Early on a sunny Saturday morning, a moving van backed up to the front door of a nice home in a quiet, middle-class neighborhood. The neighbors watched as the two men labored with piece after piece of heavy furniture, boxes, and appliances. They realized that they hadn't known their neighbors and didn't know they were moving.
Late Sunday afternoon, the family returned to the house. To their horror, they found it gutted and their worldly possessions gone. The police were called and door-to-door interviews were conducted. The neighbors recounted clearly what they had seen and reported that they had no reason to be suspicious. The thieves were long gone and the possessions were never recovered.
How can we live in such close proximity and not know each other? It seems unfathomable - until we asked ourselves who our own neighbors are.
Here are three easy, successful ways to bring your neighbors together:
Make the first move:
In this day and age of too busy lives, escalating crime, and a general fear of strangers, small gestures can make the greatest impact. A simple 'hello', a wave in passing, or a smile can open the door to creating an alliance. Make eye contact. Avoid stepping into another's personal space as this can trigger a fear response. Pause to chat whether it is across a fence or from the sidewalk. Once you have established a rapport, it is easy to be the catalyst for bring the neighborhood together. It is most likely that each resident knows at least one other resident, who knows one other resident and so on. The links are there. The old adage, "if you want a friend, be a friend" applies. If you want good neighbors, be a good neighbor. Take a little time and introduce yourself.
Initiate group activities:
Do you walk your dog, stroll through the neighborhood for exercise, take your child to the local park, or walk to the local farmer's market? Invite neighbors of like interests. Initiate a Saturday morning trek or a Sunday afternoon stroll. Open your home - or yard - as a gathering place for a 'meet and greet' to introduce residents to one another. It need not be an elaborate, expensive affair. It needs only to be comfortable and welcoming. A few chairs and benches in the front yard and a few friendly, smiling faces is all it takes.
Initiate neighborhood activities:
The most popular of these activities today is the Neighborhood Watch. Few people would reject the idea of additional safety precautions and procedures. This premise is ideal for bringing a neighborhood together quickly and en masse. While we hear about neighborhoods that have reclaimed their territory from crime and criminals with foot patrols and police assistance, this is not the only need of the neighborhood watch. Even relatively quiet or rural neighborhoods can benefit. Being observant and being aware is essential to a healthy neighborhood. A joint effort to watch out for one another, to keep an eye on the comings and goings of strangers, to make a mental note of having seen, or not having seen, an elderly resident or one living alone can make a safer living environment for all. Exchange phone numbers with at least a few of your neighbors, especially those in closest proximity. If something should seem amiss, one phone call can clarify. Sooner or later, each of us will encounter an emergency or need immediate help. The next door neighbor could be a life-saver. Keeping an eye out for the neighborhood children is extremely valuable. Every child should be safe and protected. There simply is no end to the advantages of participating in a neighborhood watch program.
Neighborhoods can come together in some special ways. One neighborhood spends all year planning its Christmas displays. With a write up and pictures in the local newspaper, visitors from all over the city drive through to enjoy the view. Another neighborhood is known for its yearly 'Trash to Treasures' yard sale where all the residents put on a shopping extravaganza. Elsewhere, entire neighborhoods compete against one another for the best neighborhood yards award.
The benefits of cohesive neighborhood are vast. From increased safety to a sense of belonging, the rewards are endless. The tiny acorn can produce a mighty oak tree, but it doesn't happen overnight. It starts with you and the desire to build a strong, healthy neighborhood.