The NEPA Organizing Center and Media Mobilizing Project of NEPA

The mission of the NEPA Organizing Center is to encourage and support local residents to solve community problems, respond to community opportunities, and advocate for policies and practices that benefit diverse and economically-at-risk families, neighborhoods, and communities, throughout NEPA.

As an all-volunteer organization, we strive to reach our mission in three key ways:

1.  Community Meeting Center

In 2008, volunteers transformed a vacant storefront in downtown Wilkes-Barre into a flexible meeting space for community organizations whose activities are compatible with our mission.  The 1300 sq. ft facility can be adapted for meetings from five to fifty persons, and include access to video projection and audio amplification.  Fees range from “passing the hat” at small meetings to affordable hourly rates for larger, technology-assisted meetings.

2.  Community Leaders/Community Builders

Workshops and informal training programs offer ordinary residents important opportunities to assess their own leadership and community building skills, select the content and pace of their own learning and development, and support others in this process.  Individual and small group consultations and strategy sessions are offered to emerging leaders and community builders.

3.  Media Mobilizing Project

The NEPA Organizing Center has been instrumental in developing the Media Mobilizing Project (MMP).  With locations in NEPA and Philadelphia, the MMP uses electronic media (video, web, etc.) to train and equip community residents to use video and internet-based tools to document, analyze, and distribute stories of community change.  We also develop and implement digital solutions for individuals, organizations, and businesses.

This project allows for the distribution of documentaries, news reports, organizational updates, and educational materials in an effective way.  The right of free speech means little without the right to be heard.