A lifetime of service to Davenport and the Quad Cities will be recognized next month. Ida Johnson, founder and executive director of United Neighbors, will be inducted into the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame.
Johnson says it all started in the 1970's, when she discovered her central city neighborhood in Davenport had no structured programs for kids.
At first, the group was called the Central and Western Neighborhood Development Corporation. Then after merging with another group in 1985, it became United Neighbors.
Initially, the focus was on young people, but since then, Johnson says the organization has added programs for housing, sports, graffiti removal, crisis resources, neighborhood organizing, and summer park programs.
The ceremony for the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame will be held April 14, at the state capitol building in Des Moines.
