Pubdate: Mon, 22 Sep 2003
Source: The Southeast Missourian (MO)
Copyright: 2003, Southeast Missourian
Contact: http://www.semissourian.com/opinion/speakout/submit/
Website: http://www.semissourian.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1322

WHAT IS WEED & SEED?

Weed and Seed is a U.S. Department of Justice program aimed at using police 
and federal prosecutors to weed out drugs and violent crimes from target 
neighborhood and seed in programs that improve residents' quality of life.

Southeast Missouri Weed and Seed Inc. is a not-for-profit organization made 
up of five Missouri cities: Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Caruthersville, 
Charleston and Sikeston. Each city has a steering committee made up of 
business owners, U.S. Attorney representatives, educators, city officials 
and nonprofit organizations.

Each city has at least three representatives on the regional board of 
directors, which is the governing body of the organization.

Fifteen Weed and Seed Safe Havens run various youth and elderly programs, 
including job skills, job readiness, computer, home ownership and basic 
life skills.

Each city has a site coordinator to oversee day-to-day functions. This 
person coordinates youth and community activities. An executive director 
oversees the organization's functions, supervises coordinators, submits 
reports to the U.S. Justice Department and coordinates all other components 
of the organization.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom