Block Clubs

Introduction

How to organize strong block clubs as a foundation for a strong neighborhood organization.

Overview

This section includes resources to help you recruit, train, inspire and support block club leaders.

Page Index

  • Key Issues
  • Common Problems and Solutions
  • Successful Strategies
  • Annotated Web Resources
  • Topic Library
  • Sub-Topics and Vendors


    • Key Issues Related to this Topic

  • Use the power of civic associations. Every neighborhood already has dozens of civic associations, including block clubs, churches, garden clubs, sports teams, bowling leagues and cultural associations. Neighborhood groups can become an “association of associations” mobilizing the talents and energy of all of the civic associations in a neighborhood to realize the community’s vision.

  • Building a strong partnership with your local police takes time & constant communication. Volunteers and staff at every level of your organization, from block club members and captains to board members can all help with building a strong and constant flow of information back and forth from your neighborhood to your police precinct.

  • Strong block clubs are the key to making a neighborhood safe. Studies show that blocks with strong block clubs have lower rates of crime, even in the lowest income neighborhoods. By watching out for one another and taking pride in their homes and yards, members of block clubs send out a clear message that ěcrime is not welcome here.î Block leaders need ongoing training and support. Block leaders can do much to spark the involvement of their neighbors, but need ongoing support to keep up their efforts. Neighborhoods use many different methods to support their block club leaders including block captain newsletters, training evenings, mini grants and recognition events.

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    Common Problems and Solutions

  • Block leaders need ongoing training and support. Block leaders can do much to spark the involvement of their neighbors, but need ongoing support to keep up their efforts. Neighborhoods use many different methods to support their block club leaders including block captain newsletters, training evenings, mini grants and recognition events.

  • Isolation, fear and distrust among neighbors. On many low-income or high-crime blocks residents stay isolated because of fear. Working with police to solve basic safety issues and organizing fun events to bring neighbors together are two first steps to building community on blocks with high levels of fear.

  • Unorganized blocks. Often neighborhood associations find it difficult to organize block clubs on lower income blocks and blocks with high number of rental units or commercial properties. When careful attention is paid to cultivating one or two new volunteers who live on an unorganized block, these residents can then work along side other neighborhood volunteers and city crime prevention staff to canvass their block and start a block club.

  • Lack of Trust in the Police- Because of many past experiences of unfair treatment from members of local police departments some low income residents, youth and members of communities of color are not eager to call the police to help solve a problem. When neighborhood associations build stronger connections of accountability with their local police precinct, many solutions can be found to strengthen connections between residents and the police.

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    Successful Strategies

  • Block clubs can build participation by focusing on positive activities. While block clubs often get active to address serious crime problems, the long term involvement of neighbors can best be sustained through working on positive activities such as block parties, community gardens, boulevard planting, paint and fix up projects and barter exchange networks. Many neighborhoods and the Minneapolis Police Department offer mini-grants to block clubs to provide the funds needed for these block improvement projects.

  • Use every method possible to increase the eyes on the street. Many break-ins happen during the day when many residents are away at work. Citizen safety patrols, bike patrols, getting seniors involved with your block club, supporting home-based businesses and community gardens are all ways to increase the number of eyes on the street.

  • A monthly huddle can speed the resolution of problem properties. Many neighborhoods organize a monthly ěhuddleî of block leaders, neighborhood staff, local police and staff from the inspections department and city council to identify, track, find solutions for and resolve the problem properties in their neighborhood. These work teams can often put pressure on problem landlords to sell their properties to more responsible owners, and use housing codes, police surveillance and citizen pressure to clean up properties with drug dealing and frequent police calls. The General Mills Foundation is currently leading these huddles in the Hawthorne and Jordan neighborhoods.

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    Annotated WebLinks

  • Minneapolis block club training resources and mini-grants
    City of Minneapolis Community Crime Prevention / SAFE   06/14/04
    A wealth of information available to support block leaders in Minneapolis neighborhoods.

  • St. Paul Block club organizing resources
    City of St. Paul Police Department, FORCE Unit   06/14/04
    The FORCE "Focusing Our Resources on Community Empowerment," unit is built on the premise of having a collaborative partnership between the Saint Paul Police Department and our citizens to fight crime in the city. Their web site includes a monthly newsletter and wealth of other resources.

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    Library

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    Vendors by Sub-Topic

    Block Club Training and Support  
        Center for Neighborhoods
        City of Minneapolis Police Department
        City of St. Paul Police Department, FORCE Unit
        Community Crime Prevention / SAFE
        Community Stabilization Project
        Dayton's Bluff District 4 Community Council
        Dispute Resolution Center (St. Paul)
        Freeport West
        Glenwood-Lyndale Community Center
        Initiative for Violence-Free Families/Family & Children's Service
        Minneapolis Highrise Resident Council
        Minneapolis Mediation Program
        Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program
        Minneapolis Training Program for Neighborhood Organizers
        National Association of Town Watch
        The Voice in Phillips


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