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Tournament of Neighboring: Vote, Try and Complete Bracket

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  Every March, millions of Americans fill out brackets, debate upsets, and watch every buzzer-beater of March Madness . But this year, we’re inviting you to join a different kind of tournament—one that happens much closer to home. Welcome to the Tournament of Neighboring . Instead of college basketball teams, this bracket features 64 simple acts of neighborliness —small, practical things anyone can do to make their street a friendlier place. Think driveway conversations, sharing baked goods, helping with a small chore, welcoming a new resident, or inviting someone for a walk. The format is familiar and fun. Just like March Madness, neighboring ideas compete in head-to-head matchups, and you help decide which ones advance. But here’s the difference: in this tournament, everyone wins —because every idea on the bracket helps build stronger neighborhoods. How the Tournament Works The full bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, March 15 . From there, the neighboring ideas advance...
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The Power of Shared Meals: A New Study Shows How Eating Together Boosts Happiness

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March 20, 2025, marked World Happiness Day and the release of a groundbreaking research study about family meals. This study, which analyzed data from the Gallup World Poll and the American Time Use Survey, is the first global survey to explore how often people share meals and how this affects their happiness and well-being.  The results were clear: eating together is strongly linked to increased happiness, and unfortunately, Americans are eating together less than ever before. The study revealed that in 2023, one in four Americans ate all of their meals alone the previous day. This is a 53% increase from 2003. Over the past 20 years, people in all age groups have been eating solo more often, but the biggest change has occurred among young people. Adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are now eating alone nearly 180% more frequently than they did two decades ago. While this is concerning, there is some good news: the research also highlights that eating with others is a simple, ...
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Wendell Berry: If You Want to be Loved, You Have to be Known

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  In Wendell Berry’s quote, "If you want to be loved, you must go through the mortifying experience of letting yourself be known," he talks about a difficult but important part of love and human connection.  To truly be loved, Berry suggests, you cannot hide behind a mask or keep parts of yourself hidden. Instead, you must open up and let others see you for who you really are—flaws, mistakes, and all. This idea may feel "mortifying," or embarrassing, because showing vulnerability can be hard and uncomfortable. But, Berry points out, it is a necessary step for creating deep, genuine relationships. When we try to hide our true selves, it can be difficult for others to connect with us. People might like what we show them, but they are not truly seeing us. Love, in its truest form, requires honesty and trust.  To be loved for who we truly are, we must first allow ourselves to be seen, even if it feels risky. This can be a scary thought because, in opening up, we make ou...
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Registration Now Open for Show Me Neighborhood Art Month Across Missouri

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  Missourians are invited to celebrate creativity, community, and connection as registration officially opens for Show Me Neighborhood Art Month , a statewide initiative led by University of Missouri Extension that encourages residents to create and display neighborhood-based public art during the entire month of June. Previously celebrated as a one-week event, the program has expanded into a month-long celebration to give more communities and neighborhoods time to create, display, and enjoy local art that builds connection and community pride. Show Me Neighborhood Art Month promotes creativity and public art created by everyday residents as a way to strengthen a community’s sense of place and help neighbors feel they belong where they live.  Participants across Missouri are encouraged to create outdoor displays that neighbors and passersby can enjoy. Projects can include murals, painted rocks, window art, yard installations, collaborative neighborhood displays, barn quilts, ...
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Why Libraries Are Perfect Partners for Neighboring

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  Libraries have always been about more than books. They are places where people gather, learn, discover, and connect. Long before the phrase “community hub” became popular, libraries were quietly serving that role in towns and cities across the country. For that reason, libraries are uniquely positioned to strengthen something every community needs more of today: strong neighbor relationships. Neighboring—the simple act of knowing, caring for, and helping the people who live near us—has powerful effects. Research consistently shows that neighborhoods with strong social connections experience greater safety, improved health outcomes, stronger local economies, and higher levels of civic participation. Yet many Americans today report that they know fewer of their neighbors than previous generations did. Rebuilding those connections requires places where people naturally come together. Libraries are one of the best places for that to happen. One reason libraries are ideal partners for...
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Celebrating Mister Rogers on March 20: Lessons from America’s Favorite Neighbor

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March 20 marks the birthday of one of the most influential neighbors America has ever known:   Fred Rogers , the creator and host of   Mister Rogers' Neighborhood . For more than three decades, Rogers welcomed children into a gentle, thoughtful television neighborhood where feelings mattered, kindness was normal, and neighbors looked out for each other. The show aired from 1968 to 2001 and became a cultural touchstone for generations of Americans. In many ways, Mister Rogers was the original champion of the idea that neighboring matters. That’s why several posts on this blog explore the relevant lessons we can learn from him. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to celebrate his birthday this year, here are a few Mister Rogers–inspired ideas worth revisiting. Three Ways to Celebrate Mister Rogers’ Birthday If you want to honor Fred Rogers this March 20, consider doing one of these simple things: 1. Learn the name of a neighbor you don’t know yet.  Mister Rogers bel...
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Rental Inspections are a Step Toward Stronger Homes and Stronger Neighborhoods

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  City of Springfield, Missouri, is taking an important and encouraging step toward strengthening one of the most fundamental building blocks of community: safe and well-maintained housing. Beginning March 23, 2026, the City of Springfield will launch a rental inspection pilot program in the West Central neighborhood. The goal is simple but powerful—help ensure that rental homes are safe, sanitary, and fit for the families who live in them, while also supporting landlords who want to maintain their properties well. At first glance, a rental inspection program might sound like a bureaucratic change. In reality, it is something much deeper. It is an investment in neighbors. Homes Shape Neighborhoods Every neighborhood is built one home at a time. When homes are well cared for—whether owned or rented—something important happens. Streets feel safer. Property values stabilize. People take pride in where they live. Families feel more comfortable putting down roots. But when housing condi...
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