How My Dog Helped Me be a Better Neighbor

by Jonathan Carone | May 1, 2024 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Neighborhood Well-being

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 cats, and our children are cat-lovers, as well.    But we had a dog once, a really...

Be Up Front About It

by Jonathan Carone | Apr 17, 2024 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Imagine the Possibilities, Neighborhood Well-being

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, and that’s about it,” then now may be a good time to rethink what you do with that semi-public,...

Unexpected Factors Cause People to Love Where They Live

by Jonathan Carone | Apr 3, 2024 | Imagine the Possibilities, Neighborhood Well-being

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 offerings, openness, and beauty are more important than...

Five Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Your Neighborhood

by Jonathan Carone | Feb 12, 2024 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Pursue the Common Good

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 seemingly simple act, yet it carried a message of love and connection amidst the dark and gloomy days of...

Why (and How) to Start a Helpful Neighborhood Social Media Group

by Jonathan Carone | Feb 1, 2024 | Imagine the Possibilities, Neighborhood Well-being, Pursue the Common Good

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 days of winter when people are less likely to be outdoors. Social media can be a great way to keep...