THE CHALLENGE:

Most residents don’t know or interact with more than a few of their neighbors or civil servants, and are unaware of established community and government resources; without mechanisms to connect, communicate, and collaborate, they are left frustrated and apathetic, unlikely to act or advocate for themselves or each other, nor feel vested in the neighborhood where they live.

Demand for municipal and social services are on the rise while resources to finance and deliver these services are scarce. It is this disparity that leaves needs and expectations unmet and opportunities for trust and collaboration unfulfilled.

OUR MISSION:

To connect people who live, work, and serve in the same neighborhood and provide tools for them to communicate and to collaborate around common interests.

OUR VISION:

We envision neighborhoods where neighbors know the names of their neighbors and those who serve them, are safe and happy, have access to services and share resources, and feel motivated to proactively contribute to each other’s quality of life.

OUR ROLE:

We operate neighbor-centric online social networks to connect people to others who live, work, and serve in the same neighborhood. Our networks provide a mechanism that makes it possible for participants to connect, communicate, and collaborate around common interests.

The pilot network in the neighborhood of Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood in Boston, now boasts 1,600+ members. Members have organized 140 groups, posted 280 blog posts, 980 photos, and 583 events. The network enjoys over 6,500 visitors each month who view an average of 4.5 pages and stay for 3 min and 20 seconds per visit.  In Boston, there are now social networks for each neighborhood.

Municipal personnel such as city liaisons enrich the networks; Police Officers and non-profit program coordinators share information and interact with members to help their constituents solve problems. Municipal personnel can also message all members to mobilize them around immediate threats such as spikes in crime or public health hazards.

Users leverage the features on the network as self-service tools. Through blogs, forum discussions, photos, videos, music, groups, and embeddable media, users get answers to their questions, find solutions to their needs, promote community events, share media, and organize and participate in interest groups. Users also participate in neighborhood zone groups where they communicate about neighborhood happenings such as community projects, crime, block parties, and yard sales.

BELIEFS

• Everybody wants to make a difference
• People want to feel connected with their neighbors
• Neighborhoods thrive when neighbors come together in person
• Everyone is vital

VALUES

• Community-driven
• Inclusive
• Collaborative
• Fun
• Innovative

WE CONNECT NEIGHBORS WITH EACH OTHER, TO RESOURCES
AND SHARE INFORMATION

• We lower the barriers to connection and engagement
• We connect online and get together offline
• We re-weave the social fabric one neighbor at a time

WE ARE A SOUNDBOARD FOR VOICES

• Everyone can share, anyone can listen
• We empower all those who are here now
• We honor those who came before

WE ARE A SPRINGBOARD FOR ACTION

• Anyone can create, everyone can participate
• We move people past discussion, through action, and produce results
• We celebrate our collective power and collaborative spirit