Chelsea McCarty

SLC Ambassador Offers Helping Hand on One Man’s Journey Home

Ambassador Lillian helped Michael Black on his journey home.

“It has reminded me that at any time, you never know when you will be part of something MUCH bigger than yourself,” Salt Lake City Ambassador Lillian Logani said. “It makes my heart warm and gives me motivation to continue doing what I do and continuing doing the next right thing.”

Lillian was one of a handful of individuals 91-year-old Korean War Veteran Michael Black encountered on a multi-day, 200-mile hitchhiking journey that spanned three states. Michael suffered from dementia, and his wife was desperate to find him.

The day before Thanksgiving, Lillian came across Michael, who was looking confused as he came out of a building. She spoke to him and found out he had been staying at a shelter but didn’t know where it was or how to get back. She made a few calls, discovered he had been housed at The Men’s Rescue Mission and offered to take him there since it was a good distance away.

“On our way down to The Mission, he told me stories of him being in the Korean War,” Lillian said. “We got to know each other, and when we reached the shelter, he recognized the place and began to cry. He thanked me for helping him find his way.”

Lillian had a feeling the man might be suffering from an age-related mentally debilitating condition, so she spoke to the shelter staff and asked them to keep a special eye on him.

On Saturday, Lillian turned on the TV to see the man she had helped just a few days earlier: he was a feature story. Through a series of fortunate events, Michael’s wife Avril spotted him in the background of a news segment. A local station featured the shelter (the one that Lillian dropped him off at) hosting their Thanksgiving dinner. As some b-roll spanned across the crowd, there was Michael. Avril called it her “Thanksgiving miracle” and quickly made the journey from Wyoming to Utah to pick up her husband.

But, as fate would have it, just days after Michael got home, he became sick with a cough that became influenza. After a short stay in the hospital, he was released on hospice and passed away at his home.

Avril expressed her gratitude to everyone who helped Michael on his journey and was thankful she was able to spend his final days with him.

The news station that had originally aired the story about the shelter’s dinner continued coverage even after Michael’s passing.

“If you had not shown that on the TV and I hadn’t put it on. He wouldn’t have gone in peace. Maybe he would’ve fallen in a ditch somewhere,” Avril told the news station. “It was his time, it was his time, and he had an adventure, and he enjoyed his little adventure. That’s life, I guess.”

After finding out about Michael’s passing, Ambassador Lillian was sad but grateful that he was able to get back home.

“It makes me emotional; however, I am at peace knowing that his wife was able to spend the last days of his life with him,” Lillian said.

To learn more about this story, visit:

https://www.live5news.com/video/2024/12/06/wife-spots-missing-husband-news-segment/

https://ksl.com/article/51206360/missing-husband-dies-after-miraculously-being-found-on-ksl-tv-news

https://www.gofundme.com/f/michaels-final-days-avril-needs-your-help

Outreach Ambassador Gets Family Housing In Time for the Holidays

Outreach Ambassador Q helped find an unhoused family of six housing just in time for the holidays.

While bright color uniforms have come to be a staple of Block by Block Ambassador Programs, due to the nature of their work, Outreach Teams often do not wear any uniform at all.

These Ambassadors dedicate their working hours to helping individuals experiencing homelessness get connected with essential services. And, over time, we’ve found that they make more connections when they aren’t in uniform, as a uniform can be intimidating.

One of our Louisville Downtown Partnership Outreach Ambassadors, Quinton “Q” Thompson, has worked with us for one year, but in that short amount of time has dedicated himself to helping the Louisville community. He began as a Safety Ambassador but quickly found that he had a passion for outreach. Q can be seen confidently patrolling Downtown Louisville in his street clothes, making connections and meeting people with the purpose of helping get them off the streets into better circumstances.

Through a local initiative with the City of Louisville and Volunteers of America, the Louisville Outreach Team was approached to help find unhoused families who could move off the streets into a brand-new, block-wide campus that has both a shelter and permanent affordable housing built in.

“The family shelter has room for 15 families, and after seeing it on the tour, we were all excited and eager to do our part in helping to fill it and get families off the streets,” Q said.

Often, a challenge that Outreach Ambassadors face is finding street residents who want help or are willing to take help. But, just as Q was looking for families to move into this new facility, he serendipitously met a couple with four children who had recently moved to Louisville. Although they were unhoused, the parents were actively looking for work.

“Upon arriving here, they fell on hard times…I would never have even seen them had they not been out looking for work to improve their current situation,” Q said.

After meeting the family, Q knew instantly that they were a prime candidate to move into the new development. And, with his assistance, they were able to do just that. Right before some frigid Kentucky nights, Q helped get this family off the streets.

“For me to be in the right place at the right time to help someone who was trying to help themselves made it feel less like work and more like the right thing to do,” Q said.

Thanks to Q, this family will be celebrating the holidays with a warm place of their own.

Beverly Hills Ambassador Saves Child

Christopher has been hailed a hero for his quick thinking and bravery.

It’s a parent’s worst nightmare and can happen in an instant: a child darts from the safety of the sidewalk and straight into oncoming traffic.

Beverly Hills Ambassador Christopher Johnson saw just this situation unfold before his eyes during his first week of work at Block by Block. It was his quick thinking that prevented what could have otherwise been a tragedy.

Christopher was patrolling his assignment when he spotted the terrifying situation: a young girl started running straight into the street, with cars barreling down the road. Without thinking, Christopher jumped into the street, putting himself right in harm’s way. Seeing Christopher, traffic came to a screeching halt.

In those extra seconds when Christopher jumped into the street to stop the cars, the young girl’s father had just enough time to safely retrieve the child and pull her back to the sidewalk.

Christopher has been hailed a hero for his quick thinking and bravery.

“Although he has only been with us for two months, he has shown a remarkable willingness to go above and beyond his work assignments to represent the program and the city with the excellence it deserves. He consistently takes the necessary steps to ensure residents and visitors feel happy and safe while enjoying everything the Business Triangle has to offer,” Operations Manager Jon Hunter said.

We applaud Christopher for this outstanding act of bravery and are so grateful that he was on that sidewalk that day. We can’t wait to see what his future at Block by Block holds.

Block by Block Launches New Ambassador Program in Gainesville, FL

GAINESVILLE, FL (December 4, 2024) – Block by Block Ambassadors have taken to the streets in Downtown Gainesville for the start of a three-year program.

The new Ambassador Team will cover portions of downtown and West University Avenue seven days a week. Funding has been provided by the Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GRCA) and tax increment financing from a local redevelopment trust fund.

The team will focus on hospitality, outreach and cleaning with 14 Ambassadors, including seven Safety Ambassadors, two Cleaning Ambassadors, one Outreach Ambassador, one Operations Manager and other positions as needed.

“We would like to help be part of the revitalization of downtown, just by making people feel more comfortable being here,” Clayton Ratledge, Regional Vice President of Block by Block’s Southern Region, said about the program.

The district has been divided into three zones, West University Corridor, Downtown Zone 1 and Downtown Zone 2. Ambassadors will cover these zones strategically to improve district conditions.

Three zones make up Block by Block’s Ambassador Program in Downtown Gainesville. Shared via The Gainesville Sun and City of Gainesville.

Block by Block has a robust history working in downtowns since their first program launched in Louisville, KY in 1995. More than strictly a clean and safe service provider, Block by Block has developed an optimized operating model built on best practices, research, development and modern technology that has attracted partners in more than 150 locations nationwide, including improvement districts, parks, college campuses, transit systems and other public spaces.

For more information on Block by Block, visit https://www.blockbyblock.com/

##

About Gainesville Community Reinvestment Area (GCRA)

“The GCRA is a department of the City of Gainesville Department reporting to the City Manager, governed by the City of Gainesville Commission, and guided by a citizen advisory board.”

For more information on GCRA, visit https://gainesvillecra.com/about-gcra-team/

##

For more information on this new partnership, you can also visit: 

WCJB TV20: https://www.wcjb.com/2024/11/22/3-million-program-hopes-better-downtown-gainesville

Alachua Chronicle: https://alachuachronicle.com/gainesville-ambassadors-to-enhance-downtown-experience

Main Street Daily News: https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/news/block-by-block-gainesville-program

Aloha Ambassadors Participate in Waikiki’s Aloha Festival Floral Parade

This was originally shared to YouTube by Waikiki Business Improvement District. The text has been copied from its original format from YouTube.

Join the Waikiki Business Improvement District’s Aloha Ambassadors as they proudly participate in the Aloha Festival Floral Parade! Led by WBID President and Executive Director Trevor Abarzua and newly appointed General Manager Solomon Kaimimoku, the Ambassadors bring the spirit of aloha to life. Watch as they celebrate the culture and community of Waikiki, spreading joy and showcasing the importance of keeping Waikiki safe, clean and welcoming for all.

Downtown Denton: Welcoming Faces, Cleaner Spaces

The Downtown Denton Ambassadors have been working to keep the community clean, safe, and vibrant during the 2-year pilot program. For their assistance call or text: (940) 354-5767

Louisville Downtown Partnership Ambassador Nominated for Award

Each year, people from all over Louisville are nominated for Louisville Tourism’s Rose Awards. These awards signify individuals who make a different in Louisville’s tourism industry. This year, one of Louisville Downtown Partnership’s (LDP) very own Ambassadors was nominated for a Rose Award.

When The 81st Annual General Convention of the Episcopal Church was held in Louisville over the summer, an iPad belonging to a member of leadership at the convention was stolen. This iPad contained sensitive information about clergy members, financial data and other valuable, irreplaceable information. Thankfully, LDP Ambassador Joseph Huff found the iPad and instead of turning it over to a lost and found, went to incredible lengths to get it back to the church, located in New York City.

Joseph was able to find the church online, contact them and verify that it was indeed their iPad. The team was able to mail it back to the church all the way in New York.

“They were extremely appreciative and his action led to his nomination for a Rose Award,” General Manager Jake White said.

Congratulations to Joseph on this honorable recognition!

Louiville Downtown Partnership Ambassador Joseph Huff was nominated for a Louisville Tourism Rose Award.

Meet the Salt Lake City Downtown Ambassadors

The Salt Lake City Ambassadors help make Downtown cleaner, friendlier and safer. Learn more about the work they do in the video above.

Chattanooga Operations Manager Receives Award

“[Randi] is well deserving of this award and I’m very happy she was recognized for all the work she does creating a diverse workplace and giving opportunities to those with disabilities.” – Downtown Chattanooga Alliance Director Steve Brooks.

Last week, Downtown Chattanooga Alliance Operations Manager Randi Haynes was awarded The Jill Hindman Employer of the Year Award!

The award recognizes someone “exemplifying all the characteristics of the importance of innovation, creative and unique way of doing business that citizens with disabilities bring to a company.” Congratulations, Randi!

We are grateful for Randi’s work and how she continues to represent Block by Block! Randi has also been recognized for delivering a baby on the sidewalk in Downtown Chattanooga, and also for having a day named after her – March 22nd, Randi Haynes Day.

Wake Up West Palm with Block by Block

This video and text has been shared from Wake Up West Palm

Wake Up West Palm! 🌞 We are shining a light on the incredible businesses and organizations in Downtown West Palm Beach, as well as the people behind them. Today we are sitting with Clayton Ratledge and Adrian Garcia from Block by Block! Learn more: DowntownWPB.com/WakeUpWestPalm

Downtown St. Paul property owners OK expansion of privately funded safety services

The assessment-funded downtown improvement district will double its budget and expand its reach into Lowertown.

By Katie Galioto | The Minnesota Star Tribune | September 11, 2024 at 8:00AM

This article has been shared in part from the Minnesota Star Tribune, to read the entire article, click here.

Safety captain Travion “Tray” Thompson with the St. Paul Downtown Alliance picks up trash while on patrolling St. Paul’s downtown improvement district earlier this summer. (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

St. Paul’s privately funded downtown improvement district will stretch into Lowertown next year, a move that will roughly double funding for special cleaning and safety services throughout the urban core.

Though the City Council voted in July to expand St. Paul’s existing downtown improvement district, property owners could have refused the assessment-funded services if enough of them opposed the plan. City officials tallied objections this week and said the proposal cleared its last hurdle.

“I think we’re going to be able to provide a level of improvement that downtown really needs right now,” Joe Spencer, president of the nonprofit St. Paul Downtown Alliance, said in an interview Tuesday. “I think people are going to love it when they see what can happen when we add this extra layer of safety, resources and extra amount of coordination.”

St. Paul’s downtown improvement district to expand

The current district, funded by assessments charged to property owners, will expand its cleaning and safety services to Lowertown.

An Inside Look at Keeping Downtown Des Moines Beautiful

This article has been shared from Downtown Des Moines | Written by Amy Lego

Operation Downtown is a Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) with a mission of keeping Downtown Des Moines (DSM) clean, safe, welcoming and vibrant in support of a positive experience, it was formed in 1998 by business leaders to provide enhanced services that are not provided by the City of Des Moines. Programs include trash cleanup, pressure washing and visitor assistance. Operation Downtown Ambassadors work to foster a positive experience for Downtown DSM patrons. From helping people with directions to removing litter and trash, Operation Downtown Ambassadors works to keep the capital city shining. Year-round, they assist with friendly advice, recycling efforts and more.

Operation Downtown Ambassador Q+A

Below, Ashley Woodard and Jeff Lee Pearson, Operation Downtown Ambassadors in Downtown DSM, share their experiences and answer questions about their work.

What made you reach out to Operation Downtown for a job?

Jeff Lee Pearson: I am on a path of recovery in my life, rebuilding and putting it back together. Some of my now coworkers told me about this job, and I went out on a limb, came in and talked to Scot Blanchard (Operations Manager). He must have seen something in me that was worth giving a chance. And it’s been nothing but history since, and it’s been wonderful.

What does your day-to-day job look like?

Ashley Woodard: It’s different every day. Some days you’ll be assigned to a zone and walk that zone for the entire day. Some days you’ll drive the Kubota, pick up and sweep trash, and empty trash cans. I am new to Downtown, as well as Iowa. I’m from Lake Tahoe, California. Now I’m finally acclimated to what my day-to-day is going to look like.

JLP: First, we check the board showing the 13 Downtown zones and assignments. One of my main tasks is pushing the trash can utility cart to do as much cleaning as possible, including graffiti removal. I also look for anybody who’s having difficulties with parking kiosks, looking at street signs or just looks lost.

How do you make your job fun?

AW: I am a big people person. I love people, so it’s nice to get out and talk to everybody, from the homeless to businesspeople, and get to know them daily. You want people to know that you’re there to help them, that you’re there to just provide any support, assistance.

JLP: Through my job as an Operation Downtown Ambassador, I’ve gotten the opportunity to play the pianos around Downtown. When people are walking by, I see their heads turn and some of the people that are just kind of congregating around an area, if I can’t provide ‘em some kind of service, I get to entertain ‘em with some music. And I don’t do it for long periods, but I try to make my route to and from the office by one of the pianos.

Learn more about City Sounds piano program here.

When cleaning the skywalk, there’s a piano near the YMCA that people in the gym can hear. I’ve gotten some standing ovations from the people working out! And I’m not doing it to be noticed. It’s a little selfish because I don’t have a piano, but it’s an awesome perk for me to be able to provide a welcoming environment of music and a smile on my face.

How is working with your coworkers?

AW: My coworkers are so diverse. There are a lot of great personalities. Each person brings something to the table. Everybody wants to get stuff done, but have fun at the same time, that’s just what we’re here for. We’re here for each other, especially with things that kind of gross us out. We do come across that sometimes. I love my coworkers. This is honestly the first job I’ve had where I’m comfortable talking to everybody.

JLP: Scot’s an amazing manager to work for, too. Even just going back to the interview process before I started, he is so concerned and interested. He’s got a passion for this, and he’s been doing it for over 20 years now. The guilty pleasure about working here is that I’m getting paid to do the right thing. That’s all any of us are doing. We’re just doing the right thing. And it blows my mind.

How can people interact with Operation Downtown Ambassadors?

JLP: I tell anybody out there, if you ever need anything, ask us. We even have cards, and I’ll hand them out like candy. At first, I wasn’t as comfortable with Downtown business owners, but I just had to get out of my shell and ask if there’s anything that we can do to improve their storefront or anything that needs attention. I am on a first name basis with many front desk security people which is neat. In my life before, I lacked some of the comradery and this job has exposed me to just being able to be a part of something bigger. It is rewarding in so many ways.

If someone reads this blog and is interested in becoming an Operation Downtown Ambassador, what would you tell them?

AW: Cleaning the environment is such a fulfilling aspect of the job. You can see results just by looking at the streets. They look so much cleaner. On top of that, I have a great boss. Scot is awesome. And like I said, my coworkers are awesome. I have a good day every day I come here. I love this job.

Apply to be an Operation Downtown Ambassador, apply on the company’s website or email Scot Blanchard, Operations Manager for Operation Downtown. More information about Operation Downtown can be found at Operationdowntown.com.

Created to help make Downtown Des Moines (DSM) a safer, cleaner place to work, live and visit, Operation Downtown is classified as a Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID). The mission is keeping Downtown DSM safe, clean, welcoming and vibrant, in support of a positive experience. Programs include trash cleanup, flower planting and visitor assistance. Operation Downtown, a 501(c)6, was formed in 1998 by business leaders to provide enhanced services that are not provided by the City of Des Moines. Today, the Greater Des Moines Partnership is a partner of Operation Downtown and helps keep DSM among the highest-rated, most vibrant regions in the country.

Downtown Des Moines (DSM) is a growing, vibrant community that offers the energy, sophistication, housing and attractions of a burgeoning city with a brilliant future. It’s also easy to visit with plentiful and affordable street and ramp parking options. Find event information and follow @downtownDSMUSA on Facebook and Instagram for other news, tips and events happening downtown.

New Ambassadors Program Comes to Iowa City

The Daily Iowan | September 13, 2024

This video has been shared from The Daily Iowan.

The Downtown Iowa City Ambassadors Program is making a difference downtown, ensuring the safety of citizens and cleanliness of Iowa City.

Meet the Louisville Downtown Partnership Ambassadors

From picking up litter to offering a helping hand, there’s always a friendly face nearby.

September 4, 2024 | Jeff Milby | Shared from Lou Today

You can always go downtown.

The Louisville Downtown Partnership Ambassador Program annually cleans ~120,000 pounds of litter from the 25+ miles of downtown Louisville sidewalk, but that’s not all they do.

If you’re ever downtown and in need of a helping hand, the Ambassador Program is almost always around — just look for the orange shirts.

Here’s a snapshot of the program:

• Began serving downtown Louisville in 1995
• Provides hospitality assistance for over 9,300 downtown visitors each year
• Annually remove ~1,500 graffiti tags + stickers
• Sidewalk power washing
• Weed removal from downtown spaces
• Hang signage and banners, including over 500 for the Kentucky Derby alone

If you ever need some help — think: you need directions, you’ve spotted some litter that needs attention, or if you would like someone to escort you to your car — call the Ambassador Hotline at 502-664-8654 daily, from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The Louisville Downtown Partnership Ambassadors program expanded to include 36 ambassadors in 2023. | Photo courtesy Louisville Downtown Partnership

New Ambassadors program helping keep downtown safe, clean for community

This article was shared from University of Iowa | Written by Office of Strategic Communication

Those red shirts you keep seeing in downtown Iowa City represent a new program that enhances the safety and cleanliness of the area for community members, including University of Iowa faculty, staff, students, and families.

The city of Iowa City and the Iowa City Downtown District partnered with Block by Block Management Systems to bring a new program, Downtown Iowa City Ambassadors, to the community in June. Courtesy of those individuals in the red shirts, the program provides ambassador, cleaning, and hospitality services to the downtown area, which Block by Block does for other communities across the country.

“Our purpose at the Iowa City Downtown District is to make the downtown a better place to live, work, and play, and we combined our resources with the city of Iowa City to keep doing that with Block by Block,” says Joe Reilly, nighttime mayor for the Iowa City Downtown District.

Block by Block and the Downtown District also have been working with the UI to ensure the program is helpful to students and their families, in part by introducing new safety measures.

“We support the community but also UI students,” says Adam Schweitzer, operations manager for Downtown Iowa City Ambassadors. “We want to create a clean, safe environment for the campus, and we want students and their families to patronize our downtown.”

Ambassadors work until midnight, and Schweitzer says the late-night shifts will be dedicated to making sure people get home safely. This includes letting students know about campus safety resources, such as how to call Nite Ride for a safe ride home or how to use the Rave Guardian app. Ambassadors also can connect people with the UI Police Department if needed. Ambassadors also act as “after hours escorts” and can walk students back to their residence hall or apartment if it’s close to downtown.

“We want students to know that if they see someone wearing a red Ambassadors shirt, that is someone they are safe with and someone who will help them,” Schweitzer says.

The new program also goes hand in hand with the UI’s alcohol harm reduction plan to combat high-risk drinking.

“We have a close relationship with the Iowa City Downtown District,” says Tanya Villhauer, UI assistant dean of well-being and basic needs. “We recognize the value they bring to students, faculty, and staff, and we’re intertwined. We’re responsible for supporting downtown just as they support the university.”

As part of the alcohol harm reduction plan, Villhauer says UI had been focused on creating “protective environments” to help keep students safe, such as working with the Downtown District to increase lighting. The Downtown Iowa City Ambassadors will play a big role in that.

“The ambassadors are going to be there to see what’s going on, identify problems, and communicate back to us,” Villhauer says. “This is a great opportunity for the university to help support students who may be in need when frequenting downtown. It’s a multi-pronged approach using a lot of different strategies to help keep students safe, and Block by Block is supporting that strategy.”

In addition to a safety role, Downtown Iowa City Ambassadors will prioritize keeping downtown Iowa City clean by providing trash removal, weed removal, graffiti removal, and street sweeping.

“We want to make sure there are multiple uses for each space,” Schweitzer says. “We want people to have fun at night, but then get things cleaned up and ready for the kids playing at the playground and in the fountain the next day.”

Ambassadors will also act as information guides during busy weekends on campus, such as commencement, football games, and Hawkeye visit days. This includes having a presence in parking ramps, both to answer questions and to make sure people walking through ramps — especially at night — arrive at their vehicles safely.

“Our ambassadors will be on the lookout for people who look like they need a map or have questions about where to go,” Schweitzer says. “It’s about offering those little services that make it feel more homey and not so intimidating.”

Reilly says the ambassadors have already made a positive impact during the summer’s big events, from the Block Party to the Jazz Festival.

“The downtown district is always trying to elevate the experience for people down here, whether they’re our visitors, students, or business owners,” Reilly says. “In terms of cleanliness and safety, the ambassador program has already moved the needle.”

University of Texas relaunches program aimed at enhancing safety, clean up efforts on West Campus

West Campus Ambassadors celebrated their 1-Year Anniversary at University of Texas at Austin. They were just featured on KVUE ABC and you can watch the short video about them here.

A West Campus Ambassador in the branded West Campus patrol vehicle.

Reinvesting Growth into Operational Efficiencies

Block by Block has added two new Ambassador Programs in the last year. Ambassadors Lamont, Levelle and Paul (left to right) work for LOUMED, one of them.

Since 1995, Block by Block has grown from one Ambassador Program to more than 150 Ambassador Programs nationwide. Our very first customer, Louisville Downtown Partnership, is still our customer today. As we have found success throughout the years, we have always reinvested it into delivering better operational efficiencies to our teams in the field and to our customers.

In parts of the country like Los Angeles, California’s Bay Area, Boston and Louisville, we have a high-density of programs operating in close geographical proximity. Because of this, it generates many added cost and time-saving benefits for our customers and managers alike.

Within the city of Louisville, we have five local programs with five different types of customers to whom we provide a variety of services. While these programs do not share the same customer or customer type, we can apply Block by Block’s flexible operating model, share a variety of resources and generate added benefits and cost savings for all of them.

In the last year, the Louisville Downtown Partnership Ambassador Program has doubled in size, growing from 18 Ambassadors to 36, operating seven days a week, 7 a.m. to midnight. Also in the last year and a half, we have added two new programs in Louisville – LOUMED and Transit Authority of River City. With this rapid growth in the city, it was time to invest in a local General Manager who could provide support and ensure all five of these programs were operating at the same top-level Block by Block standard that we have come to be known for.

Creating Culture and Consistency

Louisville General Manager Jake White (blue) stands alongside Louisville Downtown Partnership Hospitality Ambassadors Kiara, J.D. and Isaiah (left to right).

As part of our reinvestment in our company infrastructure, Block by Block’s own Jake White was promoted to General Manager of Louisville Operations, where he has already demonstrated his leadership skills and commitment to elevating operations. In his new role, Jake is focused on providing quality assurance for customers, supporting managers and ensuring all programs follow Block by Block’s Operating Guidelines.

Jake is also looking at how we can better serve our customers and make sure we are exceeding their wants, needs and goals. He believes there is always more that can be done to partner with our customers to improve our role and the way we serve, and he is eager to look for innovative solutions to further integrate our programs with them.

“I’m going to be looking for any opportunities we can find for us to serve our clients in creative ways,” he said.

With the addition of Jake in Louisville, local Operations Managers have the support needed to focus on big picture goals for operations. Jake says this allows them to begin thinking about their programs as small businesses and brainstorm ways to improve them. He is also helping them build culture within their teams, citing his time in the United States Marine Corps as a driving force behind his perspective on the subject.

“I believe that positive reinforcement is the most powerful tool that any manager can use,” he said. “That was actually taught to me in the Marines…I had this one officer…He built everybody up…I want to empower the managers to create a culture within their teams where good work is recognized regularly and it’s rewarded.”

Jake isn’t the only member of Team Block by Block who is focused on culture. Tish Hicks, Field Support Coordinator, makes it a point to bring the Block by Block Mission and Vision Statement into the training of all Block by Block newly hired Ambassadors at the Louisville Operations and Training Center.

“I think it’s important to teach [new Ambassadors] the Mission and Vision Statements because we as a company take pride in both,” Tish said. “Our Ambassadors hold the key to executing the Vision to the community and the people that we come across.”

Tish Hicks makes sure all new Ambassadors at the Louisville Operations and Training Center know Block by Block’s Mission Statement.

The Louisville Operations and Training Center

Tish Hicks, Field Support Coordinator, stands next to the logo wall at the Louisville Operations and Training Center.

The Training Center is one of the newest investments to reinforce company infrastructure and efficiencies at the local level. All newly hired Ambassadors from the Louisville area are sent to this facility for employee orientation, which includes equipment, company standards and hands-on, scenario-based training. Tish leads this training, ensuring all Ambassadors throughout Louisville are prepared to enter the field operating at the consistent, exceptional quality we promise to deliver to our customers.

Since the Training Center launched in late 2023, local teams are already seeing the benefit of this added resource.

“Managers are saying the quality [of new Ambassadors] is better than it’s ever been,” Jake said.

The Training Center doesn’t just generate great employees, but it also saves Operations Managers immense time and allows them to focus on delivering the best possible return on investment for our customers. Instead of training each Ambassador individually at each location, training is streamlined and standardized through Tish. This creates a fleet of Ambassadors with fluidity that can transfer, float or fill in from program to program if needed.

Block by Block has also developed similar training facilities in the Bay Area, Boston and other major program-dense cities. Jake believes these training centers are essential to retaining great employees.

“Ultimately, if you’ve got somebody [who] wants to build a career and they need to move to more responsibility, you keep them in the company by moving them to an open position,” Jake said. “It keeps the talent here; it gives them a path of upward mobility. Keeps them excited to come to work.”

Centralized training not only gives local Ambassadors more opportunity for upward mobility if, for instance, a leadership position opens at another program that they are qualified for, but it also enables us to be much more equipped locally to fill Ambassador vacancies if one team is ever short-staffed or if Ambassadors want to transfer.

While the Training Center helps generate excellent Ambassadors in the long term, sometimes situations require an immediate solution. For instances like this, we have found that having Ambassador Flex Support comes in handy.

Flex Support Ambassadors and Equipment Continuity

We store extra equipment and are able to make repairs at our Training Center when equipment goes down to ensure there is no lag in service delivery.

“Failing to plan is planning to fail,” as the saying goes.

So, we’ve invested in preparing for the worst. Flex Support Ambassadors, led by our Flex Manager David Guiterrez, is a highly adaptable team that can step in temporarily in the event of illness, employee absences, special events or even tragedies. Additionally, David can step in immediately as an interim manager to keep operations running and, most importantly, provide support during times of program management absence or transition.

Another way we stay prepared is through equipment sharing. Our Training Center has space to store a variety of extra equipment that can be used to fill in if something at a program goes down or is being repaired or if a program just needs a little extra capacity for special projects or spring cleaning initiatives. In most situations, we can have a replacement piece of equipment in the field on the same day. All of this is taken care of on the back end, so there is no lag in service or added stress for our customers.

Part of the overall support structure we’ve deployed in Louisville, and other program dense areas throughout the country, we also have trained maintenance techs to make minor repairs to vehicles, pressure washers and other large equipment that would otherwise have to be outsourced at an additional cost to the customer.

Reinvestment Never Stops

Block by Block Ambassadors are a welcoming presence throughout Louisville and help make the city a friendly and vibrant place to live and visit.

As you can see, Block by Block is constantly rethinking ways to improve operations to better serve our teams in the field and our customers. As we continue to grow, the opportunity to enhance the service delivery for our customers and Ambassador Teams will always be at the forefront of our operations.

Block by Block programs are built to drive customer outcomes, operate with flexibility and improve the places we serve, one block at a time. If you’re interested in discussing what options exist for your program, reach out to Derreck Hughes at dhughes@blockbyblock.com

Waikiki Ambassadors Unite to Locate, Identify Missing Juvenile

Our Waikiki Ambassadors are making waves again! (Pun intended!) This time, their cross-team collaborative effort led to locate a missing juvenile and help with his safe return to his family.

BBB Waikiki Safety, Aloha and Outreach Ambassador Teams operate out of one Operations Center, allowing for open collaboration and communication across teams. In this facility, Operations Manager Taylor Sole has made it a point to have a wall dedicated to posting flyers of missing children and juveniles (under age 18), which he says is a problem there.

During a recent patrol, Safety Ambassador Wisdom saw something unusual – a young male teen living on the streets by himself. Wisdom radioed Outreach Ambassador Susan, who followed up to check on the young man, making sure to take a photo of him before they parted ways.

Outreach Ambassador Susan (Left) and Aloha Ambassador Saul (Right) helped identify and locate the missing juvenile.

While Block by Block Outreach Ambassadors primarily work to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with resources available to them, they can also help with family reunification if someone is known to be looking for a missing family member.

When Susan made it back to the Operations Center, she checked the teen’s photo against the missing flyers wall and found a match. Following protocol, she reached out to the Attorney General’s Missing Juvenile Department and the reunification process began.

With the help of Aloha Ambassador Saul’s keen eye, the Honolulu Police were able to locate the young man a second time and returned him safely to his family.

The Ambassador Team and The Waikiki Business Improvement District received accolades from Amanda Leonard from the Attorney General’s Office following the reunification.

In a letter to the District President, she said:

“The successful recovery of a 14-year-old juvenile who had been missing and endangered for nearly eight months would not have been possible without the vigilance, determination and swift action of the Aloha Ambassadors. I would like to specifically commend Susan, Wisdom and Saul for their crucial roles in this positive outcome. Their reporting and interactions with the missing juvenile significantly increased awareness for law enforcement and ultimately led to the juvenile’s safe recovery in Waikiki by the Honolulu Police Department.”

We are so proud of these three Ambassadors for their combined efforts to locate and identify this missing young man, helping him get back to his family! Stories like this really help remind us that at the core of everything, including service delivery, is a human factor. Thank you, Wisdom, Susan and Saul! The work you all do each and every day really does matter!

South Park Bid: Fostering Growth

This story was originally posted in South Park Bid’s Community Matter’s Monthly Newsletter

South Park’s corner of Downtown is comprised of only 52 blocks, but many argue they’re the most significant per acre in all of downtown Los Angeles.

Home to LA Live, the Los Angeles Convention Center, Crypto.com Arena, The Grammy Museum, California Hospital, glitzy new hotels, and a growing residential population with no end in sight, even stalled projects, like the Oceanwide Plaza, have become world renowned because of their presence amidst South Park’s glass towers, performance houses and live broadcasts of iconic awards shows.

In addition to thousands of residents, South Park welcomes millions of visitors for everything from LA Comic Con to Los Angeles Lakers games and Herbalife Conventions.

Downtown has many distinct neighborhoods – the Arts District, Fashion District, Historic Core – but the neighborhood that consistently ranks the highest for cleanliness and safety is South Park. Maintaining that quality is something the South Park Business Improvement District pours a lot of resources into. The South Park BID employs nearly 30 Ambassadors, responsible for maintaining the public realm and patrolling the district 7 days a week, to provide a respite that is unique in Downtown.

The South Park BID continues to expand its talented team, and the newest member of the team might be their best find. He certainly threatens to be the most popular member of the team with kids and grownups alike. And he is uniquely qualified to lead a new campaign encouraging residents and visitors to be responsible pet owners and scoop the poop!

The South Park BID, led by Nolan Marshall III, who moved to Los Angeles 18 months ago after serving as the CEO of Downtown Vancouver in British Columbia, is the first district Marshall is aware of that has chosen to formally adopt their newest employee. “We found this gangly mutt near Pico and Olive, and after putting up signs in local businesses and coffee shops, we decided as a team that we should consider cleaning him up and adopting the big guy!”

To read the rest of this article, please click here and go to page 8-9.

Downtown Detroit BIZ Celebrates 10 Years with 3 Employees

Shared from Downtown Detroit Partnership:

As the Downtown Detroit BIZ celebrates a decade of commitment to our community, we are proud to also reflect on the steadfast dedication of the BIZ Ambassador Team.

Three individuals have been with the BIZ since the very beginning and their unwavering passion, expertise, and love for the Downtown community have been a cornerstone to the success of the BIZ. Through every challenge and triumph, their perseverance has been inspiring. Let’s celebrate their contributions, as we look forward to many more years of collaboration.

“Try to stay positive.” The lives of our homeless neighbors in downtown Wilmington

 

For several months, WHQR has been following the lives of homeless individuals in Wilmington. All have faced significant challenges, but many of them work together to stay safe, and share information about how to get by. Here are some of their stories.

 

This reporting project was made possible by a grant from the Fourth Estate Fund.

Nearly 1 million people experienced homelessness for the first time in 2023, according to the National Association to End Homelessness. Still more experienced it for a second, third, or fourth time. With a rising cost of living and high rents, more and more Americans are teetering on the edge. Here are the stories of some of those who’ve fallen through the cracks — and are trying to claw their way back up: Chelsea Alicia Sterling, Victor Quillen, Theresa Shively, Leroy Lyons, and Cindy (who asked that we only use her first name).

As Victor told WHQR’s Kelly Kenoyer, despite the trials and tribulations he’s faced, “I try to stay positive. You gotta keep the hope up. If you lose that — you ain’t got nothing.”

Numerous organizations in town work to care for the homeless population. Several church organizations, including Vigilant Hope, Anchor Church, First Fruit Ministries, and Living Hope Day Center, work together to provide meals and respite almost every day of the week.

The unsheltered community in New Hanover County trade in information: many of them are happy to tell new faces in the streets where they can find more help or their next meal. Camping spots, however, are often kept close to the chest. Large numbers of people congregating together at night can draw unwanted attention.

Chelsea Alicia Sterling: Chelsea has been through a lot in her 30 years of life, but she is fully confident she’s on the upswing. She has to get to a better place so she can be there for her children.

People who become homeless at some point in their lives almost always have adverse childhood experiences in their backgrounds. That trauma can lead to a higher likelihood of suicidal ideation, maladaptive behaviors, and addiction, among other problems. If you, or someone you know, is coping with thoughts of suicide, call or text the national suicide hotline at 988.

Pastor Jamie Thompson of Anchor Church says her congregants treat the restaurant they borrow each Sunday with reverence and respect. She says they feel a “shared ownership of the space,” and many of them donate the limited money they have to keeping it going.

Victor Quillen: Victor grew up around alcoholism and domestic violence, and turned to the bottle to avoid that pain. Now that he’s in the streets, he’s trying to leave his substance abuse behind.

1 of 5

Theresa Shively asks to borrow a phone so that she can call the city to try to get her dog Luna back. Luna was taken away after a woman kicked her and then Luna bit the woman. Luna is a registered service dog trained specially to alert people when Theresa is having a seizure. The $160 fee to get Luna released is a substantial amount of Theresa’s monthly income.

2 of 5

3 of 5

4 of 5

5 of 5

Homeless family: The Shivelys: A death in the family, disability — everyday tragedies can lead an entire family to homelessness. Getting out of it is much harder.

Social workers often find their clients at the Living Hope Day Center and take it as a chance to help them move their cases forward. Getting out of homelessness can be a challenge: many people in the streets have their possessions stolen, and losing one’s ID can become a major roadblock to getting Social Security, food stamps, or Medicare/Medicaid. For the able-bodied who can work, a lack of documents can prevent them from securing employment, getting a bank account, or renting an apartment.

Unsheltered people like Leroy are particularly hard to serve: many are forced to move around, making them hard for social workers to find. And their exposure in the streets makes them vulnerable to theft, violence, or arrest, which can create barriers to housing.

To read and listen to the rest of the article, click here: https://www.whqr.org/local/2024-07-22/try-to-stay-positive-the-lives-of-our-homeless-neighbors-in-downtown-wilmington

Arlington Ambassadors Pour Hearts into Keeping Downtown Clean, Safe

By Christine Vo, The Shorthorn editor-in-chief | Jul 15, 2024

This article was shared in part from The Shorthorn, for the full article, please click here: https://bit.ly/BBBArlington

Arlington Ambassadors member Nick Barree joined the group within a week of their launch date, after being known as a “hero” for calling in a kitchen fire during his morning shift near the 101 Center complex. He was proud, but joked that he was “just doing his job.” | Photo by Christine Vo

Kevin Johnson puts his heart into everything he does.

From serving 20 years in the U.S. Air Force to raising a family to cleaning the streets of downtown Arlington, Johnson has always wanted to be a helping hand.

Get in touch:

817-528-1039

Sunday – Friday

7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Services: Litter removal, Graffiti abatement, Power washing, Business check-ins, Hospitality escorts

Less than a year ago, Johnson became the Arlington Ambassadors’ Operations Manager. Launched in November, the Ambassadors work seven days a week to clean from Cooper Street to Collins Street, from West Division Street to UTA Boulevard and those in between, picking up litter, removing graffiti, power washing, conducting business check-ins and being hospitality escorts.

Donning a yellow cap and Downtown Arlington uniform, the team of three works as Clean and Safe Ambassadors to be the “eyes and ears” for the downtown community.

The Arlington Ambassadors serve as an extension of the nonprofit Downtown Arlington, said Maggie Campbell, president and CEO of Downtown Arlington Management Corp.

Whether it’s a subway platform, a busy street or a neighborhood stream, appearance matters, Campbell said. When a community comes together to clean its home, it builds community, ownership and pride.

Left to right: Arlington Ambassadors Ross Craig, Nick Barree and Kevin Johnson make up the Arlington Ambassadors team. The program began in November 2023, bringing Clean and Safe Ambassadors to the city. | Photo by Christine Vo

Downtown Arlington partners with Block by Block, a company serving more than 150 active ambassador programs nationwide. Arlington’s Clean and Safe Ambassadors focus on hospitality and cleaning, but the company also provides safety, outreach, landscaping and transit services.

As part of the Business Improvement District, Campbell saw organizations similar to Downtown Arlington Management Corp. across North America provide ambassador programs, but it took years to build up the financial support for a program, she said.

Arlington Ambassadors member Ross Craig joined the group in February. The team of three work as Clean and Safe Ambassadors to be the “eyes and ears” for the downtown community. | Photo by Christine Vo

The Business Improvement District is a management plan that sets an annual scope of services provided by Downtown Arlington through a contract with the City of Arlington, which includes marketing, economic development, security and beautification services that benefit stakeholders.

June Recap

Abram Alley clean up: 109

Bills/stickers removed: 18

Biohazard clean up – feces: 4

Business contact: 19

Hospitality assistance: 48

Leaf blowing hours: 26

Old Historical House inspection: 122

Power washing-block faces: 17

Safety escorts: 1

Trash: 3,127 lbs

“Making downtown clean and safe is the most important thing to our property owners,” Campbell said. “It’s the foundation.”

The Ambassadors use a system to observe and report throughout shifts. The program tracks pounds of trash, records damage and communicates the need for aid for homeless people they may come across. The data is used for discussion at a monthly beautification committee.

“It helps us make informed decisions about how to adjust services or whatever the priority is that day,” Campbell said.

Block by Block has contracts with Fort Worth, Dallas and Austin, allowing Arlington to pull extra help when necessary.

When Downtown Arlington hosted the Classic Car Show in June, Campbell knew she would need both extra hours and hands. Johnson brought four extra ambassadors to the team for the day as a temporary expansion.

That day, Johnson said the team began work long before the 9 a.m. event started and stayed way past the 3 p.m. end.

“We had all four seasons in that one day,” he said. “It was a typhoon and by the end of the day, it was burning hot. But they never complained at all.”

For the rest of the article, please click here: https://bit.ly/BBBArlington

Block by Block Ambassador Programming Comes to Downtown West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach’s new Ambassadors are ready to keep downtown clean!

WEST PALM BEACH, FL (July 3, 2024) – Block by Block launched a three-phase hospitality, safety, cleaning and pressure washing Ambassador Program in Downtown West Palm Beach, Florida.

The five-year contract began with its first phase on July 1st with cleaning and trash collection services. The second phase will begin on August 1st to add pressure washing and the final phase will launch October 1st with safety and hospitality services. In all, the program will employe nearly 40 Ambassadors in the district.

Some of the services, including safety and trash collection, were previously provided by city workers and a separate company. Block by Block, however, can provide all services needed in West Palm under one roof, saving money and resources and guaranteeing the highest quality results. This new partnership also frees up city workers’ time so they may focus on other areas of the city needing attention.

“We’re approaching or over 10,000 residents in downtown. Additional resources are necessary. City has staff that does work in downtown and has always done work in downtown. But they also have over 50 square miles of the entire city of West Palm Beach to deal with as a special district,” Downtown Development Authority Director Raphael Clemente said of West Palm.

Block by Block has a robust history working in downtowns since their first program launched in Louisville, KY in 1995. More than strictly a clean and safe service provider, Block by Block has developed an optimized operating model built on best practices, research, development and modern technology that has attracted partners in more than 150 locations nationwide, including improvement districts, parks, college campuses, transit systems and other public spaces.

For more information about Block by Block, visit https://www.blockbyblock.com/

West Palm Beach Ambassadors are rolling out their Mega Brutes to keep downtown clean!

About West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority

The West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was created in 1967 as an independent special taxing district to promote and enhance a safe, vibrant Downtown for residents, businesses and visitors through the strategic development of economic, social and cultural opportunities. We improve and maintain Downtown West Palm Beach by offering information and services to visitors, residents and business owners.

To learn more, click here.

Block by Block Expands Programming in San Francisco to Yerba Buena and Downtown

Yerba Buena CBD Ambassadors pose for a photo. Photo courtesy of Josh Felise.

San Francisco, CA (July 1, 2024) – Block by Block is proud to announce the addition of two new clean and safe Ambassador Programs to its roster of San Francisco Programs: Yerba Buena Community Benefit District (CBD) and Downtown San Francisco Partnership. With the addition of these two programs, Block by Block now provides services to more than half of the CBDs in San Francisco.

Twenty Ambassadors will begin in Yerba Buena, while a Team of seventeen will work in the heart of Downtown San Francisco’s financial district, providing cleaning and safety services seven days a week. Each contract is for a three-year period that also includes hospitality, special projects and dispatch.

The addition of Downtown Ambassadors will connect Union Square, another district with Block by Block programming, with Yerba Buena. These moves are part of a larger “Action Plan for Downtown’s Heart.” The plan states that “The twin neighborhoods of Union Square and Yerba Buena, connected by San Francisco’s downtown spine of Market Street and Powell Street station, are where hospitality, entertainment, arts and culture, retail and tourism (HEART) combine to draw visitors and residents alike. It is a unique district with a deep history and tremendous potential.”

Part of this initiative also includes continuing Block by Block’s Union Square and SF Travel Ambassador Programs, which have both already experienced widespread success.

Block by Block has a robust history working in downtowns since their first program launched in Louisville, KY in 1995. More than strictly a clean and safe service provider, Block by Block has developed an optimized operating model built on best practices, research, development and modern technology that has attracted partners in more than 150 locations nationwide, including improvement districts, parks, college campuses, transit systems and other public spaces.

For more information about Block by Block, visit https://www.blockbyblock.com/

Downtown San Francisco Partnership Ambassadors walk down the street together. Photo courtesy of Josh Felise.

About Downtown SF Partnership

Downtown SF Partnership leads the way in building a thriving downtown where business gets done, people feel welcome, come to explore and make memories.

They are a nonprofit CBD working to enhance the downtown core, the traditional Financial District and historic Jackson Square through public/private partnerships, placemaking, activating the public real, clean and safe operations, marketing support, economic development and more.

Visit their  FAQ page to learn more about them.

A Yerba Buena Ambassador smiles for a photo. Photo courtesy of Josh Felise.

About Yerba Buena CBD

Yerba Buena CBD is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the Yerba Buena neighborhood in Downtown San Francisco — the City’s cultural district. The Clean Team, Community Guides and Bike Patrol Officers help to keep the public spaces clean, welcoming and safe. They promote district businesses and attractions, hold events, and enhance public spaces. They work with our volunteer Board of Directors and committees and as partners with residents, world-class museums, Moscone Convention Center, hotels and educational institutions to enhance the neighborhood.

Click here to learn more.

On Main Street and in Salt Lake City’s hardest-hit neighborhoods, the Downtown Ambassadors are here to help

This article has been shared from Salt Lake City Weekly By Benjamin Wood @BjaminWood

A pair of ambassadors stop to talk with a man on 300 South.

It’s a sweltering, 100-degree afternoon as Becca Rieger heads out of the Downtown Ambassadors’ office—in the historic Newhouse Realty Building—and toward Washington Square. She’s hard to miss in her bright yellow uniform, pushing a rolling garbage can across State Street, and she makes a point to smile, wave and say hello to everyone she passes.

There are roughly 30 people and six dogs resting in the shade to the north of City Hall. Rieger makes her way toward and through them, picking up any stray trash she sees and stooping to check on a man lying facedown in the grass, who rolls over and assumes the polite stranger is telling him to move along.

“I’ll be on my way,” he says, disoriented and half-asleep.

“No, you’re good,” Rieger replies. She invites him to a resource fair the next day at Pioneer Park, then continues along the sidewalk.

Typically, ambassadors like Rieger make this walk alone, providing outreach to the unsheltered, picking up litter and answering whatever questions they might encounter from visitors—like how to use Trax, where to find parking, which restaurants offer a good lunch menu and what special events are happening around the city. But today she’s trailed by two supervisors—Landon Olsen and Kristina Olivas—a consequence of the City Weekly reporter who also asked to tag along.

Olsen steps in to clarify that it’s not necessarily the ambassadors’ role to remove people from public spaces—though they will help to clear out folks who are impeding business and private property. Rather, Olsen says, the ambassadors are there to provide information and support and, when necessary, to report larger issues to the appropriate city departments. They do make a point to wake people who are sleeping on the street, he says, to confirm the person is capable of waking.

“That’s just to check on them and make sure they’re alive and well,” Olsen says.

Rieger gestures to the fanny pack around her waist and explains that she’s carrying Narcan, the brand-name version of the anti-overdose medication Naloxone. She says she has only needed to administer the medication once, relating an experience from last year when she was walking near a large encampment on 500 West and asked to help a man who was overdosing.

“He was OK, thank God. He woke up right there, but it took a couple doses,” Rieger said. “It was really scary, adrenaline was high. But it was awesome that we were there and able to do something about it.”

Rieger’s story is indicative of the work the Downtown Ambassadors do, which meets a critical need in the city’s operational ecosystem but is difficult to fully define and apt to go unnoticed by day-to-day residents, office workers and guests. Program staff and city officials say the ambassadors are making a difference, boosting both safety and vibrancy—but those intangible benefits don’t always resonate with Salt Lakers who are weary of the city’s seemingly intractable challenges.

“I’ve seen them pick up some garbage,” said Pete Marshall, owner of Utah Book & Magazine. “I don’t know what the hell their job is supposed to be.”

Marshall has been on Main Street for nearly 40 years—the family store is more than 100 years old—and he said there’s more unsheltered individuals downtown than ever.

He’s spoken to the ambassadors, who tell businesses to call them when they need help, and he’s made his share of calls to the police. But he’s skeptical that conditions downtown are improving.

“A lot of businesses around here just got tired,” Marshall said. “You call and no one shows up.”

Becca Rieger prepares for a shift in front of a map of service areas. Photo by Benjamin Wood

Launched in 2017 by the Downtown Alliance, the Ambassadors program has since contracted with the city to expand into Central City and Ballpark—where homeless resource centers are located—and to the North Temple and Rio Grande areas. Michelle Hoon, program manager for the city’s Homeless Engagement and Response Team (HEART), said roughly $1.5 million from the city’s homelessness mitigation funds (state dollars awarded to cities that host resource centers) is used to support the program’s expansion, which she described as money well spent.

“They’re super beneficial,” Hoon said of the ambassadors. “They’re kind of like the first line of defense for problems that could come up.”

Hoon described the Downtown Ambassadors as “eyes and ears on the street.” And however one might perceive the state of the city—good or bad, declining or improving—Hoon said conditions would be worse without them.

“It keeps the problems manageable. It keeps the problems from really spinning out of control,” Hoon said. “They still do—there are places where you can get overwhelmed. But for the most part, we have got a pretty clean, pretty safe city. And I think a lot of that and the maintenance of these areas has a lot to do with the fact that we have the ambassadors there.”

It Takes a Village
Before the walk to Washington Square, Rieger and her fellow ambassadors met for their daily huddle. In a quick debriefing, Rieger noted the next day’s resource fair and a Family Fun Night happening that evening at Gallivan Plaza, and reminded the team to wear their uniforms correctly—including to “remove your yellows” during breaks from the summer heat—and to “stat” the bags of trash they collect.

After that, the group stood in a circle and was led through a warm-up routine of twists, leg raises and toe-touches by an ambassador named Solomon while a Fergie playlist ran in the background.

“Alright, let’s go do some good,” Solomon said, sending the ambassadors scattering like busy, yellow bees.

“Stay hydrated!” Kristina Olivas called out after them.

The ambassadors collect a lot of data, which is shared with the city’s HEART team on a weekly basis. Block by block, they’re directed to log everything from the number of people they encounter and the services offered to them to the amount of garbage they collect, which is then run up the ladder as both a quantitative and qualitative measure of the trends and hotspots taking shape in the city.

“If you can address an encampment when it’s small, you’re way more likely to be able to get that person or those couple of people into a service that’s going to support them,” Hoon said.

The ambassadors make regular use of the SLC Mobile app, while encouraging businesses and others to use it as well. The app functions as a clearinghouse for maintenance and enforcement requests, with users able to report everything from a malfunctioning sprinkler in a park strip to an illegally-parked car—each report already sorted to the appropriate jurisdictional entity.

“If there’s a broken streetlight, broken sign, graffiti, a pothole, you name it—we’ll put it on SLC Mobile,” Olivas said.

Ambassadors do a warm-up routine before walking the city. Photo by Benjamin Wood

The ambassadors only recently added trash collection to their roles, and both Hoon and Olivas credited that with boosting the program’s visibility and helping to build bridges with local business owners—it’s a visual indicator of the work they’re doing and their impact on the community. While the city has its routines for trash removal, it can be challenging for that work to address the detritus that accumulates not just day by day, but hour by hour as tens of thousands of people make their way through the city.

“The light trash pickup that they have been doing has been phenomenal,” Hoon said. “It’s worked wonders to help keep those neighborhoods more maintained.”

The program also relies on local businesses to dispose of that trash, as the ambassadors do not have their own dumpster. Olivas said that’s just one example of the partnerships they rely on to effectively do their work.

“We have had better communication, better connection and better buy-in to our service from the businesses than we’ve ever had before,” Olivas said. “You don’t need to communicate with us every single day. But if you ever need us, we’re here.”

As Rieger made her way up the sidewalk at Washington Square, several of the people resting there began gathering up their trash and approaching her to throw items away. Olsen noted that many of the areas where the unsheltered congregate don’t have garbage cans nearby and that it can be difficult to avoid littering when you’re carrying all of your possessions.

“The majority of people want to have a clean space,” he said. “I’m not sure the general population realizes that.”

Asked about trends in the city, Olivas noted the increased amount of resources for the unsheltered that came online over the winter, like the micro-shelter community on 600 West and other support programs.

Having those additional resources gave ambassadors more and better options to offer to the people they encountered on the street, she said, and that in turn has led to more people accepting those offers and taking advantage of the help that is available to them.

“Those shelter resources have continued to stay open through the summer, so it’s really assisted our team and the individuals who are unsheltered,” Olivas said. “We’ve seen the trend of people saying ‘yes’ to shelter and ‘yes’ to getting into that safe space continue, because those options are available.”

And with talk of a new entertainment district around the Delta Center and Salt Palace, and the Power District taking shape along North Temple, the footprint and needs of Salt Lake’s urban core are ever expanding. Both Olivas and Hoon said there have not been formal discussions about adding new ambassador teams to those areas, but both also acknowledged the program could be a benefit to those development efforts.

Looking for fun things to do downtown? Ask an ambassador.

“Especially as we grow and we continue to create these areas of entertainment, our services are going to be needed more and more,” Olivas said. “We’ve seen our team grow into neighboring areas and we would love to continue to be that good neighbor and provide that support wherever it is needed.”

Lone Rangers
There are currently 25 ambassadors, up from six when the program first launched. They hit the streets from 7 in the morning until 11 at night in the summertime and until 7 p.m. in the winter. While some areas—particularly those outside of downtown—will see a pair of ambassadors working together, most go out alone in order for the program to cover as much ground as possible.

“It is an individual job, they are out there by themselves,” Olivas said. “But there’s someone always close by where they can get that help.”

It’s atypical work that rewards a unique set of skills—comfort in both isolation and diverse social interactions and a high tolerance for the unpleasant, from weather extremes to the realities of urban living often ignored by polite society.

“We’re really transparent about the job from the very beginning. They are told exactly what to expect—the pretty stuff and not so pretty stuff,” Olivas said. “We work in all weather and that’s what the team is told from the very beginning. We’re out there with the purpose of helping everyone at any time of the day.”

Fern Aguirre, general manager of Gracie’s, said she’s called the ambassadors for help several times. With the bar’s patio and entrance facing out onto West Temple, she said there have been instances where a person on the street or sidewalk might be shouting profanities, asking for money or otherwise disturbing her customers.

“We find ourselves in situations like that where a police presence might not be necessary,” Aguirre said. “Especially if they’re out on the street, that’s not something where I feel comfortable sending my staff out there to handle.”

She said the ambassadors have been prompt to respond on the occasions she’s reached out for help, typically arriving within 10 minutes. And she added that while she regularly sees the ambassadors making their rounds, it’s been some time since she had to proactively reach out to them for assistance.

“It definitely seems like—as far as the high-traffic areas downtown—we have seen improvement over the years,” she said. “The big scope, what do you attribute it to? Can you really say that this is the cause and effect? But I know that they’ve been great for us.”

Several ambassadors have a personal history with homelessness and addiction, which Hoon said gives them a lived experience that sets them apart from other public officials.

Light trash pickup was recently added to the ambassadors’ services.

“I think that gives them a different perspective on the work that they’re doing,” she said. “They’re really able to approach it with a lot of empathy and understanding and to speak the language of those who are out on the streets.”

Residents and businesses may not always see a full picture of the work the ambassadors do, but Hoon said the feedback she’s received has been nearly unanimous in praising their efforts.

“I have never heard anything but positive things to say about the Ambassador program,” Hoon said. “I think it’s really awesome that they’re able to get out there and provide a friendly face both for people who are unsheltered and also people in the business community.”

Aguirre noted that she’d like to see the program—or something similar to it—extend beyond 11 p.m. on weekends, at least around downtown’s nightlife spots.

“With the bars it’s kind of hard, because that’s kind of when a lot of the problems start,” she said.

In the late hours, when the ambassadors are not available, businesses like Gracie’s turn to the police for help. And while Aguirre emphasized that she has a great working relationship with the city Police Department, she added that having cops stationed outside of a bar doesn’t make for the best customer experience—even if no one is doing anything wrong—and that law enforcement isn’t necessarily the best solution to what people on the street are experiencing.

“A lot of times, these people are already in a tough situation,” she said. “I know that having them arrested is not going to do me, the police officers, the city or anybody any favors.”

Unseen Effort
It takes about an hour for Rieger to complete a full lap of Washington Square, with much of the work concentrated around the northeast corner, where 400 South reaches the Main Library and 200 East. Rieger heads back toward the Newhouse Realty building, to dispose of both the container of trash she’s collected and the City Weekly reporter shadowing her.

While Rieger and Olsen punch in the code to a gated dumpster, Olivas notes how much was accomplished in a short amount of time, and how unlikely it is that a typical Salt Laker would notice.

“The impact that we have in that hour—we collected a whole bag of trash, we connected with more than 20 people, we informed them of the resources,” Olivas said. “It’s all of these things happening in that hour that no one really sees or understands unless they’re with us or we can show them through the data that we collect.”

Olsen comments on how face-to-face interactions have decreased in modern society, with fewer opportunities for chance encounters that nudge people out of their comfort zones. He says it’s one of the reasons he loves working for the Ambassador program, whether that interaction takes the form of offering aid to someone in need or simply helping an out-of-town visitor find their way through an unfamiliar city.

“The overall message is that we’re here to make this a vibrant community,” he says, “through cleanliness, through a friendly face, through connecting people to resources and being that walking knowledge base.”

Aguirre said the Downtown Ambassadors illustrate the bigger challenges at play in Salt Lake City—challenges like keeping the city clean, getting help to those who need it and finding the right spaces for those with nowhere else to go. The ambassadors may not be capable of solving all of those problems, but she said their presence adds to the quality of the city.

“Ultimately, we’ve found benefits from it,” she said. “All of the people who have come out, we’ve had good interactions with. They’ve helped us.”

Downtown Decatur Launches New Clean and Safe Ambassador Program with Block by Block 

DECATUR, GA (June 22, 2024) – Block by Block is excited to announce the launch of a Clean and Safe Ambassador Program in Downtown Decatur, GA beginning May 29th, 2024, and lasting for a one-year trial period. The team is made up of six Ambassadors who will provide services primarily around The Square and Ponce De Leon Avenue.

The program is supported financially by the Decatur Downtown Development Authority, the tourism bureau and the city. The funds that each entity had previously allocated toward other district service elements like public works cleaning and off-duty police officer security will now collectively go to support the efforts of the Block by Block Clean and Safe Ambassador Program. The new team will deliver pressure washing, beautification, landscaping, safety, graffiti abatement, weed removal, hospitality and more.

Planning and Economic Development Director Angela Threadgill said the team “would be providing a bit of public engagement [like] directions [and] recommendations for restaurants, but also business outreach, and that’s something we don’t have on a day-to-day basis…They’re going to be observing, they’re going to be reporting and reach out to our Square officer when it’s necessary. They’re going to be providing safety escorts.”

Block by Block has a robust history working in downtowns since their first program launched in Louisville, KY in 1995. More than strictly a clean and safe service provider, Block by Block has developed an optimized operating model built on best practices, research, development and modern technology that has attracted partners in more than 150 locations nationwide, including improvement districts, parks, college campuses, transit systems and other public spaces

For more information about Block by Block, visit www.blockbyblock.com

###

About Decatur Downtown Development Authority

The Decatur Downtown Development Authority and the citywide Decatur Development Authority were established by special State legislation. They are independent authorities established for the purpose of planning, organizing, and financing projects that will revitalize and redevelop Decatur’s commercial business districts. The Downtown Development Authority focuses on the historic commercial downtown central business district and works to market a positive image for the city. The citywide Development Authority was established to build on the success of the Downtown Development Authority. It is empowered to work with neighborhood business districts and other commercial zoning districts in the city. The Development Authorities are staffed by Angela Threadgill, Planning & Economic Development Director. Call 404-371-8386 or email angela.threadgill@decaturga.com