Why Neighborhood Associations?

Neighborhood Associations provide spaces for connection and opportunities to engage in grassroots initiatives that bring positive change to daily life. Chattamatters’ 2023 article titled “Why Neighborhood Associations?” encouraged us to start the NCNA. We have already seen the power and impact of our collaborative voice in our NCNA efforts to advocate on behalf of our neighborhood.

The Bloomington Revivalists shared the following: “A strong sense of community is fundamental to a great neighborhood. Neighborhood associations can encourage collaboration in an area to help solve specific problems. They can also help boost public support for larger scale solutions.” We are energized by our ability to work together in tangible ways to make our neighborhood even stronger. 

Neighborhood associations provide ways for people to connect and build community. The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 report, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation”, notes that, “In 2018, only 16% of Americans reported that they felt very attached to their local community.” A central goal for the NCNA is to combat the loneliness epidemic by providing spaces for neighbors to get to know each other, either at a community social gathering, a neighborhood trash pickup or at one of our other meetings.