What happens when people meet people to beautify and restore shared spaces? Community takes root. Reclaiming Roots is a new eastern-Iowa based organization dedicated to beautifying neighborhoods and bringing communities together. Three friends were inspired to create the group after a living room conversation about things they wanted done in their own neighborhoods. Chris Grebner, formerly of North Liberty, Iowa, and Luke Prottsman and Stan Laverman, both of Iowa City, founded Reclaiming Roots in 2007. Although the group has humble origins, its leaders hope to make a big impact. “We really believe the need for community is important,” Grebner says of Reclaiming Roots’ members. He thinks of Reclaiming Roots as a mindset and as a way of reclaiming one’s community. “Communities don’t spend much time together anymore. No one has front porches anymore,” he says, adding that the group hopes to change that. “We rely on each other. If we don’t have the people around us supporting us, we won’t make it.” To put the Reclaiming Roots’ mindset into action, members organize projects to improve neighborhoods and bring people together. Fifty-two volunteers pitched in on Reclaiming Roots’ first project, a ravine cleanup held last July. Volunteers removed overgrowth, packed down a trail, added gravel and repaired railings and benches behind Roosevelt Elementary School in Iowa City. Grebner says he only knew about five other volunteers at the first project and that it was great to meet 45 new people. “We didn’t know each other, but they came out and got dirty. It was pretty cool.” He says the volunteers included the school’s principal, a few teachers and some parents. Sarah Barfels of Coralville, Iowa, volunteered at the first project. Barfels, a sociology instructor at Kirkwood Community College, met Grebner two years ago when he was a student. She found out about the project after receiving a mass e-mail, which linked to the Web site. “I personally feel it’s vital that we all volunteer in different capacities in our communities,” she writes in an e-mail interview. “In college classes, we often talk about the problems in society at length, but the important ‘next step’ to take is actually creating an organization and empowering individuals to create change. I laud Chris’ (and his friends’) efforts to ‘be the change they want to see,’ as Gandhi said.” Barfels plans to continue volunteering with Reclaiming Roots. She also plans to require her students to volunteer to fulfill a service-learning requirement. “Not only will they be contributing to a good cause by volunteering, but they will see that anything is possible because Reclaiming Roots is an organization that was started by someone just like them — one of their peers.” She says the atmosphere at the project was warm and welcoming and that everyone seemed genuinely interested in getting to know each other. “I think that the project contributed directly to the beautification of the school’s ravine. More importantly, however, I hope the project gave people a sense for … the potential transformation of physical space (and) the potential agency of groups of individuals.” At the second project, completed in October near Grant Wood Elementary in Iowa City, over 80 volunteers worked on nearby residents’ homes, yards and the entire neighborhood. One major focus was winterizing homes by sealing doors and windows and placing wraps around water and electric heating units to improve energy efficiency. Volunteers also raked leaves and pruned and trimmed trees and bushes. Grebner says the group wanted to “bring some beauty back to the neighborhood.” A big challenge with the project was getting residents to sign up to have work done to their homes. He says they’re trying to get the word out that the group is here to help. Grebner adds that he and his friends got where they are today largely due to the support of others, so it feels good to give back. “What I want the most is that this community is able to become a stronger community.” To find out more, visit the Reclaiming Roots Web site, www.reclaimingroots.org.
