RCCS joins new neighborhood group

February 22, 2018

NECIC community organizer Kay Smith and community development manager Tony Chinni facilitate the Neighbor Up Night session at NECIC.  

 

Mansfield, Oh - The North End Community Improvement Collaborative has formed a new neighbor group for Mansfield's north end residents to help improve the community.

The first Neighbor Up Night session was held this week at NECIC, 199 N. Main St.  Richland County Children Services along with representatives from the Mansfield Police Department, Mansfield Fire Department, The Transformation Network, area churches and community members attended the gathering.

NECIC community organizer Kay Smith said the organization came up with the idea to start the group after attending an asset-based community development conference in Cleveland in November. Smith said the sessions offer an opportunity for everyone to get know each other and share ideas.

"The goal is to gather the community to empower the neighborhood and motivate each other for change," Smith said.

The group discussed such issues as the elimination of blighted properties, re-entry programs for ex-offenders, Kinship Care, mental health and addiction services, homeless housing programs, and community food gardens.  

Smith said Cleveland hosts a similar session called Neighbor Nights, that has more than 3,000 residents in the  neighborhood throughout the city.

The Neighbor Up Night sessions will be held the third Wednesday of each month. The discussions are open to any Richland County resident who wants to participate. Neighbor Up Nights are replacing the agency's previous monthly Citizen Action Sector meetings.

 

 

« Back to News