Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Party Time: Campbell resident Sheldon Chang, a project manager at Neoforma, is the founder and chief promoter of 'Events at 1083'--the number represents his street address--bringing people in the community together by planning fun activities in a low-key social atmosphere.
Public Citizen
There's no place like a community
By Moryt Milo
Campbell resident Sheldon Chang believes it's all about community. Whether it's virtual or live, meeting people and sharing experiences is what creates a neighborhood, he says.
Chang, 28, believes so strongly in the positive power of connecting people, he's developed a website called Events at 1083--the number represents his street address--where he organizes and coordinates ongoing social events.
"When I first organized the website in 2000, it was a way to keep in touch with friends," Chang says. "We were all so busy, and then suddenly we weren't so busy [as the economy changed]. People who provided me with my stable community were moving away."
One of his biggest draws is his holiday season event. Last December, Chang chartered a tour bus, that carried 47 people to Fantasy of Lights in Vasona Park, Los Gatos, and the ice skating rink in downtown San Jose. The group had desserts at the San Jose Fairmont, with the evening winding down at 1083, where the group shared hot drinks and watched Christmas specials.
Campbell resident George Negrete, 47, has been to a number of events and says, "The gatherings are usually very diverse. I see '1083' folks in town and have a feel of the neighborhood around me."
The drive to create a stable community, stems from Chang's college years at Boston University, where he received his degree in physical therapy. As he worked on his master's, Sheldon traveled from North Carolina to Oregon, but bouncing from one state to the next lost its luster.
He recalled growing up in the Bay Area and spending his study time at various coffee shops, particularly Orchard Valley Coffee, 349 E. Campbell Ave.
"There was a community feeling at Orchard Valley and I picked up on the atmosphere," he says. "So Campbell was where I wanted to live."
After living in Campbell for three years, his idea to create a local community website took hold. At the most basic level, Chang says, "it's a chance for people to bond."
But the idea behind the gatherings is not to create a party, and that's why he labels the get-togethers "events."
"A party is a situation where a lot of people go to be with strangers," Chang says. "An event is a place a lot of people go who know each other."
Campbell resident Julie McVay, 31, agrees and says the events have something for everyone. She goes to meet interesting people and she says, "There are no expectations for anyone."
Chang tries to know every new face that comes through his door, and likes to ask people to bring a friend because he wants people to be comfortable and know they can return.
He says, "I'm hoping to call this place home for a long time. After a lot of traveling, I found the positive and negative of every place, and it's all about what a place means to you and what you make it."
For information on Events at 1083 visit http://smirking.com/1083 or send Sheldon Chang an email at smirk@smirking.com.
Campbell, California
