News Release: Council Members Zanthia Oliver and Chris Johnson Host 1st Annual NPC/Civic Associations Information Session to help Beautify our Neighborhoods
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Council Members Zanthia Oliver and Chris Johnson Host 1st Annual NPC/Civic Associations Information Session to help Beautify our Neighborhoods
The event welcomed more than 45 neighborhood leaders.
Wilmington, DE – On Saturday, May 31st, 3rd District City Council Member Zanthia Oliver and 7th District Council Member Chris Johnson welcomed more than 45 neighborhood leaders to their 1st Annual Neighborhood Planning Councils (NPC) / Civic Associations Information Session, held at Delaware Technical Community College Wilmington Campus.
This first-of-its-kind event was designed to empower NPC Presidents, their members, and Civic Association leaders with critical knowledge about accessing and improving our neighborhoods with capital funding.
“Today’s information session is a response to the questions I’ve heard time and again at countless community meetings: How do we apply for funding? Where do we go? Who do we call?” said Councilwoman Oliver. “We came together to build bridges and empower our community leaders.”
The need for this session became increasingly evident as Councilwoman Oliver attended numerous NPC and Civic Association meetings and witnessed community leaders express frustration with navigating city processes, particularly in the absence of a dedicated liaison in the Department of Land Use and Planning.
To address this, Elliott T. Larkin, Director of the Department of Land Use and Planning, delivered a detailed presentation outlining the amount of funding still available for neighborhoods and walked attendees through the application process step-by-step. His remarks explained the process and clarified how NPCs and Civic Associations can strategically invest in beautification, safety, and quality-of-life improvements.
The event drew participation from additional members of Wilmington City Council, including President Trippi Congo, and Council Members Coby Owens (1st District), Michelle Harlee (4th District), Christian Willauer (5th District), and Yolanda McCoy (6th District) who all joined to show their support and present certificates of participation to the attendees.
“This is about empowerment,” Councilwoman Oliver said. “It’s about ensuring that every neighborhood has equal access to the resources that already exist and that our community leaders feel equipped, informed, and supported as they work to uplift their districts.”
The success of this inaugural session sets the tone for future annual gatherings focused on strengthening the partnership between City Council and Wilmington’s most engaged residents.
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COMMUNITY AND MEDIA CONTACT:
Yesenia TaverasDirector of Communications
Wilmington City CouncilOffice: (302)576-2585
Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.gov