PRO Neighborhoods is looking for connectors! What/who is a connector? Read on (especially if you care about obesity).

PRO Neighborhoods is seeking 20-25 neighborhood “connectors” to be part of a network of “diverse individuals who are committed to mobilizing resources, strengthening the environment, and supporting the well-being of their neighborhoods. Ideal connectors are currently using an asset-based approach in their neighborhood work.”

Connectors encourage “genuine intergenerational participation. Using tools and resources provided by PRO Neighborhoods and the network, each connector will collaborate with neighbors, schools, businesses and institutions to:

–Build relationships among stakeholders
–Lead an assessment of the community’s health and wellness with an eye to reducing obesity
–Guide a community visioning process to propose solutions to issues revealed in the assessment.”

Those selected will make a 20-month commitment and receive a monthly stipend of $250. Grant funding and technical support will be available to help realize the action projects.

This sounds like a great goal & project, especially to combat obesity in Arizona, and to include inter-generational components, such as wise elders as well as young teens, also prone to obesity. And there’s even a monthly stipend!

If interested send a letter of interest to connectors@proneighborhoods.org by July 9.
For more information, contact Judith Anderson at (520) 882-5885 or at the same email aforementioned.

They are also once again offering their 3 month Community Organizing class, which I blogged about last summer (click here).

Pro Neighborhoods is moving in July to the Historic Y, 738 N. Fifth Avenue, Suite 101 Tucson, AZ 85701. Their phone number will remain the same, 520- 882-5885.

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I attended last night’s meeting at the Ward 6 office of the Neighborhood Support Network (NSN), whose purpose is to “build relationships of trust and support among diverse citizens engaged in neighborhood enrichment in the greater Tucson region. The Network offers a unique capacity to build connections among stakeholders and elected neighborhood leaders, past and present, as they work to improve Tucson’s quality of life.”

Donald Ijams, a retired Senior Management Analyst at TPD is the coordinator of this group and had dreamed of setting up such a network after he retired 4 years ago.

Residents of eight neighborhoods were represented at the meeting: Colonia del Valle, Doolen Fruitvale, El Montevideo, Palo Verde, Peter Howell, Sam Hughes, San Clemente, and South Park. This meeting was a roundtable discussion to share problems and projects going on in the neighborhoods. And these were diverse – from stray dogs & traffic circles, to crimes such as burglaries and murder. The benefits of Neighborhood Watches were discussed, and how neighborhood associations were handling new development, clean up projects, block parties, National Night Out, better street lighting, and tree trimming.

Don announced that he is a participant in a newly formed group called the Tucson Regional Visioning Process, which is seeking to define the “common values” of Tucson and the future of growth here. For updates on this project, an outgrowth of the last year’s Regional Town Hall, contact Donald at 520-795-0770 or dsijams at gmail.com.

Pro Neighborhoods was represented by Community Organizer Joanie Sawyer, who informed the neighbors of their new workshops on resources, with a $50 incentive/certificate for neighborhood associations that attend all 8 workshops, starting September 9 and ending on December 5:

1. GETTING STARTED: Basics for Beginning Neighborhood Groups
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 6 – 8:30 PM

2. FROM CAFECITOS TO DESIGN CHARETTES
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 6:00 – 9 PM

3. PRESERVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Resources and Guides to Help You Work the System
Saturday, Oct. 17, 9 AM – 3 PM

4. GETTING THE WORD OUT Newsletters, Web sites, blogs and more
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6 – 9 PM

5. EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN RELATIONSHIP I: Partnering with Your Community
Wednesday, Nov. 4, 6 – 9 PM

6. EVERYTHING HAPPENS IN RELATIONSHIP II: Partnering with Youth
Saturday, November 7, 9 AM – NOON

7. WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THAT PROPERTY?
Saturday, November 14, 9 AM – NOON

8. WHAT’S WORKING?
Saturday, Dec. 5, 9 AM – NOON

See the Pro Neighborhoods website or call 520-882-5885 for more information and workshops. I have previously blogged on their Community Organizing course which started in August.

Neighbors sharing community information and networking with other neighbors is what NSN is all about. I think Donald’s dream has come true.

Pro Neighborhoods is offering a community organizing course starting August 19 for activists and neighborhood leaders who care about the community where they live. “This popular course is geared for anyone interested in working for change in their neighborhood or community. Local and national experts guide participants in developing organizational skills including asset mapping, engaging neighbors, and creating a community vision.”

I’ve take several similar mini-workshops there at Pro Neighborhoods over the years and I couldn’t have described the content of this course any better.

Being on non-profit boards (i. e. Friends of Agua Caliente Park), for my own neighborhood association, and political groups, I know that these courses are well worth the $75 fee (sliding scale available). You will learn to analyze your group structure, realize the passions & resources of each individual and business involved, learn how to reach out for more assistance, to create a common goal.

This course does give a certificate upon completion and 3 credits at Pima Community College, an added plus. It runs for 17 weeks till December 9 at 320 North Commerce Loop. Contact Joanie Sawyer at 520-903-3993 for more information or visit the Pro Neighborhoods website at:

http://www.proneighborhoods.org/workshops.php

PRO Neighborhoods was created in 1994 by a collaboration of City of Tucson, Pima County, Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, and United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. I am also one of their grant reviewers to decide how to allot small grants (less than $5000) for neighborhood projects such as mini parks, classes, and clean up projects. A long list of the previous grant recipients is on their website if your neighborhood is thinking of applying.