The Meadville Neighborhood Center (MNC)
The MNC is a collaborative group of more than 40 energetic people from all walks of life who are committed to creating connections between people and programs that will prepare our youth for success and inspire residents of all ages to be engaged and invested in Meadville.
As the MNC works toward building relationships and public spaces within Meadville, we have discovered that this is a full-time job - which is exactly why we need you!
In order to continue our programming and events, we need a full-time director of MNC by the end of July 2016 - someone who can spend his or her days connecting with residents and local businesses, planning programs for youth and families and fundraising for future initiatives in the Meadville community.
The MNC, as well as the Meadville community have already seen the benefits of having a full-time coordinator. This year, we were lucky enough to host Lake Effects Leader VISTA , Lee Scandinaro, who has done a phenomenal job. Unfortunately, his VISTA position expires in August 2016.
What We Do and Why we Need a Director:
While there are certainly problems and weaknesses in our community, we see Meadville as a beautiful place full of opportunities and potential that can overcome those problems, offering fulfilling jobs and lives for its residents. We want to connect these opportunities with the people who want them, providing inspiration for youth especially, to excel in school and discover their talents.
Our Location?
Our long-term goal is to base our work out of a community coffee shop, where people of all ages and backgrounds can come not only for good coffee, but also for conversations and connections. With a focus on youth, we plan to have free programs that will connect children and teens with mentors, affording all with new avenues to learn and new places to belong.
Having recently acquired our 501(c)(3) (non-profit status) and established a Board of Directors, we have gained significant momentum in the past seven months. While waiting for the time when we have our own space, we continue to take programming to different locations in the community, and we meet and plan in the spaces of organizations that are eager to partner with us in this endeavor to enrich life in Meadville. One recent project of our programming--a huge success--was the Big Zipper.
Visit Meadville Neighborhood Center on Facebook or our webpage (meadvilleneighbors.wix.com).
The Big Zipper
The zipper, having been invented and manufactured in Meadville, was the perfect subject matter for our massive community art project, THE BIG ZIPPER. The brainchild of Allegheny art professor Steve Prince, this project brought together more than 600 diverse people of all ages to carve their own unique design in a piece of a 40-foot woodcut “zipper.” After many summer carving workshops, the carved wooden puzzle-like pieces were connected at the September 2015 Second Saturday Market on Chestnut Street. Amidst live jazz music and festivities, anticipation mounted as community members helped prepare the woodcut for printing and drove a steamroller over the inked and paper-covered woodcut! Hundreds watched in excitement with cheers and shouts as the first prints were slowly pulled from the woodcut.
This project culminated with a gala unveiling at a Pop-up Art Gallery in town, where student artwork was displayed alongside local professional art, and more than 300 people attended to see the unveiling of the framed Big Zipper print.
The Big Zipper visually proclaims MNC’s mission. Being both a “connector” and an “opener,” it wonderfully portrays how individual pieces connect with neighboring pieces to open new possibilities that are even more beautiful than its individual parts! Up to date, the Zipper has been displayed at West End Elementary School, Meadville Middle school and the original blocks are hangin in Creative Crust Artisan Bakery in downtown Meadville. The zipper prints will travel to other locations for display and be elongated through additional carving workshops and a future printing.
Pop-up Cafés
Our Pop-up cafés have been our other very successful events – bringing coffee, drinks, light refreshments, music, games, and charm to Diamond Park and to otherwise vacant buildings. They have enlivened the community and brought delightful conversations and connections with many people as we strive to get our name and mission known. The response has been nothing but enthusiastic by all who have visited. All agree that this community needs a safe, welcoming place of connection where anyone can come “hang out” and feel at home.
Free Music Lessons at the MCA
This summer we will be initiating a variety of music experiences, all free to the community. There will be free keyboard and guitar lessons offered for people of any age at the Meadville Council on the Arts. There will be informal music performances combined with interactive educational discussions and musical “showcases” of student performances at local events and at our Pop-ups.
Grow Meadville
Also during summer 2016, we will be offering a free youth leadership program in partnership with the Community Wellness Initiative. This program teaches emerging 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students basic agricultural and cooking skills and offers an introduction to youth leadership initiatives in our community. Grow Meadville programming will be located at the Meadville Area Recreation Complec (MARC).
Visit Meadville Neighborhood Center on Facebook or our webpage (meadvilleneighbors.wix.com ) to learn more about summer programming and ongoing initiatives.
The MNC is a collaborative group of more than 40 energetic people from all walks of life who are committed to creating connections between people and programs that will prepare our youth for success and inspire residents of all ages to be engaged and invested in Meadville.
As the MNC works toward building relationships and public spaces within Meadville, we have discovered that this is a full-time job - which is exactly why we need you!In order to continue our programming and events, we need a full-time director of MNC by the end of July 2016 - someone who can spend his or her days connecting with residents and local businesses, planning programs for youth and families and fundraising for future initiatives in the Meadville community.
The MNC, as well as the Meadville community have already seen the benefits of having a full-time coordinator. This year, we were lucky enough to host Lake Effects Leader VISTA , Lee Scandinaro, who has done a phenomenal job. Unfortunately, his VISTA position expires in August 2016.
What We Do and Why we Need a Director:
While there are certainly problems and weaknesses in our community, we see Meadville as a beautiful place full of opportunities and potential that can overcome those problems, offering fulfilling jobs and lives for its residents. We want to connect these opportunities with the people who want them, providing inspiration for youth especially, to excel in school and discover their talents.
Our Location?
Our long-term goal is to base our work out of a community coffee shop, where people of all ages and backgrounds can come not only for good coffee, but also for conversations and connections. With a focus on youth, we plan to have free programs that will connect children and teens with mentors, affording all with new avenues to learn and new places to belong.
Having recently acquired our 501(c)(3) (non-profit status) and established a Board of Directors, we have gained significant momentum in the past seven months. While waiting for the time when we have our own space, we continue to take programming to different locations in the community, and we meet and plan in the spaces of organizations that are eager to partner with us in this endeavor to enrich life in Meadville. One recent project of our programming--a huge success--was the Big Zipper.
Visit Meadville Neighborhood Center on Facebook or our webpage (meadvilleneighbors.wix.com).
The Big Zipper
The zipper, having been invented and manufactured in Meadville, was the perfect subject matter for our massive community art project, THE BIG ZIPPER. The brainchild of Allegheny art professor Steve Prince, this project brought together more than 600 diverse people of all ages to carve their own unique design in a piece of a 40-foot woodcut “zipper.” After many summer carving workshops, the carved wooden puzzle-like pieces were connected at the September 2015 Second Saturday Market on Chestnut Street. Amidst live jazz music and festivities, anticipation mounted as community members helped prepare the woodcut for printing and drove a steamroller over the inked and paper-covered woodcut! Hundreds watched in excitement with cheers and shouts as the first prints were slowly pulled from the woodcut.
This project culminated with a gala unveiling at a Pop-up Art Gallery in town, where student artwork was displayed alongside local professional art, and more than 300 people attended to see the unveiling of the framed Big Zipper print.
The Big Zipper visually proclaims MNC’s mission. Being both a “connector” and an “opener,” it wonderfully portrays how individual pieces connect with neighboring pieces to open new possibilities that are even more beautiful than its individual parts! Up to date, the Zipper has been displayed at West End Elementary School, Meadville Middle school and the original blocks are hangin in Creative Crust Artisan Bakery in downtown Meadville. The zipper prints will travel to other locations for display and be elongated through additional carving workshops and a future printing.
Pop-up Cafés
Our Pop-up cafés have been our other very successful events – bringing coffee, drinks, light refreshments, music, games, and charm to Diamond Park and to otherwise vacant buildings. They have enlivened the community and brought delightful conversations and connections with many people as we strive to get our name and mission known. The response has been nothing but enthusiastic by all who have visited. All agree that this community needs a safe, welcoming place of connection where anyone can come “hang out” and feel at home.
Free Music Lessons at the MCA
This summer we will be initiating a variety of music experiences, all free to the community. There will be free keyboard and guitar lessons offered for people of any age at the Meadville Council on the Arts. There will be informal music performances combined with interactive educational discussions and musical “showcases” of student performances at local events and at our Pop-ups.
Grow Meadville
Also during summer 2016, we will be offering a free youth leadership program in partnership with the Community Wellness Initiative. This program teaches emerging 8th, 9th, and 10th grade students basic agricultural and cooking skills and offers an introduction to youth leadership initiatives in our community. Grow Meadville programming will be located at the Meadville Area Recreation Complec (MARC).
Visit Meadville Neighborhood Center on Facebook or our webpage (meadvilleneighbors.wix.com ) to learn more about summer programming and ongoing initiatives.