New dimension added to downtown

Downtown continues to grow even without the help of community leaders, as suggested by The Space , which opened with a bang Saturday night.

According to the Jan. 28 edition of The Breeze, four bands from around the state welcomed the new inhabitant of a downtown building with a benefit concert that raised $200.

This time, it's not another arts organization or even a Harrisonburg merchant taking root in the quaint downtown arena — it's a volunteer group.

According to the Sept. 27 edition of The Breeze, revitalization of the downtown arts district is well underway. The article said the district will bring a cultural and economic boost to the city. On the flip side, organizers of The Space bring a new dimension of political activism and volunteerism to downtown that was originally not seen. All things considered, downtown is changing for the better.

The Space is the new location for Food Not Bombs, an international network of egalitarian volunteers providing food to low-income people as well as political support. Giving out food is not their only objective. It also spreads the word about non-violent direct action to change society.

The volunteer aspect The Space brings to downtown contrasts with most businesses already in place and adds further variety to the downtown scene. Food Not Bombs will likely thrive because of volunteer-minded college students and brings a new way of looking at things into the community.

Keeping in mind that downtown is part of the community, not JMU, the community will benefit as well. Due to its central and high-visibility location on Main Street across from Massanutten Regional Library, members of the community likely will become involved. Also integral to the Food Not Bombs ideology is awareness of information as an anti-violence group. The political theories introduced by the organization likely will bring discussion into the community from both the opposition and supporters of the ideals. Discussions of different political views and ideals reinforce the cultural aspect downtown is attempting to maintain.

The bands who offered their time and talent to the big bang opening also deserve praise. It is appropriate that a musical event in the arts district marks the beginning of a volunteer organization. Because of the bands' influential attention-grasping efforts, The Space is more recognized and will draw more attention.