In neighborhoods and small communities, volunteers are often the heartbeat behind the scenes. They organize events, check on neighbors, coach youth teams, serve meals, lead clean-up days, support local schools, and help create the kind of places where people feel connected and valued.  Yet one of the biggest challenges many community groups face is not coming up with ideas—it is finding and keeping volunteers. The good news is that recruiting and retaining volunteers does not always require a large budget or a sophisticated strategy. Often, it comes down to relationships, purpose, appreciation, and creating meaningful opportunities for people to contribute. The principles in the “Recruiting and Motivating Volunteers” graphic offer a simple but powerful framework for building a strong volunteer culture in your neighborhood or small town. Recruit: Share the Mission and Reach the Right People People are far more likely to volunteer when they clearly understand why something ma...

  A colleague recently asked me whether community development needs “civic therapists.” At first, it sounds like consultant-speak gone too far. But the more I sit with it, the more it feels exactly right. Because many struggling towns aren’t held back by zoning codes, grant formulas, or business attraction strategies. They’re held back by something quieter and much more personal: chronic apathy and low civic self-esteem. Communities behave just like the people who comprise them. When residents carry confidence, places feel vibrant and possible. When residents feel disconnected, discouraged, or invisible, that mood spills into the streetscape. And after decades of disinvestment—whether economic, social, or emotional—many communities have people who simply don’t feel great about where they live. That’s not a technical problem. It’s an emotional one. This is why big, shiny investments often fall flat. A new park, a redevelopment project, or a splashy grant announcement can look impres...

Feed the Need Volunteers: Manchester residents packaged meals during the “Feed the Need” event, showing that service projects strengthen community bonds while helping those in need. The City of Manchester has steadily cultivated a “neighboring culture” in recent years, and now that spirit is visible across a range of programs leading into Missouri Good Neighbor Week.  What began in 2021 when Alderwoman Megan Huether first explored the idea of neighboring has grown into a movement that is shaping civic life. “As a newly elected city council member, I was looking for ways to connect people and strengthen neighborhoods,” Huether recalled. “When I discovered the concept of neighboring, it clicked immediately—this was the path to building belonging in Manchester.” That spark has grown into something much larger.  “Over the past 18 months, we’ve launched and expanded several initiatives and events, many of which tie directly to Good Neighbor Week’s mission,” said Lisa Wigger, Commun...

Kirk Wester‑Rivera makes a compelling case, in his essay  “The Neighborhood Is the Unit of Change: Rethinking Scale in Philanthropy”  that the neighborhood—not citywide or program-based funding—is the ideal scale for driving lasting social change . He argues that despite decades of well‑meaning philanthropic investment, improvements in poverty, education, and health equity have remained elusive. Wester‑Rivera calls for a strategic pivot: organizing around specific neighborhoods with deeper, long‑term commitments rather than fragmented, short‑term city-level initiatives. Four Key Lessons from the Article 1. Place-Based Investment Over Programmatic Structure Traditional philanthropy tends to categorize giving by issue: health, education, workforce development. Wester‑Rivera argues this often bypasses local realities. A neighborhood-centric approach flips the script: resources align to place, resident-defined needs, and lived experience , rather than abstract categories. Funding ...

  National Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day is celebrated every year on May 16. This special day encourages people to be kind and helpful to those living nearby. Whether it's mowing a neighbor's lawn, sharing a meal, or simply saying hello, small acts of kindness can make a big difference in building stronger communities. This holiday was created in 2009 by Starr Valentino, who believed that good things happen when people come together and help each other. Since then, many towns and cities across the United States have recognized this day, encouraging residents to connect with their neighbors through acts of kindness. Valentino says over 800 communities have signed proclamations for the day. Another important day is National Good Neighbor Day , observed on September 28. This holiday was created in the early 1970s by Becky Mattson of Lakeside, Montana. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter officially proclaimed it as National Good Neighbor Day to encourage people to build st...

Building a strong sense of city membership is not a short-term project—it requires ongoing commitment, adaptability, and creative thinking. After establishing leadership roles, fostering neighborhood participation, and launching key engagement programs, cities must focus on sustaining these efforts over time. This means securing funding, expanding participation opportunities, and making civic engagement a lasting part of local culture. Deepening Engagement: Keeping Residents Involved Develop Civic Education Programs – Knowledge is power, and cities can empower residents by offering civic education workshops, youth engagement programs, and mentorship opportunities . Schools, libraries, and community centers can host events that teach residents about local governance, how to advocate for change, and ways to get involved in city affairs. Encourage Digital Engagement – In today’s world, digital tools can enhance community participation. A city app or online platform could allow residen...

  Last year, I traveled across Missouri, meeting with community leaders and residents, working to strengthen neighborhoods and encourage civic engagement. But in nearly every town, I heard the same concern: civic bullies. You see them on Facebook pages like [Insert Community Name] News and Events. They tear down every idea, drown progress in negativity, and discourage others from getting involved. Whether through toxic social media posts, obstructionist politics, or relentless pessimism, they do more than frustrate—they hold communities back. When I brought up negative Facebook comments in my talks, people immediately nodded, laughed, or sighed in frustration. They had stories of how these pages discourage business owners, stop people from running for office, and stir up drama over small issues. I understand because I’ve seen it happen in my hometown of Republic, Missouri. Weeds in the Garden Civic bullies remind me of something David Engwicht once said about weeds in a field. Weed...