Be A Voice in Your Neighborhood: Join the White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations

Living in a city may make it easier to forget that White Plains is a union of more than 30 neighborhoods.

The White Plains Council of Neighborhood Associations (WPCNA) serves as “The Voice” of these neighborhoods—with the goal of enhancing the quality of life in the city as a whole—and especially in each of the neighborhoods.

“It’s a way for people to find out about what’s going on in each neighborhood from the people who are living there,” said WPCNA Co-president Todd Gordon.  “If you know what’s going on in your neighborhood, you can make plans to connect and network with other neighbors and endeavors around town.”

The WPCNA is looking for city residents and local organizations to get involved with helping them achieve this goal, and create a bright future for White Plains.

“We’d really like to set things up the way people want to see them, so people can get involved and feel a little more based in their neighborhoods and its issues,” said Gordon. “It’s a way for people to brainstorm with other neighborhoods. It’s a voice that become relevant in the city council. As you can see its also a place to mobilize should there be any pressing issues.”

The WPCNA acts as a neighborhood forum on various issues—such as education, safety, government, health, the environment and open space. It encourages and engages in local action on behalf the neighborhoods.

“We need to know about what is going on in our community’s and react,” said Gordon. “The more groups we have to discuss these things, the better and more perspective we can gain from them.”

The WPCNA is a non-profit, non-political, volunteer organization, “ that encourages members to develop and share resources and activities to benefit the people of White Plains,” according to the WPCNA website. Gordon says the key to this is having more participation from city residents and groups.

“When nobody gets involved—all the decisions are made for you as opposed to having a say in what goes on in your own neighborhoods,” said Gordon.

The WPCNA’s membership is made up of individual neighborhood associations—like the Gedney Association, Bryant Gardens Neighborhood Association, the Rosedale Residential Association, and the White Plains Downtown Residents Association.

Click here for a map to see which neighborhood you live in; here if you are an organization that wants to join the WPCNA; here if you want to sign up for the WPCNA’s newsletter; and here to see if you have an active neighborhood association and to get involved.

At the WPCNA’s monthly meetings, which are open to all city residents, members of the individual neighborhood associations discuss and cooperate on various issues that affect the city.   

Meetings are typically held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the , 5 Homeside Ln., and include a pre-posted agenda as well as a featured speaker. The WPCNA encourages residents to attend and bring a friend.

“It’s one of those things people have to remain involved in to keep it strong,” said Gordon. “It’s a united voice for everyone. We want to engage people with what’s going on in the city.”

The WPCNA’s previous speakers have included Superintendent Dr. Christopher Clouet who spoke about the school budget; and the Gedney Association and French-American School of New York (FASNY) who both made presentations on FASNY’s plans for a campus at the former Ridgeway Country Club. Click here if you are interested in speaking at a meeting.

If you are looking to learn more about White Plains Patch, come to the next WPCNA meeting on Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the education. Editor Dina Sciortino will introduce herself; share her and Patch’s mission, as well as Patch’s free services that help promote businesses and local organizations.

Come, ask some questions and get to know us. Don’t forget to bring a friend!

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