Community Driven Improvement: A Case Study of the Hillside Neighborhood Association

This research was undertaken to understand how an organically arisen, neighborhood driven initiative operated. Research attempted to understand what such an initiative could accomplish and change in their neighborhood. This study also attempted to discern longitudinal effects which the organization may have had throughout the neighborhood where they operated. This study attempted to delineate these objectives through researching the Hillside Neighborhood Association, located in the Hillside neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The methodology for this case study, was a sequential mixed methods model. Which began with a quantitative phase, that utilized both statistical analysis and data triangulation, to deduce what the organization achieved as indicated through utilized data. The qualitative phase of this case study employed a purposeful sample, participants were contacted by the researcher separately and then interviewed. Participants had to have reside in the neighborhood for at minimum to years from data of contact. Neighborhood longevity ensured that participants would have the most knowledge about the organization and potentially accompanying neighborhood changes. Findings indicated that neighborhood participants held steadfast to past neighborhood achievements which the HNA was conduit for. This long-term neighborhood pride among older residents was salient to them. Additionally, past success appeared to have laid a foundation for future improvement efforts to capitalize on. The social capital of participants highlighted a need to focus on a small-scale street level point of entry for neighborhood improvement endeavors