NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS
 
Pleasant Street Neighborhood Network Center
Contact: Kevin Ksen (508) 754-7793
Purpose/Mission:  A community organizing center in the Pleasant/Piedmont Streets area. Advocates for city services for the neighborhood. Provides information referral on social services for residents. Strong youth outreach.
   
Women Together/Mujeres Unidas (currently an affiliate of Pleasant St. Neighborhood Network Center)
Contact:  Jo Massarelli jo@srvip.org
Purpose/Mission: Women Together is a network of 30-50 women in the Pleasant/Piedmont Streets area. The group’s primary mission is to build strong relationships with one another for the purpose of creating a safe neighborhood.

East Highland Area Neighborhood Association (EHANA)
Contact: Executive Committee: Sandra Ansaldi  508 755-1138 (h)
Chris Ariel  Worcesterlaughingcat@gmail.com 
Joan Pierandrea  (508) 793-1561
Brian Goslow
Spiro Giannopoulos
Purpose/Mission:  It operates on individual initiative, serving residents who live within an area bordered by Lincoln Square/Park Avenue and Elm Street/Southbridge Street.  The network is committed to building bridges between the very diverse residents of the area. The group’s most important mission is to help neighbors get to know one another, and to combat the expectation that police are solely responsible for the neighborhood’s safety and well-being.

Mosaic Culture Complex
YMCA
766 Main Street, Worcester, MA
Contacts: Brenda Jenkins or Nate Pickens (508) 755-6101 x-286
Purpose/Mission: MCC aids ex-prisoners, the homeless, young adults who wish to leave the violence of the streets, and many others, linking them to social services or simply providing a listening ear. Referrals cover everything from food stamp assistance to accessing an education at one of the local colleges. The MCC program also provides life coaches, former participants in the Mosaic Culture Complex who now serve as mentors.

Stone Soup
4 King Street
Contact: Matt Feinstein teo@riseup.net
(508) 755-4974 or (508) 335-7783 (cell)
http://StoneSoupWorcester.org
stonesoupworcester@gmail.com
Purpose/Mission:   The group’s purpose as reported on wikipedia: “Inspired by principles of inclusion, collective participation and universal affordability, Stone Soup wants to be an example of how a creative community can stimulate the local economy without resorting to gentrification.” Stone Soup emphasizes local empowerment to address some of the injustices of inner-city living - the marginalization of people and lack of opportunity.

• Stone Soup Learning Coop- Inspired by the free school movement, the coop advocates child-led learning.
•  Stone Soup Graphics Shop- Lithographs. Silk-screening

Worcester Community Clergy/Police Partnership
Contact:  Reverend Sarai Rivera  sarairivera@email.com or (508) 579-3015 (cell)
Purpose/Mission:  A network of interfaith clergy (25 churches and synagogues participate) who are trying to bridge the gap between the police and inner-city residents, particularly poor people of color.

Worcester Youth Center:
326 Chandler Street
(508) 791-4702
Contacts: Roberto Diaz (director of leadership programs) rdiaz2332@yahoo.com
www.worcesteryouthcenter.org
Purpose/Mission: To help young people build lasting change in their lives. The center serves young people ages 14-24, although most older participants only go to the center to attend specific classes.