Community Matters: A Neighborhood Happening

NEW YORK, NY (01/19/2011)(readMedia)-- Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council, a 50 year old Upper West Side not-for-profit organization will host COMMUNITY MATTERS a community networking event, this Thursday, January 20, 2011. In an age of the social networking frenzy, Community Matters offers a throwback at networking in-person, with business cards, rather than Blackberries in hand, the forging of connections face-to-face, rather than on Facebook.

Recognizing the need for strong networks as non-profits and their communities struggle to keep existing resources and secure new ones, the Community Matters networking event is designed to bring together neighborhood residents and organizations. It will be an evening of empowering conversation, sharing of ideas, and promoting of partnerships that will strengthen the Upper West Side Community. This inaugural event is being held in the home of Councilmember Gale Brewer and her husband, Cal Snyder.

The event titled "Community Matters: It's a Neighborhood Happening," is the brainchild of Executive Director Kelley Williams. Strycker's Bay has recently been faced with the loss of more than 15% of its funding. The staff and board have had to figure out how to stretch resources, attract new leadership and funding during this very difficult time. "Meeting the people of Strycker's Bay as a teen back in 1975 changed how I would connect with my neighbors and community. I didn't know my own power to effect change until then and began to understand how much community matters" said Ms. Williams.

Engaging emerging leaders is crucial to building and strengthening communities. The Community Matters event will also serve as the backdrop for a very special award ceremony for The Third Annual Doris Rosenblum Youth Leadership Award to be presented by Councilmember Gale Brewer. The teen recipients of the award this year, Diana Metz, Lauren Howard, William Breslau, have all shown exemplary leadership and growth within Strycker's Bay's LACASA After School Program. The award commemorates the memory of Doris Rosenblum, Executive Board member of SBNC, District Manager of Community Board 7 and Borough Historian. Doris was leader and mentor to many. Her husband, Paul "Pete" Rosenblum and other family members are expected to attend.