Blue Summit "Engaged Neighbor" See Tangible Progress From Her Determination

 

In 2024, Tracie Rice of Blue Summit was recognized as one of Missouri’s Most Engaged Neighbors for her determination to improve the community where she lives. Now, her work is producing visible results. (See this Neighboring 101 interview with Tracie and some other Engaged Neighbors.)

Recently, Rice shared exciting news from her neighborhood: Blue Summit has become the first unincorporated area in Jackson County to receive streetlights. The installation of three dozen new lights was significant enough to make the front page of The Examiner newspaper.

For Rice, the moment represents progress for a community that has long lacked basic infrastructure.

“It’s a simple thing — three dozen street lights where there had been none,” she explained in the interview. “But for us, it’s a win.”

Stepping Up When No One Else Would

Rice lives in Blue Summit, an unincorporated area located between Kansas City and Independence, Missouri. Like many unincorporated communities, residents depend on county government for services that cities typically provide.

For years, neighbors expressed frustration about issues ranging from poor lighting and unsafe roads to illegal dumping and a lack of parks or gathering spaces. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve the problem, Rice decided to act.

“I got tired of hearing the complaints,” she said earlier when describing how the effort began. “Somebody’s got to step up and be the solution to the problem.”

She began by organizing a neighborhood meeting that brought together residents, local officials, law enforcement, and community leaders. The meeting sparked a wave of local organizing.

Soon afterward, Rice helped establish a neighborhood association for Blue Summit. Through that group, she worked with Jackson County leaders to secure regular community clean-up events, where dumpsters are provided so residents can dispose of bulky waste.

“Jackson County stepped up and now brings in dumpsters for the whole weekend,” she said. “People can get rid of bulky waste, which has made a huge difference.”

A Visible Improvement

The new streetlights mark a major milestone for the neighborhood.

Rice believes the lights will improve safety, visibility, and overall quality of life. In the newspaper story, she noted that lighting can help discourage crime and illegal dumping while making it safer for residents to walk along roads that often lack sidewalks.

County leaders who worked with Rice described the lights as an important step forward, though both residents and officials agree that additional improvements are still needed. Better roads, safer infrastructure, parks, and community spaces remain on the neighborhood’s wish list.

But the lights show that progress is possible.

Looking Ahead

Rice isn’t slowing down.

She is already working with neighbors on plans for a community garden, possibly including fruit trees. She also hopes to see a park and community gathering space where families and children can spend time together.

“A garden would be good for the kids,” she said. “Let them get their hands dirty.”

She has also helped organize a neighborhood cleanup scheduled for May, continuing the work of improving the community block by block.

A Model of an Engaged Neighbor

Tracie Rice’s story is a reminder that meaningful change often begins with a single person willing to take responsibility for their neighborhood.

What started as frustration became organization, advocacy, and visible improvement.

Today, the lights shining in Blue Summit represent more than infrastructure. They represent what can happen when neighbors step forward, bring people together, and persist long enough to make change happen.

And in true neighborly fashion, Rice shared the news with a smile — and a little humor.

“I made the front page of the paper,” she joked.

For Missouri’s neighboring movement, however, the real headline is this: one engaged neighbor can help light up an entire community.

Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

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 or visit his website at http://engagedneighbor.com.