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By Izzy Aparicio
Block clubs, street clubs, and block associations are local organizations that try to help the people in their vicinity by watching out for each other. One might ask, “Why would my neighborhood need a block club?” The answer: every block can use a block club.
Popularized by The National Urban League, a civil rights and urban advocacy organization, block clubs have been utilized to try to protect individuals and foster community within the area.
What are the advantages of starting and having a block club? They can get neighbors organized and get active. Block clubs can assist seniors in need and ensure the safety of children during their daily school commute. Clubs can organize block parties and cookouts to socialize as socializing is a necessary part of a functioning neighborhood. Anything to get people working together is a good thing.
In an interview with Cleveland.com, Carol and Kurt Black talked about how they started a block club in 2003 in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood. They mentioned that seeing problems in their community like drugs and crime, which they did not want to continue, made them want to organize others to solve it. Starting a block club helped the community spread awareness, and also get people involved in remedying the issues. The club went from three to fifteen members, organizing projects like a spring cleanup. Also, many city police departments agree that block clubs help reduce crime and keep people safe.
There are many block clubs in the Cleveland area, especially in the Slavic Village. There have been ones in Lakewood and Ohio City. However, Covid-19 put a damper on some block clubs. It became harder to organize and some block clubs dissipated. But this doesn’t have to be where block clubs end.
Maybe a regular block club wouldn’t work for you? Vertical block clubs can help people identify issues within a specific apartment building. Walking clubs can increase the overall health of a community while recognizing challenges that the city may need to address. If all else fails, virtual block clubs may be the answer. Many people have busy schedules and cannot get together in person, so virtual meetings help bridge this divide. These clubs are all about talking with each other to solve problems and have each other’s backs. There are multiple ways to make it happen.
In the end, start small. It may be challenging, but a few passionate individuals can start a block club and change their community for the better. All it takes is one person to start a change. Meet up with others and start a block club today.
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