The Norton Vista Neighborhood Association brings neighbors together for events – like this personal protection workshop, movies in the park and the annual 13th Street Trick-or-Treat – that help create a safer, stronger and healthier community (submitted photo).
Lives are busy and hectic cities can lead to a sense of isolation. And while many see the issues that negatively impact their neighborhoods, they may ask, “What can one person do about it?” and move on. The argument can be made, however, that by joining with others, residents can not only address those issues, but find community as well.
Community is about more than just proximity – it is about what people create in that shared space; it is about connection and concern for a broader well-being. That requires trust, and neighborhood organizations can be that jumping-off point.
“We provide a platform for sharing perspectives, grounding conversations in facts, and turning concern into informed action,” said Stacia Hurst, founder of PHX LUV. “When people feel heard and informed, disengagement fades. Apathy gives way to curiosity. Division softens when neighbors are given the opportunity to learn from one another and focus on shared truths rather than assumptions. Neighborhood organizations help fight apathy and bridge division by creating trusted spaces where people can speak, listen, and learn together.”
PHX LUV is a neighborhood organization, founded on Valentine’s Day in 2019, that serves the area of North 7th Street to North 12th Street, East Cochise Drive to East Mountain View Road. It is comprised of neighbors who “wish to promote the exchange of resources and information that deters crime and secures the community through the development of partnerships with fellow neighborhood organizations and city departments,” Hurst said. And it is just one of more than 600 neighborhood organizations registered with the City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services Department that can be found online, along with other resources, at www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/nsd/get-involved.html.
Neighbors in Sunnyslope come together under the PHX LUV banner to improve their neighborhood (submitted photo).
“LUV is an acronym for leadership, unity, volunteerism,” she added. “We build community through public safety, art, and civic engagement. Our neighborhood was originally a block watch formed in 2008; what began as a traditional block watch has grown into a people-powered network focused on crime prevention, environmental stewardship, neighborhood pride, and civic engagement.”
The group meets quarterly at North Mountain Visitors Center or Sunnyslope Village Alliance – meeting dates are posted online at www.phxluv.com/blockwatch.
In the past year, PHX LUV focused on visible, hands-on wins that improved safety and strengthened community ties, including organizing neighborhood cleanups in streets, alleys, washes, and along North Mountain Park; supporting crime prevention through education, reporting coordination, and neighbor awareness; and hosting and supporting community events that brought residents together outdoors.
The group is comprised of diverse neighbors who share at least one thing in common: they care deeply about where they live.
“What makes Sunnyslope special isn’t just the landscape, it’s the people who refuse to give up on it. This is a neighborhood where artists live next to hikers, where families live next to elders, where history and possibility overlap,” Hurst said. “PHX LUV exists to protect that balance. The work isn’t flashy. It’s steady. It’s neighbor checking in on neighbor. It’s endless meetings/projects/updates, and all the things…to make sure public spaces feel cared for, because when places feel cared for, people feel safer.”
Another Sunnyslope group working to create a safer, stronger and healthier community is the Norton Vista Neighborhood Association. Founded in 2018, their boundaries run from Mountain View Road to Dunlap Avenue and Cave Creek Road to 14th Street.
They achieve their goals by fostering neighborhood unity said group coordinator Lily Williams, “Our neighborhood is a microcosm of Sunnyslope with every socioeconomic demographic represented in our small area.”
They hold quarterly meetings at either Norton Park or Sunnyslope Community Center. In between those meetings, last year they established the Sunnyslope Lane Block Watch in the area.
“This group will focus on crime prevention along 11th Street from Dunlap to Hatcher,” Williams said.
Williams said they also host community events throughout the year, “Our July 2025 Bounce Break Roller Skate event at Norton Park, featuring Team USA break dancer Gravity and pop-up skating company ZoniGirls, was a great success in activating Norton Park on a hot summer evening. We also were awarded a grant for the installation of a sensory playground at Norton Park.”
Returning this year is their signature 13th Street Trick-or-Treat, held every Halloween for the past five years, with 13th Street from Hatcher to Dunlap blocked to motor vehicles. They also will continue a neighborhood beautification initiative, Planting Progress, as well as create a youth/family initiative to promote civic responsibility.
Williams said that one of the most critical issues the neighborhood faces right now is rampant drug use/intoxication and the associated nuisance and criminal behaviors. And in addition to access to more grant funds, the group would like to connect with more neighbors.
“We need increased and consistent engagement from neighbors to patrol, report and document incidents, and hands-on labor to improve our neighborhood street by street,” she said.
Neighbors can get involved by emailing nortonvista85020@gmail.com, or following on Instagram: @nortonvista.
The Arizona Biltmore Neighborhood Association will once again host candidate events this election season (submitted photo).
The Arizona Biltmore Neighborhood Association, whose boundaries run from 24th to 32nd Street, Camelback Road to Lincoln Drive, was founded in 2019 with a mission to protect and enhance the residential character of the historic neighborhood.
“The Biltmore neighborhood is one of the most historic and well-preserved neighborhoods in our region,” said executive director Rana Lashgari. “As an organization, we are focused on our homeowners. Our association aims to strengthen our community by providing opportunities for neighbors to connect with neighbors, interact with city leaders and advocate on behalf of our unique neighborhood,”
While there were a few significant developments on Camelback, Lashgari said that they had a relatively quiet year in the neighborhood, but they will continue to keep members informed on issues that impact the area. One development they are watching is case number Z-44-25, which proposes 203 new luxury mid-rise homes at 24th Street and Arizona Biltmore Circle.
“Our role is to make sure neighbors are informed about the project and the public hearing process at the city,” Lashgari said. “The most important thing is developing a civically engaged neighborhood so our residents feel their voice matters.”
She added that meet-and-greet events for candidates running for office will continue in 2026. Residents who would like to connect with the group can visit www.azbna.com.
Throughout 2026, the volunteers who run neighborhood groups across the city will continue putting in the work to create stronger communities, and they invite others to join them.
“Neighborhood organizations don’t just amplify voices, they build understanding,” Hurst said. “By centering facts, encouraging dialogue, and welcoming participation, they help communities move from isolation toward connection, and from indifference toward collective care. When we know one another, we care for one another. And from that care, community takes root.”
Residents who would like to find an organization in their neighborhood – or perhaps organize one – can begin with Neighborhood Services. Or, reach out to one of the organizations profiled here – and start building those community connections.
