NeighborWorks Celebrates Family Fun at the West Scranton Fall Festival NeighborWorks had a wonderful time sharing in the fun at Clover Field and Allen Park for the second annual West Scranton Fall Festival, presented by PNC this past Saturday. Activities across the day included food and entertainment, children’s activities, bounce houses, yard games, a fire pit, s’mores, live music, and more! Over 600 people attended the festival across both events. They thank sponsors: presenting sponsor PNC Bank, gold sponsor Posture Interactive, silver sponsor Citizens Savings Bank, and bronze sponsors Bold Gold Media Group, Brianna Keeler from Comparion Insurance Agency, Fidelity Bank, the Scranton Area Community Foundation, and the University of Scranton. Food vendors were El Buen Amigo, The Little Ladybug Bakery, Hangin with the Big Dogs, and Fidelity’s ice cream truck. Live music was provided by Tori V & The Karma and Grupo Zona. We want to extend and additional thank you to the Youth Arts Coalition of NEPA, Scranton Fringe, Dani Long Legs and the Eclectic Circus, Kyle Mertz Juggling, DJ Cola, and our amazing volunteers! This initiative is part of the NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania West Scranton Revitalization Plan.Please contact Miranda Pace at mpace@nwnepa.org, or 570-558-2490 for additional information.
NeighborWorks to Host West Scranton Fall Festival NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania is excited to present its second annual West Scranton Fall Festival this year! This two-part event is FREE to the public and will be held on Saturday, September 16! The rain date is September 23.The first part of the festival will be at Clover Field (400 W Locust St, Scranton) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Available activities will include art activities, music, magic, bounce houses, disc golf, the Fidelity ice cream truck, food vendors, and more!The second part of the festival will be at Allen Park (corner of North Main Avenue and Price Street) from 6-9 p.m. There will be live music, a fire pit, games, s’mores, and hot chocolate. Attendees are encouraged to get dinner at one of the many local West Scranton restaurants.
NeighborWorks Meets with Legislators on Home Matters Day NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania (NWAP) took part in Home Matters Day at the State Capitol on June 6, joining hundreds of others to educate and inform legislators about the need for additional resources to support and sustain the creation of affordable housing throughout the state. Organized by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, Home Matters Day is an annual day of advocacy and education in Harrisburg that brings together stakeholders to increase housing resources, end homelessness, and eradicate blight in Pennsylvania. NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania is a membership-based statewide network of eight non-profit organizations dedicated to creating equitable housing options and improving quality of life across the Commonwealth. The collective group, as well as individual organizations, are charter members of NeighborWorks America, a network of nearly 250 nonprofit organizations across the United States that work together to create affordable housing, support residents, and strengthen communities. NeighborWorks builds skills, supplements resources, and amplifies the reach of network organizations to increase potential impact. NWAP member organizations include Arbor Housing and Development based in Corning, NY; HDC MidAtlantic in Lancaster, PA; NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania in Scranton, PA; NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh, PA; NHS of Greater Berks, Inc. in Reading, PA; PathStone Corporation in Chambersburg, PA; and New Kensington Community Development Corporation and HACE in Philadelphia, PA. During Home Matters Day, NWAP members met with elected officials to discuss the need for additional funding resources for affordable housing, including increasing the funding cap on the state housing trust fund (PHARE), and demonstrate the positive impact safe housing makes in people’s lives. Through the NeighborWorks network, NWAP members are able to leverage every dollar of federal funding into $102 of impact in communities, making a greater difference for those in need of safe and affordable housing. As individual nonprofits supported annually by NeighborWorks, NWAP utilizes impact data and analysis, direct work within communities, and on-the-ground support of individuals and families to help legislators understand the critical need for support of affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth. Home Matters Day took place during NeighborWorks Week this year, an annual week of service from June 3-10 that showcases the collective ways NeighborWorks members from across the country are able to strengthen communities. The theme of this year’s NeighborWorks Week was “Empowering Communities for Success.”
NeighborWorks Accepting Applications for Grants Applications are now being accepted for the fifth cycle of Beautiful Blocks, a home improvement program jointly sponsored by NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania and the City of Scranton. Beautiful Blocks provides matching grants of up to $1,000 per property to groups of five or more Scranton residents to help them make exterior improvements to their homes. The Beautiful Blocks program seeks to make neighborhoods throughout Scranton more attractive places to live. Eligible exterior improvements include everything from landscaping and painting to larger projects like sidewalks and lamp posts. Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process. Applications will be judged on the number of participating residents, project impact and coordination, and the likelihood of neighbors continuing to work together in the future. Pre-applications are being accepted until March 27. Awards will be announced in May, with work taking place throughout the summer. According to NeighborWorks President & CEO Jesse Ergott, “We look forward to neighbors coming together and taking collective steps to improve their neighborhoods throughout the City of Scranton in our fifth Beautiful Blocks program cycle. Our first four years in Scranton were a great success in seeing residents work together in making their neighborhood a better place through their involvement with Beautiful Blocks.” Over the first four cycles of Beautiful Blocks in the City of Scranton, more than 340 individual projects have been completed by Scranton residents, grouped into 45 block groups. More than $287,000 in grant funding has been distributed to as part of these projects, with participating residents contributing more than $735,000 in matching funds to improving their neighborhoods. Scranton residents interested in participating in the Beautiful Blocks program can download pre-application instructions and access the pre-application document by visiting the program homepage at https://www.nwnepa.org/programs/neighborhood-revitalization/beautiful-blocks.html. More information is also available by contacting Gerard Hetman, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania Community Development Specialist, at (570) 558-2490 or ghetman@nwnepa.org.
NeighborWorks’ Kathi Tavera Receives HUD Certification Kathi Tavera, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Homeownership Specialist, recently received her HUD Housing Counseling certification from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “We’re thrilled for Kathi to receive her HUD certification. This is a huge step for her professional development, but it also speaks volumes to her commitment to helping homeowners and homebuyers in the local community,” said Jesse Ergott, President & CEO of NeighborWorks.
NeighborWorks Names Gerard Hetman RULE Scholar The Rural Urban Leadership Program (RULE) of Penn State Extension, Penn State University, has named Gerard Hetman, Community Development Specialist at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania, as a participating scholar in the upcoming RULE XIX class. RULE is a transformational leadership development program that brings together community leaders from across Pennsylvania to foster both professional and personal leadership development. Participants come from all lifestyles including farmers & agribusiness, community leaders & officials, business and private industries, and education practitioners. They have different interests, and goals, with one common thread: a commitment to public involvement in solving community problems. While the program has a strong focus on issues affecting rural Pennsylvania, RULE participants come from across the state, and study institutes are held in both rural and urban locations. Gerard is one of 24 incoming scholars that will participate in RULE XIX, with the class engaging in ten study institutes over the course of two years. “We are very excited for Gerard to be accepted as a scholar into the upcoming RULE XIX class,” said Jesse Ergott, President & CEO at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania. “Anyone who knows Gerard recognizes his deep commitment to improving our community, and this respected program will allow him to do what he does best: to build strong, collaborative relationships with his fellow scholars in order to benefit our area and other communities like ours across the Commonwealth.” RULE XIX scholars will learn strategies for taking charge and leading their organizations and communities in positive directions. Through practice, each participant will assume new responsibilities and develop new skills and confidence. Every skill they learn will be directly and immediately applicable to the issues and problems facing their organizations and communities. Participants in the program will achieve various results: Increased understanding of the economic, political, cultural and social forces inherent to the public decision making process.Enhanced knowledge of the application of leadership skills, processes and strategies to resolve conflict.The ability to study community problems and issues from a broad economic, political, cultural and social perspective.Increased understanding of contemporary social and economic problems and policy issues, and how to effectively impact public policy.An understanding of the budgetary concerns encountered by rural/urban communities.An enhanced awareness of international relations and the world economy.A broadened understanding of the legislative process and legislative procedure.Increased ability and opportunity to participate in local government and non- profit community organizations.Expanded and strengthened leadership skills, the catalyst for the democratic process.The RULE program has its roots in the Public Affairs Leadership Program (PALP), which began in 1971 and included five classes. PALP accrued 259 graduates to their credit. RULE started in 1985 and has 450 alumni. Combined, the PALP and RULE Programs have graduated more than 700 alumni who have gone on to become catalysts for change in their communities.
NeighborWorks New Board and Staff This past year, NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) is pleased to welcome several new board and staff members to the team. Board:Joyce Avila is the President of CAFÉ Creating and Facilitating Equality. As a presenter, facilitator, keynote speaker and educator, she organizes and facilitates workshops in the areas of diversity, life change and transition, leadership, communication, conflict resolution, stress management and self-care. Matthew Domines is the Director of Finance for the City of Scranton. He performs a variety of tasks in his role, including planning and coordinating all significant fiscal and related administrative functions for efficient accounting and financial systems, policies, and processes that meet the city’s current and future needs. Damon Spady is a minority business owner who owns and operates his own travel company, Damon’s Getaways. A Dunmore resident, Damon also serves as treasurer for the NAACP Lackawanna County Branch. Mary-Pat Ward is the Development and Fundraising Director for the Catherine McAuley Center. She is involved with the local arts community and enjoys traveling and visiting historical sites. She is a member of the regional roller derby team, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Roller Radicals and resides with her husband, Doug, and daughter, Izzy, in West Scranton. Staff: David DePietro is our Accounting Manager, where he helps manage the day-to-day activities of all financial and business-related operations. He has a strong nonprofit and grant accounting experience background and worked in the nonprofit field for 10+ years. Alyssa Espinoza joins the staff as a full-year AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) member. A West Scranton native and West Scranton High School alumnus, Alyssa will be serving as the volunteer coordinator for NeighborWorks projects throughout the year. This past May, she graduated with a BA in Psychology and Sociology from Ohio University. Parker Dorsey recently concluded his own VISTA year and joins the staff in a full-time capacity as the Community Program Assistant. Parker will be continuing his role in building capacity and enhancing marketing and communications efforts across all program lines. This past May he received his MBA from Mississippi State University, and is a 2020 graduate of Wilkes University with a BA in Communication Studies. Miranda Pace is our West Scranton Neighborhood Coordinator, where she manages various community development projects and programs as part of the implementation of the West Scranton Neighborhood Plan. Fernanda Proaño is our HUD Certified Housing Counselor, she will help expand our Homebuyer Education, Counseling and Financial Coaching services to Wayne and Pike County. She has over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector with a focus on financial education and coaching. Melody Robinson is our Aging in Place Specialist for Wayne County, where she has expand our Aging in Place services into Wayne County. She has a background in sales and comes highly recommended from established partners in Wayne County.
NeighborWorks Welcomes PNC Bank as Fall Festival Presenting Sponsor NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks) is pleased to welcome PNC Bank as this year’s presenting sponsor for the West Scranton Fall Festival. In collaboration with the City of Scranton, the inaugural West Scranton Fall Festival will be a two-part event that is FREE to the public and will be held Saturday, Oct. 22. Rain date is Nov. 5. It will take place first at Clover Field, located at 400 W Locust St, in Scranton from noon to 3 p.m., and then at Allen Park at the corner of North Main Avenue and Price Street from 6-9 p.m. “Coming together to support local businesses and celebrate our community has never been more important than it is now,” said Pete Danchak, PNC regional president for Northeast PA. “As a National Main Street Bank, supporting the West Scranton Fall Festival as the inaugural presenting sponsor is simply the right thing to do – and fun!” From 3-6 p.m., attendees will be encouraged to check out local establishments within the West Scranton business corridor. For more information and future business promotion regarding the Fall Festival, please go to the Facebook event page here.
Neighborworks Todd Pousley Named Neighborhood Revitalization Manager The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) named Todd Pousley, Neighborhood Revitalization Manager at NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania (NeighborWorks), to participate in the 2022-2023 class of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, a free leadership and economic development training opportunity for individuals currently living and/or working in one of ARC’s 13 Appalachian states. The 2022-2023 class comprises a diverse network of professionals representing all 13 Appalachian states and a wide spectrum of perspectives and sectors, including tourism, healthcare, education, civil service, and more. The nine-month curriculum is anchored by six multi-day seminars across the Appalachian region focusing on each of ARC’s strategic investment priorities, which aim to strengthen economic and community growth in Appalachia. The fourth class will run from October 2022 through July 2023, focusing on skill-building seminars and best practice reviews to prepare fellows to: • Design effective economic development project proposals• Integrate community assets into long-term economic development strategies• Identify resources available to spark economic and community development• Locate and access investment capital from a variety of public and private sources• Prepare competitive applications for public grant opportunities• Use expanded connections and leadership skills to create strong regional partnerships “Congratulations to the incoming 2022-2023 class of Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows! These leaders are already growing their Appalachian communities and will be even better equipped to drive positive change after their work with this program,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. “I am eager to see this class of fellows collaborate across state lines to set big goals that will help the entire Appalachian region thrive.” Appalachian Leadership Institute fellows were selected via a competitive application process to reflect the Appalachian region’s wide range of economic development challenges, opportunities, and strategies. Upon completion of the program, Pousley will automatically become part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni Network, a peer-to-peer working group of experts helping foster collaborative solutions that will build a stronger future for Appalachia. “I’m thrilled for Todd to be included as a fellow in this year’s Appalachian Leadership Institute class,” said Jesse Ergott, President & CEO of NeighborWorks. “His deep experience and commitment to community development make him a great fit for this exciting program. We look forward to utilizing what he learns from the sessions in various communities to advance our work on behalf of our neighbors here in northeastern Pennsylvania.” Joining Pousley in representing Pennsylvania are fellow local area expert Holly Pilcavage, CEO of Coal Creative in Wilkes-Barre, and Amanda Craig Bradley, Business Outreach Manager of DRIVE in Danville.
