By Beth Wolfson
JAMAICA PLAIN-- Colleen Keller, 22, sits in J.P. Licks sipping a latte as she reminisces about the original J.P. Licks, which closed years ago. The original storefront was at the corner of the block where she grew up and where she continues to live. “It was a staple of the neighborhood,” she said.
“When I was a little kid, I used to go to the pizza place on that corner and then to J.P. Licks every Friday during Lent because we couldn’t eat meat,” Keller said.
Keller, a 2007 George Washington University graduate, has served as the city's JP neighborhood coordinator for about four months now. The position, which she was appointed to by Mayor Menino, means that she speaks to people in the community and addresses their concerncs, answers any questions regarding building permits and attends community meetings.
“I think it’s wonderful she’s the coordinator, because I don’t think there’s been anyone in that position in the past who’s been a native. I think it gives her a better sense of how to help the community,” said Connolly Librarian Laura Foner, Keller’s former boss. Keller volunteered as a mentor at the library, keepinmg students focused and helping with their homework during her junior and senior year of high school.
Keller, tall and slim with long, silky black hair and dressed for winter in knee-high, black boots and a black sweater, is holding her weekly JP community hours at the newer J.P. Licks. She said the building used to be a fire station, and when she was a child, it was the Arts Studio for Kids.
“It was legendary among JP kids my age," Keller said. "We still talk about it.”
Like many other parents in the area whose children were involved, Keller’s mother, Susan Mahoney, volunteered at the studio. “I was the wardrobe mistress because I was a seamstress.” Mahoney says. “All of the parents contributed in whatever way they could. I think those kind of ties to this area are what made Colleen want to stay here and continue being apart of it.”
Keller, who has twice donated her black hair to charity and is growing it out to donate again, has questioned her decision to come back to JP.
“I’m like, what am I doing here?" Keller says. "But I know this place better than anyon. This job is a great combination of my interests in city government and social work, and it’s in my own neighborhood helping my own.”
Keller says her position is a quick burnout job because of the long hours and never-ending work. It involves attending all neighborhood meetings and mayoral events, as well as dealing with permits and zoning. Keller attends meetings almost every night and works all day to ensure that people's concerns and questions aboout JP are adressed.
“It’s a really taxing position because you’re on the clock all the time,” says Jay Walsh, Keller’s boss. “It’s not a nine-to-five job. But Colleen has been doing really well.”
Keller is the communication between many of the organizations and government officials in JP.
“I act as the communication between community members and activists and local city government,” Keller says.
Community activist and police officer Joseph Porcelli has worked with Keller on his recent Mug Project, which tries to convence people to carry palstic mugs to coffee shops in the area instead of using paper cups. “Colleen is a pro, you’d never know how long she’s been doing this,” Porcelli says. “JP is super duper lucky to have her…She genuinely cares about what I’m doing and what’s going on in the community.”
As her office hours end for the day, Keller piles up her papers and leaves the ice cream shop. On her way out, she waves at an old, white-haired man that she calls "old blue eyes," noting that he is one of the three or four homeless men in town.
She points across the street to a pizza place and says proudly, “I get free food from there all the time. I know the people.”
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