Bronx Community Board 7 wants you to start improving your neighborhood by building community associations and they will help you do it.

In April, the “Neighborhood Association Workshop” initiative was launched at the Mosholu Library, with Board 7’s new community organizing consultant, Marques Payne, leading the way. Residents in attendance received information and encouragement on becoming more involved in their community.

“Did you know it only takes five people and a formal letter to the Community Board to start a tenant, block, or neighborhood association?” Payne asked residents to open the meeting.

Other presenters included Miguel Ramirez of the Community Relations Bureau, who informed residents about fair housing, and Enrique Colon of Community Action for Safe Apartments (C.A.S.A.), which is organized and based in the southwest Bronx to educate tenants about their rights in the Housing Court system.

“One of our primary objectives is to connect our residents to the resources they need, whether it’s the Community Relations Bureau, help with housing, or quality of life issues,” said Board 7 District Manager Fernando Tirado. “We want to find a way to get people vested in their neighborhood, and this is a good start.”

“It’s good to see events like this happening,” said attendee Maribel Rivera. “I’ve wanted to get involved for a while and now I have an idea what to do.”

Ed. Note: A version of this article appears in the May 31-June 13 print edition of the Norwood News. For more information about starting a community association, call Community Board 7 at (718) 933-5650.