As UNC students return to the classroom Wednesday amid changing COVID-19 protocols, one thing that hasn’t changed is the Good Neighbor Initiative.
The initiative, which is entering its 18th year, works to help students understand the rules on noise, trash, parking, and occupancy ordinances in order to be good neighbors and good citizens.
The Good Neighbor Initiative began in 2004 from an effort by the Chapel Hill Police Department making door-to-door visits to student-rental properties. Some of these properties were previously trouble spots for loud noise and disruptive behavior.
Through a university partnership with the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and local non-profits, the goal of the initiative is to tell students about local laws and ordinances prior to the academic year. This can help to reduce the likelihood of problems between neighbors and visits from the police.
Aaron Bachenheimer is the executive director for off-campus student life and community partnerships at UNC. He said the initiative has grown over time from the original Chapel Hill Police visits.
“We bring many volunteers: town staff from both Chapel Hill and Carrboro, university staff, students, staff of local nonprofits – including the Jackson Center and EmPOWERment – out into the community, talking to students about being good neighbors and citizens,” Bachenheimer said. “Really trying to impart a sense of living together in a sense of harmony and working to give everybody and opportunity for good quality of life off-campus.”
So glad to have been out walking once again with The Good Neighbor Initiative here in Northside. Last year it was canceled because of the pandemic. "Be Kind. Be Mindful. Be a Good Neighbor." @chapelhillgov @UNC_OffCampus @CarrboroTownGov @MCJCenter pic.twitter.com/qktILgiySe
— Vimala Rajendran (@VimalaforCH) August 16, 2021
Good Neighbor Initiative continues with outreach this morning in Northside – Carrboro. w/ Angela Thompson and Courtney Setter. @ChapelHillPD @AaronHBach pic.twitter.com/JzvxK8EQiJ
— Penny Rich she/her – I own my opinions (@PennyRich) August 17, 2021
Partnered up with @BFoushee to knock doors for the Good Neighbor Initiative this afternoon. Much thanks to @chapelhillgov @CarrboroTownGov #UNC @MCJCenter @EmPOWERmentINC1 & many other community stakeholders for this effort! pic.twitter.com/BrTBLOzpyG
— Paris Miller-Foushee (@ParisMFousheeCH) August 17, 2021
The Good Neighbor Initiative is a collab partnership btwn UNC, Towns of Chapel Hill & Carrboro, EmPowerment Inc, the Jackson Center, & other community partners. Great to see @BFoushee @ParisMFousheeCH @michaelparker1 @damonseils @Vimraman pic.twitter.com/AN9owSIjcG
— Rani Dasi (@ranidasi) August 17, 2021
Bachenheimer said this year’s volunteers will be masked and socially distanced as they go door to door in heavily student occupied neighborhoods to provide resources for students to use.
While there’s an assumption that students will inherently develop an understanding on how to live in the community on their own for the first time, Bachenheimer said this is not always the case.
“If we can remember that these are still young people who are figuring out their way in the world – they’re dealing with changing public health information just like all of us are,” Bachenheimer said. “If students can give neighbors grace and understanding and patience and neighbors can give students grace, understanding and patience, I think we’ll all be much better off.”
Bachenheimer said the initiative particularly focuses on racial equity and racial justice within the Northside and Pine Knolls neighborhoods.
“These are historically African American neighborhoods,” Bachenheimer said. “It’s important for students to understand the history of their community [and] get to know their neighbors. In all neighborhoods really respect the history of those communities and respect the fact that they live amongst a really diverse cross section of neighbors.”
Other neighborhoods the program works with include Cameron-McCauley, Lloyd-Broad, North Street, Davie Circle, Dawes Street and Coolidge Street.
Residents of all the neighborhoods will be able to meet one another at a Good Neighbor Initiative event September 18 at the Hargrave Center.
The initiative includes more than 70 volunteers and visits more than 1,200 homes each year.
Lead image via Rani Dasi
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