August 5, 2003
For more information, contact: Carol
R. Schiller, President, Greater Portland Neighborhoods
Coalition (GPNC) phone: 207-772-3243
Greater Portland Neighborhoods Coalition Announces Statewide
Conference, "Sustainable Living: Neighbors Working Together"
A newly formed coalition of neighborhood leaders is planning
a statewide conference that will help give citizens and policymakers
information on how to shape and sustain the livability of
Maine communities.
The conference, "Sustainable Living: Neighbors Working
Together," will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday,
October 4, at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland. Registration
is $25 per person, payable by September 24. Details, including
printer- friendly brochures, are available at www.livinginportland.org
(click on GPNC Conference brochure), or by calling 772-3243.
The conference is being held under the auspices of the newly
formed Greater Portland Neighborhoods Coalition, which includes
representation from neighborhood associations throughout the
Greater Portland region. Carol R. Schiller, founder of the
coalition, notes that, "Neighborhood leaders play a dynamic
role in shaping our cities and towns. The Greater Portland
Neighborhoods Coalition is a new way to harness and support
neighborhood work by providing a forum for local associations
to communicate, educate, and collaborate on common issues."
The coalition is planning the October conference as its inaugural
event. Topics to be addressed will include smart growth, funding,
leadership, community policing, arts, downtown revitalization,
preserving open spaces, and developing volunteers. Among the
presenters are Congressman Tom Allen, Governor John Baldacci
(invited), and David Soule, former executive director of the
Boston Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
"The conference is an opportunity to strengthen communication
with other Maine neighborhoods and to enhance local governmentÕs
role in working with neighborhoods," said Charles Enders,
GPNC vice president.
Portland Mayor James Cloutier will issue a proclamation declaring
October as "Neighborhood Spirit Month," and will
present awards on behalf of the Coalition to neighborhood
associations and their leaders for outstanding contributions
to the communities of Greater Portland.
The coalition also is scheduling a fall '03 brown bag lunch
series, and plans to establish the Center for Maine Neighborhoods
that will provide ongoing support to neighborhood leaders
and their organizations. Ê
Sponsors of the "Sustainable Living: Neighbors Working
Together" conference include: the City of Portland; Coastal
Enterprises, Inc.; Fannie Mae; Greater Portland Council of
Governments; Maine Community Foundation; Oakhurst Dairy; Peoples
Heritage Bank; the University of Southern Maine; and designer
Ryan Kavanaugh.
>more news releases
|
