Williamsburg I

Neighborhood Organizations

Mar 15, 2007

In some ways neighborhood associations are like a governmental body. They reach out to both individuals within the organization and to the larger community surrounding the neighborhood. Organized neighborhood groups pull together the strengths of committed residents to form systems to improve or protect community health.

These groups can create effective systems in the following areas:

- An organizational structure leads to the identification of neighborhood leaders, committees, and other systems which effect change. This structure lets residents know which leaders to approach with input or to seek assistance.

- Neighborhood association meetings give residents a consistent forum to join with other committed residents in improving the health of their community.

- Neighborhood newsletters and other communication devices not only disseminate information, they reinforce neighborhood identity by their very existence. Residents appreciate periodic newsletters to keep abreast of what's happening locally. Community bulletin boards serve as public gathering places. Telephone trees, or shared phone duties, spread the word on urgent and upcoming matters.

- Efforts to enhance neighborhood relationships, such as Neighborhood Watch or ice cream socials, can be effectively coordinated by neighborhood organizations.

- Neighborhood groups often have programs for welcoming new residents, for all segments of the neighborhood-youth, elderly, homeowners and renters.

- Neighborhood groups also provide a mechanism for mediation or conflict resolution within the neighborhood.

A neighborhood group can be just as effective as the more structured community-building models. After all, most of the models begin by forming a group. These groups may be called an initiating committee, but they function much like a neighborhood group, policy board or community-building group.

Neighborhood groups and other models also share an emphasis on the process as well as the end result. The organizing process as well as the end result. The organizing process is, or should be, an ongoing way of creating a sense of community among residents.

Information provided by the Metropolitan Denver Neighborhood Resource Center.