NTIC was part of a national meeting of community organizing networks convened by the Washington, DC-based Center for Community Change (CCC) held from April 19 through the 21.  NTIC was invited to attend the founding meeting of CCC’s Strategic Partners Committee by Director Deepak Bhargava.

Joseph W. Mariano, shown here with NTIC Board President Marilyn Evans

Joseph W. Mariano, NTIC Executive Director, explained that the invitation was extended “because of our 35 year history utilizing a unique grassroots, leadership-driven, neighborhood-based organizing model.”

Mariano also pointed out that one of the reasons that he attended this meeting was because of his long-term relationship with Don Elmer, who currently is the key CCC organizer for this event, was also on the staff of NTIC back in the 1970s where he was a close colleague of NTIC co-founder Shel Trapp. “I am always able to learn something from Don, whom I respect for his long labor in the vineyard of community organizing and for his ability to listen and tell a good story,” Mariano added.

Also invited and present at the meeting were Hugh Espey, Director of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Laura Dungan, Director of the Kansas-based Sunflower Community Action – both of which are NTIC affiliate organizations.