KIND OF HELP MOVE THIS FORWARD.

LAGUERRE: YOU KNOW, COME TO THINK OF IT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE REASON FOR THEIR SUCCESS IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON ONE THING.

THEY'RE NOT JUST FOCUSED ON INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY'RE NOT JUST FOCUS ON PEOPLE.

THEY FOCUS ON MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO HELP BUILD UP THIS COMMUNITY.

ONE EMPHASIS THAT REV.

WARD SAID IS THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO ONLY BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THEY WANT TO BRING MIXED INCOME HOUSING, RIGHT?

IN ORDER TO HAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD BE ECONOMICALLY DIVERSE, GENERATIONALLY INCLUSIVE.

I THINK WITH THAT APPROACH, YOU CAN YOU TRULY HAVE MULTIPLE EFFORTS OF, YOU KNOW, CREATING THE SOLUTION IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THOMPSON: SO WE'LL BE WATCHING THEIR EFFORTS AND THEIR CONTINUED SUCCESS, AND ALSO FIND OUT HOW THE FINANCES SHAKE OUT, EVEN IF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS DON'T CONTINUE TO SEE IF THEY CAN RAISE MONEY LOCALLY.

THANKS FOR YOUR REPORTING.

THAT'S OUR SHOW.

WE HOPE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING.

AND IF YOU DID, PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT IT.

IT KEEPS THE CONVERSATION AROUND THESE TOPICS FRONT OF MIND IN OUR CITY SO WE CAN MAKE MORE HEADWAY IN OUR RESPONSES.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, FOR EMIKO MOORE AND HERNZ LAGUERRE, JR., I'M ANN THOMPSON.

WE'LL BE BACK SOON WITH MORE SOLUTIONS.

TAKE CARE.