The other day, I wrote a ‘Call to Action’ exhorting readers to get more involved in their community and city.

Those of you who know me, may know that I am involved in many activities related to downtown Phoenix.  What many people don’t know, however, is that my civic participation begins closer to home. Actually right outside my front door.

This past winter I became president of the Grandview Neighborhood Association.  Formed in 1991, the association represents about 1,200 residents living in our diverse central Phoenix neighborhood. The homes in Grandview are of mid-century vintage, with most being but in the early 1950s. We also have a few apartment complexes (including one designed by Al Beadle) and condominiums. Our neighbors come from all walks of life, and age groups and include some of the original residents! The neighborhood boundaries are from 7^th Avenue west to 15^th Avenue and  from Camelback Road south to Campbell Avenue, bordering the Grand Canal (map).

The stated goal of the Grandview Neighborhood Association is “to improve quality of life, safety and security, communicate with city, business and institutions in the neighborhood, and preserve the diversity of lifestyles.” We are NOT a homeowners association; we do not “hold power” over an individual’s home. (In other words residents can paint their homes any color they want.)  Rather we act as in information conduit between our residents and the neighboring business and organizations as well as city officials and the Phoenix Police Department.

In my brief time as president, not only have I met many more of my neighbors, but I have also got to know the city officials responsible for various aspects of our quality of life. I have deepened my understanding of my neighborhood and the issues our residents face.  I have also gained insights into how the City of Phoenix functions.

To anybody interested in getting more involved in their community, I suggest you start by seeing if you have an active neighborhood association (Phoenicians can search here). It is a great way to build an understanding of not only your community but also your city.  If nothing else, it will introduce you to more of your neighbors, which is never a bad thing.

As an aside, if you’re heading to the Seventh Avenue Street Fair today, be sure to stop by our table and say hi. I’ll be there between 1 pm and 3 pm at the least, but there will be residents around all day.  To learn more about my neighborhood, join our our Facebook Group or follow us on Twitter.

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