Interfaith Neighbors

Neighbor Spotlight | Community Connections

Diane Shelton seems to know everyone, serving on many committees, while organizing events and initiatives all over Asbury Park. A staff member at Interfaith Neighbors for over five years, Diane is making a deep impact on the lives and communities around her.

 After growing up in Neptune and graduating from Neptune High School, Diane went on to earn her B.A. in Sociology and a Master’s in Social Work. As a social worker, she noticed there were patterns in the issues her clients were facing, and there needed to be systemic change to address their needs on a larger scale. This realization led her to macro-social work and her position as the Community Outreach Specialist at Interfaith Neighbors.

“My role at Interfaith Neighbors is to be a liaison between our organization, the West Side of Asbury Park, community partners, and stakeholders,” Diane explained. She aims to bring encouragement to the community, and act as a role model and a connector.

“Community events are so important because they allow individuals to become familiar with our organization and its incredible resources. We want to build trust in the community and give them spaces to express themselves and connect with one another,” Diane answered when asked about her initiatives and events.

Under a grant from the Regional Foundation, Diane facilitates Springwood Avenue Rising, Asbury Park’s Got Talent, and annual mural projects. Springwood Avenue Rising was created while preparing for the 50th Anniversary of the civil unrest that took place on Springwood Avenue in Asbury Park. Diane explained that the community wanted to find ways to emphasize commemorating the black-owned businesses and the vibrant community of the West Side of Asbury Park, instead of focusing on the unrest. Events, including a Springwood Avenue History Tour, along iwth other initiatives were planned, but were interrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. With public events now coming back, they have engaged in speeches at libraries and have had two Roundtable Discussions centered around Community History and Involvement of Men in the Community.

 Asbury Park’s Got Talent is an annual community event Diane also facilitates. She explained that this is a “youth-led, adult-guided” event that was born out of kids expressing their desire to have space to display their talents. Each year, try-outs are held with reputable judges, and those who make it go on to the Final Showcase. This year, the showcase was held on May 6th and it was an overwhelming success with incredible performances and community bonding.

Diane also oversees yearly mural projects in Asbury Park, funded by the Regional Foundation. She strives to have each mural embody a different story and neighborhood collaborations. For instance, the most recent mural project was a collaboration between a local artist and kids from the Boys and Girls Club, while the upcoming project is planned to be a woman-centric mural to promote awareness around women’s rights. “It’s essential for Interfaith Neighbors to be connected to the community we serve because only then can we know how to best be of service. We need to understand their needs, hopes, and struggles to know which programs to implement,” Diane explained. “I hope my work increases awareness about Interfaith and the services we provide, promotes community involvement, and assures community members’ voices are involved in planning and decision-making conversations regarding their community,” Diane shared.

Diane is the embodiment of our founding principal of ‘neighbors helping neighbors.” Through her connections, organizing, and leading by example, our community and organization get better every day.

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