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Redwood City's
Neighborhood Liaison Program
"Building a better community together”
What is a neighborhood Liaison?
Neighborhood Liaisons are people who agree to simply meet and talk with a few of their neighbors, have them fill out voluntary contact sheets, and then help get some neighbors together to work on a neighborhood project that the neighbors come up with. It’s kind of like the traditional “block captain” concept, but with a self-starting community building angle.
Information
A Neighborhood Liaison is also a conduit for periodic information to and from the City, and the program provides a convenient and effective way for neighbors to organize around diverse neighborhood issues ranging from disaster preparedness to neighborhood beautification to block parties to whatever the neighbors feel is important for their community.
Workshops & Training
Another aspect which we are anxious to offer through the Neighborhood Liaison program is other types of training – such as  neighborhood organizing, leadership development, conflict resolution, emergency preparedness, and more. Our hope is that with some of these tools, and an issue or opportunity that is “tapping you on the shoulder,” you can bring your neighbors together and effectively create something that will benefit you, your family and neighbors, and the community.
Resources
For the community building aspect, there are many resources that neighbors can use when they’re self-organizing, and we’re anxious to help with that effort. We can:
- provide a gathering place or meeting room
- offer a facilitator or city liaison to the group for specific needs
- help publicize and promote your neighborhood project or activity
- offer a grant program that will help offset costs of neighborhood improvement projects
- be catalysts, conveners and facilitators to help neighborhoods successfully organize and affect positive change
Here are some resources we're collecting for your use:
From Neighborhood Liaison Training, August 27, 2008 -
Neighborhood Toolbox
Sound Interesting?
If you’re interested in identifying an area in your neighborhood – from just a few houses to the whole block, or more - for which you’ll be the Neighborhood Liaison, please contact Erica Spacher at 780-5905 or send her an email at espacher@redwoodcity.org.
Upcoming Events and Activities
Redwood City's Annual Fall Cleanup Day/Coastal Cleanup / Limpieza Anual de Otoño/En el Día de Limpieza Costero
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Click here to link to an overview of some of the research into the concept of civic engagement and "social capital."
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