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Why the Most Meaningful Impact Starts Right Outside Your Front Door”

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Let me start with a simple question. How many of you know the names of the people who live directly next door to you? Not just what they look like… but their names. Now—how many of you know something about their lives? What they do, what they care about, what’s going on with them? Here’s what’s interesting. We live closer to people than ever before. Our homes are packed into neighborhoods, apartment complexes, subdivisions… we’re surrounded by people. And yet, many of us feel more disconnected than ever. At the same time, a lot of people want to make a difference. We want to help, to contribute, to do something meaningful. So we often think: ‘I need to go somewhere. I need to sign up for something. I need to add something to my schedule.’ But what if the most meaningful, lasting way to make an impact… isn’t somewhere else? What if it’s right outside your front door?” CORE IDEA I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this idea, and I wrote a book called Neighborhood Missio...
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Neighboring Applies to Rural Residents As Well

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  Neighboring isn’t just a suburban experiment or a nostalgic idea tied to front porches and cul-de-sacs. It’s just as relevant—and just as powerful—in rural spaces. Wide-open land doesn’t automatically create strong relationships. In fact, sometimes distance, independence, and long-standing routines can make connection even less likely. And contrary to popular belief, this isn’t a “younger generation problem.” It’s easy to assume that technology or shifting cultural norms have made younger people less neighborly. But in reality, the hesitation to engage with those living nearby spans generations. Avoidance, assumptions, and quiet judgment are not new habits—they just show up in different ways. I was reminded of this at a recent community cookout. I found myself seated with a group of people I didn’t know. Before long, the conversation turned toward a nearby landowner who had begun lining his fence with old tires. The tone quickly shifted from curiosity to criticism.  So...
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How Rural Electric Cooperatives Can Leverage Missouri Good Neighbor Week

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Missouri’s rural electric cooperatives have always been rooted in community. Built by neighbors, for neighbors, co-ops are uniquely positioned to bring people together in meaningful ways. That’s why Missouri Good Neighbor Week presents such a natural opportunity. Not just as a marketing moment, but as a chance to reinforce the cooperative difference. Here are a few ideas of how co-ops can turn Missouri Good Neighbor Week into something impactful for both their brand and their members. 1. Tell the Co-op Story Through Real Neighbors Any time of years is a good time to highlight the people behind the meter. Instead of focusing on infrastructure or rates, shift the spotlight to members: Feature short stories of members helping members Share interviews with lineworkers who go above and beyond Highlight multi-generational co-op families These stories work well across social media, newsletters, and local press—and they reinforce the idea that the co-op isn’t ju...
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Bowling Alone—or Building Together? What New Social Capital Data Reveals About America

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  For years, the phrase   “bowling alone” —popularized by Robert Putnam—has described a quiet unraveling in American life. Fewer clubs, shared spaces, and relationships that tie us together. A new analysis from Nationhood Lab adds fresh data to that story—and the results are both sobering and clarifying. Their central question was simple:  Where in the United States is social capital strongest—and where is it weakest?  But the answer reveals something much deeper about the condition of our communities. How the Study Measured Social Capital Rather than relying on a single measure, researchers examined county-level social capital using a composite index built from multiple indicators of civic life. This included: The density of associational life (bowling leagues, churches, sports clubs, civic groups, labor unions) Voter turnout in presidential elections Census response rates The number of nonprofit organizations In other words, they weren’t just asking  what peo...
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Only 3 in 10 Know Their Neighbors. What That Tells Us—and What To Do About It

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  A recent  national survey highlighted in a  Rocket Mortgage media release revealed something both surprising and deeply familiar:  Only 3 in 10 Americans say they know their neighbors beyond a casual level. At the same time, most people say they  want  a stronger sense of neighborhood connection. That gap—between desire and reality—is where the story of neighboring in America is being written right now. The Great Disconnect The data paints a clear picture: Only about  30% of Americans have meaningful relationships with neighbors   Only  a quarter know most neighbors by name   Just  17% actively try to connect  with neighbors  Meanwhile, nearly  80% say strong neighborhoods improve quality of life. This isn’t apathy. It’s something more subtle.  Most people aren’t opposed to connection—they’re just not initiating it. In fact, more than half of respondents say they’re open to interaction, but only if it “happen...
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