Introduction Three members of the Friends For Fayetteville board just returned from a meeting in Little Rock of more than 1000 people involved in neighborhood associations in this country and abroad. Involved citizens, as well as city staff and elected officials large cities to small towns were just some of the people we met there. We were heartened and affirmed to be surrounded by friendly, welcoming people of all races, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds who care about their communities and are working to improve their quality of life. The idea of neighborhood associations was fairly new to us, but not to the people we met.
Many cities have neighborhood associations, some for up to a hundred years.
It certainly seems to be working for them. It is apparent that many cities look to neighborhood associations as a means of empowering citizens to help solve local problems much like the corporate world has worked to empower workers through quality management programs. The idea is that neighborhoods are the building blocks of our society. Strong grassroots organizations can have a positive impact on the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Also, local officials are realizing that it is easier to effect positive change if they have neighborhood support and participation.