The following story is one of the reasons why I wrote The Neighboring Playbook .  We hear a great deal today about loneliness, division, and declining trust. We often look to Washington, Jefferson City, or city hall for the answers. But I have become convinced that one of America's greatest opportunities is much closer than that. It is the people who live next door. My book isn't really about being nicer. It's about rebuilding the relationships that make communities stronger.  I believe neighboring isn't just a personal virtue; it's civic infrastructure.  When neighbors know one another, communities become safer, healthier, more resilient, and more connected. My hope is that readers won't simply purchase and finish my book . I hope they'll walk home, learn one new neighbor's name, host one gathering, or knock on one door. Because that's where stronger communities begin. So here is my excerpt: The ambulance arrived with lights flashing quietly again...

When we talk about strengthening neighborhoods, we sometimes focus on people : getting neighbors to meet one another, encouraging volunteerism, developing local leaders, welcoming newcomers, checking on older adults, or simply learning the names of the people who live nearby. Other times, we focus on place : improving parks, adding sidewalks, addressing abandoned properties, creating gathering spaces, improving lighting, planting trees, or making streets safer. But perhaps the most important lesson from community development is that we shouldn't choose between the two.  Strong neighborhoods require both connected people and places designed to help those connections happen. A Great Park Doesn't Automatically Create Community Imagine a neighborhood receives funding for a beautiful new park. There are walking paths, benches, a playground, shade trees and perhaps even a pavilion. Those are worthwhile investments. They improve the physical environment and create something everyone ...

Somewhere along the way, we began to believe that being connected meant being online. We tell ourselves that social media helps us keep up with friends, stay informed, and maintain relationships. For our children, the pressure is even greater. “Everyone else has it.” “They’ll be left out.” “How will they stay connected?” But what if we’ve confused constant contact with real connection ? The healthiest, most meaningful relationships have never depended on an app. They are built through shared experiences, conversations, laughter, eye contact, and time. The kinds of moments that can’t be captured in a story or measured by likes. Children don’t need social media to belong. They need places where they are known. Connection Has Always Been an Offline Experience Think about your own childhood. You probably remember riding bikes until the streetlights came on, knocking on a friend’s door to see if they could play, long conversations around the dinner table, family vacations, neighborhood adv...

What if building a stronger neighborhood didn’t require a grant, a committee, a strategic plan or even a big event? What if it just required some coffee and a place to sit? That is the encouraging lesson behind a neighborhood gathering in Moorhead, Minnesota, recently featured by InForum. The basic concept is remarkably simple: create an opportunity for neighbors to gather, have a cup of coffee and talk. And then do it again. That last part may be the real secret. We sometimes make community building much more complicated than it needs to be. We think we need an elaborate block party, entertainment, activities for children, catered food and dozens of people in attendance before an event can be considered successful. But relationships rarely develop because of elaborate programming. They develop because people spend time together. Start With Something Simple Coffee works because nearly everyone understands the invitation. “Come have coffee with your neighbors” feels different from “Atte...

Neighbors Bank  is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural  Neighbor of the Year  campaign, a community-driven initiative designed to celebrate and recognize exceptional individuals who strengthen their neighborhoods through selfless acts of kindness and service. In honor of National Good Neighbor Day (September 28th), the bank is inviting community members to nominate neighbors deserving of recognition and support for a chance to win a grand prize of $20,000 cash. "Good neighbors change the trajectory of their communities," said Ashley Harris, Director of Homebuyer Education at Neighbors Bank . "They show up without being asked and they inspire others to do the same. This campaign is our way of celebrating those extraordinary individuals and reminding everyone that community strength starts with the people who care enough to make a difference." Neighbors Bank Neighbor of the Year Award Official Rules Community members across the United States of America can n...