In a world that often feels increasingly disconnected, these six Missouri cities are proving that neighborliness isn’t a thing of the past—it’s alive, thriving, and transforming communities across the state. Using a comprehensive “Participation Index” that considered everything from city size and acts of neighboring to proclamations, business engagement, and community campaigns, the 2025 Top Six Most Neighborly Cities have been announced. Here’s a deeper look into the cities that are setting the standard for community spirit in Missouri this year: 1. Springfield (Greene County): The Neighboring Capital of Missouri Once again, Springfield leads the way in statewide neighborliness. This vibrant city topped the charts in nearly every category: number of acts of neighboring, engaged neighbor nominations, pledge participation, and city-wide campaigns. What sets Springfield apart is its community-wide embrace of the neighboring movement. Volunteer-led block parties were held across multiple ...

Missouri Good Neighbor Week (MGNW) is returning this fall (Sept. 28 - Oct. 4) with a renewed focus on documenting acts of kindness and neighborliness.  As an extra incentive this year, participants have a chance to win part of over $1,000 in cash prizes. All individuals who complete a short survey about their act of neighboring will be automatically entered into a random drawing for cash prizes. “We didn’t want to continue selecting acts of neighboring we considered ‘best’ for prizes, because what is best varies from community to community depending on the needs of your neighbors,” said David Burton, community development specialist with University of Missouri Extension and founder of Missouri Good Neighbor Week. “Instead, we want to encourage Missourians to visit our website and tell us about their act of neighboring. We want to reward 50 or so people for taking the time to tell us what they did.” The goal for 2025 is ambitious: document 35,000 acts of neighboring during the week-...