The following story is one of the reasons why I wrote The Neighboring Playbook .  We hear a great deal today about loneliness, division, and declining trust. We often look to Washington, Jefferson City, or city hall for the answers. But I have become convinced that one of America's greatest opportunities is much closer than that. It is the people who live next door. My book isn't really about being nicer. It's about rebuilding the relationships that make communities stronger.  I believe neighboring isn't just a personal virtue; it's civic infrastructure.  When neighbors know one another, communities become safer, healthier, more resilient, and more connected. My hope is that readers won't simply purchase and finish my book . I hope they'll walk home, learn one new neighbor's name, host one gathering, or knock on one door. Because that's where stronger communities begin. So here is my excerpt: The ambulance arrived with lights flashing quietly again...

  At a time when many Americans are searching for belonging, struggling with loneliness, or feeling increasingly disconnected from the people around them, our next guest on Neighboring 101 is helping lead a national conversation about how we rebuild human connection in everyday life. I am excited to welcome Aaron Hurst to Neighboring 101 on June 25, 2026. You can subscribe to Neighboring 101 with a one-time fee of $50 which gives you access to all past classes and calendar reminders of upcoming sessions. You can see our video with Aaron on YouTube . Aaron is the creator of the U.S. Chamber of Connection , an organization devoted to strengthening relationships and rebuilding the social fabric of America. Their work focuses on one of the defining challenges of our time: the growing epidemic of loneliness, isolation, and disconnection that is impacting neighborhoods, workplaces, civic life, and even our personal health. For many people, loneliness is no longer just an individual s...

G.K. Chesterton once said, “We make our friends; we make our enemies; but God makes our next door neighbour.” It’s a quote that stings a little, especially when you think about that neighbor—the loud one, the grumpy one, the one who never waves back, or always parks too close. Unlike our friends, we don’t get to curate our neighbors. But according to Chesterton, we’re not supposed to. The people who live right next to us, behind us, across the street—they’re not there by accident. As Christians, we believe in providence. That means we believe that God has a purpose not just for our lives, but for the people placed in our lives, even if those people are awkward, difficult, or just very different. We love talking about “mission fields.” Sometimes we even fly across the world to serve strangers. But often, we ignore the mission field that shares our fence line. The truth is, the most powerful witness many of us will ever have isn’t a sermon—it’s a conversation in the driveway, a shared me...

I f you want to fix your city, start with a potluck—not a policy. That’s the message at the heart of Jeff Siegler’s powerful book Your City is Sick , and it’s one we often overlook. Siegler, an urban planner and civic pride consultant, believes the most pressing illness in our cities isn’t crumbling infrastructure or economic stagnation—it’s disconnection. A lack of social ties, not a lack of strategy, is what keeps places stuck. “Community matters so much more than we give it credit for,” Siegler writes. “It is our connection to other people that ties us to our place.” It’s not the skyline or shopping options that make a place feel like home. It’s the people. And without meaningful connection to those around us, Siegler argues, our cities won’t mean much to us at all. This isn’t just feel-good fluff. Social connection is a powerful force. It’s what builds resilience in hard times, generosity in good times, and motivation to care for shared spaces. “People will fight for their communit...

In today’s fast-paced world, many people are choosing to live in ways that separate them from others. Ann Meyer, co-creator of the website “The Neighboring Life,” calls this trend “intentional isolation.” Meyer believes that many Americans are deliberately cutting themselves off from their communities. While this might seem like a choice made for convenience, it often leads to loneliness and a lack of true connection with others. The rise of modern technologies has made it easier than ever for people to isolate themselves. For example, online shopping allows people to buy what they need without ever having to leave their homes or interact with others. Social media platforms, while seemingly a way to connect, often offer shallow interactions that don’t provide the same depth as face-to-face conversations. (Plus, some fake connections too!)  Similarly, remote work meetings, although practical, reduce the opportunities for casual interactions that can happen in an office setting....