Your vision is their vision

David Sabatino and Joseph Marchione have a vision for Valley Stream — to see the community’s hopes and dreams come true. The pair of 23-year-olds will officially launch their new organization, Envision Valley Stream, next week to create a plan for the community’s future.

It all started with a Facebook page. Sabatino and Marchione both grew up in Valley Stream and wanted to do something to give back to their community. They started the Facebook page in March to see how much interest an organization like Envision Valley Stream would have. It quickly grew to about 400 members.

Sabatino said one of the purposes of the group will be to find ways to build on Valley Stream’s positive characteristics.

Although the organization wouldn’t have any power to enact change, it would be there to gather input from the community and present a plan to the decision makers in village and town. “We’re looking to have them cooperate with us just as much as we cooperate with them and that would be an ideal pairing,” Marchione said.

In order to create a community vision plan, Sabatino said, the group must reach out to all members of Valley Stream –– new and longtime residents, elected officials, religious and school leaders and the business community. Participation from the greater Valley Stream community, he noted, is key. “Without that, this process is nothing,” Sabatino said.

In addition to creating a vision plan, Sabatino said that Envision Valley Stream will also host events and offer volunteer activities. He said there are many people in the community, including high school students who must complete service projects, who are looking for volunteer work. An idea for a first event, he said, would be an Art in the Park day at the Village Green featuring painting, sculptures, music and food. That would be something that could draw all generations together, Sabatino explained.

Sabatino said he is in the process of making Envision Valley Stream a non-profit organization. “Getting that designation would be very instrumental in being able to raise funds,” Sabatino said. Envision Valley Stream is also insured, which Sabatino said the organization might be able to take on a task the local government can’t because of liability purposes.

The community visioning process has worked successfully in Elmont, Sabatino noted. That plan, which is being implemented, was created with help from Sustainable Long Island. “Traditionally, this is a process you hire a consultant for,” Sabatino said. However, he does not expect that to be the case in Valley Stream. “I feel we can do this if we get the participation.”

Gena Rositano, 46, who grew up in Valley Stream and moved back about seven years ago, is excited about the organization and would it could do for the community’s future. She said one of the biggest needs in Valley Stream is to give young people a place to go.

Rositano said she is encouraged by the work of Sabatino, Marchione and Envision Valley Stream’s other leaders. “I was really impressed in seeing somebody so young with so much ambition,” she said. “I remember when I was young, people just wanted to leave.”

Like Rositano, Francisco Acosta grew up, moved out and came back to Valley Stream. The 1982 Central High School graduate said the community is a place he wants to stay, which is why he got involved with the group. “I just feel very strongly about trying to make where I live better,” he said.

Acosta said he is disturbed by negative perceptions of Valley Stream and hopes the work of Envision Valley Stream can change that. “We’re not exactly sure where these perceptions came from,” he said. “We’re trying to sort of correct that. We’re trying to let people know that it’s a great town to live in and to work in.”

Envision Valley Stream will have it’s first general meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Firemen’s Field Clubhouse. Members of the community are invited to attend.