Civic groups are hoping to get all of the diverse, spread out neighborhoods in Dorchester together for a night of socializing, entertainment, and community building.

MyDorchester Night, going on Thursday at the Codman Square Tech Center on Washington Street from 6 to 9 p.m., is a free event designed to build social networking and create a sense of togetherness across the urban residential neighborhood.

"One of our main goals is to bring people together from all of Dorchester's neighborhoods," said Jennifer Gerber, 23, of Weston, an Americorps volunteer involved in the event. "Having worked in the community, I've heard a lot about how people sometimes don't like to go into neighborhoods they're not from. We want to get all of the nine neighborhoods together in one place and get to know each other, breaking down the stereotypes."

The event is being put on by SCI Dorchester, a partnership between Social Capital Inc., a statewide community building organization, and DotWell, a nonprofit group providing clinical services in the neighborhood.

Part of the evening will feature four networking rooms, each with a different theme - expand, connect, share, and enjoy - and with its own focus, such as signing up volunteers for area nonprofits, or pointing out services offered in the city like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Ella J. Baker House for at-risk youths. There will be a coffeehouse in the "enjoy" room, featuring poetry, dance, spoken word, and jazz music.

It's all about building "social capital," organizers say.

"Social capital is the idea that the more people in a community each person knows, and the more connected they are to local resources, the better off the community is," Gerber said. "Economic capital is not the only capital that really matters to make a community sustainable, vital, and a safe place for everyone."

Original Article
JOHN GUILFOIL