During this, our 50th anniversary year, we’re sharing 50 reasons to celebrate Center for Neighborhoods — roughly one reason each week. The posts come from different stakeholders in the organization, representing our past, present, and future.

This week’s post is written by Johnique Ison, Senion Neighborhood Liaison

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If you know Center for Neighborhoods, then you know that working directly with residents is the backbone of our work. It all begins with engagement. We call our engagement team Neighborhood Liaisons. They are on the ground, connecting and working with neighbors to help them create change within their neighborhoods through their own visions. Liaisons work with neighborhood groups and residents, along with civic institutions throughout Louisville that have a focus on the Metro.

I always like to say that the liaisons do whatever the residents and groups need within our skill range to help build the community’s capacity. Liaisons’ main role in assisting residents is technical assistance. Technical assistance looks like meeting facilitation, project support, and even problem-solving, helping neighbors find solutions to issues that arise. The team will also help to start groups and associations in your neighborhoods, as well as provide training on ways you can approach neighborhood change and much more. Liaisons do not move without the collaboration of neighbors and are there to provide support and assistance, but never to make decisions for neighbors. 

That’s one of the most important parts of CFN. None of the work we do oversteps neighbors; it doesn’t even happen until neighbors want or need support. Decisions are made solely by neighborhoods and the liaisons are there to provide the resources and knowledge to make it happen. For 50 years, CFN has always been just that in their work. We are listeners, planners, builders, and collaborators with the passion to hear the people and make it happen WITH them. Currently, we have two amazing and community-driven liaisons that focus on neighborhoods throughout the Metro (pictured below). You can find out more and even contact us to find out who the liaison is for your neighborhood at: https://centerforneighborhoods.org/engagement/