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How To Party With Your Neighbors

  • by Lindsey Johnson
  • July 4, 2016July 4, 2016

10 Tips for Throwing An Outstanding Block Party

Whether we live in an apartment, house, duplex, or ADU, we all share our space with amazing people that we call our neighbors. But many of us don’t know our neighbors beyond their names and even fewer of us engage with each other beyond exchanging daily pleasantries like saying hello when we pass by on the sidewalk. Want to take neighboring to the next level? Get your entire apartment building, street, or full neighborhood together for a block party!

Hosting a summer block party is a great way to meet new neighbors, build bonds within the community, and enjoy the nice weather. Whether this is the first get-together for your neighborhood or you’re a seasoned party planner, try incorporating some of the tips below to make your party a hit.

1. Define and Fill the Space

Outdoor parties can be the hardest to design. Without walls to define the space, it can often feel like there is no there there. By adding some boundaries to your space, you can create the sense that it is a destination and a place to be. We also recommend putting everything fairly close together, rather than spreading out. This way, your event appears more bustling.

One cheap and easy way to create a purposeful and festive space is to hang garland or bunting. Another option is to use signs and sidewalk chalk.

balloon-bunting-party-decorScreen Shot 2016-07-03 at 9.01.56 PM

2. Shade

Nothing saps the energy out of a party like too much sun. Try to select a location for your block party that has some natural shade available. If there isn’t enough shade, you can create some by using canopies or tieing fabric shade sails between trees.

3. Encourage Mingling with Seating

Another important consideration when setting up your block party is seating. You can encourage neighbors to get to know one another by limiting seating that allows people to sit alone and instead use a few large communal tables or clusters or chairs. Don’t feel you have to stick with traditional outdoor furniture either. Consider bringing the living room outside by arranging sofas and chairs.

4. Outreach, Outreach, and Outreach

Once you’ve got the major details of your block party planned — date, time, location — it’s time to invite your neighbors. You can increase the chances of your neighbors showing up by creating eye-catching invitations. Take a look at some of the inspiring examples we’ve rounded up here, which include flyers, door hangers, and postcards. Designing and printing invitations doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. You can use a template, draw it by hand and then photo copy, and print with black ink on colored paper.

Once you have them printed, enlist the help of a neighbor or two and hand deliver them door to door. If you want to go the extra mile, knock on doors and personally invite each neighbor, instead of just placing the invitation on their porch or taping it to the door. Inviting neighbors face-to-face is also a great opportunity to ask for help (see below, “Delegating to Increase Attendance”).

On the day before or the day of the event, use sidewalk chalk to write reminders.

5. Delegate to Increase Attendance

You might be able to plan an amazing event all by yourself, but you are a lot more likely to get a good turnout if you ask your neighbors to help with specific tasks. By asking your neighbors to help deliver invitations, play music at the event, bring chairs, make decorations, or dedicate use of their grill, not only are you guaranteeing that they will attend, since they now have skin in the game, but also the neighbors they are connected with are more likely to show up.  

So capitalize on your neighbor’s skills and interests and tap into their neighborly networks by asking for help. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just knock on your neighbors’ doors and tell them that a bunch of neighbors are coming together to throw a block party on such-and-such date  and they are invited. Then simply let them know what areas you still need help with (ex: lawn games,  music, chairs, etc.) and ask them if they’d be willing to help. Also, be sure to get their phone number or email address so you can easily follow-up.

6. Include Music

Consider incorporating music into your event to help keep things feeling festive. Maybe someone in the neighborhood is part of a good band or knows one that would like to play at the event. If you can’t manage live music, then definitely find a few speakers to play music through.

7. Activities and Competition

Offering a few activities that require small or large groups makes it easier for neighbors to break the ice and get to know each other. Lawn games like cornhole, ladder ball and bocce ball are always a great option. You could also include some competition by setting up a volleyball net, having a huge game of tug or war, or having a watermelon eating contest. For a unique spin, have a marshmallow golf competition. Simply put down a small square of astroturf or carpet, place a big marshmallow on it, and see who can hit it the farthest with a golf club.

8. Feeding the Masses

A party isn’t a party without food and drinks. There is a few ways you can go about organizing food. One option is to have a potluck and assign neighbors categories such as grillable items, side dishes, desserts, and drinks. Or if you want to skip the grill, you can host a dessert party and ask everyone to bring summery treats to share. Be sure to stay mindful of food allergies. Leave a stack of blank index cards along with sharpies along the food table and ask neighbors to identify the ingredients in the dish and also write their name on the card. That way guests will know who to ask if they have allergy questions or if they want to steal the recipe. Last but not least, don’t forget to provide plates, silverware, and coolers for beverages.

9. Keep Kids Entertained

It’s important to include a few activities to keep kids busy, so parents can nosh and chat. There are tons of low-budget and high-fun games out there like hula hoops and sidewalk chalk. One particularly creative option is to gather a bunch of cardboard boxes of different shapes and sizes, crayons, and tape. Then let the kids design and build whatever they want. Whatever you do, don’t provide the kids with paint. As one of our neighbors recently learned the hard way, kids + paint – supervision = a massive mess.

Screen Shot 2016-07-03 at 8.10.49 PM

10. And Last But Not Least, Use Alternative Name Tags

Name tags are great! They signal to your guests that this is an event where it is not only acceptable to approach strangers but encouraged.  You can take traditional name tags to the next level and stir up some great conversations by adding a quirky question to each card for guests to answer. The website Icebreaker Nametags will even help you create a template.

Screen Shot 2016-07-03 at 4.57.16 PM

By: Kelly Fedderson
SE Uplift Community Resource Program Manager
Kelly@seuplift.org

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Matchu Williams

Matchu feels fortunate to work with the community in advancing the SE Uplift mission of collaborating to build informed, inclusive, and participatory neighborhoods that support our social and ecological well-being. He looks forward to assisting neighborhood and partnering with the community in building capacity in building equity in their programs for civic engagement.

Matchu holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a focus on Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies and Criminal Justice. You may know Matchu from the SE Uplift Board of Directors where he was recently Vice Chair. He brings a wealth of community engagement to SE Uplift having previously served as Chair of Mt. Scott Arleta Neighborhood Association, BikeLoud Memorial Events Coordinator, Arleta Triangle Project Planning Committee, South East in Active Motion Co-Chair, and has volunteered with many groups including Urban Gleaners, Sisters of the Road, SOLVE, Transition Projects, Food Not Bombs, Humane Society of SW Washington, and more.

On his days off he dreams of the next bikepacking (biking + camping) trip. Last year he bikepacked the San Juan Islands and campgrounds in the Cascades. When in town he enjoys cycling, seeing movies on the big screen at the historic Hollywood Theatre, and enjoying food at Portland Mercado with friends.

Matchu is the SE Uplift Liaison for the following neighborhoods: Foster-Powell, Mt. Scott-Arleta, Reed, South Tabor, and Sunnyside.

Paola De La Cruz

Paola is the Communications & Outreach Manager for SE Uplift. Paola’s professional background lies in design and community advocacy. She has worked with non-profits from Boston, MA to the Portland metro area, to campaign for equity and inclusivity.

Paola received a BFA in Illustration under Communication Design. She looks to merge illustration and design with community organizing to bring SE neighbors together.

On her free time, Paola is painting ethereal, powerful women or putting on a 90s R&B concert for her small dog.

Paola is the SE Uplift Liaison for the following neighborhoods: Brentwood-Darlington, Creston-Kenilworth, Laurelhurst, Mt. Tabor, and Sellwood-Moreland.

Alex Cherin

Alez is the Partnerships and Grantmaking Programs Manager for SE Uplift. As an active listener, creative thinker and problem solver, Alex loves to brainstorm and collaborate with others in order to actualize visions of a more connected and active SE community. He is looking forward to fostering new relationships and nurturing established ones as well as supporting new developments within the neighborhoods of SE Portland.

Alex is the SE Uplift Liaison for the following neighborhoods: Ardenwald-Johnson Creek, Brooklyn, Buckman, Kerns, Montavilla, North Tabor, Woodstock.

Nanci Champlin

Nanci is the Executive Director for SE Uplift.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” -Nelson Mandela
 
Nanci Champlin has a passion for social justice, civic engagement and conservation with nearly thirty years’ experience in scaling up organizations at the local, regional and national level. She leaned early in her career as a grassroots organizer that a key to success comes from authenticity, trust and active listening. These values have guided her approach to work ever since. 
 
In her professional roles, Nanci has led outreach at Oregon Wild; communications and operations at the Funders Committee for Civic Participation; and most recently was Director of Development at Western State Center, a movement building and leadership development organization helping to build a 21st century civil rights movement. 
 
Nanci has lived in SE Portland for 32 years where she has devoted countess hours to volunteer-driven conservation initiatives through her past role on a neighborhood association board. She currently serves as the fundraising chair for Friends of Moreland Woods and on the board of the Sellwood Community House. When not working or volunteering she can be found creating pollinator habitat in her backyard or hiking with her family and dog in Portland’s parks. 
 
Nanci is excited to help lead SE Uplift in building a vision and strategy that empowers everyone in our community to learn, connect and engage in civic opportunities to build a future where every person can thrive. 
 
Nanci is the SE Uplift Liaison for the following neighborhoods: Eastmoreland, Hosford-Abernethy, Richmond. 
Lindsey Johnson
Lindsey is thrilled to join the staff team at SE Uplift as Administrative and Operations Specialist.
 
Over the past two years, she has served on the board for Montavilla Neighborhood Association and SE Uplift. Lindsey has an extensive background in the nonprofit arts and education sectors. She is passionate about building community and supporting local businesses.
 
Lindsey hails from Minneapolis and has been living in East Portland since 2016. She earned music degrees from Luther College and the University of North Texas. Lindsey performs with the Portland Opera Chorus, serves on the Board of Governors for the American Guild of Musical Artists labor union, and is President of the Mu Phi Epsilon Portland Alumni Chapter. In her spare time, she enjoys board games, hiking, mushroom foraging, and cuddling her puppy and two cats.