Front Porch Forum in Running for
National Contest

by Michael Wood-Lewis, Founder

Local success story Front Porch Forum is in the running to win a national contest of innovative community-building projects. It’s in a group of 20 finalists winnowed down from nearly 5,000 entrants. The top four vote-getters will each receive $35,000 from the Case Foundation through its Make It Your Own Awards.
Started in 2006, Front Porch Forum hosts 130 online neighborhood forums covering all of Chittenden County. More than 200 Charlotte households participate so far.
“I am currently in the process of moving to Charlotte from Burlington,” says Rachel Carter, “where I was involved in one of the most action Front Porch Forums. While not as active in Charlotte, I did send a post and received six individualized e-mails from community members offering answers to some questions and invitations to visit. It was most welcoming as a newcomer to the community.”
People use Front Porch Forum to share owl sightings, organize group yard sales, report car break-ins, borrow shovels, help ailing neighbors, sell cars, give away strollers, announce concerts, find babysitters, share town meeting insights and more. And all this is done with clearly identified nearby neighbors.
Charlotter Lell Forehand says of the Forum: “I first read an article about Front Porch Forum in a newspaper and thought what a wonderful idea. I think the name “Front Porch Forum” appealed to me as I grew in a small community where people actually had front porches where we often sat and talked with our neighbors. (My Mom often said that she never wanted a house without a front porch.) Now we live in a world where people seem busier with little time for just ‘sitting and chatting.’ So I see Front Porch Forum as an ingenious idea to use technology as a way to be neighborly and to know more about community needs. This seems especially important in areas like Charlotte where our nearest neighbor may be in sight but maybe not. I have used FPF to seek information about various topics and have found it amazing that someone always responds with either the answer to my question or tells me someone to call who may know the answer. I have “met” people in the community this way and hope that, if someone (or group) in the community has a special need, he or she would turn to FPF as a way to communicate that need. What a great way to build community spirit...kudos to those responsible for its initiation and those who keep it going.”
Visit FrontPorchForum.com to vote. Front Porch Forum needs this funding to add features for its current users and to expand to other communities in Vermont and beyond. It’s a long shot, but Vermont has a knack for pulling upsets (think Springfield and The Simpsons)! The polls close April 22, and the first ten voters to correctly pick the Final Four will be given a $2,500 grant to pass to the charity of their choice.