Be Kind. Be Mindful. Be a Good Neighbor. 

The Good Neighbor Initiative (GNI) is a collaborative partnership between the Town of Chapel Hill, UNC Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro, EMPOWERment Inc., the Jackson Center, and other community partners. GNI is about promoting positive living experiences in neighborhoods where students and non-students live in close proximity.

Background

The initiative began in 2004 with an effort by the Chapel Hill Police Department to make door-to-door visits to student-rental properties in the Northside and Pine Knolls neighborhoods that had been trouble spots for loud noise and disruptive behavior. The idea was to talk to students before the academic year got underway about the local laws and ordinances that, if followed, would reduce the likelihood of problems between neighbors and visits from the police.

Over time, the geographic scope of the initiative has grown to include Northside, Pine Knolls, Cameron-McCauley neighborhoods, as well as Lloyd-Broad in Carrboro, North Street, Davie Circle, and the Dawes Street/Coolidge St areas.

The Good Neighbor Initiative has grown to include over 70 volunteers, visiting 1,200 homes, bringing student and non-student residents together in the spirit of community with a Community Cookout.