Philosophy

There was a time when neighbors knew each other, and supported those in need. There was a time when neighborhoods spoke out against negative things happening around them. There was a time when we could talk, play games that weren't plugged in, learn from each other or just sit and enjoy a cup of coffee on the front porch. There was a time when the elders watched the young ones grow up, and guided them to the right path. When stories of families and events and history were told over and over until they just became a part of you. There was a time that we danced and sang and enjoyed life.

Rather than reminisce on the old days, the ECACollective believes we can revive them. Deep down people's hearts have not changed; its just that fear and stress have overshadowed our potential. With conscious focus we can restore the basic human elements that have been lost along the way.

It is not intended that we deal with life alone. It is through community that we will find a new strength and peace.

TOP

Goals

The mission of the ECACollective is to foster a spirit of community within the neighborhood through social activities, traditional arts classes, support groups and educational seminars.

In accomplishing this mission, the activities of the center will be focused around specific goals:

Facilitate social interaction and networking, particularly intergenerational gatherings within the community

• The center will be the community's gathering space where people can get together to celebrate an achievement, honor someone's accomplishment or just enjoy each other's company. Our programs will focus on reconnecting the youth with the wisdom of the elders and keeping the old stories from gradually fading away.
  

Offer traditional forms of arts, crafts, dance and music that will facilitate the human connection, educating people about the history and philosophy of the cultures from which they emerged

• Movement and creative activities provide a vital link to longevity, our past and each other. We want to rekindle the connection to the past through movement, songs, instrument making, painting, drama, poetry and other forms of creative expression. These traditional arts, passed down from generation to generation, are gifts to us that will awaken when we embrace them. They must be revived and relived in an environment that appreciates their contribution.
  

Provide an opportunity for all individuals to participate, regardless of race, religion, economic situation, age, or disability

• The center will include early morning classes for working people, afternoon activities for retirees, after-school activities for children and young adults, and evening and weekend activities for everyone. Recognizing that not everyone will be able to pay for activities, there will be opportunities for volunteerism and community service. "Service dollars" will be used towards center activities and can be earned by volunteering at the center. An organized network of volunteers can put a few hours of spare time to good use.
  

Move community members through pain, anger, grief and conflict into empowered community contributors

• Illness is often caused by stress, anger, tension, depression and isolation. Addressing these issues can be far cheaper and more rewarding than a visit to the emergency room. We will provide a variety of support groups and services that will help community members move from inner pain to inner peace.
  

Facilitate resource sharing within the community

• Food from a garden, unwanted clothes and furniture, or rides to the grocery store are just a few of the things that could be of great value to another member; other intangibles can be shared as well, such as the talents, stories and valuable life experiences. The newsletter, website, bulletin boards and center events will be some of the tools used to help the community be self-supportive.
  

Foster civic responsibility

• The media are not a replacement for neighborhood interaction. Today, many of us know more about events in Iraq than about decisions being made that affect our own neighborhood. At Emergence, civic responsibility begins at home. There will be incentives for members to participate in ANC meetings, neighborhood civic association meetings, zoning hearings and other forums at which decisions affecting the community are being made. The presence of an entire neighborhood can hold "great weight" in changing the course of events.
  

Raise the environmental consciousness of the community

• We want people to see how small efforts can have big results. Beginning with our own little garden we will show how the earth gives us what we need if we learn to work with it. From water conservation to using solar energy to recycling, we will help people make better choices about their surroundings.
  

Become a model for other community organizations

• Programs and systems that work should be shared in a way that will allow others to build on our strengths. Just as we are following paths set down by others, those coming behind us can grow from our successes and learn from our mistakes.

The center will be open to all who desire to participate. Money need not be an issue for anyone willing to put time and energy into the center and the surrounding community. We believe that with consciousness and intent, we can renew the culture of community in its members and the surrounding neighborhood.

TOP

Board Members and Staff

Board Members of the ECACollective:

Stephen J. Shaff is the founder of Community Visions, a community development organization. He has fourteen years of experience in real estate financing, investment, development, brokerage,management, construction and investment analysis, and an extensive history of entrepreneurial leadership. This history ranges from being a 14-year-old manager of a high volume retail business in inner-city Philadelphia, to becoming a responsible Real Estate Investment and Development Company (Q Realty Corporation) at the age of twenty-seven. Mr. Shaff has developed an extensive network of business and community relationships. He was a founding member of the Gateway Municipalities Community Development Corp. and currently serves on the boards of World Arts Focus, Seize the Day Mixed Abilities Dance, and the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Club of Washington DC. He has been an advisor for several other non-profit and community organizations.

The principal officers of the ECACollective are Pamela Moore, Sylvia Robinson and Charisse Williams.

Ms. Pamela Moore, President, has many years of experience as a health educator and supervisor in the areas of HIV/AIDS and substance abuse counseling. She has managed HIV prevention programs at the Women’s Collective and also at the Washington Free Clinic. She has spearheaded health education and outreach efforts for women and youth in all wards of the district. She has also served as a liaison between health programs and government organizations, raising their awareness of the services provided. In addition, Ms. Moore is a writer and poet who has shared her work at many community venues. Ms. Moore sees a clear connection between her work as a health educator and her work as a literary artist. She believes both can be used to inspire positive change in the hearts and minds of community residents. At ECAC, Ms. Moore will use her expertise to provide extensive outreach to the local community, and coordinate educational programs.

Ms. Sylvia Robinson, treasurer, has spent the last ten years involved in programs being proposed at ECAC, and has been a key person in developing two organizations. One is the International Capoeira Angola Foundation, a non-profit organization promoting the African-Brazilian art form of Capoeira Angola that has grown from a few practitioners in this area to an national organization with 7 affiliate groups nationwide and over 70 members in the Washington Metropolitan area. The second is the Wu Shen Tao Health and Martial Arts Center, a Tai Chi/Kung Fu school that has also grown rapidly, recently leasing a larger space in Takoma Park. She also has experience in substance abuse counseling and has facilitated recovery support groups. Ms. Robinson will serve as a resident full time General Manager of the center.

Ms. Charisse Williams, Secretary, has a law degree, is a member of the Maryland Bar and has experience working with human rights organizations, youth in detention and on criminal justice reform issues. Her expertise is in the areas of Criminal Justice and Disadvantaged Youth and she travels around the country learning about the work of various organizations. In the process she provides advice and technical assistance to groups on issues ranging from board development, fundraising, program design, implementation and evaluation. In addition, Ms. Williams is a dancer who studies and performs Afro-Cuban dance with Ashe Moyubba Folkloric Ensemble.

TOP

Advisors of the ECACollective:

Paul Ramos, director of the Wu Shen Tao Health and Martial Arts Center in Takoma Park, has over 30 years of martial arts training and has trained thousands of students in the martial arts. Under his direction, Wu Shen Tao has produced 21 US National Championship gold medalists and the school has developed a strong national reputation for producing high caliber students. He has been requested as a judge at national and international level tournaments throughout the US. He himself is a black belt in Sun Do Karate, and is a former three time national champion in Tai Chi Push Hands. He is an army trained intensive care nurse who has studied herbology, Taoist meditation and health practices, Eastern and Western massage, and Acupressure.

Cinezio Pecanha (aka Mestre Cobra Mansa) is a master in the African-Brazilian artform of Capoeira Angola. Originating from Africa, this art form integrates music, songs and movement in a circle of danced fighting. Mestre Cobra has gained worldwide notoriety for his efforts to preserve this tradition, teaching not only the movements, but the cultural aspects and philosophy as well. His 25 years of experience and research is embodied in the International Capoeira Angola Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. In only seven years, the organization has grown to include seven affiliate groups in the US, three in Brazil and one in Paris.

Alan C. Page is an attorney and an artist who believes in the power that each individual possesses to positively impact the global community. As an attorney, Mr. Page is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia. Mr. Page primarily practices entertainment law. Since 1995, Mr. Page has worked as a freelance journalist and worked for a number of nationally (and internationally) distributed publications, including Rap Sheet, Urb, 4080, Elemental, Beatdown, Artistic Pedigree, and the Hilltop. For one year, Mr. Page served as Managing Editor for the Howard Law Journal, the premiere publication at the Howard University School of Law (Mr. Page’s alma mater). Mr. Page also has been very active in the local arts community in his home city of Washington DC, promoting two weekly music showcase events (the first of which, The Lifeline, lasted most of 1997 and the second of which, Elements, lasted most of 1998). In addition to being an organizer in the local arts scene, Mr. Page has also provided legal advice and guidance to many of the local musicians and filmmakers with whom he has interacted during his time in the city. Beyond his business activities, Mr. Page has also participated in extensive community activism aimed at improving life in the District and addressing pertinent social issues.