Located about 14 miles west of Manhattan, Orange, New Jersey, is an inner ring suburb that has experienced disinvestment and a deterioration of community. The Housing and Neighborhood Development Service (HANDS), Inc., a charter member of NeighborWorks America, is revitalizing this neighborhood through an art district. For NeighborWorks Week, HANDS sponsored the Valley Arts Music and Poetry Festival, which featured live performances of a variety of music and spoken word, children's art activities and games, vendors, Child ID by the local police department, blood pressure checks and a lot of community building! About 300 people came out for the event, which took place on a public green space adjoining one of HANDS' projects under construction in Orange. More than 50 volunteers set up and ran the festival in the 90-degree heat.  While the temperature was stifling, the tone of the day was cool. Music, spoken word performances, artistic energy and community bonding filled the air.