TNP announces award recipients

Photo

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR | Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership has named the recipients of the ServeOhio 2016 Service Award for the Northeast Ohio region. They are Neil and Jennifer Hockman. Above, shown working on the Good Looking View Children’s Garden are the Hockmans and their children. In front from left are Neil, Christian and Jennifer Hockman. Standing on the hill are Breana and Makenzie Hockman.

Staff report

WARREN

Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership is announcing the recipients of the ServeOhio2016 Service Award for the Northeast Ohio region. They are Neil and Jennifer Hockman, who are mentors for TNP’s Lots of Love Program through which they shepherd the Good Looking View Children’s Garden at 1236 Buena Vista Ave. NE.

Mary Cannon, ServeOhio Program Development and Evaluation Officer, will present the award at 2 p.m. April 11 at the Children’s Garden and tour the facility. The community is invited to a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Buena Vista Cafe, 1305 Buena Vista Ave. NE, hosted by TNP.

Denise Rising, TNP’s Lots to Love program manager, praised the Hockmans’ work of transforming a once blighted site into an area for engagement and educational opportunities.

TNP Executive Director Matt Martin said volunteers with this level of commitment, dedication and spirit in giving dead space a new life represents the cornerstone of true neighborhood revitalization.

The project received technical support and funding from the Trumbull County Land Bank through the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Neighborhood Initiative Program.

The couple, children in the program and volunteers gave more than 550 hours to install a children’s play area, raised garden beds, a greenhouse and a pavilion from May to September of 2015. The Raymond J. Wean Foundation Neighborhood Success Grant was given for continued work in the children’s garden in October 2015.

TNP is a nonprofit development corporation serving the neighborhoods of Warren, and empowers and promotes sustainable development through projects and programs that improve the quality of life and build a healthy, thriving community.

For information, visit www.tnpwarren.org.