Think Local, Act Local

Neighborhood associations are the most direct way for people to make a difference in the city

COMMENTARY
By Rohli Booker
For Fort Wayne Ink Spot

More than a year has passed since the world erupted in protests fueled by the murder of George Floyd and Fort Wayne made national news for protest activity during that time.

These protests provided everyday people, in this city, with the platform to use their voices to bring attention to an issue, spark conversations and create the momentum needed to inspire change. This was a macroscale example of how people used their voices for change. Change, however, does not have to be on a large scale or be initiated by tragedy to be impactful. Neighborhood associations are an underutilized tool that can be a powerful way to amplify the voices of everyday people to influence change right where they live.

Neighborhood associations are a collective of residents that include renters, homeowners, businesses, civic groups, and churches in a particular area. An active and organized association can promote better neighborhoods by fostering a sense of community that can lead to safer, healthier, and more beautiful places to live. These associations provide residents with a way to speak on issues of concern to the neighborhood and connect them with the city officials to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Kody Tinel, Foster Park Neighborhood Association President, points out that “neighborhood associations are a great low barrier way for someone to have a louder voice than I think than a lot of other structures allow people to have.”

The City of Fort Wayne supports neighborhoods in various ways, such as hosting quarterly meetings for neighborhood association presidents. The presidents receive information from city leaders and elected officials that directly impact their neighborhoods. The city also supports neighborhoods through initiatives such as improving sidewalks and alleys, planting trees, and offering associations grants to beautify public spaces.

Unfortunately, low resident participation is a shared barrier to success for some neighborhood associations. Tony Ridley, Renaissance Point Neighborhood Association president and vice-chair of the Southeast Area Partnership, said that he's seen decreased engagement in his neighborhood association over the 15 years he has been president. He noted the people most engaged in the association have gotten older, moved out of the neighborhood, or passed away.

Lyndy Bazile, vice president of Renaissance Pointe Neighborhood Association, theorized that the lack of community participation in neighborhood associations could be that formal meetings—even on the neighborhood level—can be intimidating to some residents.

“The general sense is that our voice isn’t important or doesn’t matter or doesn’t have an impact,” she said. “That perspective is holding us back. I think now is the time for people to just be able to get together and collaborate on ideas and find solutions for ourselves.”

Bazile started an Instagram page on behalf of her neighborhood association to communicate with residents, and to create a sense of community belonging and pride. She wants the residents of her neighborhood to feel empowered to be part of the conversations that impact them and encourage them to use their voices.

“If you’re in Renaissance Pointe definitely follow @renpoint on Instagram so we can communicate and stay in touch and start getting our neighborhood association meetings up and running again,” she said.

Bazile offered advice to those that have never been involved in a neighborhood association. “It doesn’t matter if you don’t know or feel like you don’t know everything. Or if you don’t know a lot. Don’t let that stop you from stepping up.”

In the summer of 2020, I was appointed to represent District 4 on the Fort Wayne Community School Board of Trustees. Since my appointment, I have not only learned how the school district operates but how the city communicates, works with, and supports our neighborhoods.

Communities with active associations are better positioned to benefit from initiatives that the city has to improve the neighborhood we live in. My neighborhood association is currently active, but the level of participation is not where it should be to be truly impactful.

I spoke with Jim Sack, West Rudisill neighborhood association president, and he encouraged me to do the work needed to revitalize the association in my neighborhood. I contacted my neighborhood association president and members of the community active in the association. We combined our efforts by knocking on doors, passing out flyers, creating social media accounts, and speaking to residents to encourage them to become engaged in the neighborhood association.

As a result of our combined efforts, we will be resuming our neighborhood association meetings, the first of which will be on July 15th. Residents of La Rez that would like to become involved and informed about what’s going on in our neighborhood can follow @larezfw on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

If you would like to become involved in your neighborhood association, visit fortwayneneighborhoods.org.

Rohli Booker is a resident of La Rez neighborhood, an entrepreneur, mother of three, and currently serves on the FWCS Board of Trustees.