The community is invited to join Rainier Beach Community Block Watch this Thur., Aug. 26, for a discussion with legendary Seattle community builder and former Rainier Valley resident Jim Diers who wrote “Neighbor Power: Building Community the Seattle Way”:
Building on the lessons of early labor leaders, civil rights volunteers, and political activists, Jim Diers has developed his own models and successful strategies for community development. Neighbor Power chronicles his involvement with Seattle’s communities. This book not only gives hope that participatory democracy is possible, but it offers practical applications and invaluable lessons for ordinary, caring citizens who want to make a difference. It also provides government officials with inspiring stories and proven programs to help them embrace citizen activists as true partners.
Diers’s experience is extensive. He began as a community organizer in 1976, then moved on to help establish and staff a system of consumer-elected medical center councils. This led him to Seattle city government, where he served under three mayors as the first director of the Department of Neighborhoods, recognized as the national leader in such efforts.
In the 1990s, Jim Diers helped Seattle neighborhoods face challenges ranging from gang violence to urban growth. The Neighborhood Matching Fund grew to support over 400 community self-help projects each year while a community-driven planning process involved 30,000 people. Diers provides evidence that productive community life is thriving, not just in Seattle, Washington, but in towns and cities across the globe. Both practical and inspiring, Neighbor Power offers real-life examples of how to build active, creative neighborhoods and enjoy the rich results of community empowerment.
The evening starts at 6:30 pm with refreshments and social time followed by a discussion with Diers, as well as Assistant City Attorney John McGoodwin, and will be held at Rainier Beach Presbyterian Church (9656 Waters Ave.).
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
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Great timing for this meeting! Maybe the Mayor will make a surprise appearance?
Where is it being held?
“The evening starts at 6:30 pm with refreshments and social time followed by a discussion with Diers, as well as Assistant City Attorney John McGoodwin, and will be held at Rainier Beach Presbyterian Church (9656 Waters Ave.).”
And I would bet the rent that the Mayor will be nowhere to be seen.
A neighbor invited me to the meeting and I think this is wonderful to have Jim guest speak to the community-I will be there!
I just returned from vacation last night and was briefed on the recent crimes in your neighborhood. I plan on stopping by your event tonight and listening in to the conversation.
At least one of our councilpeople cares! And I don’t even think he lives in the neighborhood….
Will Sally Bagshaw be fielding questions? (If you were there you know what I’m talking about)
Real talk from the neighbors at the RB block watch meeting tonight. Good on Tim Burgess for showing and talking sense about the city budget, public safety, crime prevention strategy, etc. The gas face to Mike for flubbing another opportunity to lead.
@John
LMFAO on “The gas face”.
I love it!!! That headline is perfect “McGinn gets the gas face”!
Oh no, he got broke off the 3rd Bass.
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