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The Neighbor Next Door May Be the Friend He Doesn't Have

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A recent article from the research organization More in Common explored a troubling reality: many men have very few people they can call when life gets difficult. Some men reported having no one at all. Others could name only a spouse or family member. The article highlights what many researchers have been documenting for years: a growing crisis of male friendship and social connection . As I read the article, I could not help but think about neighborhoods. For years, neighboring advocates have focused on reducing loneliness, increasing belonging, and helping people build stronger local connections. While those efforts benefit everyone, the research suggests there may be a special opportunity (and need) to engage men. Many men do not build friendships the same way women often do. Research has found that men frequently connect through shared activities, common projects, and experiences rather than lengthy emotional conversations. In other words, men often talk shoulder-to-shoulder rat...
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Maximize Northwest Missouri: Make It Home, Live Local, Love Local

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  There’s something special about Northwest Missouri. It’s in the familiar faces at the local coffee shop, the conversations that happen at Friday night games, the volunteers who show up when help is needed, and the neighbors who know your name. These everyday connections are part of what makes our communities feel like home. That spirit is at the heart of Maximize NWMO’s new “Make It Home: Live Local. Love Local. ” campaign. The initiative encourages residents across the region to take simple, intentional steps toward building stronger communities and deeper relationships with the people around them. In a world where many people feel increasingly disconnected, the campaign offers a refreshing reminder: thriving communities don’t happen by accident. They are created through small acts of engagement, kindness, and participation. The Power of Local Connections Research consistently shows that communities are stronger when people know and trust one another. Social connections contribu...
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2026 Show Me Neighborhood Art Month: 4-H Projects Brighten Turners Station

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  Community creativity is on full display in Turners Station Mercantile thanks to the Mighty Eagles 4-H Club’s participation in University of Missouri Extension's Show Me Neighborhood Art Month. Registered by Emma Alexander, the installation was completed on May 31, 2026, at Turners Station Mercantile, located at 6484 E. Farm Road 148 in Turners, Missouri. Titled “2026 Clover Patch: 4-H Projects,” the artwork celebrates the talents, hard work, and community spirit of local 4-H members. The project features colorful chalk art showcasing the event logo alongside hand-painted rocks created by club members. Together, these artistic elements create a vibrant display that highlights both individual creativity and the shared values of 4-H: learning, leadership, service, and community involvement. The painted rocks represent the diverse interests and projects pursued by Mighty Eagles 4-H members throughout the year. Arranged as part of the installation, each rock contributes its own uniqu...
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Changing Minds About the Countercultural Idea of Neighboring

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  If you are promoting a countercultural idea, like rebuilding stronger connections with neighbors, the most effective approach is not persuasion in the traditional sense.  In my opinion, people often adopt new behaviors because they see them working, not because they lose an argument. Here are a few principles that tend to work well. 1. Make the idea visible before you make it ideological Many people may agree that community matters in principle but feel disconnected in practice. Rather than leading with arguments about social isolation or civic decline, create opportunities that demonstrate the value directly: Host a block gathering. Organize a neighborhood cleanup. Create a tool-sharing group. Start a neighborhood chat or email list. When people experience the benefits firsthand, the idea becomes concrete rather than abstract. 2. Connect the idea to values people already hold Different people may support neighborly connection for different reasons. A few of the reasons I ha...
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The Problem Isn't Your Communication. It's Your Culture

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I think it is time we admit that communication tools rarely fix culture problems. People often assume that if participation is low, the answer is better technology. They need a new website. They need a Facebook page. They need an app. They need a newsletter. They need more followers. They need a better communication strategy. Sometimes that is true. But often the technology is simply revealing what already exists beneath the surface. If a neighborhood's social media page is dominated by complaints, arguments, accusations, and negativity, outsiders quickly learn something about the culture of that group. They learn that joining may not be enjoyable. They learn that volunteering may mean stepping into conflict. They learn that their ideas may be criticized more than celebrated. Every social media page tells a story. The question is: what story are you telling? When prospective members visit your page, do they see neighbors working together? Do they see community events, suc...
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Connecting With Elderly Neighbors Who Do Not Use Technology

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  Older adults are often described as “offline,” but the reality is more complicated. Many seniors do use technology, but others may struggle with cost, confidence, physical limitations, or preferences. The key is not choosing technology *or* personal relationships. It is using both wisely. Encourage low-tech neighboring. A phone call, handwritten note, porch visit, or regular check-in often means more than an app. Many older adults value consistency and personal attention over digital communication. Create neighborhood contact networks. Block captains, neighborhood associations, or volunteer teams can organize simple systems for checking on older residents during storms, illness, or extreme heat. Use “bridge people.” Grandchildren, neighbors, caregivers, librarians, and volunteers can help older adults access technology when needed while still maintaining personal relationships. Meet people where they already gather. Senior centers, churches, coffee shops, meal programs, barber...
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From Donuts to Neighboring: The Real Purpose of Special Days

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  There is often skepticism around holidays that seem overly commercialized or artificially created. Days like National Donut Day or National Dog Day are  dismissed as “made-up holidays.” Yet these observances clearly have value, not only for businesses, but also for communities, relationships, and culture itself. One reason these themed days matter is because they influence behavior.  Businesses understand this well. A "holiday" creates a reason for people to pay attention, make purchases, participate in promotions, and join a shared social moment.  National Donut Day, for example, reliably increases donut sales and store traffic because companies build campaigns around it. Coffee shops, restaurants, pet stores, and retailers all use these “micro holidays” to create energy and attention that would not normally exist on an ordinary day. The interesting thing is that people often respond more strongly to occasions than to logic. A random Tuesday suddenly becomes “the ...
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100 Miles, 100 Days: A Healthier Summer and a Stronger Neighborhood

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  What if improving your health could also help strengthen your neighborhood? This summer, University of Missouri Extension is inviting Missourians to participate in a statewide challenge called 100 Miles, 100 Days . The program is simple, free, flexible, and designed to help people become more active during the 100 days of summer. The challenge begins on June 16 and continues through September 24. Participants are encouraged to move in whatever way works best for them. Walking is certainly an option, but so are biking, dancing, swimming, strength training, paddling, gardening, and countless other activities that get people moving. The goal is not perfection. The goal is progress. Participants can track their activity throughout the summer, set personal goals, and even engage in friendly competition as counties across Missouri compare their collective miles and activity levels. Whether you are an experienced athlete or someone who simply wants to spend a little more time ou...
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Missouri Neighboring Advocate David L Burton Releases New Book, The Neighboring Playbook

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  SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Community development specialist and neighboring advocate David Burton has released a new book titled The Neighboring Playbook: Becoming America's Most Neighborly State , a practical guide designed to help communities strengthen relationships, reduce isolation, and build a stronger culture of belonging neighborhood by neighborhood. The book shares the story behind Missouri’s growing neighboring movement, including the development of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, the Engaged Neighbor Program, and community efforts that have encouraged thousands of acts of neighboring across the state. Burton serves as a community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and has spent years researching and teaching the importance of social connection, civic engagement, and neighborhood relationships. His work has helped position Missouri as a national leader in neighboring initiatives and community connection efforts, and lead to programs like Neighboring 101 a...
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