Meet the 2015 Neighborhood Challenge Winners

We believe that big changes come when people work together from the ground up. Policies matter, yes, but in many ways, community collaborations and people power matter even more. So we’re thrilled to announce the winners of our 3rd annual Get2gether Neighborhood Challenge, five outstanding community groups that are working to make the New American Dream a reality in their communities.

From teaching inner-city kids to raise bees and build financial skills in Hartford, CT to launching a community tool library in the heart of Seattle, 2015’s Challenge winners are creating resources that can benefit everyone in their communities. “The Get2gether Neighborhood Challenge is a perfect example of how ordinary folks can make a big difference right where they live,” says Anna Awimbo, program director at the Center for a New American Dream.

In addition to awarding $2,000 to each Challenge winner ourselves, we’ve partnered with the community crowdfunding site ioby.org to help groups raise even more funds through ioby’s easy-to-use platform, training, and support.

This year’s Get2gether Neighborhood Challenge winners include:

• Capitol Hill Tool Library, Seattle, WA. The project will create a free neighborhood tool library with a workshop space, classes, and fixer’s collective to help build community and reduce consumerism.

• One-BEEing Hartford, Hartford, CT. The project will introduce the youth of Northeast Hartford to organic beekeeping and community gardening, and improve local food systems.

• Permaculture Park Project, Ithaca, NY. The project will expand the existing Permaculture Park at Ithaca’s Conley Park, building arbors from on-site resources, adding several raised beds to demonstrate growing vegetables from around the world, and adding signage to describe core ethics of permaculture that are in action at the park.

• Reach Out to Families, Grass Valley, CA. This “Peace.Love.Swap & PLAY!” community center will expand its space and encourage more families to connect through events and classes as well as swap gently used items for "new to them" goods that help them save money.

• TimeBank Repair Cafes, Charlottesville, VA. The Charlottesville TimeBank will host repair cafes where neighbors will be able to pool their skills and labor to fix things at no cost, as well as teach people how to repair items that they normally would throw away.