---

From finding ways to better engage the city’s youth to empowering the disenfranchised, a new collaborative group is working to establish solutions to keep the city moving forward.

The new group is comprised of a handful of city residents, business owners and community leaders who have been meeting for months to organize Creative Asbury Park – A Call to Collaboration.

Made possible by a leadership grant from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, a two-day event, planned for January, is being administered in partnership with Creative New Jersey, a statewide group championing for creativity, innovation and sustainability through community engagement and cross-sector collaboration.

“This type of collaboration has such potential in our city and so much of the existing success has come from our community working together,” said Lakehouse Music Academy and Recording Studios owner Jon Leidersdorff, a Creative Asbury Park host team member. “I’m excited about the spirit of the people involved and I believe that we’re at the beginning of a stronger, interconnected city.”

Creative Asbury Park will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan 11 and 12 at Holy Spirit Church, located at 705 Second Avenue.

The workshop seeks participation from not only residents, business owners, nonprofit and faith-based leaders, but also from educators, social service representatives, government personnel, and law enforcement.

“Our community-wide meetings unleash the leadership of every individual who participates and wants to take innovative and imaginative action to improve their communities,” Creative New Jersey Director Elizabeth Murphy said in a written statement. “I’m confident that our Call to Collaboration in Asbury Park will help propel the important work that is underway and give birth to new projects that boost the local economy and enhance the vibrancy of Asbury Park.”

The question being asked of participants is  – How can we work more creatively and collaboratively to build our local economy, strengthen ties across our culturally rich community, and leverage our diverse assets, so that all who live, work, and play in Asbury Park can benefit from our city’s renaissance?

The goal is to strengthen existing relationships, build new partnerships, and foster a shared vision for the future in order to build shared economic prosperity, unite neighborhoods, and fuel vibrant creative place making, according to organizers.

Creative Asbury Park will ask participants to split off into small groups to create ideas and action plans.

“It’s very important for a community to express their desires in the planning stages and figure out how to get involved in the best way,” said Trudy Syphax, a member of the Asbury Park Planning Board and a Creative Asbury Park host team member.

The meeting format follows the Open Space Technology method, allowing participants to set the conference agenda during the morning session and then lead group discussions. Notes will be transcribed and made available to all participants and become the roadmap for strategic action.

“Interfaith Neighbors is excited to be a part of the Creative Asbury Park Call to Collaboration, which will support and fuel ongoing efforts to gain resident and stakeholder input and opinions on current planning efforts and other collaborations,” host team member Heather Schulze of Kula Café and Interfaith Neighbors said. “The Creative Asbury Park Call to Collaboration, like initiatives such as the CHOICE neighborhoods working groups and needs assessment, and Interfaith Neighbors’ recent west side neighborhood resident survey, gives everyone the opportunity to participate in future planning for the city. By sharing information from these, and other efforts, projects and programs that best meet community needs can be identified.”

Creative New Jersey has administered similar programs in Atlantic City, Morristown, Trenton, Orange, Rahway, Hammonton, Highlands, Monmouth County, and the Skylands region [Sussex, Warren and northern Morris Counties].

The Creative Asbury Park Host Team includes: Roger Boyce, Interfaith Neighbors; Amanda Caruso, Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey; Patrick Durkin, Interfaith Neighbors; Doug Eagles, Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County; Genise Hughes, Asbury Park High School; Jon Leidersdorff, Lakehouse Music; Kerri Martin, Second Life Bikes; Mychal Mills, Konscious Youth Development & Service (KYDS); Derek Minno-Bloom, Trinity Church – Anti-Hunger Initiative; Connie Isbell, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel All Stars Program; Beatriz Oesterheld, Community Affairs and Resource Center; Heather Schulze, Kula Cafe – Interfaith Neighbors; Frank Syphax, City of Asbury Park Housing Authority; Trudy Syphax, City of Asbury Park Planning Board; Henose Valcin, Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey; Pastor Semaj Vanzant, Second Baptist Church; and Sonia Velasquez, Asbury Park School District.

The Creative New Jersey Asbury Park Team includes: Danielle Acerra, Monmouth Arts; Pam Marvin, Monmouth Arts; John McEwen, NJ Theatre Alliance; Joseph Palazzolo, NJ Community Capital; and Elizabeth Murphy & Kacy O’Brien, Creative New Jersey.

Individuals interested in participating in Creative Asbury Park’s Call to Collaboration can send an email to info@creativenj.org.  Participants must commit to attend both days of the convening and registration is required, officials said.

For more information about the event and Creative New Jersey, visit www.CreativeNJ.org or at www.Facebook.com/CreativeNJ.

[Photos courtesy of Creative New Jersey]

——————————————————————————–

Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.

---