Being a Good Neighbor is One Way to Build Civic Muscle

 


Civic muscle is like the strength people build when they work together to solve problems and make their neighborhoods better. Just like your body’s muscles, civic muscle grows when people put in effort, work as a team, and share common goals.

Civic muscle helps people join forces to make big changes. One person might feel too small to make a difference, but when a group works together, amazing things can happen. This teamwork makes neighborhoods stronger, builds trust, and helps people feel responsible for their community.

Being a good neighbor is one way to build civic muscle. When people get to know each other and care about their surroundings, they create stronger, happier communities.

Building civic muscle takes time and effort. It means stepping up, talking to your neighbors, and working on shared goals. This kind of teamwork doesn’t just fix problems right away—it also helps neighborhoods handle tough times, like big storms or money troubles.

Civic muscle makes communities proud and connected. It encourages people to speak up, work together, and take care of their neighborhood. Over time, this creates places where everyone can thrive.

At the University of Missouri, we teach communities to build civic muscle in four ways:

  • Belonging: Making neighborhoods welcoming and inclusive.

  • Contribution: Helping people get involved in making decisions.

  • Leadership: Bringing together leaders from different backgrounds to take action.

  • Vitality: Working as a team to create fair and thriving neighborhoods.

Your neighborhood is the perfect place to start building civic muscle. It’s close, easy to get involved in, and the changes you make can inspire others to do the same across the whole community.

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