Register Today: Mayor's Neighborhoods '06 Conference

Madison - Neighborhood leaders are invited to participate in a lively day of discussion and learning at the Neighborhoods '06 conference on November 11 at Monona Terrace. Participants will have opportunities to talk with Mayor Dave Cieslewicz about how to improve neighborhoods, hone their organizing skills and learn from community building achievements in places such as the Allied Drive, Elvehjem, and Glendale neighborhoods. WHEN: Saturday, November 11 from 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. WHERE: Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center Mayor Cieslewicz will kickoff the full-day event by presenting his thoughts about the City's future to the crowd of neighborhood and community leaders. "Neighborhoods are central to Madison's health," said Cieslewicz. "We need to continue to empower and engage all residents in joining together to make their neighborhoods even better places to live." "The city's neighborhood conference has always been an extremely valuable information tool for me as a neighborhood leader," said John Schlaefer, Marquette Neighborhood resident. The conference offers 36 workshops. Neighborhood police officers will share community policing strategies, City staff will share tips on how to make the most of City resources, developers and neighborhood residents will showcase redevelopment efforts in near east side and south side neighborhoods, and the leader of an emerging nonprofit called the "Neighborhood Design Center" will teach lessons in urban design principles. At the luncheon, neighborhood participants will hear from the Keynote speaker, Joel Bookman of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation - Chicago, as he tells colorful stories of building connections including using "basketball on the block" to spark stronger relations among neighbors and provide a fun and healthy activity for youth. Mr. Bookman has nearly 30 years community building experience in Chicago including some of the City's most economically and racially diverse neighborhoods. This year's Neighborhood Conference offers translation and interpretation services and there are a limited number of scholarships available. Register online: http://www.cityofmadison.com/neighborhoods/ neighborhoodconf2006/ Email: Neighborhoods@cityofmadison.com and provide name, neighborhood affiliation, mailing address, telephone number and email address. Call:(608) 267-8727, Ext. 211 or (608) 267-1131, Ext. 219.