BY MARVIN LEE
Correspondent
WEST LONG BRANCH — The collaborative organization known as the Long Branch Concordance (LBC) took part in a panel discussion last week at Monmouth University.
The group was invited by the school to participate in the annual Global Understanding Project, which involves Monmouth University faculty members, staff and students in forums to encourage and promote activities and awareness concerning global issues.
Monmouth students and faculty turned out in Anacon Hall to hear the members of the LBC share their viewpoints on the organization itself, as well as to explain what the LBC is about.
Among the LBC members who attended were Executive Director Terri Blair and Monmouth University graduate Dana Silverman.
The presentation at Monmouth basically covered the who, what, when, where and why factors of the LBC.
Located at 279 Broadway, the grassroots organization was established in March 2004.
Its purpose is to help address the needs of Long Branch residents, regardless of age, background or culture.
Since its inception, the LBC has addressed needs including health care, child care, financial issues, housing, food and employment.
Among the agencies that have, or will have, provided services at the LBC office are 180, Turning Lives Around; the Monmouth County Department of Social Services; Monmouth Family Health Care; and many others.
Silverman, an intern at the LBC, shared her feelings about the organization, saying that it “meets the needs of Long Branch and it has a vision through community voice.”
Blair simply summed up the LBC in just three words: “It’s about people.”
The concordance goal is to establish a healthy community by reaching out to people who need help, but are unsure what resources they can access, she said.
According to Blair and Silverman, the LBC is well on its way to accomplishing its goal. With its strong group of members, ranging from interns to agencies, the LBC is thriving on helping residents as it enters its second year of community service.
The LBC is sponsoring a “Cherish the Children” fair on Sunday, June 5, from 2-6 p.m. at Jerry Morgan Park on Liberty Street in Long Branch.
Residents are invited to join the festivities or even do some volunteering. To contact the concordance, call (732) 571-1672.