Get Involved with 'The Flock,' a volunteer platform coming to Downtown Phoenix
by Taylor Costello
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Since 1991, Downtown Phoenix Partnership (and beginning in 2013, Downtown Phoenix Inc.) has curated partnerships and programming to craft memorable experiences in Downtown, from events, business news, dining, arts and culture and more.
Our website, dtphx.org, is an extension of that effort, cataloging the latest news, information and visitor resources relating to our evolving live/work/play/learn neighborhood.
The dtphx.org website launched in 2015, when Downtown looked completely different than it does now. Seven years is a long time and necessitated updates. Such was the case of the ‘Get Involved‘ page, under the ‘About DTPHX’ banner. In its previous form, the webpage reflected a modesty of a Downtown that once was, in the middle of transformation and expansion.
The updated and enhanced version features a thorough accounting of all arts, business, community interests, as well as diversionary services representing Downtown.
Under nine separate categories, these organizations and groups live on the page. For info on a walkable Downtown could mean something as literal as the Japanese Friendship Garden, to Tree Matters, an organization advocating more shade trees, to Urban Phoenix Project, who advocates policy for safer streets built around pedestrians and multi-modal transportation, such as lightrail and e-bikes.
Similarly, the ‘Housing & Social Services’ dropdown is flush with organizations for every opportunity for good, from ensuring owners aren’t separated from their pets (Arizona Pet Project), aiding with food insecurity (Nourish Phoenix) to facilitating people’s exit from homelessness (CASS, Circle the City and more).
This is not the extent of Downtown Phoenix Inc.’s aspirational goals: for an even more bespoke community giveback experience, this fall we’re also launching a new volunteer platform, tentatively called ‘The Flock,’ that will live, in part, on dtphx.org
“We hope to engage Downtowners seeking community, in hopes of creating a sense of fellowship,” said Stephanee Germaine, Downtown Phoenix, Inc.’s Community Engagement Director. “The desire is to bring a continuation of this community-based collective and elevate it to a thoughtfully curated Downtown experience.”
DPI’s volunteer platform is an evolution of the popular B-Corp 850zip, which was gifted to the organization by Phoenix Community Alliance Member and Midtown community leader Kathey Wagner, who launched 850zip in 2016 as a way to connect residents to small businesses in Greater Downtown.
In simplest terms, DPI’s new volunteer platform will create matchmaking opportunities and customized user experiences for anyone looking to strengthen roots Downtown through community service, whether that’s an ASU student looking to volunteer with human services, food insecurity or a resident wanting to engage with a Downtown event.
With the imminent arrival of the volunteer platform, it closes the gap of services our website and brand provides to people who’ve called Downtown Phoenix a place to live, work and play.
And we can’t wait for you to meet it.