Neighborhood Focus

Before launching our community-building approach, we conducted 10 test-runs of Neighborhood Conversations, involving 100 participants from cross-section of community. The core theme of these test runs was encouraging neighbors to envision and share ideas for healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. After participants engaged in a facilitated dialogue, they were asked to give feedback on our process and outreach materials. Feedback from these sessions played a significant role in our design of dialogue format, before “taking it to the street”. In the beginning, Community Outreach was neighborhood specific. We had a concentrated focus in Boise, Humboldt, and Overlook neighborhoods.

The Neighborhood Survey has always been an important tool for determining the course of our work. It sheds light and provides insight into what’s important to people, what they really want. The way in which we asked survey questions has evolved over time. In Boise, we invited neighbors to voice their most challenging issues or concerns. In Humboldt, neighbors were encouraged to imagine working together and then asked to share their ideas for strengthening their community. In Overlook, neighbors were invited to identify positive aspects of their neighborhood that could be enhanced and to share new ideas for building a vibrant community.

Before hosting any activity in a neighborhood, Community Outreach staff met with the local Neighborhood Association and Neighborhood Coalition Office to introduce ourselves and our mission. We did research and asset mapping, walkabouts and presentations to school groups, business associations, and churches. Our “kick-off” event in each neighborhood of focus was a History Storytelling. This was an opportunity for neighbors to learn about the history of their neighborhood from the people who lived and worked in it. We connected with elders and long-time residents, inviting them to share stories and memorabilia from living and working in the neighborhood.

The survey was hand delivered to every address within a neighborhood. Neighbors responded to the survey and responses were categorized into themes. The themes that bubbled up to the top became topics for free Neighborhood Conversations, Idea Development Plan workshops, and special events open to everyone in the neighborhood. The purpose of Neighborhood Conversations was to provide a free and welcoming venue for neighbors to get to know one another through sharing their hopes and dreams for their neighborhood. The conversation was hosted in a variety of universally accessible sites within the neighborhood boundary, and always featured a delicious free meal enjoyed by the people.

In general, the format of a Neighborhood Conversation included:
• An overview of the mission and vision
• Icebreaker and introductions for neighbors to meet one another
• Discussion based on survey results
• Exploration of ideas based on the theme
• Identifying steps for turning ideas into action
• Feedback on the process
• Encouragement to reconnect

In Boise, the Neighborhood Conversations also included listening exercises. We provided blank business cards for neighbors to exchange contact information. In Humboldt, there was increased participation from the faith-based and business communities. In Overlook, we began to host Idea Development Plan workshops to help neighbors create a blueprint for turning their ideas into action. At the end of the concentrated focus in one neighborhood, we hosted a Neighborhood Celebration to celebrate neighbors coming together, and to showcase the strengths, talents, and resources within a neighborhood.

Today, we work in the greater Portland area sharing the lessons, resources, and strategies we learned from our work. We continue to provide opportunities for neighbors and community to come together, identify common interests, and move ideas into action for a healthy, vibrant community.

Overlook Neighborhood

Humboldt Neighborhood

Boise Neighborhood

Events

Neighborhood Focus