How should the city of Denver respond to the problem of Graffiti in our community?

1. How should the city of Denver respond to the problem of Graffiti in our community? Abraham Lincoln High School Diana Gonzalez, Elias Medellin, Karina Madrigal and Myrna Hernandez

2. The Problem

3. The streets in South West Denver are dirty and vandalized by graffiti • Graffiti makes the city look unclean and it gives it an unsafe environment • Graffiti can be related to gang activity • More then 30% of gangs and crews are doing graffiti • The city seems to be powerless in controlling graffiti

4. Graffiti affects the economy of Southwest Denver • Property value • Business activity • Graffiti can lead to break-ins and homicides • Gang activity • Graffiti is being spread at a faster rate in home owners properties • Private property vs Public Property

5. Pictures of graffiti in Denver, CO

7. Conducted Surveys in our community

9. Alternative Policies

10. Denver Partners Against Graffiti using Anti-Graffiti Coating • Denver Partners Against Graffiti would use a coating solution. • This aerosol coating would be used with every clean up in the City of Denver. • The coating would make it easier for anybody to remove graffiti. • Some coatings do not allow any graffiti to stick on the surface

11. Advantages Prevents graffiti from reoccurring It would discourage taggers from graffiti People could remove graffiti by themselves without the need of the city Disadvantages It would increase the cost of clean up in Denver It requires the help of the community since people still need to call in or request a clean up. It would require more people to spend more time in each clean up Continue…

12. Process of coating

13. Santa Clarita Policy • Santa Clarita, California • The policy includes volunteers cleaning up the city. • Two groups participate, they are Pride Committee and Teens Against Graffiti (TAG) • Graffiti is removed and streets are clean

14. Advantages It cost less due to volunteers It creates pride in the community It encourages teenagers to participate in clean-up Disadvantages It relies on volunteers Volunteers clean up only one week out of the whole year. Continue…

16. Our Policy

17. Our Policy • An incentive policy that would • motivate people to participate in the community • keep the neighborhood clean • build a community of support • 2 - part • Advertise the Denver Partners Against Graffiti in bus stops and billboards • Provide Community service and internships opportunities for those volunteering

18. Advantages Community service hours are offered for teens Provides teens an extra curricular activity It gives teenagers a opportunity to succeed in the future Disadvantages It will cost the city a lot of money It requires the city of Denver to spend more time on recruiting more people Continue…

19. “Teens working against graffiti”a partnership with Denver Partners Against Graffiti • Denver Partners Against Graffiti would include a special task for teenagers • Teenagers will be allowed to participate in graffiti clean-up • In return… • Community services hours • Opportunities for internships

20. Surveys • We survey 100 people in the community to discuss our policy • Question Regarding: • Participation for community services hours • participation for some form of help for college?

22. Denver partners against graffiti • Opportunities to keep Denver beautiful by creating a cleanup crew twice a month. • Minimum age 14. • City officials will supervise volunteers • City will help teenagers with internships opportunities

24. Promoting the Graffiti Hotline • Advertise the Graffiti Hotline in the neighborhood so more people could become involved • In bus stops and billboards • Allow citizens to take over the community

26. Action Plan

27. Action Plan • Talked to Denver Partners Against Graffiti • Emailed City Council members • Interviewed people from the community • Created Advertisement for Denver Partners Against Graffiti

28. Denver Partners Against Graffiti • Would support policy • Wanted to schedule an appointment • Would like to join forces with our policy

29. Email to City Council • Requested support for policy • Requested ideas to improve policy • Requested an appointment with any of them

30. Interviews • Asked: • What do you think about our policy “I think it is a fantastic policy or idea, and I hope you get a lot of people to do it” “ I believe is a good policy and I wish you good luck” “It would work, but needs a lot of folks to help you all” “I would sign up” “The policy is great”

31. “Teens working against graffiti”a partnership with Denver Partners Against Graffiti • To motivate people to participate • talk to people in order for them to understand our policy and the things our policy has to bring • Give out flyers that include our information • Send more information to the people over e-mail

32. Advertisements • Bus Stops & Billboards • We created ads for people to call in if they been attacked by graffiti. • The ads will be showed in bus stops and billboards