What are the key sources of power in neighborhoods. Bill Smith's AIC (Appreciation Influence Control) (Appreciation-through Ideals, Influence-through Values, Control-through Goals) is helpful. The first and greatest source of power is Appreciation of Ideals. Always surface the Ideals of the neighbors. What do we all believe is good for everyone for all time. Those are our Ideals. Ideals have the most emotional power, but they require a lot of conversation and deliberation to guide practical action forward in groups. Your Ideals are your spiritual touchstones. Don't ignore them. Keep them in your hand, as if they were physical touch stones.
Smith's second source of power is Influence of Values. Values, as Bill Smith uses the term, are more local concerns, over shorter time spans, and more focused on limited numbers of people. These are the things that are always in some sort of conflict and require prioritizing; whether "within" an individual, a household or a neighborhood.
With Aristotle's simplest society model in hand your priorities are likely to be different.
Smith's final source of power is Control of Goals. Control involves accumulating the resources and influential relationships required to reach specific goals in the neighborhood. There are programs, projects, processes that yield goods and services, or improvements in goods or services.
This is old fashion problem solving or business development.
In neighborhoods much of this is taken care of by Associations of people with similar priorities Values grounded in their shared Ideals. That is a powerful combination that can sometimes outperform governments and large business which are too often divorced from humane, community Ideals and Values. Bureaucracy, size, and distance often limiting their effectiveness.