NPU Initiative: One Year
Just one year ago, the Center for Civic Innovation publicly launched the NPU Initiative, the first comprehensive study and review of Atlanta's Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system in over 40 years. We began this journey to learn more about our city government's formalized community engagement process, help others learn more about it, and understand more about how Atlantans want to engage in decision-making that affects their neighborhoods.
NPU “World Tour”
East side to the west side…
Over this past year, we have learned so much about the NPU system. We’ve met so many awesome community members that show up day in and day out for Atlanta, their neighborhoods, and their neighbors. One of our most memorable milestones is completing our “NPU World Tour” where we visited all 25 NPU meetings to spread the word about the Initiative, learn more about the similarities and differences between NPUs across the city, and start engaging with our fellow ATLiens about improving community engagement.
Here are some of our favorite memories and takeaways from the city-spanning meetings, presented by Kyle & Asile, the super-awesome name-rhyming duo that has dedicated their time, energy, and love leading the NPU Initiative.
Work, Work, Work, Work, Work, Work
There’s a whole lot of work that goes into making the NPUs work. Between the various applications for zoning, special events, subdivisions, and alcohol licenses, NPUs like E, F, M, and W had dozens of items of business to conduct lots of business to handle during our visits. Kudos to these all-volunteer organizations for juggling this workload!
Highlighting History
The Neighborhood Planning Unit system has almost 50 years of rich history, both as a system and within individual NPUs. Shout out to NPU I, which had a slide presentation during their meeting, highlighting the creation of the NPU system and notable NPU I residents from Atlanta’s history – they take submissions about historical figures in the NPU I neighborhoods during their meetings!
NPU 2.0
It’s not 1974 anymore, and there’s technology that exists now that was the stuff of science fiction back then. Without a dollar of dedicated funding from the City of Atlanta, NPUs across the system have gotten online with websites, email newsletters, and social media accounts. During our real-world tour of NPUs, it was cool to see NPU S’s minutes projected in real-time so presenters didn’t have to repeat their contact information time and time again, NPU M’s QR-code-based speedy sign-in process, and NPU W livestreaming their meeting so residents who couldn’t attend in person could still know what’s happening.
I’ve Got 99 Problems But NPUs Ain’t One!
Innovation and solution-building take shape in untraditional places. One of the coolest parts of our NPU tour was that we saw many NPUs taking matters of solving problems within their neighborhoods into their own hands – NPU S created a volunteer program for senior lawn-care services; NPU B collaborated to provide public-safety advice to a concerned resident; NPU Z even raised money for a student to go to summer camp! The essence of neighborhoods coming together to solve challenges is such an awesome part of the NPU system that is often overlooked, and it was such a beautiful reminder of what community truly looks like.
’Ppreciate it!
NPUs are part of their communities, not apart from their communities. Time and again we saw and heard residents sharing updates and singing the praises of community members making a positive impact. While we were at NPU P’s meeting, they celebrated a Scout who literally built a bridge in a local park by presenting him with a community service award.
NPU Pride
We absolutely loved seeing residents reppin’ their NPUs! Check out this awesome branded swag at NPU T – they have a banner, branded paddles, and they even have t-shirts!
Can I become an honorary member so I can get a shirt?! - Asile
I was a fan of NPU R’s fans they gave away at the inaugural Taste of Southwest Festival on a hot June day in the Greenbriar Mall parking lot! – Kyle
Welcome to Atlanta(’s NPUs)
One of our goals within the NPU Initiative is to spread awareness about the NPU system, including its purpose, history, and value. During our NPU visits, we noticed NPUs that welcomed new faces in the room and made them feel a part of the overall community – in NPUs S & Z, the NPU chairs called for people who were attending their NPU meetings for the first time; and they were able to introduce themselves and get connected to the neighborhoods. In NPU C, there were nametags available for all attendees to get to know the people in the room.
Ain’t No Thang But a Chicken Wang
As we know, community meetings run late sometimes! Particularly for NPU meetings that are after traditional work hours, sometimes an attendance barrier can be not having time or space to eat before attending. Some NPUs have identified that having food at meetings can be a solution! We’ve seen cookies at NPU A (pairs perfectly with community engagement), take-home snacks at NPU Z, and even fried chicken from a neighborhood establishment at NPU X!
Education, Engagement, and Accountability
NPU meetings serve many different functions. At NPU D, their planner helped explain the role of the Department of City Planning and NPU planners. NPU G used their minutes to hold department representatives accountable for what they’d said at the previous meeting. NPU R holds an open-house-style gathering of city officials before their meetings so residents have an opportunity to speak directly to people who can address their concerns and answer their questions.
Squad Goals
While you might say the city’s divided into 25 NPUs, it’s also true that the city’s united by its 25 NPUs. This past year we saw NPUs who worked together to have a bigger impact on their neighborhoods than they could on their own. NPUs D and E came together where their NPUs come together to provide benches for a scenic overlook. NPUs J, K, L, and T teamed up for a workshop on affordable housing to learn more about area median income (AMI).
These are just some of the awesome things that we noticed during our tour of all 25 NPUs across the city. We’re inspired by these residents who show up for their communities every single day. We can’t wait to continue meeting the people who make up these communities, and highlighting more about what makes the NPU system so special.
What’s next for the NPU Initiative?
We are so excited to continue our NPU Initiative efforts for 2020. We have plans for launching our Civic Engagement Survey to residents across the city of Atlanta, hosting pop-up events to meet more people and learn about their experiences, revamping our website, and more!
Want to get involved in the NPU Initiative? Stay up-to-date by signing up for our listserv, where you will get first-dibs on how to get involved!