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THE 200 JOBS OF ACTIVE NEIGHBORING A work in progress I
believe that there are about
200 "jobs" that ideally are
being done by one person or
another in the neighborhood.
If most of these activities
are happening in your neighborhood,
you're in great shape! Click here for a printable version of this page /
1) NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITYA) neighborhood watchB) neighborhood patrolC) video surveillanceD) digital photos of suspicious people/vehiclesE) interaction with beat cop; direct phone lineF) whistle alertG) security education: crime prevention checklist; newsletter2) NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSLETTERA) delivered to 1000 households--low tech3) INTERACTIVE WEBSITEA) unique URL for this neighborhoodB) links to adjoining neighborhood websites4) CHILD CAREA) baby-sittingB) latch-key kid supervisionC) part-time jobs for teenagers5) COMMUTINGA) who goes where & when?B) regular daily commutes(1) work commutes(2) school commutesC) fun/activity commutes(1) weekly meetings(2) sports eventsD) occasional events or appointments(1) taxi or van service?(2) rides to the airport(3) pick up visitors6) MAPPINGA) know immediate households around you:(1) name/phone/vehicles/abilities & disabilities/pets(2) 3 houses across the street; 1 house on either side;3 houses in back of youB) geographical & natural features7) SPORTS & EXERCISEA) spectators(1) go to games together(2) Super Bowl partiesB) participants(1) baseball / football / basketball / soccer(2) neighborhood walking group(3) neighborhood biking groupC) coaching(1) teams(2) individual training8) EMERGENCY HELPA) immediate response(1) Volunteer fire department(2) neighborhood CPR classesB) rescue(1) by neighbors who know you(a) LINK: #6 "MAPPING"-- know your neighbors C) fire specific(1) preparation(a) 200-foot hoses--every 10 houses
(b) cisterns / swimming pools / jacuzzis(2) prevention(a) brush clearing partiesLINKS: #14 NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP D) earthquake specific(1) personal injury/property damage prevention(a) earthquake retrofit(b) education(2) immediate cell-phone communication between people at work or school & neighbors at home(3) sharing or common storage of emergency food/water/fuel/batteries/etc.9) SAVINGS & FINANCIAL BENEFITSA) food co-opsB) vacation time-sharesC) (see also:)(a) LINK: #7 SPORTS (buy blocks of tickets) (b) LINK: #12 TAKING DELIVERIES (you don't need to take time off work) (c) LINK: #10 REAL ESTATE (save agent's fees) (d) LINK: #15 COMMUNITY GARDEN (e) LINK: #16 JOINT HIRING OF LABOR (f) LINK: #17 SHARING OF TOOLS (e) LINK: #18 DISPUTE RESOLUTION (save attorneys' fees & court costs) (f) LINK: #20 SAVE MONEY ON INSURANCE (e) LINK: #22 GROUP CONSTRUCTION 10) REAL ESTATEA) sell to neighbors' friends & relatives before listing with a realtor on MLSB) sell to people who are currently renting in the neighborhoodC) property values will be supported and enhanced by many of the activities on this list11) NEIGHBORHOOD AFFINITY GROUPS--HOBBIES, RECREATION, COMMON INTERESTSA) book clubsB) movie clubsC) theater clubsD) cooking clubsE) gardening clubsF) art classesG) writing groupsH) national identity groups--where are you from?I) discussion groups: philosophy, current events, etc.12) TAKING DELIVERIES FOR NEIGHBOR WHO'S OUTA) sign for delivery of neighbor's U.P.S., FedEx, U.S.P.S packagesB) open the house & be present for installations or major repairs (satellite dish, cable, new carpet, interior painting, plumbing)13) VOLUNTEER ACTION WITH YOUR NEIGHBORSA) fundraisingB) Rebuilding AmericaC) holiday caring at hospitalsD) repair & repaint local schools14) NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP & BEAUTIFICATIONA) "Big Trash Day"--dumpster provided by city for household junk disposalB) street cleanup dayC) beautify common areas--mini-parks, empty lotD) art projects: neighborhood murals, statues15) COMMUNITY GARDEN16) JOINT HIRING OF LABORA) laborers: 3 households may each need 2-3 hours of work, so they can jointly hire 1 person for 1 dayB) skilled tradespeople: neighborhood can negotiate a group rate. For example, lawn care for 5 houses on one block would be much more efficient for the gardener, so (s)he could charge lessC) large group discounts: 200 houses would keep a painter busy full-time for life17) SHARING OF TOOLSA) lending of tools that people already ownB) neighborhood tool library: joint purchase of more expensive or infrequently used tools (e.g, rototiller or 30 foot extension ladder18) NEIGHBORHOOD DISPUTE RESOLUTIONA) mediation or arbitration between neighborsB) coordinated efforts to deal with problem homeowners or renters19) COMMUNITY GET-TOGETHERSA) block partiesB) joint garage sales/yard salesC) Labor Day/Memorial Day/July 4th BBQ picnicD) Oscar night partyE) sports events20) SAVE MONEY ON INSURANCEA) quantity discounts for group purchasesB) homeowner's insurance discounted due to active neighboring:LINK: #1 NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY [ break-ins, vandalism, trespassing ] LINK: #8 EMERGENCY HELP [ fire prevention & response; earthquake preparedness ]> C) health & life insurance discounted due to active neighboring leading to enhanced quality of life?LINK: #1 NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY LINK: #5 COMMUTING [ less stress ] /a>LINK: #11 AFFINITY GROUPS [ social interaction is healthy ] LINK: #15 COMMUNITY GARDEN [ exerise, good food ] LINK: #18 DISPUTE RESOLUTION [ less stress ] LINK: #19 COMMUNITY GET-TOGETHERS [ parties are good for you! ] 21) NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIAN22) GROUP CONSTRUCTIONA) neighbors pooling their time & talents to complete big home improvement projects on one another's homesB) "barn-raising": the whole community working together for one day on a worthwhile project |