Neighborhood News

Neighborhood News Printed for Pilot Neighborhoods as Part of Greene County MU Extension’s Engaged Neighbor Project

March 2021 * Vol. 1 Issue 1 Welcome to Something Exciting Welcome to MU Extension's new "Engaged Neighbor" program. Our program builds on the connection, purpose and leadership growth that can occur when neighbors build relationships over common interests.

The goal of our program is to help people move from being a resident to being an engaged neighbor. In the process the individual, neighborhood and community are improved, loneliness is reduced and residents become more healthy and inclusive.

Take the Survey Online*

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ PilotNeighborhoods Neighborhoods in this Pilot Project Stoney Creek Estates (Republic) Legacy Trails Subdivision (Springfield) McAl Neighborhood (Springfield) Village of Brookline (Republic) The Meadows (Willard/Springfield) Serenity Valley (Ash Grove) Rankin Acres (Republic) Millstone Crossing (Springfield)

* Your information will only be included in the directory for your neighborhood and will not be used for other purposes.

Several neighborhoods in Greene County have been selected to pilot this program in 2021-2022. You are getting this mailing because you live in one of those neighborhoods. In the next few months your neighborhood will get a directory (sent to those that answer the survey) and a neighborhood party as part of this pilot project.

The directory is a way to help find your neighborhood assets as well as shared interest among residents. This is an important first step toward creating an engaged neighborhood.

David Burton County Engagement Specialist burtond@missouri.edu Direct Tel: 417-874-2954

I pulled into the drive-through at Braums to pay for the meal of the vehicle behind me. I was doing this as part of the “100 Acts of Kindness Challenge” with the library. But in a first for me, this vehicle followed me. He caught up with me at a stoplight and rolled down his window to tell me that my act of kindness had made his day! My hat was a reminder to me about what these acts of kindness are really about.—David Burton

Greene County Extension Council | extension.missouri.edu/greene Tel: (417) 881-8909 | Email: burtond@missouri.edu

Engaged Neighbor Program made possible by the: Greene County Extension Council Greg Boehne Chairman Alex Greiwe Vice-chair

Morgan Ash Secretary Lisa Bakerink Treasurer John Russell County Commission Tammy Lowrey Farm Bureau Jordan Miller MFA Samuel Snider City of Willard Jason Buffington City of Battlefield Joseph Hoffman City of Springfield Vacant 4-H Youth member Members at large Scott Smith Chad Courtney Karen Dowdy Chris Schulze Rick Stenberg Larry Adams Ray Meyer Eric Sutton Allison Anbari Christina Hammers Aaron Jones Stephen Snead Mike Lofaro Tiger Ambassador

Learn More on Neighboring: Read a Book The following are some of the books on neighboring recommended

by David Burton.

"The Turquoise Table" by Kristin Schell. The author details how a picnic table ended up in her front yard and changed her entire neighborhood and life. Not everyone could pull off what this mom has done but she makes some excellent points about the value of interacting with neighbors.

"Abundant Communities" by John McKnight takes a close look at how active neighbors can have a positive impact on their community and how associations connect neighbors in unique ways.

The book provides a practical look at asset-based community development and the impact that approach can have on a neighborhood.

“A Man Called Ove.” This book doesn’t make most lists of “books about neighboring” but it has great examples about the impact of neighbors to overcome loneliness. Ove is a man of principle but he is also a lonely curmudgeon. Ove and his neighbors are living a fragmented experience of community when the story begins. Where there was once a vibrant community of neighbors, there is now only echoes of an old life which only serve to further ostracize the characters. That is, until the arrival of a certain “crazy, pregnant foreign woman and her utterly ungovernable family.”

“The Art of Neighboring” by Dave Runyon. This book offers practical examples of how to neighbor and way it matters. Dave is often referenced as the person who made neighboring a national topic of discussion. Over 3,000 communities have used his model.

#EngagedNeighbor

As community leaders & advocates, we encourage friends to learn the names of all their neighbors; to build relationships with their neighbors through common interests and shared experiences; and to sustain compassionate and caring practices of neighborly love. https://www.facebook.com/BecominganEngagedNeighbor

MU Extension is an equal opportunity/ access/affirmative action/ pro-disabled and veteran employer.

Use this to record and remember the names of the people living in the 8 closest front doors to your front door.

L.A.W.N. Public Viewing: April 23 – May 8, 2021 L.A.W.N. is a city-wide public art exhibition made for front lawns by community members located in and around Springfield. Created as a grassroots project focused on connecting our vibrant community, L.A.W.N. seeks to empower public art made by the people as a contribution to Springfield’s sense of place and the built environment we all share.

Originally established in April 2020 as a response to Covid-19, L.A.W.N. was created as an effort to encourage artmaking and viewing as a form of bolstering mental health and community building during stay-at-home orders.

Now L.A.W.N. endures as a public art opportunity open to all community members and art forms. Past L.A.W.N. exhibitions have included sculptures, paintings, installations, video projections, podcasts, social practice projects, and more.

Learn more at https://sculpturewalkspringfield.org/sculptures/lawn-art-with-neighbors/

Neighboring During COVID-19 Being diligent to practice social distancing and following the guidelines is vital to your safety and the safety of others. However, as we engage in physical distancing practices, it is important to note the difference between social distancing and social isolation. We all need social interaction. Here are a few tips we are recommending: 1. Reach out to your neighbors by email or phone. If you don’t have their information leave a note on their door explaining who you are and how to get in touch with you.

2. When you see people outside, make it a point to talk to them. One-minute conversations are a big deal. (Use the included map to write down and remember the names of neighbors).

3. Build a neighborhood directory. Compile contact information of people that live close to you. While doing that, be sure to ask about their interests or hobbies. This information will be useful to the whole neighborhood later as your try to build associations.

4. Organize a neighborhood sit in. Have everyone bring their own lawn chair and drinks. Be sure to space everyone six feet apart as you enjoy a nice conversation in an outdoor setting.

5. Neighborhood online webinars. Invite neighbors to do an online webinar on a topic you think would be of interest. Ask a fellow neighbor to teach a skill or speak on another topic.

Receive 100-page Neighboring Overview Packet

Complete a short questionnaire to receive our popular 100-plus page informational packet about the neighboring program (including a literature review) sent to you by email as a PDF.

10 questions on this survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EngagedNeighborOverview

Build a Better Community By Being a Better Neighbor I grew up during a time when children David Burton were allowed to roam freely in neighborhoods and other public spaces like school yards and County Engagement Specialist parks. At dusk, parents would summon burtond@missouri.edu everyone home. Some would just stand on the Direct Tel: 874-2954 porch and yell their kids’ names, while others Started: 2001 Responsibilities: Leadership development, whistled. Back then, there were no cell phones, and we often disappeared for hours at neighboring, heritage tourism, media relations, and works with council to fund and administer local programs. a time riding bikes and playing games.

These days, too many people get home and pull their cars into attached garages and let the doors close behind them, never emerging in public. We build private jungle gyms in the backyard rather than letting our kids bike to the park. Netflix and Hulu make it easy to get absorbed by fictional folks on TV, rather than interacting with actual humans in real life.

Our news diet creates a fear of strangers by focusing on rare and remote horrors, while paying little attention to the good and compassionate things people do for each other every day.

So maybe it’s time to flip those habits, get outside, and meet the people who live nearby.

Let's put the neighborliness back in neighborhoods. Here are a few ideas: 1. Gardening in the Yard. Being in the yard makes you visible and approachable. One of the simplest ways to engage with your community is to physically get out in it 2. Use Your Front Porch or Front Yard. If you do not have a front porch try to activate the front yard by spending time in it and being approachable. Or with lawn chairs try “front yard Fridays.” Some refer to this as more “front yard living.”

3. Be willing to be interrupted. When a neighbor is outside, take the time to visit with them. If you don’t have time to visit, that is likely a sign that your life is too busy.

4. Be hospitable and social does not mean a seven course meal. Exercising hospitality helps to build relationships and it can begin with coffee and dessert or drinks in the front yard.

Hospitality is about making others feel comfortable, not about having a seven course meal.

Join our team in planning for

National Good Neighbor Day/Week Sept. 26 to Oct. 2, 2021

This year we need sponsors, donors and partners to help us offer prizes to participants in our “1,000 Acts of Neighborly Love Challenge” and cash awards for the best examples of neighboring in every Greene County city.

Weekly Zoom Sessions to Discuss and Plan Contact David Burton at burtond@missouri.edu for details.

Class details & enrollment at http://extension.missouri.edu

Neighboring Ideas for Introverts If you are an introvert, the thought of getting to know strangers (even if they live next door) is right up there with going to the dentist and filling in tax forms. Instead, consider some of these introvert-friendly neighboring ideas.

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Read a good book about neighboring to get you inspired. Try “The Art of Neighboring,” “The Abundant Community,” or others.

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Make yourself available by spending more time in the front yard.

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Hold a garage sale and watch the neighbors show up.

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Write one handwritten note a month and mail or deliver it to a neighbor.

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Attend neighborhood events (if someone hosts them) or attend neighborhood meetings (if any are held).

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Start taking walks through your neighborhood and say hello to people you see.

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Wait to close the garage door until after you have unloaded your vehicle. If you see a neighbor outside or a car driving past, raise a hand to say hello.

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Keep your head up and acknowledge anyone you see outside.

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If you have children, bring playtime or snack-time outside to the front yard.

Invite neighbor kids to join if the opportunity arises.

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You are not trying to meet everyone at once. Make a goal to meet one new neighbor and then see how it goes. Set other goals in the coming months.

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Pray for your neighbors and for opportunities to get acquainted.

Greene County MU Extension 2400 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield, Mo. | (417) 881-8909 http://extension.missouri.edu

Visit our website: https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/greene/neighboring-project

Will you be a Connector for your Neighborhood?

A neighborhood “connector” helps to build community in their neighborhood by listening to their neighbors and caring for neighbors in times of celebration, need and crisis. Would you be willing to serve as a connector on your street or block? This requires the following: 1. Make a personal effort to get to know your neighbors.

2. Help with the creation of a neighborhood directory by encouraging residents to complete the survey. (See page one) 3. Share your willingness to be a connector with David Burton and then participate in online discussions with other new connectors.

Best of all, a connector really gets to know people on their block or street. If you are interested in serving as a neighborhood connector, contact David Burton at burtond@missouri.edu.

Online at http://extension.missouri.edu

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