Take Back Antioch founder Brittney Gougeon chosen Antioch’s 2012 Citizen of the Year for Most Impact
Brittney Gougeon was honored as the 2012 Antioch Citizen of the Year – Most Impact for her work starting the community group Take Back Antioch, at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner, on Friday, March 8, 2013.
Gougeon started Take Back Antioch (TBA), comprised of a group of concerned citizens who actively look for positive, sustainable solutions to the crime and blight that have developed in our city, because she was frustrated. Frustrated by her friend’s car being burglarized, frustrated by hearing that Antioch’s 2010 homicide number was now at unlucky 13 and her frustration continued to grow.
Brittney took her frustration to Facebook and created a Take Back Antioch and invited residents not only to share how crime and blight were affecting their neighborhood but to suggest solutions. In less than two weeks more than 400 people had expressed their appreciation of the site by clicking the “Like” button and a group of residents who wanted to help turn around the situation had started to form a nonprofit organization. Nearly two years later, that little idea not only has garnered upward of over 4,200 “Likes”.
The TBA website lists the phone numbers to call about problems that included abandoned shopping carts, overgrown weeds and illegal dumping, the police non-emergency number and more. But Take Back Antioch is considerably more than an online directory: The Facebook page has attracted volunteers who have used part of the $13,978 the group has received in donations since its inception to help two vandalized schools as well as contribute the majority of the funds toward the replacement of a park’s play structure damaged by fire.
TBA is in the process of becoming an official non-profit organization, also known as 501(c)3, in order to help us achieve our goals by allowing us to apply for federal grants and solicit corporate donations that are only available to non-profit organizations.
Brittney’s efforts show how one person can make a difference.
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Brittney Gougeon
