A planned two-day “action-lab blitz” to address crime concerns in Chattanooga hit a speed bump Friday when only half the anticipated crowd attended.
But 30 committed volunteers are better than larger numbers that don’t get involved, said Josh McManus, co-founder of Stand.
The meeting grew out of a 26,000-respondent survey in which Chattanoogans listed crime as one of their main concerns.
Mr. Mc-Manus cited the lower-than-expected turnout as one problem that might need the group’s focus and started the meeting with welcoming comments on how to improve attendance.
“We’ve been trying to figure out how you move from that place of agitation about crime to action,” he told the group.
Audience members suggested different days for meetings, e-mail reminders, shorter meeting times and better advertising of the location.
Friday’s meeting was held on the campus of Tennessee Temple University at 1 p.m. and was scheduled for four hours.
Low numbers aside, the planned pitches for involvement went ahead with representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga Family Justice Center and Youth Athletic League. There also was discussion of policy change on absentee landlords and development of a resource point for women’s and children’s issues.
The pitches varied from involving youth in athletics to changing school start times, a push headed by UTC criminal justice professor Roger Thompson.
Edna Varner, an audience member, wasn’t deterred by the small response.
“Yeah, talk is great, but we actually need to do something,” she said. “It seems so big, but it’s not so big when ordinary people come out to work on it.”
After the short pitches, attendees joined with selected groups to work for a few hours on action plans to confront the crime problems.
Mary Wright, a Chattanooga Valley resident and retiree, said she’s come to the Stand meetings to participate whether through mentoring or police outreach.
“We do have problems with slumlords and enclaves of drugs,” she said.
Between this week and September, groups will continue to meet and bring back adjustments to their action plans for specific problems.
On Sept. 11 Stand plans to launch projects on the problems that have garnered enough support and volunteers.