4 conference organizers with signage outside Clark Hall

Donna Stewart, Grace Red, Ginny Yandow and Ken Kelly, volunteer board members United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County (photo courtesy of Donna Stewart).

By Pat Lopes Harris, Media Relations Director

More than 200 community members including SJSU students, faculty and staff attended the third annual Neighborhood Development Training Conference Oct. 8 at Clark Hall. Offered at no cost, the event aims to strengthen the voices and skills of neighborhood residents with workshops taught by practitioner-instructors who have experience in improving local communities. Sessions included “Using the Internet as a Community Organizing Tool,” “Community Policing for Neighborhood Safety,” and “Stabilizing Neighborhoods in Difficult Economic Times.” SJSU, community and elected leaders served as speakers. Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone also gave a brief address. A lunch-period resource fair featured some 20 community organizations, including Spartan Athletics, which graciously donated football tickets to attendees. Sponsors included the SJSU Center for Community Learning and Leadership, Neighborhood Housing Services Silicon Valley, and United Neighborhoods of Santa Clara County.