OPERATION WEED AND SEED PROGRAM: LAWRENCEVILLE
Operation Weed and Seed concentrates on targeted law enforcement, educational, social and recreational efforts anchored by on-going, aggressive housing, job-training and economic / neighborhood development strategies already underway in the Lawrenceville community. The program also unites numerous prevention programs with these on-going efforts to reduce community-based factors, such as economic distress, neighborhood disorganization, and unemployment that can contribute to substance abuse and violent crime. The program is based on a dual approach. The "weeding" portion of the program works through a task force of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies organized to eliminate open-air drug trafficking and to mobilize residents in conjunction with the City of Pittsburgh's community policing initiatives to assist in identifying and removing offenders. The equally important "seeding" portion of the program focuses on a comprehensive and coordinated set of activities designed to improve the neighborhood's economic, physical and social health with efforts by qualified local organizations in the areas of education, social services, youth development, recreation, job training, drug and alcohol prevention and treatment, and related activities in the Lawrenceville community. Furthermore, the seeding programming enhances access to intersecting networks of residents and service providers in public safety and human services, as well as community, social and religious organizations.
