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What is Weed & Seed?

Weed and Seed as a strategy that aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in targeted high-crime neighborhoods across the country.

The strategy involves a two-pronged approach:

Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cooperate in "weeding out" criminals who participate in violent crime and drug abuse, attempting to prevent their return to the targeted area.  "Seeding" brings human services to the area, encompassing prevention, intervention, treatment, and neighborhood revitalization.

Martindale-Brightwood Weed & Seed (Indianapolis, Indiana)

The Martindale-Brightwood Community

During the summer of 2006, the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood took a proactive approach to purge the criminal element from its area.  Martindale-Brightwood received official recognition as the seventh Weed & Seed site in Indianapolis. This Weed and Seed site covers 2.65 square miles, and has a population of 8,907 (2005 Estimate). There are approximately 3,383 households, in which 50.66% of these households earn less than $25,000 per year. Eighty-nine percent (89.00%) of the residents are Black/African American. Thirty-three percent (33.00%) of the residents are under age 18, 42.00% of the residents are between the ages of 18 and 44, and 25.00% of the residents are age 45 or older. Over thirty-six percent (36.44%) of Martindale-Brightwood residents age 25 and older have not earned a high school diploma or GED.

The Steering Committee

The Martindale-Brightwood (MB) Weed & Seed Steering Committee is comprised of several neighborhood agencies including, but not limited to, the City of Indianapolis, MB Community Development Corporation (CDC), Oasis Christian CDC, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), Indy Parks, and each of the four major neighborhood associations in the area: Brightwood Concerned Citizens, MB Neighborhood Association, Oakhill Civic Association, and the Ralston Hovey Arsenal Association.

Martindale-Brightwood has several seeding initiatives which include re-entry programs and restoration projects.  Also, there are eight (8) designated Safe Havens in the community.

The Weed and Seed Coordinator

Aurelia Noel
2372 Beckwith Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46218
Phone: (317) 809-0604

Email: anoel@mbweedseed.org

Content Copyright © 2011 by Martindale-Brightwood Weed and Seed.
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