love your block

8/3/2019 Love Your Block

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Love Your Block i s atested , h igh - impact serv ice

st ra te gy in which the mayors

of f ice engages community

members in rev i t a l i z in g the ir

neighborhoods one b lock at

a t ime .

n e i g h b o r h o o dr e v i t a l i z a t i o n

loveyourblocka s e rv i c e b l u e pr i n t

C i t i e s o f S e rv i c e :

I M P A C T A R E A :


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M P A C T A R E A : N e i g h b o r h o o d r e v i t a l i z a t i o n


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c i t i e sofserv i c e .

Well-tended public spaces create a better quality o lie that attracts tax-paying businesses and residents to communities. Experts consider such spacesto be essential to creating sustainable communities. Run down, litter-strewnspaces, however, signal lawlessness and lack o community spirit that can leadto crime and other negative behaviors. Engaged communities are ar less likelyto let their neighborhoods all into poor conditions and can act as a powerulorce in preventing crime.

By providing small competitive grants and coordinating city services, themayors oce can achieve measurable impact in local communities and

strengthen social capital at little cost.

Te city provides competitive mini-

grants to community groups to purchasethe supplies needed or their local projectand coordinates city government servicesas needed to support the eort. Te mini-grants encourage community groups toidentiy priority projects and developvolunteer-ueled solutions. Commoncomponents o local projects includevacant lot clean-up, litter removal, grati

removal, tree planting, and community garden development. Commoncity government services provided include pothole repair, replacing litterbaskets, and speed bump installation.

Love Your B lock is a

tested , h igh - impact

serv ice strategy in

which the mayors office

engages communi ty

members in rev i ta l i z ing

their neighborhoods one

b lock at a t ime.

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND


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REQUIRED ELEMENTSREQUIRED ELEMENTS

1Mayors oce raises money to provide small grants tocommunity groups or supplies and coordinates with city

agencies to identiy a menu o services that can supplementvolunteer eorts at the neighborhood level.

2Mayors oce publicizes a grants competition solicitingproposals rom community groups. Proposals must include a

description o the challenges on the block and a preliminary work planand basic budget that articulate how the grant would be used toaddress those challenges with volunteers.

3Mayors oce awards grants to community groups and co-ordinates city services as requested by the grantees to sup-

port the local volunteer eort. Community groups are trainedin how to properly record and report impact metrics.

4Mayors oce tracks and reports impact metrics or each project.Required metrics include:

a. Number o blocks (or other geographic unit, i.e., lots or neigh-borhoods) revitalized, AND at least two o the ollowing:i. Square eet o grati removedii. Pounds o litter collectediii. Number o trees plantediv. Number o green spaces or community gardens created

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1.Develop a simple application process to solicit proposals rom community groups. Teapplication should include inormation on the required impact metrics and the menu ocity services that would be made available. Proposals must include a description o thechallenges on the block and a preliminary work plan and basic budget that articulateshow the grant would be used to address those challenges with volunteers. Tey shouldalso include beore photos or reporting purposes. Applications can be consideredin cycles (typically our to six months) to allow or planning and coordination o cityservices. (See resources section or a sample application rom NYC Service.)

2.Advertise the grants competition broadly to ensure that all communities have access.Spreading the word via other local elected ocials such as city council members can beparticularly useul. Community newspapers may also be interested in reporting on theopportunity or their readers. Social media can also be a useul communication tool.

3.Select a slate o grant winners. Cities may nd it useul to seek balance between projectsthat will require signicant levels o agency resources or guidance and coaching romthe department working with grant recipients and those that can operate with greatersel-suciency. Cities should also look or geographic diversity to ensure a broad reach.

EXECUTING LOVE YOUR BLOCKEXECUTING LOVE YOUR BLOCK

1.Conduct an initial orientation meeting or grant recipients (best times are ater work hoursor weekends). Te orientation meeting is an opportunity to:

a.Determine which in-kind city services could enhance the overall results o the

revitalization project (i any).b.Explain impact reporting methods and expenditure and receipt tracking requirements.

2. Based on the availability o city services, work with Love Your Block grant recipients toschedule project execution days and conduct pre-site visits with appropriate agency liaisonsand project managers. Tis is also the ideal time to coordinate mayor participation, i any,in specic community projects and plan or press coverage o community projects.

ConduCtinga grants Competition

WorkingWith grant reCipients

Coordinating

City

serviCes

Consult with city agencies to develop a menu o city services that can be oered tograntees to improve the physical conditions o blocks. Te city services are intendedto complement the volunteer eorts, not replace them. Government providedservices could include:

Providing trash collection or block projects Repairing damaged or missing street signage Creating new tree beds Cleaning up illegal dumping

Replacing broken or worn-out litter baskets Installing speed humps or speed bumps Repairing potholes Cleaning vacant lots Removing grati Loaning gardening tools Repairing broken street lights Providing site preparation (e.g., arranging vacant lots or tree plantings) Providing cleanup supplies (e.g, gloves, trash bags, saety vests, gardening tools)

ConduCtinga mini-grants Competition1.Develop a simple application process to solicit proposals rom community groups.

Te application should include inormation on the required impact metrics andthe menu o city services that would be made available. Proposals must includea description o the challenges on the block, a preliminary work plan and basicbudget that articulate how the grant would be used to address those challengeswith volunteers, and a plan or maintaining the improvements. Tey should alsoinclude beore photos or reporting purposes. Applications can be considered in

cycles (typically our to six months) to allow or planning and coordination o cityservices (see resources section or a sample application rom NYC Service).

2.Advertise the mini-grants competition broadly to ensure that all communitieshave access. Spreading the word via local elected ocials such as city councilmembers can be particularly useul. Community newspapers may be interestedin reporting on the opportunity or their readers; social media can be a useulcommunication tool as well. Be sure to explain to community groups that mini-grants are not unrestricted unds and must be used or their block revitalizationproject.


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Consult with city agencies to develop a menu o in-kind city services that canbe oered to grantees to improve the physical conditions o blocks. Te cityservices are intended to compliment the volunteer eorts, not replace them.

Government provided services could include:

Providing trash collection or block projectsRepairing damaged or missing street signag

Creating new tree bedsCleaning up illegal dumpingReplacing broken or worn-out litterInstalling speed humps or speed bumpsRepairing potholesCleaning vacant lotsRemoving gratiLoaning gardening toolsRepairing broken street lights

Coordinating CityserviCes

Collecting data on the impact o each Love Your Block project is critical. Inaddition to reporting out on the number o blocks (or other geographic unit,i.e., lots or neighborhoods) revitalized, each grant recipient must report on atleast two o the ollowing metrics:

Square eet o grati removed

Pounds o litter collected Number o trees planted

Number o green spaces or community gardens created

Community groups should also submit ater photos and report anyadditional metrics that refect their specic project as outlined in their workplan.

measuring impaCt

3.Select a slate o winners. Cities may nd it useul to seek a balance betweenprojects that will require signicant levels o agency resources or guidance andcoaching rom the agency working with grant recipients and those that canoperate with greater sel-suciency.

WorkingWith grant reCipients1.Conduct an initial orientation meeting or grant recipients (best times are ater

work hours or weekends). Te orientation meeting is an opportunity to:

a.Determine which in-kind city services could enhance the overall results othe revitalization project (i any).

b.Explain impact reporting methods and expenditure/receipt trackingrequirements so that grant recipients understand city expectations andhow they will be held accountable or use o unds and completion o

projects. Completing grant agreements with community groups thatinclude clear, quantiable, merics is strongly recommended.

c. Have groups begin thinking about a long-term maintenance plan.

2. Based on the availability o city services, work with Love Your Block grantrecipients to schedule project execution days and conduct site visits withappropriate agency liaisons and project managers. Tis is also the ideal time tocoordinate mayoral participation in specic community projects and plan orpress coverage o community projects.

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Love Your Block is a compelling unding opportunity or both oundations andcorporations with a commitment to your city or specic neighborhoods or communitieswithin your city. Home repair/improvement companies, utility companies, local

businesses, national corporations with local stores, or community oundations are allstrong prospective unders or Love Your Block. Once you identiy a list o possibleunders, you can approach them in person or by phone, letter, or email. In all cases, youwill want to bring a short proposal that describes the opportunity or support and howthe unds will be used.

FundraisingFor Love your BLoCk

Te elements o a typical proposal include:

Description o Love Your Block How this initiative will positively impact the community (e.g.,

improvements in key neighborhoods, increased community ownership oneighborhood spaces, more green spaces, increased saety)

Proposed breakdown o git cards or mini-grants (e.g., 10 projects at $500each)

Te metrics that will be collected as a part o the initiative Inormation on Cities o Service (this is especially helpul or national

organizations) Recognition plan or the donor (this could include logos on t-shirts i your

city is creating them, branding on your service website i you have one, etc.)

Ater the unds are distributed and the projects are complete, you will need to provide abrie thank you note and report to the donor. ypically, this report will include a list othe projects completed, major successes and challenges, and any metrics collected romyour partners. I you have beore/ater photos or any other still or video images o theproject, include them with your report.

In some cases, private unders may not want to provide unding directly to citygovernments. I that happens, you should seek out a local nonprot partner to receivethe unds and serve as a scal sponsor or the grant.


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Some cities may choose to partner with a local nonprot organization in orderto execute Love Your Block. In New York City, or example, the mayors ocepartners with Citizens Committee. Citizens Committee then conducts the mini-grant competition and works with grantees in coordination with the mayors oce.

An ideal nonprot partner will have experience in organizing and engaging citizensin revitalization projects or providing direct services or these types o eorts.

Potential responsibilities o a nonprot partner could include: Running the application process Screening applications and preparing a slate o potential grant recipients Advertising grant application deadlines to neighborhood associations, civic

organizations, places o worship, and nonprot organizations Making fyers and brochures and stang tables at community events Conducting site visits raining or coaching grant recipients in eective project development and

volunteer management Collecting and synthesizing impact reports Creating/ managing a tool library where tools can be rented by

neighborhood groups or cleanup projects and then returned once projectsare completed or uture use by other groups

OPTIONAL ELEMENTSOPTIONAL ELEMENTS

reCognizingand thanking voLunteersVolunteer recognition is an eective recruitment and retention tool. Research byPoints o Light Institute and HandsOn Network reveals that recognition not onlymotivates volunteers, but also promotes public awareness in local communities.

o recognize volunteers or Love Your Block, consider sending thank you lettersand/or providing inormation on the impact o the Love Your Block eort (e.g.,beore/ater photos, impact metrics) to those who volunteered.

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LOVE YOUR BLOCK IN ACTION

New York, NY

Love Your Block was rst implemented in New York City in 2009 as part o NYCService, Mayor Bloombergs high-impact service plan. NYC Service partneredwith Citizens Committee or New York City, a local nonprot, to revitalize 72blocks in the programs rst two grant cycles. Participating groups were awarded$500 grants to carry out their projects. In its third round, NYC Service choseto increase the grants to $1000 and provide them to ewer organizations (50) inorder to enhance impact by encouraging each group to revitalize a larger area.Below are some key lessons learned rom the rst year o implementation:

Plan to spend signicant time synchronizing, scheduling and

communicating with city government agencies and volunteer groups. Manage expectations. Failing to provide clear inormation on what services

will be provided by city government will leave resident groups eeling asthough some promises are unmet.

Launch an aggressive PR campaign to ensure broader participation romunderrepresented areas. Reach out proactively to neighborhood groups,churches, community board meetings, city council meetings, libraries,local ocials, etc.

Strike a good balance between groups that request city services and groups

that plan to do most o the work on their own. Encourage and look or creativity among the project applications. Identiy city staers who are available during nights and weekends (when

neighborhood groups meet).

LOVE YOUR BLOCK IN ACTION

Some nonprot partners that are also volunteer-managing organizations (e.g.,HandsOn Network, United Way) can provide additional resources by connectingLove Your Block projects to other community programs, events, or activities.

Tese groups also can help provide additional volunteers to Love Your Blockactivities through their outreach and marketing eorts.

(optionaL eLementsContinued)


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Fall River, MA

Love Your Block was rst implemented in Fall River, MA in 2013 as part o MayorFlanagans high-impact service initiative. A small city with vibrant neighborhoodassociations, Fall River anticipated a robust response to its Love Your Block mini-grant competition. o limit replication o key resources requested by neighborhoods,the city created a mobile tool library and an urban tree arm. Te mobile tool librarydelivered tools and other cleanup supplies to neighborhoods when they were needed orrevitalization projects; neighborhoods then returned the tools to the city when projectswere completed. Te urban tree arm provided a renewable source o trees that could bereplanted in neighborhoods as part o local beautication eorts. Lessons learned romthe rst year o implementation include:

Stretch limited resources through the use o a mobile tool library, which encourages

neighborhoods to share tools and prevents duplicative purchasing o similar itemsby dierent sets o grantees. Save money on the cost o trees through the use o an urban tree arm, which

provides a replenishable source o trees that could be replanted in a citysneighborhoods upon request as opposed to each community making one-opurchases o new trees at higher price points.

Flint, MI

Love Your Block was rst implemented in Flint, MI in 2013 as part o Mayor Wallings

high-impact service plan. Rather than oering cash grants or git cards to communitygroups, Flint oered solely city service support, which included trash pickup and reecleanup supplies. Additionally, recognizing that a major neighborhood concern was illegaldumping oten in the orm o abandoned tires, the city oered ree tire removal servicesor city residents. Volunteers agreed to transport 25 tires each to a central location orremoval and were given a $25 stipend to cover transportation expenses. Te city thenworked with a private contractor to remove the discarded tires at hal-cost. Over 5,000tires were collected more than our times the anticipated response. Lessons learnedrom the rst year o implementation include:

Conrm that community groups ully understand the requirements o theinitiative and have a clear plan in place to track the impact o their projects.

Prepare or a volunteer response that may exceed your initial expectations by havingtrained volunteer managers available to direct community members eciently.Tis will ensure that everyone has tasks to complete and that all volunteers eelengaged in the project.

(Love your BLoCk in aCtionContinued)

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c i t i e s o f s e r v i c e .

RESOURCES

Link to inormation on local Te Home Depot undingopportunities: www.homedepot.com/impactgrants

For more inormation on Love Your Block in New York City, andlinks to an inormational fyer and the grant application, visithttp://www.citizensnyc.org/projects/love_your_block.html

For bries issued by Action or Community rees on Green Streets;Healthy Parks, Saer Communities; Neighborhood Stabilization andRevitalization; and Growing Healthier Greener Business Districts,visit: http://bit.ly/17XhoI0

For inormation on strategies to improve quality o lie in urbanneighborhoods, read: U.S. Department o Justice, Executive Oceor Weed and Seed, Citizen Action or Neighborhood Saety:Community Strategies or Improving the Quality o Lie, August1997, http://bit.ly/15Xeos

For inormation on how to recognize volunteers, visitwww.PresidentialServiceAwards.govor www.PointsoLight.org

RESOURCES


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M P A C T A R E A : N e i g h b o r h o o d r e v i t a l i z a t i o nI M P A C T A R E A : N e i g h b o r h o o d r e v i t a l i z a t

SPECIAL THANKS

Wed like to thank or the ollowing organizatiosn or their support:

NYC Service or their generous support in developing thisblueprint.

City o Fall River and City o Flint or their valuable lessonslearned.

Citizens Committee or New York Cityor their valuable lessonslearned.

Points o Light Institute/HandsOn Networkor their expertise.

SPECIAL THANKS


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Cities of Service is a bipartisan coalition o over 160 mayors committed toaddressing critical city needs through impact volunteering. American cities aceserious challenges and many mayors want to take advantage o every resourceavailable to them including the time and energy o public-spirited residents

to address those challenges. But in cities across America today, citizenservice is oten an underutilized or ineciently utilized strategy by municipalgovernments. By leveraging citizen service strategies, Cities o Service helpsmayors address local needs and make government more eective.

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