Hi neighbor,

I grew up in a close-knit neighborhood. We went on vacations with many of our neighbors, had what seemed to be never-ending sleepovers, and my parents to this day call those from our cul-de-sac their best friends–even though retirement has spread them across the country.

Everyone helped one another, with after school pickups, building a deck, and pet sitting. And we celebrated together. The Haas’ always held a Fourth of July party on their driveway, parents collaborated on an Easter egg hunt in our park, and my dad strung holiday lights on the huge spruce tree at the entrance of the neighborhood and households contributed a handmade ornament to the decor.

As I got older I realized that this wasn’t the experience of most, but to my core I believe a collaborative, safe and creative neighborhood like the one I had the privilege of growing up in should be an environment everyone can call home.

We do a pretty good job of this as North Libertarians already. Many of you probably settled here because you heard North Liberty is a great place to raise a family. And it is. North Liberty has also long been labeled a bedroom community, with most residents working elsewhere in the ICR area. That’s true, too. But I’m challenging us to take it a step further. Let’s be known for our great neighborhoods.

I want my children to have fond memories of the neighborhood they grew up in, and I bet you want that for your family, too. Being a neighborhood ambassador allows you to play an active role in shaping our community. I’m on your team, and my colleagues and I are excited to help you make your corner of North Liberty as informed, engaged and inclusive as possible.

Jillian Miller
Community Engagement Coordinator
[email protected]
(319) 626-5757

Learn more

Hear from ambassadors

Apply to join the team

“Since joining the Neighborhood Ambassador program a year ago I have felt closer to the City.”

“We’ve started to build a sense of community that allows people to get involved. It’s been a great program to meet and learn from fellow ambassadors what challenges their neighborhoods are facing and what is working well.  I feel our ambassador team has been energized to engage our neighbors and the larger community. It has been such a rewarding program and I’m excited to see where the Neighborhood Ambassador program leads us in the future” – Allan Schau, Old Town neighborhood

Why we volunteered for the role

“I love being actively involved in a community. Meeting new people always rewards me with new knowledge about different cultures and learning from their experience is also a bonus.” – Apporv Aditya, Kansas Ave neighborhood

“I want to be someone who contributes to our community rather than just staying on the sideline and watching it grow.” – Abdouramane Bila, West Lakes neighborhood

“I live in a development of young adults and young families. I want to make sure the people in our area are aware of the awesome resources our community has to offer.” –  Ethan Wherry, Cottonwood neighborhood

“I love helping out and love to meet new people. This will give me a chance to meet my neighbors.” – Beke Dube, Deerfield neighborhood

Engagement Ideas

Invite the City Over

Bring city programming into your neighborhood or nearby park. Ask your ambassador to coordinate with the staff listed below. Request an individual department, or bring them all to your block at once.

• Library – Bring the love of reading to your neighborhood. Contact Kellee Forkenbrock with the library to coordinate pop-up story times, a traveling library, neighborhood library card signup, and Play Streets.
• Fire – Contact Mike Johnston for a fire prevention presentation and a visit from a fire truck.
• Police – You’ve probably heard of Coffee with a Cop events at local coffee shops. The NLPD would love to pop open a lawn chair in your neck of the woods, too. Arrange a time to share conversation with officers — they’ll even bring the coffee.
• Recreation – Contact Shelly Simpson to organize some pick-up games on your street or nearby park, courtesy of the recreation department.

Start a Tradition

It can be as simple as encouraging neighbors to hang out on their driveways or in the park every Tuesday night, or a big event like Porchfest (started by Arlington Ridge residents in 2016) that invites the larger community into your neighborhood.

Organize a Clean Up Day

Help keep our town looking its best. Clean up a nearby park, trial or pond. Not sure where to clean? The parks department can steer you to a public space in need of a little TLC and supply trash bags, gloves, tools and vests. Have your ambassador reach out to Guy Goldsmith to set something up.

Paint a Storm Drain

Add a splash of color to your neighborhood by painting a storm drain. Propose a drain location and design and the city will guide you through the process–and provide reimbursement for supplies.

Start a Book Club

The North Liberty Library has over 40 book club kits available for checkout. Most kits have about a dozen copies already (and the library can get more copies or create a new kit, if needed).

Book a Neighborhood Pool Party

The Aquatics Center’s indoor or outdoor pool reserved just for your neighborhood crew? Yep! This opportunity will become available in 2021 if the COVID-19 pandemic allows.

Start a Little Free Library

Foster the love of reading by installing a little free library (or several) in your neighborhood. Visit the City of Literature‘s map of current little free library locations in town, how to build or order one and where it can be installed, and how to register your neighborhood’s little free library. Just remember, if you start one you need to maintain it, the North Liberty Library does not maintain little free library stations.

Register for a PlaceMates Event

Sharing a meal has been a way to connect with others since the beginning of time. North Liberty’s PlaceMates matches residents of 52317 twice a year for potluck dinners held concurrently in homes throughout town. RSVP to the next event.

Plan a Block Party

You can’t beat a good ol’ fashion block party. Depending on what you have in mind, we’ve got guidelines for if you’ll need a special event permit or not.

Celebrate Good Neighbor Day

National Good Neighbor Day is annually on September 28. On this day, residents are encouraged to celebrate by sharing a meal, helping a neighbor with a project, introducing themselves to a neighbor they do not know, or another act that strengthens their neighborhood’s bond.

Good Neighbor Practices

Good neighbors build great neighborhoods, and great neighborhoods make for a more connected and resilient community. Small acts of kindness can make a big impact on the quality of life on your block.

Choose to connect with a neighbor today – whether they recently moved in or have lived next door for a decade – and our community will be stronger for it. Here are some best practices.

Download a printable copy of Good Neighbor Practices.

Notice when something seems off. Check on your neighbors and, if needed, reach out to help.

Engage in the community. Volunteer with local organizations, be aware of current city happenings and get to know your neighborhood ambassador (or become an ambassador).

Introduce yourself. Taking the time to say hello makes it much easier to offer or ask for help later. “Hi, I’m Quincy. I just live around the block on Deer Drive. Here’s my number. Feel free to reach out if you need anything.”

Gather for a picnic or drop off a meal.

Help a neighbor with maintenance tasks and errands like mowing, shoveling, or getting groceries – especially in times of crisis.

Be approachable and available. Smile, wave and offer to keep an eye on their house when they are out of town.

Organize a neighborhood activity. Cleaning the neighborhood pond, starting a Little Free Library, or planning a bike ride are opportunities to foster neighborhood pride and connectedness. We’ve compiled a list of ideas to get your wheels turning.

Resolve disputes in person and handle conflict with tact. Addressing a concern directly and calmly can create a shared understanding and solution instead of resentment. If that does not work, the city may be able to help.

Show respect. Your neighbors may look or act differently than you. Approach your differences as an opportunity to learn from one another instead of as a threat.

Neighborhood Grants

Neighborhood Ambassadors can tap into our Great Neighborhood Grant Program, which is designed to help Neighborhood Ambassadors offer activities that bring their neighbors together and enhance the quality of life in North Liberty. The goals of this pilot program are to:

• Build an increased sense of neighborhood community
• Develop or renew neighborhood relationships
• Encourage interaction between generations and cultures
• Further establish the Neighborhood Ambassadors’ role as an engagement coordinator and resource for their neighbors

Funds are available for Neighborhood Ambassador-organized programs or improvement projects. At this time only Neighborhood Ambassadors or residents of a neighborhood with an ambassador vacancy have the ability to submit an application. Contact Jillian Miller at [email protected] for details.

Nominate Someone