Walnut Way Conservation Corporation: Helps Community to Revitalize

A unique historic black neighborhood in Milwaukee is proudly and gradually emerging as a vibrant community after enduring years of economic blight and declining home values. Walnut Way Conservation Corporation has enjoyed phenomenal success and progress in engaging the community to revitalize its depressed neighborhood. In the face of budgetary cutbacks and policies by the city of Milwaukee in the past, Walnut Way has convinced the residents to empower themselves by looking at what they have, not at what they lack. With that thought, the community is actively revitalizing itself by growing produce in a communal effort to gain economic prosperity for all of its residents. Walnut Way Conservation Corporation has as its motto "caring neighbors make good communities". A delightful couple who had once lived in this neighborhood moved out of the area for a number of years. They returned to this depressed area after feeling that they had been "called" to help rejuvenate their neighborhood where property values had precipitously fallen with homes being boarded up because of non occupancy and declining economic stability. The Walnut Way Conservation Corporation was formed as a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of preserving and enhancing this Milwaukee historic black neighborhood. It is my understanding that many of today's black residents in Milwaukee have ancestors who settled in Milwaukee through the Underground Railroad. A walk in the neighborhood, shows signs of community pride, hope and new life bursting forth throughout the neighborhood.

Walnut Way Conservation Corporation has a three fold program area that encompasses environmental stewardship, economic enterprise and civic engagement. Through the neighborhood community gardens, private lots are transformed into productive perennial gardens and beautification projects. In the garden on its premises, Walnut Way has even grown sunflowers and a peach tree! A real feat in the colder climes of Wisconsin. The director of Walnut Way explained that life is returning to the neighborhood and the residents are encouraged to work with what they have which serves to give hope and a sense of purpose to their efforts. While vast in its scope of influence, Walnut Way has never forgotten that the community functions as a unit, not as a separate entity. It must continue to follow that principle if economic stability and revitalization are to be attained for the good of the entire community. The activities of Walnut Way illustrate how a community working in harmony can overcome the negative effects of a depressed economy and budgetary ax. The land holds the solution to this community's economic vitality; the yield of produce offers economic autonomy and freedom to its residents.

Walnut Way finances its projects through the generosity of individuals, foundation and corporations as well as fund raising efforts. An annual Harvest Day is held to commemorate the season's crop yield. The director states that each year a time is set aside to celebrate the accomplishments of the community. She further notes that on Harvest Day the community reaps the bounty of its communal effort and they look forward to continued growth from the land and within themselves.

To learn more about this dynamic community and corporation, visit the website at www.walnutway.org or call 414-264-2326. The address of Walnut Way is 2240 North 17th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53205. Should you ever visit Milwaukee, schedule a visit even if you are a novice gardener. The experience for me was memorable and demonstrated that there is no limitation on overcoming obstacles if we focus on what we have and not upon what we do not have. Walnut Way has shown its community how to soar high above its obstacles and reap the rewards of hard work, diligence and perseverance.