Nathanael Greene Historical Foundation

Nathanael Greene Historical Foundation (Nat Greene), based in Greensboro, Pennsylvania, is a non-profit organization that works with regional groups to cultivate the regional preservation of History and Culture. The focus of Nat Greene is identifying and resolving pressing community issues, as well as making measurable changes with the communities through partnerships with schools, government agencies, voluntary and neighborhood associations, businesses, financial institutions, community development corporations, faith organizations as well as others.

History

The 1970s provided the initial direction in the promoting the appreciation of its culture through a number of Art and Community centric activities.

The event of the "Election Day Flood" of 1985 devastated the area and perhaps was the real underlying catalyst of latter formation the Nathanael Greene Historical Foundation. With a number of structures being considered for demolition due to this event, virtually overnight a thriving settlement community would be wiped out. This created a level of community unification that through the efforts of Lydia Aston and other members of the community a number of structures were saved from demolition which are now part of the National Register and Greensboro's Historic District in 1995.

In 1994, the Nathanael Greene Historical Foundation (Nat Greene) was registered with the State of Pennsylvania as a Non-Profit Corporation chartered with the support and preservation of cultural activities and history in the area.

Nat Greene stepped into a second-stage of it organizational growth in late 2001 with a fresh administration and an interest in community based activities and awareness. In 2003, Nat Greene became recognized as a formal 501(c)3 to help enlarge their scope of historical and cultural based activities.

Common focus areas

Nat Greene long term vision seeks to identify and build on community strengths and assets, support individuals and groups to contribute their time and talents with specific community minded goals. Many of these goals encompass Arts, Humanities, Education, and Community ^[1]. Perhaps most importantly, Nat Greene is actively demonstrating to its neighbor communities what an engaged population is capable of.

Common applications for communities to engage with are:

• Strengthening and supporting families
• Senior Mobility
• Eco Friendliness and Awareness
• Heritage Preservation and Archiving
• Growth of Green Energy
• Community Supported Agriculture
• Environmental Stewardship
• Support of Traditional Arts & Craft

Ongoing efforts

After its formation as a 501(c)3, the Nat Greene began to reshape itself and adopted a considerably more proactive stance in its role with cultural and historic preservation and began to develop a series of events designed to enlighten regional communities about the cultural assets they each possess.

As such a number of activities have been developed to expand their vision in historical and cultural preservation ^[2] with the Arts as a catalyst.

• In 2005, Nat Greene refined its scope to develop an annual conference and arts festival called the “Creative Communities Conference” and the “Art Blast on the Mon” which began the Summer of 2006.

• In 2008, the Creative Communities Conference expanded to a series of Seminars known as “Second Saturdays” designed to discuss emerging activities and developments in sustainable communities, arts education, networks, co-op marketing and a number of growing areas valuable to rural communities seeking to attract artists, services, and individuals to their community.

• In 2009, Nat Greene announced the expansion of its Annual Festival to encompass three areas of demonstrations and performance art. Additionally, the Creative Community Conference will be expanding to Waynesburg University in order to accommodate a larger audience.

Expanded vision on economic growth in a rural environment

Nat Greene supports the idea that many rural communities have the ability to become self-sustaining in the New Economy presented by the Internet. Through this medium many individual, organizations, and businesses can exchange ideas, services and even product without forsaking the quality of life rural America offers.

Recently, in respect to the ongoing efforts of the Foundation and a sense of renewed level of civic engagement ^[3] - the Borough of Greensboro had applied for Elm Street Designation through the State's Main Street Program. Through this program the community can address opportunities to improve its own infrastructure.

References

1. ^ http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08237/906109-58.stm
2. ^ http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/12_27_greene_grants
3. ^ http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WORB&p_theme=worb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=123C77A1719BCC70&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM

External links

• Nathanael Greene Historical Foundation