The Neighborhood Association President: Community Cheerleader

For almost ten years, I have served as the president of our neighborhood association, and recently, I was asked to share some thoughts about what that role entails. More specifically, I was told that I would have ten minutes to summarize what a neighborhood association president does and why it is important. I was also supposed to come up with some “perks” of the position. As I reflected upon the last ten years, I quickly realized that the job is far more than what the official job description describes. Indeed, the job description in our association bylaws is a single paragraph filled with weighty words which only barely scratch the surface. Therefore, I thought I would record some thoughts in a series of blog posts about the four major roles of the neighborhood association president.

The fourth role of the neighborhood association president is what I will describe as the community cheerleader. If you have ever been to a sporting event with cheerleaders, then you can begin to understand. The cheerleaders may be on the sideline, not directly responsible for anything that is happening on the playing field, but they are constantly encouraging the players and exciting the fans. Similarly, the president will be a champion of the neighborhood, rallying everyone they possibly can to see the potential and realize the vision. Specifically, the president will promote the neighborhood and its vision among four audiences.

Government officials. Neighborhoods need the support of government officials. Elected officials set budgets and policies which affect everything from the streets we drive on to the color we can paint our houses, and professional staff are responsible for actually administering those things, planning and setting priorities for the future, and providing absolutely essential services such as police and fire. Therefore, the neighborhood association president must establish and maintain a positive relationship with them. More than that, though, the president must find ways to advocate for the needs and priorities of the neighborhood. This requires a commitment to common decency and civility. It demands clarity and winsomeness. And perhaps most of all, it hangs on sheer tenacity.

Businesses. The neighborhood association’s relationship with area businesses can have a profound effect on the community. Generally speaking, businesses have financial resources that the neighborhood simply lacks. Therefore, the ability to share the association’s vision with commercial and non-profit organizations is crucial to realizing that vision. Making sure that the business community is healthy and diverse is key to ensuring the vitality of the neighborhood. Therefore, the association must be constantly advocating for the extant businesses and looking for other businesses that may be a good fit for the area. Ensuring that these businesses are attractive and responsible members of the community is key to making sure current residents stay and prospective residents move into the area.

Neighbors. Speaking of prospective residents, the neighborhood association president must be the constant ambassador and advocate for why people should want to live in the neighborhood. This should include people who already live there, as well as people who do not yet live there. Know and be constantly working to accentuate the main things people are looking for (e.g., schools, businesses, recreation). Celebrate the awesome things that are happening in your community. Figure out how to make your neighborhood the most inviting place for the people you want to live there. Conversely, find ways to make the neighborhood uninviting for people you do not want there (i.e., criminal elements).

In short, the neighborhood association president should be constantly cheering on the neighborhood. No matter who they are with, no matter what the occasion may be, they should be championing the vision, giving every stakeholder an opportunity and reason to want to make that neighborhood their home.