The Neighbors Building Neighborhoods (NBN) Philosophy
The Neighbors Building Neighborhoods is a community ownership philosophy that says residents should have a positive sense of ownership for their neighborhoods. The philosophy guides Norfolk's approach to resilient neighborhood life. Two goals from the Resilient City Framework describe the neighborhood life Norfolk wants
Inclusive civic engagement and participation.
Diverse, accessible engagement mechanisms exist for communication and meaningful participation between local authorities and the public, including with disadvantaged and minority groups. A strong network of community-based organizations exists, and residents can air grievances and actively influence the future of their local area.
Community cohesion, equity and inclusion.
Communities integrate well, with high levels of tolerance between different backgrounds. A strong sense of identity and belonging exists, and the city formally supports emerging and displaced communities to integrate positively.
Norfolk wants neighborhoods where residents work together, have strong leadership capacity, know each other, volunteer, manage day-to-day activities, solve problems, build partnerships, and achieve self-reliance.
Neighborhood Services offers the following tools to assist with these goals.