SUNNYSIDE, Texas – In Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood, there are so many changes happening: new developments, rising costs, and shifting demographics.
OUR TOWN: KPRC 2 shares the stories of the Sunnyside community
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Melanie Young says she had to do something to make sure the community’s voices are heard and their needs are met. That something was reactivating the super neighborhood, a framework that allows civic clubs to organize, and address pressing local issues.
“It doesn’t take that much to be active, especially if there’s someone that’s willing to lead,” Young said. “Civic engagement is the backbone of the neighborhood. If you’re not involved civically, you can’t really engage with those that represent you.”
“You can’t create change,” she continued. “You can’t make things better for your life or for your neighbors. Sunnyside is one of the neighborhoods where the super neighborhood was not active for maybe like the last 4 or 5 years. I would go to different civic club meetings, just to kind of hear what was going on in the neighborhood. Meet people that have been active for years.”
Melanie didn’t stop there; she also focused her efforts on engaging her peers, a group often seen as more connected to their devices and social media, and actually showing up and being present.
Through community events and direct outreach, Melanie has been able to bring younger people into the fold.
“These are the issues. They are the issues you talk about. These are the issues we’re seeing,” Young said. “The only way to do this is to kind of get out from behind your keyboard and come out to the meeting.
“Come walk the neighborhood,” she continued. “Come participate in cleanups. Come out and vote. Come out and meet the candidates. It’s definitely ongoing. And I don’t want to call it challenging. I just kind of call it something that you have to do consistently.”
Young’s efforts are not just about addressing today’s challenges.
“Illegal dumping is one of the issues across all city clubs,” Young said. “I would say that I hear a lot about is the crime. The crime, the loitering, the convenience stores.”
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She also wants to ensure Sunnyside’s future remains in the hands of its residents, young and old alike. Shaped by those who care enough to get involved.
“As you see the economic development in the neighborhood, once the salaries of those who are moving into the area, once those rise, you know, you’ll see more businesses come in,” Young said. “There’s so much more that escapes Sunnyside because there’s so much we don’t have. The neighborhood lacks amenities.”
“The more people that move in , the more we’re going to see the need to start to develop those amenities,” she added. “Once the duplexes are finished. Once the single-family homes are built and we are more established, Sunnyside is going to turn into The Heights. We’re on our way to being a neighborhood like The Heights. That’s the same trajectory.”
KPRC 2 will be following Melanie Young’s journey as she works to address the challenges ahead and ensure her community’s needs stay front and center.
For a link to the city of Houston’s Super Neighborhoods directory, click here.