Missourians: Block Parties Are Good for Us!
The Queen City Mayor's Block Party Challenge is a joint effort by the City of Springfield, KY3, and University of Missouri Extension to support Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept 28-Oct 4).
The challenge in Springfield was inspired by this year's 1,000 block party challenge in Colorado Springs and last year's joint effort to host block parties in five Springfield city parks during Missouri Good Neighbor Week.
You can register your Springfield block or driveway party, and you might have city dignitaries visit or KY3 might broadcast the weather from your driveway!
This challenge is an excellent opportunity to partner with a neighbor to plan and organize a gathering to connect with your neighbors.
BENEFITS OF BLOCK PARTIES
Block parties are more than social gatherings—they are celebrations of community spirit, culinary prowess, and sometimes friendly competition. They bring together neighbors of all ages and backgrounds, creating bonds that extend beyond property lines and fostering a sense of belonging.
Hosting a block party for your neighbors can be an excellent way to foster a sense of community and strengthen bonds among residents.
According to Vanessa Elias, founder of Block Party USA, these social gatherings are vital to our mental health.
In 2018, Elias launched Big Block Party Weekend in her hometown of Wilton, Connecticut, to " build community one block at a time." The inaugural weekend brought together more than 1,200 residents for approximately 40 block parties. Wilton's block parties are now a beloved annual tradition.
"I founded Block Party USA as an easy way to achieve connection, civility, and community. Neighbor talking to a neighbor, away from devices, and enjoying face-to-face time, done just once a year, can have a profound ripple effect," said Elias. "When we meet face-to-face, we realize that we have more in common than we are different."
COLORADO SPRINGS EXAMPLE
Colorado Springs began this year with the goal of hosting 1,000 block parties between May 1 and Sept. 28, 2024.
This initiative isn't just about throwing parties; it is a concerted effort to strengthen community bonds, foster neighborhood camaraderie, and promote unity among residents.
The people behind the effort—individuals like Mayor Yemi Mobalade, Thomas Thompson, and Dave Runyon—want to see loving your neighbor become a citywide value. In 2024, mental health concerns are driving the neighboring effort.
"It's one of my priorities to raise awareness about the importance of mental health while providing concrete action and resources for community members," said Mayor Yemi.
In a world where digital connections often overshadow face-to-face interactions, these gatherings provide a vital opportunity for neighbors to come together, share stories, and begin building meaningful relationships.
Whether chatting over a barbecue grill, playing lawn games, eating ice cream, or simply enjoying live music under the stars, block parties create spaces where friendships can flourish and bonds can deepen. Studies have shown that strong social connections among neighbors lead to decreased crime rates and improved overall well-being.
By bringing neighbors together around shared interests and common goals, block parties can inspire residents to shape their neighborhoods actively. From organizing community clean-ups to advocating for local improvements, block parties can ignite a spirit of collaboration that extends far beyond their festive atmosphere.
"What got us started down this road was a book by the Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy, where he said we are facing a national health epidemic crisis around isolation and individual loneliness," said Thomas Thompson, senior advisor to the Mayor.
He acknowledges that the government cannot fix everything. The city must equip its residents and neighbors to build some of this for themselves.
"Sometimes people need a reason or an excuse do something, and so we're hoping that for a lot of people that maybe wanted to do something but never have, this will give them a little extra incentive," said Thompson.
A study done by Nextdoor said knowing as few as six of your neighbors' names begins to build connectivity and community and reduce anxiety. Those two thoughts—the mental health isolation piece and the neighboring piece—are connected.
"That's why we put this out there as a challenge. The city is not hosting 1,000 gatherings; our residents are hosting them," said Thompson. "The city does not have a lot of money to fund this, so we have to shift the responsibility to our residents to own the initiative."
Much of the focus has been on getting each neighborhood association to participate. By Sept. 1, every one of the 77 neighborhoods had hosted at least one block party, with nearly 800 across the city. Many of those also happened at apartment complexes and a few at city facilities like firehouses in neighborhoods.
It's essential to identify the reason why you're doing it. Like any government, we have some skeptics who wonder why the city would promote parties instead of fixing potholes. But the truth is we can do both," said Thompson. "But for us in Colorado Springs, the block parties and the neighborhood efforts are important because we have some real mental health challenges in our community that we're trying to address; that is our why."
In other communities, the reason might be different. For example, if a community emphasizes neighborhood watch, it could be for public safety.
"If it's public safety, if it's mental health, having a clear why is a good step, and then building a good team up front so the gathering is not all on your back," said Thompson.
MAKE PLANS NOW
This year, as part of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, there is also a competition among cities to determine the most neighborly town in Missouri. It is based on reported acts of neighbors, nominations of engaged neighbors, winners for engaged neighbors, and council proclamations.
This challenge can push the City of Springfield straight to the top if residents register their block party online and report their acts of neighboring here.
And the Mayor of Colorado Springs is cheering for us.
“When I heard what Springfield was doing I cheered. Afterall, imitation is the greatest form of flattery,” said Mayor Yemi.
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LEARN MORE
Block Party USA
1000 Block Party Gatherings in Colorado Springs
https://coloradosprings.gov/1000Gatherings
Missouri Good Neighbor Week
https://www.missourigoodneighborweek.com/
Queen City Mayors Challenge info and registration:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QueenCityBlockParty
MORE INFORMATION
Are you interested in taking the Engaged Neighbor pledge? The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge online at http://engagedneighbor.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special privilides and get invited to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton at dburton541@yahoo.com.
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