Vicky Steely

Making Neighborhood Watch Fun and Engaging

As the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator of the Audubon Park Neighborhood Watch Organization for more than 20 years, Vicki Steely’s love of people, her neighborhood and the City of Orlando are evident in everything she does. Vicki continually strives to help her neighbors and neighborhood feel safe in every way possible, ensuring that everyone’s wellbeing is always of the utmost importance. 

Vicki applies her positive attitude to her volunteer role as Neighborhood Watch Coordinator and works tirelessly at keeping her neighbors and local businesses engaged in crime prevention practices through phone calls, emails, newsletter articles and social media.    

Through her mentoring, she has kept Audubon Park involved in a cohesive exchange of ideas and information in order to promote a safe and livable neighborhood. Because of her leadership, passion and hard work, her neighborhood has historically maintained a lower crime rate. The neighborhood’s annual National Night Out party attracts hundreds of residents each year largely due to Vicki’s efforts to ensure the party has something for everyone, from bounce houses and chalk art to free shredding opportunities and Orlando Fire Department fire trucks. She also makes a point of including and inviting neighborhood businesses as well, many of whom donate items as raffle prizes. All these efforts have led to Vicki being named Neighborhood Watch Block Captain of the year in 2011 and the Audubon Park Neighborhood being named as Neighborhood Watch of the Year in 2012. 

Vicki also uses other resources to make her neighborhood a wonderful place to live and play in. She has participated in the city’s Neighborhood and Community Summit for nearly 10 years and always takes what she has learned back to her neighbors. She has even participated as a Summit workshop speaker. Under her leadership, the neighborhood has been able to take advantage of the city’s Green Up program three times and has received two Mayor’s Matching Grants.