North End Neighbor Up Night is in full swing at NECIC

North End Community Improvement Collaborative, Inc., (NECIC) has changed their monthly Citizen Action meeting to something new, upbeat, and intensely resident-focused – North End Neighbor Up Night.

The idea for the change came from an Asset Based Community Development Training workshop attended by NECIC Community Organizer Kay Smith. “I met these wonderful people from Neighborhood Connections who just couldn’t stop talking about Neighbor Up Night,” she said. “We launched the initiative here, and they generously traveled to Mansfield to assist with the transition.”

Elle Adams, Jerry Peña, Greg Groves, and Erika Brown, members of Neighborhood Connections, a nationally recognized community-building program in Cleveland and founder of the Neighbor Up initiative, were on hand to lead the evening’s meeting and give tips and encouragement.

Adams spoke about the program’s origin, noting that the group had been awarding grants to support community efforts. “Through the progression of that, they realized that we were doing fantastic stuff in our neighborhoods, but we were operating in silos,” she said. “So a team of people got together at Neighborhood Connections and kind of developed this Neighbor Up thing. It started with about 10 to 15 people about five years ago, and we are closing in on 4,000 now. And we work together to do extraordinary things in our community.”

In bringing the initiative to Mansfield, Smith said she hopes to see more residents in attendance and working together.

NECIC Executive Director Deanna West-Torrence commented on the new programming,“The change to North End Neighbor Up Night is to ensure NECIC maintains its commitment to be resident-driven and to take full advantage of the assets offered by community members themselves.”

She added, “We are certainly grateful for the commitment our organizational and governmental partners have shown in working to improve the North End, and we don’t want agencies to disengage, but real change needs to be led by the people who live in the neighborhood.”

Wednesday’s event was high-energy, and residents seemed excited.

“It’s all about the energy,” said Groves, as attendees were encouraged to make noise with bells, maracas, and tambourines. Upbeat music greeted new arrivals, a full meal was available, and residents were smiling and engaged.

“It was phenomenal,” said Smith. “It went very well. The energy and willingness to learn something new was very high. I felt like people enjoyed it.”

She added, “I would like to thank our community for being so open and inviting, and welcoming the members of Neighborhood Connections into our space here in Mansfield.”

“I would also like to thank Old Carolina Barbecue Company in Ontario for providing tonight’s meal,” she said.

Restaurants interested in sponsoring a North End Neighbor Up Night by donating food are encouraged to call Smith at 419-525-3101.

North End Neighbor Up Night is held the second Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. at NECIC, 134 North Main St., Mansfield. Event reminders may be found at the website or the Facebook page.