UPDATE Saturday, May 28, 6:45pm | Community-based nonprofit Better Balance for Long Beach has earned the coveted “Neighborhood of the Year” grand prize title and was selected as the first-place winner among multi-neighborhood partnerships for its One-day Christmas Store – Shopping with Dignity project in a nationwide contest sponsored by Neighborhoods USA.
NUSA, a nonprofit dedicated to sharing information and experiences toward building stronger communities and facilitating the development of partnerships between neighborhood organizations, government and the private sector, announced the 2011 winners Saturday during its annual conference held this year on May 25 – 28 in Anchorage, Alaska.
The city of Long Beach was well represented in 2011, with a second local group — a teaming of the Central Neighborhood Advisory Committee and the South Wrigley Neighborhood Advisory Group — winning second place also in the Multi-Neighborhood Partnership Projects category for its community revitalization efforts at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, where the group established an edible garden.
For the last four years, Better Balance for Long Beach has held a special one-day holiday season event during which preselected low-income families that are unable to afford Christmas gifts can pick out gifts for their loved ones in a department store-like setting. The event is by invitation only, and the organization selects the participating families in need based upon recommendations from several city council districts as well as other local groups such as Long Beach Day Nursery and WomenShelter.
The 2010 store was co-sponsored by Long Beach First Lady Nancy Foster , First Congregational Church of Long Beach and Long Beach Rescue Mission. A video of the event can be viewed here.
Jane Kelleher, one of Better Balance for Long Beach’s cofounders, told the Grunion Gazette in 2008 that the One-day Christmas Store – Shopping With Dignity has its origin in a Kids’ Santa Party the group held at 14th Street Park as part of its efforts to deter inappropriate activity there.
Saturday’s announcement of Better Balance for Long Beach’s grand prize and first-place wins marks the second time the group placed first in the Multi-Neighborhood Partnership Project competition. It was in 2006 named the first-place winner in the same category for its revitalization efforts at 14th Street Park.
The neighborhood associations’ community Peace Garden consists of edibles like mustard greens, a peach tree, mangoes and several other types of fruits and veggies, with the variety aimed at representing the ethnic diversity of the area surrounding the park. A video of the garden’s launch can be viewed by clicking here.
Representatives of the finalist organizations attended the conference to present their projects or programs.
Neighborhoods USA stages the annual contest to recognize the commitment and work of neighborhood organizations throughout the United States that have demonstrated innovation, grassroots participation and organizational capacity-building.
March 23, 10:54am | Three local community groups have been named as finalists in a nationwide competition sponsored annually by Neighborhoods USA for the title of Neighborhood of the Year.
Better Balance for Long Beach as well as the Central Neighborhood Advisory and South Wrigley Neighborhood Advisory groups jointly, have been named as finalists in the Multi-Neighborhood Partnership Projects category, according to the Press-Telegram.
Neighborhoods USA, founded in 1975, holds the contest each year, with neighborhood groups and community associations from all over the United States entering to compete in one of three categories. The other two award categories are Physical Revitalization/Beautification in a Single Neighborhood and Social Revitalization/Neighborliness in a Single Neighborhood. The winners will be announced at NUSA’s annual conference, this year slated to be held May 25 – 28 in Anchorage, Alaska, according to NUSA’s website, NUSA.org.
BBLB was named a finalist for its annual One-Day Christmas Store – Shopping With Dignity event, according to the PT. The event allows low-income families who need assistance with Christmas gifts to “shop” with dignity.
The 2010 store was BBLB’s fourth annual and was co-sponsored by Long Beach First Lady Nancy Foster, First Congregational Church and Long Beach Rescue Mission. A video of the 2010 effort can be viewed by clicking here.
In 2006, BBLB earned a first-place recognition in the Multi-Neighborhood Partnership Projects category for revitalization efforts at 14th Street Park, according to the PT.
The neighborhood advisory groups earned a finalist slot for the Peace Garden they teamed to create at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, according to the PT. The community garden of edibles includes mustard greens, a peach tree, mangoes and several other types of fruits and veggies, with the variety aimed at representing the ethnic diversity of the area surrounding the park. A video of the garden’s launch can be viewed by clicking here.
According to NUSA, finalists will make presentations on their projects or programs during the conference, where the winners in each category, as well as an overall grand prize winner, will be selected. Judging of the Neighborhood of the Year award is based on innovation, grassroots participation and the capacity building exhibited by the organization.
Since its founding, the nonprofit organization has aimed to share information and experiences toward building stronger communities and facilitate the development of partnerships between neighborhood organizations, government and the private sector, according to NUSA’s website.