Sponsor Slots Available for Local Wisdom and Living Economy Tour
Part 1 - Saturday, August 29 at Beanwood Coffee in Bordentown, New Jersey.
We Are BOOST, CREAM Magazine and Essential Movements is launching an eighteen-month tour throughout the state of New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania and city of Philadelphia, and Lower Manhattan on Saturday, August 29. Official details forthcoming. Please call (206) 202-2883 or email localwisdom@weareboost.org for advanced information. Potential sponsors are also welcome to inquire about extended cause-related marketing terms and customized sponsor packages.
We are offering companies, organizations, independent consultants and other entities that seek to build their visibility and brand recognition a chance to reach tens of thousands of potential customers, members and donors, and clients. Our mass-marketing campaign will begin on Thursday, August 13 with:
regional print and digital news organizations
beginning on Thursday, August 13
* Full-page advertisement in CREAM Magazine which prints 10,000 each addition and is
distributed throughout central and southern New Jersey's small business communities
Sponsor deadline is Thursday, August 6, and benefits include:
Thursday, August 13 and reminder email alert that will go out on Thursday, August 27
* Sponsor Ad on back of the 5,000 color/glossy handbills
* Sponsor business card size ad in CREAM September and October editions and web site
Payment, graphic and marketing message must be received by We Are BOOST no later than Wednesday, August 5. In special instances, we are willing to allow split payments into two remittances, The first ($125) paid by Wednesday, August 5 and the second ($125) to be paid by close of business on Wednesday, August 12.
To get your sponsorship started, please contact Tim Razzaq at (206) 202-2883 or email localwisdom@weareboost.org.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
People, Planet, Profit & Empowerment Tour Welcomes Sponsors
Monday, July 27, 2009
Personal Empowerment Communications Seminar
"Improving & Enhancing IntraPersonal Communications (Inner-Communications)"
Two Week Seminar - Meets on Saturdays
August 1st and August 8th 2009
Time: 11 AM to 2 PM.
Limited Seating
For reservations and details call
Anu at 609/439-7115
reliefexpress@gmail.com
Friday, March 27, 2009
Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman to Keynote We Are BOOST Allies' Awards
Youth Initiatives, Intergenerational Cohesion and Business Development are Focuses of Ceremony - Friday, April 17
Trenton New Jersey - March 27, 2009 - Intergenerational leadership, service to community and facilitating transition into twenty-first century better practices is the theme of BOOST's Allies of Humanities Awards Dinner and Ceremony that will be held from 5pm until 7pm at Planet Havana restaurant on Friday, April 17. Assemblywoman and Majority Leader Bonnie Watson-Coleman will be the keynote speaker for the affair which features a food-drive, new program announcements, networking and full dinner buffet featuring Cuban cuisine.
Planet Havana is located in Trenton's arena district at 449 South Broad Street. Tickets are $25 if purchased by Friday, April 3 and $35 thereafter. Those who want to attend can purchase tickets on-line at www.weareboost.org, call (206) 202-2883 or email allies@weareboost.org. Part of ticket proceeds will benefit the BOOST's youth arts, poetry and prose contest. Secure off-street parking is available.
Building Open Opportunity Structures Together (BOOST) CEO and Found Tim Razzaq says his group is “publicly recognizing outstanding individuals who have made enormous personal sacrifices over an extended period of time to help improve the lives of others. We will collect food for the areas homeless population, unveil unique youth enrichment initiatives and launch a concerted effort to bring a bit of revitalization to the city’s economy encouraging more support existing establishments and inviting new businesses to locate here.”
Trenton's South Ward City Councilman the Reverend Jim Coston will welcome BOOST and the organization's visitors to the area. Mercer County Community College Professor of the Year Alvyn Haywood will serve as Master of Ceremony and several special guest presenters, including the Mercer's first African-American Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Donald "Guy" Generals; will be discuss the College's mission and its vision for the city of Trenton.
Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman (D-Mercer) is the Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly. She was elected to the Legislature in 1995 after a 28-year career in state government, and is a former Democratic State Chairwoman.
This year's honorees are:
Ted Plunkett, Music Instructor at Trenton Central High
School (pictured right)
Dr. Renee Walker of Mercer County Community College's "Project Inside"
David Valdes of the Latino Community Land Trust
Amefika Sababu of Amefika's Restaurant in Trenton
Eric Maywar and Laurice Reynolds of Classics Used and Rare Books
Anastasia Harrison of Wesketch Architecture + Design and newly elected member of the U.S. Green Building Council's New Jersey Chapter
Father Brian McCormick of Martin House
National Academy fellow and Mercer County Community College Professor Mel Leipzig
Kieanna Childs-Alexander, third Vice-President of the NAACP Trenton Chapter and current Mrs. Mercer County - United States - says "the community received a true gift in Father Brian. His undeniable commitment and dedication to the people of Trenton is probably the greatest gift of all. It is from Father Brian that I have learned an important, lifelong lesson in philanthropy. That lesson is to always search for ways to help and uplift those in need," referring to Father Brain McCormick, who has led efforts to bring hope to some of Trenton's poorest resident's in one of the poorest parts of the city through his Martin House family of programs.
Music instructor Ted Plunkett has at least one fervent admirer who will have the honor of presenting the Allies Award to her long-time mentor. "Ted has impacted two generations of my family," says Karen Baylor, who is affectionately known as the 'band mom' and a board member of Trenton Community Music School. "I went to school with him (Plunkett) at Trenton Central High School and would like an opportunity to thank him for all he has done for the TCHS Marching Band, Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble. My two daughters have studied with him their entire high school years."
Trenton Makes LLC and JASKO Development LLC, two of the Award's sponsors, have each been working with BOOST in an effort to draw new businesses to Trenton through an intense marketing campaign and by offering high quality and ideally located affordable office and commercial space. The companies also support the group's youth enrichment initiative.
"We operate by the golden rule and believe in giving back to the community," says JASKO President Avner Krohn. "Our experience with the not-for-profit sector is second to none. Our understanding of the build out needs and the funding and leasing challenges of nonprofit organizations coupled with BOOST's acumen for community outreach and public relations are the right ingredients for successfully bringing new business tenants to downtown. We already house Catholic Charities and Goodwill, just to name a few. We are looking to help others get their footing here."
Other Ceremony participants include:
Opening of the Way (Opening Prayer) - Samut Angela Scott
Magical Mother Coaching & Empowerment Services
http://www.magicalmother.com/
Allies is sponsored by:
Brooken Circle Corp
http://www.brookencircle.com/
Trenton Makes LLC
http://www.trentonmakesllc.com/
Royalty Productions & Services LLC
http://www.royaltyps.com/
VA On the Spot
http://www.vaonthespot.com/
Strictly Business Energy
http://www.strictlybusinessenergy.com/
Strictly Business Home & Commercial Inspections
http://www.strictlybusinessinspections.com/
JASKO Development LLC
Web site under construction
Proceeds to Benefit:
We Are BOOST Contest to Camp Campaign 2009Youth Arts, Poetry and Prose Contest
Food Drive for Brooken Circle Food Pantry& the Salvation Army Drop-In Center
How to register to attend Allies of Humanity 2009
Planet Havana is located in Trenton's arena district at 449 South Broad Street. Tickets are $25 if purchased by Friday, April 3 and $35 thereafter. Those who want to attend can purchase tickets on-line at www.weareboost.org, call (206) 202-2883 or email allies@weareboost.org. Part of ticket proceeds will benefit the organization's youth arts, poetry and prose contest. Secure off-street parking is available. Details about the awards can be found at www.weareboost.org
About We Are Building Open Opportunity Structures Together (We Are BOOST)
We Are BOOST is a creative community solutions organization that develops and utilizes innovative and customized strategies to build structured relationships between people, organizations, businesses, institutions and agencies that lead to beneficial social, economic and educational outcomes and opportunities in under-served communities and emerging neighborhoods and market.
We Are Building Open Opportunity Structures Together
Tim Razzaq, CEO & Founder
(206) 202-2883 - timrazzaq@weareboost.org – http://www.weareboost.org/
439 South Broad Street – Suite 201
Trenton, New Jersey 0611
Sunday, March 22, 2009
"The Arts as a Driver of Urban Revitalization" - Mel Leipzig
"Joshua's Tattoos" by We Are BOOST learned of Mel Leipzig through our board member, Professor Alvyn Haywood in the fall of 2007. Mel came on board with us and delivered two workshops, both focused on the theme “The Arts as a Driver of Urban Revitalization.”
One presentation was held at the newly renovated and historic ‘green’ complex Broad Street Bank Building and the other at Classics Used and Rare Books, owned and operated by his fellow 2009 Allies awardees Eric Maywar and Laurice Reynolds. Join us in honoring Mel on April 17 by clicking here or visiting http://www.gss-set.com/weareboost/ec/proddetail.php?prod=0409-allies.
The critic Jerald Hagarty writes of Leipzig's work, "The appearance of calculated randomness plays against Leipzig's strong rectilinear organization. The interplay is delightful and more, for there are multiple messages here. For instance: opposites not only attract, they also enhance each other. For instance: careful scrutiny of everyday life reveals a secret underlying order." Mel always used realist drawings as the basis for his paintings. If you would like to see one of Mel’s more recent works in real-time display, you can visit the New Jersey State Museum through September 6, 2009 at the 2nd Floor Fine Art Galleries (click here or visiting http://www.nj.gov/state/museum/see_mel.htm). Pictured above from Mel Leipzig’s Selected Works is “Joshua’s Tattoos” (photo courtesy: New Jersey State Museum.)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Allies of Humanity Profile #1: Eric Maywar and Laurice Reynolds of Classics Used and Rare Books
Eric Maywar and Laurice Reynolds – Business Owners and Community Builders
BOOST’s founder, Tim Razzaq, met Laurice Reynolds some time in the early ‘90’s while selling Afro-centric books and literature in Trenton. She was one of his earliest customers and remained connected through their mutual passion for community organizing. Eric is Laurice’s son-in-law and owned a book shop in New Hope that was heavily damaged by the well-known flooding of the Delaware River. With Reynolds’s inclination towards community-building coupled with Maywar’s deep knowledge and entrenchment in the book industry, Classics Used and Rare Books has become a hub for community group’s, educational workshops, arts, recreation, and downtown Trenton business district’s growth and development.
Eric Maywar works for the Trenton Downtown Association, where he coordinates the annual Patriots’ Week celebration and was recently appointed to the Trenton Public Library system’s board of directors. Laurice continues to be a voice of “local wisdom” as a result of her extensive knowledge of the players, policies, and practices that has lead to the good, bad, and ugly of our beautiful State Capital’s failings and renaissance. They are, literally and figuratively, the yin and yang of urban revitalization. Join us in honoring them be purchasing your tickets to Allies (April 17) by clicking here http://www.gss-set.com/weareboost/ec/proddetail.php?prod=0409-allies and learn more about this dynamic duo by clicking here or visit http://www.gss-set.com/weareboost/ec/proddetail.php?prod=0409-allies
Eric Maywar and Laurice Reynolds own and operate Classics Used and Rare Books, located at 118 South Warren Street in downtown Trenton.
Classics supports community groups and networking with the support of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. Groups that meet at Classics regularly include We Are BOOST, the Urban Studies Group, the Kids Book Club, the Trenton Scrabble Club, People and Stories, and the Trenton Knit and Stitch.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Contest to Camp CURE Campaign Opens Friday March 13 at Planet Havana
Contest to Camp CURE 2009, as the initiative is being billed, will launch on Friday, March 13 from 5pm until 7pm at Planet Havana located at 449 South Broad Street in Trenton's arena district. Contest details including applications, guidelines, award types, and time-lines will be unveiled along with a full Cuban buffet dinner. Special presentations by Rein Triefeldt, who will discuss his kinetic solar sculpture and Lydia Chambers of Back2Tap will highlight the event. Donation is $18 per-per to attend with a portion of all proceeds going to support the Campaign. Please RSVP at (206) 202-2883 or cure@weareboost.org.
“With budget cuts in the City Trenton impacting its libraries, education system and community centers, we feel it is vitally important to address these challenges by turning them into opportunities for people to think creatively, act collaboratively, and begin to develop the programs, policies and practices that will ultimately lead to new and highly rewarding job, career, housing, business, and entrepreneurial opportunities” says Tim Razzaq, founder to BOOST and the lead organizer of the Campaign.
Razzaq says the contest is the natural outgrowth of his organization’s work in the field of educating for sustainability, recent youth poetry contest, and President Barack Obama’s call for community service and his agenda to fight global warming by reducing the carbon emissions. They will be holding a series of events awards ceremonies over the course of the next few months. “The entire process is designed to stimulate thought, discussion and action amongst the City’s young people around the issues of art in education, educating for sustainability, and individual commitment to community service.”
The second rallying point for the initiative will be the group’s first annual Allies of Humanity awards dinner and ceremony on Friday, April 17 from 5pm until 7pm at Planet Havana. David Valdes of the Latino Community Land Trust, Amefika Sababu of Amefika's Restaurant in Trenton, Eric Maywar and Laurice Reynolds of Classics Used and Rare Book, Anastasia Harrison of Wesketch Architecture and Design, Father Brian McCormick of Martin House, music instructor Ted Plunckett of Trenton Central High School, and National Academy fellow and Mercer County Community College Professor Mel Leipzig. Details about the awards can be found at http://www.weareboost.org/.
We Are BOOST is a creative community solutions organization that develops and utilizes innovative and customized strategies to build structured relationships between people, organizations, businesses, institutions, and agencies that lead to beneficial social, economic and educational outcomes and opportunities in under-served communities and emerging neighborhoods and market. More information about the BOOST can be found at their web site, http://www.weareboost.org/.
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Extras
C.U.R.E., or Career Paths in Urban Revitalization through Education, will be a realistic, engaging, and academically challenging community-based, web-supported, and socially interactive program in which students learn the roles, issues, trade-offs, and economics involved in being a productive citizen-leader and life-long learner in a shifting and ever-demanding urban environment. Full programming is slated to begin this summer and last year-round. More details will be announcement in May of 2009.
The jurists for the Youth Contest will be Julian Kernes (Graphic Artist and proprietor of JKE graphics), Laurie Triefeldt (Author of World of Wonder children's book series), Harold Fleming (Trenton Society of Friends) RAHZII (Poet, performing artist & da Humble Lion of da Concrete Jungle), Professor Alvyn Haywood (Human Empowerment Communication Inc.) and Mel Leipzig (MCC College Professor in 2007, elected into the prestigious NATIONAL ACADEMY), Amini K. Sababu (Founder of Positive Black Images CONNECT), and Kienna Childs Alexander (Third Vice President of the Trenton Chapter of the NAACP).
Rein Triefeldt (http://www.triefeldt.com/) is thought to be the first kinetic sculptor to make use of solar panels in order to create motion in his sculpture. Triefeldt has specialized in kinetic sculpture since 1986. The art focuses on the rich but largely uncharted realms of light, rhythm, balance and motion. The interactive and playful elements of Triefeldt’s work make it a popular choice for art and science museums, public parks and gardens. His commissioned public art can be found in many collections around the world.
Back2Tap’s (http://www.back2tap.com/) mission is to reduce the waste generated from the production and distribution of bottled water and water-based products in disposable plastic bottles. Their mission has four main components:
· Increase public awareness about the tremendous waste of natural resources associated with disposable bottles and cups;
· Import and sell reusable stainless steel bottles;
· Partner with companies that provide tap water, water filters, filtered tap water dispensers and drink concentrate products; and
· Increase awareness about the global water crisis and fund projects that bring clean water to areas in need
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Connecting the (Green) Dots - by Barbara Figge Fox
What's New in Princeton & Central New Jersey? Reprinted from the January 14, 2009, edition of U.S. 1 newspaper Connecting the (Green) Dots - by Barbara Figge Fox
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
What a Difference 3 Years Make: 2 Labors of Love, 1 Mission Community-Builder & Living, Walking, Breathing Community Benefit
Susan Conlon: The Consumate Commuinity-Builder Across Race, Class, Place, and CircumstanceA very special thanks from We Are BOOST goes out to Susan Conlon, the 2009 Princeton Environmental Film Festival's Coordinator and someone whom I have known for three years, next month.
Susan and I met at a smart growth forum on February 22, 2006. We immediately connected on the issue of Community Benefits Agreements (CBA's). CBA's are legally enforceable contracts between local community stakeholders and developers of (usually) large-scale real estate redevelopment projects. These contracts outline the 'benefits' and/or negative impact mitigation measures (community impact softeners) that the developer agrees to provide the local community in exchange for support of the proposed project through the various public approval processes.
Susan was working on a similar initiative in a suburban community in Mercer County and I was immersed in Trenton on multiple proposed projects that threatened to drastically change the neighborhood in which we lived, worked, worshipped, and recreated. Same situation, two different towns, and two different so-called 'population sets', yet, Susan did not focus on the differences, she only saw the commonalities. We can all learn a lot from this in the "green" movement and "sustainble communities" organizational construct(s). One humananity, one earth, one environment with nested (inter-related & Inter-dependent) systems. It is a mind "shift" needed to understand this approach and achieve sustainability. Renewables? "Be ye transformed by the RENEWAL of your mind"
Susan reached out to me after the forum and we shared resources and ideas, attended each others' meetings, generally kept in touch with each other over a protracted period of time, and offer inspiration and encouragement in a labor of love - building bridges across man-fabricated geographical boundaries and socio-economic status.
Susan made no, absolutely no excuses about working with me and our group. She did not hesitate offer an ear, encouragement, and energy to our movement. She wanted to see the same benefits for us that we wanted to see for ourselves and vis versa. No parochial or petty political posturing as tradition holds: "you take care of you your 'back yard' and we'll take care of ours"; or "we have capacity and you don't, so go get your act together"; or "you're black and urban and we are white and suburban, so we can't mix water and wine". None of that.
We Are BOOST grew out of our efforts to ensure local community inclusion in the redevelopment planning and decision-making process in New Jersey capital's Old Trenton Neighborhood (OTN). Susan was a very important part of our group's ability to connect with our suburban neighbors for insights, encouragement, and access to technical assistance and training through her connection with the Princeton Public Library. I was able to bring more than a handful of OTN stakeholders to various training and networking opportunities as a result of Susan's passion about our mutual causes.
Back in OTN - At least two of the many proposed projects have "green" or "sustainability" elements in both the buildings, garages, open and public spaces, and streetscape design plans. This prompted me to begin to research and identify possible opportunities that can be generated for local residents and business owners if we prepared or equipped ourselves with a working knowledge of green building, sustainable community design, smart growth, and environmental economics.
Thusly, since early 2007, We Are BOOST has been one of the leading group raising public awareness and building local community capacity to be engaged in community benefits negotiation as well as use these leading-edge principles in everyday living. In 2008, WAB sponsored and hosted dozens of workshops, focus sessions, panel discussions, redevelopment site tours, and youth enrichment activities.
Our recent successes does not mean the work is any easier than it was three years ago. Lots of stress from long hours of work each day for days on end, skepticism from the "green movement" movers and shakers for whatever reasons, and not a lot of financial support. We leverage all five capitals to get our work accomplished and the learning curve is very, very, very with our methodology.
Again, I get a contact inquiry from whom? Susan - inviting us to put together a panel for the 2009 Princeton Environmental Film Festival. Yet another step in the right direction and opportunity to grow our work and continue to build bridges. Susan is still there, sharing, informing, inspiring, and inviting all to take part in a common cuase.
We Are BOOST looks forward to working with like-minded groups and individuals - like Susan - to grow this effort, initiate local as well as regionally collaborative programs, projects, and policy work to that manifest community benefits, community-first and equitable development, and environmental economy.
Susan Conlon - thank you! Here it is almost three years later - next month - and what a long way each of us has come. We have never lost our connection and our mission(s) remain the same. We congratulate you on an outstanding week of PEFF and wish you only the best of success for you and all who are involved in this movement.
Tim Razzaq, CEO and Founder
We Are BOOST
http://www.weareboost.org/
206-202-2883
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