Origin of W.I.N.S.

In November 2000, the John C. Lincoln Health Network submitted an application on behalf of the Sunnyslope Community to become recognized as a Weed and Seed community.  The U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for Weed and Seed contracts with communities annually to implement strategies that prevent, control and reduce violent crime, drug abuse and gang activity in designated high-crime neighborhoods throughout the country.  The strategy involves a two-pronged approach:  law enforcement and prosecutors weed out violent and drug related crime and community residents and agencies seed the community through human services and revitalization activities.  Sunnyslope was awarded Weed and Seed funding in August 2001.  Funding continued through 2006, a period of five years.

As a part of the planning process for the application, a steering committee was established.  This is a grass roots coalition that convenes community members, law enforcement, and city and social service agencies to identify and implement strategies aligned with Operation Weed and Seed. 

For the first three years of the Weed and Seed initiative, the coalition was referred to as “Sunnyslope Weed and Seed.”  In March 2005 the name was changed to “Sunnyslope W.I.N.S. (Where Impacting Neighborhood Succeeds),” although the community retained its Weed and Seed site status through December 2006. The new name allowed for easy transition into a sustainable coalition dedicated to building the capacity of community members and carrying on the strategy initiated by Weed and Seed through public-private partnerships.

 Sunnyslope W.I.N.S. Final Report to the U.S. Department of Justice Executive Office of Weed and Seed (dated January 10, 2007)