It’s not easy to arrive in a new community and put down roots. 

A couple of years ago, my family and I arrived in Tennessee with the hope of finding a place where our family could live safely and peacefully while growing individually. What we didn’t know was that we would find more than that. We found lasting friendships, a family of faith, and a whole community with open arms to make us feel at home. 

When we arrived, we didn’t know the language or the culture, nor did we understand the school system, the healthcare system, or how basic services worked in our city. However we were fully determined to do whatever it took to integrate into our new neighborhood. We learned to navigate our new life with the help of our neighbors—we really needed them. 

As a result I found a community willing to support us in our journey of putting down roots. I also found another important tool for my adaptation and integration into the community, and it’s the same one that allows you to read these lines: The Hopeful Neighborhood Project. I came across them at a conference, and that day I was impressed by the work they do to unite communities with creative and dignifying initiatives that strengthen the fraternal bonds between neighbors.  

Since then, I’ve applied what I’ve learned from them—from practical ways to celebrate National Good Neighbor Day to how to create seed kits to gift my neighbors in the spring. HNP is constantly active, presenting ideas on how to improve communities from their roots. That’s how my journey began to become the kind of neighbor I would like to have. 

I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share some of the things I learned from HNP’s workshops and resources, which could show you the first steps to becoming the kind of neighbor you’d like to find around the corner. Five of those lessons are: 

1. You’re not alone in your desire to be a good neighbor.

There are people wanting to join forces but who don’t know where to start, or with whom. Your mission is to find them, share your ideas with them, and create partnerships with them. You can find ways how on this blog or through HNP’s YouTube channel, which will motivate you to connect with neighbors who share your vision. 

2. You don’t need to reinvent everything from scratch—leverage existing ideas and make them your own. 

If you feel like you don’t have the creativity to organize an event, don’t be discouraged! HNP has wonderful ideas that you can put into practice in your community. They also have resources you can share with your neighbors. Teamwork will always be the driving force behind achieving what you want in your community, and HNP will be one of your best allies. 

3. There will always be neighbors happy to meet you.

    One of the hardest things for many people is approaching and integrating into their new community. They’ll be grateful that someone like you has taken the first step to connect. With HNP, you’ll gain practical tools to do this in a creative and intentional way. Think about the neighbors you wish you had met—or did meet—when you moved into your neighborhood, and put it into practice. 

    4. Engage in networks beyond your neighborhood.

    One of my favorite HNP tools is “Map Your Neighborhood” from the Discover the Gifts course. With it, you can identify the existing resources and assets in your community. With that knowledge, you can join other groups, agencies, programs, and ministries aligned with your vision to enrich your neighborhood. Together, we can achieve great things. 

    5. Keep a calendar of special dates.

        Being mindful of the dates when we can intentionally reach out to our neighbors gives us time to prepare. For example, you can send a card for National Good Neighbor Day, create a craft kit for Thanksgiving, or make a gingerbread mix for Christmas. Preparing ahead ensures we have all the resources we need on hand to connect with our neighbors. 

          I could write much more, but I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments. I invite you to explore all the resources HNP has available at https://www.hopefulneighborhood.org/. I’m sure it will ignite in you the desire to become a better neighbor.