Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/1122874
20 | I NSIGH T • J u n e 2 0 19 w w w . i n s i g h t o n b u s i n e s s . c o m FOR THE LOVE A new roof, updated siding, a fresh coat of paint. Individually, these may not sound like large-scale projects, but taken together and applied to an entire neighborhood, they can prove transformative. Habitat for Humanity's Rock the Block is all about delivering these small projects that create a big impact. A program of the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity since 2015, Executive Director John Weyenberg says Rock the Block helps residents of targeted neighborhoods as well as the greater community. "e community as a whole wins because we improve living conditions for our friends and neighbors and colleagues," he says. "Families they're directly serving win because they'll be living in a better place." Habitat for Humanity is best known for providing simple, decent and affordable housing to families. Rock the Block complements this mission, revitalizing neighborhoods to bring fresh, new hope to communities, Weyenberg says. e program focuses on exterior work such as window installations, siding work, roof replacements, painting projects and landscaping. Ryan Roth, director of community development for Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat, says exterior work is meaningful and provides significant value to homeowners. As is the case with all Habitat projects, the organization doesn't do projects for free. Rather, they're offered at a minimal cost — primarily the cost of materials, Roth says. Recipients of the work help with the projects to the extent they can. For example, a 94-year-old World War II veteran handed out water bottles at one project site. "We don't work for people; we work with people," Roth says. Four years ago, the Rock the Block program started small, with the nonprofit selecting one neighborhood. Weyenberg Sum of its parts Small projects lead to big results in Habitat's Rock the Block program B Y J E S S I C A T H I E L Volunteers complete a project as part of Rock the Block in Brillion. In the program, small improvements such as landscaping work or a fresh coat of paint lead to big overall changes for neighborhoods. says lot of information and data gathering went into choosing the Nienhaus Square/Pierce Park area in Appleton for its first project. at diligence paid off, as the organization embarked on a three-year effort of renovating 10 neighborhoods. at ended last fall, and now it's picking 10 new areas. Since 2015, the program has only grown. It used to focus only on the immediate Fox Cities, but now it's branching out. In May, Brillion completed its first two-day Rock the Block event, and a Waupaca project is slated for 2020. Sara Pielhop, a funeral director at Brillion's Wieting Funeral Home, helped lead the charge to bring the program to her city. Soon, community leaders such as Dan and Mimi Ariens and prominent businesses such as Ariens Co., Endries International and Professional Plating got involved and offered financial support. e Brillion project, which encompassed the city's Main Street, included 21 residential and 15 community projects. Pielhop says it was heartening to revitalize the neighborhood and provide help to those in need. "Volunteering is good for the soul; it's good for the body; it's good for the community," Pielhop says. Roth agrees. He says these projects lead to relationship building — among both volunteers and neighbors — and create a pride of ownership and a feeling of being part of the solution. Benefits don't stop there, Weyenberg says. Habitat works with police departments to gather statistics, and these neighborhoods tend to see positive trends aer completing a Rock the Block project. is fall, the Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity will embark on its largest, most ambitious undertaking yet. e Menasha project, which will run from September through November, encompasses an area three times the size of a typical project. Weyenberg says Menasha has much to offer, but its housing stock is aging. is project, which runs from Ninth Street to Racine Street, aims to provide the area needed revitalization. Business leaders, including John Bergstrom and Kathi Seifert, have championed the project and have helped raise a significant amount of money, with a goal of netting $1.2 million. Oshkosh gets in on the act is spring, Habitat for Humanity of Oshkosh kicked off its first-ever Rock PAT M A H O N E Y