Neighborhood Support Network

Neighborhood Support Network – Organizational Meetings of October 6 & 16, 2007

Results of Small Group Conversations of Neighborhood Leaders

What are the factors that we associate with success as neighborhood leaders?

Delegate where appropriate and possible
See on-going projects to their conclusion
Educating and informing
Reward persistence
Ask neighbors what they see as important
Remember that if people aren't involved, you can still keep them informed.
Patience
Dialogue with businesses and government agencies
Recruit more people to serve – use multiple methods to attract new help
Promote social events
Find more types of simple activities
Think what should happen to developable land
Work to pursue positive projects – leads to lots of happy people
Promote care groups
Recruit door-to-door, not by mail
Use phone trees
Encourage new blood
Find interesting speakers and treat them well
NAs need to be approachable by developers
Support yard sales – consider church locations
Focus on the "reality" of all stakeholders
Look for consensus
Develop "critical mass" before acting – consider coalitions of like-minded people
Accent issues that pull people together

What have you discovered is the best way to get the services you need from City Departments?

If necessary, embarrass City employees who don’t perform. CC: up the line.
Find and nurture a good aide in a council office. Maintain good relations with the Ward office.
Be tenacious - be a squeaky wheel
Follow-up on what was promised
Get involved with Ward committees
Find well-connected, respected allies
Consider the negative/unintended consequences of proposed actions
Cultivate department personnel who will follow through
Don’t hesitate to start at the top (dept. head or council member)
Use other Ward offices
Be respectful but firm
CC the Ward representative for your NA
Be consistent and clear-headed – don’t shoot yourself in the foot

What are our wishes for the future of the Neighborhood Support Network?

A mentor program for new leaders
Access to knowledge about what works
A central data base that is researchable
Identify talents and resources
Increase involvement of neighbors, including those not in organized neighborhoods
Better communications across neighborhood and Ward boundaries
Access to training packets and guides - "How To" information for leaders
Offer training programs, perhaps in collaboration with ProNeighborhoods and other agencies
Access to hard copies as well as electronic documents for people who are not on-line
A website with information about who to contact for specific needs or issues
Don't reinvent the wheel - make use of what is already out there.
A network that helps us maintain the quality of life and sustainable neighborhoods for Tucsonans.
Keeping people educated about what is happening.
Help accessing city and county government resources
A listserve where information and ideas about topics can be posted.
Advocacy - Identify issues and address them
Education on complex issues- i.e. County Bonds
Connections to people who have expertise and insight into how things get done, and who to talk to if you want something done
Help neighborhoods organize around issues
No partisan politics – be wary of volatile issues
Help neighborhoods keep the wider picture in view
Find multiple funding sources, not just one
Support a pool of active neighbors
Teach basic skills to neighborhood leaders