October 2008

Issue 2, Volume 6

The Binghamton Blowout Block Party was an event designed for members of the University to be exposed to the greater Binghamton community, to have some fun and to get to know each other better. On Court Street on September 19th, that’s exactly what happened. The two groups came together as one community and were given opportunities to help each other and enjoy a sun filled day along the beautiful Susquehanna River. No longer were the students thought of as only State Street partiers, or the people of Binghamton as “townies” - we were just members of the same community enjoying a great time.

The idea for the Block Party began to develop in early 2008, and planning by two organizers, BU’s The Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020 (CIC2020) and the City of Binghamton’s Department of Economic Development. Last spring, a group of BU students participated in the CIC Leadership Institute; along with their advisor, Dr. Diane Crews, and directors Josh Kay and Kathryn Fletcher, the group identified the need to address a sense of community as well as economic development in Downtown Binghamton. The Block Party resulted from their findings of these issues and the need for students to be involved in the developing of a “new” Downtown. If you recall from over the summer, plans are underway to build a dorm in this area downtown.

According to the organizers, the main idea of the event is to introduce BU students to the Binghamton community as citizens of the community, not just visitors that are around ten months out of the year. It was also important to hold the event early in the semester so that new students could get a feel for the community, be exposed to opportunities to volunteer, as well as learn about the Greater Binghamton area. This event was the first of many to come that will be an example of a university-community partnership.

The Block Party that took place Downtown integrated all of the organizers’ ideas and much more. From the minute I got off of the shuttle at the Downtown Center, I could feel the energy and hear the music that was coming from Court Street. The five-hour affair included performers, vendors, and tabling by community programs, as well as University programs and clubs. Joshua, the MC of the event and DJ at the radio station 105.7 was glad to see that, “Binghamton is being so welcoming to the students. I think this is a great way mix them with members of the community.” And mixed they were- it seemed like student tables were surrounded by community tables and vice versa. New connections were definitely being made between similar groups that didn’t know the other existed due to either its isolation on campus or community-only involvement.

Performances were going on non-stop throughout the day. They included both student and community artists. The a capella group, The Binghamton Treblemakers, kicked of this part of the show, followed by the band “The One Who Stayed,” artist Mark Scudder, jokesters the Pappy Parker Players, Koichi Tanaka, Brian Wolf, and “Soundhouse” were on the stage in front of the bridge on Court Street. Street performances included the BU Kickline Team, the International Flag Dancers, Irish step dancing from the Carle School of Irish Dance, X-Fact’r, the Salsa Music Appreciation Club, Alode and Circus Magikos. X’Fact’r is the step team from the Binghamton Boys and Girls Club. These kids practice hard to put on great performances like the one that proved to be a huge crowd pleaser.

In addition, there were over 65 vendors and tables at the Block Party. One table was being run by the Binghamton Students for Students International. BSSI is a club dedicated to sending students from developing countries to college by doing a variety of fundraising throughout the year. One way is through their annual BSSI Gala, which is a formal affair designed to collect money donations to create scholarships for these students. Last year, the BSSI was able to send 15 students to college with the money that they had raised. At their table they were selling hand crafted jewelry made by club members. Other organizations tabling at the event included local artist Alicia Wagner, Ideal Lanes Bowling, the American Red Cross, Binghamton Outdoor Pursuits, the Binghamton Boys and Girls Club, BU Crew Team and the College Democrats. At the Department of Bioengineering table, they were selling trees for planting. The group grows these trees in the greenhouses on campus for about a year before being able to sell them. This is just one example of a group that I had no idea existed, and they have a great program.

With the river as a backdrop, free yoga lessons were being offered in the sun and everyone seemed to be smiling and enjoying a beautiful day. The Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020 (CIC2020) is a student-run organization at BU that has been working to bring the University and the community closer together since 2004. This event was definitely a successful venture of theirs, and one that I, and I am sure many others hope continues in the future. For more information on getting involved in this program, visit www.cic2020.org, and we hope to see you at next year’s Block Party!