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Montclair
Organized Neighborhoods (MONs)
Organized neighborhoods are the foundation for addressing all
local safety and improvement issues related to MSIC's Areas
of Focus. Neighborhoods may become organized because they are
concerned about preparing for an earthquake or other natural disaster,
or they may organize to address crime or traffic issues on their
street. Some organize to improve the appearance of the neighborhood,
and some just to socialize and to know who their neighbors are. Organized neighborhoods can help bring about a stronger sense of community and belonging--things that are often missing with our modern lifestyles.
MSIC
works actively with community leaders and organizations such
as the Piedmont
Pines Neighborhood Association and Shepherd
Canyon Homeowners Association to motivate, support and recognize
these organized neighborhoods. Through community
and leader meetings, special interest networking, local training and recognition
events, MSIC is working to help develop and sustain 100% organized
neighborhoods in our area.
An organized neighborhood is usually comprised of 30-50 homes, although some have as few as a dozen or more than 100. The boundaries may be agreed-upon sections of streets or blocks or defined by features like parks or main thoroughfares. An organized neighborhood usually has a small number of volunteer leaders or Block Captains that organize and communicate with the neighbors and help plan functions such as social events, emergency exercises, training, etc.

There are two typical City-sponsored programs for training and certification that an organized neighborhood can receive; Neighborhood Watch for crime prevention, and CORE (Citizens of Oakland Respond to Emergencies) for emergency preparedness. Because neighborhood groups may elect to participate in one or both of these programs, depending on their priorities, the MSIC has coined the term Montclair Organized Neighborhood (MON) for any neighborhood in the Montclair area that is Neighborhood Watch and/or CORE trained, or even organized for some other purpose. The MSIC highly recommends that MONs participate in both Neighborhood Watch and CORE programs, and most established MONs have.
If you are interested in organizing your neighborhood, you may refer to the Montclair Organized
Neighborhood Leader's Guide, created by the MSIC, for guidance. This document describes five basic recommended steps to organize a new neighborhood group, gives tips for maintaining
a group, outlines the CORE training, and
provides information on the specific duties of a MON Leader.
It is a work in progress document, and anyone having suggestions for its
improvement please do let us know.
At this time there are over 90 identified Montclair Organized Neighborhoods
that are established or in the process of being created. Our goal
is to have all of our residents be a part of a formal MON. All
it takes is a neighbor or two to help get the ball rolling, then
involve as many other neighbors as possible, have a meeting to
discuss the process, and move forward from there. At the very least,
creating a MON is a great way for
all neighbors to get to know each other and to work together to
make a better neighborhood and community.
A current map of planned and established MON's is available for MON Leaders. Please contact
us for the link to this map.
Please visit any of these areas of focus links to the left that
are of interest or concern to you. The best way to begin to address
these issues is to establish and work with your MON on local neighborhood
matters, and to work with the MSIC and other MONs and related groups
on topics that affect the larger community. The MSIC is here to
help you address important issues within these and any other areas
of focus--please don't hesitate to contact
us for more information on how we can be of assistance.
The MSIC has additional documents
and Web sites that contain useful guides and tips around
organized neighborhoods and these areas of focus. If you have
any requests for additional information, please let
us know.
For more information on how you can begin to organize
your neighborhood, please contact the MSIC MONs
Team chair. MSIC representatives can come to your neighborhood
meeting to present their ideas and tips for success. We are here
to help you in any way possible, so that you can be better able
to be an effective Montclair Organized Neighborhood. It's all about neighbors
helping neighbors!
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