“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”— Coretta Scott King, American author, activist, and civil rights leader
Behind neatly trimmed lawns and sweetly decorated homes are often people with aching hearts. Did you know that 30% of adults in America feel lonely at least once a week? Loneliness is much more than an emotion. In fact, researchers have found that the effects of social isolation and loneliness on our health can be profound and can increase our chances of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicide, and dementia. While interactions with friends, family members, colleagues, and pets can often take the edge off of this loneliness epidemic, another factor that can be truly transformative—and one that is often overlooked—is neighbors.
Take a moment to consider: is your neighborhood simply a place where multiple families and individuals live—or is it a thriving community full of heartfelt bonds? Often the former rather than the latter is the case, but, with a little bit of time, effort, and creativity, your neighborhood can become something that infuses your life with an extra dose of health and happiness.
The Gifts of Neighborhood Community
The benefits of having a vibrant neighborhood community are vast and include:
- new friendships
- a heightened sense of safety and security
- opportunities to both give and receive a helping hand
- localized social events
- a “built-in” support network
- improved health via reduced loneliness
Creating a Vibrant Neighborhood Community
Having a positive intention to boost your neighborhood vibe is like planting a seed. But for any seed to come to life, support is key. Use our 10-step guide below to revitalize your neighborhood in ways that will benefit everyone!
1. Stay Connected. Create, according to people’s levels of comfort, a list of contact information for members of the neighborhood. This can be valuable not only for unexpected events, such as asking “Did you just lose your power, too?” or “Could I borrow a cup of sugar?” to coordinating carpools, and more. The process of developing the list will likely involve going door to door. This community-building activity can create new friendships, and the list itself can become both a helpful resource and a symbol of neighborly connectedness.
2. Say Hello. Help create a positive environment by exchanging friendly greetings when you pass people as you walk, bike, or drive through the neighborhood. An uplifting greeting, a kind smile, or a cheerful wave can have a powerful ripple effect, extending the feeling of care and connection throughout the neighborhood. Finding the balance between creating interactive welcoming connectivity and respecting people’s differing needs for privacy is, of course, key.
3. Communicate. Ensure that your neighborhood community has multiple methods of communication to meet the preferences and needs of the different age groups in your community. The communication methods can range from flyers taken door to door to a central bulletin board to an emailed newsletter to social media postings.
4. Lend a Hand. Set up a system to match neighbors’ needs with available resources by collecting requests for help along with the skills that people would like to volunteer to share, such as yard work, carpooling, tutoring, making meals, groceries, visits to those who are ill, injured, or isolated to computer help. Appointing a volunteer coordinator or even rotating this role month by month can keep stress levels low while keeping resources flowing.
5. Socialize. Plan social events to bring the community together in the neighborhood for light-hearted and uplifting interactions, like music performances, arts and crafts activities for kids and adults alike, to fitness activities like yoga classes and group walks. For ease of organizing and to boost participation, consider creating a predictable rhythm, like the first Saturday afternoon of the month, along with a central location, like a nearby field or park or a neighbor’s backyard.
6. Gather for Meals. Hold a monthly potluck where interested neighbors can bring a dish to share with the community. Organizing volunteers to help with setup, music, decorations, cleanup, and assorted other tasks like setting up donated paper products, water, and ice can work like a charm in ensuring that the event runs smoothly.
7. Garden Together. Consider creating a community vegetable garden where neighbors can take turns pitching in with planting, watering, and harvesting. Working together with the shared goal to bring delicious and nutritious food to life can be a wonderful way for new friendships to form. Distributing the veggies to neighbors and/or contributing them to the potlucks is another way to bring a burst of positivity to the community.
8. Beautify the Area. Encourage beautification of the neighborhood. Small steps like neighbors picking up litter, keeping weeds and lawns cut, maintaining the cleanliness of outdoor patios, balconies, carports, doorsteps, and porches helps to keep the neighborhood looking lovely. You might even create neighborhood seasonal themes and contests to inspire creativity and inspiring decorations.
9. Give Warm Welcomes. Offer warm welcomes to new neighbors by delivering a loaf of homemade bread, a plate of cookies, a basket of fresh fruit, a bouquet of flowers, or simply a welcome note, visit, or an old-fashioned “Welcome to the neighborhood; we’re so glad you’re here!” greeting. Offering to be a resource to answer questions and provide suggestions for good restaurants, auto mechanics, and more is also a fantastic way to help forge positive connections with new folks.
10. Offer Fond Farewells. Collaborate with others to create heartfelt sendoffs for neighbors who are moving away. Offering to help pack up, lift, and load boxes can not only be a tremendous help but can also provide a meaningful opportunity for the community to reminisce and share poignant memories of joyful times shared together through the years. It can also be a time to offer gratitude to the departing neighbors, express good wishes, and make plans for future visits, as well as for the neighbors who are moving to donate items that are no longer needed to the community.
Using some or all of the ten tips above, your neighborhood can become much like an extended family, not only staving off the health-depleting effects of loneliness but also bringing harmony, peace, and joy to your immediate surroundings. When you begin to think of your neighborhood as more than where you sleep and receive your mail but as a place of comfort and connection, your entire outlook will begin to change. In many ways, your neighborhood is a microcosm of the world as a whole. Sensing this unity can transform how you relate to the wider community and bring more harmony into your life. With a renewed sense of community, you may begin to feel, like the 32nd President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The whole world is one neighborhood.”
