North West Area Partnership

North West Area Partnership

    In  1995 under Paul Helmke’s administration,  Community Oriented Government (government lead by the people) was created. Mayor Helmke, who believed the pyramid of power with the government at the top should be reversed with the people at the top; his reason was it’s our government,  we pay taxes to support it and elect people to represent us. In 1995, the Northwest Area Partnership was formed and the people became proactive and their voices were being heard.

    The city was then divided into four area quadrants each with its own individual leadership under Police Chief Neil Moore. Our Northwest quadrant was lead by Captain George Lutz. Our first organizational meeting was held at Little Turtle Library attended by a small group of interested citizens and a media person.

    Over the past twenty five years we grew and as we did, we moved from our original home in a church basement, to a school and finally to our present location at Northridge Baptist Church on Cook Road.  NWAP presently includes over one hundred neighborhood associations. Unfortunately, not all are active within the requirements needed to qualify as a valid association but we have a strong and loyal core group that has grown over the years and we can assist those wishing to reorganize.

    We meet every third Thursday of the month (except July and December) at 6:30 pm at the Northridge Baptist Church at 1300 E. Cook Road. Each monthly agenda includes a different guest speaker, reports from representatives of the Police Dept., Fire Dept., Neighborhood Code Enforcement, City Councilmen, the City's Neighborhood Advocate, and other city departments, as well as Allen County government officials.  We meet to discuss current issues, learn more about the government process and to problem solve. At each meeting we serve cookies and coffee. Come and learn with us and join your neighbors in becoming a stronger neighborhood.