The Neighbor’s Workbook Neighbors Project Place …images3.wikia.nocookie.net/fixpa/images/1/1c/Neighbors_workbook.pdf · This is my workbook for embedding myself in my neighborhood

My name is ________________________ My neighborhood is _________________

This is my workbook for embedding myself in my neighborhood by producing my own culture based on the principles of create, flex, embed and champion.

The Neighbor’s Workbook

Place your photo here.

© Neighbors Project 2006

Neighbors Project

neighborsproject.org

Based on A Neighbor’s Manifesto

Table of Contents

Section I: What Can I Do? p. 3 Step 1: Engaging Ideas p. 4 Step 2: My Action Plan p. 36 Section II: How can I get other people to help me? p. 40 Step 1: Recruit your team p. 41 Step 2: Make a date p. 42 Step 3: Create a plan p. 44 Step 4: Make it happen p. 49 Step 5: Celebrate p. 50 Step 6: Spread the knowledge p. 51

Section I: Me & My Neighborhood

© 2006 Neighbors Project neighborsproject.org

Our mission is to activate and organize members of the urban generation in cities across the nation to strengthen and invigo-rate city neighborhoods one neighbor at a time throughout our lives. We will make diverse cities with a healthy grassroots cul-ture rooted in public streets and institutions the preferred place to live for Americans of every kind.

Place a photo of your favorite neighborhood spot here.

The Neighbor’s Workbook 2 neighborsproject.org 3


Step 1 Engaging Ideas

Write your answers for each item, skipping over the ones that don’t apply to you at this time. TIP: Leave the check boxes blank for now; you will use them in Step 2 (p. 36).

Say hi to my neighbors. • Why should I? • When and how often do I smile at or speak to my

neighbors? • Do I respond to my neighbors when they smile at or speak

to me? • What can I say or do to get a conversation started next time

I see my neighbors?


• Why should I? • Do people have a hard time walking in front of my home

when it snows? • Is there trash in front of my home? • When was the last time I picked up trash or shoveled snow

in front of my place?

Pick up trash and shovel snow in front of my home.


• Why should I? • Neighborhood and/or block association(s) of which I am a

member: • Neighborhood and/or block association(s) I could join: • Does my block and/or neighborhood need a new group?

Join my neighborhood or block association. If I don’t have one, start one.


• Why should I? • Who has proposed what effective policies for my

neighborhood? • How have I supported them? • If no one has proposed anything, what have I done to

advance the issue?

Actively support intelligent policies that increase the number of affordable homes in my neighborhood.



• Why should I? • How often do I do the following per week?

• Walk • Bike • Take the train or bus • Take cabs • Drive

• If I own one, what are the pros and cons of keeping it?

Which list is more compelling? Pros Cons

Walk, bike and take public transit (cabs qualify). Get rid of my car if I have one, unless I have a very good reason for keeping it.


• Why should I? • Can I rehab my building instead of tearing it down? • Will I be proud of the design of my building? • Will my neighbors be proud to live next to my building?

Rehab, don’t demo, unless it’s an abomination. Whatever I build, make my neighbors proud to live next to my building.



• Why should I? • What am I buying elsewhere that I could be buying in my

neighborhood? • Are good stores in my neighborhood being forced to close? • What are the names of the people who run my favorite

stores in my neighborhood?

Shop locally.


• Why should I? • Do my elected officials represent my views? • I have discussed my ideas with the following people:

• City representative Y N • County rep/borough president/etc. Y N • State representative Y N • State senator Y N • U.S. congressperson Y N • U.S. senator Y N • U.S. President Y N

• Have I voted, with reasonably full knowledge of the voting records and promises of all of the candidates, in every possible election?

• Have I volunteered for candidates and/or elected officials I

believe in?

Get to know all of my elected officials — in person. Vote, volunteer and hold them accountable as my representatives.



• Why should I? • Have I visited prospective public schools in my

neighborhood and met the teachers, principal and parents? • If the school needs help, have I convinced other parents in

my neighborhood with kids of a similar age to work with the school to improve it?

• If my kids are already in public school, do I volunteer at the

school and urge other parents to do the same?

Send my children to public schools in my city, work to improve them, and stay involved.


• Why should I? • Does my neighborhood need any or all of the following?

• Wider sidewalks Y N • A bench for the bus stop Y N • More play space for kids Y N • Bike parking Y N • Gardens Y N • Outdoor café seating Y N • Other: Y N

• Have I spoken up for the items I’ve circled above when

people in my community have pushed for more free private parking?

Reclaim public real estate lost to personal parking.



• Why should I? • What buildings are available in my neighborhood with

commercial space on the ground floor that I could buy?

• Building: • Building: • Building:

• What sort of business could my neighborhood use that

could go in this space?

If I buy a building, try to buy a mixed-use building and rent the commercial space to a neighborhood-positive business.


• Why should I? • When was the last community meeting that I attended? • Did I speak about my views at the meeting ? • Did I persevere in advocating for my views even if other

people disagreed? • When and where are the next community meetings in my

neighborhood that I will attend?

Speak up at community meetings.



• Why should I? • Do my cab drivers usually do the following?

• Speed Y N • Drive aggressively Y N • Menace pedestrians or bicyclists Y N • Talk on their cell phones Y N

• Have I reminded my cab drivers to drive safely? Did I reward

them with a larger tip for safe driving?

Tip my cab driver extra for driving safely.


• Why should I? • What local organizations have I volunteered for?

• Organization: • Organization: • Organization:

• What volunteer opportunity will I participate in next?

Volunteer locally.



• Why should I? • What private projects have I done that have been both per-

sonally gratifying and neighborhood-positive? • How can I use the private projects I’m currently working on

to improve my neighborhood? • What other private projects do I want to pursue?

• Project: • Project: • Project:

Use my private projects to contribute to the culture of my neighborhood.


Join or start a community supported agriculture (CSA) program.

• Why should I? • Which CSA do I participate in? • Which CSA will I join for the next season? • If no CSA exists, who should I contact about starting one?



• Why should I? • When was the last block party on my street? Who organized

it? • When was the last block party I helped organize? • Are my neighbors interested in having a block party?

Organize a block party.


• Why should I? • How did I react to the two most recent development propos-

als in my neighborhood?

• Proposal: • Proposal:

• Did I investigate the developer’s track record? • Did I think through the implications of my stance on the

proposals for the short- and long-term health of my neighborhood and city?

Work with developers, not automatically against them.



• Why should I? • When was the last time I called someone on an ignorant or

meanspirited comment? • When was the last time I stayed silent when someone I

know made an ignorant or meanspirited comment? • Which neighbor will I speak to next about rethinking their

offensive statements or behavior?

Call out my neighbors for comments or behavior that perpetuate limiting stereotypes.


• Why should I? • When was the last time I worked with my elected officials

and the developer to ensure that any new development in my neighborhood was people, and not car, scale?

• What proposed development(s) in my neighborhood do I

need to address to make sure it’s designed for people?

Advocate for people-scale development and design.



• Why should I? • When was the last time I helped or schooled a stranger on

the street? • Who and where are the vulnerable people in my

neighborhood who especially need me to look out for them? What can I do to help them?

Regulate — be eyes on the street.


• Why should I? • What was the last job I filled with a neighbor? • What jobs will I be hiring for that could use someone from

my neighborhood? • How should I attract my neighbors to work at my business?

If I start my own business, employ local folks.



• Why should I? • What are my local papers and blogs? • When was the last time I sent a letter/e-mail or comment to

a local paper or blog? • When was the last time I got angry about something I read

in a local paper or blog, but didn’t respond to it? • Which paper/blog do I especially want to interact with?

Read and engage with my local papers and blogs (as well as the national and international ones), or start my own.


• Why should I? • Where are the community gardens in my neighborhood? • Do my neighborhood community gardens need volunteers

or other support? • When was the last time I volunteered in my community

garden?

Cultivate my community garden.



• Why should I? • Do my neighborhood parks need local folks to volunteer,

raise money or otherwise improve the park? • To which organizations that support my neighborhood parks

do I belong? • What organization will I join or start to help my

neighborhood park?

Be a friend of the park.


• Why should I? • Do I have a library card? • What was the last item I checked out of the library? • Of the books, films and CDs that I am planning on buying,

which could I check out from the library instead? • What is the next event I want to attend or run at my library?

Use the public library.



• Why should I? • How does the proposed facility fit into the overall strategy

for that service in the city? Do I agree with that strategy? • Does my neighborhood shoulder its share of the social

service or waste facilities in my city? • What was the last proposal for a facility in my neighborhood

and how did I contribute to an informed and fair discussion?

Don’t automatically fight against the opening of a social service or waste facility in my neighborhood.


• Why should I? • Does my dog scare my neighbors away from talking to me or

does s/he help start conversation? • When was the last time I neglected to pick up my dog’s

waste or allowed her/him to pee on someone’s valued property?

Curb my dog.


Step 1 Engaging Ideas Step 1 Engaging Ideas

• Why should I? • How have I reacted to past plans for modern designs for

proposed developments? • What are good examples of new architectural styles

juxtaposed with older buildings that I can use to inspire and guide my neighborhood?

• Example: • Example: • Example:

Be open to new architecture.

• Why should I? • If I own a building, have I ever violated the building code? • If I rent or bought from a developer, have I checked to make

sure that the property owner/developer has followed the building code?

Follow the building code.


Step 1 Engaging Ideas Step 1 Engaging Ideas

• Why should I? • How often do I use my stoop/porch/balcony? • What activities can I do on my stoop/porch/balcony (that

doesn’t annoy my neighbors) that I’m currently doing inside?

Use my stoop or porch.

• What is my vision for my community? • What are three things I could work on right now to help my

vision become a reality? • 1. • 2. • 3.

My ideas!


Step 2 My Action Plan

Go back through Step 1 and check the boxes of the items that you would like to work on. For each item you’ve checked, use this worksheet to figure out how you will make it happen. TIP: You may find that you can’t get past Question 4 because the action is too big for you to do alone. If so, leave the rest of the page blank and go to Section II of this workbook (p. 40).

Action:

1. Goals 2. Information I need Where I can get it 3. Things/people holding me back

4. People/organizations who can help me 5. Steps and timeline • Step 1 Timeline • Step 2 Timeline • Step 3 Timeline • Step 4 Timeline • Step 5 Timeline • Step 6 Timeline 6. How will I keep myself accountable?



Action:

1. Goals 2. Information I need Where I can get it 3. Things holding me back


4. People/organizations who can help me 5. Steps and timeline • Step 1 Timeline • Step 2 Timeline • Step 3 Timeline • Step 4 Timeline • Step 5 Timeline • Step 6 Timeline 6. How will I keep myself accountable?



Step 1 Recruit your Team

List the people and organizations you named in Section I, Step 2 (p. 37).

How many total people do you ideally need? (A core group of six people or fewer is ideal.)

List the names of additional friends who you want to involve.

Write a one-page summary of what you want to do (refer to p. 36). Share it with each person you’ve listed in Questions 1 and 3 above. Ask each person individually if s/he will help you.

Name Gave summary? Will help?

1.

2.

3.

4.

Section II : My Team

Place a photo of your team here.


Step 2 Make a Date

Meeting date – Send out a few times and figure out which date works for the most people.

• Possible dates • Definite date

Location – Find a location that’s convenient for everyone. Your home or some other private location is best. If you choose a public location, look for a place that’s quiet and has a reasonable amount of privacy and few distractions; you’ll also need space to write. And don’t forget to arrange for food and drink; if you feed them, they will come.

• Possible locations • Definite location

Once you have positive responses from a critical mass of your invite list, set up a meeting to plan your project/campaign.

Agenda – An agenda helps structure your meeting and let the attendees—your friends—know that you’re serious about this project/campaign and value their time. It should include:

• What you want to accomplish. • A chance for everyone to explain why they’re at the

meeting. • Next steps, including next meetings and assign-

ments. • A time for you to say thank you.

Your agenda

Step 2 Make a Date

1.

2.

3.


Step 3 Create a Plan

Now that you’ve assembled your team, use this worksheet to plan your project/campaign together. This method may not fit for every campaign/project, so modify it to suit your needs. TIP: Use the “Task tracker” on page 48 to keep track of next steps wherever you are in the process.

Problem(s) we want to address

Our Goals


Research/information we need Targets – Who are the specific individuals who will make the ultimate decision of whether to do/approve what we want to accomplish?

1.

3.

2.

4.



Our strengths

Our weaknesses


Strategy – What strategy will target our pressure points, draw upon our resources and downplay our weaknesses? Keep in mind that you will likely need to modify your strategy as you learn more or the situation changes.

Talking points/elevator pitch

5. 7.

6.

8.



Task tracker

Task Person Timeline

Step 4 Make it Happen

Agree on how you will ensure that everyone stays energized and committed to accomplishing your goals. • How will we communicate? • How will we track our progress? • How will we make sure that everyone is following through

with their tasks? • How often will we meet in person? • How will we stay energized and committed, even if we

experience a setback? • How will we celebrate our successes?


Step 5

Celebrate

Step 6 Spread the Knowledge

Teach others to do what you’ve accomplished to help make it easier for anyone to do. To help other people replicate our success, our team will:

Publicize our success story on a local paper or blog, or through another media source.

Write or film a how-to manual and publish it on the Web or distribute it locally.

Hold a local training workshop.

Post a photo essay on the Web. Invite others to contribute their photos to the group as they take on similar projects.

Ask a relevant local organization to feature our story.

Have a party that also features a way to teach guests what we’ve done.

E-mail [email protected] with our story and our permission to allow Neighbors Project to publish it. Other:

Good Neighbor Certificate

In recognition of reaching these

project goals:

_________________________

_________________________

_________________________

Project completed on

___________________ (date)

Awarded to

_____________________________________

for their neighborhood spirit.

____________________ ________________ ____________________ ________________ ____________________ ________________ ____________________ ________________ ____________________ ________________ ____________________ ________________ Signature of team members Date

neighborsproject.org 51

Documents

The Neighbor’s Workbook Neighbors Project Place …images3.wikia.nocookie.net/fixpa/images/1/1c/Neighbors_workbook.pdf · This is my workbook for embedding myself in my neighborhood