Summary
My name is Shae Ashe and I am 23 year old college student from Norristown, Pennsylvania. I love my town and I am not ashamed to say where I was raised. Unfortunately, the reputation the town has gained over the years, the majority of the town won't say the same. However, I see the beauty inside Norristown. I see what we can become but we need a way to motivate the town to get back on our feet. The project is simple, I plan to host clean-ups and community events beginning summer 2013 to restore Norristown’s image. The money raised will all go to these efforts around town so this can go further with the more money we raise. I plan to reward our volunteers with gift cards, prizes and things to do in Norristown. When the community starts to clean up and benefits of having a clean town, it will motivate the rest of the community to step up and do their part. Even if they clean up their front yard and keep their grass trimmed, that's helping to make Norristown look beautiful again. Businesses will want to come back to the town and the wrong crowd will realize that they are no longer welcomed in OUR town. I hope this campaign can kick off so we can bring a change to the town I call home, Norristown! Please donate what you can. Together, we can all make a difference!
What We Need & What You Get
I plan to reach out to local media and businesses notifying them of the movement I am creating in Norristown. This way, we can gain the support of the community and begin going to work on The Norristown Project. Once we have a team in place, we will head to the streets every Saturday and Sunday with different cleaning projects around Norristown, PA. The $10,000 will be what we need to get started on different projects around town. The Norristown Project will create a ripple effect in Norristown where the true believers of this town will come out to make it beautiful again. This grassroots movement will spread to other areas around the country and maybe the world! The focus is to have the youth engaged but we encourage all ages to help out in one way or another.
The town of Norristown does not have a distinct community leader that can rally the troops to pitch in for a better tomorrow. I hope to bring that leadership to the town and plant new seeds for the next generation of residents. Unfortunately, the county had to cut funding for much of our non-profits that led such movements like the one I am doing. I plan to show Norristown that it is possible to do anything when you have the support of others.
The main thing I need is funding to start off with purchasing cleaning equipment for the volunteers. Being a college student, I don't have the financial resources to purchase these items on my own. Having 10k will go towards paint to cover vandalism, trash bags, trash pickers, lawnmower and gas, prizes for volunteers, tee shirts, gloves and masks.
The Impact
As of the 2010 Census, Norristown's population was 40.9% White, 35.9% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian, and 4.6% were two or more races. 28.3% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry, which is almost triple the Hispanic population in 2000. To say the least, we are a very diverse community but sometimes divided. The Norristown Project will turn those percentages into 100% and bring the community together on a common goal.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you live in the Norristown area and would like to be a part of our ground movement, feel free to contact me! I am available by email. My email is shae.ashe@gmail.com . To learn more information, feel free to contact me anytime. I am also on Facebook and Twitter @ShaeAshe
