Neighbor Wanted: Only Those with Soft Skills Need Apply

by Pam Rempe | Aug 14, 2024 | Discover the Gifts, Neighborhood Well-being, Pursue the Common Good

Neighbor Wanted!  Soft skills preferred: Dependable and empathetic problem solver. Team player. All other skills: optional.  If this flyer was posted in your community, would you qualify?  In our post-pandemic, hybrid, AI work-world, soft skills matter...

Trust in Your Neighbors Could Benefit Your Health and America

by Pam Rempe | Jul 30, 2024 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Neighborhood Well-being

Here is an easy way to improve your health: trust your neighbors. A 2011 study from the University of Missouri showed that increasing trust in neighbors is associated with better self-reported health.  “I examined the idea of ‘relative position,’ or where one...

Little Free Libraries Have a Unique Neighborhood Goal

by Jennifer Prophete | May 13, 2024 | Neighborhood Well-being

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 community and friendship mean and how to be the best neighbors or...

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...