Imagine a place where you don’t need to drive to accomplish daily tasks; restaurants, shops, offices, parks, schools, daycare, and healthcare facilities are right where you live.  There are pedestrian only streets and zones, dedicated cycling routes, underground car parking and a focus on cleanliness.   Sounds cool right?!?!

From what I read this sounds and looks like a utopian paradise (maybe even a compound) with Ikea acting as a municipal government of sorts?  I was almost, kind of, totally brought in until I read that you couldn’t own.   All of the sudden it changed from cool innovation to does Ikea want to become my big brother?  The Globe and Mail admit this is a foreign concept to most North Americans and Brits but it is the norm in places like Sweden and other parts of continental Europe.   Cobden says that by living in a mixed-income urban neighborhood in which none of the neighbors are owners “it is less likely that people will buy, wait for the value to increase, then become absentee landlords”.    I understand the point he is trying to make but I am not convinced– I wonder what happens when people don’t get the opportunity to have an ownership stake in their communities?   What happens when you can just pack up and leave when ever you want?  Of course you can do this as an owner but Americans are more brought into the idea of owning homes, having something of their own.

More importantly, I wonder if Ikea will be different than most urban developers.  Sometimes urban developers who are interested in ‘transforming’ urban neighborhoods create really cool and aesthetically pleasing structures that operate as silos in the surrounding community.  Once the neighborhood becomes desirable the property values start to go up and people who never paid attention suddenly want to live in the cool part of town.  I wonder if Ikea has taken gentrification into account and if they have plans on what to do about it— does Ikea-land get to be the one bright spot in a otherwise neglected community?  Don’t get me wrong I love it when I see neglected communities go from blighted places of distress to diverse, hip, happening culture centers but I also believe that everyone deserves to have safe, non blighted, eco-friendly housing options.

Spring is here!  The trees and flowers are budding and the days are getting longer.  People have come out of their winter hibernation and they are headed outdoors to lead more active lifestyles.

Studies show that exercise can boost your mood and lower your stress, not to mention help you tone up and get rid of a few unwanted pounds.  Outdoor exercising also gives you a chance to connect to your surroundings and community in an exciting way- just don’t forget to think about your safety as you head into the great outdoors.

Many urban city dwellers face a number of issues when they want to exercise outdoors; chief among them is a lack of safe green spaces. However, you can still enjoy the great outdoors even if you live in the concrete jungle you can  help your fellow community members get fit along the way.

Use the buddy system:

• Walk, jog or exercise with a partner. It is safer than being alone, its fun, and serves as added motivation.
• Locate an outdoor exercise club in your community or start your own.  Chances are other people are interested in exercise too- they just don’t know where to get started, locate some like minded folks and get moving.
• The buddy system is best but if you have to exercise solo make sure a relative or loved one knows what time you are leaving, your route, and make sure you call them once you are back home.

Map your route:

• Don’t start out on a lonely road just wondering about.  Have a plan of where you are going and know how to get there.  There are lots of cool Android and iPhone apps that create exercise routes based of your personal goals (time, distance, weight loss, etc.).
• Make sure your route is well lit and not deserted.

Dress for Safety:

• If you are walking at dawn or dusk wear reflective clothing; make sure you are visible to people and cars.
• Leave the flashy jewelry at home.
• You may want to ditch the headphones, you need to be free of distraction and in tune with your environment.  Headphones make it difficult to hear cars and people behind you.
• Invest in a personal safety alarm or a high-pitched whistle.

Bring essentials:

• Have a form of identification.
• Make sure your cell phone is charged and turned on.
• Have a minimal amount of money and keep it in a secure place.
• Bottled water.

The first spotlight is CrimeReports.com.

Check out CrimeReports today and find out what’s going on in your community.

Make sure you have the Five important supplies listed below in your office.

1. Flashlight.  Keep your flashlight on your desk or in a desk drawer where it is easily accessible.  Make sure you check the batteries periodically and keep a extra set of batteries on hand.
2. Bottled Water
3. Non perishable food items.   Granola and protein bars are great to keep on hand.
4. Basic First Aid Kit
5. A battery operated radio. This is not an exhaustive list but it is a great place to start.  In case of an emergency you will be grateful that you have these items on hand.  So, the next time you order your regular office supplies- paper, pens, and pencils do yourself a favor and pick up the items mentioned above as well.

1. Teamwork

• Creating a safer and more secure environment has to be a shared goal.  From your staff to visitors everyone can be helpful.
•  Add safety and security as a topic at your office meetings, this helps make it a priority and keeps it on everyone’s mind.
• Post signs that show how much you value safety and security at your company and/or organization.

2. All emergency contacts and phone numbers should be easily accessible.

• 911 may not be the only number you need in case of an emergency.  Make a list of all relevant emergency contacts- you can include  facilities management, the property manager, maintenance, the security desk, etc.
• Get to know your local police district and the officers assigned to your neighborhood.
• If your police department has a community police liaison, get to know them.  They can be an valuable resource and keep you abreast of the what is happening in your community.

3. Conduct inspections once a week.

• Create a list of what needs to be checked in your office or at your facility.
• Assign a staff member to be responsible for weekly security checks, be sure to rotate the job so that there are always fresh eyes.
• Regular inspections will allow you to ascertain quickly if something is amiss and it will help law enforcement assist you better.

4. Screen all guests and visitors.

• Have your security guard or receptionist greet all visitors and guests.
• It is important that you know who enters your building or office and where they are going.

5. Secure your keys.

• Use a lock box for all of your important keys and control the lock box code.
• Create a sign in and sign out procedure for keys and make sure all keys are returned.

6. Secure your equipment.

• Know your inventory and keep detailed records.
• Tag all of your inventory and equipment.
• Keep all serial numbers and equipment models in a secure place.
• Use identification stickers.  Slice a ‘X’ through the stickers with a razor blade this will make them harder to remove.

7. Check your exterior surroundings.

• Utilize external lighting to deter potential criminal acts- make sure the lights are turned on and working.
• Make sure all gates and windows are locked.
• Trim all bushes and shrubbery to make sure that there are no spots that can serve as hiding spaces or camoflauge.
• Don’t prop open doors.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – November 30, 2011 – Top of the Clock (TOTC) (www.topoftheclock.com), a leading professional safety and security services company, today announced the launch of its’ sister company, ResilienC (www.resilienc.com), a different kind of risk management firm, that understands a risk mitigation plan is only a starting place.

ResilienC is reinventing the way communities, especially those in vulnerable urban environments, approach safety, health and security.  By building upon TOTC’s traditional security background and informed experiences in the field, ResilienC has developed a better way for schools, residential facilities and neighborhoods to regain control and take command of their destiny. By engaging and involving – even hiring – the very people served, ResilienC’s mission is to transform even the most intractable environments, making them healthier and more self-reliant.

“Our interest in community safety grew organically out of our traditional security services offered by TOTC.  Over and over again, we found that many of our traditional security customers needed more than uniformed guards.  They needed a holistic approach to safety that addresses not only protection of people and property but prevention and emergency preparedness,” said Nakia Stith, president and CEO of ResilienC.  “Many communities – whether they are apartment complexes, schools or entire neighborhoods – lack the organization and ability to bring about changes.  At ResilienC, we make that happen by going in and engaging people who at most at risk,” said Ms. Stith.

“Our first priority is to develop trust and support for our cause within the community.  One way we do this is by hiring some of the people we are serving.  We believe that safety is founded on self reliance. We’ve found that when we embed ourselves in a community we can generate buy-in and excitement more quickly and effectively than organization that impose outside-in solutions. In addition, our approach also creates jobs in neighborhoods which desperately need them.”

Services ResilienC offers

ResilienC has pioneered a new approach to safe environments that makes it easier to establish trust and cooperation in facilities, schools, and communities.  The approach encompasses 1) assessing threats to public health, safety and wellness 2) health and safety planning 3) providing safety training services 4) providing safety management services 5) and finally, uniform guard services, if needed.

First, ResilienC provides a health and safety audit service to identify and assess threats involving security, health, safety and other areas. Some areas of internal threats that ResilienC will review include policies and procedures regarding:

• Incident Management
• Visitor Screening
• Staffing and Training
• Technology Integration

Second, after ResilienC has conducted an assessment of a community or property, it works in collaboration with the client to develop a safety strategy and a comprehensive, specific and measurable plan to address any areas of vulnerability — beginning with those that represent the highest risk and liability exposure.

ResilienC’s approach to community health and safety planning is a highly collaborative process, in which it works closely with the client to discuss findings and recommendations, as well as available staffing, budget, schedules and related matters. This process can also involve collaboration with the partnering organizations, such as government agencies, community leaders, organizations and others.

Third, once an organization has established its policies, ResilienC can provide on-site safety training services for internal staff and, where appropriate, community members, to ensure shared understanding of roles, responsibilities policies and procedures. ResilienC works in partnership to design focused, ongoing crime prevention training programs in such areas as: school safety; security guard training; community preparedness; gang identification and management; and bullying prevention.

Fourth, to ensure that security and safety programs remain effective and consistent, ResilienC offers an array of safety support services including: evaluating impact of safety programs; determining effectiveness of crime prevention initiatives; monitoring incident responses and follow-up; oversight of security contracts and audit performance; and development of recommendations for program changes and enhancements.

And finally, ResilienC can establish and create an effective security guard solutions program by utilizing the services of its’ sister company, Top of the Clock, to provide quality uniformed security guard solutions

“We don’t just assess and recommend; we dive in and accomplish.  That’s different and better than other approaches to environment safety,” said Ms. Stith.  “We teach people to be more aware of their environment – to recognize potential hazards and monitor the health and welfare of the people around them.  These changes reduce the number of accidents, complaints and costs.  In addition, the renewed sense of pride and confidence is priceless.”

About ResilienC

ResilienC, sister company of Top of the Clock (TOTC), is a different kind of risk management firm, that understands a risk mitigation plan is only a starting place. To make a real difference,  ResilienC is dedicated to not only implementing the plan — which takes initiative, time and resources that many organizations simply don’t have – but also putting themselves in clients’ shoes and addressing issues from the ground up, including hiring members of the community to help them succeed. To learn more about ResilienC, please visit www.resilienc.com.