Show All Answers

1. Address a particular concern

Many neighborhoods become organized when a particular concern emerges in which they can rally around. As an association, members can work together to resolve issues and use resources already available within their neighborhood.

Ethiopian Proverb: “When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.”

2. Empower residents

When neighborhoods organize, they acquire power by joining together to accomplish goals.

3. Build community

Organizing to build community means improving your neighborhood’s ability to act and coordinate the diverse skills of its residents.

4. Benefits to Organizing

Residents get to know each other better while working to improve their community.

• Building a sense of community among neighbors.
• Providing the neighborhood with a common voice and an effective means of communicating with local government officials and other instrumental groups.
• Empowering neighborhoods to have input in the decision making that affects their neighborhoods.
• Organizing and helping members work for preservation and improvements in their neighborhood.
• Planning and hosting social activities for the neighborhood.

5. Role of the Citizen

Citizens have a very important role in the health and spirit of a community. Active involvement is crucial to improving the quality of life in your neighborhoods and the overall city. Each neighborhood is unique and different therefore roles are not always the same in every community.

6. Role of Local Government

The preservation and maintenance of an area’s quality of life is a shared responsibility. Local government is responsible for ensuring that the common good is protected and public services are carried out in an efficient and effective manner. The focus of the Community Development Department is to support creative community-based strategies to strengthen neighborhoods and coordinate programs that accurately reflect and address local needs and conditions.