Five years ago, when Blair Ballin started his online community, Living North Phoenix, he wanted a place for the North Phoenix community to share information and support each other in a drama-free fashion.
“It’s easy to invest a little of yourself in an online community,” Ballin said in a press release. “With more than 28,000 active members in our group, I wanted to take the next step by bringing everyone together.”
The North Phoenix resident is bringing his group offline and into the community with the inaugural Valleypalooza. The festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 13 at Paradise Valley Community College. Tickets are $7. Children ages 12 and younger get free entry to the community-focused event.
The membership of Living North Phoenix grew exponentially over the past five years with members saying it’s because they feel valued and supported, the release stated.
“I feel safe here,” says Eric Amiel, a group member. “The community looks out for one another, and we are getting more and more small businesses here instead of just box stores and chains. I love to support locals.”
A portion of proceeds from Valleypalooza will support Treasure House Phoenix. The nonprofit, founded by Brenda Warner and her husband, retired NFL player Kurt Warner, benefits young adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
“I am the mother of a child that deserves to be seen, deserves to be heard, deserves to be enjoyed, and deserves a full life,” Brenda Warner said in the release. “Treasure House residents can put their stuff in their apartments and invite a friend over for a Coke; they can wake up and say I’m going to work; they can say ‘do you want to dance tonight?’ It is an absolutely beautiful place that just came from something heavy on my heart.”
For Living North Phoenix members, the online community has been a way to share information quickly, offer immediate support and share community resources to those who most need it. Alicia Montanez gave her story as an example of how having a close-knit community helped her.
“Recently, I was on the hunt for a reliable chiropractor and a top-notch pet spa for my furry friend. Unsure where to start, I turned to the Living North Phoenix Facebook group I’m a part of, and the response was overwhelming. Within minutes of posting my query, I received a flood of helpful suggestions, personal experiences and genuine recommendations. It’s moments like these that remind me of the incredible bonds we can form, even in the digital world,” she said.
The April event will feature live music by FAYUCA, a neighborhood favorite. There will be more than 40 vendor booths featuring crafts, arts, kids and adult activities, and local food trucks. Valleypalooza is also partnering with Kitsune Brewing, the state’s first African American-owned brewery. Kitsune is brewing a beer especially for the event.
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