Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse is dying from stage four pancreatic cancer, yet one of his final public messages is not about politics, power, or elections. It is about neighbors. That alone should make us stop and listen. In a recent interview highlighted by the Washington Examiner , Sasse argued that Americans have confused their political tribe with their true community. He warned that we have elevated national partisan identity above the relationships that actually sustain human life. Sasse said: “I think your fundamental political community is your neighborhood.” That sentence cuts against almost everything modern American culture teaches us. Today many people know more about political commentators in Washington than the names of the people living three doors down. We can explain the latest outrage on cable news but cannot explain the story of the elderly widow on our block. We know who our enemies are online, but not who needs help nearby. Sasse argues this inversion is dange...

  Author's note: You can register for Neighboring 101 (one-time fee) on the MU Extension website in order to attend this session on May 21 live and future sessions too! Welcome a new partner for Missouri Good Neighbor Week: ServMo. Brittany Crabtree, Executive Director of ServMO, an organization dedicated to strengthening communities across Missouri through volunteerism, service, and civic engagement, will be our guest speaker for a "bonus" session of Neighboring 101 on June 10 at 12 noon CST. Brittany’s work focuses on helping Missourians connect through meaningful acts of service that build stronger neighborhoods and healthier communities. Under her leadership, ServMO has continued to promote opportunities for individuals, organizations, and communities to work together in ways that create lasting local impact. During this bonus session of Neighboring 101, Brittany will introduce us to ServMO and share information about the new 2026 neighboring mini-grants, which can h...

Author's note: You can register for Neighboring 101 (one-time fee) on the MU Extension website  in order to attend this session on May 21 live. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --  In many small towns, the conversation about growth tends to revolve around infrastructure, jobs, and attracting outside investment. But one of the most powerful (and often overlooked) assets is already there: local creativity.  When communities tap into their artistic talent, they don’t just beautify spaces—they build identity, pride, and a shared sense of belonging. From Empty Spaces to Shared Places Arts-led development has a unique way of transforming the everyday landscape. A blank wall becomes a storytelling canvas. An empty lot turns into a gathering space. A quiet alley evolves into a destination. In Mount Sterling, Kentucky, the Gateway Regional Arts Center has demonstrated just how impactful this approach can be. Through initiatives like a public art trail and the vibrant Umbrella Alley installation,...

  SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --The Springfield 66 Centennial Sculpture Series is a community-wide public art initiative created to celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of Route 66 while strengthening community identity, civic pride, and neighborhood connection across Springfield and the surrounding area. Organized by local artist and community leader Heidi Herrman-Bacon, the project brings together artists, businesses, nonprofits, tourism organizations, and public spaces to transform Springfield into an open-air gallery centered around the history and culture of America’s most iconic highway. What began as an idea to honor the birthplace and legacy of Route 66 quickly evolved into a collaborative citywide effort involving 16 large-scale shield sculptures installed throughout Springfield and Strafford. Each sculpture tells a different story connected to Route 66, Springfield history, travel, culture, sports, agriculture, transportation, or community identity. Together, the collection enco...

  A recent article from Axios highlighted a growing challenge facing America’s younger generations: loneliness is not simply an occasional feeling. For many young people, it is disrupting daily life. According to new research from Hopelab and Data for Progress, 61 percent of young people say loneliness takes at least some toll on their mental health, while 35 percent say it actively disrupts their daily lives. Those numbers are sobering. But perhaps the most important lesson from the article is that the story is more complicated than a simple “mental health crisis” narrative. The survey found that more than half of young people still describe their mental health as good, very good, or excellent. In other words, many young people are resilient, hopeful, and functioning well. Yet at the same time, there are deep disparities affecting those facing financial stress, uncertainty, and social isolation. That distinction matters. Too often, conversations about younger generations swing be...

A recent article from Axios highlighted a troubling trend in American life: fewer people are talking to their neighbors than ever before. The article, based on new research from the American Enterprise Institute , found that only 41 percent of Americans now speak with neighbors a few times a week, down from 59 percent in 2012. The decline is even sharper among young adults. In 2012, just over half of Americans ages 18–29 regularly engaged with neighbors. Today, that number has fallen to only 25 percent. Those numbers should stop us in our tracks. For years, many of us assumed neighboring was simply part of American culture. We believed neighborhoods naturally created connection. But modern life is teaching us something different: neighboring no longer happens automatically. The Axios article points to several reasons for the decline. Technology allows people to stay entertained, informed, and connected without ever leaving their homes. Streaming services, food delivery, remote work, ...

For generations, Americans have liked to believe we are a nation of good neighbors. We tell stories about borrowing sugar across the fence, keeping an eye on one another’s homes, and gathering on front porches after dinner. Many people still assume those habits are alive and well. But recent research suggests something deeper is happening beneath the surface: the idea of neighboring is quietly fading from everyday American life.  A recent article from the American Enterprise Institute examined new survey findings showing that Americans increasingly define being a “good neighbor” not by engagement, but by distance. In other words, many people now believe the best neighbors are quiet, private, and uninvolved. Younger adults especially tend to see neighboring less as relationship-building and more as respectful separation.  That should concern us. Privacy is important. Boundaries matter. No one wants neighbors who are intrusive or disrespectful. But when neighboring becomes litt...

Every day begins with a ritual that rivals the feats of Hercules: walking my mighty 10-pound Shih Tzu, Otis. It's a journey filled with absurdity, unexpected challenges, and enough comedic relief to rival a sitcom. Join me as I recount the epic saga of walking Otis, a tale where the smallest of dogs proves that size is merely a number. Firstly, let me introduce you to Otis. Despite his regal name, he possesses all the majesty of a fuzzy potato. His fluffy coat and oversized eyes make him look perpetually surprised, as if he's just realized he's a dog and not a particularly fluffy pillow. But don't be deceived by his diminutive stature. Otis has the heart of a lion, or at least the bark of one. Our adventure typically begins with the elaborate ritual of preparing for the great outdoors. Otis insists on inspecting his leash as if it's a medieval knight inspecting his sword before battle. Once satisfied that the leash meets his high standards (or at least doesn't s...

He is going to be our special guest for a "bonus" edition of Neighboring 101 at 12 noon on Thursday, Sept. 3: Marc J. Dunkelman. If you are not already in enrolled in Neighboring 101, visit the website to enroll with a modest one-time fee. Dunkelman is a writer, public policy scholar, and fellow at Brown University Watson School for International and Public Affairs whose work focuses on community, civic life, and the changing structure of American society. Over the course of his career, he has served in a variety of leadership and policy roles, including work with members of Congress.  His writing has appeared in major national publications including the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. Dunkelman is perhaps best known for his influential book The Vanishing Neighbor , which explores the decline of what he calls America’s “middle-ring relationships” — the everyday connections formed with neighbors, fellow church members, civic cl...