The role of neighbourhood and community groups
“All politics is local”: neighbourhood and community groups ought to be the front line of any concept of democratic renewal.
The more that we are aware of and concerned with local matters, the more we can see how those same things affect us and others on a broader scale.
In fact, in British Columbia, several reports produced by provincial task forces observed that engaged citizens are “the key to responding more effectively to large-scale public issues.” Community groups are often a citizen’s first encounter with social activism and community engagement, and they can provide opportunities for citizen participation in many different areas and on many different levels.
In the 1970s, an initiative on the part of the City of St. John’s led to the creation of several neighbourhood improvement programs (NIPS). The goal of the NIPS was to “conserve and improve older rundown neighbourhoods and to encourage development of higher-quality community environments.”
This led to the creation of conceptual plans for the neighbourhoods. Boards of directors, who were members of the neighbourhoods, developed these plans together with consultants and city employees. Funding came from all three levels of government, and the NIPS were accompanied by a Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program that provided homeowners with loans for repairs and upgrades.
The conceptual plans were comprehensive and did lead to a number of changes to neighbourhood green spaces and parking areas.
The NIPS demonstrated that, with sound support, an association of volunteers dedicated to the well-being of their community could put together a credible plan for urban renewal in less than a year.
More recent neighbourhood groups tend to come into existence when neighbourhoods feel threatened (usually by new developments) or feel that their interests have been ignored in the decision-making process.
These are truly “grassroots” organizations and do not have the level of civic support and funding that NIPS did; they may, in fact, be at odds with local politicians on specific issues.
As manifestations of local views, however, these organizations should be taken seriously: the creation of an organization to lobby against a proposal or to co-ordinate protest is a sign that discontent is high.
The citizens of a neighbourhood know their neighbourhood best. They have the clearest ideas of what is needed and how it can be fixed.
The concept of “livability” is tied to citizen involvement.
Portland, Oregon, which has a long tradition of partnerships between the civic government and its neighbourhoods, is considered one of the most livable cities in the United States.
Similarly, the Georgestown area of St. John’s, which has a vibrant neighbourhood association, was voted the “best neighbourhood” in St. John’s by The Scope, an alternative local newspaper.
Community groups of all sorts need to have a place in democratic renewal. The evidence shows that the more people are involved in their communities, the better those communities are: “When people decide that they are going to be part of the solution, local problems start getting solved.”
How, then, are community groups to become part of the fabric of the democratic system in Newfoundland and Labrador?
First, citizens and political leaders need to recognize the value of these organizations. Community groups represent the best opportunity for grassroots civic involvement and for developing a culture of engagement in the wider population. The recognition of community groups as a means of accessing public opinion and local knowledge on specific, local problems will improve politicians’ ability to make well-informed decisions.
Treating groups with respect (such as attending their events), understanding what they are good at, and including them in decision-making is either free of cost or a form of cost-saving, as decisions are made with community input and support from the beginning. Fewer confrontations between communities and government are likely to occur.
Second, social and political support for community groups will help community groups with their particular problems. Many community groups find it hard to recruit organizers and volunteers. If groups are seen to be playing a significant role in the democratic culture of the province, more people will be involved because they will see that their participation is valued.
Community groups also wrestle with the problem of inclusion and representativeness: participants tend to be middle-class and better educated. A conscious effort to recruit a more diverse membership can overcome this, but it also helps if the broader good caused by community groups is recognized.
In short, a strong civil society, supported by citizens and politicians, will improve the overall political culture of the province from the grassroots up.
About the author
Kathryn Simonsen (classics, Memorial University of Newfoundland) is a historian whose research interests include the development of the city-state in ancient Greece and the creation of civic memory and its role in the politics and historiography of ancient Athens. Her publications include “Demaenetus and the Trireme,” Mouseion 9, 3 (2009). She is also currently co-editor of Mouseion, a journal published by the Classical Association of Canada.