Dear Prospective Committee Members:

The Central Cedar Rapids Weed and Seed project is a community wide collaborative effort between neighbors, concerned community members and leaders and law enforcement. In order for this project to be successful it requires involvement from all areas of the community. Opportunities for involvement include serving on the Weed & Seed Steering Committee; BRIGHTEN Oversight Committee; VITA Oversight Committee; Sustainability Committee; and numerous volunteer opportunities for each of these projects.

The Weed and Seed Steering Committee is made up of representatives from neighborhood associations, the Cedar Rapids Police Department and other city agencies, the 6th Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, United Way, the United States Attorney’s Office, federal law enforcement agencies, and other concerned community members. The main purpose of this committee is to help direct the program to meet the needs of the community.

The BRIGHTEN Oversight Committee is looking for members that have expertise in the area of home construction, fundraising, organizing volunteers, and housing standards. Current members on the committee represent the Wellington Heights Neighborhood Association, Cedar Rapids Fire Department, and other community members.

The VITA Oversight Committee works to ensure the sustainability of this project. VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. The function of this committee is to recruit volunteers to assist community members living in the Weed and Seed area with tax preparation and to secure locations for the VITA Centers.

Vital to the projects supported by Weed and Seed is sustainability after the grant funds end. A Sustainability Subcommittee has been formed to ensure continued support for Weed and Seed projects. Members are needed who can help identify resources and funding sources in the community that will provide ongoing support.

Many other opportunities exist to assist with projects that support this program. Attached is additional information about Weed and Seed and their projects. Please consider getting involved with one of these committees. An application to join is enclosed. Your help is vital to the success of this project and your community and neighbors are counting on you. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Central Cedar Rapids
Weed and Seed Steering Committee