How neighborhood organizations serve as a resource hub

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. In addition to "Improving social and physical environment of neighborhood," participants indicated an important role of neighborhood organizations is to "serve as a central resource hub," a finding totally ignored by the Neighborhoods 2020 Roadmap.

How neighborhood organizations serve as a central resource hub

Serve as a central hub: A large number of comments generated during the Neighborhoods 2020 Cafe's referenced neighborhood organizations as serving as a community resource hub, with the ability to act as a clearinghouse of information and pointing residents to resources and services.

Neighborhood organizations have always played an important role in sharing and providing information. Many neighborhood organizations over the years have published community newspapers and send out frequent newsletters to community members. Most have regularly updated websites with links to important information. Many communicate through email newsletters and through social media platforms to keep people in touch with events and issues in the neighborhood. And many, of course, do routine door-knocking to keep in touch with residents.

Neighborhood organizations can also be important connectors as well. After the 2011 tornado in North Minneapolis, some neighborhood organizations did door-knocking to identify needs on heavily impacted areas of the City. Others opened their office doors to allow residents to use computers, copiers and fax machines.

Example: Northside Residents Redevelopment Council and Homewood District historic designation

Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC) reported that:

"Lack of community awareness about Homewood's nomination for Historic Designation provided NRRC with an opportunity to complete thorough community engagement around this proposal... NRRC hosted a well-attended community meeting to share information about the benefits and drawbacks to this proposal and to gather community perspectives on designation...As a result of our community engagement a majority of...residents are now aware of it. Also many residents have … become actively involved with the designation process. This engagement has also led residents to become more involved in the city council elections and the caucuses.

Example: Armatage Neighborhood Association and organics recycling

Armatage Neighborhood Association reported that in 2016:

As the City unveiled its organics recycling program, we decided to support these efforts. We promoted our drop-off site, and how to sign-up for curbside pick up. After the cans were delivered in our area, we hosted a workshop to share ideas on how to promote organics recycling throughout your house along with helping to explain the benefits of organics recycling in general. We thanked participants with a box of compostable bags, and included remaining boxes in Welcome Bags delivered to new residents. Armatage involvement out paced the City-wide participation, and our goal was to achieve greater than 40% residents signed up for curbside organics pickup, and we currently are at XX%.

There are many other findings from the Neighborhoods 2020 Summary of Findings that NCR's Roadmap disregards. I will continue following up on those in following posts.