WTG Ft. Worth: Programs addressing homelessness, mental health helped Ft Worth win All-America City

[MagickMuffin]

We Are Legal, an urban cultural effort that aims to shift teens away from graffiti and toward art that everyone can appreciate.
Since 2007, the program has created 10 murals around areas of Fort Worth where graffiti has been an issue.


Directions Home focuses on reducing the city's chronic homeless population.
In the last two years, the number of people living on the streets of Fort Worth has dropped by 30 percent. More than 600 people are now in housing, and 368 have jobs.


Then there is Mental Health Connection, which arose from the 1999 shootings at Wedgwood Baptist Church, where a mentally ill man killed seven people and wounded seven others. Since it began 11 years ago, the program has generated more than $45 million in funds and in-kind services to improve local mental-health care.

Fort Worth was one of 10 cities honored by the National League of Cities and will keep the title for 10 years.
"The National League of Cities taught us that respect for diversity, collaborative problem-solving, creativity and tenacity are core values," said Otis Thornton, Fort Worth's homelessness coordinator. "I think Directions Home was cited by the judges because it embodied all four of those traits. Like the Mental Health Connection as well, we stepped up to the plate. ... We do have important issues that we have to face."



Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/06/18/3162601/programs-addressing-homelessness.html#my-headlines-default#ixzz1Ph7y4S43




Of course who knows where we will be in the future as our city just lost our Mayor and the runoff election held today looks as though the republicon won :cry:


But hey I will still celebrate Fort Worth winning the All American Award :party: :toast::applause:

[MagickMuffin]

1. I suppose I should kick this again, as I think this deserves some

:loveya:

After all here is a city that is very RED, yet we managed to do some very POSITIVE things within our community. So, perhaps maybe someone anyone on DU will think so as well and offer an :applause: to Fort Worth for an outstanding achievement and being recognized as such.

[Melissa G]

4. Hi Magick! Fort Worth is a truly lovely city!

Congrats to the citizens who made this happen! Pics of my favorite places in Fort Worth

[Ishoutandscream2]

2. Oh, no, can't say anything positive about Texas on DU

That's just so uncool!! LOL!!

Congrats, Fort Worth. Great city!!!

[Ishoutandscream2]

3. Should have written something negative in your OP title!

Kick for the haters.

[tammywammy]

5. Congrats to FTW!!!

:)