National Neighborhood Day

Providence, Rhode Island – National Neighborhood Day hosted a neighborhood block party on Gordon Avenue on Sunday, September 17th from 2-4 pm. Attendees included local residents, Mayor Cicilline, the community police, fire department, and several of the building tenants at 17 Gordon Ave. The Providence Emergency Management Association set up a resource table and raffled off family emergency preparedness kits, and the South Providence Public Library handed out materials. Thanks to Del's Lemonade, Dunkin Donuts, and Deep Sea Fisheries (ice) for their generous donations! Students from the Met School gave a step performance, and kids played Twister and drew all over the street with sidewalk chalk. All in all, a great way to bring together the people who live, work, and study in lower South Providence!

15 Arnold Street; Providence, RI - September 17, 2006 4-6pm - As people arrived to the gathering held in the Adrain/Hood backyard, they passed folding tables set up along the driveway to the backyard. Tables were stocked with nametags, neighborhood list for updating, information on neighborhood resources (boys and girls club, emergency preparedness materials from Red Cross and Providence EM, coupons from local vendors for discounts on meals, and large easel paper with questions about what makes a good neighbor and ideas for neighborhood improvement. People brought all kinds of food and drinks and nearby coffee and liquor stores donated coffee, beer/wine. The crowd was all ages from newborn to 80 with a good number of each age range. Two teenagers coordinated a twister game tournament for the kids, adults shared stories from summer, met new neighbors, caught up on friends’ activities, etc. At about 5:30, there were brief welcome remarks by Lorne Adrain. Lorne asked people to take a few moments to write their ideas on the easel pads regarding neighborhood improvement, then introduced guests and asked them to speak for a moment: the neighborhood police, and the Director of the Providence Boys and Girls Club – the boys and girls club was asked to come and tell the story of the work of the club – to let neighbors know of the services available in their back yard. A young man told the story of how he was selected out of thousands around the country to accompany bob Ballard on exploration of the Dead Sea and how this club activity changed his life and the possibilities he imagines. The local fire station on Brooke street came over with a truck, let kids explore the truck and let them use the hose to wash visiting policeman’s car – great fun. N eighbors will be e-mailed updated list and this report so they can follow-up with neighbors and organize various initiatives.

Community Church of Columbus challenged all of our small groups to do a neighborhood event on Neighborhood Day. We held 24 events throughout different neighborhoods in Columbus Indiana that involved over 800 people!
Events included:
-childrens carnivals
-work projects
-Several neighborhood cookouts
-A Hog Roast and square dance
-Ice cream socials
- 2 outdoors concerts with bands
- outdoor movie shown on the side of a house
- lemonade stand on the corner of a 4-way stop
- Door to door cookie handouts
-Convalescent home outreach
and numerous other events

After it was all said and done, it was a resounding YES that we will be participating again next year!!


Scott Hundley
Community Church of Columbus
Columbus Indiana

Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services hosted a block party for our tenants on Parkis Ave. and for residents of the surrounding area. We had papier mache mask-making, the Big Nazo puppets, a step dance troupe from John Settlement House, and other performers. Over a hundred people attended and we made enough hot dogs and hamburgers for everyone.