From Franklin Blvd to Tamoshanter Way there is a new project blossoming in South Sacramento. One that is fueled by a passionate group of female leaders behind the scenes and at the forefront.
On the surface, the Florin Road Community Beautification Project (FRCBP), is a $1.2 million grant initiative through Caltrans that is bringing art to life through the work of a variety of artists and creatives. Peeling back the layers however, we discover not only the deeper meaning of the project, but the months of months of work that went into it. Corey DeRoo and Maria Madrigal from the Florin Road Partnership, are two of the women responsible for bringing the project to life – and balancing the hundreds of spinning plates in the process.
Securing a grant in any form is no small feat. There is endless paperwork, countless numbers to check and re-check, and what feels like an endless amount of conversations to have through email, text, call and in person. There are no 8 hour days when it comes to the work, but listening to DeRoo and Madrigal speak, both of them exude nothing but love for this project and the work they believe it will do for the area on a micro and macro level.
“The beauty of the project is that it is absolutely about bringing the community together to create something beautiful and representative of the neighborhood we love so much,” DeRoo exclaims, “but it’s about so much more! It’s hard to contextualize but a project like this can really be an anchoring force in the area, and that’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”
“The beauty of the project is that it is absolutely about bringing the community together to create something beautiful … but it’s about so much more. It’s hard to contextualize, but a project like this can really be an anchoring force in the area.” — Corey De Roo, Executive Director
On top of creating something visually appealing or an Instagrammable moment the ripple effect of helping to create relationships with current businesses in the area (FoodMaxx/SaveMart Corporate has been a major supporter of the FRCBP’s work) as well as attract new ones that would provide additional amenities the community needs. By combining their efforts with the Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum, the collective intention of honoring the heritage and historical significance of the area offers a unique dimension to the project.
“We want the community to be able to engage and feel like they are a part of everything we do. They are the real heart of why we’re doing it,” Madrigal says as we discuss the next steps of the project, “we’re working on creating an event around Earth Day as part of bringing awareness to the project and to be able to open up conversations about what we need going forward to keep the neighborhood sustainable. Just like this project we want our people to be around for a long time.”
