Mission, Vision, Value, and History
We Socialize. We Organize. We
Make a Difference.
`They've [Neighbors for
Neighbors] been able to turn what originally was socializing for
some explicit goal, like keeping the neighborhood safe, to now just
socializing for the sake of getting to know their neighbors," ...
"What's unusual in this is that they found a mechanism to keep
people involved after the threat has gone."
Excerpt quoting Thomas Sander, Executive Director of Harvard University's Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America, from the article Mighty Neighborly, in Boston Globe written by Adrienne Samuels on June 13, 2006.
Neighbors for
Neighbors brings neighbors together in person to satisfy the human
need to connect and care for one another. We do this so neighbors
may discover common interests and passions and organize around
them, transforming their great ideas into actions that contribute
to our community. We socialize. We organize. We make a
difference.
Vision:
We
envision communities where all neighbors know each other by name,
say hello on the street, feel safe, and contribute to each other's
quality of life.
Core Values:
Neighbors for
Neighbors is:
*
Community-driven
*
Inclusive
*
Collaborative
*
Fun
*
Innovative
How We Fulfill Our Mission:
We socialize:
NFN hosts neighborhood Socials where neighbors
connect.
We organize: NFN hosts Community
Organizing Expos where neighbors create social groups and community
projects with others who share similar interests and passions;
engage with local non-profits; and collaborate online at www.neighborsforneighbors.org.
All serve as mechanisms that keep neighbors
together.
We make a difference: Thousands of
people connect at events; over 70 Social Clubs, Community Projects,
and Partner Projects engage local, national, and international
neighbors together, generate over 5000 hours of engagement, and
bring countless volunteers to local organizations and
events.
Starting as a class project in the Self Expression Leadership Program at Landmark Education www.landmarkeducation.com in August 2004, Joseph Porcelli set out to educate local residents about a rash of violent assaults and robberies in his neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, MA. 500 fliers were handed out to residents at the Stonybrook T stop informing them of assaults and robberies and educating them about crime prevention.
In response to residents’ interests, a Neighborhood Crime Watch meeting was organized. An unheard-of turnout of 60 residents attended and learned about how to be responsible for their own safety and the safety of the neighborhood. The number one suggestion for crime prevention was to know your neighbors.
Inspired by the turnout from the community and from a suggestion to get to know his neighbors, Porcelli, together with friends and neighbors, set out to create a Neighborhood Social. The first Neighborhood Social event was held on October 26th, 2004 and was attended by 90 residents. At the February 6, 2007 Community Organizing Expo two and half years later, 350 residents attended. After three years, Neighbors for Neighbors events, Social Groups, and Community Projects, brought together more than 4,000 residents and inspired the successful creation of 70 Social Groups, Community Projects, and Partner Projects generating over 7000 hours of community engagement. Every year, with the addition of new neighbors' ideas and passions, we add Social Groups, Community Projects, and, of course, connected and engaged neighbors.
"We're successful because we provide safe and accessible entry points for residents to meet and connect with each other, a civic engagement springboard and mechanism to keep neighbors together, and a volunteer pool for local events and organizations. Our community organizing model allows residents turn their ideas and passions into Social Groups and Community Projects," said Joseph Porcelli, founder and organizer of Neighbors for Neighbors.
© 2024 Created by Joseph Porcelli (Chief Neighbor).
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