There’s something special about calling a place home — and for me, that place is Republic, Missouri. I care deeply about the direction of our city and the kind of community we’re building together. That’s why I’d love to see our City Council revisit the idea of neighboring — even after the vote two years ago to end those efforts. Not because we’re going backward. But because neighboring moves us forward. Neighboring Aligns with Our Vision If you read through the mission and vision statements of the City of Republic, you’ll find themes like connection, quality of life, safety, and belonging. Neighboring isn’t a side project — it’s the grassroots expression of those values. ( See my recent post on this topic ). A thriving city doesn’t just happen through infrastructure and development. It happens when people know each other. When neighbors wave. When someone notices if your garage door is left open. When kids have trusted adults up and down the street. Policies build cities. Neighb...

  I often hear people say they “prefer to keep things organic” when it comes to neighboring. They like the idea of chance encounters—running into someone at the mailbox, chatting in the grocery aisle, or waving as they walk the dog. And of course, there is something warm about these spontaneous moments. But if we are honest, those organic connections aren’t happening as often as they once did. We’re busier. We’re distracted. We default to small talk, or we stay in our own heads. Even when the organic moment is there, many of us miss the chance to move beyond “How are you?” to real conversation. That’s why neighborhoods desperately need people who are willing to be more intentional. The Case for Intentional Neighboring Intentional neighboring doesn’t mean forcing relationships. It means creating opportunities that wouldn’t exist otherwise. It might look like asking a neighbor to help plan a block party, inviting a family over for coffee on the porch, or knocking on a door with an in...