What is the purpose of Rock the Block?
Trust building.
Let's back up, though. Rock the Block is a marketing name of a blitzed effort made by a local Habitat for Humanity to complete several quick-win projects in a particular neighborhood over a weekend. Habitat Rock the Block's happen all over the country.
The Community Revitalization Collective (CRC) piggybacks on this effort in the Whittier neighborhood for one of the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls' Rock the Block events throughout the year.
Our version of Rock the Block includes multiple partnerships and extends beyond the efforts and projects of Habitat for Humanity. In this 2023 version, we also built planters and bus stop benches. We had a forum on how neighborhoods invest in themselves and a street dance to promote safer streets. We had aerial silks and BBQ for entertainment.
As part of our grant work for the South Dakota Community Foundation, we are trying to better understand the needs of the people in Whittier. Food is one of the best ways to connect, engage, and build trust with new people.
The use of food and meals can be a powerful tool for building trust and fostering community connections. Here are several ways in which it can contribute to building trust:
Breaking Bread Together: Sharing a meal has long been recognized as a social and cultural ritual that brings people together. When individuals gather around a table and share food, it creates a sense of unity and fosters unity. This shared experience helps break down barriers, encourages conversation, and promotes understanding among community members.
Cultural Exchange: Food is deeply rooted in culture and tradition. By organizing events that celebrate diverse culinary traditions, communities can allow individuals from different backgrounds to showcase their amazing food and share their cultural heritage. This exchange helps promote appreciation and respect for other cultures, fostering an environment of inclusivity and acceptance.
Collaboration and Cooperation: Preparing a meal often requires cooperation and collaboration. When community members come together to plan, cook, and serve a meal, it encourages teamwork and builds a sense of shared responsibility. This collaborative effort helps create bonds and strengthens the fabric of the community.
Nurturing Relationships: Sharing a meal provides an informal setting where community members can interact and get to know each other on a personal level. It offers a chance for conversations beyond work or immediate tasks, allowing individuals to connect on a deeper level and build meaningful relationships. This sense of familiarity and connection promotes trust among community members.
Breaking Down Barriers: Food can break down social barriers and create a level playing field. Everyone needs to eat regardless of social status, age, or background. Community-building efforts can create an inclusive environment where everyone is welcome and valued by providing communal meals or potluck gatherings, fostering a sense of belonging and trust.
Empathy and Support: Food can also be used to support and show empathy to those in need within the community. Organizing food drives, community kitchens, or shared meals for vulnerable populations can help create a sense of solidarity and compassion. By addressing basic needs and demonstrating care for one another, trust is built, and community bonds are strengthened.
Using food and meals in community building provides a platform for connection, understanding, and collaboration. It helps bridge divides, nurtures relationships, and fosters a sense of belonging, ultimately leading to greater trust and cohesion within the community.
We want the Whittier residents to see that we have positive intentions and hope to facilitate avenues for them to invest in themselves.
Rock the Block Day 2
With Day 2 of Rock the Block, the focus shifted towards community and communing. We wanted to hang out, eat, and listen. As you can see from the photo set below, the event was diverse, inclusive, and a welcome respite. We had about 400 people join us for a barbeque at lunch.
‘Rock the Block’ focuses on Whittier neighborhood
By Dakota News Now staff
Published: Jun. 11, 2023 at 4:33 PM CDT
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - The Union Gospel Mission, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Greater Sioux Falls, hosted a local outreach event.
From 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, the second annual Rock the Block gathering took place at 8th and Weber with food, art and activities for children.
On Saturday, Habitat for Humanity was in the Whittier neighborhood working on home revitalization projects.
The event served as a way to inform community members about outreach opportunities that are available.
“It’s important to do this with our neighborhood because Whittier has been separated so much,” Union Gospel Mission CEO Eric Weber said. “With so much going on downtown, people can feel that they’re being overpowered or overtaken and we just want to bring them together. We’re still unified on that side of the railroad track and this side we’re all one community.”
The Union Gospel Mission will also have representatives in Pierre this week for the Homelessness Summit.
Copyright 2023 KSFY. All rights reserved.
Sioux Falls community rallies around Rock the Block
by: Sam Schauer
Posted: Jun 11, 2023 / 05:42 PM CDT
Updated: Jun 12, 2023 / 05:26 AM CDT
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The second day of the Rock the Block kicked off with a neighborhood barbecue today. Not only was there food, but there were also various services from eye check-ups to phone deals.
Outside of the Union Gospel Mission building on Eighth Street in Sioux Falls Sunday, you could find the aroma of a barbecue and the view of a community coming together.
“This is just something special. We’re doing Ricky’s Meats barbecue, so they’re barbecuing up meats for us. We have our own community gardens that are providing vegetables and stuff like that,” said Union Gospel Mission CEO Eric Weber.
It wasn’t just food being offered at this Rock the Block Party, though.
“We have aerials that will be happening, we have a lot of information, we have vision for the kids. We have music happening, community groups talking about how can we plan stuff and our community,” Weber said.
People get chance to see what happens to their trash Saturday
Pastor Laura Thompson says these groups are here because they care about the community.
“They want to help people get better, and let people know that, ‘Hey we’re here, we’re available, we can serve you, how can we help you out?’ Because we want what’s best for the community,” Thompson said,
“All these providers provide things for people for free. So, if you’re in need, they have ways you can get it. So, we just want to make sure we can help other people,” Weber said.
Weber says providing community support to everybody is what this event is for.
“Each one of the persons that are here, rich or poor, they’re citizens. And so we want to bring citizens together in our community to love one and other,” Weber said.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls organized beautification projects in the Whittier neighborhood for the first day of the Rock the Block event.
Rock the Block Day 1
June 10th was our first Rock the Block of 2023. This year the event was two days long with two separate focuses. On Saturday, we mostly built, painted, and planted things. On Sunday, we mostly focused on conversation and community. Below you’ll see many pictures of trees planted, houses painted, and benches and planters built.
We completed projects at 11 houses, 1 elementary school, and one shelter.
Community input 5/24/23
At this week’s Citizen Taco we gathered more community input. Here is what we learned.
Ideas to make the neighborhood better
Activities for children
Job search
GED
Shelter for natives
Hygeine
Clothes
Better shelters
Recoving meetings
Public trash bins
Better housing
Ban liquor
Speed bumps
Trees
Less cops
April Potluck
This months potluck was focused on getting neighbors into gardening. We had great discussions about who was gardening already, who wants to garden, who in the room is an expert and novice gardener, etc. Gardens are one of the outcomes we will use to measure the health and wellness of the neighborhood as a whole.
Planting gardens in neighborhoods can have a wide range of unexpected benefits. Here are a few examples:
Improved air quality: Gardens help to absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which can improve the air quality in neighborhoods. This is especially important in urban areas where there is a lot of pollution.
Community building: Gardens provide a space for people to come together and work towards a common goal. This can help to build a sense of community and bring people closer together.
Increased access to healthy food: Gardens can provide fresh, healthy produce to people who may not have easy access to it. This can help to improve the health of people in the neighborhood and reduce food insecurity.
Improved mental health: Gardening has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health. It can reduce stress and anxiety, and provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
Increased property values: Well-maintained gardens can help to increase the value of nearby properties. This can be especially beneficial for homeowners who are looking to sell their homes in the future.
Habitat creation: Gardens can provide habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including birds, insects, and other animals. This can help to promote biodiversity in the neighborhood.
Overall, planting gardens in neighborhoods can have a number of unexpected benefits that go beyond simply providing a beautiful space.
The tools keep coming
I went to Pipestone, MN to purchase a tool belt for myself. When I arrived, the homeowner had a garage full of tools that she was interested in getting rid of. I let her know, with great excitement, about our new Sioux Falls Tool Lending Library and she told me just to take everything. I filled the Subaru with ladders, sawhorses, and buckets of screwdrivers. Seeing how fast people get the concept and want to join is so fun.
March Potluck
We had 18 people attend our potluck. Many were fresh faces. You might be asking why does BAM and the CRC do potlucks?
Potlucks have a rich history that can be traced back to ancient times. The term "potluck" originally referred to a meal or dish made from whatever ingredients were available, and it was often shared among a community or group of people. Over time, potlucks have evolved into a popular social gathering where people bring homemade dishes to share with others.
The history of potlucks can be found in various cultures around the world. For example, in medieval Europe, "pot luck" referred to a meal that guests would bring to share at a communal table. In the United States, potlucks have been a part of American culture since the early days of colonization, with settlers bringing dishes to share at community gatherings and events.
Potlucks serve several social roles. Firstly, they are a way for people to come together and share food, creating a sense of community and camaraderie. Potlucks often involve a diverse array of dishes, reflecting the culinary traditions and tastes of different individuals, families, or cultures. This can lead to a rich and varied dining experience, with opportunities to try new foods and learn about different culinary traditions.
Potlucks also provide a practical and economical way to share the responsibilities and costs of preparing a meal. By bringing a dish to share, each participant contributes to the overall meal, reducing the burden on any one individual or household to provide all the food. This makes potlucks particularly popular for large gatherings, such as family reunions, church events, or office parties.
In addition, potlucks can be a way to celebrate and showcase individual culinary skills or cultural heritage. People often take pride in their homemade dishes and enjoy sharing them with others. Potlucks can also be an opportunity for friendly competition, with participants vying for the title of "best dish" or "most creative dish."
Potlucks also promote inclusivity and accommodate different dietary preferences or restrictions. Participants can bring dishes that cater to various dietary needs, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free options, ensuring that everyone can find something to eat and enjoy.
Overall, potlucks have a long and diverse history, serving as a way for people to come together, share food, foster community, and celebrate culinary traditions. They continue to be a beloved social gathering and a reflection of the cultural diversity and communal spirit of different communities around the world. So, whether it's a casual gathering among friends or a large community event, potlucks have a special place in many cultures and play an important social role. So, whether it's a casual gathering among friends or a large community event, potlucks have a special place in many cultures and play an important social role.
Maybe you should mop that
The back area of the Community Resource Library had some super cool but filthy checkered tiles. This area will be used as a tool library. Some friends from the local Strong Towns chapter came to help us clean up. We also removed the remainder of the moldy wood in the wall with the leak. Fortunately, this wall is not load-bearing. The whole building is concrete everything. Behind that demolished wall will be the BAM Civic Biodesign Library.
I think we ended up doing eight rounds of scrubbing and mopping. Anyone recognize the tile scrubber from the 1970s?
Out with the old
The Whittier Resource Library project at 921 East 8th used to be The Red Sea Pub and Old Skoolz. We even heard that the basement was used as a butcher shop decades ago. No matter the past use, it needs some love. You can see in the photos that a plumbing leak damaged the wall, and we pulled off some plaster to survey the situation. We also began pulling the valves and hoses out of the walk fridge that used to keep the beer cold. Some things have to get messy before they get clean.
A Potluck on 8th Street
On Saturday, February 11th, the BAM Team and I organized the first neighborhood potluck in the space formerly the Red Sea Pub and soon to be known as a yoga studio called the Joy Collective. This potluck was put together to “organize the organizers” for the Community Revitalization Collective for the Whittier Neighborhood. A simple meal to commune and break bread with leaders. That one potluck has spawned, in one week, all sorts of collaborations and opportunities. A Liberian community center is getting started across the street. Local growers are discussing collectively managing plots within the Whittier Neighborhood and using the food produced to fuel the potlucks. A group of us “Strong Towns” types are planning to redesign 8th Street for pedestrians, then, after engaging with the neighbors, pull out the paint and do the lines ourselves.
Like this one, there will be over 50 potlucks this spring and summer. These will be held where people gather in Whittier. It will be time for community members to talk to one another and discuss what they love about where they live. Myself and other members of BAM will be there to listen and begin to understand the neighborhood's identity. What gives this place, known as Whittier, a sense of community?
I am the Partnership Developer of the BAM Institute of Civc Biodesign. The BAM Institute of Civic Biodesign is a higher education organization dedicated to raising emergent leaders who deploy whole-system, regenerative strategies through immersive learning in embedded community contexts. Civic Biodesign is the practice of studying, mapping, and synthesizing systems where nature and humans meet to create conditions for wellness in specific bioregions. We recently received the South Dakota Community Foundation’s Big Ideas Grant to develop the Community Revitalization Collective within the Whittier Neighborhood of Sioux Falls, SD.
The CRC team will build human and biocapacity in the neighborhood through the human-centered process of empathy, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing. We will partner with neighbors and surrounding agencies, like Habitat for Humanity, Helpline 211, and the Union Gospel Mission, to alter the built environment using regenerative strategies to build wellness into the system. The CRC emergent leaders will also identify and develop new neighborhood leaders so the area can lead from within. These future projects could resemble gardens, plazas, murals, community centers, and maker spaces.
The CRC will operate out of the Whittier Neighborhood Resource Library, a neighborhood storefront for gathering and organizing. This space will be focused on providing resources and services to support community members in taking action on social, economic, and political issues that affect their neighborhood. This space will provide resources such as information, training, and tools that help community members develop the skills and knowledge needed to take action on issues that are important to them. From this space, I will also be operating as a community health care worker to connect with the houseless populations that frequent several of the shelters within blocks of the space.
Neighborhood Action
[From our partner Ian Groves]
The Community Revitalization Collective at Union Gospel Mission Sioux Falls is neighbors working with neighbors to improve Whittier neighborhood. We plan and execute revitalization projects that strengthen the community from the inside out. We fix things, find solutions, and share God’s love through a diverse range of helping hands. We are local businesses, organizations, property owners, tenants, and unhoused people actively caring for the community. Our projects range from clean up to construction to beautification to praying with neighbors in the hospital. The CRC builds community through heartfelt, hands-on engagement. Here’s a glimpse at a day with the CRC.
First Fruits Harvest Festival
900 neighbors fed.
UGM & BAM Presents:
1st Annual First Fruits Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 17 from 2pm-8pm. This event is located in front of the UGM Main Office building at 701 E. 8th Street in Sioux Falls.
FREE Entry
Freewill offering at entrance
Bring your favorite entree to share
- food
- live music
- community outreach
- clothing drive
- activities
- crafts
2pm - Activities start
6pm - Community Feast
Recap:
- 45 haircuts
- 1000 lbs of fresh vegetables & produce
- 900 meals passed out
Street Cleanup
[Update from our partner Ian Groves]
The UGM Community Revitalization Collective hit the streets to clean up garbage and connect with the people in the Whittier neighborhood. Paul Ellis sent us a vibrant youth group from his church (thank you), and YWAM missionaries from the Flathead Indian reservation in Montana joined us — Sisa Vukialau and Timothy Nanai. We prayed with transients in the park, pedestrians on the street, and residents in their homes. And we made some new friends. We even moved a chainsawed couch out of a house. Finally, the CRC just got a thumbs-up from the owner of T-Juanita’s restaurant to begin developing an external mural project on East 8th St. and N. Nesmith Ave., across from Union Gospel Mission Sioux Falls.
First Community Care Event
[Post from partner UGM]
The UGM Community Revitalization Collective held its first Community Care event at Heritage Park in Sioux Falls. In just over 2 hours, our team delivered 30 haircuts, engaged in countless prayers, and laughed and loved. People from across Whittier neighborhood came out to visit together and sit under the shade trees. Revitalization was evident in the sense of dignity, peace and joy shared by all who gathered in the park.
Thanks Scott Murfield and Gloria Dei - Sioux Falls, Marcus Ray Brandenburg and Habitat for Humanity, Tamara Grove and Transformation Consulting Agency , Jordan Deffenbaugh and BAM Institute of Civic Biodesign, Ciji Kay Brandenburg and Collision, Makale Yeager, Fran Rice and Health Connect of South Dakota, Stone Group Architects Inc., Union Gospel Mission Sioux Falls, Lisa, Wendy, Tanya and Great Clips.
Clean up Day 1
Civic Biodesign can easily stay an academic and philosophical pursuit. That is not the goal. The goal is understanding system wellness and how to create new conditions. Then get busy with the dirty work of changing and creating conditions.
A year and a half ago we began a partnership with the UGM and started learning about the wellness of the Whittier neighborhood in Sioux Falls.
Yesterday is a prime example of what Civic Biodesign looks like in action. Under the keen partnership with Ian Grove, Tamara Grove, and other community leaders our Fellow Jordan Deffenbaugh was able to take direct community action on condition creation.
Please read the post below. Ask Ian, Tamara, or Jordan about it. Oh and ask them about this Community Revitalization Think Tank they are working on. It’s rad and makes a real difference.
Community Revitalization Think Tank Starts
The CRC begins.
[Post from our partner UGM]
What is the UGM Community Revitalization Think Tank?
The Community Revitalization Think Tank (CRTT) is a collective of community partners who Think, Plan, and Execute revitalization projects. We aim to preserve and enhance the East 8th Street neighborhood in downtown Sioux Falls.
We build community through heartfelt, hands-on engagement. Our holistic community outreach projects range from clean-up to infrastructure and center on:
Safety and functionality
Walkability and livability
Beauty and well-being
CRTT is hearts, minds, and hands at work showing God’s love in the neighborhood.
Please let us know if you would like to volunteer or help to equip our mission.
UGM Community Revitalization Think Tank:
iang@ugmsiouxfalls.com
Our Advisory Board includes the following Partners of Peace:
Habitat for Humanity, Marcus Ray Brandenburg
Transformation Consulting Agency, Tamara Grove
BAM Institute of Civic Biodesign, Jordan Deffenbaugh
The Future of East 8th Street: Rock the Block Edition
500 neighbors fed.
The BAM Institute of Civic Biodesign, in partnership with the Union Gospel Mission, presents The Future of East 8th Street. Citizens, Community Leaders, and Organizational Representatives will gather along the 8th Street Corridor to participate in the painting of a crosswalk, as well as fun, family-friendly activities and games organized by the Union Gospel Mission, and a community forum facilitated by the BAM Institute of Civic Biodesign.
Engage with neighborhood residents, business owners, social services, first responders, faith-based communities, and others who are affected by or interested in the East 8th Street corridor. All stakeholders are invited to share their ideas or simply listen to others. The Open Space Technology format provides for a dynamic and collaborative conversation forum where all voices can be heard and recorded. The issues that matter most to the neighborhood are the issues that are discussed. Through this process, community members can collectively inspire and collaborate to develop the most effective strategies for present and future challenges.
Streets are public spaces. Communities pool their resources to develop these corridors for commerce building and connectivity. Since the advent of the automobile some hundred years ago, however, streets have become less and less hospitable for those on foot. Pedestrian deaths continue to rise. Kids walking to school has almost become nonexistent. Speeding through neighborhoods has made crossing the street a questionable act. It does not have to be this way. Our streets can be safe. Our streets can be for the people.
This issue, as well as many others, will be at the forefront of the discussion.
Join us in front of the Union Gospel Mission Thriftstore at our Public Cafe for
coffee and conversation on Sunday, May 29th at 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM. The UGM Rock the Block event will be happening 11 AM - 5 PM, so stay for food, music, and community building.
UGM Presents:
Rock The Block Community Outreach Party on Sunday, May 29, 2022, from 11 am-5 pm. This event will be located outside the UGM Main Office at 701 E. 8th Street in Sioux Falls. More details to follow!
- Food
- Live Entertainment
- Bike Safety Education
- Community building
- Outreach Opportunities
For all questions, contact 605-334-6732 or office@ugmsiouxfalls.com.
Recap:
500 neighbors fed.
'Rock the Block' party aims to raise walkability awareness
https://www.dakotanewsnow.com/video/2022/05/30/rock-block-party-aims-raise-walkability-awareness/
