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Neighborhoods Grow at the Speed of Trust

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In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s easy to mistake communication for connection—especially in our neighborhoods. We wave from the driveway, comment on a Facebook post, or send a quick text about a package on the porch. But genuine neighboring doesn’t start with information exchange. It starts with trust. The same rule that applies to strong teams is true on every block in Missouri: people have to connect as people before they can collaborate as neighbors. Or put another way, neighborhoods grow at the speed of trust. Think about any neighborhood project that fizzled—an event no one showed up to, a beautification idea that stalled, or a tough issue that never got addressed. Most of the time, the problem isn’t a lack of good intentions or ability. It’s that people didn’t yet feel connected enough, safe enough, or aligned enough to work together. Without trust, even the best plans become polite coordination rather than genuine collaboration. But when neighbors truly know one another, s...
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A One-Room Schoolhouse, a Potluck, and a Blueprint for Neighboring in Rural Missouri

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  In a converted one-room schoolhouse in Thetford, Vermont, more than 40 neighbors squeeze shoulder to shoulder around a wooden buffet overflowing with goat-cheese crostini, fatback beans, and home-baked pies. Children dart between legs. Old friends embrace. Newcomers are welcomed as if they’ve lived there forever. And for a few hours each month, a community that has weathered industry collapse, population turnover, and cultural polarization becomes whole again. This monthly potluck in the Rice’s Mills Schoolhouse has been going strong for 60 years. The December 2025  New York Times story chronicling the gathering and it reads almost like a love letter to what America used to do naturally: show up, bring a dish, talk to strangers, and create a place where everyone feels like they belong. But the deeper lesson is not nostalgia. It’s a roadmap—one that rural Missouri is perfectly positioned to follow. Lesson 1: A Simple, Predictable Tradition Builds Belonging The Rice’s Mill...
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Why HOAs Should Focus on Building Community, Not Just Enforcing Rules

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If you live in a subdivision with a Homeowners Association (HOA), chances are you’ve heard something like this: “Your grass is too tall,” “Your trash can was visible,” or “Your mailbox paint is fading.” HOAs are known for enforcing neighborhood rules—and sometimes doing it with too much force and too little compassion.  But what if HOAs focused more on building social connections and less on writing warnings? What if they worked to bring neighbors together rather than drive wedges between them? In this essay, we’ll explore why HOAs would better serve their residents if they prioritized community building over strict enforcement. We’ll also look at the difference between HOAs and Neighborhood Associations, and how a shift in focus could help people feel more connected, respected, and supported—especially in places like Springfield and Republic, Missouri. HOA vs. Neighborhood Association: What’s the Difference? First, let’s clear up a common confusion. Many people think an HOA and a ...
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Communities Behave Like the People Who Comprise Them

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  A colleague recently asked me whether community development needs “civic therapists.” At first, it sounds like consultant-speak gone too far. But the more I sit with it, the more it feels exactly right. Because many struggling towns aren’t held back by zoning codes, grant formulas, or business attraction strategies. They’re held back by something quieter and much more personal: chronic apathy and low civic self-esteem. Communities behave just like the people who comprise them. When residents carry confidence, places feel vibrant and possible. When residents feel disconnected, discouraged, or invisible, that mood spills into the streetscape. And after decades of disinvestment—whether economic, social, or emotional—many communities have people who simply don’t feel great about where they live. That’s not a technical problem. It’s an emotional one. This is why big, shiny investments often fall flat. A new park, a redevelopment project, or a splashy grant announcement can look impres...
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A Story of Ripple Effects: In the Quiet of Maple Hollow

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In the quiet neighborhood of Maple Hollow, the residents lived in parallel lives—friendly enough to wave or exchange small talk but rarely venturing deeper. This changed when Rosa Alvarez, a teacher with a knack for bringing people together, decided to apply the principle of learning her neighbors' gifts and talents. It started one Saturday when Rosa noticed Mr. Patel struggling with his lawn mower. She offered help and soon learned he was a retired engineer who loved tinkering with machines. That same week, she struck up a conversation with her next-door neighbor, Lily Chen, a passionate gardener whose backyard overflowed with vibrant vegetables and flowers. Across the street, Jamal, a college student, shared that he had a talent for organizing events and often helped coordinate campus fundraisers. Rosa saw an opportunity to unite her community. She hosted a "Talents and Trades Meet-Up" in her front yard, inviting neighbors to share their skills and needs. Over cookies a...
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Placemaking on a Shoestring: How Neighbors Can Transform Their Street for Under $100

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Too often, placemaking sounds like something reserved for city planners or expensive downtown projects. It brings to mind consultants, architects, and budgets that most neighborhoods could never dream of. But real placemaking—the kind that builds connection and pride where you live—doesn’t require any of that. In fact, you can do a lot for under $100. The best placemaking doesn’t begin with money. It begins with neighbors. 1. Make It Look Alive You don’t need a big event to make your street feel vibrant. A few small touches can send a big message: people care about this place. Decorate windows, fences, or porches with simple seasonal displays. Hang paper snowflakes, paint flowerpots, or invite neighborhood kids to create cheerful chalk art on the sidewalks. You could even organize a “window gallery” where neighbors display art, photos, or collections in front windows for others to enjoy during evening walks. These simple gestures transform ordinary spaces into signs of life and f...
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How Media Impacts the Neighboring Narrative and Works Against Genuine Connection

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  The media plays a powerful role in shaping how we think about our neighbors—and often, it works against genuine connection.  News outlets, social media, and entertainment tend to emphasize conflict, danger, and difference. Turn on the evening news and you’ll likely see stories about crime, scams, or disputes between neighbors, rarely about people who shovel each other’s driveways or share meals across fences.  Over time, this steady stream of negativity feeds fear and mistrust. It can make us see strangers on our street as potential threats instead of potential friends. When our mental picture of “neighbor” is filtered through sensational headlines, we begin to equate safety with distance and privacy with peace. Social media adds another layer of distortion. Instead of walking next door to chat, people often connect online through neighborhood apps or Facebook groups, where tone and trust can easily be misunderstood.  A post about a “suspicious person” can spiral i...
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Jeff Fillpot: The Steady Hands and Open Heart Behind Hume’s Stronger Community

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  In the small town of Hume, Missouri, neighbors know they can count on Jeff Fillpot . Whether he’s stocking shelves at the local food pantry, tending the school greenhouse, supporting families through church outreach, or simply taking time to listen, Jeff shows up—quietly, consistently, and wholeheartedly. His commitment to serving others has made him one of Missouri’s Top 20 Most Engaged Neighbors of 2025 , a recognition presented during Missouri Good Neighbor Week. Jeff’s desire to connect with his community began with inspiration from others. “I have been inspired by the helping hands of others constantly supporting one another,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of it and meld with the community.”  He soon became a leader at the town’s volunteer-run food pantry, an essential service that now gives a helping hand to more than 230 families each month , including many during the holidays. Jeff travels weekly to help the stock the pantry and pickup supplies. The pantry’s impact...
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Xintong Li: Quiet Kindness Strengthening a Small-Town Community

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  In a small Missouri town where neighbors still wave from porches and look out for one another, Xintong Li has become a steady source of kindness, reliability, and quiet leadership. Though naturally introverted, he has embraced a style of neighboring built on simple gestures, practical help, and a genuine desire to make life a little easier for the people around him. For these efforts, Xintong has been named one of Missouri’s Top 20 Most Engaged Neighbors of 2025 , part of the statewide celebration of kindness and connection known as Missouri Good Neighbor Week . Simple Beginnings, Lasting Impact For Xintong, neighboring began naturally. “I live near several elderly neighbors, and they are all very kind people,” he said. “In a small town it just feels normal to want to look out for one another and help where you can.”  Over the past four years, those small acts of care have grown into strong relationships. “Being more engaged has helped turn this place from ‘where I live’ in...
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A Feast Without the Fuss: Why Friendsgiving Might Be the Most Neighborly Holiday of All

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Thanksgiving may get the headlines, but the night before might just hold the real secret to belonging. According to author Amy Lively, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is one of America’s top five days for pizza deliveries. Families are traveling, kitchens are busy, and people everywhere are taking the night off from cooking. So why not turn that moment into something meaningful? This year, instead of quietly grabbing your pizza and retreating inside, call it what it could be: Friendsgiving. Invite a neighbor to join you. Share a meal—simple or elaborate—and turn an ordinary evening into something extraordinary. Friendsgiving doesn’t need to mimic the traditional Thanksgiving spread. It can be as casual as a stack of paper plates or as formal as your grandmother’s china. Millennials popularized it because it’s low-key, low-pressure, and refreshingly free of the travel logistics and family tensions that often accompany the holiday season. But at its core, Friendsgiving is for everyo...
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