DATE: Wednesday, August 13, 1997            TAG: 9708120220

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: PUBLIC LIFE

SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   60 lines

PARTY PLANNERS FIND FEW WILLING TO INVEST IN BUILDING SPIRIT

Sandra Williams envisions her Villa Heights neighbors leaving an Aug. 30 block party energized to save the struggling Norfolk neighborhood.

Sounds great. Even the name: ``Partners-in-the-Community Day.''

Only problem: Williams can't muster much community and business support.

Which comes first, community spirit or community block party?

In recent weeks, Williams has wallowed in the same bog that mires many community activists. How do you find enough civic energy to energize your neighborhood?

Since June, Williams and a dozen others have been working on the party. The group includes representatives of First United Presbyterian Church, Faith Deliverance Christian Center and New Bethlehem Church of Christ.

They hope the party will promote awareness of neighborhood strengths and weaknesses, spur more networking, and boost pride and a sense of gritty determination that Villa Heights needs.

``We're not going to let crime and drugs take over,'' said Williams, a five-year resident.

Longtime residents Sarah Jones and Kenneth M. Givens remember that the last Villa Heights block party did generate community vigor. That was in 1983 or '84, said Jones, chairman of that event and a member of the 1997 committee.

Givens said the festivities motivated him ``to try to make the community a better place to live.'' Illness has slowed his activism. But he plans to attend on Aug. 30 ``to talk with younger people one on one . . . to help them know what our community is about.''

The party will include gospel concerts and talent shows, children's games, and speeches by state Sen. Yvonne Miller (D-5th District), Mayor Paul Fraim and Police Chief Melvin High.

There will be information on children's immunizations, blood-pressure screening, military recruitment, voter registration, community policing, Tidewater Community College, Job Corps, Urban League, Norfolk Works job-readiness programs, the Sheriff's Department and Sentara Health System.

But the support has been missing, said a puzzled Williams.

Of residents, she said: ``It's either that they're not believing things are going to happen or they don't have the get up and go.''

Of businesses, she said: ``We're not getting the donations we really need. We sent 150 letters and heard back (from) only two willing to help.''

She acknowledged that she probably should have called on businesses at least six months ago to get into their budget cycles.

Williams is a veteran of finding last-minute miracles for projects. Last December, she helped organize the Villa Heights Christmas-tree lighting - only to find the tree stolen before the event.

Many area residents and businesses rallied to replace the stolen tree, and came up with six others.

``I don't know what we'll do, but I don't stop. I try to get the best out of a bad situation and try to make it a positive,'' she said. ``It's been a learning experience and a stumbling block at the same time.'' MEMO: Villa Heights' block party is Aug. 30, noon to 5 p.m., the 700

block of E. 29th St., Norfolk. Call Sandra Williams, 627-5429.

Story ideas for this column? Call Mike Knepler, 446-2275. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Sandra Williams

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