Groundworks Somerville

Here is my new node for groundworks somerville. I figured I'd post exactly what I emailed them, since it worked out and they actually responded to the questions, even if it did take a while. It is quite interesting to read that even they are not 100% sure about the status of Somerville. It made me think about our website, and how people will learn about the different organizations and people in Somerville, but what about Somerville itself? Will we/should we have a page where people can learn and explore about the issues that need to be addressed within the community?

1. In your own words, can you please tell me about the word you do in and for Somerville?

Groundwork Somerville is a community-based organization designed to serve as a catalyst for reuse of former brownfield sites and for community revitalization in Somerville. The organization is an affiliate of Groundwork USA, a network of organizations created by the National Park Service and modeled after the successful network of 43 Groundwork organizations in the United Kingdom. Groundwork Somerville is one of a small number of organizations nationwide that have received planning and startup grants of $100,000 from the National Park Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is currently governed by a Board of Directors representing a cross-section of non-profit groups, community-based organizations, public agencies and business interests in Somerville.

2. How is your organization dealing with economic downturn? Is it affecting your organization, either negatively or positively? Is the downturn affecting the population that your organization serves?

Our organization has not felt the squeeze as much as other non-profits, largely because there are many grants for “green” projects trickling down from the government, which is a label that basically covers all the different programs we run.

3. In your opinion, what is the main economic need(s) of Somerville? Is your organization addressing that need(s)?

I don’t know enough about the different aspects of Somerville to say with any authority, but I know from experience that Somerville Public Schools are very poor, and I think the many afterschool programs Groundwork runs with all age levels helps to inject some science and outdoor hands on learning into the curriculum.

4. We’re trying to understand how people and organizations in Somerville are connected. What/who are the three most important partnerships you have—and/or—the organizations you work most closely with?

Difficult to say because our different programs have different needs, but overall probably Tufts University, Somerville Public Schools, and the City of Somerville