| |  | | | | TIME TO MAKE IT RIGHT!
This week we made a MAJOR economic announcement that has been ‘in the works' for a long time. Our efforts to continually explore new and innovative ways to encourage and enable public-private partnerships took a huge step forward. Along with the Green Impact Zone and city leaders, I was thrilled to announce the redevelopment of the vacant Bancroft School at 43rd and Tracy. The historic elementary school, located in the Manheim Park neighborhood, closed its doors longer than a decade ago. But it now has new life. New life that came after thousands and thousands of hours of hard work on the part of various groups, individuals and offices at the city, state and federal levels. And the contribution of those living in and leading the Manheim Neighborhood can't go without special thanks. With the Missouri Housing Development Corporation's approval of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits last week we officially got the green light. Bancroft School was also awarded Federal Historic Tax Credits, as well as Federal Income Housing Tax Credits. This area has seen decades of disinvestment and deterioration – and now it is time to Make It Right. We move forward on this project with a new and exciting partner! Brad Pitt's organization, Make It Right, is involved to the tune of more than 2 million philanthropic dollars to redevelop the school. The Make It Right (MIR) Foundation is now in Kansas City! MIR has worked closely with Dalmark, GIZ staff, MARC, Truman Medical Center, Neighborhood Housing Service, BNIM Architects, US Bank and JE Dunn Construction to ensure there is proper funding and an architectural plan that fits into the neighborhood and provides what residents need and want. The revitalization of the Green Impact Zone continues.
Below are just a few of the design highlights:
- *Bancroft will be converted to 29 units of housing
*An additional 21 units will be built on the site
*50 total LEED Platinum units
*Community space including a gym, locker rooms and a classroom
*Space for youth and senior activities, nutrition classes, Health and Wellness services, job training and financial counseling
Construction is scheduled to begin this summer.
Oh, did I forget the question everyone keeps asking? When is Brad Pitt coming to Kansas City? Stay tuned…
For more information on Make It Right: https://makeitright.org/
Congressman Cleaver making announcement that Bancroft School will be redeveloped
WHAT YOU WON'T HEAR ANYWHERE ELSE
As I walked into Bancroft School before the news conference began, I couldn't help but notice several kids playing near the school. They came running up and began asking questions about all of the activity going on in the neighborhood. Now, any member of my staff will tell you that kids are my eternal weakness. It doesn't matter how rushed we are, where we are headed, or what's going on – I will stop and chat with kids. I find immense joy in talking with young people. Their enthusiasm is contagious. So here we were, in a neighborhood that has seen years of crime, foreclosures, and numerous other struggles. But, these days there is much success underway in the Manheim Neighborhood – and such hope. Hope like I have not seen in a very long time. I began talking football with two young men who told me they were 9 and 11 years old. Then they said something that I haven't stopped thinking about since. One of them asked me, "This is really fun. Can I do something? I want to help clean up and make it look better." And the other boy said, "Me, too! Usually when I see lots of people standing around and news trucks parked in our neighborhood it's because something really bad has happened. This is much better." From the mouths of babes. Much better indeed.
GREEN IMPACT ZONE UPDATE
(Here they go again!)
Efforts continue in the Green Impact Zone each day to create a sustainable and thriving environment for residents. Those efforts will help neighborhoods inside the Zone, but will also make a great impact on the health of the city as a whole. Some of this week's activities include:
- *Job training classes
*Counseling with those still looking for employment
*Manheim neighbors coordinating cleanups with a focus on illegal dumping and code enforcement
*Ivanhoe neighbors working on designs for new infill housing
*Blue Hills neighbors working on repurposing the 5008 Prospect building into a facility that will include a center for green career development, training and business development for small business contractors, community programs and services
MISSOURI CONGRESSMAN CROSSES INTO KANSAS
(JUST DAYS BEFORE THE BIG MU/KU SHOWDOWN)
Congressman Cleaver being interviewed by Dole Institute Associate Director and
National Black Caucus of State Legislators President Barbara Ballard
Despite the big basketball game this weekend between the Mizzou Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks, this Congressman from Missouri's Fifth District was given a very warm and hospitable reception. I got the privilege to have dinner at the Dole Institute of Politics and answer moderator questions, as well as those from the audience. I got several questions about civility, or I guess I should say the lack of civility, in politics. As you know, promoting civility remains one of my top priorities. I believe it is possible to have honest disagreements as we work through very complex and important issues. But it is also critically important to work together with respect and compromise. Standing firm to our beliefs does not give any of us license for disrespect, name calling or painting those with varying opinions as ‘evil'. We are the greatest country on earth and to stay that way, I believe we must place a great importance on civility. Working together without demonizing each other is a way forward to help solve real problems faced by real people.
My thanks to the Dole Institute of Politics, those who attended and the college students who invited me to come and visit. The Institute promotes political and civic participation through a variety of bipartisan public programs.
If you'd like to see the interview from the other evening – please visit the site below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBd2CCkHXvU&feature=youtu.be
And in the true sense of civility I would like to wish the Jayhawks good luck this weekend against Mizzou – simply adding – GO TIGERS!
CIVILITY CORNER
You may already know this famous story from Aesop's Fables. One day, the wind and the sun were sitting around casually gazing upon the goings on in the earth. A man caught their attention as he walked in an open area with a long and heavy coat.
An argument ensued over which of them could cause him to remove it. A flip of the coin and the wind got to go first. It blew and blew which at one point knocked the man down. However the man rose to his feet and drew his coat tighter and tighter. "You lose!" the sun shouted. The sun then simply increased its brightness and warmth, which caused the man to slip out of his coat.
The purpose of the fable is to understand that it's much easier to get people to cooperate with you if you don't try to blow them away with the hard winds of verbal hostility. Firm and respectful words are infinitely better. This value is timeless and spans across cultures. After all a soft word turns away anger.
Follow me on Twitter!
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Emanuel Cleaver, II
Member of Congress
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101 W 31st St.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: 816-842-4545
Fax: 816-471-5215 | Independence Office
211 West Maple Avenue
Independence, MO 64050
Phone: 816-833-4545
Fax: 816-833-2991 | Washington Office
1433 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: 202-225-4535
Fax: 202-225-4403
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