St eve Hartman’s “On the Road” stories (on CBS) provide powerful insights into the essence of community engagement and the importance of human connection. Through his heartwarming and inspiring narratives, Hartman showcases the transformative power of compassion, cooperation, and collective action in communities. One of the central lessons from Hartman’s stories is the value of empathy. His segments often highlight individuals who go above and beyond to support one another, revealing how small acts of kindness can foster a sense of belonging.  For instance, stories about people who step in to help neighbors in distress illustrate that genuine concern for others can strengthen community bonds. This empathy encourages a culture where individuals feel supported and valued, essential for vibrant community engagement. Hartman emphasizes the significance of storytelling in building community. Each narrative he presents not only shares an uplifting experience but also encourages vi...

  Never doubt the power of a friendly wave. That is the core lesson that we can take from this new video story by Steve Hartman . This installment of "On the Road" aired July 10, 2026 and is titled, " 4-year-old heals "inner loneliness" by bringing his neighborhood together ." In this story, the old adage "it takes a village to raise a child" was turned on its head when it took a child to unite a village in North Carolina. Never doubt the power of a friendly wave. Hartman's story reminded me of a great article in Rural Missouri in 2026 about Alonzo Smith in Butler, Missouri. He waves from his front yard and nearly everyone waves back. Never doubt the power of a friendly wave. Each of these stories reminded me of Darrell Hastings, one of our "Most Engaged Neighbors" in 2025 from Aurora, Missouri. I wrote about Darrell in a 2025 blog post . Three solid examples that prove, we should never doubt the power of a friendly wave. While res...

  The recent Gallup study provides one of the strongest pieces of evidence I have seen in recent years for why Missouri Good Neighbor Week should continue to focus on celebrating, recognizing, and making acts of neighboring visible. The survey suggests that kindness is not simply something people do; it is something people learn and repeat after seeing it modeled by others . Key Findings from the Gallup Study The survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults found that: 60% of Americans say they often or very often see people treating others with kindness and respect.  65% say they personally experienced an act of kindness from someone in their community within the past week. People who experience kindness are significantly more likely to feel comfortable initiating kindness toward strangers themselves. Nearly 8 in 10 people who frequently received kindness said they were very comfortable extending kindness to others. Americans who regularly witness kindness are much more likely to ...

  What does it look like to build a more connected state? Not through massive programs or one-time events. But through thousands of small, consistent acts. That is what the final 2025 Missouri Good Neighbor Week “acts of neighboring” database report reveals. Across the state, people took time to care for one another in ways that often go unnoticed. They mowed a neighbor’s yard. They brought in trash bins. They shared food when it was needed most. They checked in, sat on porches, and had conversations that turned strangers into neighbors. Individually, these actions may seem small (although we recorded over 42,000 of them). Collectively, they tell a different story. They show us what neighboring actually looks like in real life. The most common acts were practical. Helping with everyday needs. Taking care of spaces. Showing up in quiet, consistent ways. These are the kinds of actions that don’t require planning or permission. They simply require awareness and willingness. ...

  The fifth annual  Missouri Good Neighbor Week (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4)  has a new website, a new theme and new award categories and community resources. The new theme for 2026 reflects the biggest change to Missouri Good Neighbor Week: "A year of neighboring activity. A week to celebrate it." "The Missouri Good Neighbor Week website is open now for all nominations and for the reporting of acts of neighboring. We hope Missourians will help us document activity and make nominations all year-long," said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. Award winners will be announced during Missouri Good Neighbor Week as a way to celebrate neighbors statewide. Activities and events are still planned for the week too, along with individual acts of neighboring. "We are still encouraging activity and events during the week too," said Burton. "Events and individual acts of neighborin...

  Every winter, cities prepare for snow in predictable ways: salt trucks, plows, alerts, and parking rules. Those things matter. They keep streets open and traffic moving. But the City of Excelsior Springs has built something just as important into its winter plan — people. Through its Neighbors Helping Neighbors and Snow Angels effort, residents can request assistance during snowy weather, connecting those who need help with volunteers willing to step in. It’s a small idea on paper: neighbors helping with winter needs. It’s a big idea in practice: designing a system where kindness is organized instead of accidental. Moving From Random Kindness to Reliable Care Most towns have generous people. What they don’t always have is a pathway. We all know the scenario. A heavy snow falls. An older resident worries about slipping. A person recovering from surgery looks at an icy driveway. Someone new to town hesitates to ask for help. In many communities, assistance depends on chance — Do ...

  Photo by Jym Wilson in the Springfield Daily Citizen There’s a verse tucked away in Jeremiah that feels especially timely for the world we’re living in today. The prophet writes, “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” That line was spoken to people who felt displaced, frustrated, and far from home. In other words, to people a lot like us. The Israelites weren’t exactly thrilled about Babylon. It wasn’t where they wanted to be, and it certainly wasn’t what they had planned. Yet God didn’t tell them to withdraw, complain endlessly, or sit on the sidelines waiting for things to improve. Instead, He told them to get involved. Plant gardens. Build homes. Pray for the city. Care about the place you’re in, even if it’s not the place you’d choose. That message still rings true. It’s easy these days to criticize our communities—from school boards to city councils, from neighbor...

From small towns to big cities, thousands of Americans turned ordinary kindness into a nationwide wave of community connection during National Good Neighbor Day 2025. A total of 61,279 people were directly impacted by events and acts of kindness reported from across the United States, according to data compiled from 122 local celebrations. The reports came from libraries, city governments, neighborhood associations, faith groups, and individual neighbors who turned the last weekend of September into a living demonstration of goodwill. The growth this year happened thanks to 20 national partners. As one participant reported: “We hosted a front-yard table for anyone who wanted to stop by,” one participant shared. “It started with just a few neighbors, but by the end of the evening, nearly the whole block had gathered.” Nationwide Participation, Local Impact This year’s reports came from at least 15 states, including Missouri, Massachusetts, Michigan, Florida, Oregon, Washington, Tex...