by hopefulneighbo | Jul 18, 2023 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, How-to, Imagine the Possibilities
Storytelling is as old as time. It’s how we share our history, wisdom, and experience with the world. Elders across the generations use storytelling to pass on the things they know, the things they’ve seen, and the mysteries still to be explored by those who are...
by hopefulneighbo | May 30, 2023 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Imagine the Possibilities, Neighborhood Well-being, Pursue the Common Good
I grew up mowing lawns in my hometown of Ash Grove, Missouri. My dad provided me with a riding and trim mower that I could use to mow other yards, that is, if I cut our lawn when asked—and without complaint. For seven years, I had ten yards within a half-mile of my...
by hopefulneighbo | Apr 28, 2023 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Imagine the Possibilities, Neighborhood Well-being
My neighborhood is waking up after the slumber of winter. The smell of pork steaks cooking over charcoal, heavy bass lines thumping from open cars windows, neighbor kids laughing during a game of tag. Peanut and Lucy are on their stoop, greeting passersby—and all...
by hopefulneighbo | Feb 27, 2023 | Imagine the Possibilities, Pursue the Common Good
A Beautiful Day in This Neighborhood “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, A beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?” nFred Rogers It wasn’t too long ago when neighbors were asked to “stay home and stay safe.” This was done for the...
by hopefulneighbo | Dec 20, 2022 | Imagine the Possibilities
I have a confession: as a pre-teen, I was obsessed with every version of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books. You know what I’m talking about; those are the books full of short stories designed to pull at your heartstrings. I still love short stories, but I like to...
by hopefulneighbo | Nov 22, 2022 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Imagine the Possibilities
“Come over tomorrow for hot cider and donuts!” a simple, last-minute invitation pinged on my phone. It was from some neighbors. They had spent the autumn afternoon texting neighbors and delivering paper invitations to neighbors they didn’t have the phone numbers for....
