About Us
Council of Neighborhoods
Helping Neighborhoods Help Themselves
Council of Neighborhoods strengthens our community through programs and services that focuses on citizens’ concerns, encourages civic participation, improves public deliberation and reconnects neighbors.
Mission statement: To provide resources such as speakers, forums, training assistance and recognition programs for neighborhoods leadership to existing neighborhoods and to develop associations when requested. To serve as liaison between government, business, and the people that make up a neighborhood in a collaborative effort to develop programs geared toward community development and improvement.
We have consistently met the needs of neighborhoods by providing training, resources, and support in collaborations with city and county law enforcement, city neighborhood program services, city planning department and other capacity building organizations.
We provide information and resolution resources to those we can and refer neighborhoods to other organizations when we can not. When possible we include local churches in the organization of new neighborhood associations. This not only offers a support system, but also provides a meeting place in some cases.
Council of Neighborhoods provided an emergency shelter for the May 3rd tornado victims, collecting and distributing shelter, food, and clothing. We organized and utilized local neighborhood associations to patrol devastated neighborhoods until police and National Guard could set up their posts. We coordinated patrollers from several neighboring south-side neighborhoods to continue patrolling the disaster area to discourage looters and other criminal activities for 7 days following the tornado.
Not only do we provide technical support to neighborhoods, but support them in their endeavor to bring peace and safety to their neighborhoods. When one neighborhood could no longer tolerate prostitution at their front door, we coordinated neighborhood patrollers from around the Oklahoma City area to assist in patrolling that neighborhood. The result of empowering that community is that current laws are being enforced and new city, county, and state laws have been introduced.
Gov. Frank Keating recognized Council of Neighborhoods by proclamation, declaring April 18, 2000 as South Oklahoma City Council of Neighborhoods Day. The 2001 Oklahoma Neighborhood Conference brought recognition to all neighborhood watch associations on August 18, 2001, by citation from the Oklahoma legislature.
The Council of Neighborhoods has developed programs that every citizen can understand and use in their neighborhood.
These programs include:
· Neighborhood organization assistance
· Workshops and forums
· Communication center
· Publishing monthly newsletters
· Conflict resolution
· Oklahoma State Neighborhood Conference
· Home owner/buyer education class
· Community Housing Development Organization
· Council of Neighborhoods Community Center
Council of Neighborhoods is a certified Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) that provides safe, affordable home to low- to moderate income, first-time homebuyers in Oklahoma City.
Meet the Council of Neighborhoods Board of Directors, staff and Advisory Board
These volunteers work hard to bring about the vision of The Council of Neighborhoods. Contact us for ways that you too can be involved in our wonderful community!
Board of Directors…
Carl Sullivan (President)
Darrell Hill (V.President)
Art Snider (Secretary)
Bob Mitchell (Treasurer)
Board Members
Charlene Ryburn (S. Walker NA) Camille Fulton (Forest Park Estates) Brian Linley ( Old Towne NA Del City)
Cathee Gilbert (Akers Park N.A.)
Linda Olsen
Advisory Board
Kevin Calvey (OK House of Rep.)
Sergeant Jim Hale (OKCPD)
Staff
Deborah Clarkson Executive Director
Louise Alexander CHDO Director
Johnni Patterson Admin. Assistant
Martin Moreno
For more information about our free services to neighborhoods call (405) 672-7223.
