Emporia residents Antonia & Stanford Felix have lived in cities throughout the U.S. Now they live in a restored Victorian home in the neighborhood between 6th & 12th streets, south of the Emporia State University campus. Antonia, an author and adjunct professor at ESU, and Stanford, a professor at ESU, are starting a grassroots effort to improve their historic neighborhood, with their primary goals being awareness and education. The Felix’s plan involves forming a cohesive way to educate people and bring awareness about city regulations regarding property. Their first step was forming a new neighborhood association, Emporia’s Eastside Cleanup Coalition. The coalition is currently working on developing flyers, in both English and Spanish, which would be distributed to neighbors. They have gathered information from the fire and police departments, animal control, and other city entities to help inform the public. The flyers will contain information on housing regulations and what the rules are regarding graffiti, paint jobs, couches and large items on porches or in yards, broken windows, overgrown lawns, keeping sidewalks clean, and animal safety rules. Once the education portion of the plan is underway, the city will get involved with enforcing the rules that are already in place. Emporia’s Eastside Cleanup Coalition will compile a collective report to give to the city’s housing specialist. The city relies on concerned individuals reporting violations, so once a complaint has been filed, they can begin enforcement. In an older area, with a high population of renter and occupant turnover, it’s important for people to understand the rules and the consequences for breaking them. “We’d like to have a large clean up available every six months,” Stanford said. “We want neighbors and the city to work together.” Stanford said that Emporia is a nice town, and he and Antonia, along with the coalition are working with the goal of making it even better. “We want Emporia to continue to be a location to visit, work and retire.”
From April 30 through May 4, hundreds of volunteers from the Emporia community and beyond gathered at Peter Pan Park to help build a new playground. The community-built playground started as a project of the Leadership Emporia Class of 2004. Four years later, the funds had been raised and the new play area for children and families to enjoy was ready to be built thanks in large part to committee members Mike Dorcey and Robin Nelson. According to Dorcey, the purpose of the project was to build a new playground and build community spirit at the same time. Dorcey and Nelson worked together to make the plan for a community playground a reality by raising funds and raising support from the community along the way. The community-built approach was pursued because it not only gave Emporia a new, exciting playground but also provided the community a chance to come together and build new relationships to benefit the community for decades to come, as well as give the young people of Emporia an example of how they can contribute to their community when it's their turn. “We were really impressed with how the community contributed. The Emporia Gazette was so supportive getting the word out, too,” Nelson said. Dorcey said it was a phenomenal experience and rewarding to see the finished product after more than four years of hard work. “People from all walks of life in Emporia were out there working shoulder to shoulder. For me, that was the highlight of the project.” Nelson also added, “ Everyone who helped is really proud of the new playground. It’s full of kids enjoying it whenever we go by!”
Earl Williams came to Emporia to play football for Emporia State University. He met his wife while attending ESU and they lived here 20 more years together while raising their family. Earl stays active in the Emporia community as a coach, and member of the Site Committee and the East Side Neighborhood Group. “I like the secure community and growth in diversity in Emporia. I love working with kids; it’s both fun and rewarding.”