By Sara Beth Williams–
Citrus Heights resident Elyjah Wilbur is working to help turn his once-inactive neighborhood area to the north of Interstate 80 into an “active and thriving” group of residents.
In March, Wilbur was appointed interim president of the Northwest Neighborhood Area 1 by the Residents Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights (REACH) in order to “get the ball rolling” for the association, Wilbur said during a June 27 City Council meeting. Wilbur told The Sentinel in an interview that the inaugural meeting for Area 1 was held on March 18.
“As a father myself, my motivation stems from a desire to create a safe, nurturing, and vibrant environment not just for my own family, but for all young families looking to establish roots here,” Wilbur said, adding that active participation in neighborhood areas is “key to achieving this goal.”
Wilbur told the City Council that since March, Area 1 has held four meetings at Sammy’s Restaurant and Bar, and has hosted presentations by the Citrus Heights Police Department and other city departments. Area 1 also participated in and engaged families at Lichen K-8’s cultural fair and partnered with the Antelope Lion’s Club to celebrate a middle school student at Lichen K-8, who was honored with a Spirit of San Juan Award.
Wilbur said Area 1 has also reached out to previous neighborhood association participants, established a new Area 1 Facebook group, and actively shares updates across various Citrus Heights Facebook groups. Wilbur has seen an “increase in participation” with every monthly meeting since March and wants to continue to expand re-engagement efforts.
In the most recent meeting, Wilbur announced that the association voted in a new board and established updated bylaws. Wilbur was officially elected as the Neighborhood Area’s president; Micheal Hildebrandt was elected Vice President, and Laura Wilbur was elected Secretary.
Wilbur is “excited” for the upcoming year and hopes to “foster stronger connections” between Area 1 and the broader Citrus Heights community.
“By setting an example and encouraging diverse voices to join in, we can collectively contribute to building a vibrant and supportive community for generations to come,” Wilbur said, adding that community neighborhood groups like CHASEN and SOAR have set a great example with “impactful community engagement efforts.”
Wilbur has been a local resident for many years and previously worked as a spokesperson for the City of Citrus Heights. Wilbur has worked in communications for nine years, according to his LinkedIn bio, and currently serves as a Communications Specialist with the San Juan Unified School District. On LinkedIn, Wilbur recently announced that he received the 2024 Award of Merit from the National School Public Relations Association.
Wilbur wants to encourage residents in Area 1 to keep an eye on the city’s Neighborhood Area webpage for regular updates, meeting information, agendas, and minutes. A map of the city’s neighborhood areas is posted online here.
Area 1 meetings are held every third Monday inside Sammy’s Restaurant and Bar from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The restaurant is located at 6508 Antelope Rd. For more information, visit Area 1’s website.
