by hopefulneighbo | Sep 7, 2023 | Neighborhood Well-being, Pursue the Common Good
National Good Neighbor Day is September 28. Do you have the date saved in your calendar? Until a few years ago, I had no idea this holiday even existed. I wasn’t aware that in 1978 then-President Jimmy Carter signed a nationwide proclamation to promote the idea of...
by hopefulneighbo | Aug 8, 2023 | Pursue the Common Good
I get a daily Google Alert by email with links to stories, articles, and videos that use the phrase, “Love Your Neighbor.” Skimming those links shows hundreds, if not thousands, of examples of what that phrase is not. First, “love your...
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 | 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 | Jan 13, 2023 | Pursue the Common Good
On January 1, 2023, the world lost a man of great influence. His reputation was gained not by focusing on himself or on great things, but by focusing on the gifts of others at work in simple, everyday places—neighborhoods like yours and mine. John P. (Jody) Kretzmann...
by hopefulneighbo | Jan 5, 2023 | Pursue the Common Good
The internet and social media make it easier than ever for neighbors to connect remotely. Both young and old alike can interact online. While this convenience makes grown-ups more accessible to each other, it also makes children more accessible to predators. The good...
