National Good Neighbor Day 2024: A Note from the Director 

by Pam Rempe | Oct 4, 2024 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Imagine the Possibilities, Pursue the Common Good

When we launched The Hopeful Neighborhood Project in March 2021, the world was still reeling from COVID-19. We had to make adaptations to many of our plans, creating options that allowed for connection at a distance. Our team was formed over Zoom. Our partnerships...

Neighbor Wanted: Only Those with Soft Skills Need Apply

by Pam Rempe | Aug 14, 2024 | Discover the Gifts, Neighborhood Well-being, Pursue the Common Good

Neighbor Wanted!  Soft skills preferred: Dependable and empathetic problem solver. Team player. All other skills: optional.  If this flyer was posted in your community, would you qualify?  In our post-pandemic, hybrid, AI work-world, soft skills matter...

Encouraging Community Through an HNP Project Lab at The Restoration House 

by Pam Rempe | Jul 23, 2024 | Discover the Gifts, Imagine the Possibilities, Pursue the Common Good

“Our perspective shifted. We realized that we have a lot more to offer to our community than we realized,” says Carrie Pickell, volunteer engagement coordinator at The Restoration House.   Recently, we sat down with staff at The Restoration House to capture...

Growing Environmentalist

by Pam Rempe | Jul 2, 2024 | Imagine the Possibilities, Pursue the Common Good

Our grandsons are coming!  The words promise exciting times ahead. With five grandsons, summer is prime time for family visits. The oldest is 17 (already!), and we’ve shifted from making plans for living room forts and sidewalk chalk to different activities. As...

Five Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day in Your Neighborhood

by Jonathan Carone | Feb 12, 2024 | Getting to Know Your Neighbors, Pursue the Common Good

Several Februaries ago while on a walk in my neighborhood, I noticed that one of my neighbors had decorated her windows with red and pink paper hearts. It was a seemingly simple act, yet it carried a message of love and connection amidst the dark and gloomy days of...

Why (and How) to Start a Helpful Neighborhood Social Media Group

by Jonathan Carone | Feb 1, 2024 | Imagine the Possibilities, Neighborhood Well-being, Pursue the Common Good

Whether your neighborhood is made up of ten homes or three hundred and fifty, it can be hard to stay in good communication with each other, especially during the shorter days of winter when people are less likely to be outdoors. Social media can be a great way to keep...