First annual West Mesh draws large crowds

By Taylor Busch

Staff Reporter

 

Over 200 people came out to support Our West End during a free community event held Sept. 24 at Mic Mac Park.

West Mesh was a fun day for residents to get together to celebrate the positive things happening in the west end right now.  Our West End, the group that organized the event, is a United Way funded initiative and part of the Neighbourhood Renewal project.  The group was started two years ago by Fabio Constante after he was asked to take his blogging to a new level.

“Our West End is a grassroots initiative designed to really empower and engage residents of the west end towards making the west end a better place to live, work and play,” said Constante.

Constante said he started his blog ‘Our West End’ four years ago to notify residents of break-ins and other crimes happening in the west end.  Over the years, his fan base grew to the hundreds and some of them started asking him what they could do to change things.

“We believe that change, often fundamental change, happens from the ground up,” said Constante.  “One of the big things we’re focused on right now is developing a neighbourhood strategy and part of that is to really engage residents.”

Julian Franch is a community analyst and coordinator for Our West End who has worked with Constante since the beginning.  He said he has heard many requests for an event like West Mesh during his time with Our West End.  Franch added his time with the group has made him more proud to be a resident of the west end today than ever before.

“There’s a sense of pride and togetherness in the west end of Windsor, however, I don’t feel that message is portrayed enough to the rest of Windsor,” said Franch.  “There’s a lot of great aspects people might not know about this area and I guess that’s what inspired me to join this movement.”

The event included free food, children’s activities, information and music by The Formula.  Franch said their goal was not to make money, but to increase awareness of the new services the west end has to offer.

Many other community groups were also invited to reach out to residents through interactive displays at West Mesh.  Volunteers for the Sandwich Teen Action Group (STAG) were present with an important message for children and teenagers.

“I think a lot of kids feel discouraged because they know there are issues happening in their community that they can’t do anything about,” said Starr Meloche, a long-time volunteer with STAG and founder of Advocating Young Minds.  “Our idea is to really get the kids involved in their community by making them want to make changes to it.”

Constanted said the group has no other events planned at this time, but will likely host another West Mesh next September.  To read or subscribe to his blog visit www.ourwestend.com.