January 2015 Bark

January 2015

The Bark

Connecting the Communities North of 45th

Upcoming Events

Volunteer with the HNI team on MLK Day of Service Join the UW Husky Neighborhood Interns January 19th as we lead a clean-up in the University neighborhood's north of 45th community in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service! Congress passed the King Holiday and Service Act in 1994, designating MLK day as a national day of volunteer service. Instead of a day off from work or school, we view it as an opportunity to celebrate Dr. King's legacy by turning community concerns into citizen action.

We will kick off the day with a celebration at the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center from 8 am – 9 am, where free coffee and refreshments, and t-shirts will be provided. Then we will make our way to the North of 45th Neighborhood to begin the clean-up. The clean -up will cover the area spanning NE 45th St. to Ravenna Boulevard and 16th Ave NE to 22nd Ave NE. Volunteers will be grouped into teams and assigned an area for clean-up. Supplies (bags, gloves, vests) will be provided and there will be designated garbage pick-up locations along the route. If you are interested in participating in the event, contact the HNI team at huskyn45@gmail.com; you must register through our project leader by January 15th in order to participate. UW student groups and RSOs are highly encouraged to come out and join us for this day of service; let’s make it a day on, instead of a day off!

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Martin Luther King JR Day of Service (January 19th)

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Husky Night Walk (Early February)

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North 45th Community Meeting (TBD)

Lighting Design Lab and Neighborhood Lighting Improvement The Lighting Design Lab is an organization that opened in 1989, and focuses on commercial & industrial lighting, in addition to providing education and consultations to over 900 people each year. Their main goal is energy efficiency transformation.

Thankfully, their analysis has recently extended to the UW and the North of 45th community.

On December 17th the Lab hosted an outdoor research study of several parking lots on the UW campus. The goals of this included: developing lighting design procedures for outdoor locations, documentation of energy saving and power reductions for further design, measurement of visual function for residents, and to identify opportunities to reduce cost and greenhouse gas emissions.

In coordination with the HNI team, the lab is looking at potentially assessing the lighting system in the North of 45th community. As many know, the lights are inadequately designed, and cause many problems; one of the largest being crime. If you are passionate about seeing the area improved, please be sure to attend the Night Walk.

Your analysis will help to move this act forward, and you can discuss additional qualms with the current system.

After a 2-week break, we are getting back into the swing of things. We are relearning to wake up early, prioritize our time, and survive without endless holiday sweets. Yet, data shows that many of us tend to forget how to safely walk around in the U-District in January. This month sees an increase in attacks and robberies. Therefore, when walking around, especially if alone or at night, be extremely aware of your surroundings.

Winter Safety Advice

In such cold weather it is tempting to take shortcuts, but taking time to walk the safest route might save your life or belongings in the long run. Walk to your destination with a group if at all possible and in well-lit areas. Use the edge of the sidewalk in order to distance yourself from assailants who may be hiding near buildings or in bushes.

Also, be ready to enter your destination with the keys in your hand or a friend at the door. Remember to always be attentive. This means not listening to earphones, texting, talking on the phone, or fumbling through a bag.

Above all follow your gut instincts. If your intuition tells you that you are at risk, leave the situation quickly. If you see someone suspicious in a parking lot, building or anywhere on campus, leave the area and call the UW Police at 911 from any campus phone. 911 calls from pay phones are free. Should you become a victim of a crime, call the police as soon as you safely can.

ASUW Safety Committee

Project 529

The ASUW Safety Committee has begun the new year, and it is off to a good start! The committee has divided into four teams:

A valuable new program is being supported by the UWPD. It allows other users to quickly report their stolen bicycle to a highly connected network via an app known as Project 529. In addition, you can pick up tamper proof stickers to be placed on your bike from the UWPD. Please visit project529.com/uw and follow the instructions to add your bike. The more users that apply, the more connected the network becomes, and the more likely your bike will be recovered quickly after it has been stolen!

1. Marketing promotion of Safety 2. Sexual Assault 3. Theft 4. Lighting The mission of the committee is to focus on alleviating problems that students recognize within the body politic.

In addition, the committee works closely with the UWPD to help address deeper issues with safety in and around the campus area. If you have any suggestions regarding safety, please email us or post/message us on the HNI Facebook page!