Neighborhood News - March 2021

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.

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

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)

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

Will You Be a Connector?

A neighborhood “connector” helps to build community in their neighborhood by listening to their neighbors, loving 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.

3. Help create neighborhood groups based on interest areas (as shown in the completed directory).

4. 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.

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.

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR IN 2021 In partnership with Springfield-Greene County Library

Want to be healthier, even happier in 2021? Get to know a neighbor and reach out to them – socially distanced, of course. Experts say neighborly trust and connections can boost your physical and mental health. Guest speakers dropping in for virtual programs in March say neighborliness can strengthen the connection you feel to your community and help you love where you live. Hear what they have to say on this important and timely subject.

Neighboring 101

Tuesday, March 16, 6:30 p.m.

Developing relationships with your neighbors can help combat social isolation and build stronger communities, but taking that first step is challenging. David Burton, county engagement specialist with Greene County MU Extension and director of the Engaged Neighbor program in Missouri, shares strategies for connecting with your neighborhood and the benefits you can reap from knowing your neighbors.

Visit thelibrary.org/programs to register.

A link to the virtual event will be shared with registered participants.

"This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving Where You Live" Thursday, March 18, 7 p.m.

Freelance writer and author Melody Warnick discusses place attachment, being neighborly, and what it takes to feel truly rooted in your town or city. Warnick wrote recently, “When Italians are quarantined from their neighbors, they break into impromptu communal balcony serenades that inspired the whole world. Meanwhile, North Americans are like, ‘Sorry, not enough balconies.’” What we do have, Warnick says, is “creativity, sheer altruism and a whole lot of time on our hands to reach out to neighbors in a social distance–respecting way…”

Sponsored by the Library Foundation and the Greene County MU Extension Office.

Visit thelibrary.org/programs to register.

A link to the virtual event will be shared with registered participants.

Now it’s your turn! - March 13 to March 20

100 Acts of Community Kindness Challenge WHEN: We invite you to turn talk into action by taking part in our 100 Acts of Community Kindness Challenge from March 13 to March 20.

IDEAS: If you don't know where to start, download a suggested list of 100 acts at thelibrary.org/kindness, or ask a librarian to print a copy.

GOAL: Our goal is for members of the library community to achieve 100 acts of kindness toward their neighbors during the week.

REPORT: Send us an email at imagine@thelibrary.org and tell us what act you or your family did, if you witnessed an act of kindness, or if you were the recipient of a kind act.

CELEBRATING: If it’s something visual, take a photo and send it via email! We will share the acts on our social media channels throughout the day on March 20 – the birthday of the good neighbor himself, Mister Rogers.

Receive 50-plus Neighboring Overview Packet

Complete a short questionnaire to receive our popular 50-plus 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

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

Neighboring During COVID-19

Social Distancing Versus Social Isolation 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. Isolation and loneliness negatively affect our mental and physical health. We all need social interaction. The key is learning how to do this from six feet away. 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. Virtual meat ups. Host a virtual gathering using Zoom, Google Hangout or other tools to connect with the people who live on your street or in your apartment complex.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Ask your neighbors how they are doing in the midst of this crisis.

• How are you and your family doing in light of all the changes?

• How has this impacted your job or your company?

• Have you noticed silver linings as a result of adjustments this crisis has forced?

• Is there anything that you need or that I can help you with?

Get listed in this publication and be seen by the 600 homes that receive it quarterly.

All sponsors of $250 or more will be included in our donor list. Businesses that give a $500 sponsorship can list phone numbers, websites and business information. See donation and sponsorship page on the back.

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.

•

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

•

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

•

Hold a garage sale and watch the neighbors show up.

•

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

•

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

•

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

•

Use your children or dogs as ambassadors of new connections.

•

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.

•

Keep your head up and acknowledge anyone you see outside.

•

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

Invite neighbor kids to join if the opportunity arises.

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

Online at http://extension.missouri.edu

Page 10