Starting a neighborhood group?
When I was looking around for ideas on how to make the transition from moving to a new community a better experience for me, I started researching! I researched how to make the community I was a part of better. I wanted to have at least one or two or three families or trustworthy adults to turn to if I had any questions about what was happening in our community.
THE BEST source I found was this website.  HERE is the link. (It appears that this link isn’t working. You can look at this website and this website for more information.)
I knew I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t show you that there is an excellent source out there to turn to if you were like me and wanted to make the community you live in, better. Also, I know safety is a big factor for all of us and we want to be able to trust others. We can talk about that in a post another time but for now, I wanted to be able to share this resource!
Clearly outline the purpose and goals of your neighborhood group. Are you focusing on social events, safety, community improvement, or a combination?
How to start an in-person neighborhood group:
1. Brainstorm
Think about what outcomes you want to see once the group is formed and functioning.
Some things you can have the group focus on are social events and gatherings. Safety meetings where you can brainstorm how to improve the community. To do this, you’ll need to know the needs of the people around you. Then you can start a group to fulfill helping to meet the goals of serving those in your community.
Also, if you are new because you just moved into the area, look around and see what groups have already been formed and see how those groups are meeting the needs of the community.
Here are some ideas of groups you can start.
2. Create a team
Find others who want to team up to help the group run. You are able to delegate responsibilities to others this way. It will help with the initial setup and organization.
You can choose to make this time to clearly define roles within the group. This may include a president, secretary, treasurer, event coordinator, etc. Or you can choose to plan the roles after the first kick-off event with everyone in attendance if you think that will work best for the format of your group.
3. Choose a way to communicate
Decide on the communication tools you’ll use. Social media groups, email lists, a dedicated website, or a physical way such as a known meetup place and consistent time, or a community bulletin board.
Make sure to choose platforms that are easily accessible to those who would like to join.
4. Plan a Kick-off Event
When you are trying to figure out who to include in the group you have formed, creating a kick-off event helps to invite a large number of people. Most people love to be included or invited to something! After this first kick-off event, the people can decide they would like to continue to invest their time and energy to attend. The first event helps to get a sense of what things will be like going forward.
This could be a casual meet-and-greet, a potluck, etc.
Encourage contributions from others going forward. Others can contribute their ideas, skills, and time.
5. Schedule Regular Meetings
To continue the process, schedule regular meetings for the sake of consistency and clarity. Going forward, you can give a way for others to contact the group for those who would like to be involved at a future time.
Plan meetings to discuss ongoing projects, address concerns and gather feedback. You can choose if you would like to make these meetings accessible and welcoming to all members or just those who need the information that will be presented in the meeting.
6. Build relationships with local authorities
Establishing connections with local government, law enforcement, or other leaders in your community can help address safety concerns or help provide a way to communicate about community improvements.
7. Celebrate success
Acknowledge and celebrate achievements, whether big or small. This helps boost morale and keeps the community engaged. It also helps for continued adaptability and growth. Be open to feedback and be willing to adapt as the needs of the neighborhood evolve. Regularly reassess the group’s goals and activities.