Building community

WARWICK — On Monday, April 8, a meeting of Project Knomad (PK), held at Warwick Village Hall, introduced a series of new initiatives to members of the community.

Project Knomad, inspired Ian Sharp, a local artist and skateboarder who passed away last spring, is an entity of coordinators, facilitators and skaters who come together to skate, create and enhance community experience.

“Knomad” would have been the name of Sharp’s company if he had lived. “We call the group Project Knomad in his honor,” said PK coordinator Donna Kaminski. “It means to us that we are all inclusive, bringing community together from many different backgrounds and resource pools.”

Friends and family, who wanted to see Sharp’s legacy of youth and community-focused creativity continue, formed the organization. At present, Project Knomad activities are being sponsored by Community 2000.

“Our initiatives range from supporting our local skate park repairs to skateboarders’ visions of park enhancement,” said Kaminski, “and from art activities to learning about permaculture and sustainable scouting.”

She explained that Project Knomad is engaged in a multi-faceted experience of the arts, in culturally relevant community endeavors and projects and in teaching relevant skills to youth that enhance and support future vocational goals.

“Project Knomad,” said Kaminski, “is an inter-generational, dynamic, creative learning experience expressing Ian Sharp’s mission of meditation in action. It is about learning, sharing and building community.”

Anyone interested in more information can visit Project Knomad’s blog at: http://projectknomad.blogspot.com/, which will feature new initiatives and also direct viewers to the organization’s Facebook page and contact information.