About the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma
Creating safe, healthy and attractive neighborhoods for all.
Every organization has an origin story. Ours begins with people who believed a city could be changed by neighbors supporting neighbors.
The Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma (NACOK) was conceptualized in the 1970s by Oklahoma City residents who wanted to bring neighbors together and provide practical resources to improve their communities. Their first initiative was a lending program that gave residents free access to tools and supplies needed to maintain their homes and avoid City Code violations. From chainsaws and lawnmowers to rakes and paint, these resources helped ease the burden of home maintenance, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods.
Originally incorporated in 1976 as the Neighborhood Development and Conservation Center (NDCC), the organization was built from the ground up. There was no endowment, no staff, and no guarantee the idea would succeed. What it did have was a group of neighbors who believed their communities could be better and were willing to put in the work to make it happen.
In 1981, the organization shifted its focus toward neighborhood advocacy and leadership development. In 1983, it was reincorporated as the Neighborhood Alliance of Oklahoma City, with a mission to create safe, attractive, and healthy neighborhoods. As its reach expanded, so did its name, becoming the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma.
Over the past 50 years, NACOK has trained thousands of neighborhood leaders, supported hundreds of neighborhood associations, and reached hundreds of thousands of households across Central Oklahoma. Through leadership training, educational workshops, community resources, and partnerships with local government and public safety agencies, we help residents build stronger, more connected neighborhoods.
We believe that to live in a better neighborhood, you don't have to move. You need to start where you are, just outside of your door.
As Central Oklahoma continues to grow, strong neighborhoods matter more than ever. Leadership isn't simply born; it's trained, mentored, and supported. That's been our work for 50 years, and we look forward to the next 50.
At Neighborhood Alliance we believe that living in a safe and beautiful neighborhood is a responsibility…not a right. None of us can complain our way into a better neighborhood. You have to make a personal effort if you want to live in a great neighborhood, however, just because you have the desire for change does not mean you know how to create that change.
Our mission is to create safe, attractive and healthy neighborhoods for all and as we enter our 50th year, Neighborhood Alliance has positively affected thousands of citizens’ lives by teaching them how to create their own sustainable change.
OKC Citizens are Creating a Better City… One Neighborhood At a Time
Unlike in other cities of our size that have a government agency, the City of Oklahoma City has Neighborhood Alliance serving as the sole source of organizational support for over 600 active neighborhood associations and homeowners associations in central Oklahoma!
- 3,200 volunteer neighborhood officers are trained, nurtured and/or mentored annually by Neighborhood Alliance
- 200,000 households in central Oklahoma are positively impacted through involvement with their neighborhood association and our services
- Over 1,100 citizens are educated annually through our community workshops on topics that help citizens positively impact their community
- Engage over 5,000 volunteer hours in neighborhood clean ups and social services
- Reach over 14,000 households with neighborhood specific monthly crime prevention materials
- Over 175 neighborhoods have active Crime Watch programs where neighbors watch out for each other and report suspicious activity greatly reducing residential crime
- 30 Citizens graduate from the 9-week Neighborhood Alliance Leadership Academy program and go on to become civic leaders, state elected officials, nationally recognized neighborhood leaders, and better informed citizens
- Historically underserved residents are brought to the table by actively recruiting them in long range City planning meetings, zoning discussions that affect their neighborhood, crime prevention efforts and volunteer social service programs that allow them to assist their neighbors in need
- OKC Neighborhoods benefit from the strong connections maintained by Neighborhood Alliance with OKC City Council, the Mayor's office, OKC City Departments, the OKC Police Department, public school administrators, and many other non-profits and private entities in an effort to support neighborhoods and their individual goals.
“In Oklahoma City, neighborhood associations are just one step below City Council in the importance of running this City. Their volunteers assist neighbors in times of need, they beautify our public green spaces, they help curb residential crime and participate in the planning and development of our City. Neighborhood Alliance is at the heartbeat of this City with programming to support these much needed civic organizations.”
— Mayor Mick Cornett, July 2012"Our sister-agency, the Neighborhood Alliance, is an incredible partner to the citizens of Central Oklahoma and to Mayors and Council Members for literally half a century. Neighborhood Alliance has been dedicated to fostering a sense of community safety by encouraging residents to take an active role in crime prevention, to promote public safety, and to build partnerships with local law enforcement agencies. The Neighborhood Alliance has also been invaluable to building cooperation among neighbors by providing opportunities for residents to engage with one another, build trust, and create lasting relationships, which are the foundation of a vibrant and resilient community."Mayor David Holt, September 2026
Firehouse Number 11, circa 1935.
We are located in the historic old Firehouse Number 11 (Classen Firehouse) on the S.E. corner of NW 36th and N Classen Blvd. Having been at this location since 1984, we feel at home on this corner.
This property, originally built as a private home, was sold in 1923 to the City of OKC by Austin R. Gourley for the sum of $5,000. The City used it as a firehouse until the mid 1940s. We are told it was one of the last firehouses to use horses. The horses were kept in stables in the nearby park.
The beautiful Memorial Park is located directly behind us, and we are situated between two very well organized Neighborhood Associations: Putnam Heights Preservation District to the west and Helm Farm Neighborhood Association to the north.
Click on the map below for interactive features, such as directions.
Neighborhood Alliance
1236 NW 36th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73118