Greetings and Happy New Year,
As a new board takes over the organization and continues to navigate the constantly changing waters of neighborhood leadership and community engagement, I want to welcome the new board, take a moment to share some of what I've learned about neighborhood leadership, and share a few thoughts about what I think should come next for PH.
PHNA is ultimately two things, a neighborhood association that is formally recognized by KCMO (not a homeowners association, and there is a massive distinction), and a 501c3 non-profit. These dual roles mean that the PHNA board is responsible both for organizing and advocating for PH residents, and running a business. Every PHNA board member is an unpaid, volunteer representative, and as such, there are limits to how much time each one has to commit to the organization. As a non-profit, the most important responsibilities of the organization's leaders are to follow the organization's bylaws and to keep the lights on. At the beginning of my second term on the board, we were literally selling soup to our members during neighborhood meetings and borrowing money from neighbors to pay our bills. With grit and determination from our members, as well as some serious accounting work from several now retired board members, we restored the financial health of the organization, and went well beyond, with several large capital projects - building a walking path in Maple Park, renovating the Pocket Park, installing a community meeting pad and bike share in Maple Park, continuing the maintenance of the community garden and orchard.
Simultaneously, PHNA has been working since 2020 to restart regular community events outside of general body meetings, from scheduled community clean ups to parties in neighborhood green spaces. Many people would say that these events should be the primary focus of the neighborhood association. I agree that holding these events is fundamental to achieving the community engagement goals outlined in the mission of the organization. The last 5 years has shown that a community needs opportunities to engage in the real world, not just online. Planning and executing events also requires hard work and additional commitment that is a lot to ask from a volunteer board that is working on a shoestring budget. I want to thank all the board and PHNA members who made it possible for these events to return, through their efforts to organize, publicize, and even apply for grants or personally fund events out of their own pockets. This neighborhood owes these residents a debt of gratitude.
In addition to financial stabilization and engaging with the community, PHNA has invested heavily in building relationships with outside groups, government staff, and political leaders, who can help create a pathway for sustained neighborhood advocacy. Building and maintaining these relationships takes time and coordination, as turnover on both sides often leads to loss of institutional knowledge and progress on an issue. PHNA Board members have been diligent in their attention to issues that affect the neighborhood, such as the safety and usability of our sidewalks, streets, and parks. Government often moves slowly, but I am proud to see the progress that has been made in neighborhood, spurred by the persistent effort of PHNA members in collaboration with Jerusalem Farm, Kansas City Community Gardens, Missouri Department of Conservation, BikeWalk KC, and the residents and neighborhood associations of surrounding neighborhoods, just to name a few partners.
When asked what PHNA has accomplished for the neighborhood in the past five years, I am proud to point to tangible examples of the ways in which the organization has made a difference in the lives of residents. The work of improving the neighborhood will never be completed, and there is absolutely more that PHNA can do to reach and represent every resident in Pendleton Heights. But it’s important to recognize that progress is not made overnight. Everyone who has chosen to represent PHNA as a board member did so because they had ambitions for the neighborhood to become a better place to live. Many of the goals we have set for our neighborhood will take years or decades to achieve, and pursuing those goals requires continuous effort that goes beyond what a single person can put forth and continuous engagement that outlasts the term of any board member and, often, the tenure of residents. Empowering PHNA to lead neighborhood improvement initiatives is a powerful way to improve the lives of our residents, by leveraging the existing resources and relationships of the organization to cut through administrative barriers, and those initiatives are not completed without leadership from the PHNA board. But PHNA is ultimately an organization that works on behalf of the residents of Pendleton Heights, and its greatest strength is that it has the potential to engage, unify, and rally neighbors around issues that impact the neighborhood. Five years from now, my hope for PHNA is that the next generation of leaders has built on the foundation of past success and transformed the reputation of the organization so that every resident is excited, not just to hear what is being done for them, but to play an active role in improving their community.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Cokely, Outgoing PHNA President, 2024-2025
