These are some resources you can use to plan community-building activities in your neighborhood around National Night Out, August 3, 2010 (unless you’re in Texas: 10/5). The National Night Out website. From the About page: NNO is designed to Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; Strengthen [...]

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 [...]

Here’s a tool you might be able to use to get a better appreciation of the interests, skills, and needs of your constituents, and to help them connect with one another, and with other local resources. You can download the pdf by clicking on the image below. You can also edit and download the form, [...]

Excerpts from Neighbor Power, by Jim Diers. I will conclude by summarizing what I have learned about community, community organizing, community initiatives, and the role of government. A neighborhood is not the same as a community. A neighborhood is a geographic area that people share, while at community is a group of people who identify [...]

Community Tool Box is probably the most extensive (maybe even the best) Community Development resource on the planet. A public service of the Work Group for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas, it contains (as of this date) over 7,000 pages of practical information. Its purpose is to make it easier for [...]

This easy-to-use and visually attractive guide, from the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center, is a roadmap to discovering, organizing and engaging your neighborhood. It takes you through the steps of community building – from identifying assets to running effective meetings – and uses real-life case studies and plenty of hands-on activities. You can download the complete [...]

Sources: Block Party Guide, Oakland CA and Block Party Planning Tips from Block Party NYC. These resources include forms and other tools. For local restrictions and guides, try searching the term “block party permit” and the name of your city/town. Click on this, for example. 10 Reasons To Have a Block Party To have fun [...]

[ The resources linked below are those referenced in the book, p179ff ] Easy Steps Sponsor community dinners. Slow Food Community meals Establish a community newsletter, bulletin board, and community roster. Establish a neighborhood watch program. National Sheriffs’ Association Neighborhood Watch Program Start neighborhood investment clubs, community sports activities and restoration projects. Form weekly discussion [...]

[ Extracted from the "Neighborhood Enhancement" section of 366 Community Service Ideas. Compiled by Janet Fox, 4-H Extension Specialist. Value-added: we linked to resources that might help you apply these ideas. If you have more (or better) links, please reply below. ] <br /> <a href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2044686/” mce_href=”http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2044686/”>Extra credit: check the ideas that you like, then [...]

These projects by past Make A Difference Day honorees can inspire your brainstorm sessions for ideas on how your group can use its special services to make a difference. Also on this site: planning guides and other resources to help you turn your ideas into good deeds. Need ideas? Check out the Idea Generator. TEEN [...]