Newhallville Makes Pandemic Digital Pivot

As the whole world seemed to move online amid Covid-19, Newhallville activists struggled at first to spread the word about neighborhood events and resources.

Devin Avshalom-Smith found a possible solution in a new Facebook page, Newhallville Community Action Network, which he hopes will address a new need for pandemic-era communication while also drawing more people into the life of the neighborhood.

He shared his ideas with neighbors Tuesday night at the first pandemic-era monthly meeting of the Newhallville Community Management Team.

Community organizers in Newhallville have often taken advantage of in-person interactions and flyers to communicate opportunities to their neighbors. Given social distancing restrictions, the management team adapted, convening via phone conference Tuesday night.

Avshalom-Smith, who is 31, is among the younger participants in the group. At the virtual management team meeting, he called on his neighbors to bring their communication efforts online by submitting Newhallville-centered events and flyers to the Facebook page.

“We’ve got to get with the whole digital divide here,” said Kim Harris, the chair of the management team, referring to a lack of access to technology that disproportionately affects low-income households.

Avshalom-Smith founded Newhallville Community Action Network in early May. On it, he has publicized Covid-specific resources such as food distribution sites and shared news articles.

He has also sought to spark online conversations between neighbors. He once simply posed the question, ​“How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed your life?”

In the comment section of that post, he heard back a range of responses.

“I miss having monthly breakfasts, dinners, and lunches with my friends, and get togethers w my sisters,” wrote Maria Fargeorge.

“I’ve lost quite a few patients, that we adored,” wrote Derrick Gilliam.

At the management team meeting, Co-Chair Shirley Lawrence asked Avshalom-Smith whether he had a method of screening posts and comments on the page. ​“I’m just a little bit overprotective and paranoid with that technology stuff,” she said.

Avshalom-Smith answered that he is the only person able to post on the page, and that he has been moderating comments. ​“Somebody said ​‘Trump is God’ and I deleted that right away,” he said.

“It’s been more than just setting up a Facebook page,” Avshalom-Smith said after the meeting. ​“What I’m trying to do is set us up for post-COVID-19.”

He said he hopes that Facebook connections will spur Newhallville residents to get involved in neighborhood life offline.

He said he has already started to see that happen.

A man named Tymothee reached out to Avshalom-Smith after encountering the Facebook page, seeking to get involved with local community organizers’ efforts. ​“He checked out the page … He and I are now partnering on an initiative for long-term food sustainability,” Avshalom-Smith said.

According to Avshalom-Smith, the pair now hopes to work with local food justice nonprofit Love Fed New Haven to revitalize some of Newhallville’s community gardens.