// About Streets Alive //

What is Streets Alive?

Streets Alive is a community building initiative, which can be taken on by any street - in your local suburb - or for that matter, anywhere in the world. It is aimed at creating pleasant, positive communication between neighbours or groups of neighbours, providing the possibility of trust, friendship and fun.

It is about CONNECTING NEIGHBOURS and OPENING DOORS to ...

There seems to be increasing community concern about the high levels of crime, drugs and violence in our society. People are retreating behind the barriers of higher walls and electronic security systems to keep themselves safe. At the same time there is concern about the increasing levels of depression, alienation and suicide. Could there be a link? Perhaps those same security barriers are giving a KEEP OUT, YOU'RE NOT WELCOME message to others in the street who could provide a different kind of security - through trust and friendship.

Streets Alive provides an opportunity to:

take a short break in our busy lives
celebrate our local street community
focus on some of the positive aspects of our local neighbourhood
meet and socialise in a small way
meet on other occasions throughout the year, if so desired

Streets Alive potentially brings together people from a wide range of nationalities, races, religions and age groups, and provides an opportunity for increased understanding and interaction. The concept is simple, practical and sociable and is to be regarded as a pleasant game rather than hard work.

How did it start?

It began as a small, localised initiative in the Woodlands/Doubleview area in Perth, Western Australia in August 1999. A group of local people declared NEIGHBOURS WEEK - a specific time to bring people together, to build or renew neighbourhood bonds and connections in a pleasant, non threatening way. The response to the initial Streets Alive concept was most encouraging. After a lead time of 8 weeks, 130 streets (spread over 32 suburbs) registered an interest in joining in. The concept also had the backing of some prominent community leaders, including church leaders, local, State and Federal politicians, media identities and local businesses.

From the initial modest start, the project grew enormously, thanks to the generous support of Lotterywest, which funded Streets Alive with two consecutive grants to create and pilot a model for the concept. Celebrate WA stepped forward as the sponsor organisation, providing an office and solid support. Other major sponsorship followed from Anglicare, Healthway, the International Year of Volunteers, and the ANZ staff Foundation.

How Streets Alive works

It works on a street by street basis, based on the premise that people in the street all have something in common as a starting point for connecting - their geographical location in the world.
It can be taken on by groups of linking streets, or by random streets anywhere in the world.
"Street" can also mean a group of units or a floor in a block of flats.
It provides residents with an initial reason to talk to each other, for example arranging a Streets Alive event. This acts as an ice breaker for further communication.
Residents in the street are encouraged to get together for a low key, low cost, BYO social function, such as a Coffee Break, Sausage Sizzle, or Happy Hour .
Once people have met informally at the social event, they may find other areas of common interest, which they can then choose to follow up individually if they so wish.
Follow up activities and initiatives between the annual Streets Alive focus periods are encouraged, for example street newsletters, playing or watching sport together, child minding, welcoming new neighbours.
Larger community gatherings at a public venue like the local shopping centre or park, allow for wider fellowship.

Streets Alive is now a Do-it-Yourself concept

We encourage you to download the material provided on the Ideas page, to enjoy building a great sense of community in your street or neighbourhood.

Everyone is invited to join in Streets Alive. For the concept to spread further, we need people like you to step out and make it happen in your street, even if you are not sure how yet.

PLEASE BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE