Imagine you are having a wonderful time out of town, away from your home, when, suddenly, an unexpected storm hits your town. You quickly check your phone with concern and receive a message from one of your neighbors, saying, “Don’t worry, I’ve secured your plants and pots, checked the windows and back door. Everything is under control, and I will be close by. Keep enjoying!” That very small gesture from your neighbor reflects the immense power of those relationships that are built on trust and mutual support in our communities, something that could either take some time or happen from day one, but will be worth building.  

These types of relationships are called our Social Capital, a value that comes from human connections, which makes our lives easier and opens doors. Many times, we have underestimated our neighbors as a rich source of advice, help and opportunities. They can recommend services, help us in difficult times, or open the way to new opportunities. When we build such networks, they strengthen us as individuals and especially as a community. 

Therefore, I bring you five ways to create and strengthen relationships that, besides being a wonderful way to make friends, will also be a powerful tool to strengthen our communities. 

1. Identify your neighbors intentionally, with all that they can contribute.

This can be a small mind map or an elaborate list, whichever suits you best, and answer these questions: Who are my neighbors? What do they do? What talents do they have? For example, you can write down that Jake, the neighbor in the first house, is a plumber; Marta, in the second house, has a marketing company; Laura, in the third house, is a pastry chef. Having all this information present will allow you to identify opportunities and, at the same time, support each other.  

2. Take small actions to build relationships.

You don’t have to organize a big party or event to initiate contact with your neighbors. Small gestures like saying hello, offering your help, or asking your neighbors how they are doing will be the catalysts to strengthen neighborhood ties, one action at a time.  

3. Exchange valuable information and community resources.

Sharing information about resources, services, events and activities in the community is one of the easiest ways to strengthen that new circle of support in your neighborhood. An excellent example of this is Facebook pages or other social networks created for the purpose of keeping the community informed. 

4. Organize and collaborate with projects in your community.

You can propose projects or activities in your community in which everyone can join according to their expertise or what they feel comfortable doing. This will strengthen community ties and build trust.  

5. Recognize your neighbors and value them.

One of the best ways to make your neighbors feel valued is to recognize them with gratitude, celebrating both small and big victories in your neighborhood. We are very used to mentioning the failures of what surrounds us, but what if, from now on, we more frequently recognize the good things that happen in the community as well as our neighbors themselves?  

Our neighbors are more than just random people living next to each other: they are all a source of wisdom, knowledge, support and mutual growth. Reciprocity also plays an important role in the growth of these relationships. Let’s see our communities as gardens that we all take care of together to enjoy their fruits, transforming the lives of all who live in them.  

Do you want to read or share this blog in Spanish? Wonderful! You can find it here!