This month, Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI) hosted its third virtual panel event. It featured several Avondale community partners and focused on how residents, business owners, organizations, and institutions can take advantage of many opportunities for community involvement. Sandra Jones Mitchell, President of the Avondale Community Council, Patrick Cartier, Community Engagement & Communications Manager at the Avondale Development Corporation, and Bill Witten, Principal at WEB Ventures LLC, shared information about each of their respective organizations and addressed questions from community members. The online event was free and open to anyone in the five Uptown neighborhoods.
This panel is part of UCI’s larger ongoing effort to provide support to Uptown community members and businesses throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“In light of what is happening in our community, we felt it was important to provide our community partners with a forum to share information, open communication channels and offer support,” said Beth Robinson, President and CEO of UCI. “Our goal is to connect the small businesses, residents and community organizations to resources and foster dialogue that can continue after each virtual session.”
Nearly 30 people attended to listen to Mitchell, Cartier and Witten address questions that were submitted in advance. The group started by providing a brief overview of his or her organization and how community members can take advantage of many opportunities to get involved—even virtually right now. Panelists addressed questions from attendees ranging from how to participate in efforts to make Avondale a better place to live, work, play and worship; opportunities for residents interested in jobs on Uptown development projects; examples of community events and engagement (in light of COVID-19 restrictions) and how to communicate with and obtain information from the panelists’ respective organizations.
The 45-minute discussion ended with a question about how individuals can best support the Avondale community at this time in a more united way, which Cartier answered first. “A fully engaged Avondale is a safe and prosperous Avondale. Neighbors that know each other form safer areas. If we’re communicating and connecting, we’re aware of what’s going on, we’re engaged in activities that are making the community better,” he said. The other panelists agreed wholeheartedly and shared additional ideas.
The recorded panel discussion can be viewed on the UCI YouTube channel. The second virtual webinar can also be found archived on the channel (the do’s and don’ts for businesses, organizations and individuals interacting with others on social media and through other virtual platforms).
UCI is committed to hosting regular virtual panels to provide support and guidance on various issues for Uptown business and community organizations.
For more information about UCI’s ongoing efforts to support community members and businesses in Uptown, contact Brooke Duncan, Director of Community Development, at bduncan@uptownconsortium.org.