Key idea: How small actions, personal invitations, and effective storytelling can turn neighborhood projects into lasting community change. You can have the greatest idea in the world for improving your neighborhood. You can organize a wonderful project, identify community assets, recruit volunteers, and develop a thoughtful plan. But if nobody knows about your project, understands why it matters, or feels personally invited to participate, your impact will be limited. That is one of the important lessons I teach in our Neighborhood Leadership Academy. Neighborhood leadership isn't just about having good ideas or getting things done. It is also about helping other people see the possibilities, understand the purpose, and become part of something bigger than themselves. Good neighborhood leaders don't just organize activities. They create ripples of change and learn how to help those ripples spread. 1. Never Underestimate the Ripple Effect Imagine standing beside a quiet pond ...

Loneliness is more than a personal health concern. It is quietly weakening the trust, relationships, and sense of belonging that hold our communities together. Many years ago, my wife and I had a friend who came home to discover that her husband had died on their front porch. Their home was located along a busy street. Cars passed by regularly, and people walked through the neighborhood. We have often wondered how many people might have seen him lying there without stopping to investigate or offer help. We will never know the answer. Perhaps nobody noticed. Perhaps someone saw him but did not recognize that something was wrong. But the experience has stayed with me because it raises an uncomfortable question: Have we become so disconnected from the people around us that we no longer notice when they need us? I believe that question points to one of the most serious challenges facing American communities today. We talk frequently about loneliness. We hear about its impact on mental heal...

  Every once in a while, something pops up in my Facebook memories that makes me smile. Today, it was a letter of recommendation from the Michigan Municipal League following a keynote presentation I delivered at its annual convention on Mackinac Island in September 2024. The letter reminded me of a wonderful experience sharing the importance of neighboring with municipal leaders who were interested in building stronger, more connected communities. The event planner wrote that my presentation exceeded expectations and was engaging, interactive, and practical. She also shared this feedback from one of the attendees: "The session on 'Neighboring' was insightful. He provided examples of how municipalities can focus on customer service. Something that resonated with me was how we can treat constituents like our next-door neighbors." I especially appreciated that comment because it captures something I believe deeply: Neighboring is not just about the people who live next d...

  In their insightful work The Lonely American , Jacqueline Olds and Richard Schwartz delve into a pressing issue of modern society: the growing epidemic of loneliness. Their analysis examines the cultural, psychological, and societal forces that drive isolation, the ripple effects of loneliness, and actionable steps to counteract its spread.  This essay highlights the core themes and findings from their discussion on December 16, 2024, as part of Neighboring 101. Understanding Loneliness Olds and Schwartz reveal that loneliness is not merely an emotional state but a societal problem with far-reaching consequences. Drawing from research and anecdotal evidence, they discuss how social isolation has increased dramatically over recent decades. For instance, a survey conducted in 1985 found that only 10% of Americans reported having no confidants, but by 2004, this number had jumped to 25%. Furthermore, the average number of close confidants fell from three to two during the same ...

Missouri Good Neighbor Week is not simply a community celebration, it is an opportunity for Main Street businesses to strengthen the relationships that make a rural town a place where people want to live, shop, work, and invest. I was recently challenged to create an elevator speech for businesses considering a partnership with Missouri Good Neighbor Week. An  elevator speech is designed for a face-to-face conversation and it should take about 60 seconds, or less. Missouri Good Neighbor Week: A Business Opportunity Businesses on Main Street do more than sell products and services. They help create the kind of community people are proud to call home. That’s the idea behind Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4).  We’re working to make being a good (or engaged) neighbor a normal part of life in Missouri that is recognized and celebrated. Why should your business get involved? Because strong neighborhoods create stronger communities, and strong communities are go...