There’s a particular kind of exhaustion that comes from encountering a civic bully online—the kind who provokes, distorts, and dominates the conversation not to persuade, but to win attention.  The instinct is to respond, to correct the record, to push back harder and louder. After all, silence can feel like surrender. I understand that feeling and wrote about from a very personal perspective back in 2025 in my blog: " Civic Bullies Only Win When No One Else Speaks Up. " POSSIBLE APPROACHES TO CIVIC BULLIES There are three different types of possible approaches toward civic bullies.  One is to organize as a community  response team to counter misinformation and negativity online with facts and positive statements. At times, this can work. The downside is that is spreads the negative conversation online and gives the bully what they want: attention. Other groups have jumped in the fray and gone toe to toe with civic bullies but that can be exhausting and is often a ...

In a world dominated by digital interaction, curated identities, and growing social divides, Lura Forcum offers a refreshingly simple experiment: invite people you don’t know well into your home and share a meal. Her article, “ How to Human: A Year of Eating with People I Don’t Know ,” isn’t just about potlucks—it’s a deeper reflection on connection, vulnerability, and what it means to rebuild community in modern life. Here are the key lessons that I took away from the article. 1. Human Connection Is Built Around Shared Experiences One of the most powerful insights from the article is that shared meals are universally tied to happiness and connection. Across cultures and countries, eating together is linked to life satisfaction.  This isn’t accidental. Meals create a natural setting for conversation. Meals also offer a nice pause in daily business. Lesson: If you want stronger relationships, don’t overcomplicate it. Start with something as simple as eating together. 2. Community ...

  A read a book back in 2019 called the Turquoise Table and thought the answer for connecting residents in my neighborhood had been discovered! I got some grant monies and opened up applications for free picnic tables that would be painted Turquoise, for any neighbor willing to have one in their front yard.  Just like in the book, these additions to our infrastructure were going to become gathering spots. One family moved six months after getting one. Another family decided, after one summer, that they were too busy for a table. Another family has never used their table. And yet answer asked to have their table moved to the nearby park (where it is used regularly). The lesson for me: infrastructure does not create belonging by itself . It creates a place for belonging to happen and an opportunity but interaction (and impact) is still up to people. Those tables were never going to make a difference without neighbors willing to host events at them and use them on a very regular...

When organizations talk about employee volunteerism, the conversation usually sounds the same: organized service days, nonprofit partnerships, and hours logged in a tracking system. That model matters—but it’s incomplete. What often goes unrecognized is that some of the most impactful forms of volunteerism are happening informally, right outside people’s front doors. It’s time to expand how we define volunteerism—and in doing so, unlock a more inclusive, accessible, and powerful way for employees to contribute. Volunteerism Is Bigger Than We Think At its core, volunteerism is simple: freely choosing to help others.  But globally, most volunteer activity doesn’t happen through formal programs. It’s informal, relational, and hyper-local. It looks like: Checking in on a neighbor going through a tough time Bringing meals to a family in transition Helping with childcare or errands Clearing snow, mowing lawns, or sharing tools Hosting gatherings that bring people together These acts are ...

Let me start with a simple question. How many of you know the names of the people who live directly next door to you? Not just what they look like… but their names. Now—how many of you know something about their lives? What they do, what they care about, what’s going on with them? Here’s what’s interesting. We live closer to people than ever before. Our homes are packed into neighborhoods, apartment complexes, subdivisions… we’re surrounded by people. And yet, many of us feel more disconnected than ever. At the same time, a lot of people want to make a difference. We want to help, to contribute, to do something meaningful. So we often think: ‘I need to go somewhere. I need to sign up for something. I need to add something to my schedule.’ But what if the most meaningful, lasting way to make an impact… isn’t somewhere else? What if it’s right outside your front door?” CORE IDEA I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this idea, and I wrote a book called Neighborhood Missio...

  Neighboring isn’t just a suburban experiment or a nostalgic idea tied to front porches and cul-de-sacs. It’s just as relevant—and just as powerful—in rural spaces. Wide-open land doesn’t automatically create strong relationships. In fact, sometimes distance, independence, and long-standing routines can make connection even less likely. And contrary to popular belief, this isn’t a “younger generation problem.” It’s easy to assume that technology or shifting cultural norms have made younger people less neighborly. But in reality, the hesitation to engage with those living nearby spans generations. Avoidance, assumptions, and quiet judgment are not new habits—they just show up in different ways. I was reminded of this at a recent community cookout. I found myself seated with a group of people I didn’t know. Before long, the conversation turned toward a nearby landowner who had begun lining his fence with old tires. The tone quickly shifted from curiosity to criticism.  So...

Missouri’s rural electric cooperatives have always been rooted in community. Built by neighbors, for neighbors, co-ops are uniquely positioned to bring people together in meaningful ways. That’s why Missouri Good Neighbor Week presents such a natural opportunity. Not just as a marketing moment, but as a chance to reinforce the cooperative difference. Here are a few ideas of how co-ops can turn Missouri Good Neighbor Week into something impactful for both their brand and their members. 1. Tell the Co-op Story Through Real Neighbors Any time of years is a good time to highlight the people behind the meter. Instead of focusing on infrastructure or rates, shift the spotlight to members: Feature short stories of members helping members Share interviews with lineworkers who go above and beyond Highlight multi-generational co-op families These stories work well across social media, newsletters, and local press—and they reinforce the idea that the co-op isn’t ju...