By Susan Harper

*Editors Note* This article was originally published in the print version of the Fairmount Home Tour Newsletter (June 2021). That version incorrectly attributed the article to a different author. The author’s correct name is used here. Our sincerest apologies to Susan for the mistake.

If you believe, as I do, that neighborhoods are the lifeblood of healthy vital cities, attending a NUSA conference is both an education and a celebration of the actions necessary to achieving and maintaining that status.

NUSA Board of Directors are drawn from across the United States from Florida to Washington State and all the states between and attendees represent the same breadth of attendance and involvement.

The 3-day conference offers multiple opportunities to meet, get to know and learn from attendees from throughout the United States. From early morning themed networking sessions to workshops, lunch and dinner gatherings and neighborhood tours, the occasions are plentiful.

Workshops at this years’ Conference ran the gamut from employing the homeless thru affordable housing to creating urban villages and from grant writing to creating public-private partnerships and making yourself heard at meetings, boards and council. Along with those are a number of workshops on Race and Culture, Diversity, Policing and Public Safety. One of my favorite parts of NUSA was the Neighborhood Tours which were, unfortunately, virtual this year. However, the city’s Community Engagement Office ensured its video tours inspired NUSA attendees from Fort Worth and out-of-town alike, by highlighting successful projects and tools that can be replicated to improve life in any neighborhood.

Last, but certainly not least, are the awards, usually presented at the end of the conference: Physical Revitalization/Beautification, Social Revitalization/Neighborliness, Multi-Neighborhood Partnerships and the biggie, Neighborhood of the Year. In addition, a Newsletter competition awards the best in creating involvement and volunteerism in both print and electronic formats.

This year, the Fairmount Neighborhood Association was awarded 2021 Neighborhood of the Year in the Social Revitalization/Neighborliness category. The neighborhood was honored for creative changes that allowed its annual holiday Festivus tradition to continue in 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic.