Stakeholders Neighborhoods Initiative

THE MISSION OF THIS CORPORATION IS TO PERFORM COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR MAJOR COMMUNITY PROJECTS. THE MISSION STATEMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE DETAILED IN PART III.

GARDNER COMMUNITY CENTER IN SAN JOSE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL YEARS DUE TO LACK OF FUNDING BY THE CITY. WHEN OPEN, IT WOULD PROVIDE SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES FOR AT LEAST 5,000 RESIDENTS OF THE GARDNER NEIGHBORHOOD, AS WELL AS SEVERAL MORE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS. THE ORGANIZATION INITIATED DISCUSSIONS WITH A MAJOR CORPORATE ENTITY AS AN ADVOCATE FOR FINDING A SOURCE OF OPERATING FUNDS FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THE CORPORATION AGREED TO FUND THE CENTER FOR ONE YEAR. OUR ORGANIZATION THEN APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED A GRANT TO PERFORM A MARKETING STUDY, WITH THE GOAL OF DISCERNING HOW THE COMMUNITY CENTER WAS TO BE OPENED AND WHAT ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES WERE WANTED BY THE COMMUNITY. A MARKETING FIRM WAS HIRED TO DO ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WITH ABOUT 100 AREA RESIDENTS AND GROUP FOCUS SESSIONS WITH ANOTHER 75 RESIDENTS. IN ADDITION, THE FIRM SURVEYED A CROSS-SECTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD USING AN ON-LINE AND PRINTED OPINION SURVEY. ALL INTERACTION WITH THE COMMUNITY WAS DONE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH. THE FIRM ANALYZED THE DATA AND PRODUCED A REPORT, WHICH WAS REVIEWED BY THE GRANT AGENCY AND HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO THE CITY.

OTHER PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A PROJECT TO REHABILITATE A PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION BY OPENING A DONOR-ADVISED FUND TO MANAGE THE PURCHASE OF MATERIALS FOR THE PROJECT. THE REVENUE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM SERVICE CONSISTED OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE TO OPEN THE DONOR-ADVISED FUND.

THE ORGANIZATION HIRED A CONSULTANT SPECIALIZING IN LAND USES WHO HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN SAN JOSE AND CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE DEVELOPERS. HE PROVIDES THE ORGANIZATION WITH INSIGHT, VISION, AND GUIDANCE THAT WOULD NORMALLY NOT BE AVAILABLE TO SOMEONE WITHOUT HIS EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE.

THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED ITS SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE BY UPGRADING THE SMARTPHONE APP THAT IS A PRIMARY METHOD OF INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY TO COMMUNICATE ONGOING AND PLANNED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. THE NUMBER OF USERS OF THE APP IS GRADUALLY INCREASING, SURPASSING 100 USERS CURRENTLY. REFINEMENTS ARE UNDERWAY TO OPTIMIZE FUNCTIONALITY FOR BOTH ANDROID AND IOS OPERATING SYSTEMS. INFORMATION ON MANY DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IS BEING LOADED ONTO THE APP. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO UPGRADED ITS WEBSITE TO PROVIDE TIMELY INFORMATION.