For South Bend’s Fremont Park neighborhood, 2014 was a year of tragedies.
“There were several murders here, back to back to back,” says Kim Clowers, who has lived near the northwest neighborhood’s namesake park for much of her life. “Everybody was scared to go outside because they figured they were going to get shot.”
The Fremont Youth Foundation also advocated for the city’s investment of over $200,000 in a new splash pad for Fremont Park. Kim Clowers (left of center, in yellow) celebrates the splash pad’s grand opening on June 17, 2017. Photo: @PeteButtigieg.
A youthful mother of three, Kim wanted better for neighborhood families. “We don’t want our kids to think of Fremont Park as ‘where that kid got killed,’” she says.
“That’s how Fremont Youth Foundation got started,” she adds, referring to the organization she co-created to curb neighborhood violence. “We figured if we gave kids a positive alternative, they would have something better to do with their time.”
But what alternative? “On this side of town, there was nothing for anybody to do,” Kim sighs. “Nothing.”
Neighborhood Leadership Academy sets the stage
To explore options, Kim and Fremont Youth Foundation supporters attended meetings of the Far Northwest Neighborhood Association. At first, they didn’t click with the elders. “We were late and loud,” she laughs, proud of her passion. “That’s how our presence was. We walked in late and just took over.”
One of the elders suggested Kim attend the Neighborhood Leadership Academy. “We learned how to be a part of meetings and tone it down a bit,” Kim smiles.
After completing the Academy in late 2014, Kim also had clearer direction. “Fremont Youth Foundation figured out how to organize. Before, we were just sitting around talking. Now, we’re having organized meetings, we know how to keep our minutes and keep track of things. The Neighborhood Leadership Academy helped with that a whole lot.”
Wherefore art thou, Romeo?
The Academy also opened doors. When an Academy presenter introduced Kim to the director of Notre Dame’s Shakespeare Festival, Kim found the positive alternative she was looking for: Notre Dame agreed to co-sponsor “Shakespeare in the Streets,” a summer theatre production program for local youth.
Now, “we’re putting on Romeo and Juliet in the middle of Fremont Park,” Kim beams. The production, currently in rehearsals and scheduled to open July 26, is even being directed by local youth.
The cast and production team at their first read-through on July 15, 2017. Photo: Grant Mudge
Kim knows many of the young participants might never have had the opportunity if it weren’t for the efforts of neighborhood organizers. “Bringing [the production] to Fremont Park, making it more convenient to get to, that got their attention.”
She also credits the Neighborhood Leadership Academy. “That’s a big reason why all of this got started,” she says. “I never knew there were so many people that were driven by the same thing that I’m driven by. By going to the Leadership Academy, I realized that we can get organized and make great things happen.” She adds, “without the Academy, I’m not sure Fremont Youth Foundation would have been as functional as we are now.”
No fear, just fun
Thanks to a remarkable turnaround, the only tragedy expected in Fremont Park today is a tale of star-cross’d lovers. When Kim stopped by one recent morning to clean up litter, she was happy to see the once-deserted park is now a destination. “When I got there, about seventeen kids came flying outside,” she says. “They had their pillows and blankets, and they got on the playground and built forts.”
“That’s a huge change,” she adds. “We’ve put a new face on our backyard. And that’s how it is for us—that’s not just some park in the city, that’s our home.”
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Read more: Best News Ever: Youth to perform ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Fremont Park (South Bend Tribune, June 1, 2017)