After a long day of crime fighting, our Superheroes like to come home to a relaxing and safe neighborhood.
Yet with the economic downturn, more and more neighborhood have been facing troubled waters. And due to budget cuts, the city itself is no longer equipped to lend a hand to help them. So our heroes have risen to the challenge, and a taskforce has been created to help some of the failing neighborhoods in Silicon Valley.
Modeled after the Mayor’s own Gang-Prevention Task Force, the Responsible Landlord Engagement Initiative (RLEI) helps tenants in San Jose and Santa Clara County handle code-enforcement issues. RLEI is stepping in to advocate for and improve neighborhoods, ensuring their livability and safety. RLEI takes complaints and helps landlords and tenants resolve issues and keep properties up to code, making for a safer and more livable community.
Sometimes keeping properties up to code, safe, and welcoming requires a larger community effort. In comes Swinerton Builders to the rescue! As passionate about building better communities as they are building excellent structures, Swinerton Builders Silicon Valley partnered with the AGC Student Chapter of San Jose State University and the Rotary Club of Santa Clara to donate 442 hours towards their local “Rebuilding Day.”
These heroes worked together to upgrade a home owned by InnVision The Way Home, an organization which empowers homeless and at-risk families. Dedicated to building tomorrow today, Swinerton is bettering the communities in which they live and work through volunteer efforts, trusted relationships, and excellence in building. Recognized nationally since 1888, the 100% employee owned company has been building in the Silicon Valley and surrounding communities since 1948.
Taking the idea of community building through diverse partnerships even further, some of our Silicon Valley heroes have set their sights on a floating international technology oasis.
Building, and literally housing, an international community, Project Blueseed will be the world’s first floating technology park, anchored in international waters off the coast of Silicon Valley. Thanks to its geography, no visas will be necessary. Scheduled to launch at the end of 2013, it will be the corporate and residential home to 250 companies from 52 countries. Yes, we live in an interconnected age with Skype and other video conferencing. But if you want to grow a company, physical interactions are of paramount importance. The first of its kind, this international community will break down walls of communication, leading to a more integrated global community.
HOUSING EMPOWERMENT
How to Complete Your Mission:
- LEARN – Educate yourself about Recovery Act programs, outreach organizations, and investors in your city.
- ACT – What can you do about it? What kinds of citizen participation, legal action, or community collaboration are available to you? Using a self-described super power, create an alliance with an organization that either helps those who have become homeless, or that helps neighborhoods recover from empty houses and abandoned lots. Show us your new alliance with a photo and a recounting of your heroic deed.
- IMAGINE – Click here to unleash your creativity and see how well you can flight off foreclosure and blight!
- Ask A Mentor for Help
- See how our Round 1 Superheroes fought for housing empowerment!