The Vollintine-Evergreen Community Association (VECA) was founded in 1970, as a way for neighbors to communicate with each other about neighborhood issues.  The VECA board is lovingly called the “neighborhood board” and it is the grassroots group that responds to both opportunities and problems.  It sponsors neighborhood festivals and meetings, addresses neighborhood issues, works with local government on neighborhood interests, and communicates with the residents through a neighborhood newspaper, the Vollintine Evergreen News.  This bimonthly newsletter has timely articles, notices, and advertisements from neighborhood businesses.  Best of all, it is delivered by residents—call the VECA office if you want to help deliver the newsletter.  The board meets on the first Monday of the month at 7:00 at the VECA office—1680 Jackson. Call the neighborhood office at 276-1782 for more information.

The nonprofit arm of VECA is the community development corporation called, VECA CDC.  It owns neighborhood property, such as the VECA office, houses and apartments.  It also manages activities that require substantial funding.  Its major role is to build or rehabilitate housing which is not financially feasible by the private sector.  Typically, it operates in or near the more problematic areas of the neighborhood.  VECA CDC is administered by a neighborhood-based board—see the picture of the first board above.  It has seven full-time staff members, contractors and consultants, and student interns—including interns from nearby Rhodes College.  Its annual budget of $500,000 is funded by a mixture of grants from the city, state and national government; foundations; and businesses.  Steve Gadbois, the Executive Director of VECA CDC and Ruth Gibson, Office Manager, want to meet with any residents interested in the organization—just stop by the VECA office—1680 Jackson Ave.