SSJ Neighborhood Network

Erie’s Historic Little Italy neighborhood, once a thriving mecca of culture and community, had become distressed and plagued with poverty, crime, blight, vacant buildings, and struggling families. The Sisters of St. Joseph began a grassroots ministry to address the neighborhood’s needs. Sisters Mary Herrmann and Carol Wilcox developed an innovative model of service that started with door-to-door outreach. Programs were then developed based on the most pressing needs they saw. Successful programs included establishing a neighborhood-driven advisory and planning group, individual tutoring and mentoring programs for children, affordable housing and homeownership programs, community garden initiatives, strengthening the neighborhood watch, and grassroots outreach that continues to drive the revitalization and empowerment of the community. Today, the Litaly Italy neighborhood community is mobilized and improving, and the Sisters of St. Joseph Neighborhood Network has expanded to another location on Erie’s east side.