The Neighborhood Services Department Coordination division attended the Regional Neighborhood Network Conference (RNNC) held in Bowling Green Kentucky June 10-12. The RNNC is a network of 22 cities in 5 mid-west states (IL, OH, KY, TN, IN). Annually the group holds its conference in one of the network cities, where 300- 400 neighborhood organizers, leaders, and concerned citizens attend the conference to share best practices related to neighborhood organization and development. At the recent steering committee meeting, the City of Champaign was awarded the honor to host the 2016 RNNC conference.
Over the next several weeks, NSD will be developing a planning committee to assist in organizing and hosting the conference. During the three-day conference, which is scheduled for September 29 through October 1, 2016, NSD intends to showcase the Champaign community and its many treasures, including some of the below initiatives:
- Citizen engagement, housing, and youth development initiatives implemented by the Neighborhood Services Department to promote neighborhood wellness;
- Comprehensive redevelopment of an urban neighborhood into a LEED Neighborhood Development with affordable, mixed-income housing;
- Partnering with neighborhoods for sustainable storm water management infrastructure improvements and neighborhood revitalization;
- Housing Authority of Champaign County’s “Moving to Work” initiative and transforming Public Housing into affordable, mixed-income housing;
- Collaborative multi-jurisdictional public safety initiatives consisting of community and law enforcement resources coordinated to create a holistic approach to policing the community;
- Innovative programs and initiatives of non-profit organizations and governmental units ranging from community gardens to state of the art parks, recreational and educational facilities; and
- Community building initiatives implemented in collaboration with the University of Illinois.