There’s something special about calling a place home — and for me, that place is Republic, Missouri.
Like many of you, I care deeply about the direction of our city and the kind of community we’re building together. That’s why I’d love to see our City Council revisit the idea of neighboring — even after the recent vote to end those efforts.
Not because we’re going backward.
But because neighboring moves us forward.
Neighboring Aligns with Our Vision
If you read through the mission and vision statements of the City of Republic, you’ll find themes like connection, quality of life, safety, and belonging. Neighboring isn’t a side project — it’s the grassroots expression of those values. (See my recent post on this topic).
A thriving city doesn’t just happen through infrastructure and development. It happens when people know each other. When neighbors wave. When someone notices if your garage door is left open. When kids have trusted adults up and down the street.
Policies build cities.
Neighbors build communities.
What Could Neighboring Look Like?
Since my original effort with the felt unclear or hard to sustain, maybe the answer is to reinvent it with a new approach.
Here are a few practical ideas worth exploring:
1. A Community Welcoming Committee
What if Republic had an organized way to welcome new residents?
Not intrusive. Not complicated. Just intentional.
A small team of volunteers who:
- Deliver a welcome packet.
- Share information about local events.
- Offer a friendly face and a connection point.
- Help new families plug in socially.
- Maybe even host a "newcomers" event once or twice a year.
Moving to a new town can feel isolating — even in a friendly place. A simple welcome can make a lasting difference. Other towns have had success with this type of approach.
2. Support and Recognize Block Captains
Some neighborhoods naturally have “connectors” — the person who organizes the cookout, starts the group text, or coordinates help when someone’s in need.
What if we, as a city, identified and supported these informal leaders? How about if the city worked with MU Extension to offer them light training and resource guides? Better yet, what if we annually, as a city, recognized their contributions publicly?
Creating a simple network so block captains could share ideas with each other would be helpful as well?
Not to formalize everything (like with rules and bylaws) — but to empower the people who are already building community in small, meaningful ways.
3. First Sunday “Out and About”
Here’s a simple rhythm: What if the city encouraged residents to be “out and about” on the first Sunday evening of each month? This could be done via communication challenges and yard signs given to each official block captain.
Residents can even register their address as a stop at outabout.org if they want. That way neighbors know where stops are being offered.
Residents can sit in the front yard, take a walk, visit with neighbors, let kids ride bikes and keep garage doors open.
No big event. No heavy planning. Just a cultural nudge.
Consistency builds culture. A monthly moment could slowly strengthen familiarity and trust.
Why This Matters
In a growing city like Republic, it’s easy for expansion to outpace connection. New subdivisions pop up. Families move in. Schedules fill up. And before we know it, we’re living near each other — but not with each other.
Neighboring is a low-cost, high-impact way to reinforce the kind of town we say we want to be.
It strengthens public safety, mental health, civic engagement, local pride and intergenerational connection.
And perhaps most importantly — it makes Republic feel like home.
A Gentle Reconsideration
The recent vote by city council to end funding for a one-year neighboring consultation doesn’t have to be the final word. Sometimes initiatives simply need fresh framing, clearer leadership, or broader community input.
Revisiting the idea doesn’t mean repeating the past. It means learning from it.
As residents of Republic, we don’t have to wait for perfect structures to begin caring about the people next door. But thoughtful city support can amplify what’s already happening.
For those interested, I share these thoughts as an invitation — not a criticism. I love this town. I believe in its future. And I believe one of our greatest strengths will always be each other.
Let’s keep the conversation going.
WRITTEN BY
David L. Burton
Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.com.
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