Compton, CA
Home MenuBlock Club Info
What is a Block Club?
- Block Clubs are groups of people who have homes and families to improve the quality of life in their neighborhood
- Community members that share neighborhood safety information, identify concerns and act collectively to address those concerns
- Block Clubs are an effective way to stay involved and create positive change in your neighborhood
- Block Clubs offer an opportunity to develop relationships and hold social events
How Can Forming a Block Club Help?
- Eliminate Negative Influence in the Neighborhood
- Improve Health, Safety Environment, Physical, & Economic Standards of Residents, by Working with Government Departments & other Agencies
- Neighborhood Watch
- Develop a Spirit of Cooperation and Social Interaction Knowing Your Neighbors & Creating a Sense of Community
- Law Enforcement Agencies Report Block Clubs Reduce the Risks of Home Burglaries, Vandalism, Personal Assault, & Fraud
How to Form a Block Club
Two (2) or More People Organize Communication
- Email, Phone, USPS, Regular Meetings, Posters, Flyer, Church Announcements
- A printable registration form can be downloaded
Block Club Naming
- Block Club Name Gives Presence
- Normally the Street Name
- Creative Naming is Suitable
- Collectively Decided Upon
- Challenging Attitudes & Outlooks
- Know Neighbors
- Collectively Dealing with Neighborhood Concerns
- Maintaining Quiet & Peace
- One Voice to Sheriff Department & Elected Officials
- Effective Block Club Involvement Less Than 1-hour a Month
Types of Block Club Activities
- Physical Street Cleaning
- Community Gardening
- Block Picnics / Parties
- Newsletter / Website
- Block Club Meeting Guest Speakers, i.e., Local Sheriff, Council, State Legislature, Locksmith,…)
- Backyard Movie Night
- Card Parities
- Service Exchange (Babysitting, Fix-Ups,…),
- Crime Reduction through;
- Landscaping / Home Improvement, Neighborhood Flower Planting, Abatements (Graffiti, Vacant Lots, Weeded Lawns,…),
- Walks Against Crime,
- Help Children Travel Safely to & from School
- Assist in Resolving Neighbor Disputes
- Provide a Strong Deterrent to Gangs, Guns & Drugs
- Annual Progress Report to City Council
Where to Start
- Half a Block — One Side of a Block — Both Sides — Single Apartment Building
- Consider numbers of Potential Members, Size of Meeting Space, and Nature of the Problems/Issues; i.e., If Problems is Alley Clean-up then both sides of the Alley should be sought to be part of the Block Club
- Cooperation is Key in Contacting Designated Boundary Residents, (owners, renters, & seniors)
- Letter to Target Group (7 – 10 Days Prior Describing Block Club Standards (i.e. lawn grooming, trash maintenance, property maintenance,…)
- Large Enough to be Effective and Not so Large that People are Unable to Share Idea
Where to Meet
- Local Church
- Resident’s Home
- Resident’s Back Yard
- Community Recreation Center
First Meeting
- Engage a Temporary President to Conduct the 1st Meeting
- Set an Agenda
- Invite a Speaker from a Successful Local Block Club
- Elect Officers (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer
- Appoint Temporary Committees, (i.e. By-Laws, Membership, Complaint,…)
- Set Time and Place for 2nd Meeting (Secretarial duty)
Problem Solving Strategies
- Team Work
- Identify Concerns
- Recognize Underlying Causes
- Prioritize and Create Plan
- Act Upon Decisions
- Evaluate Results
Responsibility of Block Club Captain
- Link to Law Enforcement
- Information Exchange
- Communication
- Phone Tree, Email List, Guest Speakers
- Block Club Events
- Encourage Neighbors to Be Vigilant
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