Block Captains Building Community

submitted by Laura Bradham

For the first time since becoming Block Captain Chair, I have a full roster of Block Captains! I’ve been working with the Block Captains on long or oddly shaped blocks, connecting with them to brainstorm ideas on how to make their jobs easier to accomplish. This means I not only have a full roster of Block Captains, but I also have more Block Captains than ever to help build community in Timbergrove Manor. The Coronavirus kept throwing us curveballs, so as a group, Block Captains had to connect strictly via email in 2021. One thing I’m really excited that we accomplished this year was Block Captain Orientation to help us connect further. Although it was only through email, I now have a way to orient any new Block Captains as they join us to help them understand what a Block Captain does. Block Captains managed to promote fun on their blocks hosting outside events such as National Night Out on each block, and several sections of Block Captains worked together to create their own fun-filled Halloween outings in their sections. Several Block Captains came to the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon mid-November, and many won prizes, which was an absolute thrill for me to see. Our Block Captains are fun, outgoing people who bring a lot of energy to their blocks and it’s a real treat for me to get to know them as not only neighbors but caring leaders among us.