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The City of Fall River, working in cooperation with Partners for a Healthier Community, has embarked on a Healthy City Initiative to improve the overall health and well-being of our city. Visioning sessions were held throughout the City over the summer of 2003.  Listed below are the recommendations that were submitted by over 1,000 participants at over 30 venues. Items that were unique are listed; those items that were frequently reported (e.g. "clean streets") are so noted. These items are summarized in a "ballot" that people who live or work in Fall River may submit to determine the most important Action Priorities. 

To read more about this project, see the article in the Herald News or click on the links at the bottom of this page.
Arts & Culture

Recommendation

Venue

Date

Arts and cultural opportunities

Forum

2/27/2003

Increased "breeder" initiatives for industry & the arts

Towne House

5/14/2003

An arts center - stages, music programs, dance troupe, studios

Towne House

5/14/2003

Street musicians

Towne House

5/14/2003

Activities at the library for residents and children

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003
Artists' colony like Alexandria, Virginia, with the Narrows First Baptist

7/6/2003
Arts for all ages Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Expand the efforts of the Narrows Center for the Arts Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Concerts in the parks Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Use of the arts C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
Embrace the Arts by way of zoning incentive to mill owners and artists C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
Emphasis on Preservation; re-visit what made this city great C of C Waterfront

7/23/03

 

Community Participation

Recommendation

Venue

Date

Foster neighborhood groups

Forum

2/27/2003

Hold more youth conferences

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Get input from youth

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Get involved

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

An interest and commitment to the community

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Organize

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Protest

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Campaign city council for changes

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Communicate better with each other

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Talk to the youth - work with parents

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Take the chance to participate

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Organize youth events like the Mayor's Youth Forum

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Keep talking with officials and hold them accountable

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Less isolationism

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Bring the gangs together

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Listen

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Give back

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Work together more with adults

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

People working together for the City

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Neighborhood get-togethers

Towne House

5/14/2003

Museums to see my own culture and other peoples culture

Towne House

5/14/2003

Reaching out to new people coming

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Setting up support communities for small ethnic groups

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Volunteer directors permanently on staff

Towne House

5/14/2003
Centers where citizens can communicate all their concerns to partners/parties who can contribute to creating a healthier + safer environment St. Anne's Hosp.

7/10/03
Set goals that are achievable without outside help (state, feds) C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
More people involved in activities, i.e. FR Celebrates America, Bicentennial C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
More people involved in charitable events, i.e., big name athletes or movie people to have an event for families C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
A list of neighborhood associations and services C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
City government needs to reflect the diverse population of the community Bethel Church

7/27/03
More or continued dialogue among the African American Community and city government Bethel Church

7/27/03
More participation from diverse community; need to reach out and be more active in the community Bethel Church

7/27/03
Distribution of information on city activities available to all Bethel Church

7/27/03
More involvement of citizens Bethel Church

7/27/03
More days like today that bring neighborhood children together North Park Festival

7/29/03
People working together in the neighborhoods South Main Senior

7/30/03
People work together / example like neighborhood crime watch South Main Senior

7/30/03
Volunteers - clean up efforts Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Linking children's groups with the elderly Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Support groups for single parent families Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Luchar todos juntos y que Fall Rier mejores en las cosa ver mās fondos para alludar mās a otros. (To struggle together and that Fall River improves in the things to see more funds to help others more). Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Mās projectos para los familias Hispanas. (More projects for Hispanic families.) Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Mās groupes Hispanos (More Hispanic groups) Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Make things for your neighbors Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Community website for all resources Dept. of Soc. Svs.

8/05/03
Community or organization members adopt a group and offer time and energy to support a specific activity Dept. of Soc. Svs.

8/05/03
Fall River wouldn't have so many outsiders Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
More activities bring the neighborhoods together Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
I would like to see more diverse activities, socially and professionally Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
More diverse programs on TV, also more ethnic programs on TV Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
Empowerment groups (job readiness, goal setting for future); financial empowerment groups) Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
More volunteer programs to pick trash Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
I think as long as we all do our part to make the city a good place, that's what matters Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
Eliminate personal political agendas and work with agencies who could offer the resources needed to obtain a healthier Fall River Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
Help do what you can for your citizens Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
Get rid of some of the people that don't care how they live and make it look bad for the ones that do care Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
A Hispanic Center to get help, shop, gather, etc. for Hispanics WIC / HealthFirst

8/15/03
"What" to do is not the problem; making a commitment to facilitate and participate in ANY initiative is the challenge Early Intervention

8/18/03
More involvement of people to create better neighborhoods Shepherd Center

8/25/03
Tell people to go to the senior centers so they can talk to other people Shepherd Center

8/25/03
A greater effort to try and meld come of the many different peoples living here. Shepherd Center

8/25/03
Trying to reach more immigrants and welcome them into the activities and goings on which are a part of this community Shepherd Center

8/25/03

 

Education

Recommendation

Venue

Date

Safe and clean streets

Forum

2/27/2003

Adult basic education

Forum

2/27/2003

Allocate money for return of cut school programs

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Better educated population

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Get rid of MCAS

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Small class sizes

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Excellent schools

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Adequate funding for education

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Lower drop-out rate

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Alternative schools / new schools

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Commitment to Education

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Education on drugs & violence - creativity

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

More tutors for person going to school who need help

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Sex education classes to lower teenage pregnancy rates

Towne House

5/14/2003

More centers for education and training

Towne House

5/14/2003

Between-the-cracks education centers and programs

Towne House

5/14/2003

Better education

Towne House

5/14/2003
City that has high education with graduates staying in the area for work with higher paying jobs St. Anne's Hosp.

7/10/03
More programs to recruit young people and challenge them to strive for more education C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
Better education Flint Senior Center

7/24/03
Great schools at all levels Bethel Church

7/27/03
Training / education among / between cultures Dept. of Soc. Svs.

8/05/03
Parenting education Dept. of Soc. Svs.

8/05/03
Education for mental health Charlton Memorial

8/05/05
BCC: add radiology program; partner with Cape Cod & U-Mass Dartmouth; increase nursing program Charlton Memorial

8/05/05
Affordable education Charlton Memorial

8/05/05
More educational opportunities for our children as well as for the adults who are un or under-educated Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
Education programs for those who work in low-paying/low-skill jobs Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
Educate people on cleanliness - washing hands after using bathrooms, etc. Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
Every child with at least a H.S. diploma Shepherd Center

8/25/03
More afterschool programs that could help children with their homework Shepherd Center

8/25/03
Education about methadone Habit Management

8/27/03

 

Employment & Training

Recommendation

Venue

Date

Healthy Jobs/economic growth

Forum

2/27/2003

Volunteering

Forum

2/27/2003

A community with good paying jobs and with no crime

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Better commercial / industrial base

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Jobs for youth

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Better paying jobs and companies paying their share of taxes

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Higher paid job options

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

More job opportunities w/ pay

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Youth opportunity and job training

Youth Forum

5/17/2003

Jobs (*This item was repeated numerous times.)

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Uma city muito industrialized

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Increased "breeder" initiatives for industry & the arts

Towne House

5/14/2003

A lot of jobs for people

Towne House

5/14/2003

More centers for education and training

Towne House

5/14/2003

Volunteer directors permanently on staff

Towne House

5/14/2003

Training for disabled

Towne House

5/14/2003

No poverty

Towne House

5/14/2003

Better jobs

Towne House

5/14/2003

Better jobs

Towne House

5/14/2003
Attracts good people that come to work and live with good intentions Bank St. Assoc.

6/12/2003
More state supported individuals working full days w/free Medicaid and day care St. Anne's Hosp.

7/10/03
Jobs for people that need them St. Anne's Hosp.

7/10/03
People should not be on welfare it they are capable of working Abbott Festival

7/22/03
More jobs for people Abbott Festival

7/22/03
More job opportunities at a high rate of pay C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
Jobs for elderly Flint Senior Center

7/24/03
More jobs, especially for the elderly and youth Bethel Church

7/27/03
Better jobs with higher pay Bethel Church

7/27/03
Summer jobs for teens Bethel Church

7/27/03
More people of color in the police and fire departments and city government Bethel Church

7/27/03
Give jobs to young people North Park Festival

7/29/03
Better jobs - people can't stay healthy when they don't work  Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
People need to get paid a decent amount of money to live here. Branch Supper

8/19/03
Help for Vet training & jobs - housing Branch Supper

8/19/03
Jobs that pay decent wages so especially single moms can support their family Habit Management

8/27/03

 

Environmental

Recommendation

Venue

Date

Clean environment

Forum

2/27/2003

Green space

Forum

2/27/2003

Less grime and crime

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Good water system

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Smoke-free environments

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Do a "neighborhood sweep"

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

A clean Fall River

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Open the incinerator

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Clean streets / parks

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Cleaner parks and playground areas

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Cleaner streets and parks

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Neighborhood clean-ups

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Clean city (no trash in the streets)

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Fine property owners for trash in front of their property or sidewalk

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

An ongoing campaign against smoking

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Water

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Clean up the river

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Cleaner streets

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

More access to waterways (Ex: fishing)

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Fines for persons who do not clear their sidewalks of snow

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Expanded use of the City's waterfront

Towne House

5/14/2003

More sanitation workers

Towne House

5/14/2003

Well-landscaped parks. A public garden to rival Boston's

Towne House

5/14/2003

Cleaner air

Towne House

5/14/2003

Clean environment

Towne House

5/14/2003
Cleaner streets denote community pride First Baptist

7/6/2003
Develop and free Quequechan River Niagara Nbrhood.

7/9/03
Mas limpieza en calles (cleaner streets) Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Clean it up! Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Less trash on the streets Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Not litter Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Stop littering Abbott Festival

7/22/03
We need more trees Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Birds singing, people having fun, and good parks Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Get rid of electric plants (Montaup and Brayton Point) Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Close the dump Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Keep Watuppa Pond clean Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Keep the streets cleaner Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Cleaner environment with a better slogan to support a stron g and vital community St. Anne's Hosp.

7/10/03
Litter control effort - City-wide plan C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
Clean city streets + yards - entrances C of C Waterfront

7/23/03
Get rid of the landfill Flint Senior Center

7/24/03
Stop the gas plants Flint Senior Center

7/24/03
More litter pickup North Park Festival

7/29/03
Cleaner parks North Park Festival

7/29/03
The city needs to be cleaned up North Park Festival

7/29/03
More policemen watching and fining people that litter, including throwing cigarette butts out of their car windows North Park Festival

7/29/03
Have a special day once a month where children & parents would clean up our parks and neighborhoods North Park Festival

7/29/03
Less graphitti North Park Festival

7/29/03
My eight-year-old son thinks we need more trees for healthier breathing North Park Festival

7/29/03
No pollution North Park Festival

7/29/03
No air pollution South Main Senior

7/30/03
Good water / good air South Main Senior

7/30/03
Pet care - clean up after them South Main Senior

7/30/03
Clean up your filthy streets South Main Senior

7/30/03
Keep land undeveloped South Main Senior

7/30/03
Nature trails around our environmental treasures Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Sponsor clean up days for school grounds ("earth day") Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Clean Up Program Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Greater use of Bio-reserve Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Volunteers to work on clean-up efforts Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Cleaner environment - streets and parks Talbot Middle Sch

7/31/03
Que ayudena otras personas a limpiar los parques. (Helping other people to clean the park.) Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Fines if property not cleaned up (hold landlords responsible) need to enforce laws or change laws Dept. of Soc. Svs.

8/05/03
We need more trashs cans so that people wouldn't litter Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
Clean waterfront / beaches for swimming Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
No incinerator - no BFI Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
Improving the degradation in and around the BFI landfill Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
Cleaner streets - I believe that if we enforce a cleaner community, although I know it will be difficult at first, it will stick! Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
Bring in clean industries Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
No BFI. Our drinking water is of the utmost importance Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
Trash barrels Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
No propane business in the city; keep it on the outskirts of the city Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
Stop al the pollution of big trucks blowing out all toxic waste WIC / HealthFirst

8/15/03
D.M. by targeting "families" eating habits & exercise habits; $ to nutritionists to educate all groups! WIC / HealthFirst

8/15/03
Efforts to reduce noise pollution (car radios) Early Intervention

8/18/03
Maintaining open spaces to counteract congested areas of the city Early Intervention

8/18/03
A healthier Fall River would not sit across the River from the two largest polluters in the state (from coal-burning plants). The cost to its citizens (in both their longevity + quality of life) is an outrage Early Intervention

8/18/03
Less dog poop on the sidewalks of Kennedy Park, one of the few places people go to get a cardiovascular walk in Early Intervention

8/18/03
More trash cans! Litter is terrible. Early Intervention

8/18/03
Tighter on people who litter. In RI it's a $500 litter fine. Branch Supper

8/19/03
Clean Cook Pond! Branch Supper

8/19/03
Stop letting other cities dump here Branch Supper

8/19/03
I see clearer land and scenery Branch Supper

8/19/03
Showing our children better examples when they are finished with candy papers, soda bottles, how to dispose of them properly instead of just throwing them anyplace. Shepherd Center

8/25/03
Clean the streets of dog waste so the quality of air is much cleaner, especially in the hot, humid summer months. Habit Management

8/27/03
Faith & Spiritual Life

Recommendation

Venue

Date

Faith and spirituality

Forum

2/27/2003

People slowing down with their lives so there's less stress

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Welcome each others' beliefs

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003
Stronger unity between congregations / agencies First Baptist

7/6/2003
Interaction of churches within neighborhoods Shepherd Center

8/25/03
Open prayer rooms staffed by church volunteers Shepherd Center

8/25/03
Get more people involved in Buddhism Buddhist Temple

8/26/03

 

Healthcare & Human Services

Recommendation

Venue

Date

Health care

Forum

2/27/2003

Adequate services

Forum

2/27/2003

Alternative medicine

Forum

2/27/2003

Free health care

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Free dental care to pick up the slack due to Mass Health cuts

SE Center I L

5/21/2003

Programs that lower alcohol and drug addiction

Towne House

5/14/2003

Programs that lower obesity

Towne House

5/14/2003

More opportunity and access to mental health/substance abuse services

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Access for everyone to healthcare, esp. mental health & substance abuse

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003

Better mental health system

Towne House

5/14/2003
Greater access to healthcare without red tape First Baptist

7/6/2003
Adequate housing, available health promotion and disease prevention initiatives, clean air, adequate water supply and sanitation, free immunizations and prenatal care to the disenfranchised St. Anne's Hosp.

7/10/03
Providing more affordable health care to children and elderly Abbott Festival

7/22/03
Access to healthcare at community clinics Flint Senior Center

7/24/03
Free medical care Flint Senior Center

7/24/03
Better mental care for everyone Bethel Church

7/27/03
Good quality of health care Bethel Church

7/27/03
Better mental health care, especially for children with depression Bethel Church

7/27/03
Programs in schools to pick up problems with kids earlier Bethel Church

7/27/03
People knowing the dangers of any sickness North Park Festival

7/29/03
Having a place to be tested HIV/AIDS prevention North Park Festival

7/29/03
Needle exchange North Park Festival

7/29/03
More free care for people without any insurance North Park Festival

7/29/03
More alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs North Park Festival

7/29/03
Decrease on the cost of the pills that we take as seniors South Main Senior

7/30/03
Access to good healthcare South Main Senior

7/30/03
Servicio de interpretes en clinicas y hospitales inclusive fines de semana. (Interpreter services in clinics and hospitals, including weekends) Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Servicio de orientacion sicotogica bilingue, en pos de consequir una optima salud mental que se refleja via en mejor servico a la comunidad. (Verbal, bilingual orientation service in pursuit of attaining optimal mental health that is reflected in better service to the community. Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Servicos sociale (Social services to support families in financial difficulty) Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Child care for working families Hispanic Apostolate

8/03/03
Clinics in the neighborhoods Lafayette Festival

8/05/03
More support for mental health, shut-ins and for homeless Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
A better health care plan Maplewood Festival

8/12/03
Affordable prescriptions for everybody! Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
Make sure there is help for fire victims Niagara Senior Ctr.

8/13/03
Free health clinics for less fortunate individuals meaning check-ups Branch Supper

8/19/03
Better health check ups at the schools Branch Supper

8/19/03
More compassionate access to medical care and medication Shepherd Center

8/25/03
Help the homeless to improve their circumstances by offering programs of education, etc. Shepherd Center

8/25/03
More interpreter services in community agencies with follow-up by the same translator to ensure continuity in care Buddhist Temple

8/26/03
Central communication in agencies and hospitals so everyone will know who to contact and how to get services Buddhist Temple

8/26/03
People who understand the Cambodian culture to provide services Buddhist Temple

8/26/03
Methadone awareness Habit Management

8/27/03
Better plan about coming off welfare. Giving more money in jobs some people would want to get off it. Habit Management

8/27/03
More help for people that are homeless and for families of drug addicts , like more family counseling and more homeless shelters. Habit Management

8/27/03

 

Healthy Food

Recommendation

Venue

Date

Quality food supply

Forum

2/27/2003

Lunch programs

Forum

2/27/2003

People to support programs & initiative

Parent Advisory

6/5/2003