I had lunch with Jessica Meissner the other day.  She is a dear friend and an entrepreneur.  We have similar interests in finding ways to build up our community here in Ypsilanti.  I was telling her about my website project and how I was having trouble finding the money to pay the web designers.  She suggested I try to make it myself using Weebly.  With this encouragement, I went on their website and am working on doing this website myself.  It isn’t too hard,  I know it doesn’t look as professional as the one the web designers could do, but it is a good start.  My hope is that once the site is launched and people and businesses start donating to it, we can have the funds to make it look more professional and do things more easily and seamlessly.  I am happy with our progress and look forward to launching the website very soon.

So now the search for start up funds begins.  I have been meeting with Tim at YDDA, Steve with YpsiCoPac, Kevin with YAD, the folks at A2 Awesome, Deb at CEED, Eastern Leaders Group, Jennie at YACF for starters.  Everyone seems very excited about our idea.  We are hoping to get $4000 to get our website designed professionally and up and running.  I’m surprised at how easy it is to meet with people about this project.  I’m enjoying talking about it with others, getting their input and ideas, and finding support for this vision.

I’ll keep you posted as the search goes on.

Our budding website is now an official non-profit business. We are known as “Our Block, Our Village Association” and also as All Things Ypsi. This reflects our wider vision to grow all kinds of connections within our town and neighboring townships. We want to bring people together in their neighborhoods and through their interests and talents. We hope that they can meet others and grow friendships, healthy neighborhoods, and new strong businesses.

Now we are forming a founding committee to help bring the website into reality. We have a web design company picked out and a group of about 5 interested folks to work on the website. If you want to help develop this project, send me an email at linda@allthingsypsi.com.

We are also looking for start up funding. Already we have received support from YpsiCoPac, our neighborhood watch group for the city. I will be meeting with the Downtown Association of Ypsilanti soon where I think some more funding will be available. We need about $4000 start up funding to get the website developed and live. Be on the look out for a way to donate soon.

Once the website is ready, you will be able to find it at Allthingsypsi.com. Thanks to HDL for hosting the website!