In most conversations about health, we start in the wrong place. We start with doctors, medications, and insurance systems — the places we go  after something has already gone wrong . Shawna Beese, a rural health researcher and Extension specialist in Washington State, flips that order. Her work explores a simple but disruptive idea:  Health is not primarily created in healthcare systems.  It is created in neighborhoods. Her research treats neighboring not as a nice social habit, but as a  population-level health intervention  — a practical way to reduce chronic disease, mental illness, and despair before treatment is needed. Beese’s central insight is that health operates at the scale of everyday life. Where you spend most of your hours — home, street, workplace, local relationships — determines your long-term biological stress load far more than occasional medical visits.  Her research focuses on how neighborhood characteristics influence well...

  Every winter, cities prepare for snow in predictable ways: salt trucks, plows, alerts, and parking rules. Those things matter. They keep streets open and traffic moving. But the City of Excelsior Springs has built something just as important into its winter plan — people. Through its Neighbors Helping Neighbors and Snow Angels effort, residents can request assistance during snowy weather, connecting those who need help with volunteers willing to step in. It’s a small idea on paper: neighbors helping with winter needs. It’s a big idea in practice: designing a system where kindness is organized instead of accidental. Moving From Random Kindness to Reliable Care Most towns have generous people. What they don’t always have is a pathway. We all know the scenario. A heavy snow falls. An older resident worries about slipping. A person recovering from surgery looks at an icy driveway. Someone new to town hesitates to ask for help. In many communities, assistance depends on chance — Do ...

Every community spends a lot of time talking about growth — new businesses, new developments, new projects, new plans. But belonging rarely begins with something new.  It begins with something noticed. That’s why I love the idea behind Manchester’s February invitation: write a short note about what makes Manchester feel like home. Not a survey. Not a complaint form. Not a strategic plan. A letter. Residents are being asked to share a neighbor, a place, a memory, or an ordinary moment — then drop it in a red mailbox at City Hall or send it by email. Some of those notes will later appear in a public exhibit.  At first glance, it feels simple. But underneath, something important is happening. Communities don’t become stronger only because people invest money. They become stronger because people invest attention. The Civic Power of Small Stories Most of what holds a town together never makes headlines. It is the person who waves every morning at the same intersection. Th...

  Wow!  What a flurry of great ideas and programs being employed in Missouri’s Most Neighborly Cities to engage residents! Access the video of the discussion here . This discussion was held on Feb. 13, 2026. The Mo Neighborhoods workgroup discussion is a treasure trove of ideas and programs that: Build social capital Get your residents connected with each other Promote civic pride and participation Facilitate volunteerism Love local   Here’s some of what’s happening in Missouri’s Most Engaged Cities!! Dear, Manchester:  A civic pride campaign that encourages residents to write letters about a favorite place, memory Building Belonging Together:  Training to help neighbors plan a block party A Slice of History:  Fun activities that help your residents learn about local and Missouri history Strategic Planning for Neighborhoods:  Complete with toolkit! Methods for conducting a neighborhood cleanup program with an emphasis on recycling and keeping bulky ite...

  When we talk about health, we usually talk about doctors, hospitals, insurance, and prescriptions. Those things matter. But they are not the main reason people are healthy — or unhealthy. Public health research has been remarkably consistent for years: medical care explains only about  10–20% of health outcomes . The rest comes from everyday life — income stability, relationships, housing, safety, opportunity, and whether people feel connected to others. In other words, health is not produced primarily inside clinics. It is produced in neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and families. Doctors treat illness. Communities shape whether illness develops. The Places We Live Shape the Bodies We Carry Think about two people who have the same doctor and the same insurance. One lives in a stable neighborhood, knows their neighbors, has predictable work hours, and feels supported. The other lives with constant financial uncertainty, limited social ties, and daily stress about saf...