Seeking Legislative Support for Missouri Good Neighbor Week

 


Dear Representative,

I had an opportunity to be at the capital on Wednesday, Feb. 16, to testify in front of the Tourism Committee in favor of a bill proposed by Representative Bishop Davidson. I am writing to ask you to support this measure as it passes through the legislative process.

HB 1560 -- Recognizes September 28 as "National Good Neighbor Day" and designates the week of September 28 as "Missouri Good Neighbor Week."

Five years ago, my wife and I discovered that we only knew the names of neighbors in two houses enar us (we have lived in the same house for 18 years). We were convinced that our apathy was not the best way to live. Together, we set out to re-introduce ourselves to our neighbors and to learn our neighbors' names, use their names, and find ways to interact with them socially.

Over the last four years, my wife and I have been blessed to build relationships with our neighbors. Doing so has improved our quality of life.

At the same time, because of these neighboring efforts, I have had two neighbors agree to serve in city government. The local relationship building led to improved social capital and even opportunities for local leadership development. Meanwhile, my wife and I have discovered the gifts and talents of the people living around us as well as ways we can be a blessing to them.

In my work as a community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension, I have had numerous opportunities to provide educational programs on the value of neighboring since 2020. Since COVID, there has been a renewed interest among Missourians to connect with their neighbors and not do so much of life alone. Just this past week I did an hour-long class for 36 members of the Missouri Community Betterment Association on how to use neighboring in community betterment.

Part of my work now focuses on developing local activities around National Good Neighbor Day (Sept. 28), which was first signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. In Greene County during 2021, the Greene County MU Extension office promoted a "good neighbor week" with a challenge of collecting 1,000 acts of neighboring. By the end of the week, we had had over 5,731 acts of neighboring reported to us from all across the state.

In 2022, I am working to develop partnerships with community betterment associations and county extension councils to build more support for taking "good neighbor" efforts statewide as part of a Missouri Good Neighbor Week. I am proposing that this unique week begin on National Good Neighbor Day which is Sept. 28.

The passage of HB 1560 establishing Missouri Good Neighbor Week in conjunction with the national holiday is a significant step forward and provides support for the growing "neighboring movement" in Missouri. I have included some additional information about my Engaged Neighbor program with this letter as well as details on our good neighbor week efforts in 2021.

I hope you can take steps to support HB 1560. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

David L. Burton

 





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