We Are Neighbors

  As soon as I heard the news of its release, I pre-ordered Cormac Russell and John McKnight’s book, “ The Connected Community: Discovering the Health, Wealth, and Power of Neighborhoods.” McKnight is the co-creator of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and author of “Abundant Communities.” That book has some short-comings but it is the standard for understanding ABCD. The pre-sale marketing for “Connected Community” promised to apply ABCD in neighborhoods more deeply. So, of course, I bought it. That whole idea is at the foundation of my Engaged Neighbor Project. The book is organized into three distinct but connected sections: Discover, Connect, and Mobilize. The section on Discover focuses on the importance of what is already strong in your neighborhood (gifts or assets). Often, assets are in plain sight, and we just take them for granted. The section closes with three simple and effective tools. For Connect, the author encourages us to connect with those in our

  Elections always have consequences.  With so much change on the horizon, I have been reading Richard C. Harwood’s book, “Unleashed,” and thinking about how it applies to our communities and our neighborhoods. How do we bring people together when our society is breaking apart? What will it take to bridge our divides, overcome mistrust, and restore our belief that we can get things done together as Americans?  How do we bring out the best in us?  In the forward, Harwood gives us a new and inspiring blueprint to rediscover what we share and actively build upon it. As a trusted civic voice, Harwood argues that to get the country moving in the right direction these efforts must start in our local communities. Harwood shows us how to reach within and beyond ourselves to address our shared challenges and create more purpose and meaning in our lives. First, we must be part of something larger than ourselves and make a difference in our communities.  This could be as simple as being an active

  The Engaged Neighbor Program has, since day one, being recognized with various local, state and national awards. This recognition supports the effort and the idea and the impact of the work. Here is a listing of those awards with links to stories when appropriate. David Burton is recognized as the “ Rising Star for the Year ” at Neighborhood Organizations and Volunteer Awards program by Community Partnership of the Ozarks, December 2023. “Engaged Neighbor Program." is named Outstanding Program of the Year (2023) by the University of Missouri Extension Association. October 2023. Missouri Good Neighbor Week is named Neighborhood Program of the Year for the United States . Announced May 13, 2023 at national conference of Neighborhoods USA. Details here . First place for digital and printed neighborhood newsletters at Neighborhoods USA conference (2023) Earned five different awards at the Neighborhoods USA conference (2022) in Little Rock, Arkansas. This included awards for neighb

  Neighboring is worth celebrating! Since 2018, David Burton has been leading local and national efforts to create and celebrate neighboring-related holidays and create websites related to these celebrations. There is an online discussion with David Burton and Jennifer Prophete about neighboring holidays that was placed on YouTube and available online here .  Check out these examples. Or better yet, bookmark these websites! National Good Neighbor Day This is a national holiday declared by President Jimmy Carter. Several groups work together nationwide to raise interest in this holiday and to document the impact of celebrating the date. Missouri Good Neighbor Week Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed a bill in 2021 creating Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4). The goal of this holiday is to document and celebrate acts of neighboring and engaged neighbors in Missouri. Selected in 2023 as the Best Neighboring Program in America!  Show-Me Neighborhood Art Week This special eve

  There are a number of active neighbors and organizations that are working to improve neighborhoods across the United States. So many great examples and websites that I have an entire blog post with regularly updated information. Check it out here. Neighborhoods USA Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) is a national, non-profit organization committed to building and strengthening neighborhood organizations. Created in 1975 to share information and experiences used to build stronger communities, NUSA continues to encourage networking and information-sharing to facilitate the development of partnerships among neighborhood organizations, government, and the private sector for the ultimate goal of strengthening every neighborhood. Hopeful Neighborhood Project Imagine the possibilities. At the Hopeful Neighborhood Project we are helping  everyday neighbors pursue the common good, right where they live. Engaged Neighbor You can help make your neighborhood clean, safe, and friendly by learning about an

Instead of a New Year's resolution this year, why not take advice from some 95-year-old people? In 2008, Dr. Anthony Campolo, professor of sociology at Eastern College in St. David's, Pennsylvania, surveyed 50 people, all 95 years old and beyond, and asked them one question: "If you could live your life over, what would you do differently?" Their answers were surprising. It boiled down to three basic things: reflect more, risk more, and do more things that will live on after you're dead. That seems like good advice for the New Year! Reflect More. Campolo explained that the respondents said they would reflect more if given a life re-do. They would "stop, think, and consider with intensity" the things they took for granted the first time. He says people fail to focus on or reflect upon things with real personal significance. I have also seen this summed up as stop, listen, and pay attention. Campolo's advice was not to be absent or allow th

  "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens is one of my all-time favorite stories. It is a classic tale of repentance and redemption. In Scrooge we see a portrait of a life radically remade. In the short story Scrooge always plays it safe. He holds every shilling tight, conserves coal, and worries about the future. He has disdain for all of humankind and has a sour attitude toward life. In my favorite movie adaptation of the book (the 1984 version with George C. Scott as Scrooge) it is suggested that Scrooge’s approach to life began when he rejected the love of Belle. Or maybe it is more accurate to say that Scrooge decided to pursue money instead of Belle. In the book, the scene ends with Belle saying, “May you be happy in the life you have chosen.” And then Belle and Scrooge part. But in the movie, Scrooge tells the Ghost of Christmas Past, “I almost went after her,’ after which the Spirit replies, “Almost carries no weight, especially in matters of the heart.” Overcoming an

  Some may assume that low-income residents of run-down, crime-ridden neighborhoods do not care about their communities. However, research from the University of Missouri suggests otherwise. Mansoo Yu, an assistant professor of social work and public health at MU, studied levels of community care and vigilance among residents living in high-crime, low-income areas. Community care and vigilance refer to individuals’ desires to improve their communities, to take pride in their neighborhoods and to monitor and report unwelcome happenings, such as crimes, near their homes. “We hypothesized that individuals with higher incomes would have higher levels of community care and vigilance, but the opposite was true,” Yu said. “Residents with lower incomes were more likely to care about their communities than their higher-earning neighbors.” Yu said he and his colleagues were somewhat surprised by the findings that lower-income residents cared more about their communities. “One possibili

  We decorate early for Christmas at our house and have for 30 years. I get our outdoor lights ready to be turned on the day after Thanksgiving. Next year, I need to start even earlier. A study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology (1989) shows people who have their houses lit up for Christmas appear friendlier to their neighbors. We already know decorating for Christmas early makes you happier. But this research suggests it can also make your neighbors happier too. Participants in the study were shown a variety of homes from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Regardless of the home size or neighborhood, the homes decorated for Christmas were deemed "friendly and cohesive” and “open and social.” When the houses in the pictures weren't decorated, the raters were good at guessing is the family who lived inside was sociable.  Something happened when they saw homes that were decorated for the holidays. The lights and wreaths inspired participants to give the le

    If a researcher for a Fortune 500 company wanted to bring a new employer to town but wanted to confirm the town was a good fit, what would they find online? If they found the city page on Facebook, would it be full of complaints about businesses and schools? There was a time when businesses would hire companies to go in and talk around a town to determine its culture and learn about its problems. Much (but not all) of this is now done online. If you find a town that is excited about new businesses, supports the businesses it has, is positive about its school, has a family-focused culture, has a well-run local government, an active parks system, and a good network of non-profits, you will likely become a magnet for businesses. If you are not already a magnet, it might be worth considering how your residents talk about the community and what can be changed to make that talk more positive (both in person and online). Here is an example: Elkin, North Carolina had seen a lot o