Neighboring 101 Welcomes Amy Schenkel: Building Belonging, One City Block at a Time

 

What do block parties, butterfly gardens, backyard ice rinks and front-yard picnic tables have in common?

In one Grand Rapids, Michigan, neighborhood, they are all part of the simple but powerful practice of being good neighbors.

And they are part of the story Pastor Amy Schenkel will share as an upcoming guest of Neighboring 101, a national learning series hosted by University of Missouri Extension.

Schenkel was born in Grand Rapids and has spent her entire life in the city. She and her husband raised their family in the same home where they still live. Over the years, their city block has become more than a collection of houses. It has become a caring community where neighbors know one another, spend time together and create opportunities for connection.

Their neighborhood has discovered something important: Belonging doesn't happen by accident. It grows when people intentionally make room for one another.

Sometimes that looks like a block party. Other times, it is a butterfly garden that gives neighbors something to talk about, a backyard ice rink that brings families together, or a picnic table in the front yard that invites people to stop and visit.

These aren't expensive programs or complicated community development strategies. They are simple invitations to connect.

And that is what makes Schenkel's experience so valuable.

Taking Neighboring Beyond the Front Porch

Schenkel brings both personal experience and professional expertise to the conversation.

She currently serves as Pastor of Local Mission in an urban congregation in Grand Rapids, where much of her work focuses on helping people of faith become more present and engaged in the neighborhoods around them.

Her passion is helping congregations move beyond simply being located in a neighborhood to becoming meaningful participants in the life of that neighborhood.

That distinction matters.

A church can occupy a building for decades without truly knowing the people who live across the street. The same is true of schools, businesses and community organizations.

Being present requires more than having an address. It requires relationships, listening, participation and a willingness to work alongside others.

Schenkel partners with both faith-based and secular organizations to help make Grand Rapids a city where everyone has a sense of belonging. An important part of that work involves listening to people living on the margins and making sure their voices are included in conversations about community.

Before her current role, Schenkel served as a national director for a denominational mission agency, equipping leaders around the world through interactive learning experiences. She is also a certified Process Facilitator and a Certified Dialogue Education Practitioner.

That combination of neighborhood experience, community engagement and leadership development gives her a valuable perspective on how ordinary people can help create more connected communities.

Small Actions Can Create Big Connections

One of the central messages of Neighboring 101 has always been that stronger communities begin with stronger relationships.

We often think improving a neighborhood requires a major project, a large budget or an organized committee. Those things can be helpful, but they are not always necessary.

Sometimes the most important neighborhood improvement is simply creating a reason for people to spend time together.

A picnic table can become a gathering place. A shared garden can spark conversations. A neighborhood celebration can introduce people who have lived near each other for years but never learned one another's names.

Over time, those small interactions build familiarity. Familiarity can lead to trust. And trust creates the foundation for a community where people look out for one another.

The goal isn't just to live near people. It is to build a place where people know they belong.

Schenkel's story offers a practical example of what that can look like, both on a residential city block and through the work of a congregation committed to its community.

Join the Neighboring 101 Conversation

During this upcoming Neighboring 101 session, participants will have an opportunity to learn from Schenkel's experience and consider how the same principles might work in their own neighborhoods, congregations and communities.

How can simple shared spaces bring neighbors together? What does it mean to truly listen to a community? How can churches and other organizations become better neighbors? And how can we create places where people who often feel overlooked experience genuine belonging?

These are important questions at a time when many Americans say they want stronger connections but aren't always sure how to begin.

Since its launch in 2020, Neighboring 101 has attracted more than 1,300 participants from 36 states. The monthly virtual series features authors, researchers, community organizers and everyday people who are finding practical ways to strengthen relationships where they live.

The program is organized by University of Missouri Extension and is open to anyone interested in building stronger neighborhoods and communities.

Neighboring 101 meets on Zoom, typically on the third Thursday of each month at noon Central Time. Participation is free, and advance registration is required.

Whether you are a neighborhood leader, pastor, community development professional or simply someone who wants to know your neighbors better, this conversation will offer inspiration and practical ideas.

After all, you don't have to change an entire city to make a difference.

Sometimes you just have to start with your own block.

Register.

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.