Nov 16, 2005

Forum set for neighborhood ideas

Common Pathways seeks input

WORCESTER— It is no longer whether change comes from the top down or from the bottom up.

Change must come from all levels of the local citizenry, according to those working with an organization called Common Pathways.

Common Pathways will hold the first of its planned community forums from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at the YWCA of Central Massachusetts in Salem Square.

The idea is to hear from people across the neighborhoods on how they can move Worcester forward and make the city a better place in which to live.

Jan Yost of the Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts said at a press conference with other local leaders at 44 Front St. yesterday that the city has many groups working on making the city a better place to live, but ways need to be found to bring all these people together to work on goals that people believe are important. Carlton Watson of the Henry Lee Willis Community Center said this is a chance to reach out to all levels of the community and bring in people who might not have helped out in the past.

City Councilor Dennis Irish and James Cruickshank of the Oak Hill Community Development Corp. said leadership exists throughout the city, and it is time to “build bridges” and bring these groups together. Mr. Irish added, however, that one of the important ingredients for change is “residential engagement.” The people who live in Worcester need to get involved in the process of change, he said.

Frances R. Manocchio, director of the city’s Office of Human Rights, said the organization does not yet have a “recipe” for what will change and how it will change, but it is involved in a process of making it work. During the summer, interviews were held with people in the community to get some ideas on going about this, she said. “This is not the usual suspects sitting in a boardroom,” she said. She spoke of “shared leadership” from various parts of the community.

Common Pathways is part of a growing trend of community groups throughout the country, including similar groups in Boston, Providence, Baltimore and Denver. The Worcester organization has identified what is calls eight themes on how to build a better community. These are community involvement, culture, economics, education, environment, health, recreation and safety. Common Pathways expects more themes to be expressed at the community forum.

To make the organization’s goals better known, Mr. Cruickshank and Mr. Irish, both members of the Leadership Council, will appear at 10 p.m. Sunday on WICN radio’s “The Business Beat” with host Steve D’Agostino, who is a volunteer member of the Common Pathways support team. The interview will be webcast at WICN.org.

WCCA, Channel 13, will broadcast a 30-minute “Soapbox” interview by Mauro DePasquale with Clara Savage, staff coordinator of Common Pathways, and Cathy O’Connor, a volunteer member of the support team. Dates and times are: 1 p.m. today, 10:30 p.m. Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Monday.

Members of the Leadership Council are Billy Ayala of Centro Las Americas; John Bassett of Clark University; Bruce S. Bennett of the Telegram & Gazette; Deborah D. Cary of the Massachusetts Audubon Society; Mr. Cruickshank; Fred Eppinger of Allmerica Financial/Hanover Insurance; Lois Green of United Way of Central Massachusetts; Paul Hernandez of Great Brook Valley Health Center; Mr. Irish, who is with St. Vincent Hospital; Richard Kennedy of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce; Ann Lisi of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation; John O’Brien of UMass Memorial Health Care; Michael V. O’Brien, Worcester city manager; Sarai Rivera of Iglesia Cristiana de la Communidad; Ms. Yost; and Mr. Watson.

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Copyright 2005 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.