WATERLOO -- Neighbors shut themselves up in their houses, believing they can shut out the violence and problems plaguing their neighborhoods, said the Rev. Belinda Creighton-Smith, pastor at Faith Temple Baptist Church.

But locking themselves in will not make the problems go away.

"This, being isolated in our own world, is killing us," she said at a roundtable meeting at Jubilee United Methodist Church on Tuesday night. "Waterloo is too small a community for that."

Around two dozen heads nodded, but this wasn't a sermon. The "Making Neighborhoods Safe: Safety Committee" meetings, held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m., are open to discussing community concerns and solutions. That's exactly what happened Tuesday night as questions were thrown out and answers, business cards and proposals were thrown right back.

Participants Tuesday varied from university professors like Al Hayes to pastors of various denominations to Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson and residents with concerns.

First on the agenda: graffiti.

"The influx of people moving in from out of town and acts of graffiti around town is problematic," Creighton-Smith said. "And summer hasn't even started."

Immediately, Perry Goodman, coordinator of neighborhood services for the city of Waterloo, mentioned he was trying to put together a "tag team" consisting of volunteers who paint over graffiti markings on Saturday mornings.

"You may not win the battle, but you'll eventually win the war," Goodman said, adding he was still putting together a volunteer list.

Next up was a resident who noted her job-seeking son was having a difficult time finding employment because of a deferred judgment on his record.

David Goodson, who deals with cases like that through his nonprofit Social Action Inc., said it was important to start with any job, like fast food work, and worry more about getting an education to start a career.

"I have two guys with felonies in the last few months. They're at Hawkeye (Community College) right now," he said.

It seemed no matter what concern was thrown out, someone had an answer.

Need something to do in the summer for young children? Tim Lyon of Quakerdale proposed bringing his Summer Mobile Camps to Waterloo, a weeklong day camp for up to 60 children, age 6-11.

What about summer employment programs for teenagers? Hayes noted federal stimulus money was earmarked for just such a purpose and was optimistic funds would be directed toward this area.

The "Making Neighborhoods Safe" meetings have been going on for years, mainly because people aren't willing to shut the door on their community.

"We have some things in the making," Creighton-Smith said as she adjourned. "We're moving forward."

Contact Amie Steffen

at (319) 291-1464

or amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com.