Knowing your neighbors can bring many benefits, such as feeling part of a community, working together to overcome challenges, and helping each other out on a daily basis. A good approach to begin with is to get together informally, enjoy yourselves, and go from there. Below are a few suggestions on how to begin.
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Organize a sidewalk barbecue
A sidewalk potluck barbecue is a fun and easy way to start meeting neighbors. There’s no permits, little planning required, and people get to meet in a neutral space on the street. To put on this kind of event, decide on the date, time, location, and other logistics at least 2 weeks ahead of time; deliver a flyer (download a sample), including your contacts, to your neighbors; and wait for the day to arrive. At the event, provide sticky name tags and a sign up sheet to capture contact information. For more information, contact Adam, ISPN board member, on adam@inner-sunset.org or at 415-731-1139. |
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Throw a block party
Block parties are an exciting way introduce neighbors to one another and to start building community and increasing safety on your block. Inner Sunset residents who’ve organized block parties have found them tremendously rewarding. Download this useful guide on organizing a block party. For more information, get in touch with Adam (contacts above). |
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Do a survey of your block
This is a more involved project to build community on your street. A block survey involves visiting the residents on your street and finding out their skills, interests, needs, and so on. Most people are touched when approached with a survey of this kind. The results are used to match neighbors’ assets and needs. The long term benefits are practically unlimited. Download a template survey (Word / PDF) for one possible approach. For more information, get in touch with Adam (contacts above). |