Joseph Porcelli Chief Executive Neighbor Neighbors for Neighbors, Inc. A nonprofit 501c3

WHAT IS NEIGHBORS FOR NEIGHBORS? 501c3 Boston 18 Networks

ENABLES PERMISSION TO CONNECT Provides multiple entry points / lowers barrier to engage Network says it is OK to reach out

PROVIDES SOUNDBOARD FOR VOICES Honors those who did the work before and empowers those doing the work today Network lets anyone share and everyone listen

CREATES SPRINGBOARD FOR ACTION Moves people from discussion to making things happen Network lets anyone create and everyone participate

NEIGHBORS FOR NEIGHBORS

HISTORY & FUTURE  2004: Started organizing in response to crime  March 2008: Started Jamaica Plain (Boston) pilot social network  September 2009: Launch with Boston Mayor  2010: Your city or town…

BUILD A TOOL FOR EVEYONE  Make it easy for everyone to collaborate  Enable others to self organize without centralized leadership  Reduce frustrations and increase satisfaction

HOW WE ARE UNIQUE  Neighborhood centric  Community generated  Connect neighbors to each other where they are  Connect neighbors and government to each other

KEY DIFFERENCES  Facebook and Twitter -People you already know -About anything in the world -Online  Facebook and Twitter -People you already know -About anything in the world -Online  Neighbors for Neighbors -People you may not know -Only about neighborhood -Online and Offlline  Neighbors for Neighbors -People you may not know -Only about neighborhood -Online and Offlline

PLATFORM: BUILT ON “NING” Robust Features: Almost everything we wanted without having to build it or pay hefty fees Allows control of brand: Customizable to our look and feel Hosted Solution: We focus on building the network, they focus on building the platform

MAYOR’S LAISON Approach people: meet residents where they are Post blog: neighbors read Reply and Comment: builds individual relationship by leaving comments on walls Send blast to entire network: reach everyone immediately dd

BOSTON POLICE SUPERVISOR BENEFITS Monitor: what people are saying and not necessarily reporting Build Trust: be known as a resource and ally Facts: ability to communicate the facts and dispel hearsay. dd

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS - CERT Barriers: lack of relationships Goal: engage with many using little time or resources Neighborhood Solution: instant access to thousands from a trusted source dd

NEIGHBORHOOD ZONE GROUPS dfff CrimeReports.com: get data and organize Members/Neighbors: meet near neighbors Discussions: block parties, yard sales, potlucks Targeted: send messages to specific zones

BEECHER PARK

PEOPLE LOVE IT “This is awesome” Compare last three months to the same period last year  407% increase in visitors  543% increase in pageviews Explosive expansion  Grew from 1 to 18 neighborhoods  Expansion only limited by capacity

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY TOGETHER Provides multiple entry points / lowers barrier to engage Honors those who did the work before and empowers those doing the work today Moves people from discussion to making things happen

NEXT STEPS Our Vision: The Neighbor Movement  Create partnerships with governments and community groups to connect and empower neighborhoods everywhere Your Vision…  We want to plan, build, implement, train and manage networks for your communities

Joseph Porcelli Chief Executive Neighbor Neighbors for Neighbors, Inc. A nonprofit 501c3