How neighborhood organizations provide an Interface between residents & City departments

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Neighborhood organizations can be a powerful ally for City departments and other jurisdictions to help link residents with City programs. This post discusses how neighborhood organizations can help provide an important interface between residents and the City on topics such as discussing the role of neighborhood organizations, organics recycling and community safety.

In October, 2016, NCR requested approval from the City Council to develop Neighborhoods 2020 recommendations in partnership with NCEC and neighborhood organizations around the City. NCR committed to answer seven specific questions in its recommendations to City Council, the first of which is "What are the unique services provided by neighborhood organizations to residents and the City?"

While the Neighborhoods 2020 Roadmap only briefly identifies one of the findings from all of the Neighborhood Cafes held in 2017, it doesn't address at all most of the others.

How neighborhoods provide an Interface between residents & City departments

Neighborhood organizations can be a powerful ally for City departments and other jurisdictions to help link residents with City programs. In 2017, the City and NCEC partnered with several neighborhood organizations from across the City to host the Neighborhood 2020 Cafe's. Neighborhood organizations participated in Art of Hosting training to learn the World Cafe hosting technique, and together turned out more than 500 residents to participate in consensus building conversations about the role of neighborhood organizations in the City of Minneapolis. Neighborhood organizations played a critical role in organizing and hosting the meetings and turning out the hundreds of residents from diverse backgrounds to participate in these conversations.

Example: Tangletown Neighborhood Association and organics recycling

In their 2016 Annual Report, Tangletown Neighborhood Association reported that

"TNA supported the roll-out of the City’s Organic Recycling program with a kick-off event in partnership with the Lynnhurst Neighborhood Association. 215 residents attended, in addition to volunteers from the Washburn Green Team and neighborhood Sustainability Committees. The event included presentations from the City & SET and tables with Room-by-room displays (to help residents envision how to incorporate Organics Recycling in their homes), Seed plantings using finished compost, Compostable Crafts, and a Sorting Game. Giant Maps of both neighborhoods were displayed with dots for cart sign-ups and stars for captains (people loved the giant maps and wanted to know when their carts would arrive). We had a map showing the cart delivery schedule, and computers for cart sign-ups. Attendees received a box of compostable can liners and had the options to take home an “Organics Recycling Happens Here” lawn sign, designed and produced by the neighborhood (40+ distributed to Tangletown homes). There was a lot of enthusiasm and learning and many residents expressed appreciation for the education and support around this new program."

Example: Stevens Square Community Organization and street crime

In their 2016 Annual Report, Stevens Square Community Organization reported that:

"The neighborhood has been hit with an increasing amount of street crime and harassment in and around the neighborhood. Street robberies and sexual harassment of females in the neighborhood increased in the last year. We worked with the Minneapolis Police, metro transit police, park police and community businesses; as well as, the people who are being effected. We partnered with a local college and another neighborhood to conduct a forum on the issue. It was was well attended; highlighted by news coverage and resulted in an increase of police staffing and awareness by the community."