The Oakland NhN group meets at the Oakland Public Library on Thursdays, from 10:30am to 12:00pm, Please call the Oakland Public Library at 201-337-3742 for more information.
NhN – One and a half years old and counting…
Today marks the one year and a half anniversary, 18 months and counting… since Neighbors-helping-Neighbors was started in the River Edge Library location offering weekly job search support and networking meetings available to all the people in the community and surrounding towns. Since January 27, 2011, the residents of River Edge and surrounding towns have conducted these weekly meetings on a volunteer peer led basis to assist fellow job seekers with networking and support during the extremely difficult task of finding employment in a slow-growth economy. The group create a great level of support for it’s members who are attending weekly and expects a pay-it-forward model where the members all help each other unselfishly. NhN facilitators and members alike strive to keep group meetings non-judgmental, positive and insightful, and this has been a core reason for NhN’s success. The group has received a commendation by the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, has been appointed an Ambassidor of Jobs4Jersey by the NJ Department of Labor, and the success of this format is creating demand for meetings in communities across 7 counties in New Jersey and counting…
I am very proud to have founded this group and be able to now say we are continuing to grow from the original group of 5 members who meet weekly just 18 months ago. There are now over 750 members and counting… actively looking for jobs, and the group has produced 148 success stories and counting… in just this short time. The group is in the process of being formed as a legal non-profit 501 3 c by Rutgers Law School which should be completed by the fall.
The group currently has 20 library based locations with 4 new locations coming by September. Our partnership with the local libraries has proven to be the ideal location to deliver our groups activities.
The group’s growth would not have been possible if it was not for the 50+ members who have volunteered to facilitate, co-facilitate, and take on other leadership roles with the organization. There are many outreach programs in process, Business, College, Community, and networking with Social agencies, local, county and state officials.
The group is also now partnering with a handful of career professionals and contacts across the country to identify volunteers who can assist with bringing this very successful group into other states across this great country. We are certain that by following the formula and meeting format we have created and keeping the founding principles intact this group has no limit to is growth potential and the help it can bring to people of any community interested.
For more information please visit the NhN web site at: www.nhnusa.org