How to Build Community - Know Your Neighbors

Last night I volunteered at the registration table for the Whittier Alliance Annual Meeting. The alliance is the official organizational body of our neighborhood, from Lake to Franklin, and from Lyndale to 35-W.

Here's what they do:

• Mission: The Mission of the Whittier Alliance is to ensure safety and livability by facilitating, advocating and leading the diverse voices of the Whittier Neighborhood.
• Vision: The Vision of the Whittier Alliance is to mobilize the human and financial resources, information, and technical assistance necessary to effectively provide leadership to organize and implement a base of operation for citizen participation.
• Objective: The Objective of the Whittier Alliance is to empower and celebrate stability, diversity, economic development, education and concern for all the children, youth, individuals and families in the Whittier Neighborhood.

I was blessed to be there. I met the owners and managers of local businesses, AZIA, and Once Upon A Crime. I met Pastors from local churches (Simpson UMC and First Seventh Day Adventist). Executive Directors from local non-profits (Jabbok Family Services). I met neighbors who have moved into the apartment above the Fallout and are doing ministry there. I met Robert Lilligren (who really has a good sense of humor) our city council rep, and Karen Clark (who oooed and ahhhed over our neighbor Lynette's new baby) our state house of representatives rep. It was really a neat experience.

We live in an awesome neighborhood and I thank God for the gift of this community. So I leave you with this song.



PS - How great is this haircut?

PPS - If you want more Sesame Street, here's a url featuring Telly and Ben Stiller, yes that Ben Stiller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_yohVlVbEA