Community Tool Box - Section 12. Promoting Neighborhood Action

Promoting Neighborhood Action
Tools & Checklists	Contributed by Bill Berkowitz Edited by Phil Rabinowitz, Tim Brownlee, and John Cyprus

Give everyone a chance to get involved and contribute, in a way that best matches up with their talents, interests, and availability.
Aim for small victories. Don't shoot for the moon, at least not the first time around. Other things equal, it's better to have a small success than a larger failure, because your group is more likely to be stick together if it succeeds.
Don't be afraid to ask for help, especially from people in public office. Public officials represent you; they are accountable to you; and active neighbors are probable voters, a constituency few would want to antagonize.
Be concrete. When decisions are made, make them specific -- and make sure everyone knows what they are.
Whatever you decide to do, follow through on it. Keep your commitments, to maintain our credibility with both your supporters and your opponents.
Keep the lines of communication open, so that everyone knows what's been happening, where matters stand now, what's coming up, and where to go with information or ideas.
Finally, learn from experience, and from your mistakes, so that you will do better the next time around.

Here, you'll find a checklist summarizing the major points contained in the text.

I understand Neighborhood Action is

___any activity that brings neighbors in contact with one another

I understand that Neighborhood Action is needed beause it

___desires result

___establishes trust

___brings success which brings power

I understand that action should be taken when

___outside threats occur

___internal conflict with certain groups in neighborhood occur

___the neighborhood is new

I understand that when issues Arise

___make others aware

___call a larger meeting

___explore possible solutions

___carry out solution

___evaluate results

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