This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Five Ideas Gleaned from PWC Neighborhood Conference

City residents also shared ideas at the county's annual neighborhood leader event.

Last Saturday, the Prince William County Neighborhood Conference brought together folks from more than 45 neighborhoods at the county government center, according to Neighborhood Services Division Chief Pat Reilly. 

In his remarks, Coles District Supervisor Marty Nohe estimated neighborhood volunteers save county taxpayers the equivalent of 20 full-time staff positions. 

Supervisor Frank Principi urged everyone to get informed, get engaged and focus on making a difference.  He shared that one of his first civic roles was serving on the HOA board of Dawson Landing, after being recruited by a woman who walked her dog every day.  Now he’s leading the Woodbridge Magisterial District (www.NewWoodbridge.org). 

Find out what's happening in Manassaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

After the opening session, we chose sessions in three tracks for association leaders, “in the trenches” neighborhood leaders and development/capacity builders. 

Here are five ideas I gleaned from the sessions and networking opportunities:

Find out what's happening in Manassaswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  1. Because government is getting leaner, we, as residents, need to take care of our own neighborhoods.  This affirms what I discovered five years ago when I began volunteering for the City of Manassas’ new Neighborhood Services department.  The trend continues to grow as a regional and national movement.
  2. Of all the businesses in the county, 89% are microenterprises – small businesses with less than five employees that require less than $50,000 in start-up capital.  From cupcake and crepe entrepreneurs to investing in rooftop greenhouses, if you want to engage under-used resources into small businesses that target community needs and grow jobs, start brainstorming. 
  3. The county is considering a one-day training course that would certify volunteer mediators to resolve neighborhood disputes.  Mediators would serve in neighborhoods other than their own.
  4. The key word in the phrase “community property manager” or “community policing” is “community.”  The more a property manager or police officer walks the streets and interacts with people, the stronger and safer that community will be. 
  5. At lunch, I had a frank discussion with several residents about neighborhood projects.  I always see the cup as running over; they shared a few cup shattering viewpoints.  I left with the challenge to reassess my  role.  How can I do a better volunteer job?

Then, as I was driving home to Manassas, I thought about this: 

When I arrived at the conference that morning, I talked to a woman who said she warned her neighbor, if he didn’t get rid of his chickens in three days, she was going to let her dogs out.  He didn’t and she did.  They are still at war with each other.   

When I finished my last session, I heard about neighbors who are working together in one community to recycle wooden pallets and used tires and turn them into brightly painted benches and tire swings.  Instead of graffiti on retaining walls, they now have sunny, graffiti-free murals. 

Which neighbors would I like to have?  What kind of neighbor do I want to be?

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?