Be Kind. Be Mindful. Be a Good Neighbor.
The Good Neighbor Initiative (GNI) helps build positive, respectful relationships between UNC students living off-campus and the permanent residents who share their neighborhoods. Through door to door outreach, community events, and educational resources, GNI encourages students to be responsible neighbors while fostering open communication between students and the community.
GNI is a collaborative effort between the Office of Off-Campus Student Life, student organizations, the Town of Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro, Orange County, local police departments, and neighborhood associations.
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 Street areas. Over the years, the Initiative has been carried forward with community partners like EmPowerment Inc., UNC-Chapel Hill, the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership, the Town of Chapel Hill, the Town of Carrboro, the Jackson Center, the Campus & Community Coalition and many others.
The Good Neighbor Initiative has grown to include over 70 volunteers participating in the door-to-door walk, with over 1,200 homes visited, plus a community cookout to bring student and non-student residents together in the spirit of community. GNI is about promoting positive living experiences in those neighborhoods where students and non-students live in close proximity.
Every Fall GNI hosts a two-day Door-to-Door Walk, during which student and long-term community members are encouraged to meet their new neighbors. Each year nearly 100 volunteers fan out into the near campus and downtown neighborhoods to meet and talk with students about being good neighbors and the expectations and responsibilities that come along with living in a residential community. Over two days, volunteers will knock on more than 1000 doors in the Northside, Pine Knolls, Cameron-McCauley neighborhoods, as well as North Street, Davie Circle and the Dawes and Coolidge street areas.
This year, the Good Neighbor Initiative Door-to-Door walk will take place on Friday, August 14th 2026 and Friday, August 21st 2026 from 2-5 pm. To sign up to volunteer, head to: go.unc.edu/GNIVolunteer
Volunteers will receive all necessary materials, including a brief training and a free GNI t-shirt
Another long-standing GNI Fall tradition is the annual Community Cookout, which is held at the Hargraves Community Center at 5:30 p.m. on the last Thursday of September! This event is free and open to the public, providing a great way for student and non-student residents get to know one another. The festivities will include food from local restaurants, sweet treats, raffle giveaways from local partners, and free resources/swag! There will also be games, music, performances by local groups, a photo booth to save the memories, and more! Mark your calendar and come be a part of this amazing event, which typically draws hundreds of students and community members for fun and community-building.
This year’s Good Neighbor Initiative Community Cookout will be held September 24th 2026, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. We can’t wait to see you there!
If your organization is interested in tabling at the Community Cookout for the 2026 year, please reach out to offcampus@unc.edu
If you are interested in volunteering at the Cookout, go to: go.unc.edu/GNIVolunteer
For more information about the Good Neighbor Initiative, or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Off-Campus Student Life | offcampus@unc.edu | 919-445-5049
Tips on how to be a Good Neighbor!
Meet Your Neighbors
When you move into a new neighborhood make sure you meet the folks who live around you. When someone moves into your neighborhood, make an effort to introduce yourself to them. You could also exchange phone numbers.
Know Your Neighbors and Your Neighborhood
Are your neighbors a family with young children, a retired elderly couple or someone who gets up for work early in the morning, or a student? If you know this information, you will have a better chance of knowing their community expectations. You should also take time to learn about the community you live in. Chapel Hill and Carrboro have a number of historic neighborhoods with rich histories.
In particular, we want students to appreciate and learn the history of Northside and Pine Knolls. These historically African-American neighborhoods were home to Black families who literally built the University. Many descendants of these families still live in Northside and Pine Knolls today. Over the last 30 years, property investors have purchased homes in these areas and created student rentals. All Carolina students have a role to play, and a responsibility, in making tomorrow better than yesterday.
Help Your Neighbors
A neighbor can help by letting you borrow an item, collecting your mail while you are away or calling the police if there is suspicious activity. Maybe your neighbor could use help getting their trash to the curb each week.
Respect Your Neighbors
Consider how your behaviors may have a positive or negative impact on your community. Are you taking steps that will help you fit into your neighborhood and establish a positive relationship with your neighbors? Or are you creating an environment which is putting you at odds with your neighbors? Some behavior is regulated by the law or town ordinance, but some behavior is unacceptable by unwritten community standards. You may not always agree with your neighbor, but try to respect the reasonable community expectations that have been established in the neighborhood. If a neighbor asks you to adjust your behavior due to it bothering them, give their request some serious consideration. You may be able to compromise.
Communicate With Your Neighbors
Keep the lines of communication open. If there is a concern, it could be addressed early to avoid any long-term tension. If you are having a social gathering, it can go a long way if you let your neighbors know when people are coming over and when you expect the gathering to end. You can also ask them to call you if there are any concerns. Be sure to address the concerns or they may call the police first the next time.
Be a Good Neighbor
You likely live in a diverse residential neighborhood occupied by families, students, the elderly, and working professionals. Be mindful of noise, parking, trash, the appearance of your house and yard, speeding, picking up your dog’s poop, and all the other aspects of community living that can impact others.
Learn More!
- Check out an excellent article in The Daily Tar Heel that outlines some of the complexities that can come with being a student living in a residential neighborhood.
- The Marian Cheek Jackson Center is one of the most dynamic and important resources in Chapel Hill’s resident community. Please take some time to visit their website, learn more about the neighborhoods you might inhabit, and find ways to involve yourself.
- Check out this video below to learn more about the student impact on the community.