Across the United States there are a growing number of community foundations that have intentionally invested in  belonging, neighboring, social cohesion, and bridging social capital  rather than simply funding direct services. One interesting finding is that while many foundations describe these efforts as “belonging” or “community connectedness,” only a handful have published meaningful evaluation data. The strongest examples we will look at in-depth include the following. 1. Lancaster County Community Foundation (Pennsylvania) This is probably the best U.S. example of a foundation intentionally investing in  belonging across differences . Campaign: The foundation spent years convening residents around difficult conversations about immigration, race, faith, politics and civic life rather than simply making grants. Their work evolved into the  One Community / Building Bridges  initiative and broader efforts around common ground. The Council on Foundat...

See our video announcement on YouTube  which includes pictures of the winners. University of Missouri Extension has announced the winners of the 2026 Show Me Neighborhood Art Month, celebrating a record-breaking year that brought together artists, neighborhoods, businesses, and communities across Missouri. Now in its third year, Show Me Neighborhood Art Month encourages residents of all ages and artistic abilities to create and display artwork that strengthens community pride, enhances public spaces, and helps neighbors feel more connected to the places they call home. The program's vision is simple: promote creative expression and public art created by residents as a way to build a stronger sense of place and belonging. The 2026 event established new participation records with 118 registered art sites across Missouri and 1,324 public votes cast on the art. In addition, 82 percent of participants reported that participating increased their sense of belonging and love for their comm...

  Some community projects begin with a large grant, a formal plan, or a major public investment. Others begin with something much simpler: a few flowers, a little imagination, and neighbors willing to work together. In Washington, Missouri, one of the community’s most unique and beloved destinations began exactly that way. Artsy Alley, located behind 1104 E. 1st Street, started in 2023 as a residential flower planting project. What was once an ordinary alley has gradually transformed into a colorful outdoor gallery where art and nature blend together in a way that feels both whimsical and welcoming. Today, visitors strolling through the alley are greeted by an explosion of color. Gardens lining both sides of the alley feature waves of zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, poppies, hollyhocks, and countless other seasonal blooms. Throughout the growing season, the landscape changes constantly, offering something new with every visit. But the flowers are only part of the story. As the project...

  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 read a book back in 2019 called the Turquoise Table and thought the answer for connecting residents in my neighborhood had been discovered! I got some grant monies and opened up applications for free picnic tables that would be painted Turquoise, for any neighbor willing to have one in their front yard.  Just like in the book, these additions to our infrastructure were going to become gathering spots. One family moved six months after getting one. Another family decided, after one summer, that they were too busy for a table. Another family has never used their table. And yet answer asked to have their table moved to the nearby park (where it is used regularly). The lesson for me: infrastructure does not create belonging by itself . It creates a place for belonging to happen and an opportunity but interaction (and impact) is still up to people. Those tables were never going to make a difference without neighbors willing to host events at them and use them on a very regular...

  In a time when everything feels like it’s pushing toward extremes—louder voices, sharper divides, bigger reactions—we often assume that meaningful change must come through bold, sweeping action. But what if the most powerful neighbors are not the loudest ones?  What if they are the "trimmers"? The idea of a “trimmer” comes from leadership and decision-making theory. A trimmer is someone who doesn’t overcorrect or blow things up. Instead, they make small, steady adjustments—shifting weight, recalibrating direction, and helping systems move toward balance over time. David Brook's wrote about this idea for the Atlantic that  article  inspired this blog. That idea has profound implications for how neighboring cultures are actually built. Neighboring Is Not Revolution—It’s Reform One of the most important insights from the article is the distinction between innovation and reform. Innovation seeks to rebuild everything from the ground up, often starting fresh and aiming ...