Volunteers needed, Centro Nueva Creacion

Posted by on November 4, 2005

November “Awareness” Campaign!
NORTH PHILADELPHIA A local, well known North Philadelphia neighborhood community center is looking for volunteers to help engage the community it serves. In the weeks before Thanksgiving the New Creation Community Center is undertaking an effort to connect with residents in a door to door awareness campaign.

Centro Nueva Creacion (New Creation) community center opened its doors 11 years ago following a door to door campaign with thousands of people in the neighborhood – people said that this community needed a place for community members to gather and safer places and activities for children. The result was a community center – focused on providing programs to the families and youth in the West Kensington and Fairhill sections of North Philadelphia.

The center is the originator of the “Goodlands” photography exhibit in which youth of the community document the positive things of the community through the lens of a camera. Centro Nueva Creacion celebrated its 10th annivrsary during 2004. “Now, 11 years later it is time to revisit the community and discover how these programs have been serving the community and whether or not there are existing needs that are not being met by New Creation, or other agencies in this community” said a spokesperson for the community center.

The center is in need of volunteers that would be available in the afternoons or on the weekends to go out in the community with staff and regular volunteers from the center to talk to community members. Orientation for volunteers will be held the week of November 7, 2005 and the campaign will begin the following week.

There are 3 overall goals for the campaign according to Katey Metzroth, development specialist at Centro Nueva Creacion:

1 – to conduct a study as to how people see their community now and in the future, and what types of services and organizing they envision to build a stronger community.

2 – to raise awareness of the many resources available in our immediate community through handing out information packets listing the various agencies and services available.

3 – to increase awareness and support of the programs offered by our community center through asking for a $1 contribution – the goal is that community members will take ownership and pride in the commmunity center and our programs.

“Many of the people in our community speak Spanish, but it is not a requirement that volunteers are bilingual.” Said Metzroth. Students interested in sociology and non-profit management are encouraged to help out – please email or contact Katey at 215.426.3459 if you are interested.

Centro Nueva Creacion is located at 162 W. Tioga Street in the Fairhill section of Philadelphia and offers programs for children and adults. For further information about Centro Nueva Creacion/New Creation Center, please call 215-426-8762. Visit the center on the web at http://www.centronueva.org