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‘Neighbor 2 Neighbor’ Sponsors 2nd Book Giveaway
Visitors to Stuyvesant Park found stacks of books piled on picnic tables, displayed around the base of the flag pole, and arranged around the trunk of a tree. There were novels and biographies, hardcovers and paperbacks, works of history and social science, children’s books, books on financial management, parenting, and increasing your vocabulary.

“What’s going on?” someone asked, picking up a book. “Are you having a book sale?”

“Actually, we’re giving them away,” answered Andy Padre, one of the organizers of the event. “They’re free.”

“Free?” The inquirer looked puzzled.

Variations on this exchange were repeated throughout the afternoon on Sunday, October 16th, as CityLights’ ‘Neighbor 2 Neighbor’ project sponsored its second book giveaway in two months. Dozens of park visitors walked away with free books, either drawn by the flyers advertising the event throughout the neighborhood or simply attracted by the book displays while walking through the park.

“It’s disarming to be given something for free,” said Russell Chin, another of the event’s organizers. “People are looking for the strings attached; they are surprised when there isn’t any hard sell to go along with the free books.”

Most of the books were donated by the Symposia Bookstore of Hoboken, New Jersey, though CityLights participants and their friends also contributed some books. Several visitors to the event came with shopping bags full of books to donate; one woman brought back several books she had taken from the first giveaway, in August, and finished reading.

A woman asked what CityLights is, and upon learning that it is a church, she asked, “What is this? A way to make conversions?”

“No,” said Bob Darken, CityLights’ community director, “we’re just looking for ways to bless this neighborhood. We thought free books might be a nice way to do that.”

The ‘Neighbor 2 Neighbor’ project sponsored four events in Stuyvesant Park during the summer and fall, including a community art day, two book giveaways, and a performing arts program on September 11th that focused on the theme of hope. Thirty-five people added their names to a list to say they would be interested in knowing about other community events sponsored by CityLights.

Fall Retreat Highlights Life-Sustaining Practices
The summer 'Neighbor 2 Neighbor' project culminated in the fall retreat, a long weekend from September 29 – October 2 that served as an opportunity to rest, reconnect with friends, and be reminded of some essential spiritual practices. Titled “Life Practices: Living Deeply in a Shallow World,” the retreat was led by Pastor Jessica Robbins of Crosswalk Church in Redlands, California.

The retreat began with the practice of solitude and silence, which focused on stillness and deep listening. In the practice of creativity, participants became attentive to the grace notes sprinkled richly throughout the created world, collecting natural elements and assembling them into a collage. The practice of community was highlighted in a beach bonfire with singing, drums, and guitar, and also in a talent show and game night. For the practice of service, participants discussed their experiences with volunteerism and talked about the balance between generosity and looking after one’s own needs. In the practice of humility, participants were confronted by a series of inflammatory quotes, then discussed ways to care for and listen to people who seem unwilling to care for and listen to you.

At the end of the retreat, participants shared their most memorable moments from the weekend, which included morning yoga led by Jessica, a game called “Squeak, Piggy, Squeak” that provoked much amusement, a lullaby sung by Lynette during the talent show, and a spectacular sunset over Long Island Sound.

Thanks to all who attended and all who helped to organize this retreat. Stay tuned for more CityLights getaways coming in the future!

‘Neighbor 2 Neighbor’ Inspires Hope in Stuyvesant Park
On Sunday, September 11, CityLights’ ‘Neighbor 2 Neighbor’ community engagement project continued with an event entitled “Hope Is…” Organizer Russell Chin designed an event that would uplift and inspire rather than focus on somber memories of the terror attacks of 2001.

“I'll always remember the goodness and generosity of people after 9/11 and the feeling that, together, we could survive. This event, on this fourth anniversary, helped me reconnect with those ideals and emotions,” Russell said.

Musicians, dancers, and poets participated in the two-and-a-half hours of programming. Spectators participated by writing down their ideas about hope on sheets of paper marked with the prompt “hope is…” They also placed stones in a “cairn,” or monument, symbolizing the strength and durability of individual and collective hope.

Performers included: Richard Haymes singing and playing tabla (small drums) and harmonium (a reed organ); Richard’s friend, David, playing sitar; Colleen Sovory and Sarah Lewis, singing and accompanied by Sarah on guitar; June Elizabeth Sewer, singing her original composition, “Freedom”; Mary Yeager, solo dance; The Nathan Whitaker Dance Troupe, doing a piece entitled “Origins”; Rafal Jezierski, cellist, playing selections from Bach's unaccompanied cello suites; and CityLights’ friends Aurora, Eben, Scott, Colleen, and Laura sharing prose and poetry readings.

A number of people assisted in organizing the event, including Iowaka Barber, Carmen Dumitrescu, Andy Padre, and Kyuho Lee. Refreshments were provided, and there was a donation box available for people to give money toward relief efforts in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Previous ‘Neighbor 2 Neighbor’ events included a community art day responding to the London terror attacks and a free book giveaway.

To see photos of the "Hope Is..." event, click here.>>

Neighbor 2 Neighbor Event Provides Summer Reading Material
On Sunday, August 14th, CityLights sponsored the Neighbor 2 Neighbor Book Giveaway in Stuyvesant Square Park. CityLights participants and friends donated books to the event, and the bulk of donated books were supplied by the Symposia Bookstore of Hoboken, New Jersey.

Books were displayed around the base of the flagpole in the park, as well as on a picnic table and around the base of a tree. Each book came with a bookmark bearing the CityLights logo and website.

“This is a wonderful event,” said Pauline, a long-time resident of the Stuyvesant Square area. “Please come back and do it again in the fall!”

CityLights volunteers gave away dozens of free books, as well as providing free drinks and cupcakes. Visitors to the event had their Polaroid photo taken, and were invited to fill out a short questionnaire featuring questions such as “How much would you pay for a haircut?” and “Where is the best pizza in this neighborhood?” The photos and questionnaires were posted near the book displays to give park visitors an opportunity to get to know their neighbors.

“I’m so pleased to see this event happening here,” said Daniel, a local resident and a senior at New York University. “I walk through this park all the time and this is the first time I’ve seen a community event going on here.”

To see photos of the book giveaway, click here.>>

Community Art Day Produces Flags for London
On Sunday, July 24th, CityLights kicked off its summer community engagement project by hosting a community art day in Stuyvesant Square Park. CityLights volunteers, local residents, and passers-by created flags symbolizing peace and cooperation and hung them from a fence in the park.

“The idea behind this project developed over time,” explained Robert Darken, CityLights community director. “We started out just wanting to do something to bring people together. Someone suggested we make flags that symbolize our values. Then someone else thought we could use the project as a way to respond to the terror attacks in London.”

Participants including children, adults, and the elderly used paints, markers, magazine cut-outs, and appliqué to design flags. The artists sat at picnic tables and enjoyed iced tea and cupcakes, prepared by CityLights volunteers, as they worked.

Tony, a Brazilian visiting New York for a conference, paid tribute to the city—and the value of different perspectives—by painting a blue sky onto his flag and alluding to skyscrapers through the use of negative space.

“I’m going to tell people at home that I met some cool people in New York!” he said.

Raymond, who is looking to move into the area around Stuyvesant Square, created a flag with five different-colored, interlocking shapes.

“It’s a riff on the Olympic rings,” he said, “the idea of different people living and working together in harmony.”

The art day produced 20 flags, which hung in Stuyvesant Square for one week. CityLights is looking into the possibility of sending the flags to London as a way to express solidarity with fellow urbanites who, like New Yorkers, suffered the trauma of recent terrorist attacks.

To see photos of art day, click here.>>

"I feel truly free to explore and view spirituality in a way that is engaging and meaningful. What makes the experience particularly meaningful to me is that the people who make up CityLights show genuine respect and love for one another, even though they frequently express different viewpoints."

--Carmen

DOING THE WORD

"If you would convince a man that he does wrong, do right. Men will believe what they see."

--Henry David Thoreau