Poughkeepsie Choice Neighborhoods Launches at Vibrant Northside Community Events
- Staff
- Aug 17
- 2 min read
August 17, 2025 - The City of Poughkeepsie's Choice Neighborhoods Initiative brought residents together for two energizing community events this past weekend, officially launching the Poughkeepsie Choice brand and deepening engagement around the resident-driven planning process for the Northside neighborhood. The Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet, a key partner in the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative, supported the weekend's events alongside the Poughkeepsie Choice Neighborhoods team and Community Ambassadors—residents of Thurgood Marshall Terrace and MLK Jr. Garden Apartments who serve as local leaders and trusted voices in their community.
On Saturday, August 16th, the team joined the Family Partnership Center's 3rd Annual Back to School Event, where families enjoyed free school supplies, music, pony rides, and family fun. Community Ambassadors connected with neighbors at the Poughkeepsie Choice table to share information and gather feedback. These resident leaders have been integral to the planning process, participating in leadership development training, organizing community events, and serving as a two-way conduit between residents and the planning team.
The momentum continued into the next day, at the Poughkeepsie Choice Pool Party at Pulaski Pool, where neighbors enjoyed lunch, ice cream, and celebrated the voices shaping the Northside's future. The Community Ambassadors led outreach for the pool party and helped create the Poughkeepsie Choice brand itself, co-developing the tagline, color palette, brand imagery, and planning process name. The event highlighted early insights from the ongoing Resident Needs Survey, which the Community Ambassadors have been promoting throughout the neighborhood. The weekend drew Mayor Yvonne Flowers, newly appointed Superintendent Greg Mott, and representatives from the Children's Cabinet and community organizations, underscoring the collaborative approach that defines this work.
The Community Ambassadors continue taking an active role in Task Forces guiding the Transformation Plan, ensuring the community's perspective remains central to this HUD-funded, two-year planning process focused on envisioning the future of Thurgood Marshall Terrace and Martin Luther King Jr. Garden Apartments.
