Ideas for Block Activities – from Jim Diers, Steven Clift and e-democracy.org
Steve Clift
Thanks to Ashoka Fellow and e-democracy founder Steven Clift for sending me this list, which was drafted at his request by Our Blocks friend Jim Diers, the author of Neighbor Power and former head of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods. You can add to the list by going to the Block activities wiki on e-democracy.org.
In many communities there are intentional efforts to organize “block clubs” among neighbors. They are often promoted by police departments because neighbors who know each other, watch out for each other. In some communities, neighborhood councils play this role. Because organizers typically have a goal in mind, like “crime prevention,” the support materials and systems do not document in detail the wide range of activities block clubs/neighbors can organize among themselves.
Suggestions for Block Activities
Jim Diers
- Crime prevention
- Emergency preparedness
- Block parties
- Skills exchanges
- Share tools, pickup truck, camping equipment, etc.
- Buy in bulk
- Policy discussions
- Support for latchkey kids
- Support for housebound seniors
- Support for one another
- Rideshares
- Create community garden on vacant lot or someone’s yard
- Create pocket park on vacant lot or someone’s yard
- Install benches, picnic tables or other community furniture in front yards
- Improve/maintain common spaces: alley, median, park traffic circle, etc.
- Paint mural in intersection
- Plant street trees
- Provide base for neighborhood association
- Slow traffic with signs/art
- Create placards for doorway of each home representing that family
- Create website for block
- Create a manifesto of block values and commitments to one another
- Create a directory of available expertise (recycling, technology, etc)
- Create a green block in which each household commits to reducing carbon footprint
- Conduct a talent show
- Celebrate Good Neighbor Day by recognizing good deeds
These suggestions were subsequently added to the wiki:
- Monitor/aggregate/map local municipal services and police data on crime and property issues using city sources and spotcrime.com
- Meet with local police district captain, liaison officers, alderman
- Discuss and participate in local planning, zoning and licensing issues
- Outdoor movie night
- Kids activities
- Parents network/facilitate baby sitting swapping
- Play groups for dads
- Play groups for kids of certain ages
- Gather for Christmas Carols
- House concerts
- Tailgate for major sports games, either on TV or in person
- Shovel snow planning
- Trash bash (pick up trash on streets)
- Grafitti removal (paint over tags and vandal marks)
- Candidate nights (coffee with one or more candidates)
- Roving Party, pub crawl, moving pot luck, a HOUSE TOUR with food.
- Game night(s). Bingo, chess, checkers, board games, card games (bridge club).
- Car wash.
- Joint yard sale, swap meet, flea market.
- Book group (discussions after all read the same book – or even article)
- Swarm for Geo-Mapping and GIS Tagging
- Linux Install Fest (bring by an older PC and reformat it with Linux, OpenOffice.org, etc.)
- Easter Egg Hunt (roll if on Pennsylvania Ave in DC)
- Firetruck and EMS (ambulance) visit. Officer friendly, outreach with public safety folks as they bring their gear to examine.
- Visit with Santa Claus, grab bag, secret friends, stocking swap, light-up night.
Excellent. Please add to the list of things you know neighbors on a block (or in a building or rural township for the matter) have done: http://pages.e-democracy.org/Block_activities
Thanks Steve – I’ve added some and will go back to add more. Really good ideas your wiki’s generated. – Leo
Trained Community Weavers organize Good Neighbors Fun Nights all across the country. We create a more festive gathering and invite local officals and law enforcement (in street clothes) to attend. We have potlucks, play games, sign up as Good Neighbors on the http://www.GoodNeighbors.net website. Good Neighbors post educational, social and recreational activities on the calendar that others can attend to sustain friendships and learning opportunities. At the gatherings we print out and give everyone a roster and Village Resource Directory of Good Neighbors who have agreed to live our life in ways to enable life on earth to thrive and to eleviate suffering wherever possible by sharing and caring for others and serve for the greater good of the whole community.
Thanks Cheryl, great to see you here!