When people plan a neighborhood gathering, it is easy to focus on the wrong things. What food should we serve? Should we have games for the kids? Do we need music? How many tables and chairs? Should there be a theme? What if only a few people show up? Those questions aren't unimportant. But they aren't what determines whether a neighborhood gathering is successful. The goal isn't entertainment. The goal is connection. One of my favorite examples happened in my own driveway. My wife and I periodically invite our neighbors to simple driveway gatherings. Nothing elaborate—coffee and donuts, homemade ice cream, or some other simple excuse to put a few chairs in the driveway and invite people over. We aren't trying to impress anyone. We aren't trying to create an event that people will talk about for weeks. We are simply creating a reason for neighbors to come outside, meet one another and have conversations that might not otherwise happen. At one of our gatherings, ab...

I often say that neighboring is not a microwave, it is a crockpot. It does not happen instantly like a microwave. Rather the key ingredient for neighboring is time. "Crockpot neighboring" is a fun way to describe how we can build friendships and help the people around us, one action at a time over a longer period of time. Just like a crockpot, where you put in a few ingredients and let them cook slowly, crockpot neighboring is about making small, kind gestures over time. These little acts can help create strong friendships and a closer community. What is Crockpot Neighboring? Crockpot neighboring is about taking small steps to get to know your neighbors and show you care. It’s like cooking a big meal in a crockpot. You don’t have to rush things or make huge efforts. Instead, you do little things that add up over time to make something great.  Just like how a slow-cooked stew becomes tasty and delicious after hours of simmering, your neighborhood can become a warm and friendly...

  The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is often described as “the last great race on Earth.” Spanning more than 1,000 miles across Alaska’s harshest terrain, it is a test of endurance, adaptability, and willpower. While most of us will never mush a dog team through subzero temperatures and blinding snow, the lessons of the Iditarod apply powerfully to our work in neighborhoods—especially when that work is long-term, complex, and deeply human. First, the Iditarod teaches us the importance of preparation . Winning teams don’t just show up at the starting line with strong dogs and hope for the best. Mushers spend years training, studying the trail, building trust with their teams, and planning for countless scenarios: storms, injuries, equipment failure, exhaustion. Preparation doesn’t eliminate hardship, but it equips teams to respond when hardship inevitably comes.  In neighborhood work, preparation matters just as much . Understanding the history of a place, listening before actin...

When I reflect on my childhood and youth, many special memories include friends (and neighbors) who enjoyed the experience with me. Things like riding my bike around town, spending time at the local swimming pool, exploring caves and rivers together, fishing local ponds and rivers, playing games at the house and in the yard, hauling hay, or working together on a sports team.  Sometimes, those special memories revolved around service. For example, the family that needed help with cattle, the hunt for a stray dog, or even a good friend who died too early. Time invested with people in those experiences adds up to friendships, some lasting for decades and others fading when not nurtured. The same is true for relationships with neighbors. Positive relationships need attention and take time. Neighboring is more like a crockpot than a microwave. But do not take my word for it. There is a study that backs me up! FRIENDSHIP TAKES TIME In 2018, a University of Kansas professor de...