How community leadership strengthens a neighborhood

Community Impact was an initiative that existed in Chattanooga from 1999 to 2011. They measured neighborhood strength based on four factors. Today, we’re exploring one of those factors: community leadership.

So, what is community leadership?

Depending on where you live, community leadership can look a bit different based on a neighborhood’s needs. From starting a community garden to hosting neighborhood meetings in your place of business, community leadership doesn’t necessarily fit into one specific box. In this video, from NeighborWorks America, you can see just how unique community leadership is. When it comes to defining a community leader, it is best and often described as someone who takes responsibility for the well-being and improvement of their communities. Someone like you!

Truthfully, community leadership and development rarely, if ever, go from point A-to-B without a detour or two. And while community leadership is necessary to developing strong neighborhoods, there isn’t an exact formula for creating neighborhood change. Even without a formula, we’ve found a few key indicators that most community leadership projects offer:

• Recognizing that place matters
• Honoring culture while promoting inclusion
• Fostering collaboration

How projects like the Causeway Challenge contribute to community leadership

Oftentimes, there’s little to no support for leadership on the neighborhood level. The Challenge provides guidance and monetary support for projects and ideas that engage grassroots leaders while allowing them to build skills and improve their neighborhoods.

Grassroots neighborhood leaders generally represent and give voice to traditionally underrepresented community members. When neighbors and community members are given an opportunity to work together to amplify neighborhood voices, it creates trust and fosters neighborhood growth. And even though there’s no exact formula for executing community leadership projects, we know they work best and have a better chance at succeeding when strengthened by neighborhood support.

Example projects of community leadership

Community leadership projects are vital to community change. As you think about your Challenge application, here are three examples of projects that exemplify community leadership.

Friendly Streets Initiative — employs a variety of creative and interactive methods and tools to engage neighbors in conversation, brainstorming and debate about the future of their streets and other public spaces in their community.

Pedal to Porch — hosts bike tours through designated neighborhoods, making stops at designated homes where residents emerge onto their porches to tell their story.

Block Leaders Connect — connects neighborhoods to the city of Chattanooga through building capacity, membership, and new leadership in the Avondale and Eastdale neighborhoods. (Causeway Challenge 2014 awardee)

If you are someone who lives, works, or plays in the 37404 area, we want to know how you think your neighborhood could be strengthened using common spaces. Applications will be open for the month of July. Learn more at causeway.org/challenge.