What You Can Do

Remember that most of the vision and strategies in Portland for dealing with crime are created at the neighborhood level. Identify your neighborhood association and become an active part of its program.
Research the neighborhood with the help of the association. What are the primary problems? What is the relationship of these problems? What are the strengths of the neighborhood? What resources are available? What needs to happen to effect change?
Identify the change agents in the neighborhood. Who has the vision? Where is vision being actualized (churches, people, organizations, etc.)?
Build relationships, linkage, partnerships, networks, and communication to improve the neighborhood.
Be an observer. Trained neighborhood residents can force a search warrent by the police based on their observations. Learn how to observe.
Learn what other neighborhoods are doing. What programs are in place, and which ones are working? Find viable models both in Portland and other cities.
When relationships are built in a community, crime is less as people support one another. Get to know your neighbors and their needs.

Oregon Professional Microsystems will be willing to work with any neighborhood for mapping and charting the information they have on the neighborhood. In addition, we can provide leadership in vision-walking, showing how to map visions and directions.