Enviro-Action Block Party and Weatherization Barn-Raising

Community Weatherization Barn-Raising, 10am - 3pm at local New Bedford Residence, Meet at the corner of Chancery St and Kempton St.
Enviro-Action Block Party, 3pm - 6pm at 459 Kempton St, New Bedford

Through demonstration, group discussions, popular education offerings, arts, intergenerational speak outs, and more, New Bedford POWER (People Organizing for Wealth and Ecological Restoration) will create a series of actions including a group commmunity service activity that results in a home being weatherized (aka a “barn-raising”) and an Enviro-Action Block Party and learning exchange to raise awareness about the interconnected issues related to climate crisis and its relationship to other areas of ecological and social justice.

By hosting an event in a low to moderate income neighborhood of predominantly people of color, it is our aim to diversify the voices of the local and national movement to yield a more comprehensive and effective human strategy for solving a global problem.

The 10.10.10 New Bedford Weatherization "Barn-Raising"
When: Sunday, October 10th, 2010, from 10 am - 3 pm
Where: A local New Bedford Residence. Meet at the corner of Chancery St and Kempton St.   

Watch this video about the Green Jobs Green Economy Initiative and community barn-raisings:

Why a Barn-Raising?

The idea is simple - bring people together to help their neighbors. In the old days, people would come together to help their neighbors build their barns – instead of raising barns, we weatherize neighbors’ homes. Throughout our history, people have supported each other in harvesting food, building shelter, raising children, and other facets of community. Today it should be no different. Many of us are struggling to pay the Winter's high energy costs, we all at least know someone who is out of work, and we are all living on a planet that is being degraded and overloaded with green house gases. Although it may be a small act, by coming together to make one home at a time more energy efficient we can work towards three goals: saving money, creating jobs, and reducing green house gas emissions. All while building relationships and strengthening community in the process.

The 10.10.10 New Bedford Enviro-Action Block Party
When: Sunday, October 10th, 2010
Where: At the block formed by Emerson St., Kempton St., Mill St. and Chancery St., West End of New Bedford

After the Barn-Raising, please join us for a community Block Party to celebrate local efforts to combat global warming. Festivities include live music and entertainment, contests and prizes, community discussions and free locally grown, seasonal food! We will also have a "swap meet," so bring some useful or nice things to pass on!

This just in: Operation Ninja 350 is in full effect. Help create ninjas that will be placed in windows across the city (and across the world?). More details here.

Our Block Party is part of the 350.org "10.10.10 Global Work Party," when over 7000 events worldwide will bring together communities to take action and demand strong leadership on climate and environmental issues. There are several community “work parties” happening across the SouthCoast on 10.10.10. Our Enviro-Action Block Party brings together participants from these various work parties from Dartmouth to the Cape to celebrate and share our collective efforts in a fun and engaging community event.

In order to throw a true and successful community event, we need your help! Please help spread the word to your friends and family (invite your friends on facebook, too!). We are also seeking donations for the block party and for raffle items. Items needed include: folding tables and chairs, soil, cash donations and gift baskets, "green" decorations, and other useful and fun things! Please contact us at The Spiritual Exploratory Center, 508.990.1425

More details on the Enviro-Action Block Party

Highlights include presentations on composting and vermi-composting, environmental justice and food justice, a tree planting activity, a zero-waste sacred green feast, a table and community-led discussions designed to kick off the City of New Bedford's collective mission to weatherize 5,000 homes, yoga workshops, an art competition to envision the world we want to live in, and eco- and community-focused film screenings. This free event will celebrate essential take-aways such as ecological popular education experiences, a report on the success of the weatherization pilot program, and opportunities for community members to engage in ongoing efforts related to the climate crisis and other connected issues.