The Madison Area Neighborhood Association, like Neighbors of Belknap Lookout, was formed by the national organization ACORN. The Madison Neighborhood broke free from the ACORN organization so that the association would be under the control of people of the Madison area.

In 1979, free from the ACORN organization, the Madison area neighbors formed their independent neighborhood association named in honor of the father of Civil Rights in Grand Rapids, Paul I. Phillips.

The Paul I. Phillips Association experienced financial trouble over the years and slowly became less active as a community organization.

In the 1980’s The United Methodist Church Community House became worried about the lacking Paul I. Phillips Association and formed the South End Community Association.

In 1987, South End Community Association and neighbors in the Madison area again became one united association.

SECA continued to grow, and in 1996, Madison neighbors decided again to separate the associations. The Madison Area Neighborhood Association was established as part of the Madison Square Co-Op program that sought to revive the neighborhood.

The Madison Area Neighborhood Association has been independent since 1996.