Starting your own Block Association can feel a bit scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Block Associations come in many sizes and shapes. What they have in common is a desire to work together for the common good, because often more can be accomplished by working together, than alone. And if your block association (or tenants association) joins with a larger community organization like CCBA, you can give your local block a stronger voice in neighborhood-wide issues and actions.

Here at CCBA we encourage you to reach out to us if you’d like advice or support in starting a new Block Association, or if you have one and would like to become a member of the CCBA. Or both!

But there are also resources available online that may help you figure out how you want to organize and start your group, and to take actual steps to do so.

“New Yorkers who are interested in starting a block association…shouldn’t feel daunted by the process,” says Arif Ullah. “You just need to get together with a few people on your block and do outreach to residents, gauge their interest, and once you have a few people, declare yourself a block association and take it from there.” Ullah, now with South Bronx Unite, was the Director of Programs at Citizens Committee for New York City at the time he was quoted in that article on Brick Underground. He continued, “Take into consideration whether you want an anarchist-type flat structure versus a board of directors. Think about whether you’ll have elections and how they’ll be held. Come up with the structures that work for your group.”

Community Board #5 in Brooklyn takes a similar view in their more detailed guide to setting up a block association. “There is no single model of group structure that all groups must follow. The most important thing is that structure is open, inclusive, that everyone feels a sense of ownership over the work and knows who is responsible for doing what. As a general rule, groups should have as little structure as possible – just enough to get the work done. New groups often feel they have to put a lot of structure in place in order to gain legitimacy. This can result in the group spending a lot of time discussing the organization rather than the work they want to do.”

That’s not to say a more structured approach is wrong – for some, it’s exactly right. If you think your association would benefit from a more formalized structure (maybe even a legal non-profit status), the Upper West Side Coalition has published a number of helpful links on their site, as well as some reference sample documents like bylaws, agendas and policies. And the Bridge Street Development corporation, a Brooklyn-based community-focused non-profit, has posted a 39-page detailed guide to “Growing Your Block or Tenant Association.”

No matter what your plans and where you see your BA/TA going, a good place to begin is a simple conversation with your neighbors. Don’t be afraid to start small; often just a few people working together can be more effective in starting something new. Find points of commonality that everyone can get behind. There will be areas of disagreement, and as your organization matures you’ll handle those too, but try to find consensus issues to get the ball rolling.

Some associations start out rallying around a single issue, and then grow from there. This New York Times article mentions things like “cleaning up Superfund sites, food security, housing, education or over-policing [while] others handle more general community concerns like development and beautification.” But if that sounds like more than you’re facing (or want to) consider this, from Curb Allure: “Gail Dubov … heads the West 83rd St [BA], which is believed to be the oldest neighborhood association in New York City. Fifty years ago, a group of dog walkers started the organization in response to the infamous Kitty Genovese murder in Queens in which neighbors failed to respond to her cries for help. Today, Dubov describes spending evenings sitting outside with various neighbors catching up on the news.”

Be transparent in your actions and responsive to your neighbors and remember that respect is a two-way street. Before long you’ll be bringing about positive change for your community—and you might even make a few new friends along the way!