No matter where you live, if you want to change your neighbourhood for the better, Roxanne Allen has some tips for you.

Spend as much time as you can sitting out on your front porch saying hello to everyone that walks by -- Get to know your neighbours. Knock on their door and introduce yourself -- Make a point of picking up any litter you might find - paper, cigarette butts, potato chip bags, that sort of thing -- not just in front of your house but up and down the street ... and be sure to say hello to everyone you meet as you are doing it - Finally, and I really like this one, everywhere you go, walk with your head up and keep a big smile on your face.

Making a big difference in your community could be as simple as taking those few steps - It's worked for Roxanne Allen.

"In my eyes, Roxanne is a Neighbourhood Hero because of her contagious enthusiasm," Barbara Henoch wrote when she nominated her friend and neighbour - By the way, Barbara is another Neighbourhood Hero in my opinion and it seems there are many more emerging in this community.

Getting back to Barbara's nomination form, she continued, "A single mom of modest income, Roxanne has been instrumental in getting her neighbours interacting and getting to know each other in a community where drugs and prostitution has been a chronic, long-term, shared concern.

Given that big smile, people find it easy to talk to Roxanne and then, through her, they get to know one another. When they do, guess what? They soon discover that there are surrounded by a lot more friendly, open, helpful people than the opposite and with that discovery; a community's self-image begins to change for the better.

Last summer, Roxanne was asked to help out with a picnic that was organized to help reclaim Knob Hill park for the community - It seems to have become a centre for drug addicts and prostitutes. According to Roxanne, the problem is so big that many city workers refuse to work in the park.

Referring to Roxanne's involvement with the picnic, Barbara continued in her nomination form, "I was amazed at her creativity, attention to detail and initiative. She used her well-developed skills as a mother and daycare provider to design, organize and publicize games and activities for people of all ages.

Most recently, in the past few days in fact, Roxanne has begun to organize her neighbours to do regular "John Walks", walking in the neighbourhood in the evenings to discourage Johns and she is excitedly waiting for special training to be offered by the RCMP to help them organize a complete "John Watch" program.

There's no doubt, things are going to change for the better in Roxanne's neighbourhood and once again, no matter where you live, you could initiate positive change in your community too by following a few of Roxanne's tips.

Do you know a Neighbourhood Hero? Send in your nomination today and you could WIN
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