Neighborhood of the Year Award

2009 Neighborhood of the Year Award
Results

Grand Prize Winner

Neighborhood of the Year – Grand Prize Winner

Sylvan Old Auburn Road Neighborhood Assoc.,
Citrus Heights, California
Project:  SOAR to Healthy Heights                                              

Sylvan Old Auburn Road (SOAR) Neighborhood Association from Citrus Heights, CA sponsored the city's first Senior Health Fair -- "SOARing to Healthy Heights". This successful event illustrates the effectiveness of pooling talents and resources by partnering with other neighborhoods, public agencies and private enterprise.

Contact:  Dr. Jayna Karpiski-Costa
Ph: 916/722-8647
E-mail:  vetlaw@drjayna.com

Social Revitalization/Neighborliness-Single Neighborhood

First Place

North Beverly Hills Neighborhood Assoc.,
Fort Worth, Texas                        
Project:  Reinvigorated Crime Watch Program

Residents of an old established neighborhood came together to keep it safe. Using monthly meetings, monthly newsletters, email updates and text messages to keep all apprised of events/alerts. Along with a few social gatherings we promoted and inspired crime watch interest along with friendliness and pride in our neighborhood.

Contact:  Jennifer Trevino
Ph:  817/319-5876
E-mail: jtrevino@hsc.unt.edu

Second Place

Weems Neighborhood Association, Manassas, Virginia
Project:  Weems Neighborhood Watch – Week of Hope

Weems Neighborhood Watch partnered with Manassas, Virginia’s Week of Hope program to clean up Landgreen Street where Manassas cab driver Khawaja Ahmed was murdered. The project deterred crime, abated demoralizing blight and helped build community.

Contact: Cindy Brookshire
Ph:  703/361-6941
E-mail: brookshire1014@verizon.net

Third Place

Ryan Place Improvement Association, Fort Worth, Texas
Project:  Ryan Place Porch Parties

Events held throughout the year bring together the dynamic diversity of residents to encourage participation, interest, and promotion of the neighborhood’s friendliness and pride while recruiting a greater volunteer base for neighborhood improvements and activities.

Contact:  Mariann Taccia
Ph:  817/921-9976
E-mail: mariannmt@sbcglobal.net

Finalist

Watts Gang Task Force, Los Angeles, California                       Project:  Watts Gang Task Force    

The City of San Jose Neighborhood’s Commission is a civic engagement process comprised of thirty residents, selected by their fellow residents in city-wide neighborhood caucuses, who advise the Council on matter’s of significant community interest.

Contact: Betty Day
Ph:  323/569-3745

Finalist

We Love Long Beach, Long Beach, California
Project:  Belmont Shores

We Love Long Beach is a neighborhood group committed to providing safe places for neighbors to come Together and get to know one another. In 2008, we hosted two community cookouts; multiple monthly breakfasts and dinner parties; and a book discussion group.

Contact: Scott Jones
Ph: 562/400-6981
E-mail: welovelb@gmail.com

Physical Revitalization – Single Neighborhood

First Place

First Place: Frenship Mesa Park Development Committee. Wolfforth, Texas
Project: Frenship Mesa Park

Parents in Wolfforth, Texas saw a need in their neighborhood. It took 2½ years of hard work, dedication, and miracles for neighbors, local businesses, and eight Boy Scouts to make Frenship Mesa Park a reality

Contact: Julie Merrill
Ph: 806/833-0111
E-mail: Merrill.julie@gmail.com

Second Place

Second Place: Derby Neighborhood Outreach,
Commerce City, Colorado
Project: The Derby Neighborhood Re-Development Project

The Derby redevelopment project was a collaboration between many different community entities that shared a common goal. The goal was to beautify and make Derby a safe and thriving community once again.

Contact: Robert Romine
Ph: 303/288-4363
E-mail: twobear2k@aol.com

Third Place

Third Place: Liberty Parks Homeowners Association,
Renton, Washington
Project: Liberty Ridge Neighborhood Playground

The Liberty Ridge Homeowners Association received matching funds from the City of Renton Neighborhood Program to plan, install, and enjoy a neighborhood playground. When neighbors work together, it facilitates a sense of community ownership.

Contact: Norma McQuiller
Ph: 425/430-6595
E-mail: nmcquiller@rentonwa.gov

Finalist

East Avondale Neighborhood Association,
Birmingham, Alabama
Project: East Avondale

The East Avondale Neighborhood Association is a diverse neighborhood consisting of 459 households and numerous businesses with 9 homes repaired and 12 new homes built. It is convenient to the airport, shopping centers, hospitals and freeways.

Contact: Rosie Thrash
Ph: 205/592-2937

Multi Neighborhood Project Partnerships

First Place

Sylvan Old Auburn Road Neighborhood Assoc., Citrus Heights, CA Project: SOAR to Healthy Heights

Sylvan Old Auburn Road (SOAR) Neighborhood Association from Citrus Heights, CA sponsored the city's first Senior Health Fair -- "SOARing to Healthy Heights". This successful event illustrates the effectiveness of pooling talents and resources by partnering with other neighborhoods, public agencies and private enterprise.

Contact: Dr. Jayna Karpiski-Costa
Ph: 916/722-8647
E-mail: vetlaw@drjayna.com

Second Place

Greater Hillyard Business Association, Spokane, Washington Project: “One Voice” Organizing for Impact

The “One Voice” of Greater Hillyard: how a neglected community of neighborhoods changed course by choosing teamwork, higher objectives, unusual resources and by recruiting others along the way.

Contact: J. R. Sloan
Ph: 509/467-2241
E-mail: jrsloan2@hotmail.com

Third Place

The Near Eastside Collaborative Task Force, Indianapolis, Indiana Project: Super Bowl: Eastside Legacy Project

Neighborhood collaboration wins Super Bowl! The creation of a resident-driven comprehensive quality-of-life plan serves as the “game plan” for collaborations helping to transform this determined neighborhood in time for the Indianapolis 2012 Super Bowl.

Contact: Joe Bowling
Ph: 317/631-4369
E-mail: jbowling@enn.org

Finalist

Fairmount Neighborhood Association, Fort Worth, Texas
Project: Annual Home Tour

The Annual Home Tour features restored, turn of the century antique homes and demonstrates revitalization efforts of the neighborhood. Working in partnership with local and national organizations, the tour also generates funding for neighborhood projects

Contact: Fred Harper
Ph: 817/927-7257
E-mail: fgharper@gmail.com

For more information contact
Robert Gibbons
1950 E. Washington Ave., #1
Madison, WI 53704
H: 608-244-0582
Email: robert.gibbons1@charter.net