NILES — Residents will get the chance to meet with city representatives Friday evening during a H.O.P.E. First Friday event.

The Meet and Greet Your Newly Elected Local Officials will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Bell Building, 305 N. Third St. in Niles. State Rep. Brad Paquette, who represents the 78th District, will be in attendance alongside Niles city council members Jessica Nelson and Travis Timm. Those who attend will be invited to ask the state and city leaders questions in forum style. Refreshments will be available.

Event organizer Beverly Woodson encouraged the community to visit the event prepared to ask questions and express any concerns they might have about local issues.

“We are trying to get feedback from the community,” Woodson said. “Unfortunately, when people are elected, we don’t get any new information from them or get the chance to ask them questions. I felt this would be a good time. We are hoping for a good turnout.”

H.O.P.E., which stands for Helping Our People Evolve, was formed last year by Beverly Woodson, Yvette Greene and Doug Freeman with the effort to create a local club that would provide a place for the community to get together, learn about ongoing issues and complete service projects.

Woodson said she hopes to hear new ideas from the city and state officials this Friday at the Bell Building.

“We just need to come together and formulate the relationship,” Woodson said. “We are trying to formulate this group for the community. We want them to come and find out what is going on in their neighborhood and their community.”

H.O.P.E. intends to make the meet and greet a regular event.

The event is free and open to the public, though organizers said an RSVP is advised. Those interested can call Greene at (269) 591-1776, Freeman at (269) 240-4838 or Woodson at (269) 357-1151.