We Are Neighbors

  The Greene County Extension Council is doing a coat drive for Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28-Oct. 4) and you can participate! Here are the details. 1. Who does this benefit? Coats will be given to International Institute of Southwest Missouri (IISW) for the new residents of Springfield that they work with who arrive without winter clothing. The International Institute  (IISW) provides opportunities for immigrants and refugees to thrive in order to create a welcoming, prosperous, and healthy region for all. 2.  Do you have a goal? Our goal is to collect 50 quality coats for use by IISW. 3. What coat sizes and types are needed? IISW works with families that tend to wear adult Small and adult Medium coats. Children’s coats of all sizes are needed. Please donate items that you would feel comfortable using. 4. Where and when can I drop off coats? Drop off coats at the Greene County Extension Center (inside the Botanical Center) from Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 (which is Missouri Good Neighb

  Did you see the announcement at the Springfield Cardinals baseball game on Thursday, Sept. 5? The City of Springfield, KY3 and MU Extension are supporting Missouri Good Neighbor Week with the Queen City Mayor's Block Party Challenge. This is the first time for the challenge, which was inspired by the 1,000 Block Party Challenge this summer and fall in Colorado Springs! I visited a few of those block parties this summer and they were great fun. I wrote about the experience here . But for the Queen City Mayor's Challenge, be watching KY3 for the PSAs and visit this webpage for more information and the link where you can register your block party . The PSA for this challenge can be watched online here . Thanks to Daniel Posey, it is funny! Register your Springfield block party and you might have dignitaries visit or KY3 might broadcast the weather from your driveway! Why should you host a block party ? Hosting a block party for your neighbors can be a wonderful way to foster a

  There are several unique examples across the United States of city-driving neighborhood engagement efforts and events are worthy of mentioning here. This list was first developed for a presentation to the Michigan Municipal League in 2024. Learn more by reading the blog related to the activity of each mentioned city. 1. Peoria, Arizona Goes Outside City Hall for Resident Engagement.  Read here my interview and story with leaders there about neighborhood engagement meetings. 2. Colorado Springs - 1,000 block parties and counting . Read here by detail of the block parties happening in 2024 in The Springs. It is a community wide effort with city support designed to help neighbors make connections and reduce loneliness. You might also enjoy this video interview with Thomas Thompson, who is leading the 1,000 block party effort in Colorado Springs. 3.  Midland, Michigan Leads the Way With Neighboring.  Dave Runyon, author of "The Art of Neighboring," told me about Midland Mich

  The Neighboring Movement out of Wichita, KS is nurturing a culture-changing movement by discovering, connecting, and mobilizing the gifts of neighbors. Through simple tools and practices you can try on your block, you can help us change a culture of scarcity into a culture of neighboring; defined by joy, relationship, and abundance.  The organization tends to focus more on individuals and church congregations at this point rather than municipalities as a whole. Some things are in the works, and they are rolling out a new theory of change in Wichita that we then hope other cities can pick up. This summer, The Neighboring Movement is rolling out We Care ICT, the latest piece of a theory of change starting in Wichita, but replicable in municipalities around the country.  "We are giving out hundreds of free "We Care" yard and door signs to Wichita neighbors who want to make caring visible in their neighborhoods. Those signs will serve as beacons across the city, highlighti

  Midland, Michigan Leads the Way With Neighboring.  Dave Runyon, author of "The Art of Neighboring," told me about Midland Michigan when I was first starting research on the topic. At the end of my interview I asked him to tell me about a city that was doing neighboring well and he said Midland. So I sent a few emails and the next thing you know, I was talking with the Mayor! The Midland Neighboring Project was started by Wally Mayton, Associate Pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church in Midland, Michigan. Another key leader was Mayor Maureen Donker, who encouraged civic leaders to find a common goal of asking neighbors to move beyond acquaintance to the creation of caring relationships.  They describe the Midland Neighboring Project in this way: As community faith leaders and community advocates, we encourage friends to (1) learn the names of all their neighbors; (2) to build relationships with their neighbors through common interests and shared experiences; and (3) to susta

  The Hopeful Neighborhood Project Can Coach You and Residents Toward Connection.  I have featured the Hopeful Neighborhood Project on Neighboring 101 more than once.  The first time it was to explain the overall organization and you can  see that video here .  I also had the director on to explain their neighborhood process and you can see those videos here:  Discover Your Gifts ,  Imagine the Possibilities ,  Pursue the Common Good . The Hopeful Neighborhood has terrific resources and materials online. They also manage the website for National Good Neighbor Day and are doing great work in spreading the word about what it means to be a connected neighbor. One of their resources that I like best is Neighborhood Labs. In this interactive lab, a facilitator guides you through The Hopeful Neighborhood Project process to help you plan a real, hopeful project that increases your neighborhood’s well-being. Tools like the Neighbor Gift Exchange and Neighborhood Gift Map help you discover the

  Community Works is an organization, previously known as Great Lakes Urban, that helps  activate the power of neighborhoods to create long-term, positive change. Here’s how they do it: 1. Schedule a free discovery call. On this call, the staff will get to know your community, learn your goals, and explore the paths to get you there. 2. Find your program. Your community is unique, so everything they do at Community Works is customized to your context for the best support possible. 3. Activate your community's potential . An active, engaged community has the power to sustain the change you long for. In 2008, this organization started in Zeeland, Michigan as Great Lakes Urban Restoration Network. Their goal at the time was to help neighbors through practical, needed home improvement. They quickly realized something was missing; their vision was too small. So the organization shifted. Instead of solving one problem through home renovation, they asked what could happen if they helped

  3Sixty is a placemaking nonprofit organizing residents, faith leaders, nonprofits, and city government as neighbors to revitalize their neighborhoods.  "Our Place-Based Leadership Program equips residents with foundational knowledge and skills for grassroots community building work," said Jake Norris, executive director. By focusing on neighborhood voices and aspirations, 3Sixty has produced multiple neighborhood initiatives, such as our Eastcore Neighborhood Linear Park as well as our award-winning Tulip City Walls Mural Festival. If you are interested in bringing our Place-Based Leadership Program to your city, please contact Jake Norris: jake@3-sixty.org. You can also   see an interview  with Jake Norris about the award winning mural festival in Holland. MORE INFORMATION Does this article make you interested in taking the  Engaged Neighbor pledge ? Five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge online at  http://engage