The Hope Commission recommends a targeted comprehensive approach to creating peace and
strengthening communities and calls for the establishment of Hope Zones. Hope Zones are
selected neighborhoods with recognized identities. The first Hope Zone would be a testing
ground for inter-agency collaboration, economic opportunities, human service programs,
initiatives and strategies. By initially focusing on a limited area, implementation of the Hope
Commission recommendations could be tested, evaluated and amended in a manageable
environment. Lessons learned will then be used for replication of additional Hope Zones. Hope
zones will focus on the physical appearance of neighborhoods as well as resident stability, home
ownership, and enhancement of the community.

The Commission recommends that the City, in partnership with the community, should identify
Hope Zones and determine a strategy for implementation. Selection of the Zone for initial
implementation will include consideration of existing leadership and resources found in neighborhoods. This process will build on the Wilmington Specifically Targeted Area
Redevelopment (STAR) program, which focuses on adding new housing and redeveloping
existing buildings. Although this effort will start with one Hope Zone, additional zones should
be created as soon as is possible. The implementation strategy should include a plan, with
timeframes, for developing additional Hope Zones.
The Commission believes a Hope Zone could decrease the fragmentation of services to
community residents through a comprehensive delivery system. Such a service delivery system
could become the model for other neighborhoods to be incorporated into the city-wide
redevelopment strategy

.