FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Donna L. Pfrommer,
203-339-6312
dpfrommer@unitedwaycfc.org
East Side Promise Neighborhood Planning Group
Asset Map Press Release
Building a continuum of solutions, from cradles to careers, to support the academic achievement, healthy development,
and college and career success for all children in the Bridgeport East Side Neighborhood
Bridgeport, CT. July 2, 2014. Yesterday, the Mayor, East Side Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (NRZ) and
Bridgeport East Side Promise Neighborhood partners gathered with approximately 50 people from the
community including 25 children to launch the first Neighborhood Asset Map. The Bridgeport East Side
Promise Neighborhood (B-ESPN), a partnership of over 25 agencies invested in the east side of
Bridgeport, has developed a map of east side assets – resources in the community to aid in its
development. This map was created after visiting the Harlem Children’s Zone and hearing how
important it is for a developing community to map its resources as a part of the process.
This map is key to the B-ESPN mission: Building a continuum of solutions, from cradles to careers, to
support the academic achievement, healthy development, and college and career success for all
children in the Bridgeport East Side Neighborhood. It will allow residents of the east side to have, at a
glance, useful resources that are available - right in their immediate community.
The launch took place at the McGivney Community Center at 1 p.m. Opening remarks were given by
Merle Berke-Schlessel President & CEO of United Way of Coastal Fairfield County, one of the partners
and funders of the Promise Neighborhood. Other speakers included Lud Spinelli, East Side NRZ
President and CEO, Optimus Health Care, Angie Staltaro Neighborhood Coordinator - Office of
Neighborhood Revitalization who provided an overview of the map, Lydia Martinez , City Council
Member and resident of the east side who unveiled the map, and Mayor Bill Finch.
ESPN Asset Map Press Conference – July 1 2014
Mayor Finch spoke of how pleased and excited he was about the map and stated that this would
become the model for asset maps of other neighborhoods in the City of Bridgeport. He also spoke of
his conservation plan and how he liked that the parks in the East Side were all noted. He talked with
the children about whether they would like to see more parks in their neighborhood.
The map has two sides, one with a list of addresses and contact information, and the other side has the
actual map. Asset categories range from groceries to emergency shelters. It will be placed in
businesses throughout the east side in the coming weeks. Agencies such as Optimus Health Care and
the Health Department will have them in their waiting rooms and lobbies.
Promise Neighborhood work is the work of a collective comprised of non-profits, for-profit businesses, faithbased agencies, and places of education that have a firm stake in the development of the east side.
ESPN Asset Map Press Conference – July 1 2014
ESPN Asset Map Press Conference – July 1 2014