New Breed Study

PORTLAND
New Breed
Neighborhood 360
Assessment

WELCOME TO YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD 360 ASSESSMENT
Introduction
Neighborhood Snapshot
History of Portland
Demographics
Local Insights
Neighborhood Observations
Assets of New Breed
Things to Keep in Mind While We Proceed
Opportunities for Ministry
Reflective Questions
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INTRODUCTION
New Breed Church was planted in January of
2014 by Pastor TC Taylor (formerly of Antioch
Church) with Pastors Todd Robertson (Antioch)
and Jamaal Williams (Sojourn Community
Church) acting as external elders until New
Breed developed a process for raising up elders
from it’s own congregation.
Later that year, the predominantly black New
Breed expanded with the adoption of Portland
Avenue Baptist Church, and her Pastors Michael
and John Matala. As Portland Avenue Baptist
was mostly white, New Breed became a
vibrantly multi-ethnic church.
Initially meeting in Shawnee High School, in
2015 New Breed began meeting at Baptist
Tabernacle Church which is between the
Portland, Shawnee and Russell neighborhoods.
One year later, for safety and environmental
reasons, New Breed moved their worship
gatherings to the Portland Promise Center, in
the Portland neighborhood, where they still
worship today.
Despite these challenges in finding a
permanent location to worship, New Breed has
become a fellowship oriented congregation
comprised of mostly young families who are
determined to answer the Lord’s call to make
disciples and to love neighbor as oneself.
It may be tempting to interpret New Breed’s
lack of a permanent building only through the
lens of a trial. But consider this: God has
intentionally given New Breed the opportunity
to inhabit 1831 Baird Street, in Portland,
Kentucky.
The Lord has uniquely positioned New Breed to
be a “city on a hill” in the Portland
Neighborhood. How will we steward this
opportunity and engage this community?
To better understand Portland and the current
barriers and bridges that exist, we
commissioned a team of volunteers to conduct
an in-depth neighborhood study of Portland.
Our goal was to become students of Portland in
order to become servants of the community. We
surveyed neighbors door-to-door, conducted indepth
interviews, spent hours walking and
observing our streets, and collected
demographic, historical and cultural data to
complete this study.
One of the the things that make a
neighborhood study so valuable is the input
that comes directly from the people who live in
the community. Community studies reveal the
specific dreams and felt needs of the
community, and this in turn will enable New
Breed to more effectively share the love of
Jesus in ways that are meaningful to those we
want to touch. Rather than creating ministries
that members of Portland might or might not
find helpful, community studies allow us to
lead by listening- and thus partner with people
for the common good in the name of Jesus.
At the end of this booklet, you will find a series
of study questions and ideas. Our goal is to
provide this study as a means of stimulating
creative thinking. So, once you’ve read through
this study, gather a few friends and discuss how
your group or ministry can wisely and
effectively engage the people of Portland.
The New Breed Elders
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NEIGHBORHOOD SNAPSHOT
New Breed Church is located within the
Portland neighborhood, and meets at the
Portland Promise Center at 1831 Baird
Street.
Ohio River
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For the purposes of this study, the
community of Portland is defined by the
following street boundaries:
Northwestern Pkwy/ I-64 on the north,
Market Street on the south, 9th Street on
the east, and I-264 on the west.
The neighborhoods adjacent to Portland
include: Shawnee to the west, Russell to
the south, and Downtown Louisville to
the east. The nearest community parks
include Lannan Memorial park and
Portland Wharf Park. Neighborhood
geography spans 2.515 square miles.
264
N 122nd Street
Baird Street
Market Street
9th Street
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HISTORY OF PORTLAND
Communities are as different from one another as individuals are, and Portland is no
exception. Founded in 1835, Portland drew French, Irish, and German immigrants. The
advent of steamboats on the Mississippi occurred simultaneously with Portland's
development, allowing the Ohio River to be used as a major freight shipping route in what
was then the American Frontier. With a captive audience and a need for freight hauling,
Portland's Wharf flourished as numerous taverns, warehouses, and shipyards were built. In
1833, the Louisville and Portland Canal was built around the Falls of the Ohio, causing many
of the warehouses and shipyards to close and shifting economic power on the Falls to nearby
Louisville.
Later annexed by Louisville in 1837, Portland continued to grow to be Louisville’s largest
neighborhood with a population of over 12,000 people. Portland has historically been a
working class community with residents working in nearby factories. In the aftermath of the
1937 flood, all areas of Portland nearest to the river were completely destroyed. The effects
of flood displaced thousands of people from the area.
West Louisville, including Portland, began to change during the 1960’s when the civil rights
movement effected change towards many neighborhoods, causing businesses and many
white citizens to move to the suburbs. One significant event that took place in the 1960’s
was a riot on Greenwood Ave because an African American business owner was beaten by
police officers. The riot resulted in West Louisville losing most businesses and resources that
made it so prominent.
Fast forward to today, the neighborhood, whose residents are among the lowest income
levels in Louisville, is experiencing a rebirth and a revitalization. Many young families are
moving back and are attracted by the historic architecture and inexpensive starter homes in
Portland. Also emerging is small businesses such as The Table Cafe, McQuixote Books and
Coffee, and Cup of Joy Cafe.
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LOCATION
2 miles from downtown Louisville
South border: Market Street
North border: Northwestern Pkwy/ I-64
East border: 9th Street
West border: I-264
RACE
White 7444 (70%)
Black: 2885 (27.1%)
Asian: 1 (0%)
Hispanic: 92 (0.9%)
Two or More Races: 190 (1.8%)
Other: 26 (0.2%)
DEMOGRAPHICS
PEOPLE
Congressional District: John Yarmuth (D)
State Senate District: Gerald Neal (D)
State House Districts: Attica Scott (D primary),
Incumbent Darryl Owens
Metro Council Rep: Barbara Sexton Smith (D)
Portland Now Inc. (Neighborhood Association):
Kerrie Clifford, President
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Portland Elementary School
Atkinson Elementary School
Western Middle School
Shawnee High School
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Northside Christian Academy
POPULATION HIGHLIGHTS
Total Population: 12,752
Total Houses: 3936
EDUCATION
Higher Degree: 698 (10.4%)
High School: 3785 (56.5%)
No High School: 2219 (33.1%)
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
All White: $26,000
Non-Hispanic White: $26,000
Black: $19,200
All: $22, 100
EMPLOYMENT
Unemployed: 972 (12.4%)
Not in the Labor Force: 3973 (49.4%)
Assistance Program SNAP: 1649 (41.9%)
MARITAL STATUS
Never Married: 1935 males (48%), 1743 females (41%)
Married: 1079 males (27%), 1070 females (25%)
Separated/Divorced: 866 males (22%), 967 females (23%)
Widowed: 112 males (3%), 420 females (10%)
AGE
65+: 939 (9.3%)
40-64: 2958 (29.3%)
22-39: 2742 (27.1%)
18-21: 571 (5.6%)
0-17: 2901 (28.7%)
FAMILY HOUSEHOLD TYPE
Percentage of family households with children under the age of 18.
Married: 282 (26.8%)
Single Moms: 603 (57.3%)
Single Dads: 167 (15.9%)
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DEMOGRAPHICS
Demographic Summary
Portland is the only predominantly white neighborhood on Louisville's West Side and continues to struggle
with many of the issues faced by under resourced communities.
61 percent of Portlanders are unemployed or not in the labor force. Of those who are working, 38.7 earn
$15,000 or less annually.
41.9 percent receive government assistance in the form of SNAP benefits
56.5 percent have earned only their high school diploma, whereas 33.1 percent didn’t complete high school.
Only 10.4 percent have earned a higher degree.
35.1 percent of households are headed by a single mother, more than double the percentage of the greater
Louisville area
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LOCAL INSIGHTS
During the neighborhood study, surveys and interviews were conducted with a number of
locals in order to obtain personal accounts of what life in the Portland neighborhood is
like. Some common concerns and desires emerged from those conversations.
D R U G U S E & P R E V E N T I O N
A common thread among those in we talked to in Portland is the desire to free the
community from drug addiction. Several locals voiced concerns over the prevalence of
drug use in the neighborhood and one resident revealed that many see the consumption
of drugs as a road to success in some way. According to one resident, the heroin and
opioid crisis is now killing more victims annually than homicides and car crashes
combined. Any ministry or partnership that assists in the prevention or recovery of drug
use will be thought well of in the community.
C H I L D R E N , Y O U T H & P A R E N T I N G
There is a deep awareness of the need to teach, train, and mentor neighborhood youth.
After-school programing, spending time with neighborhood children, and one-on-one
mentoring were mentioned as desired pathways of church service. Yet, also mentioned is
the reality that earning the trust of neighborhood families will take time, effort, and a
commitment to engage residents over the course of months and years. Other desired
opportunities for service included classes and/or peer-to-peer mentoring around
parenting skills and parent accountability.
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I T T E R & B E A U T I F I C A T I O N
L
Several people mentioned that litter is a big problem in the neighborhood. From
abandoned cars and old mattresses on the porch, to unmowed lawns and rusted, bent
fence posts, a common theme that emerged from interviews with residents is a lack of
pride in the appearance and upkeep of people’s property and personal space. Though
some responsibility lies with residents themselves, Portland has experienced illegal
dumping from neighborhood outsiders with vacant lots and alleys being prime targets.
Street cleanups are a way church members can establish a welcomed presence in the
neighborhood.
R E S T O R I N G P R O P E R T I E S & V A C A N T L O T S
Since Portland was founded in the 1800’s, many of the buildings and properties are
actually historical landmarks. Due to neglect and general urban decay, a number of
buildings have been torn down and with those buildings goes a piece of history.
Residents long for renewal, yet lack the resources or ownership to make a difference.
C O M M U N I T Y E V E N T S &
F E S T I V A L S
There is a desire in Portland for activities
that will bring people together to
accurately reflect the sense of unity and
commonality among the people. Many
residents mentioned their love of
attending neighborhood festivals,
concerts, picnics and block parties.
Creating additional events or making
existing ones better was mentioned as a
way to create the togetherness needed
to combat the isolation felt by many.
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G E N T R I F I C A T I O N H O P E S A N D C O N C E R N S
Gentrification is defined as the buying and renovating of houses and stores in
deteriorated urban neighborhoods by middle or upper income families, individuals or
businesses. While this improves property values it often displaces low-income families
and small businesses. The 10-year Portland Investment Initiative is a $24 million
revitalization effort for the neighborhood that started about four and a half years ago.
Developers are beginning to restoring homes and commercial properties. Some
residents are excited about the activity and investment. However, there are also
concerns that residents will be unable to keep up with the increasing property values,
taxes and rent that often result from such activity.
C O M M U N I T Y A N D C O M M E R C E
Regarding the community aspect of the
neighborhood, we observed that many
neighborhood residents are not involved at all,
or at most only involved in one organization.
We discovered that people tend to gather at
the many Community centers throughout the
neighborhood which include Love City, the
Portland Promise Center, the Neighborhood
House, the Molly Leonard Portland Community
Center, the Community Catholic Center and the
Porter House. Supporting any one of these
centers may be an excellent way for church
members to leverage their gifts and grow their
influence.
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P O L I C E & G O V E R N M E N T P R E S E N C E
The First Division LMPD station resides on 29th and Griffith Street. We learned that LMPD
and security firms maintain a presence at a number of local businesses, such as the Portland
Kroger where officers are present at the entrance. Some residents mentioned concerns of
racial profiling and officers being disrespectful. Others, however, believe the police are
doing the best they can with the resources they have. Councilwoman Jessica Green said in
an article that she would like more residents to teach their children that police work is an
honorable profession and that more black residents need to sign up for the police force.
E C O N O M I C L I F E
There are some businesses throughout the neighborhood, but in large part, if someone is
going to find work that will pay a living wage, the individual will have to find it outside of
the community. Most businesses in the community include corner stores, health clinics, a
few fast restaurants, community centers, small auto repair shops, public schools and some
small businesses sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. A job training or placement
ministry would meet the need of individuals seeking job opportunities.
C H U R C H E S & S P I R I T U A L L I F E
Portland has historically been characterized an Irish-Catholic neighborhood, but much of
that has disappeared. Prominent religious organizations in the neighborhood include Our
Lady of Peace, Shawnee Baptist, Love City, Church of the Promise, along with a number of
Baptist, Church of Christ and Pentecostal/Charismatic churches spread throughout.
The spiritual climate of the neighborhood is fogged with a heavy amount of poverty,
addiction and other vices. The spiritual climate though is helped by having so many
different churches and ministries that are seeking to bring positive change to the
community. Church collaboration however is something the body of Christ in Portland
struggles with.
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ASSETS OF NEW BREED
Overall, New Breed fits well into the surrounding community. New Breed is as multi-ethnic
as the rest of Portland, though the socio-economic status of the average New Breed family is
a bit higher. New Breed Church is located in the perfect neighborhood for a multiethnic
church.
Physical Assets - Use of the Portland Promise Center.
Individual Assets - Young, multi ethnic congregation.
Ministry Groups Assets - Community Groups
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We asked residents what are the characteristics of “good leaders”? The answers included
“Someone willing to be an advocate,” “have a love/passion for the people and the
community,” “be willing to stand for what’s right, ” “care about people,” and “have a heart for
the neighborhood.” This means that as a church:
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE PROCEED
We have to focus on what kind of difference we can make with one area.
The amount of needs can be overwhelming; we don’t need to “fix” the community.
It is up to us to not see people who need to be fixed, but instead, figure out how we can
partner with the community to improve it.
We are here to learn.
We are here to contribute to see progress made in the community.
We believe in collaborating with existing organizations while also finding a way we can
help in a unique way.
We are here to point others to the saving work of Jesus as we live lives of justice out of
merciful love.
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The following are potential pathways for New Breed members, ministries and community
groups to consider as a means of increasing their commitment to the Portland neighborhood.
These recommendations, if adopted, could be a powerful way for New Breed to meet real
needs as a means of advancing the Great Commission and making disciples of Jesus Christ.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY
1. Conduct and coordinate an asset map of individuals and families that highlight their
gifts, capacities, and abilities.
2. Peer-to-peer parent programs
3. After school education support
4. Job connectivity
5. Beautification Efforts
6. Non-profit partnerships and support
7. New Community Events and Support of existing ones
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REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. What, if anything, changed in your understanding of the community around Portland?
2. What new opportunities do you see for New Breed to love and connect with our
community as a result of this study?
3. How do you imagine this study will change or impact our church?
4. How might your community group use the insights in this study to engage and connect
with the community around you?
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Neighborhood 360
Assessment