DATE: Wednesday, May 7, 1997                TAG: 9705070454

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B9   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   73 lines

WHAT A DIFFERENCE 2 YEARS MADE: NEW HOPE CENTER LAUDED AS ASSET A FORUM SHOWS HOW COMMUNITY GROUPS CAN NEGOTIATE COMPROMISES FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.

Two years ago, the Fairmount Park Civic League saw a proposed community center as a threat that could attract more homeless people to the struggling neighborhood near the middle of Norfolk.

Now that the center is open, civic league leaders have come to regard the New Hope Christian Community Center as an asset that helps spur more neighborhood-revitalization efforts.

Two former opponents told that story Tuesday night at a Neighborhood Network forum on ``working together.'' The idea was to show how various factions in a community can negotiate compromises for the good of all sides.

The forum was at the New Hope center, 3241 Brest Ave., once the target of opposition.

The league had opposed the center chiefly because of an early proposal to bus in homeless people from across the city. The center would have provided hot meals, showers and other services to the needy.

``When we first started, we wanted to take care of everybody,'' the Rev. Herman Clark Sr. recalled as he spread his arms wide. He is the founding pastor of New Hope Church of God in Christ, which sponsors the community center.

After a series of meetings with the civic league and other neighborhood groups, the church drew back from its busing plan. Instead, it focused its array of services on needy people in Fairmount Park and other nearby areas. Programs include activities for senior citizens, youngsters and people trying to work their way off welfare.

That put the onus on the neighborhood, said Michelle Morsberger, president of the Fairmount Park Civic League.

``Now I have to use this community center. I have to make sure that the community is aware that we can use it,'' said Morsberger, who telephones or visits two or three neighbors each night to tell them about the program.

In reaching out, Morsberger is learning more about the needs of her neighborhood.

``That got us out to meet our community, to find out more of who lives where, to find the shut-ins, to find the homeless, to find the elderly who need help, to find single mothers. That helps us.''

The civic league gives needy neighbors coded vouchers that let them receive help at the community center.

The outreach has paid dividends for the civic league, bringing in new members and more volunteers for the neighborhood's Adopt-a-Cop citizen patrol.

The effort spurred the civic league to help local merchants start a business association along Lafayette Boulevard.

``This is actually helping us turn the community around,'' Morsberger said.

The Neighborhood Network, which held Tuesday's forum, is a year-old coalition of civic activists that promotes the sharing of community problems and solutions. At times, its discussions resemble those of a 12-step support group.

Isamu Tubyangye, vice president of the Oakwood Civic League, found support when he stood to talk about his neighborhood's troubles with some 30 vacant properties.

``There's all sorts of lewd acts going on in them,'' he said. ``We have kids ripping and running through the streets.''

In a moment, he was receiving advice and empathy from other neighborhood stalwarts, such as James Janata of East Ocean View.

Janata advised Tubyangye to keep after city code inspectors who can pressure absentee landlords. He also said the problems can be brought to meetings of Norfolk's Police Assisted Community Enforcement, or PACE program.

Thomas Harris of Lamberts Point said his neighborhood helps the city build cases against absentee landlords by keeping notes on activities in nuisance properties. That helps speed the demolition effort, he said.

Tubyangye said talking about his neighborhood's problems with other civic activists boosted his morale.

``Now, I don't feel I'm out there alone.'' MEMO: To contact Neighborhood Network, call Beverly Sell, 857-1794.

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