Help our neighborhood work
By: Our Neighborhood Works Board 09/01/2007
Our Neighborhood Works (ONW) was incorporated in November 1997 with the following mission: Our Neighborhood Works believes that the essence of successful communities is diverse people working together. Our mission is to foster neighbor-to-neighbor connections and provide community involvement opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. We strive to develop and implement projects that create a unified, strong community - and we are currently seeking residents to help with the mission. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, ONW has acted as fiscal agent for the following groups:
Camden Music School Scholarship Fund - An ongoing project to award scholarships to those who qualify based on financial need. Over 70 scholarships have been awarded since January 2006.
Workhouse Theatre Company - An affiliate since June, 2006.
Smoke-Free Homes - A two-year project begun September 2004 to encourage North Minneapolis residents to pledge to keep their homes smoke-free. This project was about community building through public awareness and public art to promote healthier homes.
Holiday on 44th Festival - An annual winter event since 1998, Holiday on 44th brings free arts events to the community as a way of fostering understanding between people of different cultures, to support artists from our neighborhoods, and to promote neighborhood pride
Past projects include: Latin American community education, Voices of Our Heritage Festival, Grant Writing Workshop for community members, Northside Arts Collective and Camden Garden Club.
ONW is proud of its record of community involvement. Now the board must look to the future. Current members of the board are no longer able to carry on the duties and, if ONW is to continue, several active board members must be found. If new members who can continue the operation of this community organization are not found, ONW will have no other recourse than to dissolve the corporation.
You are welcome to attend the next ONW board meeting on Sunday, September 23, 1 p.m. at the home of Janet Zahn, 4210 Xerxes Avenue N. If new board members have not been found, the expected outcome of the meeting will be a formal vote to dissolve. Should this happen, the books will close December 31, 2007 and monies on hand will be divided according to a formula deemed fair by the current board.
While the ONW board would like to see the corporation continue, we also look with pride upon our past and present accomplishments and the positive effect we have had in the Camden community. The current ONW board: John Christensen, Stephanie Gruver, Buzzy Bohn, Sue Tennessen, Janet Zahn and Jeff Redman.