When we think about making a community more robust, we often think of financial or economic gains. However, building social capital through networks and reciprocity impacts our community more.
The single best way to grow social capital is with neighboring.
Current research shows the majority of Americans lack personal relationships. This leads to isolation, depression, and anger. But less than three percent of Americans say they know their neighbors’ names, know a fact about them, and have spoken to their neighbors in the last month.
One of the great ways to overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation is developing relationships with our immediate neighbors.
Active neighboring also helps people and communities expand the participation and breadth of voices while respecting differences and embracing the diversity that makes communities vibrant places to live, work, and play.
But neighboring takes effort and time. Turn off Netflix, get up off the couch, and spend more time front yard living. Make yourself available and allow yourself to be interruptible. Making yourself available is an essential step that opens the door to knowing your immediate neighbors.
Here are specific things you could do this summer to become a more engaged neighbor.
- Register for University of Missouri Extension’s Neighboring 101 class. These are free zoom sessions that take place during the noon hour once a month. If you would like to enroll in “Neighboring 101,” you can do so at http://extension.missouri.edu. Search for the class name in the page search bar. You must register in advance to get the class notice or access to past class recordings with our special guests.
- Read a good book on neighboring. Let me suggest “The Art of Neighboring” by Dave Runyon, John McKnight’s book “The Abundant Community,” Kristin Schell’s book, “The Turquoise Table,” Melody Warnick’s book “This Is Where You Belong” or Susan Pinker’s book, “The Village Effect.”
- Please help us celebrate National Good Neighbor Day on Sept. 28 (first proclaimed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978). This year in Greene County, the plan is to celebrate an entire week (Sept. 26 to Oct. 2) with a 1,000 Acts of Neighboring Challenge. Individuals will be able to submit examples of neighboring during the week and be entered for prizes. We will also present awards for the best examples of neighboring in every community in the county. You can learn more online at extension.missouri.edu.
Neighboring is tangible and practical, and a one person at a time approach has real benefits too. But I cannot do it for you!
In 2019, I discovered that I was not doing a good job of loving my neighbor in my neighborhood. The opposite of love is not hate, it is apathy. But when my wife and I changed our approach 24-months ago, we have discovered a “gold mine” of people and backgrounds right around us!
What good things might happen if you truly got to know the people in your neighborhood and they got to know you?
David Burton is the county engagement specialist for University of Missouri Extension in Greene County and coordinator for the new Engaged Neighbor Program. He can be reached by phone at (417) 881-8909 or email burtond@missouri.edu.