About Neighborworking
Neighborworking is an information resource centered on neighborhoods as the natural building blocks of our cities and towns.
Neighborworking was started by neighborhood enthusiasts in Portland, Oregon – who want to document the history of Portland’s neighborhood system to help support a framework of neighborhoods that are democratic, engaged, diverse, equitable, inclusive, functional and vibrant.
To that end we are building a sort of neighborhood-themed “Information Please Almanac” – that provides links to rich history, in-depth research, and a wide range of resources illustrating the scope of the neighborhood as an important unit of human living.
Why Community Engagement?
Community Engagement is what makes neighborhoods and cities tick. The National Civic League recently updated their “Model City Charter” to include new language that supports community engagement and equity.
Including the role of the community in your city charter significantly strengthens the likelihood that effective community engagement will become integral to your local government culture.
You can find the suggested community engagement language at: https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/model-city-charter-9th-edition-article-vii-the-role-of-public-engagement-in-local-governance/
Value Neighborhoods Bring
- Develop Leaders
- Events (fun community events, volunteer projects, community dialogues)
- Help with navigations
- Information and Referral
- Forums and gatherings
- Networking
- Education
- Communications (newsletters, websites, listservs, social media, etc)
- Amplify community voice
- Donations / financial support
- Advocacy support
- Support and partner with other community organizations
- Share knowledge and best practices
Why Neighborhoods?
According to the Project for Public Spaces:
Neighborhoods–whether in cities, suburbs, or small towns–are the level where people interact most regularly and naturally. Neighborhoods provide a ready-made forum for tackling problems like traffic, crime, or social alienation that seem too daunting to address on the national or municipal scale. Even in communities where there are no pressing troubles, the neighborhood remains an ideal setting for important work such as restoring a park, enlivening a business district, or boosting an inherent “sense of community.”
Portland, Oregon New 2025 City Council District Updates
Neighborhood News
News affecting neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon and around the world
50 Years of Informed, Grassroots Public Involvement
Part II: Celebrating Portland’s Community Engagement Program By Paul Leistner PhD, Policy Analysis and Community Engagement, Portland State University [Ed. Note: This is the second in the series of articles to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Portland’s nationally and internationally recognized community engagement system.] What does it take to create
Participatory Democracy in Portland: 1974 – 2024
Participatory Democracy in Portland: 1974 – 2024A Half Century of Neighborhood Empowerment February 7th marks 50 years since the City of Portland adopted its nationally-recognized system of community engagement. It’s time to celebrate this important milestone!Emerging from an era of political turmoil and a surge in grassroots activism, a novel
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Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility: IDEA
Neighorhoods are for everyone
Neighborhood Resources
Resources for neighborhoods
Newsletter Repository
A repository of neighborhood -based newsletters and articles
Anatomy of a Neighborhood Association
* Board of Directors
* Members
* Bylaws
* Community Agreements
* Orientation & Training
* City integration
* District Coalition
* Website
* Digital Newsletter
* Physical Newsletter
* Committees
* Events
* Fundraisers
* Grantwriting
* Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility
* Cleanups
* Outreach
* Social Media
* Zoom and hybrid meetings
Anatomy of a District Coalition
* Board of Directors
* Members
* Bylaws
* Community Agreements
* Orientation & Training
* City integration
* Neighborhoods
* Website
* Digital Newsletter
* Physical Newsletter
* Committees
* Events
* Fundraisers
* Grantwriting
* Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility
* Outreach
* Social Media
* Zoom and hybrid meetings
Oregon Cities
How different Oregon cities organize neighborhoods and districts
Portland, Oregon
Open Map Portland’s District Coalitions Link to city coalition page Central Northeast Neighbors East Portland Community Office Neighbors West-Northwest North Portland Neighborhood Services Northeast
Eugene, Oregon
City of Eugene, Neighborhood Association Program https://www.eugene-or.gov/4495/Neighborhood-Association-Program
Salem, Oregon
https://www.cityofsalem.net/community/neighborhoods/neighborhood-associations
Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie has seven neighborhood district associations (NDAs). You can find more information about the NDAs and lots of resources at: https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/citymanager/neighborhood-nda-training-manual
Beaverton, Oregon
Currently, the City of Beaverton has 11 recognized Neighborhood Association Committees (NACs). The NACs are great forums to identify community needs and to develop
Gresham, Oregon
The City of Gresham’s neighborhood program is part of the City of Gresham’s Community and Neighborhood Engagement Program. Neighborhood Associations: https://greshamoregon.gov/Neighborhood-Associations/ Community and Neighborhood Engagement:
Lake Oswego, Oregon
https://www.ci.oswego.or.us/planning/neighborhood-association-program
Astoria, Oregon
https://www.astoria.or.us/Neighborhood_Associations.aspx Map links: https://www.astoria.or.us/Public_GIS_Maps.aspx
Hermiston, Oregon
https://www.hermiston.or.us/commdev/page/how-form-neighborhood-association 2040 Hermiston community vision action plan .
Canby, Oregon
https://www.canbyoregon.gov/dev-services/page/neighborhood-associations#:~:text=Canby%20has%20four%20neighborhood%20Associations,%2C%20Northeast%2C%20Southwest%20and%20Southeast.
US Cities
How different US cities organize neighborhoods and districts
World Cities
How different world cities organize neighborhoods and districts