Evergreen Center for Community-Based Learning and Action sets grand opening, Oct. 18

Contact: Sylvie McGee: 360-867-6859

Center for Community-Based Learning and Action

An expression of 15 years of hopes and dreams will come to life Monday, Oct. 18 as The Evergreen State College Center for Community-Based Learning and Action celebrates its grand opening.

Gus Newport, a nationally known advocate for social and economic equality will be featured during the daylong opening celebration. The new center will act as a broad clearinghouse of information and resources about community development, organizing, and advocacy, for the entire community.

Newport is currently the Executive Director of the Institute for Community Economics (ICE) based in Springfield, Mass. ICE is a nationwide group that works for fairer allocations of resources to assist low-income families through financial support and advocacy for community land trusts. The institute has provided more than $35 million in financing to non-profit groups in 30 states since 1979, and has one of the most well established community development loan funds in the United States.

Newport directed the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative in Boston, Mass, and the Partnership for Neighborhood Initiative in Palm Beach County, Fl. He also served as the mayor of Berkeley, Calif. for two terms, and was a member of two United Nations sub-committees. Newport's work at the Dudley Street Neighborhood is documented in the book "Streets of Hope," and the video "Holding Ground." The Dudley Street Neighborhood project was one of the most impressive community-originated, and city-supported urban recovery models in recent years.

Newton will deliver a keynote address on "The Essential Role of Analysis and Planning in Rebuilding Disinvested Communities" at 6:30 p.m. at the college's Communications Building Recital Hall. Prior to the address, an open house at the Center for Community Based Learning and Action will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at Seminar II, E-2115.

Full Schedule of Events:

1:00-4:00 p.m. - Lecture Hall 4

Videos with introductions by Russ Fox, Academic Dean

1:00 p.m. - "Holding Ground" on the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative that rebuilt a neighborhood devastated by racism, neglect, and arson.

2:15 p.m. - "Homes and Hands" on Community Land Trusts to build affordable, community-owned housing.

3 p.m. - Discussion with Gus Newport after the videos


4:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Seminar II, E-2115

Center for Community Based Learning and Action open house

6:30 p.m. - Communications Building Recital Hall

Gus Newport speaks on "The Essential Role of Analysis and Planning in Rebuilding Disinvested Communities"