- JonSTeps
- 03/19/09
- Offline
So hands down, it seems that we're all in agreement that our community has gotten so large and so effective that we could benefit from the creation of a radical nonprofit that collectively supports our ideas.
To be clear LIFNB will not ever be a nonprofit, it will always be a community organization, but this nonprofit could be used to benefit our community and thers. To be honest, this is a huge discussion, there's a lot of bullsh*t that comes from being a nonprofit but there's also a lot of positives. And I'm hoping you, my friends, strangers, enemies, etc... weigh in on this conversation.
What's possible for LI and beyound? Well, for example, we could buy land and own it forever, it would always be part of the community, we wouldn't need to worry about taxes, etc.... On Long Island, this would make the prospect of a full scale radical community space possible. Imagine: we could have bike workshops, after-school programs, radical media centers, creative writing programs, etc....
So, thats an opportunity that arises from being a nonprofit but it's not the only one, think of this 501c3 as being a tool that can enhance our activities.
And all that said, my question to all of you is this -
Long Island Food Not Bombs is something that's extremely unique. We are, with out any doubt in my mind, one of the most efficient and dedicated organizations based in the idea of community direct action. Even though we are a fairly small group of people what we've accomplished is incredible (800+ people food shares, Seriously!). And, well all this makes me think abut where we want to see ourselves in 3-5 years?
Do we want to take this idea and make it viral? Teach others how they can do what we do? We've proven that 1 person can share all the groceries, clothing, books, etc... that 100 people need with just 1 hour of work a week (no joke). What happens when we take this idea and apply it to health care, housing, schooling, urban gardening, etc... ? Where do you want to see this idea go? Where do you want to see LI in 3-5 years? Whatcha'all think?
3 - 5 years
Space is so valuable. Space is so limiting.
I imagine in 3 - 5 years that a not-for-profit group affiliated with Food not Bombs owns a large building capable of storing the spoils of dumpster diving from every night of the week. Industrial sized coolers that can keep any food donations a little more fresh from what ever day or time we choose to pick them up. Massive closets that can hold mountains of clothing, shoes, jackets, sleeping bags, or blankets. A whole wall of books to be shared with the community.
I see leaders from every community working with one another to identify needs and direct resources to where will best help the community. I see big potluck dinners with community members who we are rewarding for stepping up the Food not Bombs effort in their own community.
I see concerts that are free and accessible to everyone. I see a coffee shop that is self sustaining.
I see vacant plots of land within disadvantaged communities being purchased and turned over to the communities of LI for garden space. I see grants for home improvement being funneled to block after block of he communities we share with. I see shelters being built for the homeless.
All of these things are very long battles that require money and dedication, or just the right connections. But if we are aimed in this direction I think we have a chance to make some of it in to a reality.
Holla back!
-Vincent
more FNB out east
there could certainly be some utility to a fnb share out east. for every 5 second home owner mcmansion there is probably one family that struggles in the lower income bracket.
the income statistics for the east end region are skewed due to all the off-the-charts incomes of the second home owners. there are some intense pockets of poverty in parts of riverhead, riverside, flanders probably areas of the mastics and shirley too. if you decide to come out east, look into maureen's haven- they provide a hot meal for those that need it(can't say if it's vegetarian and probably not vegan) and shelter for homeless people. they rotate their location from town to town on the north and south forks, usually using donated space at churches, community centers etc. but it might be a good way to gauge the demand for fnb if you advertised one of your food shares to be held in tandem with maureen's haven. just an idea. thanks for doing what you do.
We're hoping to expand
We're hoping to expand further out east in the coming years. Currently in Suffolk county we have chapters in Huntington, Farmingville & Coram.
There's been a lot of talk about setting up future chapters in Riverhead, Sag Harbor and Mastic.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, we'd love to hear about locations you think would be great for us to go to.
I would love to see more FNB
I would love to see more FNB shares further east. There is a notion conceived by some that eastern long island is better off than some other areas of LI but we could really use FNB out there.