The primary responsibilities of Neighborhood Liaisons include:

Information — Liaisons provide information directly to individual citizens and neighborhood groups regarding available city services; consult with city staff, state officials, and representatives of private industry about the needs of Columbus neighborhoods; maintain a database of all area commissions, civic associations, and neighborhoods organizations in existence within the city.

Organization — In an effort to engage Columbus citizens in the governmental process, Liaisons provide assistance in both establishing and maintaining membership groups, including area commissions and civic associations.

Advocacy — Liaisons are advocates of Columbus neighborhoods and seek to maintain a balance between meeting the needs of both the city as a whole and individual neighborhoods. Such an ambassadorial role requires Liaisons to build and maintain relationships with neighborhood leaders and city staff, while also working to groom future neighborhood leaders.

Coordination — To improve the quality of life in Columbus neighborhoods, Liaisons engage in a significant amount of logistical coordination to connect necessary city services with the needs of the neighborhoods. This responsibility necessitates the Liaisons working effectively with all of the other city departments.

Education and Training — Liaisons play a role in educating neighborhood residents and organizations. Specifically, Liaisons seek to move citizens through the process from mere awareness of the existence of neighborhood organizations to involvement, participation, and contribution to those organizations and the governmental process.

Forecasting — While Liaisons work tirelessly to meet the existing needs of the neighborhoods that they represent, they also continuously work to identify emerging issues in the neighborhoods. Such forward thinking allows the Liaisons and the City’s administration to proactively work to improve the quality of life in Columbus neighborhoods rather than simply reacting to the immediate needs that threaten the well-being of the city’s citizens.

Promotion and Marketing — Much of the work of Liaisons revolves around getting people involved in their community through membership in existing and developing neighborhood groups, upcoming training sessions and projects, special presentations, and neighborhood meetings.

For more information, please contact Michael Puckett, Program Manager, at 645-3219.