“Did you just throw that on the floor?” » asked the volunteer, then explained why litter harms the community’s quality of life.

It was all part of a day’s work for the Chelsea EDCone of five nonprofit community development corporations in the city that attempt to improve neighborhoods and provide assistance to residents and businesses.

Resident Joann Webb stopped by to learn more about what the Ducktown and Chelsea EDCs are doing, and when asked what concerns her most in her neighborhood, she didn’t hesitate.

“There is too much crime. Shootings, stabbings on this street and the next,” Webb said. “I don’t go out alone in the evening. Just during the day. Even then, you don’t know.

But Tasmura Mustafa, 18, a Stockton University student, said she was walking home from school in her Ducktown neighborhood and wasn’t worried.

“I feel safe,” Mustafa said.

About two weeks ago, at a Clean and Safe meeting in Atlantic City, Elizabeth Terenik, president of Chelsea EDC, called for more police during the group’s outreach sessions Wednesday, after she said an aggressive drug user had acted in a threatening manner towards his volunteers.

The Chelsea EDC hired a social worker to try to get the neighborhood’s addicted and homeless people into recovery programs or safe housing, but they often aren’t ready to accept help, a she declared.

The Chelsea and Ducktown groups gathered Wednesday afternoon at Texas and Atlantic avenues. The location is close to the border of the two neighborhoods, so passersby can get information about activities and programs to help them get a free security camera at the Chelsea Gate, or learn about Chelsea parties. end of Ducktown community building year.

“We try to capture their attention and then provide them with information about the programs we offer and other resources,” Terenik said. “For the next three months we will be settled here.”

His group will host awareness tables from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday until December 18.

A new program aims to promote safety by making it easier to call the police.

She worked with residents and ordered new signs for the fronts of all homes on Texas, Monterey and Spray avenues that will feature their house numbers and street names.

“Someone might have to call the cops and doesn’t know what street they’re on if they’re a tourist,” Terenik said.

Terenik tries to make interacting with his group fun for residents and visitors, offering free gifts to people who spin the wheel to win snacks and other treats.

On Wednesday, Muhammed Chofe, 4, of Atlantic City, came for a ride while his grandfather, who did not give his name, spoke to EDC staff.

Much information is available in Bengali and Spanish, and Terenik has hired bilingual staff as well as retired police officers like Venice Park resident Michelle Green, the Clean and Safe coordinator.

In September, the state hired a new senior advisor for the city to help address the homeless problem, and a group of businesses, civic and elected leaders, and residents called Clean and Safe Atlantic City stepped up. meeting every other Friday to report on efforts to improve lighting, security and public safety.

“We’ve been talking with the state for a few years, and now we have a homeless officer for the city,” Mayor Marty Small Sr. said of the hiring of city resident Debra White. “She’s not just one person, but she’s bringing resources and money to help us get to the bottom of the problem.”

White is the former Director of Business Services for Chelsea EDC.

Carla Santos, who owns real estate in the area with her husband, said she discovered ESL classes through Terenik.

“I would like to volunteer…to do something for the city,” said Mustafa, who is grateful to the group. She grew up in Brazil and speaks Portuguese and also speaks Spanish.

The Chelsea EDC distributed a list of nine locations in the city where ESL classes are available, as well as information on grants and homeownership classes, naturalization classes and encouraged people to report crimes and quality of life issues to the police department and the city.

Later in the day, children were walking home from neighborhood schools, and EDC staff and volunteers were there to give them a snack and provide a safer street environment.

For more information about Chelsea EDC’s work, listen to Chelsea Insider Podcast on Spotify.