The Edgewood Block Captain Initiative is a neighborhood safety and resilience program led by the Organized Neighbors of Edgewood (ONE). The initiative aims to create a coordinated network of trusted community members — Block Captains — who serve as the eyes, ears, and helping hands for their specific blocks or sections of Edgewood.

 

Each Block Captain receives training and resources to help improve neighborhood safety, communication, and preparedness. Captains are equipped to assist during both everyday incidents and emergencies, fostering a stronger sense of connection, trust, and mutual aid among neighbors.

Core Roles and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for neighbors on your block, facilitating communication between residents, ONE, and local agencies.

• Help disseminate important information such as safety alerts, community updates, and emergency notices from ONE, city departments, and emergency management partners.

• Identify and report safety and infrastructure concerns (e.g., streetlight outages, flooding, dumping, or hazardous conditions) to the block captain network and appropriate city channels.

• Support neighborhood emergency preparedness and response, including organizing check-ins during severe weather, power outages, or public safety incidents.

• Promote community wellness by connecting residents to local resources for housing, mental health, and public or social services.

• Help organize and support block-level meetings, cleanups, and events to build community cohesion.

• Support conflict resolution and community harmony through de-escalation skills and mediation when appropriate.

• Participate in quarterly meetings and trainings hosted by ONE to stay informed about neighborhood priorities, safety procedures, and available resources.

• Maintain basic records of neighborhood concerns, incidents, and community needs to share during quarterly updates and planning sessions.

 

We are always seeking additional neighborhood involvement and support to help us grow and improve our initiatives. If you're interested in volunteering to become a block captain, we would love to hear from you—your support is always welcome!