Callaway, MN

Due largely to investments by the Northwest Area Foundation and the Minneapolis Fund, the White Earth Reservation Town of Callaway, MN has seen dramatic positive changes. Delivered by Sitting Bull College thru the Horizons program, start-up initial funds have contributed to a re-surgence of neighbors meeting one another and dining together weekly to discuss hopeful ideas for their community. And, ideas are being implemented! The public park south of town sports a new American flag - the whiskey barrell planters dispersed up and down main street and the planters surrounding the Community Center are full of hardy beautiful flowers - even thru October! That says to the public - Hey! This is Home! We live here and we’re proud of it.
Block parties bring us together to relax and play and just be Callaway Family. There’s talk of a new newsletter just for Callaway happenings…and the buzz is that we’re only weeks away from the start of The Convenience Store. That is our #1 Project. At the beginning of our meetings, we were nearly laughed out of town. Now we command respect from the City Council (and even have new folks interested in running to bring positive change). Our Farmer’s Market produced sales for our local vendors, supply for our residents and lots of fun and fellowship for anybody who just wanted to stop by and browse ! Yes, Callaway has been and is still - a good investment. We have lots more projects to come and lots more folks to meet and influence.

Community teamwork paid off as we all planned and worked on our first annual block party! Estimates on attendance ran from 100-125. We feel that’s pretty good for our community of 200…Everybody enjoyed brats, hot dogs, cowboy beans, chips and pickles and lemonade. We received positive feedback from those attending asking for more block parties, more businesses in town and more activities planned for our youth!  Hang on Callaway - we’re going forward !

The Callaway Horizon’s Block Party went amazingly well at informing the community about the different projects going on and having the White Earth Law Enforcement there was a terrific thing for the children. Especially teaching them the basics about bike safety, there are many accidents occurring that could be avoided by just wearing the right gear. It really demonstrated to the community that we are moving forward and helped gain input on what the people in the community would like to see. I am so pleased with how things went.

Having the chance to work with the Callaway Horizon’s group has been the most educational and eye opening experience I have ever had. I never realized there was so many different types of poverty and that little things like planting flowers can have such a positive outcome on a community. I would strongly suggest that everybody work with a nonprofit or at least talk to someone that does to understand what they are actually doing for the community. I will never forget this.

Welcome to CommunityBlogs.us. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!