New Website Aims to Connect Neighbors, in Good Times and Bad

There's a new player in Albany's online media neighborhood with the launch earlier this month of ThisHood, a free social networking website designed with the block in mind.

ThisHood was created by long-time Albany resident Dror Matalon and Charlie Tripp, a former Albany denizen who recently moved to neighboring El Cerrito. (Albany residents can sign up here. The site is currently only available for Albany, but creators said they'd like to expand it if the model takes off.)

If you've used Facebook, the interface for ThisHood will be familiar. Users post status updates, questions or suggestions that others can respond to. 

But the major difference is that everyone on ThisHood lives or works in Albany. As a result, you know, when you're asking for a recommendation or perhaps posting an item for sale, that only folks nearby will get the message. 

There's also a different end goal, said Matalon, who hopes the site will make it easier to meet face to face. 

"Face-to-face interactions in a variety of settings is what really builds a strong community," he said.

Matalon, a native Israeli, said his experience of the closer-knit community of his youth helped inspire ThisHood.

"When I was a kid, all the kids were running around playing with each other. All the neighbors knew each other. If you wanted to have a cup of coffee in the afternoon with somebody, you wouldn't need to make an appointment three weeks in advance. You'd just say 'Hey, let me put on the water,'" he recalled.

"Israel is a lot busier now, but still, when I go back, it seems like there are a lot more community activities than there are here," he continued. "When our block (in Albany) was doing disaster preparedness work in the mid-90s, and when we've had block parties, it seems like there's a big hunger for more connection. I see it again and again."

The most basic unit of ThisHood is the block; to that end, organizers are looking for volunteers to serve as "Block Leads" who will help spread the word about the site, and keep track of approving membership for those who sign up. (Learn more by writing to lead@thishood.com.)

Organizers hope the site, which is based on an advertising revenue model, will make it easier to prepare for disasters and plan block parties, or any events that happen block by block in Albany. (The city offers nearby neighbors , , activities and more.)

There are already 10 blocks online, said Matalon. They include neighbors on Ventura, Tulare, Evelyn, Santa Fe and Cornell, among others. People can only join those groups if they live on those blocks, and must be approved by the block lead to participate. 

There are also city-wide groups anyone can join, such as those devoted to gardening, photography, walking, "Beer Snobs" and "Root Beer Snobs." Anyone can create a group, and has the option to make it public or private.

Ultimately, each group will have a resource section that will include relevant information, such as pictures or documents that relate to the block or subject matter.

Matalon, who has deep roots in getting Albany online, said the site will have a strong focus on privacy, with multiple layers in place to protect sensitive information. (Matalon helped develop the , brought internet access into Albany schools in the 1990s, and was one of the founding directors of .)

In some respects, ThisHood serves a function similar to a Yahoo! neighborhood email list, by letting neighbors organize and share information based on their geography. But, unlike a Yahoo! list, the conversation takes place on ThisHood, rather than in email. 

Lubov Mazur said she likes how easy ThisHood could make it to meet up in person.

"I see the ThisHood site promoting micro-local contact in the community: both for affinity groups and neighborhood community. Instant backyard potluck or sidewalk bike parade in an instant. It can be used for a virtual earthquake safety meeting or looking for a pet sitter." 

The site dovetails with much of the work done by Karina Tindol, community engagement specialist for the city. Tindol is behind the city's distaster preparedness efforts. (She often collaborates with Chelle Putzer, of the recreation department, who helps plan many of the fun events that take place around town.)

"I think this could be a great resource for residents because it's an easy way for neighbors to connect with one another," said Tindol. "What I always say, in the disaster preparedness work, is that 'When neighbors know each other, neighborhoods are safer.' This could be another tool to help with that." 

Tindol said Albany has about 200 blocks. Of those, 63 have block captains and are hooked into the city's exisiting disaster preparedness efforts. Tindol said there are other blocks where neighbors organize activities, but do so separately from the city. 

Dorothy Brown (an Albany Patch contributor) has started ThisHood groups devoted to walking and photography. She said she could see the site offering a useful service, and that it could offer "more cohesion from one end of the block to another."

"You know your immediate neighbors, but not necessarily those on the other end," she said. "We've lived here for 21 years, and there are people on our block that we don't know. At some point it feels like it's too late for introductions. It's hard to say, "Hi! We've lived here for 21 years and you've been here for 15. What's your name?' If ThisHood can promote that kind of connection, I'm all for it. " 

ThisHood organizers will be available at 2:30 p.m. for several weeks. Those who are interested in talking about ThisHood, or learning how the site works, are welcome to stop by.

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.