Kris Young’s dog, a 70-pound Labrador-shepherd mix, needed exercise, but its walker was out of town for the week. Young, who lives at 155th Street and Edgecomb, didn’t know what to do. She could have grabbed the Yellow Pages and made some phone calls, or she could have Googled “dog walkers,” but she turned instead to an online group of concerned Harlem residents.
“I’m in a jam,” Young wrote. “Does anyone know someone reliable and trustworthy?” Within hours, three people responded with phone numbers for dog walkers, along with detailed recommendations and prices.
Young’s plight and its resolution demonstrate how uptowners are using social media in their daily lives. The group Young asked is called Harlem Hill Concerns, a free Google Group with 218 members, many of whom don’t know one another offline. Its mission statement calls it an “inclusive and diverse neighborhood advocacy association committed to enhancing the quality of life in our community of Hamilton Heights,” founded by A Coalition To Improve Our Neighborhood, or ACTION.
In the early days of the Internet, techies established bulletin boards for their peers, allowing access to news and discussion for those who dialed in via modem. Later, newsgroups such as Usenet allowed users to share information among many people at once, and mass mailing lists soon emerged as email became mainstream. Forums also became a common tool for online communities. More recently, Google Groups, a DIY mailing list and discussion forum combination, emerged as a social tool for communities that requires little tech experience to set up.
“ACTION and the Google Group were started about one and a half years ago because we felt there was a need to connect neighbors,” said coordinator Maarten Vandersman via email. “Especially those who live here but do not have the time to attend meetings.”
Nearly 800 messages have been sent through the group, addressing a range of topics: community board meetings, service projects, crime alerts, and yes, dog walking. Group members post messages that are then emailed to everyone. Individuals respond directly to the original poster. It’s like an electronic, neighborhood club. Other, smaller Google Groups exist uptown — one for parents with children for example — but ACTION’s is a constant bustle of activity.
Heidi Stubner, for example, recently wanted to find a physical therapist who specializes in back problems. Twenty-three minutes after Stubner sent her query, Vandersman shot back an email: “I think my physical therapist is great: Michael Zazzali. He is with Physical Therapy Associates of New York.” Vandersman then provided contact information.
Two days earlier, Anna Pettersson sent an inquiry asking where to get a couch reupholstered. Six instant responses later, a slightly overwhelmed Pettersson closed the discussion by thanking everyone for their suggestions. That didn’t stop another member from posting two detailed recommendations for upholstery shops a couple of days later.
While personal recommendations are a fringe benefit, the group’s core purpose is to focus on neighborhood issues. Coordinators and volunteers attend meetings of community boards and homeowners associations, pass along information and organize advocacy efforts. Vandersman says they hope to support small businesses, reduce dependence on the rest of Manhattan for services and attract more families with children to the neighborhood. “Many in this community can ill afford the drop in employment and income that come with a recession, and the bad days of the crack epidemic and gang violence are still a vivid memory,” said Vandersman. “I am optimistic that we will be able to hold on to the gains that were made in the last 10 to 15 years.”
Of course, social media isn’t all work and no play, and neither is Harlem Hill Concerns. Helen Rogers just posted a forward, “Come join me at book signing on Makin’ Music NY,” it reads. “Something for all music lovers!”
