Neighborhood Summit 2011
The Promise and Challenge of Neighborhood Democracy

Representatives from City neighborhood associations, boards and commissions, 4-J School District and City staff and elected officials gathered at North Eugene High School on September 24 to spend the day engaging in stimulating discussion about grass roots democracy.  This year’s theme, The Challenge and Promise of Neighborhood Democracy, set the stage for small and large group facilitated discussions on the roles of neighborhood associations and other City advisory bodies in local decision-making and what legitimacy and accountability looks like for all stakeholders involved.  Attendees explored critical questions such as:  How can we use our valuable time and energy to work together to solve difficult problems?  How do we advocate in a way that allows for differences and maintains trust and respect?   How can we operate in a way that shows accountability for our actions and decisions?

The Summit was opened with a dynamic, inspiring keynote address by Jim Diers, former Director of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods that highlighted stories from around the world of residents coming together and effectively using their “neighbor power” to make positive changes in their communities.  Hypothetical scenarios were presented to stimulate discussion on the actions and role of different stakeholders (staff, elected officials, neighborhood associations)   in a decision making process. 

Table top discussions generated ideas on how we all can make changes to support a more civil, inclusive and functional neighborhood democracy and participants identified those they believe are the easiest to change and/or anticipated to have the greatest impact.  The main session was followed with an optional afternoon workshop on Mobilizing Neighbor Power in which Jim Diers shared his key elements to broad and inclusive involvement and effective tools and techniques for building community at the neighborhood level.