Prince William Study Circles

Neighbor Helping Neighbor: Study Circles in Manassas/Prince William in 2009-10

Next Facilitator Training January 2010

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Please indicate one or more of your interests:	I would like to train in January 2010 and serve afterward as a volunteer facilitator (a six-session, 12-hour commitment) I would like to participate in a Neighborhood Improvement Circle starting in February 2010

PWSC & Leon Walker recognized by 10th annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference

Prince William Study Circles, in partnership with George Mason University, Unity in the Community and City of Manassas Neighborhood Services, won Virginia Neighborhood Organization of the Year for bringing study circles on neighborhood improvement issues to seven neighborhoods in the City of Manassas and Prince William County, Virginia.  Each circle included up to 15 diverse residents who met with facilitators for six two-hour sessions to find common ground and take action in their neighborhoods.  The non-profit’s director, Cindy Brookshire, accepted the award on behalf of the partnership at the 10th Annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference in Chesterfield County on September 26, 2009.  She presented it to the City Council of Manassas, Virginia at their meeting of September 28, 2009.

Leon Walker, President of Wildwood Condominium Association, was named Virginia Neighborhood Advocate of the Year for his tireless work in transforming his 96-condo neighborhood in the heart of Manassas from one of crime and drugs, to a safe, beautiful and enjoyable community, ideal for raising families. Mr. Walker received the award at the 10th Annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference in Chesterfield County on September 26, 2009. He was recognized by the City Council of Manassas, Virginia at their meeting of September 28, 2009.

Neighbor Helping Neighbor: Study Circles in Manassas/Prince William in 2008-9

Our year-end report, "Neighbor Helping Neighbor: Study Circles in Manassas/Prince William," can be downloaded in full by clicking here.  (PDF, 26pp.)  Below is its Executive Summary.  Thank you to everyone who made our first year so fruitful.  We look forward to working again with you in 2009-10. 

Scroll down to the next post to sign up for our new e-newsletter.  It will report on circle activities in your neighborhood and in neighborhoods nearby and around Manassas, Manassas Park and Prince William County.

Executive Summary

Study Circles are groups of 8-15 people who meet for up to six two-hour sessions led by two facilitators.  Through trust-building exercises and dialogue, participants connect with each other, gain a greater understanding of issues and develop action plans.

Section 1:  Why Bring Study Circles to Manassas/Prince William.  The goals of the circles are: to build relationships and understanding between diverse neighbors, to find common ground on the issues facing the neighborhood and to develop and implement action plans that will improve the neighborhood for all residents.

Section 2:  Process and Outcome of the Circles.  A pilot circle with 14 participants was held at George Mason University, followed by seven circles in these city/county neighborhoods:  Weems (7 participants), Wildwood (16), Georgetown South (15), Wellington (12), Point of Woods/Cannon Ridge (11), Lindendale (7) and West Gate (4).  Dialogue and action ideas surrounded these seven themes:  Attacking apathy - block events/neighborhood pride campaign; Communication - neighborhood info exchange/informing City Council/BOCS; Put in the time to fight crime - strengthening Neighborhood Watch/National Night Out; Neighbors helping neighbors – foreclosures/unemployed/seniors; Assimilating immigrants – women’s circles, language translation services; Involving youth – mentoring, activities, neighborhood job opportunities and Protecting housing stock - volunteer construction/maintenance projects.

Section 3.  Circle Evaluations.  Of the 86 people who participated in the circles, 39 returned their evaluations.  Thirty-six rated the program as “very good” or “good” and “strongly agreed” or “agreed” they would tell a friend to participate in a circle.  Only one of 39 said she would not tell a friend to participate in a circle.

Section 4:  Action Forum. Organizers brought together all circle participants for a half-day forum at George Mason University.  Thirty-nine participants attended.  Results included:  Formation of action groups/community partners; further identification of Week of Hope projects; a contact list to launch a neighborhood e-newsletter, and a waiting list of future circles.

Section 5:  Success Stories.  Actions taken in the neighborhoods since the circles met are detailed, and include a local church’s “tool drive” for youth in Georgetown South and a sharing agreement on pool privileges between two HOAs.

Section 6:  Facilitator Recommendations.  Facilitators recommend the circles continue and expand to all neighborhoods with a greater commitment by participants to attend all six sessions and more diversity in participants.  The circles should be planned to take place before annual HOA meetings and town hall meetings in neighborhoods.  This report should be shared with Manassas Park and Prince William County to encourage their participation and support, as well as to encourage school and church-based circles.  The information should be shared regionally with other jurisdictions working on the same challenges.

Local & National Recognition for Neighborhood Improvement Circles

Councilman Steve Randolph told the Manassas City Council about Neighborhood Improvement Circles at the Council's March 2009 monthly meeting.  Click the play button on the video screen below to view the two minute video.  In addition, the City of Manassas recently won 3 national awards for its neighborhood initiatives.  Click here to see the press release (PDF).

Washington Post: Burst of "Neighboring"

In a front page, below-the-fold article today, Annie Gowen of the Washington Post cites anecdotal evidence that in present tough economic times, communities are pulling together, rather than apart.

"There's been an overwhelming increase in participation overall," said Kisha Wilson-Sogunro, neighborhood services manager for Manassas. "People want to get back to the basics. They understand, especially with the housing crisis, you just don't know who is living next to you, and all of a sudden it's a foreclosure. . . . If you would have been neighborly, you'd know who to call if something's going wrong."

Click here to see the full article.

Washington Post on Neighborhood Study Circles

Reporter Jennifer Buske of the Washington Post wrote today in its Sunday Prince William Extra edition about your neighborhood study circles.  Leon Walker of the Wildwood circle told the Post,

I think with the help of the city, we can become a neighborhood again.

Click here to read the Washington Post article online.