Encouraging Community Through an HNP Project Lab at The Restoration HouseÂ
July 23rd, 2024
“Our perspective shifted. We realized that we have a lot more to offer to our community than we realized,” says Carrie Pickell, volunteer engagement coordinator at The Restoration House. Recently,...
Neighborhood Champions
July 17th, 2024
You won’t hear about them on Tik Tok. You won’t see them on television. They don’t display trophies, but they are winners. And, like all champions, they face new situations...
Growing Environmentalist
July 2nd, 2024
Our grandsons are coming! The words promise exciting times ahead. With five grandsons, summer is prime time for family visits. The oldest is 17 (already!), and we’ve shifted from making...
5 Steps to a Successful Block Party
June 27th, 2024
Few things bring neighborhoods together like a good old-fashioned block party. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors, catch up with friends, enjoy good food and entertainment,...
Little Free Libraries Have a Unique Neighborhood Goal
May 13th, 2024
As the son of a retired librarian, I know the humble book remains a powerful tool for education, enlightenment, and entertainment. In this digital age, a good book can show us what...
How My Dog Helped Me be a Better Neighbor
May 1st, 2024
I’m a cat person. When I was growing up, my family had both dogs and cats, but I’ve always preferred cats. When I grew up, I married a man who also loves...
Be Up Front About It
April 17th, 2024
What’s going on in your front yard? If your answer is along the lines of “It looks nice, but I never spend time there” or “I’m keeping my grass alive,...
Unexpected Factors Cause People to Love Where They Live
April 3rd, 2024
A three-year Gallup study of 26 U.S. cities (released in 2010) found that people’s love and passion for their community may be a leading indicator for local economic growth. Surprisingly, social...
Five Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Your Neighborhood
February 12th, 2024
Several Februaries ago while on a walk in my neighborhood, I noticed that one of my neighbors had decorated her windows with red and pink paper hearts. It was a...
Why (and How) to Start a Helpful Neighborhood Social Media Group
February 1st, 2024
Whether your neighborhood is made up of ten homes or three hundred and fifty, it can be hard to stay in good communication with each other, especially during the shorter...
What I Learned about Neighboring from Fred Rogers: 5 Takeaways
January 24th, 2024
This blog post is the third in a three-part series by Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Mary met Fred Rogers while writing an article about the famous television personality, and they...
What I Learned about Neighboring from Fred Rogers: Listening
January 24th, 2024
This blog post is the second in a three-part series by Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Mary met Fred Rogers while writing an article about the famous television personality, and they...