One of the greatest challenges facing neighborhoods today is not that we disagree. It is that we have forgotten how to stay in conversation with one another. A new report from the Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) offers an important lesson for anyone who cares about building stronger neighborhoods.  How to Talk Bridgey 2.0 isn't really about politics. At its heart, it is about communication. It explores how certain words invite people into conversation while other words unintentionally push people away. The report argues that thoughtful language helps people remain connected even when they see the world differently. That idea fits perfectly with what I have learned from studying neighboring over the past decade. Healthy neighborhoods are not built because everyone agrees. They are built because people choose to keep talking. Neighboring Is About Building Bridges, Not Winning Arguments One of the report's strongest messages is that "talking bridgey" do...

Senior housing communities are full of life stories, talents, and quiet wisdom — yet they can also become places where residents feel alone or unnoticed. Recently, residents here experienced the shock of learning that a neighbor passed away and went unmissed for days. That experience shook people — not only because someone died, but because no one knew. No one wants that to happen to them. And the good news is: it doesn’t have to. Strong neighboring is not about being nosy or intrusive. It’s about making sure no one disappears, no one suffers alone, and no one feels like they have to sleep in a lobby to be seen. What Is Neighboring? Neighboring is the art and skill of building positive relationships with the people who live closest to you. Essentially it is a reminder to learn the names of the people living around us, use the names of those around us, and host small gatherings. It’s made up of small gestures that say: “You matter here.” “Someone sees you.” “You won’t go thr...

  Imagine if every neighborhood in your community had access to a small fund—perhaps $50, $100, or $250—to help neighbors do something together. Not to repair a street.  Not to build a new park.  Simply to gather. A block party.  An ice cream social.  A front-yard concert.  A neighborhood cleanup followed by pizza.  A chili cook-off.  A holiday decorating contest.  A "meet your neighbors" picnic. The cost would be tiny.  The return could be enormous. Recently I read about an experiment in Charlottesville, Virginia, where organizers offered thirty $100 neighborhood microgrants. Those small investments helped neighbors organize gatherings that connected roughly 500 residents. More importantly, nearly every gathering concluded with neighbors identifying something they wanted to do together next. The event wasn't the finish line—it became the starting point for stronger neighborhood relationships. That idea resonates deeply with ev...

In celebration of the United States 250th birthday this year, cities and states across the U.S. are planning events, festivals, and commemorations.  One city is offering a reminder that the most meaningful celebrations may not happen on a stage or in a stadium. They may happen on your street. In Philadelphia, leaders have announced an ambitious idea: host 250 block parties across the city to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Instead of concentrating the celebration in one downtown event, they are spreading it across neighborhoods and inviting residents to gather with the people who live closest to them. It’s a simple idea. But it carries a profound lesson. Taking Celebration to the Street Too often, we think of civic life as something that happens somewhere else, like at city hall, major events, or on national stages. But the approach of Philadelphia, and many other American cities now, flips that thinking on its head. It says: "start where you live." When neighbors gather...

We are going to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a special bonus session of Neighboring 101 at 12 noon CST on July 2. Our topic: “Talking Civics and Democracy with Neighbors.” This is a bonus session and the Zoom is open to the public . This is an especially important topic at a time when many Americans are searching for ways to rebuild trust, connection, and healthy civic dialogue in their communities. Our guest will be Siri C. Erickson, Senior Director for Strategy and Learning with Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement. PACE is a philanthropic laboratory for funders seeking to maximize their individual and collective impact on democracy and civic life in America. The PACE community achieves this through learning, experimenting, collaborating, and modeling vibrant civic space.   Of particular interest is the new study from PACE’s Civic Language Perceptions Project, “How to Talk About Democracy Under Pressure.” This study, called “How to Talk Bridgey 2.0,” translates fre...

A few times each week, while walking my dog, I cross paths with a neighbor who is walking his dog. We’ve never exchanged names. We don’t know where each other works. We don’t know each other’s stories, political views, or life histories. We haven’t traded phone numbers or shared meals. But every time we see each other, something wonderful happens. As we approach, we raise our hands, exchange a high five, and laugh. That’s it. The interaction lasts only a few seconds. Then we continue on our separate ways. Yet those few seconds matter more than they probably should. In a culture that respects deep relationships, networking, and carefully cultivated communities, it’s easy to overlook the power of these tiny moments. We tend to think belonging comes from close friendships, family ties, or organized groups. Certainly those things matter. But belonging is also built through small, repeated experiences that quietly remind us: I am part of this place. My unnamed neighbor and...