Apr
24
2011
24
2011
5 Simple Ways To Engage Your Community
Filed under: Activism, Community, Life in Longmont
After traveling the country far and wide, the places that we love the most are those in which we made true connections with the community. No matter where you live (on the road or in a home), if you don’t feel that “connection”…my guess is that you will eventually be unhappy there. But connection doesn’t just magically happen…it takes a little work on your part.
Here are 3 simple ways to help you build that connection:
1. Go out your front door.
This is as simple as it gets. Walk out your front door and look around. Pull up a chair and sit there for awhile. Read a book and drink an iced tea. Take it all in. When someone walks by, say hello. Know what happens around your neighborhood…who comes and goes, etc. See it all with fresh eyes and BE SEEN. If your neighbors see you out there regularly, they will be more likely to come out of hiding as well.
I’m challenging myself (and you too!) to spend 1/2 hour a day “out on the block”. Taking a walk, sitting at the park on the corner while the girls play, throwing down hoops, working in the yard. In addition to just being fun, it gets me out there in a place to truly know my surroundings.
2. Talk to people.
Do you know your neighbors names? What about that couple with the chihuahua across the street? Or that elderly man at the end of the block? It always amazes me how few people actually know their neighbors. When we move into a new area, that is our number one priority! I love coming down the street and being able to greet people by name and have them do the same. You all wanna be “where everybody knows your name”…right? *insert Cheers music*
There is something magical that happens within a community when neighbors are no longer strangers, but friends.
3. Do Nice Stuff.
Do nice stuff for your community and for others. Look outside of yourself and see where there is a need that you can meet.
Bella and I declared a trash pick-up day at our local park…it only took us 15 minutes to gather it all up…and it made such a difference! Set the example in your community. You might be surprised at who you will impact!
Bella and I declared a trash pick-up day at our local park…it only took us 15 minutes to gather it all up…and it made such a difference! Set the example in your community. You might be surprised at who you will impact!
Bring a treat basket to the single mom next door. It doesn’t have to be fancy…it doesn’t even have to include homemade goodies! Throw in a gift card to your local coffee shop and some chocolates and you’ll make her day!
When we moved to Longmont, we hadn’t been inside the house more than 5 minutes when our sweet neighbors next door brought over a loaf of warm banana bread. That one little gesture made us feel so welcome and happy…and it was a great way to meet them and have a conversation. Neighborly hospitality is a lost art that needs to be revived!
4. Attend Events
Go to that concert in the park. Make time for the mom’s night out that you’ve been meaning to get to. Check out the farmer’s market. But when you go, don’t just walk around…look people in the eye and start a conversation! Get their number. Make friends! If this is completely out of your comfort zone, just start by talking to ONE person. You can do it!
Last weekend we attended an Arbor Day/Earth Day event and just by throwing down some hoops, I met 7 women from the community and had lovely conversations and made plans for future meet ups! Then, this weekend we went to check out the food carts in Prospect and talked with several other locals. It’s not hard to do…you just have to GO! 
5. Plan a Community-Building Event
If you’ve done numbers 1-4 and need an “extra credit” boost…
Host a monthly potluck or BBQ! Invite 4-5 neighbors over and talk about stuff and have fun!
Or…go all out and throw a block party: With summer almost upon us, it’s the perfect time. This does take a bit more planning but is really fun! Crank up the music, throw some food on the grill, and bring out the lawn chairs. It will revolutionize your neighborhood. Sometimes you can even get a little funding from the city for things like this. It can’t hurt to ask
Start a tea party: This is something they have done in our neighborhood in the past. All the ladies of the neighborhood gather for tea and pastries on a Saturday afternoon.
What have YOU done lately to engage your community? Let’s share ideas!
Want more? Here are some additional resources:
Meet The Neighbors (networking site)
Posted by Sara @ 10:33 pm | Leave a Comment
27
2011
Thanks Sara! Community is so important to me too. I’m totally going to plan a tea party for my block. FUN. xoxo
27
2011
I love this post! I do this too, and I think its so important to be invested in community!!
I was so disappointed! But luckily, I had invited “backup neighbors” (who didn’t live anywhere close to us) and we had a barbeque anyway! HA! I’m not sure whats up with my neighbors, but I’m going to try the fresh-baked bread approach next. 
This is TEXAS, after all. We’re supposed to be friendly!!!
When I first moved into my house 2 years ago, it was in November, and I couldn’t WAIT until spring to have a barbeque and invite all of my neighbors. I was so excited to go door to door and pass out the cute little flyers I made inviting everyone on my street to have a barbeque with us. I left my phone number on there, and most people didn’t answer their doors when I knocked, but that didn’t discourage me because I was certain that I was such a cool person they would want to get out and come to our barbeque. Well… the week of the barbeque arrived and I had only one RSVP, who called me an hour before the BBQ started to tell me that she thought she might be having high blood pressure and wouldn’t be able to make it.
27
2011
Joni…don’t give up!! I really think that we’ve become so accustomed to “hiding” that it takes awhile for people to warm up to the idea of actually talking to people they don’t know in real life
Try a couple more times…I bet third times a charm!
27
2011
Dear Sara – I LOVE this!!!!!!
27
2011
hahahah! I bet you’re right! Its so odd too, because the people will talk to my husband, but not to me. Maybe I’m too weird. They all seem normal, though, from a distance – I don’t think they are hiding mob involvement or albanian refugees in their house… but you never know!! The one nice neighbor moved out and everyone else kind of keeps to themselves. (And it doesn’t help that my husband’s enormous dog knocked one old-lady neighbor down in her enthusiasm when she was walking down the street)… Sigh. That had to be on MY watch. LOL!
27
2011
I love this too!! Thank you for sharing!!
I’ve lived in the same area on and off for oh… 20+ years. This can help in breaking out of your tiny circle of friends and family who you’ve been friends with forever to open your friendship to others too.
27
2011
I recently started a group on fb where we make things and leave them for others to find and this has enabled me to meet more like minded people. We live in the country and the neighbors are far away so this is helping me to build community even though I live in the sticks.
lol
27
2011
I am a crazy woman about community building. I love it. I helped organize a neighborhood roundtable discussion about community building last year.
Last fall I organized a neighborhood pumpkin parade for Halloween. We dressed up our wagons as floats and ourselves and pets up in costumes and paraded our jack-o-lanterns around the neighborhood. Then we had a Halloween cake and cider outside.
This year some of the items on my plate are:
-A neighborhood prayer group
-A neighborhood walking group
-A neighborhood outdoor movie night
-A springtime Coming Out of Hibernation Potluck Picnic
-Neighborhood participation in the National Wildlife Federation’s Great American backyard Campout
-A loosely organized group of neighbors to bring meals to sick, injured or post-partum neighbors
-An all ages neighborhood volunteer corp. We will do everything from helping elderly neighbors with household projects to raising money for charity.
27
2011
Love it! Thanks for sharing all of your ideas Stephanie!
27
2011
You’re an inspiration! I always want to be more involved in my community, but I never really sat down to think through how simple it can be. I’m definitely going to start spending more time out in our yard just reading a book!
27
2011
We moved to a new neighborhood not long ago with a really large hispanic population. My spanish skills can be best described as functionally atrocious so it’s been great to be able to amp up my language skills while meeting people. Free spanish lessons everytime I meet a new friend… how much better does it get?
27
2011
I love all of these ideas and have used them….however, I live in a very urban part of the city. I had dreams of an urban farm. We know all our neighbors that’s not a problem. But what “comes through” the neighborhood: massive homelessness, drug deals, prostitution, theft, etc. it has been hard to get the community to realize they can do something. Most people would say after that comment that I live in a “bad neighborhood”. And that is not it at all. It’s not the neighbors doing this…it’s the people passing through due to the traffic and urban location. Hard to explain. Anyway, I worked with all the neighborhood assoc., city agencies, business owners, police, etc. After close to 6 years, I’m burned out. Completely and totally. It’s time to move on. A lot has changed and I’ve seen some hopeful signs, but without the community around me wanting to get involved (fear or whatever)….it will go back to how it was.
Here’s hoping I can sell my house to someone who loves it and I can move on to a new community.
And no, I won’t give up, I’m just really tired.
27
2011
This is really true, Sara. In spite of being in an urban area, we are fortunate enough to have back gardens with mid-height picket fences; we literally chat over the fence to our neighbours all summer long. We have Sunday evening open houses and every so often a neighbour will pop in to enjoy the evening along with our other friends. Every Christmas, we make Christmas cookies and give away a bag to every home on our street along with a card. Everyone on our street knows where to go if they want someone to pray with them! It’s all good, but we’ve been here nearly eight years. Considering that we might move soon does make me wonder how quickly this would happen in a new place.
27
2011
Thanks for this entry today! I’ve been so discouraged about where we live because I don’t know a lot of people. But you’re right, it’s kind of hard to get to know my neighbors if I don’t engage with them! It’s hard in the neighborhood I live in because about 90% of my neighbors speak little or no English. There are a few older women who I’ve spoken with who all dote on my girls, and I love talking with them, but our conversations are limited because of our ability to communicate with one another and lack of common interests. Anyway.. we’ll keep trying! The community potluck would be a fun idea, I wonder how many people would be up for it. Thanks for the encouragement
27
2011
It helps when you move next door to your already established friends!
Also our neighborhood organization is well established. We have a neighborhood clean up twice a year. A neighbor and I do clean up the trash in the streets on a regular basis. We have quite a mix of people. There are some unsavory characters as well. It is sad, they see us cleaning up the trash and then intentionally throw their trash on the ground just so we have to clean it up. I just can’t understand that mentality. How would you handle that situation?
27
2011
Way to go! I love seeing people intentionally getting involved.
As far as the disrespectful people throwing trash…I don’t think you have to “deal” with it at all. Just keep picking it up and pretty soon they will get bored with you
They are most likely just looking for a reaction and argument.
xxoo
27
2011
Longmont has free movies at Thompson Park in the summer! Also, do you know about bike night? It starts up Wednesday May 18th. A bunch of people meet at Roosevelt Park and bike every Wednesday night. “Longmont Bike Night”- on facebook!
27
2011
Amy! Thanks so much!! When are we going to get together for a play date!? Email me mama…
27
2011
I love “Doing nice stuff” could there be a better way to connect with the community. No, I don’t think so. I’m on the homeowner association board. and I know my neighbors. It makes it a lovely community. Thanks.
27
2011
I think that food always makes people happy! Food opens the doors and the hearts of people. At least it opens mine! I like food and I tend to give what I like.
27
2011
You could not have posted this at a more perfect time for me – my husband and I will be moving into a new neighborhood in two days!!! I am a little more shy, but fortunately, I am married to an extremely outgoing man, so we balance each other out…
Thanks for the reminder
).
28
2011
have you seen the print they sell in bookstores about community? i think i have a photo… here it is, if you clock on it you should be able to read it i think? : http://allweneedisamor.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-to-build-community.html
i have been thinking on your post since i read it yesterday. we’ve done a good job here community building, i think, but we owe it all to our open and friendly neighborhood with front porches and gardenhouses and neighborhood centers. we are moving soon and i am feeling nervous about beginning all over again. having community has made all the difference for us.
28
2011
So crazy that you posted this right now, as we just started a study on missional living (with the church plant group that some friends of ours are involved in)…all about reaching out and actually getting to know our neighbors and community!!
Also, our neighborhood has finally got a Facebook group as of a couple weeks ago so we can get on there to discuss and plan things…and we are planning a block party and a neighborhood yard sale here in the near future.
Oh yeah, and I’ve started a Facebook hooping group in Fort Worth…meeting every Friday to hoop at the Water Gardens!!
3
2011
I am involved in a local food swap called Essential Edibles. Once a month we get together in a local park and swap home-grown produce, eggs, seeds, preserves,flowers, native plants and anything else we have produced ourselves. No money is exchanged. The goods are laid out and everyone can take as much as they like, even those who don’t bring anything. One lady doesn’t bring food, but brings her flute each time to play for us.
We live in an inner urban area and the diversity of produce grown in quite small backyards is amazing.
Kate (in Australia)
9
2011
thanks for these ideas…i am the type that craves community but tends to stick close to home. i need to get out of my shell to CREATE community that i want, you know? and that doesnt come easy. my husband on the other hand does all these things easily…i need to take more cues from him. thanks again. love your blog!
21
2011
Sara you are the best! Thank you for the reminders! We are moving into a new neighborhood at the beach in Florida, and I think I will throw a block party
21
2011
One more thing…Love Love Love…”Neighborly hospitality is a lost art that needs to be revived”.
30
2011
Wow…God has really been working in my heart lately in the area of reaching out to our neighbors. We live in a rather “rough” neighborhood (in an old family home), and reaching out to our current neighbors is *way* out of my comfort zone. This post has been encouraging and convicting to me…thanks for sharing!