North End Neighbor Up Night gets things done

North End Neighbor Up Night was adopted by NECIC to replace Citizen Action in February of 2018. The event is both a social gathering and space for community problem-solving. Every event starts with a meal and ends with individuals making connections with lots of laughter, ideas, and collaboration in between.

The program has a flow that cultivates a feeling of excitement and energy.

The meeting starts with a check-in. This is an opportunity for people to share a new and/or positive thing happening in their lives.

The check-in is followed by “the Business of the Network.” This is a community brainstorming session where attendees break off into small groups to discuss a community concern.

The Marketplace is one of the final practices of the night. It is an opportunity for people to make offers, requests, declarations, and announcements.

North End Neighbor Up Night concludes with the “Bump and Spark.” This activity provides a space for individuals to make connections on their requests and offers that arise during the Marketplace.

North End Neighbor Up Night is unlike other community meetings because it is not a lecture. There are no planned speakers. The topics of each meeting are decided by the residents that attend and there are no topics too big or too small.

Over the last six months, residents have discussed topics like neighborhood blight, lack of activities and recreation for young people, lawn care for elders, mental health issues in the community, Instant Mutual Aid, the need for a community pool, and rental licensing.

One of the best parts of the North End Neighbor Up Night model is the ability to facilitate small but important victories.

In June, two North End elders brought up their struggles with lawn care. The elders worked with other residents that attended the meeting to come up with possible solutions to their problem. At the end of the meeting, the elders connected with another attendee who knew of youths at her church that were looking for service hours. The elders were able to find youths to mow their lawns and weed their flower beds.  

Some problems are more complex. A recurring topic during the summer months has been the lack of activities and recreation for North End youth. Ideas for solutions have included building a community pool,  helping youth find summer jobs, and developing a centrally-located sports complex in the North End. The solutions are big and will take fundraising, networking, and organizing residents, among other things, but talking with others at North End Neighbor Up Night is a great start.

North End Neighbor Up Night is a chance for all residents of the North End to collaborate and work to make a difference in their community. If you are interested in participating, the next North End Neighbor Up Night is August 8, 5 to 7 p.m., at 134 N. Main St., Mansfield.