MEDIA ADVISORY FOR 3.11.2009

Contact: Joseph Porcelli
Phone: 857-222-4420
Email: Jporcelli@neighborsforneighbors.org


BUILD ON THE PROMISE OF HOPE AND CHANGE
NEIGHBORS SOCIALIZE AND ORGANIZING AROUND COMMON INTERESTS AND PASSIONS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

March 11, 2009 (Jamaica Plain, MA). Jamaica Plain residents will descend upon the Milky Way Lounge and Lanes tonight to share/table their social activity club and service project ideas with each other at the Neighbors for Neighbors Community Organizing Expo.

To sustain the energy and momentum they’ll generate at the Expo, they’ll utilize the Neighbors for Neighbors first-of-its-kind neighborhood social network – http://www.neighborsforneighbors.org. The network provides group leaders with communication and collaboration tools, as well as a constant flow of new volunteers and members. In addition, the network is a one-stop-shop for everyone's neighborhood needs. Even the Mayor's Neighborhood Coordinator has a profile and blogs on the network.

Sample of neighbor-run groups that will be tabling at the Expo:

• Garbage Brigade - Organizes trash pick-ups around the neighborhood.
• Art Space – Seeking increase accessibility to the arts
• JP Bikes - Creating a tight knit community of bikers
• JP Free School - Building a democratically run Free School in JP
• Middle East Book Club - Read and discuss Middle Eastern literature.
• Peace Boston - Addresses violence in the community.
• The Mug Project - Advocating the use of mugs to reduce waste.

WHAT:
Neighbors for Neighbors (NFN), Jamaica Plain, will host a Community Organizing Expo where over 45 Social Groups, Community Projects, and Non-Profit will "table" and engage over 300 residents in their programs and neighborly cheer!

WHO:
45 neighbor-run social activity club, service projects, and local non-profits who will table and well as 300 + Jamaica Plain, MA residents.
Katie Visco, from Pave Your Lane. Katie will be youngest female in US history who will run across America to inspire them to pursue their passion by following here own.

WHERE:
MilkyWay JP Lounge and Lanes, 405 Center Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 11, from 7 to 9 PM.
Event Schedule:
• 7:00 to 8:00 PM – Community Organizing Exposition
• 8:00 to 8:15 PM – Speaking: Welcome by Joseph Porcelli, Founder and Executive Director. Motivational speech by Katie Visco.
• 8:15 to 9:00 PM – Community Organizing Exposition.

ABOUT NEIGHBORS FOR NEIGHBORS:

Started by Joseph Porcelli in 2004 to raise crime prevention awareness, Neighbors for Neighbors encourage neighbors to build on the promise of hope and change, and provide tools for neighbors to self organize and become actively engaged.

After nearly five years of operation, Neighbors for Neighbors has brought together more than 4,000 residents, has inspired the creation of over 100 social activity clubs and community projects, and has linked hundreds of volunteers with local non-profits.

In total, Neighbors for Neighbors has been responsible for generating more than 8000 hours of community engagement. All funding come from members, and the annual budget is about $2,000.

"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." (1) Thomas Sander, Executive Director of Harvard University's Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America

(1) Samuels, Andrienne. “Mighty Neighborly.” Boston Globe, June 13th, 2006.