In a world dominated by digital interaction, curated identities, and growing social divides, Lura Forcum offers a refreshingly simple experiment: invite people you don’t know well into your home and share a meal. Her article, “ How to Human: A Year of Eating with People I Don’t Know ,” isn’t just about potlucks—it’s a deeper reflection on connection, vulnerability, and what it means to rebuild community in modern life. Here are the key lessons that I took away from the article. 1. Human Connection Is Built Around Shared Experiences One of the most powerful insights from the article is that shared meals are universally tied to happiness and connection. Across cultures and countries, eating together is linked to life satisfaction.  This isn’t accidental. Meals create a natural setting for conversation. Meals also offer a nice pause in daily business. Lesson: If you want stronger relationships, don’t overcomplicate it. Start with something as simple as eating together. 2. Community ...

  A read a book back in 2019 called the Turquoise Table and thought the answer for connecting residents in my neighborhood had been discovered! I got some grant monies and opened up applications for free picnic tables that would be painted Turquoise, for any neighbor willing to have one in their front yard.  Just like in the book, these additions to our infrastructure were going to become gathering spots. One family moved six months after getting one. Another family decided, after one summer, that they were too busy for a table. Another family has never used their table. And yet answer asked to have their table moved to the nearby park (where it is used regularly). The lesson for me: infrastructure does not create belonging by itself . It creates a place for belonging to happen and an opportunity but interaction (and impact) is still up to people. Those tables were never going to make a difference without neighbors willing to host events at them and use them on a very regular...

In many small towns, the conversation about growth tends to revolve around infrastructure, jobs, and attracting outside investment. But one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—assets is already there: local creativity.  When communities tap into their artistic talent, they don’t just beautify spaces—they build identity, pride, and a shared sense of belonging. From Empty Spaces to Shared Places Arts-led development has a unique way of transforming the everyday landscape. A blank wall becomes a storytelling canvas. An empty lot turns into a gathering space. A quiet alley evolves into a destination. In Mount Sterling, Kentucky, the Gateway Regional Arts Center has demonstrated just how impactful this approach can be. Through initiatives like a public art trail and the vibrant Umbrella Alley installation, the town has reimagined its public spaces. These projects didn’t just appear overnight. Each mural, sculpture, and installation added visibility, drew in visitors, and strength...

When organizations talk about employee volunteerism, the conversation usually sounds the same: organized service days, nonprofit partnerships, and hours logged in a tracking system. That model matters—but it’s incomplete. What often goes unrecognized is that some of the most impactful forms of volunteerism are happening informally, right outside people’s front doors. It’s time to expand how we define volunteerism—and in doing so, unlock a more inclusive, accessible, and powerful way for employees to contribute. Volunteerism Is Bigger Than We Think At its core, volunteerism is simple: freely choosing to help others.  But globally, most volunteer activity doesn’t happen through formal programs. It’s informal, relational, and hyper-local. It looks like: Checking in on a neighbor going through a tough time Bringing meals to a family in transition Helping with childcare or errands Clearing snow, mowing lawns, or sharing tools Hosting gatherings that bring people together These acts are ...

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...