Dear friends,

I'm writing to you this important note because Catalyst has an immediate need and we can't continue forward without the support of our community. We need to raise $1,200 by November 1st so that we can cover the cost of rent for the Catalyst Space! If only 100 people will pledge to invest $12 per month, then we can continue to do the work that we're doing. Will you please help?

Our Work So Far

We incorporated Catalyst in 2006 and much of what we had done in the first two years has been investing in relationships. We've been having catalytic conversations and we've been facilitating tons of introductions. Then in January 2009, we really came out with a public presence working to inspire a greater sense of community, collaboration, and citizenship through meaningful relationships. For the first half of this year, we continued operating pretty organically - meeting in coffee shops and having connection events in homes and back yards. It was great! By May, we were able to co-host an awesome Green Long Beach! Festival that involved bringing together over 270 artists, musicians, performers, businesses and community groups with only two and a half months of organizing. This was a catalyst for us!

In June, we decided to invest in securing a physical location for the first time. The Catalyst Space. It has made a significant difference! Since opening our doors, we have launched 4 separate communities (Green Long Beach!, LBCreative!, Pedal Movement, and Teen Girls Empowerment) collectively bringing together over 350 people. We've helped to provide a context for previously independent and fragmented parts of our community to come together in collaboration around their own shared interests. That's what we do as bridge-builders. Our work has just begun!

So far, there are 13 Action Teams within these 4 communities each working towards their own member-driven projects and initiatives. In the coming months, we will soon see the fruits of their labor as we start to see more and more artists showing their work for the first time, more community gardens that bring neighbors together, more people educated about healthy food systems and environmental sustainability, more bicyclists riding on safer roads, and more teen girls who know that they are important and can make a positive contribution to their neighborhoods. We are also in conversation with potential catalysts in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Newnan (Georgia) exploring the start of Catalyst communities where they live.

So much has happened very quickly and in a short amount of time - less than a year! We are continuing our work to support and empower people to pursue their passions for the community. We are helping people to "connect and affect" - to connect with their community and to affect their community. We are developing a community of catalysts! But we can't stop now!

The Catalyst Space

The Catalyst Space is our headquarters for these catalysts. It's a place to meet but it's also a space to rest, to be inspired, and to connect. It's a place where people can grow and emerging leaders can develop. We discovered that having a physical location took us to a new level - it gave Catalyst visibility, credibility, and tangibility. We are headed in some very exciting directions! But in order for us to sustain our capacity to serve, we really need the support of people like you who can believe in what we're doing and will invest in our vision - community, collaboration, citizenship through meaningful relationships.

We have been a completely volunteer organization since 2006 and we've been contributing our own personal money so that Catalyst can get by. The hard truth is that we can't sustain operating that way. Our current fund raising strategy includes grant writing, a business partners program, a business sponsorship program and events. But those are mid-range solutions that we are diligently working on. With your help, we can take Catalyst again to the next level!

Invest in Helping Us Advance the Vision

We need 100 people to pledge $12 per month by November 1st to help us maintain the use of The Catalyst Space.

We can do this! Will you join us?

To make a tax-deductible donation, please go to our (NEW) web site here: http://www.gocatalyst.org/donate.php

Would you please forward this important message to your contacts and networks too?

Thank you so much for your ongoing support!

Eric Leocadio
Catalyst Community Founder/Executive Director
www.GoCatalyst.org