Fun Fridays; Serving up Fun, Food, Prizes, plus an Academy for Good Governance

Jul 31

Written by Tim Buckley, July 2025

Fun Fridays are not billed as incubators for leadership or an academy for citizenship. But they are. You could see it this month as three festive events drew more than 1,600 people, more than 70 resource partners and close to 1,000 children.

While Mountain West’s Center for Community Excellence contributes funds to operate these events, they are planned and run by the 32 volunteers who comprise the five Neighborhood Family Councils (NFC). The events, where as many as 40 other volunteers also help, are a relaxing time to hang out and play together. Under the surface, they are so much more.

Among the most notable parts of this neighborhood effort is the emphasis on local “self determination.” Below the fiesta atmosphere at each Fun Friday is living proof that neighborhoods can quickly establish social cohesion and leadership competence. Here are some cornerstone components of CBEL’s groundbreaking strategy.

Building a competent staff of generalists. With a staff of four, and a volunteer base ten times that many, thousands of neighbors are hosted each July. Besides sharing a meal together, all the fun activities, dancing, games and family photos, there is an undercurrent of civic engagement, social cohesion, and the heartbeat of new leadership.
Recruitment of volunteers. Having fun as a guest leads to volunteering at the next event, and eventually becoming a Council member. Children accompanying parents also become volunteers, eager to follow in their parents’ footsteps.
DIY Governance. Volunteer members build a cohesive Neighborhood Family Council. They develop skills in executive decision-making, consensus building, program development and fund management.
Comprehensive training. Each Council hosts free training for the neighborhood: parenting, child development, difficult conversations, personal finance, budgeting, and stress management.
Building Personal Skills and Confidence. Council members get formal training in self-care, organization development, event planning, conflict resolution and many other things. Additionally, each gets hundreds of hours of seat-of-the-pants experience building personal relationships, partnership management, and professional networking.
Coalition building. The growth of a multi-neighborhood network that has created a super-team of Council members who collaborate for each event regardless of which neighborhood is hosting the event.
Networking and Collaboration skills improve, yielding a more professional relationship to government agencies and nonprofit service organizations. These relationships amount to social capital that turn into political capital, improving the lives of families.
Effective Communications skills aid stress reduction in personal, family and professional relationships.

Summer 2025

The Fun Fridays this year drew a record number of families and resource organizations who provide games, giveaways for kids, and free access to services that are proving helpful for strengthening family life.

“That meant more neighbors gathered for fun, connection and safety, more families establishing mutual supports, more volunteers to make each event more cost-effective, and more community nonprofits partnering with families for what they need most,” said Eduardo Angulo, Neighborhood Family Council Director and CBEL Board Member. “That created more solidarity in…and between…neighborhoods, which is a key indicator of increased civic engagement, social cohesion and community resilience.”

Comments from Fun Friday participants and guests:

“It was gratifying to see the smiles of so many children and families and that is what really matters, despite what is happening throughout the country! I was happy to see those families, smiling and forgetting their worries for a few hours, spending a great day with their families." Fun Friday Volunteer

“I was also happy to be able to be there helping out, along with my three daughters. The work we’re doing is necessary for our neighborhood’s health and it’s a pleasure to be able to share time making a difference with all of you!” Fabiola Castro, Hallman Northgate Council member

“Thank you to the amazing volunteers for helping out so much. Such a wonderful turnout! Holy moley, so many families that attended - it was so much fun, and we received so many goodies for the kids. I’m so proud to be part of this council.” Hadi Garibay-Sanchez, Washington Council member