Nominations for “Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbors” Accepted February to October 1.

 


SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The statewide recognition of Missouri’s "Most Engaged Neighbor" as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) is accepting nominations now at http://missourigoodneighborweek.com.

Starting in 2024, the nomination link is open from mid-February to October 1 to collect more nominations. 

Every person nominated is acknowledged with an official letter and memento. Those selected as the ten "Most Engaged Neighbors" in Missouri will be announced and recognized during Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4).

PROGRAM HISTORY

“We heard from participants and nominators in 2023 that the week came and went, and they did not get nominations submitted. So, instead of creating a barrier to nominations, we opened the process in 2024 to collect names all year,” said David Burton, a University of Missouri Extension community development specialist. 

During the 2024 Missouri Good Neighbor Week, 122 people were nominated for recognition. Each of them received an acknowledgment letter to let them know they had been nominated and memento. Eighteen were selected for the statewide honor and received an award certificate and prize check.

In 2023, there were 52 nominations and 12 of those were recognized with the statewide honor.

CITY EFFORT

Several Missouri cities gathered local nominations for most engaged neighbor recognition during the year. That is a trend Jennifer Prophete, coordinator of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, hopes to see continue in 2025. 

“It would be great to see other cities do something similar yearly. Perhaps do a local recognition and then submit their top nominations,” said Prophete. “We just know anytime we celebrate the work of engaged neighbors in Missouri it is good for every community.”

RECOGNITION PROVIDED

These statewide awards are provided by University of Missouri Extension and The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, which sponsors Missouri Good Neighbor Week.

A goal of 35,000 acts of neighboring has been set for 2025. Getting increased involvement from Missouri cities remains a goal for the program.

“Every year, we want to expand community and organizational involvement in Missouri Good Neighbor Week and continue to find ways for the week to impact this state,” said Burton. “This week is a positive way to encourage neighborly behavior that helps every community.”

MORE INFORMATION

Missouri's Governor signed legislation HB1738 on July 1, 2022, establishing Missouri Good Neighbor Week. The week begins on Sept. 28, also National Good Neighbor Day (first created in 1978 by President Jimmy Carter). Missouri Good Neighbor Week was selected as the best neighboring program in the United States for 2023 by Neighborhoods USA.

For more information, contact David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension, by phone at (417) 881-8909 or by email at burtond@missouri.edu or online at http://engagedneighbor.com.

Jennifer Prophete can be found at the Hopeful Neighborhood Project (https://www.hopefulneighborhood.org) and reached by email at jennifer@hopefulneighborhood.org.

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