President’s Letter

It Takes a (Queen) Village

By Eleanor Ingersoll, QVNA President

Hello Neighbors,

As we approach the end of 2021 and prepare to welcome 2022, I am reminded of the closing of chapters and the beginning of new adventures. Particularly now, with the passing of beloved neighborhood advocate, Kathy Conway.

I first moved to Queen Village 23 years ago and thought I had a great neighborhood just from the small dog walking clique we had on Front Street. Even though she did not have a dog, Kathy was one of the first people I met. She made me feel welcomed on Front Street, was a wonderful next-door neighbor on Pemberton, and helped us secure a home on Monroe to raise our family.

As my scope in the neighborhood expanded from dog owners, to playground and preschool parents, to volunteering in the formation of the Friends of Weccacoe, and later for the Home & School Associations of Meredith Elementary and Central High School, I was always taking in historical snippets and anecdotes from Kathy about how the community had evolved and how the advocacy role of neighborhood volunteers had been essential in shaping Queen Village.

In 2022, I will have two kids in high school and one off to begin college. So I’m getting to know more dog folk again, as Ember the Catahoula needs me more than the teens do! It’s so great to meet new neighbors and their dogs, see strollers, toddlers and preschoolers having picnics on Front Street or playing at Shot Tower and Weccacoe, and witnessing the constant regeneration that keeps Queen Village so vibrant.

I am happy and feel fortunate that I got involved in the community. I was introduced not only to Kathy but to the other “keepers of the fire of advocacy” for Queen Village. Those early volunteers advocated for community gardens and more trees, murals and artistic touches, playground improvements, and historical landmarks, plus neighborhood programming and vigilant attention to zoning and urban planning.

With each neighbor who joins, the capacity for neighborhood improvement grows. Civic engagement is the key. Whether it’s championing what we love about Queen Village or identifying a new call to action, it all contributes to the neighborhood’s quality of life.

QVNA works to address neighbors’ concerns, seeking accountability from elected officials, enforcement agencies, and businesses. I am happy to report that a Good Neighbor Agreement has been negotiated and signed between Mirage Lounge, QVNA, and the South Street Headhouse District. This agreement outlines the expectations for conduct and keeps communications open to address any issues going forward. It’s a wonderful step in strengthening community partnerships.

We also seek accountability within our community—be it respecting weekly trash collection and not short dumping household garbage bags at the community’s public trash cans or submitting factbased accounts to our nuisance business reporting tool. We are neighbors who volunteer to advocate for neighbors. And it does indeed take a village.

In the new year, pick your level of engagement and know that you’re contributing to the vibrancy here. Sign up to get the QVNA eNews—at bit.ly/Subscribe2eNews—to stay up to date with events and committee meetings or put the monthly community meeting on your calendar (third Wednesday of the month). There are regular clean-ups of pocket parks and playgrounds as well as recycling events. Volunteer at one of our youth programs through our partnership with Courtyard Apartments. You can deliver this quarterly magazine to your block or make a monetary contribution that supports our street sweeping program. You could also join a committee and create new innovations for the neighborhood.

As community steward and advocate for more than 50 years, QVNA connects our multi-generational community in ways that make it stronger not only today but also for the future.

I look forward to seeing you around the neighborhood—and Happy New Year!