Missouri Good Neighbor Week began with a simple idea: honoring and inspiring everyday acts of connection between neighbors. In just a few short years, that idea has grown into a statewide movement that is changing how Missourians see themselves, their neighborhoods, and their role in building community. Now, as participation accelerates and new partners join in, Missouri Good Neighbor Week is preparing for its next chapter — one that invites every resident, organization, and county in the state to help make Missouri the most neighborly place in America. The new theme captures that shift: A Year of Neighboring. A Week to Celebrate It. Instead of limiting engagement to seven days in late September, Missouri Good Neighbor Week will begin encouraging residents, cities, counties, schools, civic groups, and businesses to practice neighboring year-round, with the celebration week serving as the statewide highlight where we tell the stories, announce the winners, and share what we’...

  If you’ve ever felt a lift from a spontaneous chat at the mailbox or the sight of a child’s chalk art stretching across the sidewalk, you’ve experienced more than a pleasant moment—you’ve tasted hope.  A new six-study project from University of Missouri psychologists Megan Edwards and Laura King followed 2,300 adults and discovered that hope alone —more than happiness, gratitude, or excitement—predicted whether people felt their lives were meaningful. Why does that matter for the block where you live? Because meaning isn’t a private treasure we hoard; it’s social capital that spills over every time neighbors greet each other, share garden tools, or plan a potluck. The MU team notes that people who sense meaning enjoy better relationships, stronger physical health, and even higher incomes. In other words, a hopeful resident is likely to be a better friend, volunteer, and community problem-solver. Turning research into sidewalk practice The researchers outline four...