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| Volunteers help with a graffiti cleanup in June 2008 |
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NeighborWorks Lincoln Community Organizing
"Until the people recognize that it is they who must do something about their own problems, and that it is only THEY who can be trusted to do the right thing - and until they realize that
only if they organize enough power in their community that something can be done about these things, nothing will get done." Carl Tjerandsen
Education for Citizenship: A Foundations Experience
What is community organizing?
Community organizing is a long-term approach where the people affected by an issue are supported in identifying problems and taking action to achieve solutions. The organizer challenges those he or she works with to change the way things are--it is a means of achieving social change through collective action by changing the balance of power. The tactics and strategies employed by the organizer are similar to the processes of leadership including timing the issue, deliberate planning, educating and involving the residents, getting the attention of the populace, framing the issue in terms of the desired solution, and shaping the terms of the decision-making process
- NeighborWorks Week was June 6th-13th, 2009
In celebration NeighborWorks Lincoln presented a full week of events including:
• The observance began Thursday, June 4th with an annual awards luncheon at Embassy Suites. The following awards were given: Resident Property Award to Dennis & Carol Mathias, from the Malone neighborhood; Business Property Award to La Tapatia Market; Individual Leadership Award to Lynn Fisher; Business Leadership Award to Runza® Restaurants, 13th & E location and Public Contribution Award to Dave Landis. In the afternoon a Rain barrel class was sponsored by Neighborworks Lincoln, Urban Trails and Lincoln Public Works-Watershed Mgt. In the class held at Urban Trails Nursery at 4th & F, 12 participants constructed rain barrels with instruction from Amanda Meader and Ed Kouma from Public Works.
• Saturday, June 6th, NeighborWorks Lincoln Staff landscaped a property at 429 B Street. The event was featured in the June 7th edition of the Lincoln Journal Star.
• Monday, June 8th, 2009 "The Two Elephants and the Kingfisher in the Lotus Garden Sea" mural project kicked-off. The mural is located on the south side of the building at 538 N. 27th Street. Artist Wendy Jane Bantam worked with NeighborWorks Lincoln and community volunteers to create the mural. NeighborWorks also coordinated a planting event at 11th & G Streets. NWL staff and 2 volunteers from Pan Dulce Panderia (Bakery) cleaned and planted corner beds near business area.
• Tuesday, June 9th a graffiti clean-up was conducted by seven NeighborWorks Lincoln staff and youth volunteers from the Lighthouse. Graffiti was removed from four properties in the Malone/Hawley Neighborhood.
• Wednesday, June 10th, 2009 a plaque dedication was held at Lintel Park (21st & Holdrege Streets) for Delores Lintel for her grassroots community organizing efforts in Lincoln for the past 40 years. Guest speakers included Mayor Chris Beutler, former Mayor Colleen Seng and Delores Lintel. Channel 10/11 News was also in attendance. NeighborWorks Lincoln also held a mulching event at McPhee School. NWL staff, 36 youth, and 6 McPhee CLC staff weeded beds, mulched and set stepping ‘cookies' in garden areas.
• Thursday, June 11th, 2009 approximately, 40 youngsters from the Malone Center after school program conducted a litter clean-up in the Malone Neighborhood. The Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department also participated by teaching kids the importance of recycling and how to reduce litter. A litter pick up was also held on Goodhue Blvd. Forty-two volunteers from McPhee CLC and NWL staff picked up litter along Goodhue Blvd. and surrounding area.
• Friday, June 12th, 2009 NeighborWorks held a graffiti clean up in Everett, Near South and Irvingdale neighborhoods. Four volunteers from Juvenile Probation and NWL staff cleaned up 8 properties.
• Saturday, June 13th NeighborWorks staff conducted a voter registration drive at the Juneteenth Celebration at Pentzer Park (26th & Potter Streets). NeighborWorks Lincoln staff also disseminated over 60 free smoke detectors at the celebration.
• Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 In the Near South neighborhood we held a BBQ. Twenty-five neighbors gathered at 25th & C for a BBQ/potluck and met with police to find out how they could be better stewards of their neighborhood.
• Thursday, June 18th, 2009 In the Everett neighborhood we held a BBQ at Newslink-11th & Peach Streets. 50 to 60 residents met for a BBQ/potluck to get acquainted with new neighbors.
- NeighborWorks Policy Network
- The Roles and Responsibilities of Community Organizers
- Neighborhood Revitalization Projects
- Voter Registration Drive
- Free to Grow
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Volunteers help with a landscaping project during NeighborWorks week, June 2008.