Trend Story: How Community Groups are Getting the News Out

(Kristen Gillette contributed to this piece)

For every story that makes its way onto the front pages of the daily newspapers, there are countless small developments that affect our lives and neighborhoods, such as road closings, zoning hearings or the opening of a food pantry.

But who wants to hear about every construction notice or block party happening on the other side of the city?  Hyperlocal news sites try to fill this gap in coverage for those who need it, but there is still only so much time and space to track a neighborhood’s constant shifts.

This information is still extremely important to those affected by it, and community groups have risen to the challenge by keeping a constant vigil over their neighborhoods and doing their best to get that information out to their neighbors.

In this report, we look at some of the methods being used by registered community groups (RCO), community development corporations (CDC), and other civic groups to get news out into the community.

The Facebook Page: Newbold Neighbors Association (NNA)

Newbold Neighbors Association reaches out to it’s community members in a variety of ways: their website’s blog and calendar include frequent updates about events and community meetings and the top of their webpage’s logo is updated with the date of the next community meeting.

But the organization’s Facebook page has proven to be one its most active means of communication. NNA’s Facebook page includes brief updates about the neighborhood and any upcoming meetings (including cancellations) and encourages people to ask questions on their Facebook wall.

In a way, scanning down the page’s timeline feels a lot like standing in front of a public bulletin board. Pictures of found dogs and advertisements for local businesses are posted beside zoning notices and relevant news articles.

But even though the page has become a popular hub, NNA is also trying a number of online and offline methods for outreach.

“We notify people via website, Facebook, newsletter, flyering, and recently we added a text alert,”  said Joe Suchma, interim president of NNA. He added that NNA is actually considering putting up strategically placed bulletin boards around the community.

The Headquarters: New Kensington Development Corporation (NKCDC)

The New Kensington Development Corporation, based in Kensington and its surrounding neighborhoods, uses a printed newsletter, flyers, newspapers ads and a website to inform its constituents, who come from various economic and ethnic backgrounds.

Unlike some smaller community groups, NKCDC also has a physical location where residents can engage with the organization directly. The space is first and foremost a lobby for NKCDC’s operations, but it also doubles as a kind of storehouse for useful materials and information.

“The NKCDC lobby is the physical intersection point for the variety of residents and partners we work with,” said Diana Jih, community relations specialist at NKCDC.

Community newspapers and monthly magazines such as Grid and The Notebook are well stocked. Advertisements for businesses and services, as well cultural events, sit in stacks along the windowsill. while packets of information on healthcare resources and housing assistance are pinned along the wall.

“We try to maintain a welcoming environment along with keeping it stocked with various resources and announcements for the clients and partners we work with,” Jih said.

The Community Drop Spot: People’s Emergency Center (PEC)

The People’s Emergency Center, a community development corporation based in West Philadelphia, is also experimenting with new ways to bring information about resources, events and even periodic surveys to multiple neighborhoods.

PEC’s Community Connector Drop Spot program uses volunteer homes as drop off points for informational materials. The “Community Connector” then distributes the information to every home within a four block radius.

The idea is to promote “collective responsibility and community pride” while getting crucial information out to the community, according to a flyer about the program.

Blogs and Instagram: West Rockland Street Project

The West Rockland Street Project works at a different scale than the above organizations. It encompasses just one block, West Rockland in Germantown, and is managed by just two individuals.

Its blog and Instagram, where pictures and articles about community events are posted and shared, are the organizationsmain presence outside of the work it does in the community.

“It’s primarily for us to share news with people OFF the block and make sure our experiences here are documented. We also use it to inspire and teach other citizens how to do this work. It’s a diary of everything we’ve done,” said Emaleigh Doly, founder of the West Rockland Street Project and longtime resident of the block.

As for informing people within the block, Doly explained that many residents do not use the site due a lack of digital access. This has contributed to her belief that “the most effective way to get information to our neighbors is by printing flyers, pounding the pavement and going door to door.”

“Sounds archaic, but we do that with everything. There is a reason politicians still do print campaigns, yard signs and door knockers!”  Doly added.

Various RCO’s located throughout the city can be found on Philadelphia’s List of RCOs and CDC’s can be found on Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporation’s Member List.