The five core neighborhoods are Mound View, Wellington Heights, Oakhill Jackson, Taylor, and Northwest Area. These neighborhoods are considered high-crime, low-socioeconomic status areas and are located around the city’s downtown region. This Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed project area, a 4.2-square mile area with an approximate population of 21,000, provides a picture of a community and neighborhoods that are under stress and have a high incidence of street crime.

Needs Assessment

After receiving federal recognition in June 2004, the evaluation of the Central Cedar Rapids Weed & Seed project began in July 2005. During meetings and discussions with Weed & Seed subcommittee members, it was decided that the first step for Year One would be a Needs Assessment of the residents in the 5 target neighborhoods. A Needs Assessment would accomplish several objectives. It would :
Gather opinions and data directly from the individuals who would be targeted by and/or benefit from Weed & Seed initiatives
Familiarize residents with the Weed & Seed program and goals
Give a voice to an underserved and often marginalized segment of the community, and thus provide a framework for trust and collaboration; and
Supply data that would provide direction for subsequent initiatives and projects.
The resulting survey was distributed throughout the five neighborhoods mainly through community events and programming, and the collection goal of 500 surveys was met in January of 2006. The resulting data from the survey has been the catalyst for most of the programs now existing under Operation Weed and Seed here in Cedar Rapids.

New for 2010

Goals and Objectives