Special Guest for Bonus Neighboring 101: Marc Dunkelman

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 club participants, and others who are familiar but not intimate.

In the book, he argues that while Americans remain closely connected to family and friends and increasingly connected to distant online networks, they have lost many of the local, face-to-face relationships that once fostered trust, compromise, and civic engagement. 

According to Dunkelman, the weakening of these neighborhood and community ties has contributed to growing political polarization, social isolation, and declining civic participation. His work challenges audiences to reconsider the importance of neighboring and local relationships in strengthening democracy and rebuilding a healthier civic culture. 

The themes of The Vanishing Neighbor continue to shape national conversations about belonging, community design, social capital, and civic renewal. 

WRITTEN BY

David L. Burton

For more information, visit the Engaged Neighbor website. Take our pledge and become part of a movement! Or subscribe to our newsletter. Access some of the research documents written by David Burton, the author of this blog. Or better yet, purchase one of his books off Amazon. Contact David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.

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