In February of 2005, he decided that he would take matters into his own hands by founding United Coalition Association. “What inspired me to start this organization was I had a community newsletter that I started addressing issues in the community and no one after reading it did anything about the concerns. If they did, it wasn’t handled in a matter that satisfied me or the way that I had in mind. I said, I’m going to handle these concerns on my own, and that is just what I did,” Savage said on what inspired him to start UCAI. Savage has been working with the community for a year and has already made great strides in the community.

UCAI got the ball rolling on things in the area that would otherwise have been ignored had it not been for the organization. Ron Savage made sure to have safe entrances into Playgrounds, whose only entrances were located on the side of a highway. Savage saw to it that trash cans were placed on blocks that were in dire need of them. He worked to get a Mobile Postal Unit in an area where the local postal offices was quite a distance to get to, especially for the senior citizens in the area. He has also started petitions for concerns in the community and is in constant contact with his local political leaders to keep them abreast of any rising concerns in the area. “We are fighting for speed bumps in school zones, we are looking into labor issues, school concerns and more.” Savage said.

Savage works closely with tenant associations in the neighborhood as well. Actually, his allegiance with local tenants associations plays a strong factor in what he does for the community. Not only does Savage have the support of local tenant associations, but he also has political backing as well. UCAI has the support of Annabel Palma, council member of the 18^th district in the Bronx. Savage and Annabel Palma work together for the betterment of their community. Savage, a loyal supporter of Palma saids, “She is a person that I can truly say feels the same way I feel about the community where we live.  She truly works for the people and I love that about her and her staff,” said Savage of Council member Palma.

The organization is present at events held in the community. “We set up tables at events, and give out our leaflets and talk to people about their community concerns,” Savage said. Impressed by a UCAI leaflet handed out at a local train station, the Chairperson for 2005 World Aids Day at Jacobi Medical Center invited UCAI to attend the event. When asked what discouraged him about his community, Savage spoke of homelessness and unemployment. A personal goal of Savage’s to have a building in the community for UCAI to be able to address the many concerns of the thriving neighborhoods in the Bronx. Savage would like to see his organization handling issues and concerns throughout New York State in the next 10 years. Part of UCAI’s mission statement is to have a voice on local and national governmental issues. UCAI has already made a positive impact on the community it serves. With the desire of the organizations leader, UCAI will be sure to make leaps and bounds in the future.

Written By Jill