Please review our EXPERIMENTAL "Community Engagement Calendar" found HERE.
It intends to identify events going on at the Silver Spring and Veterans Plaza that are more than just 'events'... That is, these are "convenings with a purpose". These are events that intentionally bring the community together for a greater purpose... It is at these convenings that people run across each other by change and happenstance; to plan and reminis; to connect and network as we continue building our community.
{Note: This calendar does NOT include the many private events that have taken place - and are planned - in the facility. These also serve to 'engage community'; i.e.: weddings, parties, and such.}
As we round the corner and begin the last three months of our first year at the Silver Spring Civic Building and Veterans Plaza, we can be rightfully proud of all the wonderful 'happenings' that this facility has hosted. To name a few would run the risk of leaving many other out, so I will not...
In "Year Two", we'll continue approaching this facility's mission of "sparking economic activity and community engagement" with the same zeal that is making "Year One" so successful. Additionally, we'll be much more intentional on "connecting the dots" and facilitating and coordinating the easy connections that can add value when the sponsors of one event meet sponsors of other events; or when cross-marketing happens.
The many events held at the Silver Spring and Veterans Plaza are not "ends unto themselves"; but rather milestone in a process. Many of these are "events with a purpose"; events that provide the spark for further community engagement.
Will you join us?
{Please become a "Follower" of this Blog by simply clicking the icon on the left so you can get future posting.}
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Lyttonsville: Living History Hidden in Plain Sight
NOTE: THIS IS A GUEST BLOG POSTING BY CASEY ANDERSON, MEMBER OF THE SILVER SSPRING CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD; AND, CHAIR OF ITS NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE
Too many of us travel the same routes from home to work, school, the grocery store, or our kids’ soccer games day after day without ever exploring the neighborhoods we travel past. The result is that we know little or nothing about many of the places and people in our own backyards.
The Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board is trying to change that by hosting a series of walking and biking tours of the neighborhoods in our community. The next tour is on Sunday April 3 at noon, when I will be leading a tour of Lyttonsville, a neighborhood of 68 acres on the western edge of Silver Spring, with local activists.
Lyttonsville is a prime example of a part of Montgomery County – and its history – that has been overlooked for too long. Founded in 1853 by Samuel Lytton, a freed slave, the neighborhood was for many decades predominantly African-American. For reasons of race and class, the area was neglected by the county government. The streets were not paved and many residents lacked running water or plumbing until the 1960s, despite its proximity to downtown Silver Spring.
Residents consider their community part of Silver Spring, but school boundaries originally drawn to ensure diversity send many children from Chevy Chase to the neighborhood’s Rosemary Hills Elementary School, while students who live just a few blocks away are sent to Woodlin or Rock Creek Forest Elementary Schools. Consequently, in some ways the neighborhood has connections to the more affluent areas to the west, and its kids go on to attend Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
To some degree, the school boundaries, together with the CSX tracks that form the neighborhood’s northern and eastern border, weaken ties to Silver Spring neighborhoods to the east. A narrow bridge over the tracks has been a source of contention, but the bridge is a key access route to the Capital Crescent Trail. When the Purple Line is built, the trail will be finished through the neighborhood and extend into downtown Silver Spring along with a high quality transit option for getting to Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Prince George’s County.
Today Lyttonsville is racially and economically diverse, with many young families joining longtime residents, including about a dozen families descended from the original settlers. The neighborhood has come a long way from its beginnings with little more than a church, a one-room schoolhouse, and a group of houses built by the original residents.
If you would like to learn more about Lyttonsville and get to know some of the people who have worked to make it a vibrant place to live, join us for the tour on April 3. We will begin with lunch (at noon) at the Parkway Deli at 8317 Grubb Road, followed by a walk and community discussion at the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center, located at 2450 Lyttonsville Road. Please RSVP to caseybanderson (at) aol.com so we will have space for you at lunch.
{Don't forget to FOLLOW this blog by simply clicking the appropriate button on the left upper corner of this posting.}
Too many of us travel the same routes from home to work, school, the grocery store, or our kids’ soccer games day after day without ever exploring the neighborhoods we travel past. The result is that we know little or nothing about many of the places and people in our own backyards.
The Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board is trying to change that by hosting a series of walking and biking tours of the neighborhoods in our community. The next tour is on Sunday April 3 at noon, when I will be leading a tour of Lyttonsville, a neighborhood of 68 acres on the western edge of Silver Spring, with local activists.
Lyttonsville is a prime example of a part of Montgomery County – and its history – that has been overlooked for too long. Founded in 1853 by Samuel Lytton, a freed slave, the neighborhood was for many decades predominantly African-American. For reasons of race and class, the area was neglected by the county government. The streets were not paved and many residents lacked running water or plumbing until the 1960s, despite its proximity to downtown Silver Spring.
Residents consider their community part of Silver Spring, but school boundaries originally drawn to ensure diversity send many children from Chevy Chase to the neighborhood’s Rosemary Hills Elementary School, while students who live just a few blocks away are sent to Woodlin or Rock Creek Forest Elementary Schools. Consequently, in some ways the neighborhood has connections to the more affluent areas to the west, and its kids go on to attend Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.
To some degree, the school boundaries, together with the CSX tracks that form the neighborhood’s northern and eastern border, weaken ties to Silver Spring neighborhoods to the east. A narrow bridge over the tracks has been a source of contention, but the bridge is a key access route to the Capital Crescent Trail. When the Purple Line is built, the trail will be finished through the neighborhood and extend into downtown Silver Spring along with a high quality transit option for getting to Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Prince George’s County.
Today Lyttonsville is racially and economically diverse, with many young families joining longtime residents, including about a dozen families descended from the original settlers. The neighborhood has come a long way from its beginnings with little more than a church, a one-room schoolhouse, and a group of houses built by the original residents.
If you would like to learn more about Lyttonsville and get to know some of the people who have worked to make it a vibrant place to live, join us for the tour on April 3. We will begin with lunch (at noon) at the Parkway Deli at 8317 Grubb Road, followed by a walk and community discussion at the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center, located at 2450 Lyttonsville Road. Please RSVP to caseybanderson (at) aol.com so we will have space for you at lunch.
{Don't forget to FOLLOW this blog by simply clicking the appropriate button on the left upper corner of this posting.}
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
County Executive Releases Recommended Budget (info re RSCs)
The County Executive released his recommended budget today. Detailed information can be found on the County’s website at:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/
As the press release states: “Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today announced his recommended $4.35 billion operating budget that closes a $300 million gap for fiscal year (FY) 2012 that begins July 1. Leggett’s budget focuses on protecting essential services and his priorities of education, public safety and the safety net for the most vulnerable, but includes significant reductions in services, staffing levels and employee compensation to address the County’s long-term structural budget challenge.”
The recommended budget includes the creation of the Office of Community Engagement, which would include the Regional Services Centers. Operationally, we will continue pursuing the same mission as always within a new collaborative structure that provides for cost savings and consolidation (and centralization) of administrative support functions. Specific information about this new Office can be found at:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/psprec/pdf/oce.pdf
For the Urban District, the recommended budget is to stay at a level of funding similar to last year’s. Information for the Urban Districts is at:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/psprec/pdf/urb.pdf
I hope you find this useful. I will soon share further details; particularly how the Silver Spring Regional Center's staff structure may change. In the meantime, please call or e-mail if you have questions, would like to discuss further, or would like more information.
Reemberto Rodriguez, Director
Silver Spring Regional Center
Reemberto.Rodriguez@MontgomeryCountyMD.Gov
240-777-5307
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/
As the press release states: “Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today announced his recommended $4.35 billion operating budget that closes a $300 million gap for fiscal year (FY) 2012 that begins July 1. Leggett’s budget focuses on protecting essential services and his priorities of education, public safety and the safety net for the most vulnerable, but includes significant reductions in services, staffing levels and employee compensation to address the County’s long-term structural budget challenge.”
The recommended budget includes the creation of the Office of Community Engagement, which would include the Regional Services Centers. Operationally, we will continue pursuing the same mission as always within a new collaborative structure that provides for cost savings and consolidation (and centralization) of administrative support functions. Specific information about this new Office can be found at:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/psprec/pdf/oce.pdf
For the Urban District, the recommended budget is to stay at a level of funding similar to last year’s. Information for the Urban Districts is at:
http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/omb/FY12/psprec/pdf/urb.pdf
I hope you find this useful. I will soon share further details; particularly how the Silver Spring Regional Center's staff structure may change. In the meantime, please call or e-mail if you have questions, would like to discuss further, or would like more information.
Reemberto Rodriguez, Director
Silver Spring Regional Center
Reemberto.Rodriguez@MontgomeryCountyMD.Gov
240-777-5307
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
COME WALK IN MY SHOES this Friday 7pm at the Civic Building
COME WALK IN MY SHOES
A film by Video/Action
President Robin Smith
This Friday (March 11) there will be a unique opportunity to see an amazing documentary about what John Lewis, a true Civil Rights champion, does every year with the freshmen class of the House of Representatives.
PLUS:
The producer (and President of the company that made the of the documentary) Robin Smith will be joining us to!
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE GREAT HALL OF THE CIVIC BUILDING, 7pm
Come Walk in My Shoes is an award-winning documentary that follows the Honorable John Lewis on an emotional pilgrimage to the churches, parks and bridges where young people played a pivotal role in the struggle for equality and voting rights. At each location, Lewis reflects on his experiences and provides a forum for others – the “unsung heroes who cared deeply, sacrificed much, and fought hard for a better America” – to help us understand what happened, and why it happened.
{This will be a special production of the Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity.}
Please help us “spread the word”… and, see you then!
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO'S WEB LINK HERE
Reemberto RodrÃguez, Director
Silver Spring Regional Center
A film by Video/Action
President Robin Smith
This Friday (March 11) there will be a unique opportunity to see an amazing documentary about what John Lewis, a true Civil Rights champion, does every year with the freshmen class of the House of Representatives.
PLUS:
The producer (and President of the company that made the of the documentary) Robin Smith will be joining us to!
PLEASE JOIN US AT THE GREAT HALL OF THE CIVIC BUILDING, 7pm
Come Walk in My Shoes is an award-winning documentary that follows the Honorable John Lewis on an emotional pilgrimage to the churches, parks and bridges where young people played a pivotal role in the struggle for equality and voting rights. At each location, Lewis reflects on his experiences and provides a forum for others – the “unsung heroes who cared deeply, sacrificed much, and fought hard for a better America” – to help us understand what happened, and why it happened.
{This will be a special production of the Charles W. Gilchrist Center for Cultural Diversity.}
Please help us “spread the word”… and, see you then!
CHECK OUT THE VIDEO'S WEB LINK HERE
Reemberto RodrÃguez, Director
Silver Spring Regional Center
Monday, March 7, 2011
Spring Plaza Evenings: Come Join in!
===============
Spring is almost here. Winter is coming to a close.
The ice skating rink on Veterans Plaza has but a few more days left before it is done for the season. Ice skating on Veterans Plaza has been widely popular, bringing the Plaza alive with children of all ages every winter night, regardless of the weather condition. (NOTE: It is not over yet. Veterans are invited to skate free for the remaining few days!)
How do we keep that energy – that vitality and liveliness – that the ice skating rink has brought to Veterans Plaza when the rink is no longer there?
We look forward to having many special events on the Plaza, such as our marquee Jazz Festival, Thanksgiving Parade, and concerts. We also are pleased that the Plaza will be used as the place for fabulous community events, major celebrations, the start/end point for walks and runs, and other special functions. Beginning April 30 and going through the winter holidays, the Plaza will come alive every Saturday morning and afternoon with the Fenton Street Market. On Friday and Saturday nights (downtown Silver Spring’s busiest nights), the Plaza remains the natural gathering place for the many people that come to enjoy downtown eateries, movies, and the entertainment offered on Ellsworth (by the Fountain.)
To complement all these wonderful programmed and special activities, the community will also be gathering on the Plaza other evenings in a much more informal, “happenstance” way, to simply come enjoy “being there”, to simply “be with others”.
During the Spring (April through June) we will be experimenting with “Plaza Evenings”: different approaches to spark constructive, family friendly community engagement on Veterans Plaza Sunday evenings through Thursday evenings 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. These Plaza Evenings will be inviting and welcoming people from all walks of life to routinely and consistently activate the Plaza. These Plaza Evenings will provide an opportunity for our community to discover Veterans Plaza as our ‘public square’ not only for major programmed events, but as the place to be to “be community”. And thus, bring to fruition the dual, complementary role of this space to “spark community engagement and spark economic activity.”
PLAZA EVENINGS: Sunday – Thursday 7 – 9 pm
SUNDAY EVENING: DRUM CIRCLES
This will be a continuation of a successful attempt last Fall to do traditional drum circles on the Plaza. That experiment saw over 100 people coming together weekly to enjoy “making beautiful noise”. Our hope is that this ‘new tradition’ will begin once again.
MONDAY EVENING: PLAZA CONVERSATIONS
Great plazas in the world are places where community conversation, civic dialogue, and discourse thrive. Some of these will be intentional and structured, but there will be room for the unexpected and impromptu. Our hope is that groups and institutions will see this as a wonderful opportunity to ‘take it to the streets’ and bring meaningful conversation to the Plaza.
TUESDAY EVENING: EXERCISE!
We already know of one group that will be taking their indoor exercise class ‘outside’ (they now do it regularly in the Civic Building.) This will make for an interesting interactive, playful, ‘people-watching’ atmosphere on the Plaza. Our hope is that others will join in.
WEDNESDAY EVENING: GAME NIGHT
One group has committed to start with chess. But, there are plenty of opportunities – there are plenty of benches! – for checkers, dominoes, and other games. Our hope is that interest from other ‘gamers’ will follow.
THURSDAY EVENING: ART & PERFORMANCE
The idea is to have movies, music, and more (performances) on the Plaza. We are seeking groups that are looking for an audience, require little to no amplification, seek no remuneration, and are willing to experiment. Our hope is that local talent will rise to the occasion and ‘sign up’ to participate.
NOTE: Plaza Evenings will be occasionally substituted by programmed and special events.
In these difficult budget times, it is important to note that Plaza Evenings are community and volunteer driven, costing the County nothing. The success of these Plaza Evening hinges on them ‘catching on’, growing organically, and being perpetuated by the participants themselves, not county resources.
Our hope for the success of these Plaza Evenings is modest. By fermenting these community engagement ‘naturally grown’ activities, the Plaza will become ‘the place to be’ on any given night, not just when there is a major or special event… Hopefully, people will ‘know that there is always something good and healthy going on’ at Veterans Plaza.
Since the earliest days of the conceptualization of the Silver Spring redevelopment, the idea was that there would be a ‘plaza’ downtown. That is Veterans Plaza. Veterans Plaza is our ‘traditional’ plaza akin to many plazas around the world in large and small cities. This is where all members of our community - including residents, visitors, shoppers, and people just ‘passing by’ - come to enjoy time together, mingle, meet-up, ‘people-watch’, and simply ‘be there’. The Plaza is our public square.
The concept for these Plaza Evenings has been developed in consultation with the Silver Spring Regional Center’s Advisory Groups. Many other organizations and individuals have also provided very valuable input. And now it is time to ‘implement’… We will experiment during the Spring and revisit the success and challenges of Plaza Evenings in time to improve as we roll into summer (July through September.) As you participate and partake of the Plaza Evenings April through June, we invite you to help us make it even better by getting in contact with us or simply leaving a post on this blog. But most important, we hope you will help us make it a success by joining in… See you at the Plaza!
RELATED BLOG POSTINGS:
The People Make the Place (March 2010)
Top Ten Plaza Possibilities (July 2010)
Common Values for Sharing Veterans Plaza (July 2010)
{Please click on the ‘FOLLOW’ button to receive future blog postings automatically.}
Spring is almost here. Winter is coming to a close.
The ice skating rink on Veterans Plaza has but a few more days left before it is done for the season. Ice skating on Veterans Plaza has been widely popular, bringing the Plaza alive with children of all ages every winter night, regardless of the weather condition. (NOTE: It is not over yet. Veterans are invited to skate free for the remaining few days!)
How do we keep that energy – that vitality and liveliness – that the ice skating rink has brought to Veterans Plaza when the rink is no longer there?
We look forward to having many special events on the Plaza, such as our marquee Jazz Festival, Thanksgiving Parade, and concerts. We also are pleased that the Plaza will be used as the place for fabulous community events, major celebrations, the start/end point for walks and runs, and other special functions. Beginning April 30 and going through the winter holidays, the Plaza will come alive every Saturday morning and afternoon with the Fenton Street Market. On Friday and Saturday nights (downtown Silver Spring’s busiest nights), the Plaza remains the natural gathering place for the many people that come to enjoy downtown eateries, movies, and the entertainment offered on Ellsworth (by the Fountain.)
To complement all these wonderful programmed and special activities, the community will also be gathering on the Plaza other evenings in a much more informal, “happenstance” way, to simply come enjoy “being there”, to simply “be with others”.
During the Spring (April through June) we will be experimenting with “Plaza Evenings”: different approaches to spark constructive, family friendly community engagement on Veterans Plaza Sunday evenings through Thursday evenings 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. These Plaza Evenings will be inviting and welcoming people from all walks of life to routinely and consistently activate the Plaza. These Plaza Evenings will provide an opportunity for our community to discover Veterans Plaza as our ‘public square’ not only for major programmed events, but as the place to be to “be community”. And thus, bring to fruition the dual, complementary role of this space to “spark community engagement and spark economic activity.”
PLAZA EVENINGS: Sunday – Thursday 7 – 9 pm
SUNDAY EVENING: DRUM CIRCLES
This will be a continuation of a successful attempt last Fall to do traditional drum circles on the Plaza. That experiment saw over 100 people coming together weekly to enjoy “making beautiful noise”. Our hope is that this ‘new tradition’ will begin once again.
MONDAY EVENING: PLAZA CONVERSATIONS
Great plazas in the world are places where community conversation, civic dialogue, and discourse thrive. Some of these will be intentional and structured, but there will be room for the unexpected and impromptu. Our hope is that groups and institutions will see this as a wonderful opportunity to ‘take it to the streets’ and bring meaningful conversation to the Plaza.
TUESDAY EVENING: EXERCISE!
We already know of one group that will be taking their indoor exercise class ‘outside’ (they now do it regularly in the Civic Building.) This will make for an interesting interactive, playful, ‘people-watching’ atmosphere on the Plaza. Our hope is that others will join in.
WEDNESDAY EVENING: GAME NIGHT
One group has committed to start with chess. But, there are plenty of opportunities – there are plenty of benches! – for checkers, dominoes, and other games. Our hope is that interest from other ‘gamers’ will follow.
THURSDAY EVENING: ART & PERFORMANCE
The idea is to have movies, music, and more (performances) on the Plaza. We are seeking groups that are looking for an audience, require little to no amplification, seek no remuneration, and are willing to experiment. Our hope is that local talent will rise to the occasion and ‘sign up’ to participate.
NOTE: Plaza Evenings will be occasionally substituted by programmed and special events.
In these difficult budget times, it is important to note that Plaza Evenings are community and volunteer driven, costing the County nothing. The success of these Plaza Evening hinges on them ‘catching on’, growing organically, and being perpetuated by the participants themselves, not county resources.
Our hope for the success of these Plaza Evenings is modest. By fermenting these community engagement ‘naturally grown’ activities, the Plaza will become ‘the place to be’ on any given night, not just when there is a major or special event… Hopefully, people will ‘know that there is always something good and healthy going on’ at Veterans Plaza.
Since the earliest days of the conceptualization of the Silver Spring redevelopment, the idea was that there would be a ‘plaza’ downtown. That is Veterans Plaza. Veterans Plaza is our ‘traditional’ plaza akin to many plazas around the world in large and small cities. This is where all members of our community - including residents, visitors, shoppers, and people just ‘passing by’ - come to enjoy time together, mingle, meet-up, ‘people-watch’, and simply ‘be there’. The Plaza is our public square.
The concept for these Plaza Evenings has been developed in consultation with the Silver Spring Regional Center’s Advisory Groups. Many other organizations and individuals have also provided very valuable input. And now it is time to ‘implement’… We will experiment during the Spring and revisit the success and challenges of Plaza Evenings in time to improve as we roll into summer (July through September.) As you participate and partake of the Plaza Evenings April through June, we invite you to help us make it even better by getting in contact with us or simply leaving a post on this blog. But most important, we hope you will help us make it a success by joining in… See you at the Plaza!
RELATED BLOG POSTINGS:
The People Make the Place (March 2010)
Top Ten Plaza Possibilities (July 2010)
Common Values for Sharing Veterans Plaza (July 2010)
{Please click on the ‘FOLLOW’ button to receive future blog postings automatically.}
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
So you want to know what is going on in Silver Spring?
-----------------
It seems that we’ll never get to the ‘holy grail’ of ‘event lists’: i.e.: a single point or link that lists everything we are interested in.
In the absence of such ideal place, there are a series of existing links that provide for a wealth of information regarding ‘what is going on’ in Silver Spring for people that are interested in community life. These are mostly calendars by private entities, public agencies, and/or non-profits that give a good indication of the wonderful vitality and vibrancy of activities in Silver Spring.
No such list of calendars can be complete… But, in the spirit of ‘not letting the perfect get in the way of the good’, here’s the start of such a list… PLEASE chime in if you know of others:
DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING
Silver Spring Downtown web-site… If you have not visited this site lately, you are really missing something. Wonderful list of upcoming events in the broader downtown Silver Spring area.
Downtown Silver Spring web-site… Best place to get a fix of what is going on in the ‘core’ of downtown (Ellsworth area), including Regal movie times, etc.
ART-CENTRIC
http://www.creativemoco.com/calendar "Do and Go"... The Arts & Humanities of Montgomery County official 'go to' site. Comprehensive list of member programming.
http://www.visitmontgomery.com/events-calendar/ Visit Montgomery... The Conference and Visitors Bureau's (CVB) official site. Very good for all things 'touristy', as well as performances and arts.
http://visitmaryland.org/Pages/Welcome.aspx Visit Maryland... The official site of Maryland's Tourism office. As good a comprehensive list for 'things to do' throughout the State as their is, focusing primarily on established destinations.
http://msac.org/ Maryland Arts Council official site... Very good, if you want a comprehensive look at what is going on in all corners of the State with arts organizations.
http://www.theatreindc.com/ Theatre in DC... A very comprehensive list of plays in the broader DMV area. (Search for "Silver Spring" to get the local flavor; check out the 'map' function also.)
NEWS OUTLETS
Washington Post’s Going Out Guide Make sure you ‘search’ for ‘Silver Spring’… Solid listing of commercial opportunities
Silver Spring Patch Events Calendar… An excellent ‘searchable’ events listing
Silver Spring Voice Events List… Easy to read list
Gazette’s List of Events… Probably the most comprehensive list of events, all with easy to follow web-links
VENUE SPECIFIC
AFI Movie Schedule… A direct link to one of our premier gems in Silver Spring.
Takoma Park / Silver Spring Montgomery College Campus… Amazing array of events and happenings, many in the new beautiful Performance Art space – see “Events” list on the right hand side of the page.
Roundhouse Theater Roundhouse Theater's repertoire of events at their Silver Spring location.
SILVER SPRING REGIONAL CENTER - centric
Silver Spring Regional Center Community Engagement Opportunities in the Civic Building and Veterans Plaza Of course I am biased to our own :-) … This is a new attempt to display graphically the opportunities for connecting by participating in events already planned in this, your community’s living room and patio.
Silver Spring Regional Center Official Calendar… Civic meetings, mostly Advisory Groups (Citizens Advisory Board, Urban District, etc.)
FACEBOOK PAGES
Facebook Announcements… Various organizations in the area have great listings of events on their Facebook page. (We listed these on a recent blog posting – see ‘comment’ for additional ones; we have not added them yet.)
WHAT COULD BE (examples from elsewhere)
http://pinklineproject.com/ The Pink Line Project... From our friends in DC.
http://www.artsboston.org/ Arts Boston... GREAT search engine! (hosting provided by artsopolisnetwork.com)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/?tid=gog DC's Going Out Guide... From the folks down the street as well.
HAVE OTHERS? Please leave them as 'comments' in this blog...
{PLUS: Don't forget to become a 'follower' of this blog so you get future postings automatically.}
It seems that we’ll never get to the ‘holy grail’ of ‘event lists’: i.e.: a single point or link that lists everything we are interested in.
In the absence of such ideal place, there are a series of existing links that provide for a wealth of information regarding ‘what is going on’ in Silver Spring for people that are interested in community life. These are mostly calendars by private entities, public agencies, and/or non-profits that give a good indication of the wonderful vitality and vibrancy of activities in Silver Spring.
No such list of calendars can be complete… But, in the spirit of ‘not letting the perfect get in the way of the good’, here’s the start of such a list… PLEASE chime in if you know of others:
DOWNTOWN SILVER SPRING
Silver Spring Downtown web-site… If you have not visited this site lately, you are really missing something. Wonderful list of upcoming events in the broader downtown Silver Spring area.
Downtown Silver Spring web-site… Best place to get a fix of what is going on in the ‘core’ of downtown (Ellsworth area), including Regal movie times, etc.
ART-CENTRIC
http://www.creativemoco.com/calendar "Do and Go"... The Arts & Humanities of Montgomery County official 'go to' site. Comprehensive list of member programming.
http://www.visitmontgomery.com/events-calendar/ Visit Montgomery... The Conference and Visitors Bureau's (CVB) official site. Very good for all things 'touristy', as well as performances and arts.
http://visitmaryland.org/Pages/Welcome.aspx Visit Maryland... The official site of Maryland's Tourism office. As good a comprehensive list for 'things to do' throughout the State as their is, focusing primarily on established destinations.
http://msac.org/ Maryland Arts Council official site... Very good, if you want a comprehensive look at what is going on in all corners of the State with arts organizations.
http://www.theatreindc.com/ Theatre in DC... A very comprehensive list of plays in the broader DMV area. (Search for "Silver Spring" to get the local flavor; check out the 'map' function also.)
NEWS OUTLETS
Washington Post’s Going Out Guide Make sure you ‘search’ for ‘Silver Spring’… Solid listing of commercial opportunities
Silver Spring Patch Events Calendar… An excellent ‘searchable’ events listing
Silver Spring Voice Events List… Easy to read list
Gazette’s List of Events… Probably the most comprehensive list of events, all with easy to follow web-links
VENUE SPECIFIC
AFI Movie Schedule… A direct link to one of our premier gems in Silver Spring.
Takoma Park / Silver Spring Montgomery College Campus… Amazing array of events and happenings, many in the new beautiful Performance Art space – see “Events” list on the right hand side of the page.
Roundhouse Theater Roundhouse Theater's repertoire of events at their Silver Spring location.
SILVER SPRING REGIONAL CENTER - centric
Silver Spring Regional Center Community Engagement Opportunities in the Civic Building and Veterans Plaza Of course I am biased to our own :-) … This is a new attempt to display graphically the opportunities for connecting by participating in events already planned in this, your community’s living room and patio.
Silver Spring Regional Center Official Calendar… Civic meetings, mostly Advisory Groups (Citizens Advisory Board, Urban District, etc.)
FACEBOOK PAGES
Facebook Announcements… Various organizations in the area have great listings of events on their Facebook page. (We listed these on a recent blog posting – see ‘comment’ for additional ones; we have not added them yet.)
WHAT COULD BE (examples from elsewhere)
http://pinklineproject.com/ The Pink Line Project... From our friends in DC.
http://www.artsboston.org/ Arts Boston... GREAT search engine! (hosting provided by artsopolisnetwork.com)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/?tid=gog DC's Going Out Guide... From the folks down the street as well.
HAVE OTHERS? Please leave them as 'comments' in this blog...
{PLUS: Don't forget to become a 'follower' of this blog so you get future postings automatically.}
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Montgomery Co. as "Majority Minority" - So What (for Silver Spring)?
A recent Washington Post article broke the news of what many already intuitively knew: Montgomery County’s population is now “majority minority”. That is, the population of non-Hispanic Whites is officially less than 50% of the total population. (Another – probably more startling - statistic in the article is that less than 50% of the school age population in the State is non-Hispanic White.)
So what? What does this mean? How will this news impact the work we do in our neighborhoods and communities in Silver Spring?
YOU ARE INVITED TO A CONVERSATION TONIGHT (Tuesday, February 15th 7pm at the Civic Building)
Please take the time to (re)read the article – and browse through its wonderful interactive maps. As the maps show, there are peculiarities to the Silver Spring Regional Center area – that area south of the Beltway (including Four Corners), north of DC, east of Rock Creek, and west of Prince George County… For example:
[1] If you look at the ‘block-level’ statistics, it is amazing the ‘diversity’ from one block-level to the next. … That is, one block-level area with 55% Black population may be next to a block-level area with 80% White population.
[2] The concentration patterns are as expected: Long Branch is most Hispanic; the single family neighborhoods to the north, west and north-east of downtown are most White.
[3] There are quite a few block-level areas that have surprisingly high Black percentages… But, this may be a quirk of the Census whereas all people of African heritage may be lumped together.
There are many other observations that could be made… What else do YOU see in these maps and related articles?
Come join the conversation!
{And, don’t forget to click on the ‘Follow’ icon to the left so you can get future postings automatically.}
So what? What does this mean? How will this news impact the work we do in our neighborhoods and communities in Silver Spring?
YOU ARE INVITED TO A CONVERSATION TONIGHT (Tuesday, February 15th 7pm at the Civic Building)
Please take the time to (re)read the article – and browse through its wonderful interactive maps. As the maps show, there are peculiarities to the Silver Spring Regional Center area – that area south of the Beltway (including Four Corners), north of DC, east of Rock Creek, and west of Prince George County… For example:
[1] If you look at the ‘block-level’ statistics, it is amazing the ‘diversity’ from one block-level to the next. … That is, one block-level area with 55% Black population may be next to a block-level area with 80% White population.
[2] The concentration patterns are as expected: Long Branch is most Hispanic; the single family neighborhoods to the north, west and north-east of downtown are most White.
[3] There are quite a few block-level areas that have surprisingly high Black percentages… But, this may be a quirk of the Census whereas all people of African heritage may be lumped together.
There are many other observations that could be made… What else do YOU see in these maps and related articles?
Come join the conversation!
{And, don’t forget to click on the ‘Follow’ icon to the left so you can get future postings automatically.}
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