By Adrinne Mackey
El Independiente
The Weed and Seed program and the Westside Coalition wanted to beautify Tucson while bringing neighborhoods closer together so they recently undertook a major neighborhood cleanup project.
It took place Feb. 16 and brought the residents of the West and South sides together.
People from South Tucson and the westside of Tucson havenÕt always gotten along in the past due to territorial disputes, according to many Tucson area residents, including Tucson City Councilman Jose Ibarra, who was there to help..
"This project teaches kids that you can get along," he said. Chants of "Westside" and "Southside" have separated the neighborhoods for years, but people noticed the problem and programs like Weed & Seed joined other volunteer groups to help bring communities together.
"Whether they are from South Tucson or Menlo Park, everyone is forced to help out today. I donÕt want to hear anymore of that Southside versus Westside type of stuff anymore," Ibarra said.
On a recent sunny Saturday, people from all parts of the city met at Manzo Elementary School, 1301 W. Ontario St., which is just south of Speedway and Grande, to clean up the school and surrounding neighborhoods.
City of Tucson Weed and Seed Coordinator Marcia Roberts and City of South Tucson Weed and Seed Coordinator Benny Gomez called on volunteers from Barrio Hollywood, the Menlo Park Neighborhood, the University of Arizona, the Volunteer Center and others to help with the cleanup.
"We just want to be involved with the community and do our part," said Chelsea Canale, a University of Arizona student and Navy ROTC representative who participated in the event.
Canale volunteered four hours of her time to help clean up a place she had never seen.
"I just want to beautify the neighborhood," she said.
From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers worked together to clean the area. After work, a potluck followed with neighbors from the South and West sides coming together to eat hotdogs and hamburgers.
"I just wanted to come out here today to play sports, eat, have fun and make new friends," said 12-year-old Jesus Valenzuela, a resident of Menlo Park who came to help out.
There were no gangs on the school basketball court Š just children from different parts of Tucson, and they were all getting along.
Manny Romero, program director of Project YES, saw that the project was working to join people from different backgrounds.
"This is a positive experience for a Saturday afternoon," Romero said. "Instead of playing video games these kids are out here getting to know each other while cleaning the streets."
Marcos Moreno, Drug Demand Reduction Community Project Coordinator, helps coordinate many activities to bring children together and help keep them off of the streets.
"We bring kids from different parts of town and take them bowling or ice-skating Š this project today is just one of many activities," he said. "And we also follow-up because you just canÕt put a band aid on the problem Š you need to keep involving the children with activities to keep them out of trouble."
Margaret McKenna, the president of the Barrio Hollywood Neighborhood Association has noticed a difference in criminal activity. "Crime is way down because keeping our neighborhoods clean has made a difference," she said.
"With the help of Tucson Police Department and the Weed & Seed program we can get rid of territories and show the youth that we are all one big community Š teamwork is the key."