FIGHTING THE FIGHT: It was difficult for Barbara Anderson to watch Slavic Village, the Cleveland neighborhood she grew up in, be taken over by thieves and drug dealers. As the once-beautiful houses were foreclosed one by one, trash and ugliness were left behind. Joined by friends in the neighborhood, Anderson took matters into her own hands and started a movement called "Bring Back the 70s," a reference to the numbered street's name: East 76th Street. For the past six years, Anderson and her team have dedicated their time to cleaning up her adored neighborhood. Today, Anderson is treasurer of both Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland and Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People, and co-chairs Slavic Village Development Corp.'s Abandoned and Vacant Housing Committee.

THE MOVEMENT: In 2004, the first annual neighborhood cleanup was conceived. The group borrowed a trash bin from the city, threw on gloves and hauled trash away with their hands. By fall, attention turned to eliminating the drug trafficking problem. "Drug Free Zone" signs and newer "Neighborhood Watch" signs were posted around the block to warn unwanted visitors. Last year, a community garden was started and children were paid to help decorate the fronts of the houses and clean weeds around foreclosed properties.

Every day, 20 new foreclosures are filed in Cuyahoga County, making banks among the most negligent property owners in the area. Members of the Bring Back the 70s club have contributing their own money towards neighborhood cleanup, but Anderson wants owners to fork over the cash.

Unhappy with the situation, Cleveland Municipal Court's housing court judge Raymond Pianka also wants banks held responsible. Judge Pianka has issued arrest warrants against 30 banks for not showing up in court to address criminal code violations. He's also holding evictions until they respond to code violations.