About
Neighborhoods USANeighborhoods, USA (NUSA) is a national, non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. Created in 1975 to share information and experiences used to build stronger communities, NUSA continues to encourage networking and information-sharing to facilitate the development of partnerships among neighborhood organizations, government, and the private sector for the ultimate goal of strengthening every neighborhood.
NUSA’s organizational mission is to build and strengthen neighborhood associations and to promote productive communications and collaborations among those associations with both the public and private sectors. For the past forty-five years, the organization has served these broad principles through its annual conference by providing an opportunity for people from all locations, sectors, and levels of society to discuss pressing issues of the times, share experiences, and offer assistance, motivation, and encouragement.
Each year, NUSA solicits nominations to recognize the commitment of neighborhood endeavors, actions, and neighborhood-friendly individuals or enterprises by awarding its Neighborhood of the Year, Best Neighborhood Program, Neighborhood Newsletter and Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhood awards.
NUSA’s Neighborhood of the Year awards has been presented since 1984 as a collective “thank you” for the hard work of nominated neighborhoods and are the only national awards given on an ongoing basis to neighborhood organizations for their self-help initiatives. The Best Neighborhood Program awards are a way for NUSA to recognize outstanding government entities and businesses for their work in improving the quality of life in their communities.
The Neighborhood Newsletter Competition awards excellence in community print and electronic newsletters. The Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods award recognizes individuals whose work mirrors the mission of Neighborhoods, USA: to build and strengthen neighborhoods associations; to encourage neighborhood involvement in the decision-making process in local governments; and to promote productive communications and collaborations between neighborhood associations, local governments, and the public/private sector.
Award recipients are announced during special recognition breakfasts and luncheons at the annual conference.
NUSA is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors. Members are elected annually to staggered three-year terms to serve voluntarily and at their own expense. The board directs the ongoing business and policy of the organization, provides oversight for the implementation of each year’s conference, and plays a leadership role by promoting the organization and the work of neighborhood-based activism and self-help initiatives.
NUSA maintains a stable membership base, comprised primarily of annual conference attendees from across the nation and around the world.
neighborhoods, usa.
board of directors
Board members serve 3-year terms and are elected by the NUSA membership during the annual conference
Precious McKesson
President, Program Development Chair
2nd term, exp. 10/24
Awards, Resource Development
Omaha, Nebraska
dwight pridgeon
Vice President, Resource Development Chair
2nd term, exp. 10/2024
Public Affairs
Little Rock, Arkansas
Valorie Duvall
Secretary
1st term, exp. 10/2025
Awards Program, Public Affairs
Lubbock, Texas
carrie snyder
Assistant Secretary
1st term, exp. 10/2025
Membership Committee, Awards Program,Public Affairs
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Joyce cox
Treasurer, Public Affairs-Chair
2nd term, exp. 10/2025 Resource Development
Memphis, Tennessee
Keno wong
Parliamentarian
1st term, exp. 10/2025
Board Development, Public Affairs, ByLaws & Rules
Nassau, Bahamas
Reba Taylor-Hill
Sergeant At Arms, Awards Program Co-Chair
2nd term, exp. 10/2024
Membership Committee
Indianapolis, Indiana
Elton Gatewood
Program Development Co-Chair
3rd term, exp. 10/2024
Resource Development
Fircrest, Washington
Paul Gambill
Bylaws & Rules Chair
1st term, exp. 10/2025
Board Development, Resource Development,
Erie, Pennsylvania
Orlando Robinson, Jr.
Membership
3rd term, exp. 10/2026
Bylaws & Awards Program
Midfield, Alabama
ellen spencer
Awards Program
1st term, exp. 10/2025
Membership, Board Development, Awards Program
Birmingham, Alabama
debbie lightbourn
Board Development
1st term, exp. 10/2025
Awards Program
Nassau, Bahamas
Henry Nickel
Awards Program
2nd term, exp. 10/2025
Program Development
San Bernardino, California
Charmaine Clark
Membership Chair
3rd term, exp. 10/2026
Awards Program
Columbia, South Carolina
dora sims
Board Development Chair
2nd term, exp. 10/2025
Bylaws & Rules
Birmingham, Alabama
Tony Olden, Sr.
Bylaws & Rules Committee
1st term, exp. 10/2025
Board Development, Program Development
Memphis, Tennessee
Jeri Pryor
Administrative Assistant
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Interested in Running for the NUSA Board?
Are you ready to make a difference by helping to build stronger, healthier, and safer neighborhoods and communities? If so, consider becoming a Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) board member.
Requirements
- Must be a member in good standing of NUSA.
- Must be a member of the organization at least one year prior to becoming a candidate.
- All prospective candidates MUST have attended one previous NUSA Conference within the last 3 years held at Ft. Worth (virtual); Little Rock, or El Paso, and MUST have attended at least one of the Running for NUSA Board workshops held during one of the previous three NUSA Conferences.
- To ensure a regional balance, as well as an equitable representation of all community interests, there shall not exceed more than two (2) current board members serving from the same city, and no more than three (3) from the same state.
- Must be able to attend meetings of the NUSA board at his/her own expense.
- Must attend the opening breakfast during the annual conference.
- Must attend the Saturday NUSA Business Meeting during the annual conference.
- Must attend the Saturday closing luncheon during the conference.
- Must submit a high-resolution color photo with the Board of Directors Application Form. If you are emailing your application, please include a photograph (2” x 3” or 3” x 5”) in electronic form. The photos you submit will be used for publication in NUSA’s spring newsletter. No photocopied or faxed pictures will be accepted, as the quality of the photo you submit must be acceptable for publication purposes.
NUSA Board Committees
AWARDS PROGRAM
Responsibilities include but are not limited to: the administration of all aspects related to the existing NUSA awards program including the annual update of award applications, solicitation of award applications, facilitation of judging, and the award presentations.
BOARD DEVELOPMENT
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: reviewing and updating the NUSA Board Manual and all election forms on an annual basis, development, and implementation of all election procedures, monitoring and facilitation of board elections, and providing orientation for new board members.
MEMBERSHIP SERVICE
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to development of membership cards, responding to membership service requests, and oversight of the NUSA Affiliate program.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Responsibilities include but are not limited to oversight of the conference host city’s plans for the annual conference, reviewing the Host Entity Bid Packet, and facilitating the Host City selection process.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: promoting NUSA, responding to media requests and oversight of NUSA communications via print, web, and social media.
BYLAWS & RULES
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to: annually reviewing NUSA’s bylaws and standing rules, updating standing rules for consistency with the NUSA bylaws, recommending NUSA bylaw edits, and validating motions and resolutions submitted to the Board for general membership approval.
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to researching and reviewing opportunities for financial partnerships, sponsorships, and donations.
Number & Election
Neighborhoods, USA has a 21-member Board of Directors. Each year during the annual conference in
May, the general membership elects’ members to the Board from a slate of candidates prepared by the
Board Development Committee. Efforts are made to encourage a regional balance, and as such, only
two board members from the same city can serve on the NUSA Board of Directors.
Equitable representation of all community interests is desired for the Board and includes neighborhood
residents, elected officials, working practitioners and private sector representatives consistent with the
purpose of the organization.
Tenure & Transition
Members of the Board of Directors are elected to serve a 3-year term. The terms are staggered so as to
require an annual election of one-third of the Board’s membership. A full term is defined to be at least
two-thirds of a 3-year term.
No member shall serve more than three full consecutive 3-year terms. In no case shall a member be eligible for re-election or appointment until twelve months after the completion
of their third term. Terms of office begin on the first day of the fall Board meeting.