Strategies

Strategy 1 | Strategy 2 | Strategy 3 | Strategy 4 | Strategy 5 | Strategy 6

Strategy Two: Start with a Neighborhood Organization

People in neighborhoods build a sense of community when they create a variety of formal and informal associations. These associations allow neighbors to get to know each other, discuss issues, solve problems, and share common interests and activities. They can be informal groups based on common interests such as reading and discussing books, gardening, walking, or sports. People with common interests gather at the neighborhood coffee shop, in someone's kitchen, or at the basketball court at the local park.

Other associations focus on issues that the neighborhood cares about such as art, the environment, land use, economic development, transportation, or public safety. Some associations meet monthly to discuss whatever issues currently face the neighborhood's residential or business communities. Some neighborhood groups come together for specific purposes and then disband when they accomplish their goal, such as organizing an event or building a playground. Some of the organizations that help compose a community are public institutions such as schools, libraries, community centers, parks, and social service agencies. Any and all of these organizations are opportunities for inclusion.

An association is only as strong as the people who participate. Everyone in the neighborhood has something valuable to contribute to a group that will make it that much stronger.

What Makes Neighborhood Organizations Inclusive?

Persons with developmental disabilities and their families, neighborhood activists, and neighborhood organization leaders say that inclusion happens when:

• The neighborhood organization welcomes everyone and actively seeks to involve neighbors. Inclusion happens when it is a core belief and mission of the organization.
• Both the organization's leaders and its members are involved in inclusion efforts, and are knowledgeable about and committed to inclusion. Inclusion is everyone's responsibility. Inclusion happens when leadership roles and responsibilities are shared to enhance learning and commitment.
• Time and effort are put into recruiting and assisting persons with disabilities. Inclusion requires action, resourcefulness, and hanging in there over time.
• Family interests and concerns are included. Inclusion happens when friends and family are involved.
• Neighborhood organizations get the help they need, whether in the form of financial support, encouragement, training, or problem solving. Inclusion means giving concrete help to organizations in ways that make sense to them.
• People who have been excluded provide their presence, experience, and knowledge to develop more inclusive places. Inclusion means people show up and give of their talents.
• Personal relationships are developed. Inclusion happens when people make friends and care about each other.
• Inclusion happens because people want to make it happen.

Here's what we learned about involving people through community organizations. The stories of Judy and the Phinney Neighborhood Association and Lupita and Joe demonstrate these strategies in action:

The stories about Matt and Kathi and Anne and Christina show these strategies in action:

	JUDY, MELANIE, and the PHINNEY NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Gaining Confidence Together
	LUPITA and JOE: A Story Teller and Writer Share Their Crafts